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

[peerlesscucumber]

[ Use the right character, Midorima!

Shen Qingqiu stares down impassively at the screen before stating in perfect solemnity: ]

Which kind of luck are you most desiring to attract?

[ There's too many kinds! Or enough to be more than one! Luck in fortune? Long life? Prosperity? Marriage?! Specifics! He needs specifics! ]

[accurately]

All of them.

[ Probably not marriage specifically but he'll take all the others. >B| ]

[peerlesscucumber]

...

[ Really, young man? Really?! He offers a wan smile and a light, low laugh, eyes half closing as he considers the best answers... which are all more applicable to mortals than immortals. Make your own luck and such. ]

Avoid placing any dragon in the bedroom unless you balance them with a phoenix.

[ Which is related to good matches, but also a warning because a dragon alone is theoretically too much yang energy to allow for restful sleep. Which is more relevant, he supposes. ]

A turtle dragon can be for one kind of luck... a dragon prow boat another. Facing a dragon toward the water source in your kitchen is beneficial to various types of luck, as long as the surface it's on leaves free room around it, and it's not placed too high. If I remember correctly, there shouldn't be three dragons to any one room, and no more than five dragons in a home, for the best potential luck. Beneficial directions for placement are East and North; East if you only are placing one.

[ Should he mention colours? Water colours! Black or dark blues and greens!

Fuck is there anything else... it's really a toss up in what symbols one believes in, as far as he's concerned. Energy flow is one thing, and that's something he could check in person, but hey. If they want to amass symbols of luck because it's something they choose to believe in, why not? ]

[fineprinted]

[ oh, so now it's tsumugi's turn to write all that down. this is true teamwork, all right? ]

This is all so helpful, thank you so much! I'm sorry that we're both being too much of a bother to you, but we'll take your advice as seriously as possible.

[ this... might be bad? sqq, what have you done ]

Maybe when we're done furnishing the place, we could show you the photos? Oh! Or you could come over when it's all finished! Please shower us with your blessing, good sir!

[ really bad. ]

[peerlesscucumber]

[ Ah, the nostalgia for talking over phones in his first life... is really fading fast! Very fast! ]

Oh? [ Shower them with his what??? That just sounds suspect! Suspect as hell! Young man, please don't talk like that! Also, why are you both taking him so seriously?! He's not steering you wrong, but also, this is a bit heavy on superstition! Very heavy! ] I... certainly could review the flow of energy through your house, if you were both insistent on it.

[ He's not inviting himself over! Are you sure you want this old man to "shower" you in his "blessing" of feng shui?!?!?!?! ]

[accurately]

[ If it sounds weird, it isn't obvious to Midorima. ]

What time works for your schedule? We're both still settling in and don't have scheduled jobs; this is the ideal time to do this.

[ That's the least embarrassing way to admit that he has nothing to do all day. ]

[peerlesscucumber]

[ It's kind of a normal state here, young man, especially if you're brand new! No one can hold that against you! ]

Mornings. In the hours directly following sunrise.

[ He'd rather be dealing with this nonsense first thing in the morning, before he's had a longer day to handle. Also... that's when he most wants to be distracted. ]

[accurately]

That's fine.

[ He's a morning riser. He's used to waking up to see the Oha Asa broadcast back home. He can get up a little earlier to get ready instead of expecting to eat breakfast at that time. ]

Will you be charging for your service?

[ ...Because if not, he can come by tomorrow, but if he is they'll need a minute to save up. ]

[peerlesscucumber]

... A handshake from each of you would usually be an indication of a sealed agreement. In this case, I suppose it would serve as a form of payment as well.

[ Since handshakes aren't... okay, he's more used to gripping forearms, but handshakes are easier, simpler in this world context, and also about the limit of casual contact he'd want with anyone he doesn't know. Ergo: he's not looking to make much money off this, but he's not doing it for free!

It's also him checking to see if these teens are willing and capable of coping with the bare minimum around here, doubly so when handshakes are, by their nature, brief affairs. Blessedly brief affairs. ]

[accurately]

[ Thank god. The bare minimum, AKA handshakes, are doable. Midorima is an athlete, they shake hands after each game. That much is not a challenge, even if he's had a few people be ridiculously rude about handshakes in the past. ]

That's a deal we can accept.

[ He definitely just accepted on Tsumugi's behalf. ]

[peerlesscucumber]

[ Did he just accept on his roommate's behalf? ]

You speak for yourself and your companion?

[ Roommate isn't precisely the term he'd use from his time so.......... living companion.................... it is........................................ ]

[accurately]

[ Midorima gets the meaning. So he doesn't bother correcting him, either. ]

Yes.

[ He states it simply. It's a handshake. He's fairly certain Tsumugi won't have a problem with it. ]

My dominant hand is my left and will be taped. [ Fair warning. He doesn't know if that makes a difference or not. ]

[fineprinted]

Wh-Why is he already speaking on my behalf...

[ not that tsumugi opposes to it, but still! you'd think midorima is a team player with the sport he plays!! ]

But yes, we both accept that offer. We live an awfully simple lifestyle, so handshakes would do just as fine.

[ tsumugi's a rather shy guy anyway. gotta crawl slowly towards first base before anything else. ]

May we ask for your name, good sir? For formality's sake.

[peerlesscucumber]

My apologies for the lapse in manners. I am called Shen Qingqiu, Aoba Tsumugi. As for why Mr. Midorima speaks on your behalf, it's a question you may wish to clarify with him. Soon.

[ He'd paid attention to the video, more or less, but uh. Yeah. Look, young man, if you let someone start talking for you now, it's going to be harder and harder to be heard over their own stubbornness later!

That's the extent of his thoughts on this process, and since Tsumugi is stating his acceptance, Shen Qingqiu is fine actually following through on this particular distraction technique.

Or not a technique, but it's close enough. ]

When you both decide on a day, simply give me your home's location, and I'll be there at the agreed upon time.

[fineprinted]

Ah, but you should definitely get a job soon, Midorima-kun. It can be part-time for now.

[ tsumugi's still looking for one, though it's more than obvious that he'll work for the libraries just like back home... nts find a good-luck charm for work as soon as this stream is done. ]

[accurately]

I'm working on it. Job searching doesn't have a set schedule in the meantime.

[ Look, the other option is moonlacing, of course he's looking for a job. That's what it's important to do this now, before he has one! ]