Yeah, exactly. Sometimes...it's easier if your first time is with a friend you trust, so...it worked out. That's why it's important people get to know each other better here.
[...] I'm fine for this week, too. I think I forgot to mention that, but that's just for this week. We still have...well. We don't know how many weeks we'll have of this. I asked Chuuya-Red and he wasn't sure.
We have to have sex every week to keep the demon away? Do you know... what we must do to banish it completely, Junpei-san? How to find us a way to return home?
[A nod to the question...but now he just looks disappointed.]
...I'm working on it. I promise. [It's weighing on him even if it's not solely his responsibility. He's not Nightwing. He's not a hero or anything stupid like that, but he's the one who's played these games before and he's the one with ideas of what may save them. Why wouldn't he try?]
The thing that's a little worrying is...I wonder if we'll have to face them eventually. Take them out ourselves. We can't run forever.
Junpei-san... You don't have to work on it alone. [It's true, Junpei isn't Dick Grayson. But even Dick Grayson shouldn't be working on it alone. Not that Junpei is completely.] I can help you, if you need it...
[He frowns.]
I would rather not run at all. There must be a way to... I'm not sure. This isn't... I'm not as skilled as Nikkari-san or Wei Wuxian-san in these things. There must be a way to banish it. But Wei Wuxian-san... says it isn't best to draw it out yet.
[...] You're always so quick to offer help. But I know. When I need help, you'll be one of the first I call.
I've been talking to Wei Wuxian, too, about how we can try to make barriers and test some things. We don't know what we're dealing with or how we can fight it. I don't like running but if all we can do is just barely stay ahead...what's worse? Constantly being on our toes, or facing it head-on?
[...and then he remembers who he's talking to.] Don't face it head-on.
[Ha ha! Bold of Junpei to assume he won't face it head-on anyway given the opportunity! Swords! Remember Plasma? Funny.]
We can... face it when we're prepared. [He'll accept that much; it'll be what they have to do in the end probably, he thinks.] Please be careful, Junpei-san.
Only if you do the same. [...but for something lighter:] I want to make sure you and Prompto are taken care of and stay safe. So...don't forget to come to me if you guys need something. Prompto's got a lot of nervous energy, but he's helped a lot. So have you.
[It’s so good Junpei can wrangle two puppies so well. Nice. The praise even gets a bit of a flush out of him.]
We will come to you. Prompto-san... is one of my favorite humans. [This is before he finds out Prompto’s little branded secret.] I told him you would help him, too, if he needed it. If... he didn’t want to have sex with me.
[Please don't say that, Hizamaru, you have no idea what Junpei's tattoo says. But it's fine because there's an awkward grin even as he fumbles past that.]
I'm not sure he won't want to have sex with you because of the whole friend thing, but...you're right. I'll do what I can. [...] I talked to Tonbokiri about this, too. It's really important for you guys to start branching out and getting to know people well enough to be able to be comfortable with them. If what the rules say are true, we're going to keep losing people. I don't want either of you ending up in a situation where you're only sleeping with each other and something happens.
[He will not flat out say "if you're fucking and one of you dies and leaves the other without contacts."]
[He brightens, though it's a bit weak. Like he knows he did a good job, but the situation is kind of dire.]
I'll talk to Prompto-san if you haven't. About having sex with other people. [If he had a tail, maybe it'd wag some.] I have six tokens already, Junpei-san. [Sorry, he's just very honest and also a Sword. Junpei is his friend?]
So if you need something from the gift shop...
[Did he still try to collect tokens to help them? Who knows.]
[He'll talk to Prompto but he doesn't tell Hizamaru that. Instead, there's a lot to unpack here and he's just. Boggling. I'm sorry, you did what now, Hiza???]
Six tokens. [Holy fuck. He almost wants to laugh but he's stuck on being a little bewildered.] That's...a lot. Good job. [NO.] Save them though just in case. We might need to pool resources together later if things get worse.
[Good to know this sword is willing to share.] But there is something else you can help me with. You can't tell anyone though, okay? I don't want this getting around in case it's a target of some kind.
[Please don't make him give out a headpat, Hizamaru is truly too pure for this. I hate you so much for making me write this. Anyway, there's a grin because that's also a good idea.]
Bartering's good, too. Are you earning those tokens with different people, or...? [i.e. "did you sleep with someone multiple times?" It doesn't matter but that's his own curiosity to determine if they're rewarded that way.] We're in a state of sexonomics. Determining how the tokens can be moved and what they're being used on most will help us learn a little more about what to expect from people. [Did he have to turn economics into a sex pun? No.
But with that said, he folds his arms over his chest to thing.] ...I'll probably tell Higekiri myself, so just this once it's okay. Don't mention it to him until I tell him. I thought you might know something by being a good listener. [Sometimes you just have to insert gentle praise to make people give out answers.] Have you heard of anyone receiving a mystery box recently? Like a present.
Yes. [To answer the first question. He looks thoughtful for a moment, eyes up, a finger curled under his chin.] From Polly-san, and Illumi-san, and Dimitri-sama... and Illumi-san again, and Prompto-san, and Chuuya-san. [KILL ME DEAD]
Okay. I won't tell elder brother. [But the question makes him frown. He tries to think if he's seen anyone with a box, or if someone said anything, but he shakes his head.] I don't think so, Junpei-san.
[That answers that and that list is so fucking much. His eyebrows lift because--] How the hell did you get Illumi to have sex with you twice? [Wait.] And what color was Chuuya's hair...?
[All of that aside, he looks a little conflicted before he nods. Give him a sec, he's reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring.]
Blonde? [Listen. He really DOESN'T KNOW THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE CHUUYAS. He was wondering why people had been calling Red Chuuya "Chuuya" at trial, and he hadn't thought it strange there had been two profiles with Chuuya? It must be the same one, clearly.] Illumi-san showed me how to...
[Hm. He's not sure how to explain it. He gestures at his groin? Sorry, he's a sword...]
In the morning, when it grows? He said there was a way to get rid of it. He said to find him again when I wanted to learn other things. So I found him. We sparred. He's a very good--
[Hizamaru needs a leash.]
Ah...? [The ring distracts him. He looks between Junpei and it.] You got the present, Junpei-san?
Okay stop, stop...I got it. [HIZAMARU NEEDS A LEASH AND JUNPEI JUST LOST TEN YEARS OF HIS LIFE.] At least he's being nice to someone, or something. I haven't talked to him very much myself.
[Illumi lowkey weirds him out. But anyway, yeah, he nods while he keeps this ring pinched in his fingers. Hizamaru might not be able to tell, but it's a nice diamond and the ring size is meant for someone with slender fingers. It wouldn't fit Junpei himself.] A box with my name on it showed up in my room. When I opened it, this is what I found.
[Thank god, let's not right now. But he looks kind of irritated.]
Who knows. Could be that they sent it just to fuck with me. [You start sleeping around and get a nice reminder for your troubles.] ...it's definitely mine. I bought it for someone else, but I didn't have it on me when we got here.
[Recognition blooms on his face.] Oh! Junpei-san! It's... yours? You received it from home?! [Now he's sort of rushing up to Junpei's side to get a better look at the ring.
Be careful with it. It's...really important. [He'll hand it over if Hizamaru wants to look.] I'm not sure what I would've done to earn a reward. That's where I'm getting stuck.
Someone might've looted my pockets before I woke up. That's the last place it was before we arrived here.
[Cupping his hands together, he lets Junpei put it in his palms, and he holds it as tenderly as if it were a baby bird. He doesn't even try to put it in one hand and use his other to pick it up and look at it.
He just... brings his hands up closer to his face.]
It's very beautiful, Junpei-san. [He offers it back with both hands.] Please keep it safe. You've received something nice from home. Perhaps it means it isn't difficult to return.
[Or it means they're holding its owner somewhere hostage but he's not saying that. He'll take the ring carefully, slipping it into his pocket.]
It could mean that. [...] If you have time, I'd like to ask for your help. Talk to people here, see if anyone else starts receiving stuff from home that they didn't have before. I'd like if people didn't know it was me asking or know what I have, but...if we can find a source, that would be a good start to finding a way out.
[Don't kill his optimism with your cynicism, depression percy.]
Okay. I haven't heard of anyone receiving any gifts except you, Junpei-san... or if someone went to the gift shop, but... I'll see if anyone says anything.
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[...] I'm fine for this week, too. I think I forgot to mention that, but that's just for this week. We still have...well. We don't know how many weeks we'll have of this. I asked Chuuya-Red and he wasn't sure.
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We have to have sex every week to keep the demon away? Do you know... what we must do to banish it completely, Junpei-san? How to find us a way to return home?
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...I'm working on it. I promise. [It's weighing on him even if it's not solely his responsibility. He's not Nightwing. He's not a hero or anything stupid like that, but he's the one who's played these games before and he's the one with ideas of what may save them. Why wouldn't he try?]
The thing that's a little worrying is...I wonder if we'll have to face them eventually. Take them out ourselves. We can't run forever.
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[He frowns.]
I would rather not run at all. There must be a way to... I'm not sure. This isn't... I'm not as skilled as Nikkari-san or Wei Wuxian-san in these things. There must be a way to banish it. But Wei Wuxian-san... says it isn't best to draw it out yet.
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I've been talking to Wei Wuxian, too, about how we can try to make barriers and test some things. We don't know what we're dealing with or how we can fight it. I don't like running but if all we can do is just barely stay ahead...what's worse? Constantly being on our toes, or facing it head-on?
[...and then he remembers who he's talking to.] Don't face it head-on.
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We can... face it when we're prepared. [He'll accept that much; it'll be what they have to do in the end probably, he thinks.] Please be careful, Junpei-san.
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Only if you do the same. [...but for something lighter:] I want to make sure you and Prompto are taken care of and stay safe. So...don't forget to come to me if you guys need something. Prompto's got a lot of nervous energy, but he's helped a lot. So have you.
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[It’s so good Junpei can wrangle two puppies so well. Nice. The praise even gets a bit of a flush out of him.]
We will come to you. Prompto-san... is one of my favorite humans. [This is before he finds out Prompto’s little branded secret.] I told him you would help him, too, if he needed it. If... he didn’t want to have sex with me.
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I'm not sure he won't want to have sex with you because of the whole friend thing, but...you're right. I'll do what I can. [...] I talked to Tonbokiri about this, too. It's really important for you guys to start branching out and getting to know people well enough to be able to be comfortable with them. If what the rules say are true, we're going to keep losing people. I don't want either of you ending up in a situation where you're only sleeping with each other and something happens.
[He will not flat out say "if you're fucking and one of you dies and leaves the other without contacts."]
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[He brightens, though it's a bit weak. Like he knows he did a good job, but the situation is kind of dire.]
I'll talk to Prompto-san if you haven't. About having sex with other people. [If he had a tail, maybe it'd wag some.] I have six tokens already, Junpei-san. [Sorry, he's just very honest and also a Sword. Junpei is his friend?]
So if you need something from the gift shop...
[Did he still try to collect tokens to help them? Who knows.]
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Six tokens. [Holy fuck. He almost wants to laugh but he's stuck on being a little bewildered.] That's...a lot. Good job. [NO.] Save them though just in case. We might need to pool resources together later if things get worse.
[Good to know this sword is willing to share.] But there is something else you can help me with. You can't tell anyone though, okay? I don't want this getting around in case it's a target of some kind.
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Okay. I was going to save them unless elder brother or you needed them. Or if I could use them to barter.
[He's trying? Gently, he perks up, like he's focusing.]
I won't tell anyone! I promise, Junpei-san. [A pause.] Is it okay not to tell elder brother...?
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Bartering's good, too. Are you earning those tokens with different people, or...? [i.e. "did you sleep with someone multiple times?" It doesn't matter but that's his own curiosity to determine if they're rewarded that way.] We're in a state of sexonomics. Determining how the tokens can be moved and what they're being used on most will help us learn a little more about what to expect from people. [Did he have to turn economics into a sex pun? No.
But with that said, he folds his arms over his chest to thing.] ...I'll probably tell Higekiri myself, so just this once it's okay. Don't mention it to him until I tell him. I thought you might know something by being a good listener. [Sometimes you just have to insert gentle praise to make people give out answers.] Have you heard of anyone receiving a mystery box recently? Like a present.
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Yes. [To answer the first question. He looks thoughtful for a moment, eyes up, a finger curled under his chin.] From Polly-san, and Illumi-san, and Dimitri-sama... and Illumi-san again, and Prompto-san, and Chuuya-san. [KILL ME DEAD]
Okay. I won't tell elder brother. [But the question makes him frown. He tries to think if he's seen anyone with a box, or if someone said anything, but he shakes his head.] I don't think so, Junpei-san.
Did someone get a present?
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[All of that aside, he looks a little conflicted before he nods. Give him a sec, he's reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring.]
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[Hm. He's not sure how to explain it. He gestures at his groin? Sorry, he's a sword...]
In the morning, when it grows? He said there was a way to get rid of it. He said to find him again when I wanted to learn other things. So I found him. We sparred. He's a very good--
[Hizamaru needs a leash.]
Ah...? [The ring distracts him. He looks between Junpei and it.] You got the present, Junpei-san?
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[Illumi lowkey weirds him out. But anyway, yeah, he nods while he keeps this ring pinched in his fingers. Hizamaru might not be able to tell, but it's a nice diamond and the ring size is meant for someone with slender fingers. It wouldn't fit Junpei himself.] A box with my name on it showed up in my room. When I opened it, this is what I found.
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Did someone send you a gift because they like you, Junpei-san? But you're not wearing it... [Hm. It is kind of small.] Your name was on it...
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Who knows. Could be that they sent it just to fuck with me. [You start sleeping around and get a nice reminder for your troubles.] ...it's definitely mine. I bought it for someone else, but I didn't have it on me when we got here.
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It's from Junpei's world, so he wants to see!]
Did you do something good to earn a reward?
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Be careful with it. It's...really important. [He'll hand it over if Hizamaru wants to look.] I'm not sure what I would've done to earn a reward. That's where I'm getting stuck.
Someone might've looted my pockets before I woke up. That's the last place it was before we arrived here.
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He just... brings his hands up closer to his face.]
It's very beautiful, Junpei-san. [He offers it back with both hands.] Please keep it safe. You've received something nice from home. Perhaps it means it isn't difficult to return.
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It could mean that. [...] If you have time, I'd like to ask for your help. Talk to people here, see if anyone else starts receiving stuff from home that they didn't have before. I'd like if people didn't know it was me asking or know what I have, but...if we can find a source, that would be a good start to finding a way out.
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Okay. I haven't heard of anyone receiving any gifts except you, Junpei-san... or if someone went to the gift shop, but... I'll see if anyone says anything.
Perhaps it was only you, Junpei-san?
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...if it was, then why me? That's why I want to see if it happens next week to someone else, too.
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