[[video]] OFF WITH ONE WATCH ON WITH ANOTHER

[allhailfunyarinpa]

[The feed is actually pretty steady, like whoever is directing it is used to this sort of thing. Oddly comforting, for a change!

But the viewpoint isn't at a person, but a sand-crusted car parked haphazardly in front of the Libra apartment building.]

So, uh- [Whoever's on the other end seems really, really, really dry and deadpan about what he's about to say.] -where's the nearest car wash?

Comments

[allhailfunyarinpa]

[he is so gomen for your sonar having to witness this horrible display of urban living, then]


A hose would be easier than a bucket- they have to have a utility closet around here somewhere.

[junpei no you're in normal society now you can't just take things- oh whatever he's already walking up the stairs. Let's see how far snooping can get him. While yawning. Man he's exhausted.]

Believe it or not, I'm not very good with puzzles. There's a lot to be said of "hey do this or you blow up", huh?

[...wait let's kindly jump off that subject forever, how about that.] Is everyone just here, having a party without me? Or is it just you and him?

[You know. That smelly guy above you in the tag order.]

[epicbraille]

It's just us. We'd never throw a party without you. Perish the thought!

[ Apart from that one time where they investigated the ship without Junpei, but that wasn't much of a party even if it ended with a bang. So don't sweat the small stuff.

As for the apparent lack of others from back home, Snake isn't sure whether that's good news or not.

On one hand, no Ace. But on the prosthetic hand, no Clover. ]

That saves me asking if you brought the others along, then. Too bad. Maybe one of them would have the solution to your watery troubles.

[ Santa and June in particular might know where he could find enough water to sink a cruise ship. ]

My suggestion would be to ask someone on a lower floor if you could borrow their sink. Are you at Pisces or Libra at the moment?

[allhailfunyarinpa]

[For some reason, he may be a touch skeptical about the party-throwing.]

I doubt any of them would have been willing to wash a car with me. [Someday later, Junpei will realize his persona has water abilities, and he will kick himself for this.] I'm in...Libra? The sign said Libra.

[Your Junpei may suddenly sound farther away, because he's neck-deep in mops and cleaning supplies.]

If this place is going to be planet-themed or star-themed or something I am out of here...

[epicbraille]

[ Snake decides to keep quiet on the whole astrology thing. It wouldn't do to scare Junpei off when he only just arrived. Instead he has some genuine enthusiasm. ]

What a coincidence, I'm a tenth floor Libra too!

[ Oh happy days. ]

Perhaps we could get together when you're done washing the car.

[ 'cause he ain't helping with that one, buddy. ]

[allhailfunyarinpa]

[Th...anks you could help, bro.]

...really? [You now have his undivided attention, at least until Junpei inclines his head and looks up the building.]

...I'd offer to just come up now, but I am not eager to go up ten flights of stairs. [So clearly, Snake should just come down anyway. And totally help.

Junpei is going to lose this little social standoff but you can't fault him for trying.]

[epicbraille]

[ Damn right he's going to lose. What kind of protagonist tries to make a blind dude with one arm wash a stolen car? The kind whose Persona is a little girl he has a crush on. The kind who makes terrible puns at inconvenient moments. The kind who doesn't even have a codename. The awful kind. But you're right, you can't fault a guy for trying.

There must be something about Junpei's subtle hinting Snake finds amusing, because he laughs. ]

I'll still be here when you're finished; 10-03 isn't going anywhere.

[ A pause. Is it a little awkward neither of them has mentioned the Nonary Game yet? It's the kind of thing you'd like to forget about. Move on with your life and forget those bullshit death puzzles. But it can't have been that long ago for Junpei. As a way of testing the waters - if Junpei shoots the conversation down then there'll be no point mentioning the ice mummy just yet - Snake casually adds: ]

10-03 has a digital root of 4, but you should be able to get in by yourself.

[allhailfunyarinpa]

[Junpei Nolastnamington- He Tries.]

I dunno, you're not exactly an easy guy to keep an eye on...

[Walk in, suddenly bloody clothes all over, Junpei would just call it Another Tuesday.]

Ughhhhhh pleaseee tell me they don't have digital root doors here, seriously...

[HMM I THINK HE'S SHOOTING THE THOUGHT DOWN]

[epicbraille]

[ Aw. No fun, McFly. ]

Not yet they don't.

[ Snake's matter of fact tone is rarely a comfort. Digital Root doors could show up one day, he supposes. Stranger things have happened in the last couple days alone. ]

Do you have your bracelet with you? Santa and I have ours.

[ He'll veer back to that not easy to keep an eye on thing like Clover would veer the car towards a pedestrian. ]

[allhailfunyarinpa]

Yeah, but a lot of good it'll do me now. Unless I wanted to use it as a fashion accessory.

[Kssssssssssssh well damn I guess he really is washing that car???]

[epicbraille]

You never know. One day we may well hear that familiar beep beep beep all over again.

[ What a wonderful thing to joke about over a car wash. ]

And why, may I ask, did you make washing the car the first order of business?

[allhailfunyarinpa]

If this thing stars beeping, I'm just going to give up.

[That sure sounds like a prank opportunity!]

...well, it's better than sitting in my room and trying to sort through the information drive-by some random dude gave me about personas or whatever. It's methodical, so I guess it's relaxing.

[epicbraille]

[ Snake understands the desire to relax, especially after what they went through back home. Although that was a short time ago for him, he's willing to bet it was an even shorter time ago for Jumpy. ]

How long has it been since we won the Nonary Game, Junpei?

[ He also makes a note to tell Junpei that "some random dude" is actually called Butterfly.

...by Snake and Santa. ]

[allhailfunyarinpa]

I stopped being able to tell time when Clover started driving over ninety miles per hour. Does that give you a good guesstimate?

[He just sounds...tired all of a sudden. Or queasy. Or both. Never take this wuss on a rollercoaster.]

[epicbraille]

[ If Santa was here, he'd make a joke about getting the car all the way up to 88. Snake isn't Santa, fortunately, so the reference doesn't leave these brackets. ]

That's the last thing you remember, I take it?

[ Boy does he sound amused. His sister's driving skills are rather questionable, but Snake finds it charming. ]