jikan_network | [video] un: supercoolguy

[Genbu wasn't exactly sure what hurt him more, this stranger trying so hard to gloom up what's supposed to be a cheerful event, or the fact that the way he typed and the words he used sounded all too familiar to him.

And not in a good way. Genbu can feel his heart grow heavy.]

yor a refugee aren't u?? We aren't strangers we all have a common ground and should all find comfort and camraderie in each other I don't like to see anyone here as a stranger Never did back home either And yor most sertainly not fine if the first thing u do is be a grouchy face on someone's happy video post! >:(

[...It was a way of seeing the world that he'd heard before, had dismissed or trivialized or outright contradicted before. There was something nostalgic about it, which... well. It depressed.

There's a slight delay before he replies, pushing aside the familiar melancholy (where it could remain with the rest of it).]

I am a 'refugee', and a freshly arrived one at that. But I'm searching for neither comfort nor camaraderie in the bounteous arms of this foreign star.

We're all strangers to each other. In a place like this, most especially.

And criticizing your performance was not the first thing I did. This was at least fourth or fifth down the list.

[Just ignoring any discussion on him being fine or not.]

[The hell was this guy on about, that was absolutely the first thing he did! BAH!]

I'm not even gonna comment in that statement But it's funny how you say foreign star it reminds me of how someone I know from back home would talk Are u perhaps homesick like I am? Maybe that's why yor so frowny? And yes I can tell yor frowning

[He did several things first, including body theft and sightseeing and having a nap! Commenting on a troublesome rabbit video was not first priority.]

And yet you comment by not commenting.

[As he can't resist just... pointing that out. But from a hint of smugness, he frowns again at the next, tapping his device with a finger as he thinks.]

Oh...? 'Tis a passing oddity, to find familiar patterns here. Whether we want to or not.

Homesick, though. I've been here for mere days. A bit soon for that to kick in, don't you think?

[He could just have ignored it entirely. He's still inclined to- but that shred of familiarity has him hesitate, deciding to add something more with a glimmer of honesty.]

But you could say so. Yet going home would not cure me. Congratulations on guessing a most obvious expression, though.

homesickness can manifest at different times! Hells I was homesick merely bells after coming here I mean u save a world from impending doom and finally get some respite so you decide to go back to your livelihood and perform at a child's nameday party...next thing u know yor wandering the streets of what looks like a different version of a city-state from yor home covered in pie...u can't help but get homesick immediately But...never mind that. I hope that whatever cant cure u back home can cure u here There's so many things here that I never can comprehend happening back home. Different kinds of magic and technology and all sorts of people!!! I'm sure once u make some friends and find yor place in this world maybe u won't be so grumpy anymore. It definitely helped me cheer up!!

[...Okay that was an increasingly disturbing amount of term usage that struck him as particularly Eorzean. Coupled with the familiarity in mood--

It wasn't dread that he felt, but it wasn't anything good, that sinking, unsettled feeling. Yet it wasn't entirely negative either, as he finds he's not sure, exactly, what he's hoping for. He's relieved that this is all over text, for now, as the discomfort and uncertainty in his expression isn't something he fancied hiding.]

Impending doom, was it? You must be something of a hero, then, saving an entire world from some unfortunate fate. What sort of crisis were you faced with...?

[Not even going to touch the 'covered in pie' aspect (it would probably be sticky).

The rest he also ignores, in favor of settling this one point. He didn't exactly feel like discussing his own permanent flavor of homesickness, and especially not all the friends he did not want to make here and had no intention of making.]

yeah u could say that I kinda was regarded as a hero everyone looked up to And as for the crisis.....well it's a long story that involves a lot of history and knowledge of certain things that happen in my world Like a loooot of things and I can tell u probably aren't that interested in listening to all that so let's just say I had to fight someone who was so lonely so anguished so aggrieved at the loss of his home and loved ones that he was willing to do whatever it takes to get it all back Even if it meant causing calamities and killing millions of innocents I simply couldn't allow him to do that! No one could. I don't think even his bygone kin would want that either. I had to stop him.

[Genbu sighs. Whoever this was, he's cruel, making him remember all of this. How long has it been now? Eight moons or so since he's arrived here?]

Edited 2021-09-09 17:13 (UTC)

[Well this was awkward. That's the first thought that comes to mind as Emet-Selch stares at the reply he'd received, every line making the truth that much more undeniable.

There was no way... but it was the only way. It was the only thing that made sense. Replaying the initial video to see if there was anything he'd missed and- Genbunny. Gods. His ears had just slid right off that in favor of staring at the costume. Without anyone else in the video it was harder to tell scale, but... it certainly looked like it could match the au'ra's frame.]

A meeting of ideals, each too precious to be swayed by any other means. A final confrontation, to decide who would be guiding the course of multiple worlds... to choose who the future belonged to. Something like that, wasn't it?

[The last time they'd been face to face, the last time he'd spoken to him... wasn't a memory that was difficult to recollect in every detail. Unconsciously, the Ascian wraps an arm around himself, even though it wasn't as though there was anything about this body or his soul that had taken any damage. It was as if nothing had happened. (Of course everything had still happened. In the end, he'd been convinced, and he wasn't so fickle as to change his mind again.)

It was still uncomfortable to see himself described out like that.]

But you're right about my lack of interest: I do find it tiresome to have details I already know recited back to me.

As for what my kin would have wanted... I don't think we'll ever have the chance to find out, hm?

[Though he suspected that Genbu was right.

Having collected himself before replying, Emet-Selch switches then to video, idle smile and lazy demeanor in place.]

Nice to see you again too, Genbu.

[...He even means it, weird and disturbing as it all was. They were friends, after all.]

why are you typing like that Is this some kind of joke? It's not funny

[Genbu stares at his device after he types those comments. He's speechless, absolutely shocked. Confused. So many emotions wash over him, and he's unable to comprehend it all.

It couldn't be. Who was this!? And why does he talk like...

The final strike hits him when the video feed turns on, filling the screen with a familiar face, one he'd thought he'd never see again.]

Y-you! I...I don't...this...this isn't real. I'm imagining things...it's a hot day and I was on my costume a-and...

[Emet-Selch's(?) screen should be filled with the face of a very confused au ra staring back in shock, trying to explain to himself why he's suddenly hallucinating someone he recently killed. Then...he laughs weakly. And suddenly the feed turns off.

Genbu stares at an empty screen. Seeing that face brings back memories. Of his friends, of his journey, of his adventures, of his loss...Genbu ends up throwing the device onto the ground, confused and frustrated. Good thing he was on soft grass, or else that magicomm would have been destroyed.]

[And Emet-Selch waits, for the disbelief and incredulousness to give way to understanding- and who knows, perhaps even acceptance. Or... something. To be honest, he wasn't sure what kind of reception he would receive, considering that he had only been entertaining this as a possibility for the past minute or so. What was the protocol for a surprise encounter between murderer and the murdered? They would just have to figure it out as they went.

The sight of Genbu there on the video at least confirmed his suspected identity. And the shock on his face was a bit satisfying, Emet-Selch would have to admit, smile becoming a trace more smug.

--But then the video dies, and the Ascian is left gazing at a blank screen, with only their prior messages available to be reviewed. And he waits, expression turning into ever more of a scowl as it seemed ever more like nothing else was about to be forthcoming from his old friend.

Had Genbu just. Hung up. On him?

That just wasn't acceptable. Oh no. That's not how this works. Emet-Selch was the one to come and go as he pleased, to begin or end conversations as he desired. And he was not going to suffer this disjointed moment without ensuring that Genbu was at least as afflicted. They would suffer together.

Even in a city like this it doesn't take Emet-Selch long to track down the au'ra's soul. Incomplete as it was... he'd still never forget it. So it's soon enough that Genbu will be treated to the distinctive sound of an Ascian teleporting a meter or two behind him.]

Come now, where's the respect for the dearly departed?

[His steps are slow, heavy- his usual gait, his usual slouch, while his tone reflects a trace of his annoyance at having to chase him down, though it's still mostly casual.]

Taking time out of my busy afterlife to personally haunt you... I would hope you'd appreciate it.

[A young woman approaches the disturbed Genbu, concerned and confused. Most likely the camerawoman that held up the device. Genbu tells her he's simply remembered something stressful, and tells her not to worry. Sighing, she accepts his standoffish answer, and takes off.

They share their farewells, and he watches as she goes on her way. For a moment, he is alone, and he looks up at the moon that is now brighter as the sun sets.

It's beautiful, and for a moment, Genbu is at peace, not processing the all too familiar Ascian teleport sound that emits behind him. Then comes a voice. Genbu, perplexed, wonders if there's simply some passersby or if someone is trying to get his attention, turns around.

Only to be face to face with the one he just saw on his magicomm. He jumps, dramatically like he always does, and clasps onto his chest.]

{S-SEVEN HELLS!!}

[Despite being in Nippon for eight months, one habit he couldn't ever break were the random Eorzean phrases he'd come to learn and love, having them permanently in his vocabulary.]

{Why...why you here? How did you?? I thought...}

[A peaceful moment, thoroughly disturbed... but wasn't that the Ascian way?

Had Emet-Selch known that there was a good chance that Genbu wouldn't be able to hear his approach, or even his words? Of course. Did that stop him?

Obviously not, and the edge of a smirk crosses his expression. Ascians were good at startling people as it was, what with all the teleporting into spaces uninvited and unwanted- but Genbu took it to another level from there with his reactions. Jumping like a spooked cat (if a somewhat scaley one)... how could Emet-Selch resist?]

Ah, just like old times.

[The old times of... not that long ago, during their brief journey together.

It's then that Emet-Selch realizes that he'd been speaking Eorzean to him, rather than the foreign language they'd all been granted fluency with here. On a whim, he decides to stick with it.]

You thought... what? That I was dead, and that you were imagining things? Yes to one, no to the other, and I'm sure you can work out which is which if you try.

[From a show of light humor his voice falls to a sigh as his steps come to a halt near him. Spreading his arms out, his manner takes on a more serious note as he stares up at him. There was nothing about this moment, this meeting, that didn't feel surreal.]

As for the whys and hows... that depends entirely on what you're asking. Why am I in this world, or why am I bothering you now- one of those I can answer, while the other is just as much of a mystery.

[Genbu could only stare at this man, this...cruel hallucination as he talks. Emet-Selch standing right before him...blurting out his fancy words and poetry as he always did...Genbu could only watch with his jaw dropped.

He didn't breathe in any weird mushrooms, he was sure of that. So why was this happening? Was he imagining it? Or could this truly be real?

Emet-Selch. Hades. In the flesh. Well...in someone's flesh, Genbu was sure of it. He slowly steps forward, his legs shaking. After all, this could be a nightmare of some kind, with Emet-Selch turning into Genbu's zombified father any moment. He places his hands on the Ascian's shoulders and stands still for a moment, before patting around the area, just trying to make sense of it all.]

{Thal's Balls...you really are real! But...why? Of all people to come from my world...why did Nippon choose you...?}

[Holding steady, he waits as Genbu approaches him, surprised to notice the tremble to his legs, the signs that seemed to indicate that the au'ra was genuinely stricken. Which... was only fair, Emet-Selch would have to admit, manner softening the slightest degree.

The hands on his shoulders get a blink, but he accepts being patted without complaint, and though there's a quirk of lips, his amusement is of the mild- nearly sympathetic- sort.]

Not only real, but in the very flesh once more.

[A touch wry, knowing that they both understood that this body was hardly his own. Tilting his head, his eyes remain fixed on him, as if this would all become more real if he was patient enough. It still felt impossible.]

Like it or not, it seems we share the stage again, in an encore neither of us were prepared to perform. I'd prefer to chalk it up to chance, myself- as all other options do naught but disturb.

[Sighing, his look flattens slightly, expression and tone taking on a note of hurt that's not entirely sincere.]

Is it truly so terrible to see me again?

[Gods, would it hurt Emet-Selch to speak normally? He was no Urianger, for sure, but he had his own poetic way of speaking. And boy did Genbu struggle to follow. But supposedly Urianger did his best to prepare him for that.

All this talk of theatres and stages...it was very much like Emet-Selch wasn't it?]

{That's...that's not fair! You can't just...after all you did...to make me feel bad...I-I don't know. I don't know if bad or not. I'm very confused. Not know what to think.}

[Despite his size, Genbu felt so small right now. What exactly was he supposed to answer? is it bad to see him again?] {Maybe...not too bad. I don't know.}

[...Was he truly so unsure? The way his tail begins wagging seems to show some hidden feelings.]

[Occasionally, Emet-Selch did wonder whether Genbu relied on some of the other Scions for translation or just to understand what was going on with the plot entirely. It wouldn't have surprised him. But will that have him alter his own way of communication, bereft as they were of having a helpful ally at hand?

Of course not. They would just have to muddle through as they went, though all of the current uncertainty... it wasn't as though the Ascian didn't share in it. As circumstances went, this was a new one.]

And do you feel bad? Perhaps I'm your conscience come to haunt you.

[A briefly raised eyebrow, before his look turns sober, dropping the usual theatrical facade entirely for a moment.]

--If ever you harbored feelings of guilt- don't. I'm leaving our star in your hands, after all. I won't have you regret anything.

[Though his previous easygoing pretense doesn't entirely reform- the half-smile he gives him is almost a little sad, if anything- his voice lightens up again. That tail wag- he'll take it. His existence wasn't entirely unwanted.]

Well! I'm glad to hear of your boundless enthusiasm towards our fateful meeting on a star foreign to us both.

!!

[Genbu looks up, erm, relatively and meets Emet-Selch's face again. Something about what the Ascian says sparks a little enthusiasm in Genbu.]

{Y-you're right! What's done is done. I cannot guilt about the past. I need think about future. I am Warrior of Light! People need me!}

[Now his tail is really wagging, as he nods with new resolve to the Ascian.]

{Ah, if I ever get out of here that is...}

There's the spirit. ...Almost too much spirit. Don't brush off my death too casually, at least where I can hear you. I told you before that we ancients have feelings too.

[False-hurt aside, he seems satisfied with that reply, Genbu's determination, as he meets the au'ra's eyes. ...And the tail wagging was a bit endearing, honestly. The enthusiasm of Genbu, of a mortal, or of his old friend? Sometimes it was hard to separate them.]

Consider this place a holiday, hm? From my, for once, limited understanding of our circumstance, the time from which we were plucked will only resume on our return to it.

[To resume being... trapped in endless repetitions of it, possibly. If that was true, so long as one wasn't aware of it, it didn't matter, he supposed. The Ascian punctuates his words with a shrug regardless.]

Not that it particularly affects me in either case. I can reminisce here nearly as well as the Underworld. [Not even remotely, but he'll gloss over that.] But I see you've taken up a new... career.

[Time to question some life choices.]

Hanging up the axe in favor of playing rabbit...?

{Eh? Oh!}

[Genbu looks around and runs off, coming back with the head of said rabbit in his arms.]

{Axe is back where I'm staying right now. I didn't give it up, why—}

[It just occured to him. Emet-Selch...only started observing him back at the first, right? That was when things were happening, and Genbunny was put on hold for the time being. Emet-Selch has no idea what kind of person Genbu was before all that. Well then.]

{...This is something I did before I came to the First. I've been doing it...hmmm...maybe since I first came to Eorzea from Othard.}

[Perhaps it was simply the state of excitement he was in, that sense of euphoria from seeing a familiar face from home...that he suddenly came up with an awful idea. He puts the head on.]

{HOWDY-DOO! I'M GENBUNNY! GIMME A BIG OL' HUG!} [Being the professional entertainer he is, Genbunny could fake an Eorzean accent perfectly. He starts walking towards Emet-Selch, arms wide open.]

[Genbu just... running off wasn't at all what Emet-Selch expected, but he waits with an air of bemusement, arms loosely crossed, for the au'ra's return. It didn't seem like when the man had so rudely hung up on him, or to be any attempt at escaping him, so he deigns to be patient. As for what to expect, the warrior returning with that rabbit head in hand... was not it.

He stares. Takes in some of this new information (He worked as some sort of entertainer, before becoming an adventurer, a hero? In terms of temperament, he could see it, but still--), before stopping short entirely when Genbu puts the head back on.

This was worse. This was worse than Genbu wearing the whole outfit, and not only because he knew who this was, now.

Without being conscious of it, Emet-Selch takes a few steps back as the taller man advances on him, taking on that terrible persona he'd seen in that original advertisement. And for a moment he considers whether this really was just an insane dream, some aspect of death that he hadn't considered.]

I- shall think I'll pass, so long as the head is on.

[An actually brief reply to him, for once. This was the face of the person who'd killed him, an unbroken Ascian, and greatest mage of the Convocation? This was who he'd committed the future to, had trusted the memory of his people to? This Genbunny?]

{TOO LATE, BOYO, THIS IS YOUR AFTERLIFE PUNISHMENT}

[So 'Genbunny' screams as he starts sprinting towards the Ascian.

Rest in fucking pieces, Emet-Selch.]

[Being charged at by a rabbit-headed Genbu shouting at him about punishment was not the sort of thing that Emet-Selch expected to endure today, or on any day. It would've been much more reassuring to be come at with an axe. But this... was all the more reason to suspect he was dreaming, that he was delusional, that all his years had finally caught up to him and something in his mind had just broken.

Surely the au'ra was bluffing, expecting him to blink first, to retreat further- and for a second the Ascian does consider teleporting to safety. And all he has is a second or two to mull it over, to think about his options, and while he might like to say afterward that it was a deliberate choice to stand his ground, to not be chased off- well.

Perhaps death had lowered his guard. In disbelief, he simply freezes.

Sturdy Garlean frame that Emet-Selch possessed, it was no match at all for a Genbu running full tilt. Down he goes, and down he goes hard, every bit of air knocked out of him as he's tackled mercilessly into the ground.

And down he stays, apart from a few ineffectual twitches, currently too stunned to be angry. Just too stunned for much of anything.]

W- Genbu!- What--

[Give him a minute or two.]

[Well. Genbu wasn't expecting this.

Genbu ran to Emet-Selch at full speed, fully intending it as a silly jest to mess with the man. After all, the Ascian did have a habit or appearing and disappearing whenever he so please, so Genbu assumed he'd simply be annoyed and poof out of the way, letting Genbu fall to the ground.

So naturally, Genbu is shocked to feel a goddamn body under him when he falls to the ground. The bunny head rolls off of him thanks to the momentum, leaving Genbu's surprised visible to the stunned Ascian.]

Oi...Oi oi oi!! Why the heckers didn't ya move!? I thought ya were gonna go poof!

[Genbu himself was too shocked to keep to Eorzean, jumping to his native tongue. He rolls himself off of Emet-Selch and onto his back next to him, laughing weakly.]

Man...Uri probably would have stayed frozen like that, too...

[At least the rabbit head came off. There was that. Look at that bright side, look at Emet-Selch finding it. He's practically an optimist now.

From startle, from a significant amount of stun, the Ascian glares up at Genbu with a good approximation of ruffled offense (simple continued surprise still weakens the effect). Closing his eyes as if to gather up the required amount of mental strength in order to deal with this affront, he mutters a reply.]

Believe me, I'm asking myself the same thing.

[Fortunately he didn't have to try and shove the au'ra off of him, and Emet-Selch breathes a little easier with the weight removed. And while he notes Genbu's switch in language, he continues with Eorzean, out of habit more than anything.

Remaining dead on the ground out of a kind of stubbornness, he finally opens his eyes again to stare up at the indifferent sky above, giving it a frown of disapproval too.]

If you greet all your friends to the same exuberance, even I might come to fear for their safety.

[With a sigh, Genbu sits up and crosses his legs, placing his arms on them and leaning forward.]

{Oi. My friends are much sturdy than that. You may think of them as nothing more than bugs...but you underestimate them. Uri especially...he studied with Moenbryda, he's learned to be tough.}

[Moenbryda...boy that takes him back.]

[video] un: supercoolguy

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I'm alive

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Text -> video

action;

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I'm alive I think