UN: ecraig; Video

[fiddlestick]

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...

Comments

[fiddlestick]

[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?

[motiv8]

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.

[fiddlestick]

[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?

[motiv8]

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.

[fiddlestick]

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.

[motiv8]

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?

[fiddlestick]

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...

[motiv8]

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...

[fiddlestick]

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!

[motiv8]

[Elliot, your thirst...]

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

[fiddlestick]

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]

[motiv8]

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...]

[fiddlestick]

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]