*Ahem*
One lovely evening, the sky was a wonderful warm fuzzy orange as the sun set slowly below the horizon. As the people of the Element Empire went about their day for it to end.
A couple gets engaged by the Stella view of the beach, the kids are running happily along the side walk- and five people have been charged with assault aganist a fourteen year old boy.
. . . Excuse me?
In the neighborhood of the nearby beach was a little court, its parking space being filled because of the apparent case. There was only one problem.
The court session started at 08:00AM... and this is now 05:00PM.
*SLAM*
"Guilty."
Inside the cozy court the judge slammed his beloved gravel down like the rumble of thunder. The courtroom flinching at the sudden strike.
"These are guilty as charged."
The courtroom fell silent as the few murmurs and quiet laughs from the back made the background. The focus of attention being the five people in the defense box.
Those five being two males and three females.
Jake exhaled dramatically as he slumped onto the wooden rail of the defense box. "To be fair," he muttered "It was the car which started it."
The judge glared down at him as Jake shrunk down seeing that his words were a bit too loud.
"And the sausage we had," Takara muttered under her breath without look up.
Melusine shrugged. "Technically, I was defending company property."
"You hit a child!" Susten scolded in a whisper.
"Who told him to touch our food. Little snob." Toga folded her arms.
"He is still a child!"
The judge banged the gavel again. "Order! I'm sentencing you five to community service, fines and an official warning. Also—if I ever see you in here again over... this kind of lunacy, you'll be cleaning public toilets till your backs break."
Jake, hand over heart: "With dignity, your honor."
"Out."
Once the judgment was settled the court session came to a close. The five being escorted around to a separate room to have their handcuffs unlocked while the rest of the audience left with their own thoughts about the case.
*click*
*click*
*click*
*click*
*click*
By the time the five had gotten their cuffs off, the sun had already set. Leaving the stars and the bulbs as the only source of light.
Outside the court some of the people had already left. The remaining few being caught up in their own stories or gossiping about the event. Who can blame them? This wasn't the first.
*clank*
The heavy sound of the door handle being let go caught the people's attention to the front door.
Standing there was the brown haired teen who appeared in the defense box. Toga.
Toga froze not expecting to have a welcome.
"Mom," The voice of a child caught her attention. "Even kids go to court?"
Toga looked down at the child holding their father's hand. Her foot taking a step back into the building-
"Im starving, Whats the hold up?"
Behind her Melusine towered over her, taking a few steps forward as the crowd shut their mouths at her presence.
Toga looked up to speak up her words were stuck in her throat.
"Come on," The boys walked out. Jake marching out as Takara slithered after.
Jake spoke to the two as he walked out, taking the lead as his rigid movement and raised chin made the crowd step back to let the five walk past.
Susten stepped out and followed suit, gently pushing Toga forward for the two to head out. "Lets go."
Jake stood at their rusty beat up van as the rest followed. Toga hurried to hide behind Melusine's figure as Melusine gave the people a cold glance.
"That tall one gives me the chills."
"The tall one? Have you seen the short one?"
"Is that a Viner?"
Takara glanced up at them from the corner of his eye as he followed Toga silently. Closing his eyes before slowing down to wait for Susten.
"Doesn't she seem familiar?"
"Maybe some low ranked Nobles daughter."
Susten caught up to the group, the rest regrouping to enter the van.
*click*
*bang bang*
Jake banged the van like a soldier calling up his squad and waited for everyone to enter before giving one last glance at the people. Sitting down into his seat and starting the vehicle to leave as they had barely eaten anything since breakfast.
---
On the Road Again
The van — if it could still be called that — groaned as it rattled down the road to the bay.
It was once a vibrant blue. Now? Rusted edges, duct tape patches, and the smell of stale fried onions clung to the cushions like a curse. The engine wheezed like an asthmatic dragon. A piece of the ceiling fabric hung down, brushing Melusine's head every time the van hit a bump.
The inside of the van was just the outside. Quiet.
No one spoke.
The silence was thick — thick with exhaustion, secondhand embarrassment, and the sting of legal fees. Not to mention hunger-
*hcckup*
Then the van hiccupped.
Choked.
Wheezed one last time… and died. Right at the crest of the hill overlooking the harbor.
Jake, still at the wheel, blinked. "Huh."
*WHACK*
Toga burst out of the side door like a firecracker, boots hitting gravel with fury.
"I'm walking!" she snapped.
Jake frowned, getting out after her. "You? You're the one who threw the second plate!"
"You threw the first!"
"You insulted the cat!"
Melusine groaned, stepping out and pulling her jacket tighter. "Can we not yell on an empty stomach?"
Susten emerged last, brushing off her white blouse. "He's right, though. Toga did throw the second plate. But Jake launched the sausage."
Jake raised a finger. "With precision."
Takara, still inside the van, rolled his eyes and turned up his music with a quiet click of a handheld player. The stress from today being too much for him to stand up again for no reason.
Melusine peered in. "Takara? A little help here?"
Takara didn't move. "You started yelling. I stay out of yelling."
"You were there."
"I was undercover."
"You were the judge's secretary."
Oh no she didn't.
Takara He sighed, lifted himself off the passenger seat, and stepped out into the moonlight with furrowed brows. Holding his walling stick with a tight grip.
Everyone braced.
"I—" Takara began quietly. Then, BOOM—he snapped.
"You know what? You all make me crazy. Jake and Toga arguing like old lovers, Susten throwing shade like she's above it all, Melusine biting people like a rabid possum. We wouldn't have court cases if you all acted like normal people once in a blue moon."
Silence.
Takara exhaled through his nose, muttering, "And don't get me started on this van. It smells like a fish funeral- One of the brakes is gone. I think a rat lives in the glove compartment. Honestly, if we ever—"
Toga blinked. "Wait. What do you mean one of the brakes?"
Jake squinted up at the hill.
"…Oh."
Everyone turned their heads to look at him.
Jake scratched his neck while keeping his gaze anywhere else apart from where the group stood. "Yeah… so. The van might not have... any brakes."
Melusine furrowed her brows: "It what?!"
They turned in unison already seeing what physics was going to do to their van.
The van started to creak forward, little by little.
Slow at first — almost graceful. As if the van was trying to fight gravity, making the group think that maybe gravity took a day off-
The van then dove down the hill like a missile. The doors flapped as a pot clattered from a window.
A pigeon squawked in alarm as the van careened down the hill, straight for the water below.
"Go! Go! Go!" Toga screamed, sprinting.
"My Dyes!" Takara wailed, sprinting faster.
"Not my notebooks!" Jake shouted.
Susten yelled, "Forget the van! There are legal documents in the glove box!"
Melusine took off last, muttering, "I liked that possum…"
Later That Evening…
The door creaked open with a tired whine as the group shuffled into the shop.
Once, it had been a lively corner in the Bay — a repurposed mall lot with potential and charm. Now? It smelled faintly of burnt oil and fish guts. The neon sign above buzzed in protest, blinking: FO—D H—VEN.
Oh, the van? The van was gone. Completely. Launched off the edge of the bay into a shallow rocky nest. Jake promised he'd fish it out. Later. Maybe. If the brakes ever forgave him or if he had the time to do so.
For now, the group just dragged their bodies back to their shop. Collapsing once they got inside and closed the door.
Toga dropped her bag by the entrance and sprawled out on the nearest crate, not caring if it left dust on her school uniform. Susten practically slithered over the counter like a slug, fighting to make her pleated skirt comfortable. Melusine's duffel bag hit the floor the moment her feet passed the doorway, making her way to pull one of the seats and drop down on it.
Takara quietly dragged himself to a good spot on the floor and laid down. Putting his walking stick aside and closing his eyes as his oversized cardigan worked like a blanket.
The four letting out a long exhale from the long day. Their bodies debating on resting or cooking before they pass out till the next day.
No one spoke. Not for a while.
The lights above buzzed like flies over a carcass. The wind outside howled through the broken top window — again.
Jake, who had slumped down to sit on one of the tables, scratched his chin and looked around at the group: exhausted, bitter, hungry. He stepped behind the counter without a word, flipping on the battered hotplate and sliding open the tiny fridge.
A few eggs. A questionable jug of juice. Half a beer bottle someone labeled "do not drink, it stares back."
'Takara probably made this. Better than nothing.'
He sighed and made do with what he got.
Cutting, steering and frying. The aroma of cooked food slowly floated in the air, giving the room some sort of warmth as Jake awkwardly started to hum a certain tune. Glancing at Susten a few times.
Smelling and hearing the change of the room Takara raised his head and looked over the tables to see what Jake was doing. Takara followed his glances to who he was looking at, reading between the lines before standing up to assist.
Rolling his eyes, Takara walked over to Susten and tapped her shoulder.
"Hm?" Susten opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"Your winter soldier is looking for you." Takara whispered with a chuckle. "He's trying."
Susten turned to glance at Jake who turned his head quickly to avoid being caught. Getting a small smile and a chuckle out of her.
"Alright," Susten got up from the stool and tapped her finger tips on the counter to get his attention.
Takara left the two and made his way over to Toga, waking her up as she had actually fallen asleep on the crate. Melusine opened her eyes and glanced at the two interact before the sight of food made her stomach ache with need.
Eventually, one by one, they dragged themselves to the counter. Like flies to a flickering bulb. Each took a stool, resting their arms or heads workmates after a long day at work. Takara and Toga being the last ones to arrive
Jake slid over whatever he had. The cups sliding to their respective owners.
Toga got a small mug of something fizzy and brown. She sniffed it. "Is this… root beer?"
Jake: "Maybe."
Susten raised her glass. "To community service."
Everyone groaned.
"I mean it," she added. "We're officially the only restaurant in Bay History to be charged with 'culinary chaos and improper condiment use.' That's impressive."
Melusine's head hit the counter with a thunk. "I was defending the counter."
Jake chuckled. "He was twelve, Mel."
"He came behind the counter!"
"You bit him!"
"He was holding tongs!"
Takara slumped forward and stretched his arms. "Can we not. Please. I'm still recovering from the trauma of being called 'Miss' by the judge."
Toga snorted after taking a sip. "Well, maybe don't dress like an opera singer's imaginary girlfriend."
"It was a disguise," Takara hissed. "I was the judge's secretary. I spent six hours squatting beside his chair and handing him post-its!"
Melusine: "Yeah, and then when the fight broke out you pretended to faint."
"It worked," he muttered. "No one suspects a fainting secretary."
A silence fell again. Just for a moment.
Then Jake looked up from the sizzling eggs. "...Did you guys hear the guy in the back say, 'Why is that one kid bleeding soy sauce?'"
Melusine lifted her hand. "That was me."
Takara blinked. "What?"
"I panicked. I was out of ink, okay?!"
Everyone cracked up.
Susten nearly slid off her stool laughing. "Takara—your face when he asked if you were on your period—"
"I WASN'T EVEN BLEEDING!"
Jake slammed his hand on the counter. "I still can't believe you called the judge 'bro.'"
"You told me to improvise!"
"I didn't say freestyle in slang!"
Takara had to grip the stool to stay upright from laughter.
Toga wiped her eyes. "Guys… we're literally a disaster."
Jake smiled weakly. "One day, they'll probably bulldoze us just to feel something."
Everyone snorted.
"Well," Melusine said, stretching, "at least no one got hurt."
Susten raised a finger. "Except for the snobby brat."
"He deserved it."
"Fair."
As the laughter faded, quiet settled again.
Not the heavy silence from earlier — a softer one. A comfortable one. The kind that settles when exhaustion finally turns into reflection.
Toga swirled her drink absently as she rested her head on her arm. "The kid outside the courthouse stared at me," she said suddenly.
The others looked over.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Like I was some kind of criminal."
Susten leaned forward with a hum, gently tucking a loose strand of Toga's hair behind her ear. "Yeah, well. At least they looked at you. No one even noticed me. Walked past like I was invisible."
Melusine rested her chin on her arm. "The clerk called me a ogre."
Takara leaned forward. "I actually liked that part. Makes me sound spicy."
Jake placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "I, personally, think I was very eloquent. My speech about teamwork—"
"You cried," Toga interrupted.
"Those were inspirational tears."
"Nope," Takara said. "That was fear."
Melusine nodded. "Pure panic."
Susten smirked. "You called the prosecutor a 'meanie.'"
"I stand by it." Jake huffed.
They laughed again — less chaotic this time. Softer.
Then a beat.
Susten, slumped on her elbow, let out a long sigh. "I'm drunk."
Melusine raised a brow. "That's water."
Susten blinked down. "...Huh."
She stood slowly, wobbling. "I need real air."
Jake watched her wander off toward the office.
Takara leaned back again. "She's so tired she's hallucinating."
"Honestly," Jake muttered, ""Still freaked out at how you're able to pull off dressing like a woman. No man can pull it off that crazy good."
"He does have a point." Melusine shrugged her shoulders as she folded her arms.
"Dont tag team with Jake to mock me." Takara huffed before pulling out a cloth to wipe off the make up on his face. And the results....
Jake and Melusine tilted their heads to see if their was a difference, but unfortunately for Takara-
"No difference." Toga pointed out.
"So, what do you think of the new disguise?" Jake looked at Toga to hear her judgement.
"Looks like that lady who loves the cup of tea at exactly 70°C."
"No, I'm thinking the serious boss who has a secret pleasure behind her back which she hides." Melusine shook her head. "He does love his liquids."
"True. But its also giving some kinda mature aura. Know what I mean?" Jake pointed out after looking at Takara up and down.
Melusine squinted her eyes to look at Takara in detail. "I can see that. The school thugs call him a master. So, a wise sage kind of woman?"
"I'm right here you know." Takara deadpanned.
"No, not a Sage. Maybe calling him the opposite of a wise sage. Something like a witch?" Jake shrugged his shoulders before bringing out a point. "Hey, if girls are called witches then what about us?"
"Why can't women call you a witch?" Toga asked.
"No. You know what I meant." Jake corrected.
"And you want to be called a witch?" Melusine raised a brow. "Because you look nothing like one."
Jake huffed and folded his arms. "I can if I want to. So to put it down into the last suggestions, witch, sage or stuck up noble? Which is your pick?"
Melusine hummed in thought. "I want to say with but he comes more motherly than sickly."
"Yeah, Susten and Takara are tag team mothers." Toga noted.
*snap*
Takara snapped his fingers to get their focus.
"Yes mom." Toga replied on reflex as Jake smacked his palm onto his face.
Takara wanted to say something but at this point he just decided to ignore them.
Susten returned into the kitchen, waving a folded stack of papers. "By the way, these were in the court packet."
Jake took them absently, skimming as he sipped from his half-flat beer.
Melusine rubbed her eyes. "Let me guess — another fine?"
"Aren't we broke though?" Toga asked.
"Yep." Jake snorted. "Or maybe a cease-and-desist order."
Takara chuckled dryly. "Maybe the government's finally going to shut us down just to give themselves a win."
Susten paused. Her brain taking a few seconds to replay those words.
She looked again at the top page and quickly read the paper which she brought right her face. Then again to confirm. Her brow furrowed.
"...Guys?"
Jake didn't look up. "If it's another complaint about me being too charming, tell them to take it up with my fan mail pile."
"Jake."
He blinked at her tone, catching everyone's attention.
She set the papers down in the middle of the counter.
Everyone leaned in. Two sentences clearly typed in bold caught their eyes.
Property Seizure Notification – Lot 32B (Fmr. Food Haven)
Effective in 30 Days for Reassignment to Noble Bay Expansion Project.
Toga choked on her beer.
Takara raised a brow.
Melusine's eyes widened.
Susten didn't speak.
Jake slowly set down his beer. "... we're screwed.."