[VIDEO] ☾ first phrase: death-bros and introductions

[the_usual_stuff]

[ The video feed clicks on to display two boys, one a young child in black-and-white stripes with curly black locks of hair, and the other a teenager with a long yellow scarf wrapped smugly around his neck, suspenders and slicked back black hair. They share an identical small beauty mark under their left eye and they're both seated at a table in... Minato's apartment. (Blame Pharos for the location, okay.) Pharos is speaking, clear and modulated in his tone of voice; ]

—It's on, I think.

[ The transmission of the boardcast jars unpleasantly for a moment before stilling as Ryoji steadies the camera and beams down at it, not as cheerfully as he would have before attempting to end the world, but it's a start. It's probably right about here you notice they have the same blue eyes. A shade of blue so unnaturally bright it's almost creepy. The older teenager then starts talking, still grinning; ]

Anyway, it's working now, right? [ Why wouldn't it be, oh, wait, this is these guys we're talking about. Godly beings or not, it probably took them awhile to puzzle out all the tricks of the comp. Nevermind. Ryoji presses onward; ]

Good! Well, first things first. Hello, Hinoto-Ri, I'm Ryoji Mochizuki... And this is Pharos. [ He gestures at the small boy, who nods and waves cheerfully at the communication device, mouthing; Hello. ] He's my... Hmm, well, I guess you could say we're brothers, the two of us! We've been here for a couple days now and thought it would be a good idea to introduce ourselves on the network. I mean, that's what everyone normally does, right... ? Either way, it's a pleasure to meet you all!

... [ Pharos decides to offer his own public greetings to the city of Hinoto-Ri. The small ten year old was seated on a chair, his pale face barely level with the video feed and he totally doesn't have a creepy yet innocent smile at all, nope. ] I sincerely hope we'll be able to get along and be friends, everyone. This may be quite a strange world we've all been pulled to as Guests, but it's an interesting one, indeed.

[ There's a pause. Are they going to end the feed here? It sure looks like it— ]

Hey, by the way Minato-kun! [ Hahaha, you thought this transmission would end without Ryoji being a silly derp. He winks at the camera. ] Haha, I forgot to ask back when I first arrived; are there any cute gir—

[ Pharos is already reaching for the comp before Ryoji begins talking, unintentionally cutting off the end of the teenager's question. The feed ends. Sorry, bro. ]

Comments

[Video]

[nyxterious]

[Well, since Pharos said her name... it's time to flirt! Thanks for the help, little bro]

Miki-san? Hello! That's a wonderful name. It suits you.

[Video] (And I'm sorry about Miki) 1/3

[helenchanted]

[The feed stays on for a few more seconds, her gaze and face not changing, not a single word out of her.

...Then without a word, the feed is suddenly shut off.]

[Action local] 2/3

[helenchanted]

[Yet for the longest time, Miki just stares at the empty screen without saying anything. There was no doubt about it; he didn't know her. In a way she was almost relieved, but at the same time, it washed the strangest wave of confusion over her.

Cool, calm and in control...not tonight. Without warning she gets up from her chair, leans her head to the wall...

...before suddenly punching a hole right in it. Those passing outside might have heard the bang that came from her room.

...that hurt a lot. She feels like she wants to cry, but she can't, and reaches down to remove the ring hanging on the necklace from her nec---]

[Still local action] 3/3

[helenchanted]

[---OH SHIT. He probably saw that necklace with his ring and now she has a hole on her wall that she can't hide with furniture and DAMMIT TO HADES SHE HATES THIS SITUATION SO MUCH RIGHT NOW.]

[video] reaction

[the_usual_stuff]

[ The smile on his pale face fades to confusion when Miki abruptly cuts the transmission without saying a single word, and the screen goes blank. Pharos frowns unhappily. ]

... Did we say something wrong?

[ ? ]

[video] reaction

[nyxterious]

[... Huh. Well that's strange.]

I don't think we did. I wonder what happened.

[video] reaction

[the_usual_stuff]

[Yes, it was. She had looked at them like they were death itself okay no like they had both had grown extra heads out of their shoulders the most unexpected turn of events she'd ever been confronted with on short notice.]

Odd...

[text a little while later]

[fools_journey]

[ Well, after catching the tail end of Miki's dramatic departure from Pharos' Comp, Minato is a bit concerned. He knows very well that Ryoji isn't going to know who Miki is, and he knows it's hard seeing even just a friend who has no idea who you are. So ... once Miki has had a few minutes to herself (and he's answered Ryoji's question about cute girls), he takes a few moments to send her a text. ]

I'm sorry. I should have let everyone know right away about new people showing up.

Are you going to be okay?

[ And, he wonders ,if there's anything specific he should tell to Ryoji to try and make things as easy on them all as possible. But he'll ask Miki if there's anything she wants him to relay to make it easier for her in a minute. ]

[text a little while later too, tect harderRuana]

[helenchanted]

[She stares at that message for the longest time. Not because he's asking if she's alright...but the fact that he knew. Why HADN'T he told the others?! Of all the things, of all the people, of all the worlds it's just so...

...she needs to calm down, least the phone join the wall in items she destroyed.

Besides...it isn't really his fault, as much as she's angry. Come on, Miki! You've watched enough sentai shows to know misunderstandings like that just lead to worst situations. Minato wouldn't have known. At the same time, she's unsure how to explain this to him and she doesn't want to write it out, if Ryoji might be watching or peeking at what the both of them are saying.]

It's complicated. Not your fault.

[Short, but telling him it's everything BUT simple.]

[text]

[fools_journey]

[ It's complicated... hmm. That doesn't sound good, and Minato feels worse for not having been quick to let everyone know. He hadn't realized the death bros were gonna announce themselves so soon, but that wasn't really an excuse if his inaction is causing problems... ]

I see. Is there anything you would like me to tell him now? I can ask him to avoid you for a while or tell him to go talk to you in person or whatever.

[text]

[helenchanted]

[That's a hard one to answer. What should she even say to that?]

Actually how about if I talk to you about it first?

[Somehow asking Shinji or Akihiko about this situation seemed like a bad idea in general. That or her brain was currently a puddle of mush right now and she wasn't thinking at all.

Probably that one.]

...tell him I said hi...and sorry for shutting off the feed.

[text]

[fools_journey]

That's fine. Would you like me to come over now, or would you rather have some time?

And I will.

[text]

[helenchanted]

It's up to you. I don't think either way will change much, to be honest.

So if you have something important to do with them, I have no problem waiting.

[text]

[fools_journey]

I need to make sure Pharos has lunch. Then I can come by. I'll send you a text when I'm on my way over.

[text]

[helenchanted]

[Why would a kid that looks around ten years old need to be reminded to eat? Ryoji knew how to do that well enough...well not going to question it. For the most part. Why would an aspect of death need substance anyway?]

Sure, that's fine with me.

[text] => action

[fools_journey]

[ Well, a ten year old might not necessarily know how to cook, and come on Miki, haven't you known stubborn kids who don't like to do what they're told or who get caught up in playing and forget to have regular meals? There's totally nothing unusual about this at all.


But in any event, once he's finished with making sure his two death buddies are gonna be okay for the afternoon and passing on the message, he excuses himself and heads over to Miki's place. First, though, he grabs a pint of ice cream out of his freezer that he had intended for other purposes but which he thinks may be useful now.

So he sends her a "I'll be there in 10 minutes" text and then, in ten minuets, shows up and knocks on her door. ]

ACTION BLOCKBUSTER

[helenchanted]

[Okay fair enough it's not like she gave but Jiji or her family any trouble with that...]

[Truth be told she hadn't expected him to show up at exactly ten minutes on the dot, but thankfully everything regarding statues had been hidden away and the only thing that her room had was the smell of food cooking. In fact there was a lot of food on the table...

Cooking and eating ice creamed seemed to be how she dealt with stress. At least she wasn't punching things again.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, THAT HOLE IN THE WALL IS TOTALLY NORMAL. She was going to cover it, but had nothing to do so and thus, gave up. Maybe he won't notice it when she opens the door.]

Hey.

[fools_journey]

[ If he notices, he doesn't say anything right away. In fact, he seems to be a little distracted by that smell... ]

Hey. ... maybe I shouldn't have brought the ice cream, if you have all that to eat.

[ He might be a little teasing there. He means it gently and also as a test to see just what sort of state she is in. ]

[helenchanted]

N-no it's fine! [She replies a little too quickly, a little too distracted to grasp the suitabilities of the teasing, but not in a tone that makes her sound angry. In fact, she seems more on the defensive than anything.] I don't have an ice cream machine and I ran out...

[She closes the door behind him.]

Please make yourself at ho--

[Oh shit, she turns to the far end of the room and kitchen where her potatoes are boiling and spilling water on the stove.]

Dammit!

[fools_journey]

[ Mildly alarmed by her swear, he follows after (and also so he can put the ice cream in her freezer).

Well, she certainly has been busy - but he does his best to help with cleaning up a bit, though he tries not to get in her way. He's not inept in the kitchen, though he is no master chef, and in any event, he doesn't want to mess with her flow. ]

[helenchanted]

[Miki for her part lowers the heat from under the pot and lets is cook at a lower speed before heading back to the table and sitting down, indicating one for Minato if he wants to join her.]

Sorry about that...I've been cooking for a bit...

[UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR.]

[fools_journey]

[ He shakes his head at her apology, but he joins her at the table. ]

It's okay. Cooking can be very soothing, anyway.

[ It's better than punching walls... ]

It smells good in here.

[helenchanted]

Yeah...Thank you.

[She looks down at the food, as if she'd just noticing for the first time how much of it there is.

...there is a lot of food wow...she barely remembered making the Hiyayakko...]

Minato-senpai...when you helped Pharos did you...eat anything yourself? Because if you're full, it's fine! I should probably bring some of this to Mitsuru-senpai before she burns down her apartment...

[fools_journey]

No, actually. I'd just gotten home from my shift at the cafe.

[ So this is actually really excellent timing for him. But there's so much food, and he's not sure what to eat because it's all looking really good to him right now. ]

I'm sure she'd appreciate some later, though.

[ Pause. ]

... also you can just call me Minato. [ Being the senpai to a Sanada feels weird. Also he's deliberately avoiding school right now, anyway. ]

[helenchanted]

[SKIPPING SCHOOL HUH >B[...but at least that's a good to hear! Uh the fact he hadn't eaten yet. Not the whole school stuff. Not that she'd know anyway.]

Oh well in that case, please enjoy the food!

[She offers him a smile, an empty bowl to go with the rice-filled one, and a pair of chopsticks. Pick and take what you like.]

I apologize...that's a force of habit. I tend to only call Shinji by his name. Well Aki now too but...yeah.

[Also she will tentatively help herself to some kelp salad because she's still only half-hungry and that's her favorite.]