kaisou | UN: ecraig; Video

UN: ecraig; Video

WHO: Elliot Craig
WHERE: Network
WHEN: February 27th
WHAT: Video
WARNINGS: None!

[This video opens up to a redheaded guy in what looks like a pretty tiny apartment kitchen. Anyone who attends Kaisou High School will likely recognize him as the music teacher]

Erm...is this some kind of phishing or crypto scam? Because you're really wasting you're time if it is, I'm broke. If you need proof, I can show you my cupboard of ramen and eggs.

[He sighs, muttering to himself anxiously]

I really don't need this right now...

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[He shakes his head]

Believe me, Rean. If my anxiety meds say anything about me, it's that I'm not the type that feels better about stuff if I sit and think about it all alone.

[If anything it's quite the opposite!! ]

If anything, having someone I can trust reassuring me what I'm hearing is real helps a lot. [It sure is what's making him stop from going into denial mode!] I mean, not that I'm trying to put pressure on you to hold my hand! I'm sure some people would say something like "Trust in the Lord" for all this, but we're not exactly on the best of terms right now...

[...............He's still a little salty at Jesus ok. But he seems to realize that's a weird thing to say so he'll clear his throat]

Ah, sorry, ignore that part! I still haven't fixed my babbling problem, as you can see.

Ah, you're getting help for that now? [Maybe he should consider doing that— haha no why would he do that] That's great to hear!

I know you're not trying to pressure me! But you know the kind of person I am... if you need help, I'm always going to be there. I can't help myself. And... yeah, I get it. Honestly, this whole app has been kind of helpful, in a way... at least if we suffer, we all suffer together, you know? No one has to be alone.

[Unless they purposefully withdraw themselves from help and insert themselves into making other people happy instead—]

Haha, don't worry about it. I never saw it as a problem in the first place. [How can he just say things like that with a straight face.] Sounds like you gained some religious salt while you were away, though, huh?

Yeah, I started not long after I moved here. [In other words, once he was away from his family]

Eheh, yeah that sounds like Rean I remember alright! But thanks, I do appreciate it. And the same goes for you! I have no idea what's going on, but I'll be there if you need help!

[He's confused but he's got spirit. GET SOME HELP REAN

He laughs a little sheepishly at that, though mostly at the compliment. Rean really just spouts that stuff like always. It's flattering, but embarrassing. He'll at least come clean to him]

Ah, yeah. I had a boyfriend not too long ago! Really great guy, and I thought things were going well, but.... [But...] Well, he decided become a priest instead.

[And he adds on, as if he's had to clarify this bit several times before and he anticipates the next question] The celibate kind.

[Y...yeah.]

Haha... sounds like the Elliot I remember, too.

[Rean smiles. He's glad to see some things really don't change.

...As for that boyfriend thing, though, Rean winces.]

Ouch. Yeah, okay, I take back any teasing, your salt is completely valid.

[Elliot smiles back. It's funny, it's been some years since the last saw each other, but it's easy to fall back into the groove of things. Some friendships are just like that.

It's probably why he feels venting about the boyfriend thing. Its like all the days they'd gossip about stuff]

Yeah, no kidding. He told me that I shouldn't take it personally, but how else am I supposed to take it? A guy dated me and then decided to pray to Jesus and swear off sex forever. That'd be an ego bruiser for anyone.

Edited 2022-03-01 19:22 (UTC)

[Do not think about sex with Elliot, Rean. Don't think about sex with Elliot, don't think about sex with Elliot, don't—

Rean will be thinking of nothing else for the rest of the day.

He is doing his absolute best not to show it, and in a shocking twist, is pretty much succeeding for once.]

I doubt it's how you think it is, but... I'd probably be thinking the exact same way, in your shoes.

My guess is more that he's just got a lot of issues he's got to work out on his own, though. Raised in some household where sex is evil and he was horny so now he has to go seek Jesus for forgiveness.

[Careful Rean you might end up on the path to finding Jesus yourself]

Eh, maybe. His parents sounded nice, but it's not like I ever met them so it's possible it was like that.

[He sighs, taking another swig of beer and still making a face. bleh, tastes like crap]

But enough about me, what about you? Have you been having magical adventures or romantic encounters?

[Can even Jesus save him now?]

Yeah... you never know. Especially if he came from that sort of upbringing, it probably seemed normal to him.

[Unbeknownst to Rean, no. Gaius just Chose Jesus because he's a freaking weirdo.]

Me? [He blinks for a second, before laughing a little.] Well, I guess you can say something like "magical adventures," what with all of this... this past time a gate opened up into the Spirit Realm, it was full of these magical creatures. Some of them were pretty scary, but some of them were really sweet and docile, too.

I fed one of them one of the berries I collected— it was kind of like a beaver without the tail? It seemed really happy and nuzzled my hand.

[And there is absolutely nothing romantic to report, so just skipping that question!]

Yeah, I guess we'll never know ...

[Though Elliot being Elliot, he's still putting his money on that he's just that bad at sex]

Oh wow....a gate full of magical creatures? Hehe, that sounds like it's straight out of a disney movie! And a beaver without a tail...that sounds cute! I'm kinda jealous I missed that!

[HE WANTS TO PLAY WITH CUTE ANIMALS]

[Rean really isn't in a position where he can tell him otherwise. Although he is trying so hard to focus on that pure memory of petting the beaver thing and not about his old friend in bed.

Even if he did grow up to be pretty cute.]

Pretty much, yeah! I heard some other people had a... less magical time, though, so my guess is that I just got lucky for once.

I hope any future gates are more like that one, though. I know any dealings with the supernatural have some element of danger, but it would be nice if they came with an element of wonder, too, you know?

[Rean just be careful not to mix up those two mental images and wind up with your old friend in bed with a beaver thing]

Yeah! Sounds like! If there's ever a gate that's nice like that, even I might take a look. [...] Though, I think I'll try to stay clear of the more dangerous ones.

[He knows he's just a music teacher. He'd die in a real dangerous situation]

I've heard some people involved in all this have magic. Are you one of them?

Haha... yeah, probably for the best. [Rean understands. Elliot's never been the peak of physical activity or anything.] But if you ever do want to explore, I'd be happy to accompany you.

Not that I really enjoy helping Zodiac out, but they do pay pretty well for their requests...

[Not that he wants Elliot to risk his own life, but... money is Good and Elliot could clearly use it. Rean can make his money off of odd jobs, he's more than happy to donate whatever he collects from the Spirit Realm to Elliot's benefit.]

Ah, magic? No, nothing like that for me. [...] Although, I did get a really cool sword.

[He perks up immediately]

They pay? How hard are the requests?

[Look. He's not immediately saying yes, but he can't deny some extra money WOULD BE NICE...]

A sword?? Where'd you get that? From Zodiac?

January, they wanted us to collect some bramble that could only be cut with enchanted blades they provided. That realm was freezing cold, and while nothing actually attacked me, it was pretty disturbing to be in.

This past month, they wanted us to collect berries from the realm with the magical animals. Which, again, depended entirely on which animals you ran into, but I managed pretty well. It was a way nicer climate than the first month, at least.

[He won't say how hard the requests are outright, but rather let Elliot draw his own conclusions.]

Mm, not from them per se? It kind of... dropped out of the sky and into my hands, and it just felt like it belonged to me. I can't explain it, but it's not like there was anyone around who could have dropped it, so I've just been hiding it under my bed.

Gathering berries and bramble? Well that doesn't sound too bad.

[Were it from anyone else he'd question if there was a catch, but it's Rean. He trusts Rean!]

A sword dropped out of the sky and it felt like it belonged to you? [The heck. He takes another swig of his beer and leans back in his chair a little] I hate that that's not the weirdest thing I've heard in the past hour.

The tasks themselves haven't been so bad, yeah. It's more the world around you that you have to keep an eye out for...

[He laughs a little at the thing about the sword.]

I know, right? When it happened, I was just left wondering "is anime real?" and yet half the things I hear about on here are so far beyond that that the sword thing almost feels... I don't know. Simple, comparatively?

Yeah, that part might be a problem. I can't say many of my dad's survivalist lessons stuck.

[Other than nature is AWFUL and hunting is even worse!!]

If you're calling a sword falling out of the sky and feeling like it belongs to you "simple", I'm a little worried about what else is in store for me to discover...

Well, I'm at least a little better with stuff like that. If we stick together and try not to stray too far off the beaten path, [for as much of one as there ever is,] we should be okay!

Haha, yeah, well... it's not all bad? Just fantastical. And I mean, didn't we all kind of want to be the main characters in some kind of magical story when we were kids? Sure, it's several years too late now, but...

Alright, thanks Rean. I'll try not to hold you back! [He has no idea how, but surely he can do something to make sure he's not a burden..]

Hehe, that's true. I'll never be knight-in-shining-armor material, but- [He almost says something about getting saved by one, but holds back] w-well, there's always minstrels in those stories right? Maybe I'll be something like that!

[Elliot, your thirst...]

Yeah! And besides, a group of knights wouldn't make for a very balanced party, anyway.

Haha, true. That takes me back. I remember those games we used to play together.

[Where he'd usually wind up playing healer to Rean's fighter. He wasn't super good, and he fell out of the habit once he lost touch with Rean but....it was fun]

Yeah, I still remember those, too. I haven't had enough time to play those in years, but they're some fond memories.

[Rean was always more into those games for sure, but... even if he's largely avoided truly becoming an adult, the responsibilities still definitely crept in and overwhelmed his free time.

He's always working these days, whether it's for school or for a living. Even anime club is work, since he signed on to the board. ...That's kind of sad, isn't it? Maybe it's better to just focus on the nostalgia...]

You haven't? Well then, maybe we can find some time to play them!

[He doesn't know if Rean would actually be onboard with that idea. The truth is, Elliot's been pretty busy too between work and finishing his degree and his music. But-

Well, since his relationship ended, he's been lonely. His students were great, but they couldn't ever fill the void that having friends his age could. And Elliot being who he is? He's more than willing to seize the opportunity to cling to someone]

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UN: ecraig; Video

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in which i pretend i made an event post;

the magic of handwaving

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