001 POINTS | video | joint post with fineprinted

[accurately]

[ The video post flickers on to show two people, both looking rather different in demeanor. The taller of the two looks to have a scowl on his face, and eyes and hair a matching deep green. He’s not happy to be here, he doesn’t even feel comfortable leaving the apartment. Which is why he’s here with the shorter of the two boys.

It would’ve been hard to tell that the scruffy, blue-haired boy is the older of the two, but that’s probably part of his charm and it shows in how he addresses the network with a bright smile and a wave of his hand, as if he were a natural at this. ]

--Oh, I think we’re on! Hello, Lunatia! We’d like to introduce ourselves first of all: My name is Aoba Tsumugi, and this kind lad over here is my roommate! Ah, you should say hello too, Midorima-kun!

[ He gestures at the screen as smoothly as he could.

Midorima’s brows furrow before he’s even finished talking, looking mildly annoyed. What he’s annoyed about becomes apparent within only a few seconds as he doesn’t say hello and instead focuses in on correcting what he thinks was wrong with that sentence. ]

Who’s a “kind lad”? Focus on the task at hand.

[ Apparently, that’s all the greeting he’s bothering with. Tsumugi can only sigh a little before facing the screen again, smile still intact. ]

This is Midorima Shintarou, by the way. Seriously, kids these days… Um, but before I go off track, the reason why we’ve put this up is because we have one thing in common, and that is horoscopes. Luck, in general. Do you know there are apps here that tells you your daily fortune and what lucky item to bring around with you to ward off bad luck? Technology’s so amazing! Even though we’re from different worlds, it’s nice to know that there are other people who believe in them -- and that is why we are here today.

[ Midorima’s worried that Tsumugi’s going to go on for too long, so he chimes in with a much more direct demand of their audience over the network. ]

Respond with your astrological sign or birthday if you aren’t sure. We’re also looking to know what items are considered lucky in other worlds that may be incorporated into an apartment.

Y-You can just ask nicely them, you know! People wouldn’t know how to respond if you’re being demanding like that... [ why are tsunderes the way they are, man ] Anyway, it’d be very helpful for us to know everyone’s signs and birthdays to balance out of luck if it ever goes bad for a day so that we can stick with those people for a while… I’m a Leo and he’s a Cancer, if that helps.

Also! If anyone knows other forms of divination such as palmistry and tarot, that’d be greatly appreciated as well… I’m honestly more comfortable consulting with someone privately about my fortunes rather than rely on technology all the time, so let me know if it’s all right to approach you for regular sessions! I’ll pay with Chroma if I have to.

[ Midorima just decides to move on and end the video. He’s not going to give Tsumugi the chance to say goodbye. ]

We’re done.

[ And the video cuts out. ]

Comments

[fineprinted]

I promise I won't give out an excessive lecture or anything! I don't want to bore you enough as it is... But who knows, maybe you could surprise your friends this way.

[fineprinted]

There are a couple of detractors who think that this is all superstitions, but this is all harmless and in good fun anyway. It's not as though we're asking for truly personal information or something like that.

He does have very high standards, doesn't he...? Mm, probably not that high. He did choose someone like me as his roommate, after all.

text; no worries! hope you had fun in there too! o7

[fineprinted]

My name is Aoba Tsumugi. And it'd be such an honor to learn from you! The best thing about being gathered in one place from all over various universes is that you can learn so many things from other people whose lives you've only read in books... I live in a rather mundane world as an idol, you see.

[illequipped]

hmmmmmmm i don't think he'd care.

[spoiler: emil only has the one friend. it's fine.]

but that's his loss, i guess? so sure, why not.

[accurately]

I'm not looking for a special anyone!

[ tsumugi is going to get fired
he doesnt know from what but he's gonna fire him ]

[fineprinted]

It's all right, Midorima-kun! I support your endeavors, no matter what they are.

[ he cooks you meals, tf ]

[koboreta]

That's how I see it too. If it's something you enjoy, I don't think anyone should fault you for it.

You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, Aoba-kun. I'm sure that he chose you as a roommate because you get along well! You seem to have a lot in common, after all.

[accurately]

[ She has a lot of trust for having just barely met him, but he's confident enough that he has an expectation of being believed anyway. He comes back out, dressed in his uniform. It's an odd thought that he's wearing it in an attempt to seek out a new team, but being able to play basketball regularly is important. They'll understand. He changes into his uniform and everything. When he walks back onto the court, he locates whichever bench Sen ended up at to hand over his lucky item. Or, well, set it on the bench beside her. She doesn't need to hold it, just keep it safe and present. ]

Did they set terms for points or would they like to play a full-length game?

[ ..A full 40 minutes seems a little excessive for this, especially if they're expecting 5-on-1, so he expects they'll have agreed to a set point minimum. ]

[accurately]

Yes.

[ That's a little too beginning, he thinks, but he'll let this man tell his side of the story how he wants to tell it. ]

[accurately]

You can add "curious" to your list of matching traits as well.

It can vary. It doesn't disprove anything for you to disagree. Experiences and upbringing have a significant effect on people; while someone may start with a number of traits, their experiences will mold and refine them. It's like a bowl being chipped and worn over time.

Your blood type may influence the traits as well. What blood type do you have?

[accurately]

Don't act like you're familiar enough to know what I'm endeavoring to do!

[tigerpoet]

[He said the beginning!!]

Okay. Where I'm from, there are monsters that are destroying literature. Blacking out the pages and erasing people's memories of them.

Humans can't fight those monsters, because they're inside the books, and obviously flesh-and-blood humans can't go in there. So they've summoned the ghosts of famous authors to fight them instead.

[accurately]

[ Midorima has to admit, that itself is a story he'd be interested in reading. In terms of accepting that as a reality though, it sounds far-fetched.

But so does... being on another world you have to get intimate to make money on.

...Can he go to the other weird world with the literature problems? Though if the authors are here that might be a big problem too. Literature is important. ]

Why are the monsters destroying literature?

[hoasen]

[When he comes back, she blinks at the sight of him in full uniform. It's a lot cooler than she thought, that is, his entire form dressed for the occasion, a real highschool basketball player ready to take on the entire country. Or team. Still, she picks up his lucky item and places it neatly on her lap, so now the dog toy can watch too. Wave at Midorima!]

First to 20 points. Maximum time of two quarters.

[20 points isn't really that much at all, but then they are thinking of giving him this handicap because it is 5-on-1. Do they all know that he can rack up 3's like apple picking? No.]

[accurately]

It won't take one unless their defense is impeccable or they figure out they'll need at least three players defending to prevent shots without my having another team member.

[ ..But he's also easily the tallest one there, so he's confident he'll gain the toss-up too.

He hates to perform like Murasakibara, but with the five-on-one set-up, his most effective strategy is going to be to stay beneath his own basket for defense. He can make the shots from there, then let the other team bring it back to him and steal it, rather than trying to fetch his own rebounds. Any repositioning he'll have time to do when they run back to fetch the ball. His strategy in mind, he takes his position on the court for the toss-up. The ref doesn't seem to think this is fair, but with Midorima's approval.. like, what is he going to say? No?

As he predicted, Midorima catches the toss-up and just flat-out shoots the ball from the half-court line. The ball achieves a ridiculously high arc to the point that it takes longer than any shot normally would, is completely unreachable, and ultimately touches nothing but the net when it goes through.

The other team looks.. honestly a little confused because there's no one even near their goal yet and the ball bounces out of bounds before anyone gets to it. What just happened??

Midorima pushes up his glasses. ]

[hoasen]

Oh? Then...how do they say, "give them hell"?

[He's already got a plan brewing, from what he said, so she's going to trust him entirely. Her arms wrap around the dog toy, a little anxious because in the end, it's still 5-on-1. Anyone watching would think this is like hazing the new guy, even if he towers over all of them.

They all eat their words, later. Even her jaw drops, staring at what just happened. Confusion hits first.]

You...

[She quickly regains her composure and claps excitedly.] Three points! Seventeen more to go!

[koboreta]

Refine... I like that analogy. I've talked with someone else about how my upbringing probably affected my personality a lot, so when you put it like that, everything makes even more sense. Thank you for your insight.

My blood type is A. I know a bit more about blood types than zodiac signs, so I think the traits associated with type A fit me well.

[tigerpoet]

[Midorima would not like literature problem world, or at least, he wouldn't like the library Atsushi lives in. All of the authors are so extra.]

We wish we knew. They're only questionably intelligent to start with, and there's still so much we don't understand about their behavior or their source. At the moment, my duty is to try to hold the spread of them back while brighter minds than mine attempt to study their nature and find a long-term solution.

[foolaround]

You know, they're probably here and just couldn't decide whether to answer the post...

[accurately]

[ It's probably more than enough to mess with their heads, just making that shot without even batting an eye. But as they run to retrieve the ball, Midorima doesn't follow. He doesn't need to follow- they'll bring the ball to him. Midorima is fast, has a lot of stamina, and is excellent at defense. So as soon as they retrieve the ball, he's keeping an eye on it. If he moves too far to one side of the court, they can pass it and while he bets he could keep up with it, he waits until they approach the half court mark again to move. Which is going to mess around with their heads again-- if they could keep cool, they probably would stand a better chance, but the fact that Midorima seems to have let them pass before charging their attempt at a jump shot to steal it is a show of confidence on Midorima's part.

And then he makes his own jump shot from there, at what's approximately 3/4 of the court away from the basket. Again, nothing but net, and the ball is on the opposite side of the court from the entire team. ]

You're going to need to leave some of your team for rebound if you intend on scoring against me even once. My shot range isn't that short.

[ ...Yes, he just gave them advice. It sounds super condescending, but it'll definitely make it harder for him if it works because the entire team right now has to move back to reposition themselves on the other side of the court to even get the ball, while he's still on his side defending his own basket. ]

[accurately]

My blood type is B.

[ So.. low compatibility again. Oops. But he's a Gemini, not a Libra or Aries so it isn't actually as bad as it could be, especially if he's truly as lacking in typical Gemini obnoxiousness as he claims. Midorima's just wary. ]

Not all of my personality traits match Type B traits either. I believe the combination to be very important to understanding a person, since you cannot know their story upon meeting them.

[ He won't deny being selfish, unyielding, uncooperative, unconventional, curious, creative, strong, passionate and a number of other traits both positive and negative matching Type B. ...But he is a responsible person still, and not very relaxed or wild. Type B's get a reputation for being kind of out there and while he's certainly eccentric, he's not a hot mess. As long as he has his lucky item for the day, anyway. ]

[accurately]

[ Midorima himself is extra, so he'd probably just complain about them the same as he complains about every other person he knows... or just keep to himself. He's good at that too. He doesn't have to talk to the authors to get to read books, right?? :) ]

That sounds annoying.

[tigerpoet]

Very much so.

[Atsushi's not someone who really enjoys fighting, or literature being in constant danger of being erased...]

[accurately]

You need wards.

[ Like, how citronella keeps mosquitos away but with book monsters. Maybe supernatural ones if that's the case in their world. ]

[tigerpoet]

If you know any effective wards for book monsters, I'd be happy to take your advice.