[text/video] un: @skull

[ryuji]

[A few days after gravity is restored to the station, Ryuji returns to the mess hall from Haru's garden to find a small robot flipped upside down, panicking through a series of morse beeps and boops, which- okay, that's kind of cool, and quickly figures out that the paneling and suction entrances of the little guy means it's probably meant for filtration and cleaning.

Looks pretty study, looks... waterproof, maybe? He lends a hand to get him right side up and it starts slowly moving forward. Ryuji takes out his communicator and immediately films this as it happens, because, why not?

He posts two videos on the network- the roomba moving down the hall and one, a few hours later in the fitness center as it crawls from the edge, and dives right in.]

Oh shit! Are you supposed to do that?

Whoa, whoa- I don't know how to fix you if you--- WHOA, COOL.




Hey, sup?

Just lettin you guys know the pool looks crystal clear now. All thanks to this little dude.

I figure I should give 'em a name but uh

Everything that comes to mind is kinda lame

Anyway, I think it's good? Anyone wanna give it the first try?

[Complete with file0033.png - a picture of crystal clear water.]

Comments

[artisticliberty]

Of course, if you happen to find anything that can be used for art, please let me know. This entire station could use repainting.

[though, yusuke's not known for having very good luck]

I should think of other art forms to pursue, as well. I am more of a painter than a sculptor, but given the right materials, perhaps...

[ryuji]

Captain Naked? Dude...

[He's heard of Captain Kidd, but that's just causing a weird mish-mosh of thinking of Captain Kidd naked; all bony and terrifying and... without his clothes on? Not really that fortuitous of an image.

He kind of misses the old chap. Having a pirate ship in his heart was pretty neat.]

Well, after the sit ups, you gotta do 100 pushups too. Yeah man, it doesn't get any easier. Maybe you're gonna need to stock up on those healing spells.

[Smiling brightly at him, he gives Naoya a little shove from his floating position.]

[ryuji]

Dude. There's literally no one else in the world I'd give art supplies to. Trust me, if I found anything... it'd absolutely end up in your hands.

[That first calling card... it's amazing the Phantom Thieves even caused anything of an emotional response from Kamoshida. He was probably pissed off that the artwork was so bad, like it was mocking him from afar.

Ryuji worked so hard on that thing.]

That's the spirit, man. You can probably use protein goo to start. If you're a true artist, then it doesn't matter what the canvas is, you're gonna rock it.

[He cherishes you, Yusuke.]

[artisticliberty]

[this is why ryuji and yusuke are friends. that unconditional encouragement, that endless support from ryuji is more than yusuke's ever had in his life, and for all their occasional bickering, it means a lot to yusuke that ryuji believes in his passion.

he can't help but smile.]

You overestimate me, perhaps, but I appreciate the sentiment.

[tho that does beg the question: what kind of art can one make with protein goop?]

I wonder if I could freeze it, and then use solid chunks to carve with. I could make a diorama... oh, but it would probably just re-liquefy after a while.

[hopefragment]

I wouldn't have said mistake... [he hedges, because it's not like he, a boy who's probably never used a hairbrush in his life, has anything to comment on re: bedhead.

But he does as he's told, taking a seat facing backwards on the toilet to give Ryuji better access to his hair. His shoulders are starting to itch preemptively, a kind of this is a mistake feeling as he glances toward the mirror.]

Just be careful with this bit, I kind of like it.

[--The ahoge, that is. He tugs his fingers against that stubborn, expressive bit of hair. It's starting to droop under its own weight, but if that part is getting cut, he's going to be the one to do it.]

...And don't cut my ears off. You know, there was a serial killer back home who went after boys using scissors?

[ryuji]

[The gears start whirring in his head, some... sort... of thought beginning to brew like a potion, bubbling up to the surface. He looks down at the ground, Yusuke can see his lips moving as he talks to himself for all of 3 seconds- and then.

Yeah. He's got it. Science be damned.]

Launch it out to space.

[RYUJI, THAT CAN'T BE YOUR ANSWER FOR LITERALLY EVERYTHING.

But, hear him out:]

Like... clay, you put into a fire to turn it into pottery, right? If you get something down to the point of complete petrification from bein' too cold, won't its molecools [sic] like.... stop vibratin' or whatever? Then you'll have a statue of mashed potatoes and no one is ever gonna be able to tell you to stop playin' with your food.

[He smiles widely. This plan right here? Foolproof.]

[ryuji]

[When Hajime is placed sitting, facing the wall, he moves forward and tries to examine this mop. He smirks, realizing that he's seeing the ahoge from the first time at this angle, and it kind of just... falsely tries to intimidate him from cutting of it. He knows he shouldn't... he was just told not to.]

Hmm... It's kinda like a skyscraper in your hair.

[Okay. Now or never, dude.

Ryuji starts capturing panels of his hair between his fingers, holding it from the root and clipping at the back of his head. He doesn't want to admit that he's actually pretty damn nervous about doing this, so his concentration picks up tenfold.

He can't let Hajime down if he trusted him to do this task, so he does what he thinks is right- cutting upwards into the hair and angled. He's looking to take some of the length down and he makes sure to trim the edge pieces that look like they're threatening to fray.]

Don't worry, I'm not tryin' to turn you into Da Vinci or anything.

[Van Gogh, you dumbass.

Ryuji continues- the cut isn't anywhere near perfect, and uneven, but he's trying his earnest best at it, and look! no bald spots.]

How'd they do it? Like... stab through the chest or somethin'? [And then he grimaces--] They didn't like... cut the dude's dicks off, did they?

[aequoreal]

That is good to hear. ( though as an atlantean, kaldur is far less sensitive to cold water. it is heat that his body cannot cope with. he offers a slight smile at ryuji's considerations, but doesn't respond immediately.

after a moment: ) I will dive, if you do not mind. Please do not feel rushed in your decision-making.

( annnnd excuse him while he strips down his jumpsuit. he's wearing the same standard underwear as ryuji. without the jumpsuit and the magboots on, it becomes clear that there's webbing not only between his fingers, but between his toes, too. that there are tattoos running from his arms down his back, stark and black. that he is either magical or very used to physical exercise or both, chest and shoulders wide, waist narrow, muscles well-defined. )

[ryuji]

Doesn't matter to me much either way. Your style is your style.

[And as he considers pondering how he wants to make entrance into this chlorinated pond, he adjacently thinks about the way Kaldur speaks and wonder if him and Yusuke would get along.

Which changes pace pretty rapidly as he starts to take his clothes off. Here Ryuji is, a scrawny Japanese ex-track team member, all of 17, completely dimmed in comparison to someone that muscular. He'd been working out for nearly a year and hadn't seen much progress. It's not jealousy on his behalf, but admiration. Guys who could get that sort of structure typically took really good care of their bodies.

His hands are webbed. And his feet. Holy shit?

Kaldur shouldn't meet Yusuke. He'd ask to paint him. In the end, he winds up not just canonballing straight in, but rather, taking a seat at the edge of the pool and letting his legs dangle freely in the water.]

Ever try out for a swimming team or you think that'd be illegal?

[setpoint]

Space ghosts? Is that what you think is going on?

[ryuji]

Wait are they not space ghosts

I mean like... IDK it just seems kinda apt

[setpoint]

Do you mean the strange things people have been seeing?

[ryuji]

Seeing... feeling, hearing

It's kinda all lumped together

[setpoint]

Yes. I never assumed they were ghosts. Those don't exist where I'm from.

[ryuji]

I didn't really believe in 'em either, but... you look at all the weird stuff going on and it's like.

Those oni stories that we get told when we're kids

[artisticliberty]

It's 'molecules'. And your plan is lacking some basic understanding of physics.

[but.]

But it would be interesting to see the results of that.

[the more he thinks about it, the more intrigued he becomes]

[ryuji]

Physics are just a bunch of rules old people came up with to keep us down anyway.

[God, please, where's Ren to slap a hand against his mouth and tell him to stop.]

Hah! I see you're on board with the idea. So it's basically gonna happen.

[He's way too damn proud of that, to be honest.]

Now we just gotta get a 30 pound steamin' log of hot mashed potatoes.

[artisticliberty]

[oh lol, physics "keep us down". yusuke sees what you did there]

That was a well-executed pun, though I wonder if you did it on purpose. Nevertheless, I will agree to this plan provided we have a way to reel the food substance back into the station after we release it. I'm assuming we will be using an airlock?

[that's step two, probably, after they get a bunch of food goop]

[ryuji]

[He just stares at Yusuke for a moment, wondering where in the world he came up with a pun about science-y things to begin with. What do you take him for, a NERD?



Oh, wait. Okay, he kind of sees it. He won't mention it. His image game is too strong.]

I think that's the hard part here. We gotta figure out how to get it back onto the station.

[Hmm... he starts coming up with some crazy theories as to how to make this work, but unfortunately, they all involve ridiculous amounts of risk for such little reward.

But Yusuke's happiness is a reward in and of itself. So, go figure.]

We could try to make a net of some sorts? Like a crab trap! And then pull it back into the station.

[imperialsun]

He never wore a shirt. The girls also called him six-pack leader when they were swarming around him. He's a real-life delinquent in every way...but also a good friend.

[Naoya has very special friends.]

This sounds like an intense workout. Were you doing this before coming here?

[Because Naoya is going to grab Ryuji's arm despite the shoving, and pinch with his entire hand to see how much muscle he has.]

[hopefragment]

[It bounces a little when Hajime laughs. He wouldn't call it a skyscraper, but sure, whatever Ryuji.

He'd stop short of calling this relaxing, though, keeping a careful eye on what Ryuji's doing in the mirror. As careful as he can, anyway, straining his eyes to keep a view in the mirror without actually disturbing Ryuji's, uh, handiwork. But it is kind of nice, having somebody he likes to spend time with doing something like this.

I think you mean Van Gogh...]

Hey, careful, you're getting kind of close to my head! [Wincing at one of the longer bits of hair that floats to the floor. Ugh...]

A-Anyway, uh... I never followed the news reports that closely. I think he just stabbed them with the scissors? There was some kind of calling card, too, like... he'd write something on the wall. I can't remember what it was, though.

[He grimaces himself, because ow?? Don't make him think about that, that hurts to think about??]

I wonder if it was a hairdresser who did it. I don't think they ever caught the guy.

[ryuji]

Well... he kinds sounds like a guy I'd get along with pretty well. I think you'd get along with my friends pretty well too.

[Come to think of it... he does have to introduce Naoya to the rest of the thieves. He didn't know why it hadn't happened already- he's also not entirely sure that Naoya hasn't already made initial contact with them.

Forgive him, his social etiquettes are all sorts of out of whack.]

Ay--ay----owch! What the hell? [There's some definition there, but it's lean.]

Hands off the merchandise!

[ryuji]

[His eyes widen at the complaint of his hair getting cut down to size a little closer than he wanted it to. He feels bad- this is something that isn't reversible, and when it comes to these sort of things, Ryuji was especially hard on himself, and it shows as his shoulders lower and he frowns.]

Sorry... I'll try to get better at this shit if we're gonna be here for a while.

[Before this becomes a ritual for all his friends. God, the last thing he ever saw himself doing as a profession was a hair stylist of all things. But he sure can hold a conversation like one, so he's practically half way there, right?]

Well, if you ask me, it's a pretty deeply messed up thing to do. Especially if they're a hairdresser. I mean, you kinda trust them implicitly, right?

[He eyeballs that ahoge, pursing his lips and biting down on the bottom one as he draws it in closer to his mouth.]

Don't move. It's kinda do or die here.

[Snip, snip- he cuts into it, trying to remember how long it looked before, when they had first arrived at the station.]

Your hair grows kinda fast, huh?

[donkeyballs]

... It is. Yeah. Was pretty disturbed, when it wasn't on me to begin with. Not sure if findin' it a month in is better or worse.

Uh - no. Hell, I ain't ever even seen a lion, save in pictures.

[artisticliberty]

Hmmm... if indeed it has solidified, a net would be sufficient to pull it back in.

[are they really going to do this]