deernet | accidental video; un: joker

[ The video turns on and there is a sound like... bees? No, maybe something... vibrating? The video is dark. It's hard to tell. Then the video shifts, and the noise shifts with it, and then -- ]

Maurice, get off of that--

[ There's a belligerent meow, and then the video feed is abruptly filled with light as it's made apparent that a large cat that is clearly someone's Omen was laying on the video feed. A second later the entire scene is made more apparent: there's Akira (who you may recognize from a previous post that he guest starred in) peering down, holding the (large) cat in his arms. ]

Oh. [ He sets Maurice down. ] Go harass Akechi. [ Maurice, for his part, looks imperious in the way that only a cat can, and then walks out of view of the camera entirely. Akira reaches down... there's a very shaky camera for a moment before Akira seems to properly get ahold of his Omni that he left a little too carelessly where a cat could get it. ]

Hey, does anyone here cut hair? [ Now that you're looking-- if you're looking-- you can tell that Akira's hair has gotten... long. He's tied it back in a very messy, curly manbun, but it has the clear appearance of someone who has given up trying to look remotely put together and leaned hard into the 'crazed coffee hermit' look. ]

I, uh... can give you a good cup of coffee in exchange. Or some curry.

Also, does anyone know how to take care of frogs? Thanks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm sure I could cut hair if I tried.

[ he's fairly sure that anyone can. it's the quality of the cut that probably matters, right? but hey--- if no one questions his lack of qualifications... ]

What makes your coffee better than anyone else's?

I'm trying to get it to look like what it used to look like six months ago, but it turns out that's a lot of length...

I'm a professional barista. Or I was back home. Well, part-time. [ And temporarily retired, but. ]

Oh! That's amazing.

[ a beat, then: ]

You do seem pretty young to be a bartender...

[ because they're the same thing obviously. bartender, barista. both b words. ]

They don't let me handle the alcohol, but I can make a mean water. [ It's fine, Akira has a lot of b-word jobs under his belt. Bartender. Barista. ...Bhantom Thief. ]

But I'm pretty passionate about the coffee part.

[ pseudo bolitician, experimental blab rat... ]

As opposed to a nice water?

[ venti flashes a smile, then waves casually. he's been around some 'mean' hydro slimes before. ]

But yes, I could surely try. Curious though--- I assume your roommate isn't up to the task?

[ a familiarly named roommate to this young bard... ]

Mean water is just nice water that's served at a bar. [ Probably. If you say things and you sound like you know what you're talking about, people generally let you get away with it. ]

Uh-- which one? I've got two.

[ One who is willing to help and one who is Akechi. ]

Ugh! That's painfully true, my fluffy friend! The meanest water is always at a bar...

[ maybe it's just his imagination, but is akira's hair growing more and more wild every time venti looks back up from his drink? or maybe his vision is getting a little blurrier... ]

Oh, the one you mentioned. Akechi, right? He had an aura around him that could easily shear a layer off or two of hair from your head!

[ the sort of stern, a little too serious boy he met not too long ago. or maybe it was a very long ago. he can't remember. ]

Oh, yeah. I don't know if I want to give him an excuse to have sharp objects around my head, actually. [ Akira does not think Akechi is going to kill him (*again), but he does think that Akechi is absolutely not above shaving a bald track into his head just to make Akira suffer in a way that is inconvenient but ultimately not life threatening.

Probably. Probably not life threatening. ]

If words could cut, I definitely wouldn't need a haircut with him around.

You don't have to tell me twice!

[ all business, no pleasure. a demeanor that was sharp and cold and very... disarming. sure, he also had the air of someone who was also pretty damn competent but... ]

And you live with him? I hope your other roommate can show mercy!

He's not so bad once you... okay, no, he's just as bad once you get to know him, but in a way that makes you like him? [ No, Akira, that's... that's mostly just you, but that's not what's important-- ]

My other roommate is very kind, so I'm sure it balances out.

[ venti blinks, wondering if somewhere out of camera, akira's being held at gunpoint. should he ask if he needs assistance or something?

nah. ]

Is... that... you know, that doesn't sound particularly pleasant!

[ but he's relieved to hear that last part. ]

Good! Good. Still, I do believe there is probably something genuinely kind in Akechi... or is that belief completely unfounded?

No, I think so too. I mean, he doesn't think so, but he's been wrong before. [ And Akira will prove him wrong again, Akira's sure of it. Determined. Stubborn, even. ]

The more of us there are that think it, the easier it'll be to prove him wrong.

[ Is. Is that how it works, Akira?

Sure, why not. ]

[ venti hums for a few seconds, mulls the idea through his head... ]

You think? So you're saying if we all believe he can be good, he'll be good.

[ like crowdfunding a positive mental attitude for him??? ]

... I like it. Okay. I guess I should ask if there's anything he does very well in particular, other than... um... provide... scathing looks...?

He's really smart! [ Oh no. Akira is only too happy to talk about all of Akechi's good points, but mostly he just suddenly looks entirely too excited and also a little -- embarrassed? Is that some pink in his cheeks? ]

He's really strong at fighting, which is great in this place, and he's really independent and clever. He's just, you know... also kind of an asshole.

[ okay. maybe he's not being physically held hostage, but... there's definitely something going on here. ]

He could be that without the last thing. [ venti knows he's saying the obvious, which is why he follows: ] But you probably like that about him too, huh.

Well, it's like... he wouldn't be him if he wasn't an asshole. It's fine if he becomes less of a jerk over time, but I want him to do it on his own terms. I'm not going to like him any less if he does or doesn't.

[ -- but that's not the point! ]

-- But he has super nice hair that he uses, like, eighty-six products on, so if I ask him to cut my hair he will give me one of those looks like I'm giving him a migraine.

I see... I see.

[ well. if akira likes him, then it's hard for venti to say anything else here. coupled with the fact that he respects his own development as a person... ]

Ehe. That's a lot of stuff just for hair. But if it makes him happy, then that's a good thing too. I can't really question that...

It sounds like he knows more about hair than I do, but like I said! I could try my best. Frankly, I've never needed a haircut myself.

He's really focused on his appearance, so he--

[ Record scratch moment as Akira's brain visibly processes for a second. ]

You've never needed a haircut? [ What magic is that and how does Akira invest in the technology, he's so tired of hair. ]

accidental video; un: joker

video; un - venti

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

do you ever type a tag, close a laptop, and 2 days later realize you never sent it

yep... 😔

no subject

no subject

no subject