Neutrality Order (TomBoo)

S.V. - Chapter 3: Entwining Fates

Tommy finished straightening Ranboo's collar, smothering a smile at the grousing the other was making about the outfit. "Appearances matter," he reminded. "And you look very dashing in a suit."

Ranboo rolled his eyes but relented. "Only because you think I look dashing," he replied, half-serious. "Also because I got to pick my shoes." He kicked at the floor in his new tennis shoes, that part being entirely serious. Tommy smiled, understanding THAT part entirely, absolutely loathing any form of formal footwear himself, and stood back to look him over approvingly. "Have I passed your rigorous inspection then?"

"Yes, you have," Tommy replied with a smile. A casually-fitted suit paired with a fur-collared coat around his shoulders did make for a look he wasn't entirely used to but wasn't half bad at all. "Formal, but still you." He handed over the cane that had been sent down that Tommy still insisted Ranboo use, what with his knee still needing a bit more recovery time despite Ranboo's protests. Ranboo took the cane in his left hand, a glove with three prosthetic fingers that could only make the most basic of movements holding it loosely, earning a quieted look from Tommy.

He reached out and took Tommy's hand, squeezing it softly, something that still never failed to thrill them both since it was proven that Ranboo could touch Tommy without Decaying him. "I can still Decay with two fingers," he reminded Tommy. "And I still have my right hand."

"And this one," Tommy conceded, picking up the one remaining intact hand of Ranboo's 'family', holding it out to him. Even now, Ranboo didn't know exactly whose it was, and he honestly didn't care. It was to be his trademark, he said, and nothing more. "You ready?"

"Sure," Ranboo replied, putting the hand over his face. "Let's get the bullshit out of the way. Responsibility and leadership is hard work and I need to finish sleeping this recovery shit off."

"Yes, yes it is," Tommy said, walking with him out to the hallway, heading down to the main floor where Yotsubashi was waiting, having been fitted with mechanical prosthetic arms at some point.

Yotsubashi was flanked by both Skeptic and Trumpet, who looked on warily as a mostly-recovered Ranboo was escorted down the stairs by Tommy, the only apparent injury on the new leader being a weak knee, as opposed to the near-wreck he'd been in just days ago. As always, Tommy was in full health and on guard at Ranboo's side, eyeing them all with a clear warning of no funny business, lest he whistle and bring the titan of a guard dog running to demolish them...if he didn't do it first.

The former leader of the MLA informed his remaining subordinates that Tommy had a quirk that rendered his own completely null, and apparently had ANOTHER on top of that concerning black extensions that could come from his arms for attacking or restraining. Those paired with his already well-known strength and the loyalty of the titan Seapeekay, he alone proved to be one of the worst to get on the wrong side of and was unofficially referred to among the grapevine as Ranboo's second-in-command.

Skeptic muttered sourly to himself outside of their hearing range about how it was ridiculous that they were basically being usurped by a bunch of children and younger adults, but Yotsubashi quickly shut him down with a bite to his tone and fear in his eyes. Ranboo had proven himself superior, as had Tommy. Leadership was rightfully theirs to take, with the only alternative being complete and total annihilation.

Ranboo stepped to the ground floor with Tommy, staring hard at the group of three. "Where are the others?" he demanded.

"We're about to gather them," Yotsubashi said genially. "They were busy eating last we heard."

"Figures," Ranboo snorted. "Lead the way."

Yotsubashi sent Skeptic and Trumpet off with a gesture and took the lead to the secret tunnel to the fourth-level basement area beneath the mansion, where he'd spent all day summoning the remainder of the MLA for this gathering. Even before they stepped out of the elevator they could hear the dull drone of the crowd of several thousand still ready and waiting. They walked down the wide pathway to the stage platform, the crowd going quieter before the buzz swelled louder only to reach levels of near-outcry when Ranboo walked to the forefront and sat himself down in the seat of honor.