[video/action] past midnight on salvation's eve

[recuttal]

[Amidst all the celebrations and decorations, late late at night at completely unreasonable hours were two ratty and bundled up teenagers, looking for all the world like they'd just stumbled blindly into the city from the wilderness. Which, was a pretty accurate assessment actually-- they were two faces that hadn't been seen around the city for over a year, the girl trailed by a scruffy little Shinx, and the boy carrying a perky little Cleffa on his shoulders, all of them wandering around outside in the cold.]

Jeez... is it Salvation Day already? Didn't realize it was already that late in the year...

[Well, he certainly didn't seem to have any qualms with addressing the public at large, despite the odd hours of the night.]

Um... Happy Salvation, I guess? [Awkward.] If anyone's still awake right now at least...

Is everyone celebrating right now...?

[The girl hangs back, glaring a little towards the watch, letting out a visible little annoyed huff. She’s not exactly camera-shy but this just feels so unnecessary-- it’s not like anyone is going to care about this.]

Hajime, it’s like 2am, who the hell are you even going to talk to?

[She leans down to scoop the Shinx into her arms, grumbling under her breath as she presses her nose into his fur.]

Can we look for someplace to fuckin’ sleep? Somewhere that isn’t this goddamn cold?

[The Shinx yowls happily, glad to be bundled up with her rather than padding along the freezing ground, and Junko’s expression softens briefly.]

I mean, y’know, as much as I love all your holiday spirit or whatever.

[At the brief scolding, Hajime instantly seems to dial it back a bit, paying more attention to Junko and looking a bit bashful.]

Uh, right-- Sorry. I was checking to see if anyone knew where we could go… but you’re probably right.

[Over aaaand out. Seems like they'll end up wandering around the city for awhile...]


(OOC: video replies will come from both Hajime and Junko individually; action replies will come from both!)

Comments

[Video]

[pocketmobster]

[Guess what kind of person IS awake at two in the morning on this most holy day of our Savior?]

Hajime.

[Glaciers. Imminent landslides. The crackle of fires you don't realize are about to consume your houses. This voice is kind of like that.]

You piece of shit.

[Video]

[recuttal]

--Fuyuhiko?!

[Oh. Um. Well that immediately puts him on surprise. It's... Kind of good to see Fuyuhiko again, it not for the fact that his voice sounded... Like he was about to herald in the second war of the world. If he wasn't cold before, he suuure is now.]

W-What are you doing up right now...?

[Video]

[biteoutofcrime]

I was working.

[There's a growl working its way up from the bottom of his chest, inexorable and ominous.]

Where have you been for the last year?!

[Video]

[recuttal]

[He visibly winces at the tone, the camera shifting as his opposite hand curl in towards his chest in defense.

Right. Kuzuryuu clan business, probably done best in the middle of the night. Even if it WAS Salvation Day.]

Y-You know... Out. [Ahem. Reticent to a fault.] Around.

H-Has it really been a whole year already...?

[He totally already knew it had been a year, but he says as it as if he's trying to make a casual conversation (oh how the time flies! It's been so long!) And failing horribly.]

Video

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

[Lenna wasn't awake when this broadcast started, but her Mismagius was. She watched Hajime and Junko talking for a few moments before bringing Lenna's Warp Band to her. And a few minutes after the broadcast, Lenna appears on the band, hair somewhat tousled and wearing a pink robe. She yawns into her hand before speaking.]

Ah... oh, excuse me. I couldn't help overhear, but are the two of you looking for a place to stay the night?

Video

[recuttal]

[It takes him a moment (of Chibimi pulling on his hair) to realize the address, and he quickly turns back to attention.]

Oh-- um, yeah, that's right. Our place is just...uh, out of comission?

[That... was a really bad lie. But Junk would probably start yelling at him if he started saying much more. And he wasn't too keen on divulging that either.]

We got caught out later than we meant to, that's all.

Video

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

I realize it may sound odd since we don't even know each other, but if you need a room, there are plenty of spare bedrooms in my family's house. No one should be cold and alone on the night before Salvation, so you're certainly welcome to it if you like.

Video

[recuttal]

Seriously?

[Whoah. That's uh. Kind of surprising. Not that he expected the worst of people, but he certainly didn't expect that kind of generosity.]

I mean-- your on house...? You're not scared of inviting two complete strangers in?

[Sounded like the prologue to a murder mystery, honestly.]

[missleadingquestions]

[What do you mean, 2am's a weird hour? Nah, not for a ghosty. Maya's up and at 'em, and looks at the screen as though amused.]

Now that doesn't sound like holiday spirit. What are you two kids doing out in the cold like that?

[recuttal]

I-It's not like we planned it...

[Nor did they plan the grinch routine. He only figured out like five minutes ago it was Salvation Day, OK!]

We just... got caught up in some bad weather.

[YYYYYeah that's it.]

[missleadingquestions]

Bad weather! Makes sense.

[Maya grins; whether shes taking his word for it or not is completely a mystery.]

You guys still in need, or has the bounty of Union already woken up to welcome you in?

[They'd been so kind to the Caldera refugees, after all.]

[recuttal]

[She believed a flimsy excuse like that?

...No, on second thought, she was probably just messing with him.]

W-We'll figure something out. [He looks down and away, his tone sounding just slightly awkward.] I didn't really expect many people to think of that as a request...

[twin_tails]

[Junko rolls her eyes a little, bringing her own band up.]

Enjoying this awesome holiday atmosphere. Y'know, really getting an appreciation for the Savior's sacrifice freezing our asses off.

[She can produce enough sarcasm to power a nation.]

[missleadingquestions]

Oh! Sorry, you didn't strike me as an ice type.

[A little giggle-- naturally detached and spooky, like the hollow clinking of tarnished bells-- and Maya rolls her eyes.]

The cold's really good for concentration, y'know.

[twin_tails]

[The spooky laugh throws her for a second-- not that she's frightened, it's just a little unexpected. But she recovers to grumble under her breath momentarily.]

Yeah, if I were an ice type I'm sure this'd be fuckin' delightful weather.

[But alas, she is not-- and her quivering is probably visible, if not obvious in the slight jitter of the camera.]

But great, concentrating, sure. Next time I have to take a test I'll throw myself into a snowdrift. You got any more pro tips?

video; but late in the morning, because SOUDA ACTUALLY SLEEPS

[creamsouda]

[Checking the network a few hours later is Kazuichi, who sends a rather alarmed message back.]

Hajime!? Hajime! Where are you?!

[Beside him, Belaire scolds at the screen.]

We were worried!

video; wow who needs to sleep

[recuttal]

[At least by now they seem to be distinctly inside-- or at least somewhere that didn't look totally bare to the elements. Though despite the hours passing, Chibimi was still perched on his shoulder and holding both sides of his head. Though it was more likely that she'd probably gotten off at some point and situated herself back up there.

Though after getting completely ragged on by Fuyuhiko, Hajime already looks a little surprised an pre-emptively worn out when he realizes it's Kazuichi on the screen.

Hoo boy.]

Oh, you know. Around.

[Hahaha OH BOY TOPIC CHANGE--]

Belaire? Is that you? You've gotten a lot bigger since I last saw you...!

video; mechanics, obviously

[creamsouda]

Hey hey hey! You can't get away with that!

[And here comes the drama. Sorry, Hajime, you kinda deserve it.]

You run off with some chick for for-fuckin-ever an' come back here with that?! What the fuck's wrong with you?!

[Even Belaire seems a bit disappointed in him.]

Hinachin, that's not very nice at all!

video; pssshhhhhhhhhhhh having a JOB

[recuttal]

[Even Kazuichi was observant enough to not let him get around with something so flimsy like that. Damn.]

I-It's not like that, if that's what you're thinking! [Though he is particularly distressed at the almost-insinuation. If he wasn't offended, Junko would probably be in his place.]

S-Seriously, you're making too much of a big deal about it...!

[master_tactician]

Am I hearing correctly in that you and your lover are without a place to stay?

[Robin is the worst at assumptions]

[twin_tails]

[YO.]

Lover?

[There's an offscreen bark of disbelief before Junko leans over Hajime's shoulder and grabs his wrist to eye the band, glaring down at this presumptuous stranger, derision dripping from her tone.]

Are you fuckin' kidding me, dude?

[recuttal]

Ack, Junko--!

[It's amazing how much he is willing to tolerate. The Cleffa's a little put off by the sudden movement, shifting around to the other opposite side with an indignant little chirp-- and Hajime... doesn't even try to push her off.

It's pointless. He's accepted the inevitable.]

U-Uh, we're not... "together" like that, or anything...

[Because that's totally what's important in this situation.]

video

[evokedorpheus]

[... He was sleeping in Absol form, he's gonna answer in Absol form because fuck shifting to human form just for a conversation.]

If you two don't mind a shabby apartment in Ninetales Vale, there's space here.

video

[recuttal]

[Well now you're just gonna make him feel bad for apparently waking someone up.]

Ninetales Vale? You mean the place with all the ghosts?

[Real descriptive there.]

I don't think I've ever been around there before, actually.

video

[evokedorpheus]

It's not too bad if you don't mind the ghosts. [His being a Dark-type probably helps with that. He offers a smile before continuing.] The apartment itself is pretty ghost-proof and it's better than being out in the cold, right?