[cinnabun happily hops along after wei wuxian feeds her, squeaking up at him as she approaches the door marked 3A. it's back to the conference room today where purple heart is sprawled out over a beanbag chair with a cup of coffee and seemingly staring at the ceiling. as wei wuxian enters the room though, they lift a hand.]
[HE LOVES CINNABUN SO MUCH. If she doesn't scamper over to Purple Heart right away, he'll reach down to pick her up after they enter the room, giving her a fond cuddle. He trots his way over, flopping down on the floor next to the beanbag. He's - hm, a little pale?? And also has that kind of "wired because I haven't slept for a while" air about him, but his expression is the same as ever.]
Afternoon! [HE'S ALIVE... SOMEHOW. And he's got another folded paper in his free hand, which he flaps a little.]
I ended up a little busy this week, but I've finally finished that picture.
[cinnabun lets herself be picked up for cuddles, settling down with him in their beanbag. purple heart continues to watch quietly, pondering for a moment because that's also a mood.]
Oh yeah? I'm curious to see what you've come up with. May I? [they hold out a hand then to ask for the paper. show them!!]
[Cinnabun continues to be among his favorite three in camp, with the other two being Pennyworth and Trine.
Anyway, he hands over the paper! When it's unfolded, it's a picture of Junpei in Purple Heart's outfit, but for some reason, he's got a goatee and mustache and he's posing like some sort of diabolical James Bond villain, petting Cinnabon like those evil fluffy white cats.]
I spent a lot of time on it, so I hope you frame it.
[which is to say after a moment, heart reaches up to take off their top hat, and as wei wuxian blinks he'll find that junpei's face comes into view and he looks equal parts amused and relieved and wary.]
Gonna tell me how long you've known, or am I going to have to guess?
[Cinnabun is briefly ignored so he can reach both of his hands out and smoosh Junpei's face, FULL OF FONDNESS. And a lot of other emotions but he's a mess of a human being so no one should delve into any of that.]
Not as long as I should have! That temper outburst should have been enough to clue me in, or when you specifically asked after the rest of the ones from the boat.
[To be fair, he had his paranoid tin hat on for the first week and then was distracted by his role the second week and was then distracted by plotting a murder the third.]
But I'd more or less pinned it the morning I came to give you that jar. I don't think I was as terrible to you as I was to poor Wen Ning, but I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me, anyway - and to thank you for looking after him.
[NO FACE SMOOSHES...but no it's fine because he laughs and kind of looks a little overwhelmed because sometimes...you really adore and trust somebody a lot and it's been slowly killing you not to say anything. it's fine! nobody's damaged or anything!!]
My temper's not that bad...[sheepishly said, because that's fair.] I don't blame you, I...kind of made it harder for you guys to know. I wasn't sure if it would be safe so I picked a persona that'd be the opposite of what you'd expect. [there's a grin though.] ...he'll forgive you at least. He's very fond of you. And don't mention it? He's...helped us out a lot, too.
[EVERYONE'S DAMAGED but it's okay. Three weeks in and Junpei's finally passed his secret on to every thot... He gives Junpei's cheeks a tug when he says "my temper's not that bad", though. PUNK. When he finally pulls his hands away, he scoots closer, though. Maybe he missed his fellow gremlin! A lot!! Maybe for those first couple of weeks he was worried about Junpei out in the void somewhere!!]
You're a really good actor! I'm a little surprised, but it must have been driving you up a wall. I can't believe I flirted with your terrible persona, ah... [Especially when he's? A married man???? Or something???? Fuckin terrible.
Anyway, his expression softens a little at the mention of Wen Ning. He loves his zombie, thank you.]
Mm, his heart is far too big! He forgives me even when he shouldn't. [A dramatic sigh!] But I'm glad, I'm glad. I've heard you've all been working with the dead and caring for the - body storage?
[leave his face aloooone. but when wei wuxian scoots closer junpei allows it and kind of closes the distance. friendship!! also that's valid, junpei being in the void would be a problem.]
I told Taako it was exhausting a while ago before he knew it was me. [because it is!! but he does look marginally offended.] I'm not that terrible to flirt with, am I?
[but he grins lightly at the mention of wen ning.] He wanted to know how I knew you and I told him some things. He admires you a lot, I think. But...yeah. We've been here for a while trying to maintain everything. How much did he tell you?
[He's glad Junpei is not in the body pile, even if he does feel bad that his extremely tired and wired friend has to sit through the Host Struggles... He heaves a sigh, propping his chin up in his palm.]
I told you before, didn't I? That you have the worst kind of luck. [He also grins at that, and winks like a gremlin.] I'd much prefer to flirt with the better version of you.
[The real one!! He loves Junpei, not his Tamaki-like exterior!!!]
Hah - well. We've been through a lot together, us two. For a while, he and his sister were some of the only people I could rely on. [A little quirk of a smile, before he moves on.]
He wouldn't tell much himself and asked me to come speak to you about it, but, you know. [GESTURES.] I was a bit preoccupied! I know they looked through your cabin and hallucinated a lot? That everyone from past games are in a space separated from wherever the dead are, asleep and safe for now. Including some doubles... triples, quadruples. I've heard you're taking turns working with and watching out for our dead, but I haven't heard much about the one in the jade mask yet?
[it's real bad! but he's comfortable like this which means cinnabun is relaxed where she's at and junpei's staring at the ceiling, even if there's a flustered kind of laugh at that.]
I did tell Dick I'd try to cut back but...it's harmless, right? [no!!] But tell me about it. I still don't know how we even got here and why we were picked to be proctors. But that makes sense. He's a good person to rely on.
[but he frowns when the cabin's mentioned.] ...you remember how we would break into places on the ship and the room itself would change or have stuff in it that fought back? It was like that, except it was my cabin. Probably because of my own things tying me down. He's right though. Everyone else is asleep and safe for now until the competition's over. Not sure why there're so many duplicates of some people but I'm not really questioning it either.
That's also right though, yeah. It's easier on us to have rotating shifts, though Wen Ning's connection is stronger. I wouldn't worry too much about the jade mask though.
[Bless Cinnabun, what a sweet little demon. She'll get another friendly little pat when she settles.]
Hah, harmless as anything, I suppose! [IT'S FINE they're all playing with fire here.] It's your terrible luck again, I'm telling you! The universe has some toys that they enjoy tossing around more than others, you see.
[He says this with a light laugh, though, so he's probably just being a punkass again. But he'll nod along at that, humming.]
I remember. They've really started out on a strong foot with the dangers we're facing in these places though, hm? [EVERYONE'S COMING BACK MAIMED OR EXHAUSTED. LORD. But he'll hum at that, nodding.] There are duplicates because there are that many people in each game, yes? Like how so many of these games had a-- Ah, what was his name. [Tapping his chin...] Akechi?
[Oh, to be a small Akechi in a murder game, hated by all.]
Mm, that makes sense. [Since he's fuckin dead. He cocks his head to the side at that, though.] You said so, in that very tired note! But you also said to try learning more about them, yes? Do we just wait until they appear again?
[stop she's not a demon, she's like the least cursed thing about junpei.]
I've gotten that impression. I wondered, kind of, if it was because of the things I could do before. But now I think it was just because the universe thought it was hilarious.
The cabins weren't like this when we were getting them ready for everybody, but now that you're all here it's like...the residuals everybody brought in is making things even harder. But yeah, that's right. Some people are more popular than others and then some are like Akechi who have been in different games and still not entirely liked. [...] It's the same reason there've been multiple versions of Chuuya, or all of Dick's family from different points in time, or how I found out I have some other people I know from home who were in their own games. Looking through everyone's timelines is a mess but it had to be done.
[that aside:] I don't know why they haven't made a reappearance after showing up the first time, but yeah, you're gonna just have to wait. I'm sure they have a reason for stalling, but I can't really ask what it is.
[STOP JUNPEI IS GREAT TOO but he does love Cinnabun.]
You are very fun to tease, unfortunately! [Said on a little huff of a laugh. After Junpei finishes explaining his timeline nonsense, he reaches out though, and pats his shoulder.]
Thanks for all of the work you've done already. [He's grateful! Even if he's still a demon who will tease the shit out of Junpei.] Aiyo... You know, even if it's right in line with how things seem to go for you, I'd really been hoping you caught a break as long as you weren't out there floating in some purgatory until we finished this silly game.
[As for mystery jade mask, he just nods.]
I'll keep an eye out for them, then. We didn't get to talk much last time, but I think they were quite overwhelmed by the number of people who accosted them!
[thanks for the shoulder pat in these trying times, even if he's making a face regarding the universe teasing him.]
Yeah...didn't have much of a choice, right? But probably better that it's me than any one of you. At least I know what these games are like. I don't think I'm going to get a break until we find the fanatic at home anyway so...this is just a detour, I guess.
How did people respond to the jade mask anyway? I haven't really asked.
[He got a shoulder pat of fondness and now he gets his hair tugged, because Wei Wuxian is a brat.]
You already take too much onto your own shoulders. Something like this is just going to age you even faster, you know?
[He says it with fondness, but there's a tiny little undercurrent of worry, there. He still doesn't know how long these three have been stuck here, and the pressure of pretending to be someone else - he knows it's difficult, hah.]
--Mm, well! I've heard some tried to tackle them? Most people that I talked to afterward just seemed baffled by them, though. They didn't seem to have any answers to anything and refused to let anyone near.
[why!!! it's fine he's maybe just. accepting this.]
I know. But...one last time probably isn't gonna kill me and if it does maybe I'll just come back again. [dick doesn't like when junpei makes morbid jokes about his own death but he kind of feels like wei wuxian will let him and also understand.]
To be honest? I haven't really spoken to them myself either. I just know what's going on in this camp most of the time. Could've been they were testing out interacting with the group, or could've been they wanted to cause chaos. I can't guess.
Unfortunately, Wei Wuxian does understand and lets him get away with this, if only because 1) he is the last person to judge and 2) he'll absolutely shove Junpei out of the way if he can so Junpei doesn't get a chance to die fuck you Junpei stay alive forever.]
What's that phrase? Something about getting stronger if you're not killed or whatever. Anyway, if the grave can't hold you down once, I've noticed it has a harder time doing that in the future, too.
[With a little quirking grin... Also what the heckie.]
Yeah. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, supposedly, but I'm not sure I buy it. I knew you'd understand though. [there's a faint hum then.] Let's just hope both of us get out of this alive just like last time, except this time we bring everybody else with us.
[a shrug!] It's possible. I've never talked to them so I only know what I've observed myself. [there's...a gesture to his head. he knows he briefly told wei wuxian about his esper thing but. haha. guess what got louder and worse.]
[Binch he is 100% expecting to die and then be left behind in some weird sacrifice-your-killers-to-escape thing, but since he's already long since accepted the sweet embrace of death, he ain't that fussed. Mostly he is tired and will be even more out of his mind by Monday. It's fine.
He drums his fingers against his chin at that though, head tipped to one side.]
Ah, right - your abilities are back now, aren't they? Just like those four.
[he won't argue about death and life anymore because no? if anyone's living it's wei wuxian and he'll fucking dropkick him into living. all the same, he nods.]
Yeah...but they're different, I guess. Before it was just connecting to the field and knowing about histories I've lived in. Now it's knowing everything about all of the people here and about the camp and things that happen here.
[Can't wait for him to fight Junpei over whoever gets to be left behind.
There's a second there where he's very, very briefly visibly discomforted, though. "Haha the NPCs know everything about us" is one thing, but like. "Haha this friend(??? HE THINKS?? HE HOPES?? He cannot identify friendship.) you made now has access to your entire miserable sordid history!" is entirely different. He hopes it's the way Winter Wizard explained for Junpei too, and that he hasn't looked too closely. Wei Wuxian is loathe to lose the few friends he's managed to gain...]
--Must be noisy. [He reaches out and helpfully pats Junpei's little noggin.] Especially with a group like this! I'm sure people are getting up to all sorts of things at all hours, hah.
Yeah. I kinda tend to pass out on Fridays from information overload. [it sounds like a joke but haha it's actually kind of painful and he hates it, thanks! he also doesn't want everyone's history?? but he recognizes that look because it's similar to the one dick gave him when he said the same thing.]
...I try not to look into things too closely even though it's all there. It doesn't seem fair, you know? My focus is just on the things you guys are doing here to help make sure the trials run the way they should and help us find the bodies after they've been killed.
[the fact that both dick and wwx turned into the blob "oh no" comics upon hearing that junpei had access to their histories is very funny
HE MAY BE JOKING but Wei Wuxian still gives him a quietly concerned look...]
Don't tell me that's why you're gone on Fridays. [Said with a little huff of a laugh like he's joking too BUT HE'S WORRIED. And then he's smiling, and it's a strange mix of apology and gratitude and something hard to pin.]
Kind of you, dear omniscient host. [He says on a joking lilt, even though he really is thankful.] I'm sure you have enough on your plate anyway. Hah, next time we're called on, I'll try to keep things simple and clean for you all.
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Good afternoon.
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Afternoon! [HE'S ALIVE... SOMEHOW. And he's got another folded paper in his free hand, which he flaps a little.]
I ended up a little busy this week, but I've finally finished that picture.
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Oh yeah? I'm curious to see what you've come up with. May I? [they hold out a hand then to ask for the paper. show them!!]
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Anyway, he hands over the paper! When it's unfolded, it's a picture of Junpei in Purple Heart's outfit, but for some reason, he's got a goatee and mustache and he's posing like some sort of diabolical James Bond villain, petting Cinnabon like those evil fluffy white cats.]
I spent a lot of time on it, so I hope you frame it.
1/2
...you forgot the part where I'm twirling my mustache evilly.
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Gonna tell me how long you've known, or am I going to have to guess?
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Not as long as I should have! That temper outburst should have been enough to clue me in, or when you specifically asked after the rest of the ones from the boat.
[To be fair, he had his paranoid tin hat on for the first week and then was distracted by his role the second week and was then distracted by plotting a murder the third.]
But I'd more or less pinned it the morning I came to give you that jar. I don't think I was as terrible to you as I was to poor Wen Ning, but I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me, anyway - and to thank you for looking after him.
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My temper's not that bad...[sheepishly said, because that's fair.] I don't blame you, I...kind of made it harder for you guys to know. I wasn't sure if it would be safe so I picked a persona that'd be the opposite of what you'd expect. [there's a grin though.] ...he'll forgive you at least. He's very fond of you. And don't mention it? He's...helped us out a lot, too.
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You're a really good actor! I'm a little surprised, but it must have been driving you up a wall. I can't believe I flirted with your terrible persona, ah... [Especially when he's? A married man???? Or something???? Fuckin terrible.
Anyway, his expression softens a little at the mention of Wen Ning. He loves his zombie, thank you.]
Mm, his heart is far too big! He forgives me even when he shouldn't. [A dramatic sigh!] But I'm glad, I'm glad. I've heard you've all been working with the dead and caring for the - body storage?
[The Chuuya pile????]
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I told Taako it was exhausting a while ago before he knew it was me. [because it is!! but he does look marginally offended.] I'm not that terrible to flirt with, am I?
[but he grins lightly at the mention of wen ning.] He wanted to know how I knew you and I told him some things. He admires you a lot, I think. But...yeah. We've been here for a while trying to maintain everything. How much did he tell you?
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I told you before, didn't I? That you have the worst kind of luck. [He also grins at that, and winks like a gremlin.] I'd much prefer to flirt with the better version of you.
[The real one!! He loves Junpei, not his Tamaki-like exterior!!!]
Hah - well. We've been through a lot together, us two. For a while, he and his sister were some of the only people I could rely on. [A little quirk of a smile, before he moves on.]
He wouldn't tell much himself and asked me to come speak to you about it, but, you know. [GESTURES.] I was a bit preoccupied! I know they looked through your cabin and hallucinated a lot? That everyone from past games are in a space separated from wherever the dead are, asleep and safe for now. Including some doubles... triples, quadruples. I've heard you're taking turns working with and watching out for our dead, but I haven't heard much about the one in the jade mask yet?
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I did tell Dick I'd try to cut back but...it's harmless, right? [no!!] But tell me about it. I still don't know how we even got here and why we were picked to be proctors. But that makes sense. He's a good person to rely on.
[but he frowns when the cabin's mentioned.] ...you remember how we would break into places on the ship and the room itself would change or have stuff in it that fought back? It was like that, except it was my cabin. Probably because of my own things tying me down. He's right though. Everyone else is asleep and safe for now until the competition's over. Not sure why there're so many duplicates of some people but I'm not really questioning it either.
That's also right though, yeah. It's easier on us to have rotating shifts, though Wen Ning's connection is stronger. I wouldn't worry too much about the jade mask though.
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Hah, harmless as anything, I suppose! [IT'S FINE they're all playing with fire here.] It's your terrible luck again, I'm telling you! The universe has some toys that they enjoy tossing around more than others, you see.
[He says this with a light laugh, though, so he's probably just being a punkass again. But he'll nod along at that, humming.]
I remember. They've really started out on a strong foot with the dangers we're facing in these places though, hm? [EVERYONE'S COMING BACK MAIMED OR EXHAUSTED. LORD. But he'll hum at that, nodding.] There are duplicates because there are that many people in each game, yes? Like how so many of these games had a-- Ah, what was his name. [Tapping his chin...] Akechi?
[Oh, to be a small Akechi in a murder game, hated by all.]
Mm, that makes sense. [Since he's fuckin dead. He cocks his head to the side at that, though.] You said so, in that very tired note! But you also said to try learning more about them, yes? Do we just wait until they appear again?
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I've gotten that impression. I wondered, kind of, if it was because of the things I could do before. But now I think it was just because the universe thought it was hilarious.
The cabins weren't like this when we were getting them ready for everybody, but now that you're all here it's like...the residuals everybody brought in is making things even harder. But yeah, that's right. Some people are more popular than others and then some are like Akechi who have been in different games and still not entirely liked. [...] It's the same reason there've been multiple versions of Chuuya, or all of Dick's family from different points in time, or how I found out I have some other people I know from home who were in their own games. Looking through everyone's timelines is a mess but it had to be done.
[that aside:] I don't know why they haven't made a reappearance after showing up the first time, but yeah, you're gonna just have to wait. I'm sure they have a reason for stalling, but I can't really ask what it is.
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You are very fun to tease, unfortunately! [Said on a little huff of a laugh. After Junpei finishes explaining his timeline nonsense, he reaches out though, and pats his shoulder.]
Thanks for all of the work you've done already. [He's grateful! Even if he's still a demon who will tease the shit out of Junpei.] Aiyo... You know, even if it's right in line with how things seem to go for you, I'd really been hoping you caught a break as long as you weren't out there floating in some purgatory until we finished this silly game.
[As for mystery jade mask, he just nods.]
I'll keep an eye out for them, then. We didn't get to talk much last time, but I think they were quite overwhelmed by the number of people who accosted them!
[LITERALLY.]
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Yeah...didn't have much of a choice, right? But probably better that it's me than any one of you. At least I know what these games are like. I don't think I'm going to get a break until we find the fanatic at home anyway so...this is just a detour, I guess.
How did people respond to the jade mask anyway? I haven't really asked.
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You already take too much onto your own shoulders. Something like this is just going to age you even faster, you know?
[He says it with fondness, but there's a tiny little undercurrent of worry, there. He still doesn't know how long these three have been stuck here, and the pressure of pretending to be someone else - he knows it's difficult, hah.]
--Mm, well! I've heard some tried to tackle them? Most people that I talked to afterward just seemed baffled by them, though. They didn't seem to have any answers to anything and refused to let anyone near.
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I know. But...one last time probably isn't gonna kill me and if it does maybe I'll just come back again. [dick doesn't like when junpei makes morbid jokes about his own death but he kind of feels like wei wuxian will let him and also understand.]
To be honest? I haven't really spoken to them myself either. I just know what's going on in this camp most of the time. Could've been they were testing out interacting with the group, or could've been they wanted to cause chaos. I can't guess.
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Unfortunately, Wei Wuxian does understand and lets him get away with this, if only because 1) he is the last person to judge and 2) he'll absolutely shove Junpei out of the way if he can so Junpei doesn't get a chance to die fuck you Junpei stay alive forever.]
What's that phrase? Something about getting stronger if you're not killed or whatever. Anyway, if the grave can't hold you down once, I've noticed it has a harder time doing that in the future, too.
[With a little quirking grin... Also what the heckie.]
Are they that sort of person?
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[a shrug!] It's possible. I've never talked to them so I only know what I've observed myself. [there's...a gesture to his head. he knows he briefly told wei wuxian about his esper thing but. haha. guess what got louder and worse.]
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[Binch he is 100% expecting to die and then be left behind in some weird sacrifice-your-killers-to-escape thing, but since he's already long since accepted the sweet embrace of death, he ain't that fussed. Mostly he is tired and will be even more out of his mind by Monday. It's fine.
He drums his fingers against his chin at that though, head tipped to one side.]
Ah, right - your abilities are back now, aren't they? Just like those four.
[Their last hosts... Haha.]
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Yeah...but they're different, I guess. Before it was just connecting to the field and knowing about histories I've lived in. Now it's knowing everything about all of the people here and about the camp and things that happen here.
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There's a second there where he's very, very briefly visibly discomforted, though. "Haha the NPCs know everything about us" is one thing, but like. "Haha this friend(??? HE THINKS?? HE HOPES?? He cannot identify friendship.) you made now has access to your entire miserable sordid history!" is entirely different. He hopes it's the way Winter Wizard explained for Junpei too, and that he hasn't looked too closely. Wei Wuxian is loathe to lose the few friends he's managed to gain...]
--Must be noisy. [He reaches out and helpfully pats Junpei's little noggin.] Especially with a group like this! I'm sure people are getting up to all sorts of things at all hours, hah.
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...I try not to look into things too closely even though it's all there. It doesn't seem fair, you know? My focus is just on the things you guys are doing here to help make sure the trials run the way they should and help us find the bodies after they've been killed.
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HE MAY BE JOKING but Wei Wuxian still gives him a quietly concerned look...]
Don't tell me that's why you're gone on Fridays. [Said with a little huff of a laugh like he's joking too BUT HE'S WORRIED. And then he's smiling, and it's a strange mix of apology and gratitude and something hard to pin.]
Kind of you, dear omniscient host. [He says on a joking lilt, even though he really is thankful.] I'm sure you have enough on your plate anyway. Hah, next time we're called on, I'll try to keep things simple and clean for you all.
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