etraya | un: jMan93

[ The video starts with a boy in a baseball cap, wearing a bright grin and lifting a hand in greeting. An I-come-in-peace kind of greeting. He's in his bedroom, sitting on his unmade bed and while his room isn't messy per se (he hasn't been here long enough to accumulate a mess), there are a few shirts haphazardly draped over the back of his headboard. ]

S'up, Etraya? The name's Junpei Iori! I'm pretty new here. Still getting the lay of the land and all, but uh...

[ He rubs the back of his neck, glancing past the camera for a moment. ]

My birthday's on the 16th. Which I guess is operation day? So I'm thinking of celebrating early. Anyone wanna maybe...hang?

[ God. That feels so pathetic. Like coming on here and pretty much announcing he's a friendless loser. Junpei quickly pivots: ]

Or I guess you could just give some recommendations of good places to check out and party it up? What place has the best food or where can a guy get a good cake...that kinda thing? Yeah, sure. I can probably go find somewhere on my own, but the best reviews are usually word of mouth!

[ Junpei shifts, palms planted on his knees as he leans forward. ]

Sooo, lay it on me, folks. Where would you spend your sweet seventeen in this place?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sounds like a plan, my dude. I'll take you under my wing like a senpai and show ya how it's done!!

[ Junpei says, as though he's not mildly freaking out about being willingly given the reins. It's not like the team is anything serious -- just a team in name only. But there's a mild worry Scott will see through him for the fraud that he is.

J-just gotta fake it 'til ya make it, right??? ]

Anyway yeah! Fighting monsters! We're kind of a secret operation, but since that threat's pretty contained to my world, I don't think there's any problem tellin' ya about it! Every full moon these big monsters we call Shadows come out and try to mess things up. Me and my team go out and fight them. Thing is, it happens at a time no one even knows about called the dark hour and only people with special powers like me can even stay conscious. I guess there's only twelve of these Shadows in total and at the time I got here, we got about four left?

[ He rubs the back of his neck with a faint laugh. ]

Guess that's why I had to graduate from saving the world to now saving the universes! But with you in my party, there's no way I'm gonna fail. So help me, Scotty-wan, you're my only hope!

[Well, that's definitely different. Huh. Guess the French have weird monsters known as Nevrons and the Japanese have Shadows-- but still he gets the gist here. Junpei and his friends fight against Shadows to save the world basically. At least it sounds like it's going okay unlike the stuff that's happened in Maelle's reality. He's glad. They just have to defeat four more and the threat is gone, probably.

Although a cynical part of him can't help wonder if that would truly be it. Like maybe there's something more, but he doesn't say. Scott doesn't want to be a spoilsport right now-- especially since he's too busy snorting at the nickname Junpei just gave him. Wow dude, really?

He's smiling though.]

Yeah sure man, I got your back. Hey if we're actually including other people in this team, I suggest Maelle-- she's a fencer and fighter from another world too and around our age.

[ Junpei's smile fades ever so slightly at that. The thought of forming a team is great. Genuinely. And Junpei has wanted nothing more than to be given a chance to lead something important -- to do something meaningful. Just hearing the elevator pitch for Maelle makes her sound a lot like Mitsuru, though. Someone probably smart and capable. A badass fencer who takes no shit.

...Someone not likely to listen to an idiot like him. ]

I'm cool with it. It'd be a pretty sad team if it was just us two and all.

[ His smile is back to full power because as Scott's new best friend, that gives Junpei the right to tease him a little. ]

Is she your girlfriend?

[He notices the small frown and he wonders what's up, but just as quickly he's smiling again. A part of him wants to prod at that just a little more, although...]

What-- no! We're not like that!

[It's true but also there's a fluster to his voice, maybe hinting that he does have some amount of feelings for her... but there's no way he's going to talk about something like that right now!!] We're just friends! And she's used to fighting like you!

[ Junpei nods, wise and knowing. He is an expert when it comes to the matters of love. And because he likes Scott, he's more than happy to offer his services free of charge!! ]

Mmmm. I see. We got a case of just friends on our hands.

[ He shakes his head as though this is the greatest injustice. Maelle HAS to see what a swell guy Scott is! ]

Fortunately for you, my badass American friend, I happen to be pretty great at playing wingman. With Valentine's Day only a month away, you gotta secure that date! You don't wanna be stuck hangin' with me that day. That'd be a sad Valentine's for both of us...

[ No dates. No chocolates. Just two lonely dudes, commiserating. ]

[Is it too late to revoke the friendship card--]

Dude. [Okay, he's got nothing, slightly embarrassed and slightly annoyed about this whole thing, even though deep down, he also kind of appreciates Junpei's whole enthusiasm about wanting to help him. He's just uh, he's totally got this!! But wait he wasn't even thinking about asking Maelle out for Valentine's--]

I uh, we're really not like that, okay? I don't think she even wants to go out on dates!

[......He really isn't sure about that.]

[ No exchanges or refunds on this friendship. Sorry, bud. Social link established. ]

And have you asked her that?

[ Junpei levels him with a skeptical look. The most skeptical look. And then he holds up his hands, admitting defeat. For now. ]

Look. I won't push it. You gotta go at your own pace, I guess? But I don't wanna hear it if someone else swoops in and takes her out before you get a chance to ask.

[ A pause for dramatic effect. And then Junpei adds: ]

'Course, I'll totally help you kick his ass if that happens. No one messes with my boy!

[ He's got your back, bro! ]

[...Is this what it's like to have a dude friend that always has his back? Like sure he's interacted with other teens his age, but usually they were even more awkward than him. It's nice.]

Look, I have it handled-- I mean. Yeah. I'm just. I don't know.

[BUT OTHER THAN HIS FAILING LOVE LIFE-- he decides to put the topic back on Junpei.] Come on man, aren't we gonna go celebrate your birthday anyway? Before the mall decides to close at this rate.

What? You mean it actually has hours?? I thought it'd be a 24/7 kinda thing! Not like there's any real people here besides us that need to maintain business hours or whatever.

[ Junpei frowns. If that's the case, though, yeah! They need to get going. Karaoke isn't gonna sing itself! And Junpei absolutely can't wait to get Scott on a DDR machine. ]

Anyway yeah! Meet ya over there?

[It might actually be 24/7, but change in topic was successful and that's what he was going for anyway. No more talking about this!! For now--]

Yeah, see you there.

un: jMan93 | video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject