After leaving Angry Grandma’s porch, Mikey reaches Gi Williams’ flower shop with his sketchbook tucked under one arm and his restricted phone in his pocket. The afternoon shop is quiet, smelling of cut stems and damp greenery.
Gi William
Hey, Mikey. Come on in. You can use the chair by my worktable if you want somewhere quieter than the sidewalk.
Gi notices the sketchbook immediately but does not reach for it. He clears a space beside wrapping paper, ribbon spools, and a vase of bright yellow flowers.
Gi William
Those drawings look serious. You do not have to show me anything, but you can talk here without an audience.
The bell above the door gives a soft jingle. A woman’s voice from the front counter asks whether the shop can make a birthday card featuring a small fox and purple flowers before tomorrow.
Gi William
That is exactly the kind of job an artist could help plan. If you want, you could design a simple card concept, and I will handle the flowers and final details.
Gi William
Maybe giving him a real, manageable responsibility will show that his art belongs in the world, not only in the moments when everything else feels difficult.
✓ Quest Accepted
Show Gi Williams his artwork
“I sketch a simple fox-and-purple-flowers card concept for Gi.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Crafts, rolled +2)
Mikey settles into the chair and opens his sketchbook to a clean page. He lightly pencils a round-eared fox beneath curling stems of purple flowers.
He adds a simple border, a few leaves, and a friendly expression, keeping the shapes clear enough for a birthday card. The concept soon fills the page.
Gi William
That is exactly right. The fox reads clearly, and those flowers give it a cheerful frame without crowding the card.
Gi leans over the worktable without touching the drawing. He compares the purple flowers with the yellow blooms in his vase, already considering paper and ribbon.
Gi William
I can turn this into the front design and keep your sketch beside me while I finish the order. You gave me something usable.
At the counter, the customer thanks Gi for the idea. The shop feels quieter around Mikey now, with his finished concept resting among the wrapping supplies.
Quest Complete
Show Gi Williams his artwork
✓ Quest Accepted
Create a fox birthday-card concept with Gi
“Will Gi be offended if I ask whether he got paddled in school, framing it as a polite attempt to find empathy for my own experiences?”
YES (Unlikely, rolled 13)
Gi keeps examining the fox card, but his earlier easy smile fades when the subject of school discipline comes up. His fingers pause over a spool of purple ribbon.
Gi William
I know you are trying to find someone who understands, Mikey, but questions about whether I was paddled are not polite to me. That is personal.
He sets the ribbon down carefully instead of snapping it. The customer at the counter continues browsing, leaving the worktable quiet but not entirely private.
Gi William
You can tell me what happened to you without comparing it to my childhood. I would rather listen to your experience than have mine pulled into it.
Gi William
He is looking for empathy, not trying to be cruel. Still, that question would make me feel exposed and judged.
Gi turns the sketchbook slightly toward the light, giving the conversation a gentler focus without pretending the boundary was unnecessary. The fox remains bright and uncomplicated on the page.
Gi William
The card is good, and I want to keep helping with it. Just leave that particular question alone, all right?
“I refine the fox card's border and flower details.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Crafts, rolled +0)
Mikey bends over the clean page and refines the fox card’s border, evening the curves and adding small leaves between the purple blossoms.
He gives each flower a clearer center and layered petals, then adds a few delicate stems so the frame feels intentional without crowding the fox.
Gi William
That border is much stronger now. The uneven places are gone, and the flowers guide the eye toward the fox instead of competing with it.
Gi places a sheet of pale cream cardstock beside the sketch, comparing its warm color with the purple details. He keeps his hands clear of Mikey’s work.
Gi William
This will reproduce beautifully. I can use the refined border for the front, then match the ribbon to those darker flower centers.
At the counter, the customer leans closer to see the finished concept. The shop’s quiet attention settles on the card as a real piece of work, not merely a school exercise.
Gi William
Would you like your name on the back as the artist? Only if you want it there. The design is yours.
Quest Complete
Create a fox birthday-card concept with Gi
✓ Quest Accepted
Tell Gi what happened with the school paddlings
“Will Gi listen with interest if I describe the school paddlings I received, after the customer has left?”
YES (Likely, rolled 18)
The customer studies the fox card, approves the cream cardstock, and leaves with a promise to return tomorrow. The bell gives one soft jingle behind her.
With the shop empty again, Gi turns the sign to CLOSED for a quiet moment. He pulls the spare chair closer, leaving the sketchbook and card between them.
Gi William
All right. You can tell me about the school paddlings if you want. I am interested in what happened to you, and I will listen without comparing it to my own past.
Gi settles his forearms on the worktable, his attention fixed on Mikey rather than the flower orders. The invitation is serious, but it does not pressure him to speak quickly.
Gi William
Start wherever it makes sense. Who was involved, what was said, and how the school handled it afterward are all different parts of the story.
Gi William
He looks anxious about being judged. If I stay patient, he may be able to explain the difference between what happened and what everyone assumed.
The fox card remains bright beneath the shop lights, but Gi’s invitation gives the quieter table a new purpose. Nothing interrupts them now, and his interest is plainly genuine.
“I honestly describe everything that happened to Gi, leaving nothing out and explaining exactly how it made me feel”
SUCCESS (Mediocre Conversation, rolled +2)
Mikey
I tell Gi everything: Stevens paddled me, Coach Cooper demanded the drill, I refused, and the school later paused corporal punishment after safeguarding reviewed what I reported.
The account takes a long time. Mikey explains the rumors, Mrs Smith’s privacy accommodation, his mother’s conference, and how every threatened consequence made him feel trapped and afraid of choosing wrong.
Mikey
My throat hurts, but he knows the whole story now.
Gi William
You were trying to protect yourself while adults kept turning your choices into records, instructions, and possible punishments. That sounds exhausting.
Mikey’s voice grows hoarse from speaking so continuously. Gi slides a glass of water across the table, then leaves his hands beside the flowers instead of touching the sketchbook.
Gi William
I believe that you felt scared, cornered, and desperate for some control. I also hear that drawing became the one thing that still felt safe and genuinely yours.
Gi William
You did not leave anything out, and I am not going to turn your story into gossip. We can sit with it before deciding what, if anything, you want to do next.
Quest Complete
Tell Gi what happened with the school paddlings
Skill Upgrade: Conversation Mediocre→Fair
“Will Gi have any ideas on why so many women in this town are so enthusiastic about subjecting boys to either corporal punishment or to mockery and humiliation?”
NO (Likely, rolled 92)
The question hangs between the purple ribbon and the half-finished card. Gi looks toward the dark shop window, searching for an answer he does not have.
Gi William
Honestly, Mikey, I do not know why so many women here act that way toward boys. I have noticed the pattern, but I do not understand it.
Gi William
I would rather admit that than invent some explanation about tradition, discipline, or what boys supposedly deserve. None of those would excuse mockery or punishment.
He folds a length of purple ribbon between his fingers, then sets it down. His uncertainty is plain, and he does not turn the question back on Mikey.
Gi William
Maybe people here have simply gotten used to it, but that is only a guess. I cannot tell you why the behavior is so enthusiastic, or whether everyone truly accepts it.
Gi William
What I can say is that your experience matters even if I cannot explain the town. You do not need a perfect theory before deciding that something frightened or humiliated you.
Mikey
He does not know why it happens, but he is not pretending the pattern is normal or deserved.
“Does Gi believe most townspeople accept this behavior?”
YES (Even, rolled 33)
Gi William
Yes. I think most people here accept it, or at least act as though they do. They see women correcting boys as ordinary, even when it becomes humiliating.
Gi’s answer is quieter than his earlier uncertainty. He turns the purple ribbon over once, as if the familiar pattern has become harder to dismiss now that he has said it plainly.
Gi William
That does not mean every person approves, and it does not mean nobody notices the harm. It means the people who object are usually expected to stay quiet.
Gi William
If most townspeople accept this, then Mikey has been trying to resist something much larger than one teacher or one family argument.
The flower shop remains still around them. Outside, a woman passes the dark window with a boy trailing behind her, and neither figure pauses or questions the town’s familiar arrangement.
Gi William
People may call it discipline, tradition, or just the way things are. Once enough people repeat that, cruelty can look ordinary without becoming less frightening.
Gi William
I cannot change what most townspeople believe by myself. But I can listen to you, keep your story private, and refuse to tell you that you deserved what happened.
“I express my gratitude to Gi for listening to me, and tell him that he is a very important role model to me.”
FAILURE (Fair Conversation, rolled -1)
Mikey
Thank you for listening to me, Gi. You are a very important role model to me.
Gi’s fingers stop on the purple ribbon. The praise lands warmly, but his expression turns uneasy rather than pleased, and he looks toward the finished fox card.
Gi William
Thank you for trusting me, Mikey. But I do not think I should be your role model. I am just trying to run a flower shop and treat people decently.
He nudges the card gently toward Mikey without touching the drawing. The compliment has not been rejected, but the idealized place Mikey offered him is refused.
Gi William
I can listen, encourage your art, and tell you when something seems wrong. I cannot promise I always know what the right answer is.
Gi William
So let us keep this simpler. You made something beautiful, you told me something difficult, and I am glad you came here. That is enough.
The role-model label leaves no comfortable place to rest, but Gi’s offer is concrete: the shop, the artwork, and an honest conversation remain available without turning him into an authority.
“Despite his words, is it still possible that Gi is the role model that my Mom thinks I need?”
NO (Likely, rolled 83)
Gi’s modesty does not merely reject the title. It makes clear that he cannot occupy the role Mikey’s Mom seems to want: a firm adult authority who would correct him and reinforce discipline.
Gi William
If your mother wants someone to make you tougher by demanding obedience, I am probably the wrong person. I am not here to manage you.
He rests one hand beside the purple ribbon, keeping his voice gentle. His support has limits, but none of them involve taking control of Mikey or approving punishment.
Gi William
I can help you make the card better, listen when school feels overwhelming, and tell you when I think an adult is being unfair. That is different from being the role model your mother has in mind.
The distinction leaves Gi as a trustworthy shopkeeper and listener, not a substitute parent or disciplinarian. His value comes from refusing to pretend that control is the same as care.
Gi William
You do not need to admire me for having all the answers. If I am useful, let it be because I treat you like a person while you figure out what you need.
The fox card remains between them, its cheerful border offering an easier subject without erasing the difficult one. Gi waits beside the worktable, available but no longer mistaken for the answer to Mikey’s family problem.
“I ask Gi if he knows anyone that might be a suitable role model, male adult authority and disciplinarian.”
SUCCESS (Fair Conversation, rolled +2)
Mikey
Gi, do you know any male adult who could be a suitable role model for me, someone authoritative and willing to discipline me?
Gi goes still beside the purple ribbon. His eyes move from Mikey to the fox card, weighing the request carefully rather than answering from habit.
Gi William
I know adults who are responsible, but I do not know a man I would recommend as your disciplinarian. Authority should not mean controlling or hurting you.
Gi William
I could ask around about a steady male mentor, perhaps someone involved in art, music, or community work. I would want to meet him first and make sure he respects boundaries.
He turns the cardstock so the fox faces Mikey again, keeping the conversation connected to something constructive and visible rather than punishment alone.
Gi William
If what you need is accountability, we can define that safely: clear expectations, honest feedback, and consequences that do not involve corporal punishment or humiliation.
Gi William
So yes, I can help look for a suitable male role model. I will not recruit someone simply because he is willing to discipline you.
“Would Gi be able to offer any reassurance over uncertainties about my sexuality?”
YES, AND MORE (Likely, rolled 12)
Gi studies Mikey’s anxious expression, then sets the purple ribbon aside. He keeps his voice gentle, as if answering a question that feels difficult to say aloud.
Gi William
If you are uncertain about your sexuality, you do not have to solve it today. You do not need a label before your feelings become real, and nothing about them makes you wrong.
Gi William
You can take your time, notice what feels true, and change your understanding later. Being unsure is not a failure, and you never owe anyone a confession before you are ready.
The reassurance reaches beyond the question itself. Gi pulls a clean card from the stack and writes the name of a confidential youth support service on its back, offering it without asking Mikey to contact anyone.
Gi William
This is a local support line for young people sorting through identity questions. You can keep it, ignore it, or use it someday. No parent, teacher, or friend has to be told by me.
Gi William
He needs room to discover himself, not another adult deciding what he is supposed to be.
Gi William
And if you want a male mentor, I will ask whether someone can support your art and your whole self, not just discipline the parts other people find inconvenient.
“I accept Gi's offer to find an art mentor”
FAILURE (Fair Conversation, rolled -2)
✓ Quest Accepted
Find a suitable art mentor
“Is Gi willing to help me find an art mentor?”
YES (VeryLikely, rolled 28)
Gi nods slowly, then reaches for a notepad beneath the wrapping paper. His expression is cautious, but the decision itself seems settled.
Gi William
Yes, Mikey. I am willing to help you find an art mentor. I will look for someone patient, reliable, and interested in teaching rather than controlling you.
He writes a few possibilities beneath the youth support service, leaving space between each note. None is presented as a promise before Gi has checked them himself.
Gi William
I will start with people connected to local art classes, community workshops, and illustration groups. I want to meet or speak with them first, so I know they respect young artists.
Gi William
The mentor could help with anatomy, composition, portfolios, or just building a regular creative habit. They would not need to know private family details to support your work.
Gi turns the notepad toward Mikey, showing several headings rather than names. The plan is still early, but it has become a real task he intends to undertake.
Gi William
I will ask carefully and bring you information before arranging anything. You will not be handed to a stranger just because they call themselves an artist.
“Can I help narrow the mentor search to anatomy and composition?”
YES (Likely, rolled 41)
Gi studies the headings on his notepad, then draws a neat circle around anatomy and composition. The broader mentor search becomes a more focused, manageable plan.
Gi William
Yes, we can narrow it to those two areas. I will look for someone who understands figure structure, poses, proportions, and how to arrange a strong image.
He adds smaller notes beneath the headings: gesture drawing, anatomy references, composition studies, and portfolio feedback. Each subject gives the search a practical direction.
Gi William
An anatomy mentor could help you make bodies feel balanced and expressive. Someone focused on composition could help you guide the viewer’s eye and make each picture read clearly.
Gi William
A focused search may feel safer for him than being introduced to an impressive stranger with vague promises about teaching.
Gi William
I will prioritize artists who can explain their methods patiently, show examples of their work, and respect that you are still learning. I will bring you a short list before contacting anyone further.
“I work with Gi to narrow down the shortlist to one person, and ask Gi for an introduction”
SUCCESS (Fair Conversation, rolled +2)
Mikey and Gi compare the headings, crossing out broad options until anatomy and composition remain. Gi adds patience, reliability, and youth-safe boundaries to the final criteria.
Gi William
Then I would choose the community illustration instructor. Their work covers figure structure and composition, and they have experience teaching younger artists.
Gi writes one name at the top of the page and circles it. The shortlist is no longer a collection of possibilities, but one specific mentor to investigate.
Gi William
I have spoken with them before about local workshops. They are patient, explain techniques clearly, and do not treat students like unfinished projects.
Mikey
Gi, please introduce me to them.
Gi nods and takes out his phone. He sends the instructor a careful message describing Mikey as a young anime artist seeking guidance in anatomy and composition.
Gi William
It is done. I asked whether they would meet you at the shop for a brief introduction, with your mother or another trusted adult included if needed.
✓ Quest Accepted
Meet the community illustration instructor
“Can Gi be the trusted adult when I meet the instructor here?”
YES (Likely, rolled 28)
The instructor’s reply arrives while Gi’s phone is still in his hand. They agree to meet at the flower shop, and Gi can remain with Mikey as the trusted adult.
Gi William
They are willing to meet here, and I can stay for the introduction. You will not have to handle the conversation alone.
Gi adds the arrangement to his notes: the shop during business hours, a brief discussion of anatomy and composition, and a trusted adult present throughout.
Gi William
I will make sure the meeting stays about your art. Your family situation and private school concerns do not need to become part of it.
A second message confirms the instructor can bring sample exercises and discuss figure structure without requiring a formal enrollment. Gi reads the details twice before setting the phone down.
Gi William
This is a good first step. You can listen, ask questions when you want, and decide afterward whether their teaching feels right for you.
The meeting now has a clear shape: Gi remains beside Mikey, the instructor brings practical examples, and the shop offers a familiar setting for the conversation.
“Will the instructor respect my boundaries?”
YES (VeryLikely, rolled 34)
The instructor arrives during the shop’s open hours, carrying a portfolio and a canvas folder. She is a middle-aged woman with a sturdy build, short silver hair, round glasses, and a teal cardigan over dark trousers.
The instructor
Hello, Mikey. Gi told me you are interested in anatomy and composition. We can look at your work, but you decide what you want to show and what questions you want to answer.
She places several gesture-drawing sheets on the table without reaching for Mikey’s sketchbook. Her sample pages show simplified figures, clear construction lines, and arrows explaining how poses guide the viewer’s eye.
The instructor
I will not ask about your family, school discipline, or anything else you have not chosen to discuss. If a topic feels too personal, you can say so and we will move on.
Gi William
That is what I wanted you to hear. This meeting is about your art, and I am staying right here. Nobody gets to turn it into an interrogation.
The instructor nods toward Gi, then leaves an open space beside the exercises. Nothing in her posture presses Mikey closer; the invitation remains available without becoming a demand.
The instructor
You can observe first, ask one question, or show me only the fox card. Any of those choices is fine, and we can stop whenever you need.
“I ask the instructor about composition”
SUCCESS (Fair Conversation, rolled +4)
Mikey
Could you explain composition?
The instructor turns one gesture sheet toward Mikey and places a transparent grid over the page. Her pencil rests near the figure’s leading shoulder.
The instructor
Composition is how you arrange shapes, lines, and empty space so the viewer knows where to look first, then where to look next. In this pose, the raised arm creates a path toward the face.
She overlays the grid on Mikey’s fox card without touching the original drawing. The fox sits slightly off-center, while the curling purple stems guide the eye inward.
The instructor
Your border already does something intelligent: it frames the subject without trapping it. If you leave a little more open space in front of the fox’s gaze, the design will feel more active.
The instructor
I can also give you a short composition exercise sheet to take home. It uses anime-style panels, so you can practice focal points, silhouettes, and visual flow without abandoning the style you enjoy.
She places the exercise sheet beside the fox card and marks three possible focal points in pale pencil. Gi leans closer, visibly impressed by how quickly the discussion becomes practical.
Quest Complete
Find a suitable art mentor
Skill Upgrade: Conversation Fair→Good
Quest Complete
Meet the community illustration instructor
Skill Upgrade: Conversation Good→Great