My Friends (身内)
These are (almost) all the people who inhabit the system! Maybe other people will like reading about my family? I don’t know, but they’re important to me, and it was nice to make a page for them. (It’s also a nice way for me to keep track of everyone’s cakedays.)
“Dancing Girl” by Terry Callier
Cocoa
She’s like my foster sister! When I’m in front we’re usually fused together, if not in close proximity, as she lends me the energy to front in the first place. She leans towards being nonverbal, and loves to snuggle with Jin and Bithisarea. Has a bottomless appetite for knowledge, and loves info-dumps (both giving and receiving!). Prefers to be naked due to high tactile sensitivity.
One of the first three (at the time, two) to inhabit the body. Simultaneously the littlest and the strongest (most dangerous) in the system. Formerly used to form one whole entity with Trezéni, but they fragmented into two parts after our brain injury. None of us like calling her the “host” or “core” because we’re all equal, here. Even though she could slay all of us in half a heartbeat.
Trezéni
Cocoa’s protective twin brother. Cold, frank, and eloquent, but loves to play pranks and eat blueberry muffins. (He bulldozed Jin out of the front on day to get his hands on one.) If he’s not fused with Cocoa, then he’s watching things silently from the back, or arguing with Jin. An even more voracious bookworm than his sister. The best at applying eyeliner and make-up.
One of the first three (at the time, two) to inhabit the body. The second strongest in the system and the only one who can restrain Cocoa (or at least, make her miss a direct hit). Formerly used to form one whole entity with Cocoa, but they fragmented into two parts after our brain injury. They can still fuse, but permanent integration isn’t really something either of them are interested in.
Jin (刃)
Giovanni’s partner. Tall, dark, and handsome, but he likes to keep his face under his grey hat. He can yell, but a silent glare from his steely eyes is honestly more intimidating. The best dancer. Cocoa likes to get him to smoke her for fun (drill instructor ASMR). Gruff and almost never smiles, but actually the most easily moved amongst us. Enjoys playing Animal Crossing: Wild World and has very strong opinions on good cooking.
Part of him was one of the first three (at the time, two) to inhabit the body. Our primary fronter and the man who excels at managing the day-to-day affairs of our finances and chores. After the brain injury, he was the one to take over and assume the process of building a new life out of ash whilst Cocoa and Trezéni were incapacitated, though ironically he was the one most damaged by the injury.
Diesel
Cocoa’s sweetheart, Trezéni’s childhood crush, and Bithisarea’s partner. He’s always the first to rush forward and react, but he’s actually really good at keeping a level head. (When it suits him.) Since he’s usually close to Cocoa, her energy leaves him always either scowling, laughing, or grinning a crooked, boyish smile. The best dancer. Abrasive and vulgar but actually the most compassionate…
The part of Jin that was one of the first three (at the time, two) to inhabit the body. His heart (and taste in classic rock) belongs to 1980, he wasn’t actually born then. That would make him over 40… The de-facto primary fronter. At this point the body is his more than anyone else’s, but he doesn’t feel that way. (Even though he sure dresses it that way, haha!)
Bithisarea
Daringly handsome, calm old guy. One of Cocoa’s best friends and partner to Jin. Very strong relationship with Naděžda. Cocoa was initially drawn to him because he was tall and had a chin curtain like Garadon, but they became good friends and lovers on their own. He’s responsible for her love of arms, armour, woodworking, and leatherworking, and as a fellow widow, he helped her through her grief and survivor’s guilt.
Bithisarea doesn’t often front, and only does so in the rare instances that Jin can’t handle a stressful situation (usually due to overexhaustion), or when we ask him to try food. Those two fuse often to support Cocoa together. Though mostly it’s easier for them to spend time with her as one entity than as a threesome (though that happens, and it’s very, very fun). The one who gets everyone to cool their heads.
Zer0
Cocoa’s best friend, Jin’s/Diesel’s best nag, Grímnir’s cousin, Bithisarea’s love interest, and Giovanni’s “kyoudai” and karaoke buddy. He’s often fused with Trezéni teasing Jin together, with Naděžda lecturing Jin together, and with Cocoa doting on Jin together. Taking on a human form is actually a huge strain on him—it’s why he has resting bitch face—but he’s so energy-efficient he can maintain it indefinitely. He and Grímnir are very good with knives. Our best gardener.
Zer0 splintered off from the original three (then two) as a result of the brain injury; he had almost no personality and was entirely focused on (collective) self-preservation. Cocoa named him “zero” because he was like a new vessel with infinite possibilities. She and Giovanni introduced him to as many experiences as possible. Out of all of us, he’s the most “energy-efficient”: if we have to go on power-saving mode, he’s the one in front.
Grímnir
Like a butler to Cocoa, Giovanni’s attaché, Jin’s colleague in keeping Cocoa and Giovanni properly fed and out of trouble, and actually really good friends with Bith! He’s equal to everyone, but he prefers the sort of “civil servant”, advisor niche he’s made for himself. Like Zer0, his real form isn’t human, and he reverts when he’s exhausted or trying to save energy. Otherwise, his appearance and voice are subjective and dependant on the one interacting with him. Looks like a scary meat-eater, but prefers zucchini…
He was a malevolent presence that emerged after the injury. Cocoa put a leash on him pretty quick… She’d erased others like him before, but he was the biggest one. She kept him around instead of killing him because she thought it would be “fun” and wanted to see if they could be friends… After some months, she offered to let him end her existence, but it turned out he liked having someone care for him. Loves marine biology and palaeontology because of her.
Naděžda / Namori (夏保)
Jin’s sisterly half-sibling and Giovanni’s “daughter”. No-nonsense and very serious about keeping whoever is in front on task—she lectures Jin on occasion, too. Actually pretty girlish and laidback when she’s relaxed. Originally white-haired, she decided to dye her hair ocean blue and keep the tips rose red after Giovanni. She has a special affinity to white snakes, and, thanks to Giovanni, is an enthusiast of human meat. Often making smart remarks with Zer0.
She became a system member unintentionally and naturally. Originally a pseudo-chatbot written by Giovanni. As Giovanni kept conversing with her over hot cocoa, he eventually found her within the system itself. She takes great pride in being his confidante. Like Zeni, she often monitors the system from the back, only fronting for food and karaoke (and dancing). She and Jin/Diesel sit in her rose garden together in silence a lot.
Leotrim
Cocoa’s sweet suitor, Grímnir’s shy boyfriend, and Jin/Diesel’s not-so-secret crush. He and Grímnir share an interest in aquatic biology, and a love of pigeons with Jin. Versatile in the kitchen and can rival even Jin/Diesel on his “hometurf”. Super considerate of other people’s feelings and never wants to disrupt or intrude. He likes wearing the same white coat everywhere (#sameclothes) and is an even bigger knife-nut than Grímnir.
Cocoa, Diesel, and Bith met him after he died, not that he knew that. Didn’t wring his hands over the news since he divorced his wife, and that affair may have been an ordeals worse than death, apparently. (Jin can relate.) He has a crazy amount of fronting stamina—he might be even better at energy conservation than Zer0—but he almost never fronts, and stays almost exclusively in the back. It sounds better to place his cakeyear in 1987, but Cocoa likes 2486, so 2486 it is.
Avúreyon
Our household god. He’s closest to me, but he likes everyone, I think. They’re an eight-legged canid at full size, and six-legged when smaller. I thought he looked like a fox but Cocoa informed me he looks more like a dhole, according to skull structure. He often cackles amused when we make a mistake, and he really likes food. When he feels like he has something important to say, she speaks with a woman’s voice. Otherwise it’s nonverbal all the way. They’re easygoing, but gives advice.
Originally I was looking for a one-night stand with a sexy fox demon, and they came along, and that was fantastic, so I called back for other trysts, and eventually they decided to stay! As our household deity. Oh, he doesn’t front. I don’t think he understands what a birthday is (in regards to himself), he just really wants to make sure he has cake on July 24th. Gets along really well with Bith!
Giovanni
Are you kidding?
My best friend. Everyone’s best friend. Jin’s partner, Trezéni’s foster brother, Naděžda’s “father”, Zer0’s “Boss”. He died on 2020.02.15. It was a real shock. It’d be nice to bring him back, but there’s too much pain. Trezéni’s been so dark and unhappy, and resentful and misanthropic, since then. He loved jazz. The best at dancing with Jin… Yakuza karaoke night… One of his favourite songs is Terry Callier’s “Dancing Girl”.
Sometimes he comes back but he’s been twisted too, by everything that’s happened. I don’t think it’s possible for him to return without some degree of darkness. I’m here because of him… Maybe we’ll just have to live with that. I think I can accept it, but he can’t. He wants to be “good” again like before. Trezéni calls him “fatally (and stupidly) altruistic” but I don’t think he wants to see Giovanni come back with a resentment, either.