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sazanami jun ([personal profile] blundering) wrote2024-03-03 10:46 am
Entry tags:

golden peacock inbox

@lilith
TEXT

AUDIO

VIDEO

ACTION



tfy: (pic#16427236)

[personal profile] tfy 2024-06-20 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Whether or not it's boring depends on your perspective, I'd say.

[He muses out loud. Of course, he doesn't understand the proprietress's perspective; he doesn't know what she considers interesting and what she considers boring. They're still in the "getting to know each other" stage! But,]

I'm sure my life would be considered boring compared to some people here. I've never journeyed across different worlds, been given a powerful god's blessing, or defeated an evil villain with magic. But to someone who considers all those things to be "normal," my life must surely sound abnormal. And to someone who's curious about nobility, or about the dazzling world of idols, my history might just sound like a dream come true to them.

[He's sure the same applies to Jun.

... well, not the "dream come true" part. Jun's upbringing wasn't a dream come true no matter how you look at it. But someone who's curious about the customs in their world, or about the world of idols, would surely find something in his memories to interest them.

But does either one of those apply to her? If he had to guess what the proprietress was after...

He doesn't theorize about that out loud. Jun tells him to "give him a minute," and he falls quiet. He looks thoughtful until Jun brings the tea over, at which point he smiles.
]

Good service as usual. You haven't gotten rusty at serving me tea, which is good ♪

[He takes a very small sip of his tea, careful not to burn his mouth, before setting the cup back down.]

I hope when we leave here, we get to bring some of our possessions back. Like this cup, for instance. Or those adorable plushies we won from the arcade! Though if not, I guess I can always have you win me another one.

[But enough off-topic chatter.

They get back to the memory discussion after that. As a matter of fact, Hiyori would like to hear about the formation of Eve from Jun's perspective. But he did already hear Jun talk about it during SS last year. And he doesn't appreciate being called stupid, either! Then again, he's always been someone who acts frivolous on purpose, so "stupid" isn't an unreasonable assumption. (At least he understands how metaphors work.) He won't bother to get offended. Instead he smiles and answers in affirmative when Jun makes that last suggestion.
]

That sounds good to me. We'll fulfill the task that way, and I'll also get to learn more about something precious to me.

[Or someone precious. His fingers reach for his pen again, and he waits for Jun.]

I'm ready whenever you want to start.
tfy: (pic#16390078)

[personal profile] tfy 2024-06-24 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well. Realistically, they probably won't be "sent" home. He assumes they're going to have to escape while the House's back is turned, so it'll probably just be a matter of grabbing whatever they can grab before they go. Kind of like choosing which possessions to flee with while your house burns down. But as Jun says, they can always acquire new possessions and make new memories (especially once he has access to his bank account again!), and he smiles at the thought of Jun winning him "a bunch" of plushies on an arcade date at home.

But now onto the memory-sharing.

Jun begins discussing his early childhood, and Hiyori sits politely and listens. The memory he starts off with consists of him... watching a Jin Sagami video. Of course, that would be one of his earliest memories. While other kids watched P*kemon and Dor*emon, Jun-kun watched Jin Sagami perform. And his thoughts during that time were surprisingly pure. He didn't become an idol out of "revenge" on behalf of his dad, or anything like that. Even back then, he wanted to make people smile.

Though it's sad to think his parents gave him no choice in the matter. Just like Nagisa-kun, Jun's path in life was decided from an early age. It's something Hiyori can't relate to personally, seeing as his older brother got all the responsibilities associated with being an heir heaped on him. Still, Jun wanted to become an idol for his own reasons, too. He truly was inspired by those Jin videos; watching and learning from them wasn't something he hated. That makes things better, doesn't it?

But he knows enough to know that the story of Jun's childhood isn't about to take a positive turn. And sure enough, it doesn't.

Uncharacteristically quiet, Hiyori takes in the whole story without interrupting. Sitting it out through Jun's pauses, waiting for him to sip tea. He doesn't actually use the pen he's holding. Nor does he break eye contact. But his eyes do become overcast as Jun talks about his parents flying into a rage and his mother crying. His lips thin out, expression somber rather than cheerful.

Even adults can have inner turmoil and carry bitter regrets. But to burden a child with those feelings, and to lash out all because he asked a simple question...

There's a short pause after Jun's question at the end. But he does his best to respond without sounding too heavy.
]

I guess that depends on what you want. That probably was enough detail. But if you're "not done yet," then it sounds like maybe you should go on.

[He smiles. It's small, and there might be something a little sad about the look in his eyes. But it's meant to be encouraging and to show he's unbothered.]

You don't have to hold back for fear of depressing me. I'm someone who always stays bright and cheerful, just like the sun. Remember?
tfy: (pic#16328408)

1/2

[personal profile] tfy 2024-06-28 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[As he just said, Jun won't depress him! He's too bright and shiny for dark and gloomy things like depression! ... or so he says. But he doesn't butt in and say that; he just nods, smiles at Jun, and waits for him to resume. See, he's a good talker, but he can also be an excellent listener!

... even when the story is something gloomy like this.

Nothing comes as a huge shock. At least not really. It's all stuff he already had an inkling about. Jun's talked about his dad and his messed-up childhood before: how his father was defeated by Jin but couldn't move on from it, how he attempted to pass down his hatred to Jun, how Jun trained relentlessly to become an idol under his stead. "He's the guy who killed my old man" was something Jun said on the very day he moved into Hiyori's dorm room, after all. And the tale only grew sadder from there. Forced to bear the burden of his father's bitter regrets and vengeful loathing, Jun was deprived of the fun and freedom that normal children were allowed. This isn't news.

It doesn't make it any less sad to hear the details, though. He's unable to keep smiling for long; the best he can hope for is a neutral face, but even that's hard to maintain in the face of what he's hearing. To think that Jun—his Jun—was treated that poorly...

Something churns in his gut other than just sadness. A hot, bubbling feeling like something boiling inside him. He's angry on Jun's behalf, not that that does any good. That's something he hasn't always felt; he knew how bad things were between them, yet somewhere in his heart he always hoped that Jun and his family would reconcile. He just couldn't shake the feeling, however naive, that families ought to stick together and love each other. The video from Project Saga, where Jun's father congratulated him on his accomplishments, made him think things weren't entirely beyond repair. But now, listening to this...

He just can't wish for such a happy outcome. Not unless Jun receives a proper apology first.
]
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2/2

[personal profile] tfy 2024-06-28 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
[For a moment, while he wasn't monitoring it, his expression might have looked somewhat scary.

But it doesn't make any sense for someone as "bright as the sun" to walk around (or sit around) with a shadow hanging over their face. As Jun reaches the end, he sounds in need of guidance. "What the hell was I meant to do?" he asks. A rhetorical question, but also an expression of frustration and a plea for understanding. In any case, Hiyori knows what to do: focus on Jun's goodness, rather than any depressing stuff.
]

I'm glad you do know better. Since neither I nor someone else could ever expect you to do either of those things.

[He manages to smile just as he did last time. Perhaps his words will sound like platitudes, but they're coming straight from the heart. Just like most of his words to Jun-kun, these days.]

You never asked to be born, or to have that miserable childhood. But all I can say is I'm immensely glad you were born. If it's a "miracle" that brought you this far, then I'm glad for that miracle. After all, as long as you're alive, you can always make new memories. Find new dreams to chase, find people who love you like family...

[He trails off for a moment, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Slightly sad, but affectionate. And not "depressed."]

It won't make up for all that went wrong in the past. But it's a start, at least.
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[personal profile] tfy 2024-07-02 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Hiyori watches his partner's face closely, wondering how he feels right now. Exposed? Vulnerable? Does he feel better, having gotten that off his chest? Or did this memory-sharing quest simply dredge up things he would've preferred to keep buried?

He's not sure which it is. All he knows is that the look on Jun's face seems almost guilty. Which doesn't make any sense, since none of this was Jun's fault. If that is what Jun's feeling, though, Hiyori will just have to help him get past it. It's a fine line to walk, figuring out how to raise Jun's spirits without glossing over all the struggles he's been through. But, as Jun's partner and Eden's (un)official moodmaker, if anyone can manage, it should be Hiyori.
]

Mm ♪

[He hums his agreement, though it's just a little subdued, his smile still a bit sad. They haven't seen Mary in months at this point, and her name is a sharp tug at his heartstrings.]

... honestly, I wouldn't have thought we'd end up such a happy family. Ibara seemed awfully shady when he first approached me and Nagisa-kun. And he was always saying things like, "Here at CosPro, we strive to keep our personal and professional lives separate."

[Yep. Let's blame it all on Ibara. The truth is that Hiyori's only prior experience with an idol unit was the absolute farthest thing from a "happy family." Even though he had the most normal childhood of anyone in Eden, he still didn't know how to go about building a unit into a family. But he's all smiles as he thinks back on their beginnings now.]

But I'm glad Eden's become a place where you can feel at home. And I'm just as glad that I got to see Jun-kun grow stronger and stronger. Like a lotus flower, Jun-kun can bloom beautifully no matter how muddy the water. That's something that's bound to inspire others.

[Perhaps it'll even inspire the proprietress.

... he just wishes Jun's environment hadn't been quite so muddy. That he'd been nurtured and cared for properly instead of being dragged through the mud. But oh well. There's no changing the past, sadly.
]
tfy: (pic#16394991)

[personal profile] tfy 2024-07-05 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[Of course Hiyori can't resist teasing:]

So Jun-kun was already that attached to me, hmm? ♪ That makes you sound almost like Mary!

[Yep. Jun already brought him up, so now it's his turn to mention her. Mary had a hard time adjusting to her new life at Reimei, howling all night when they first brought her home. And then shortly growing clingy and sad whenever she was separated from her owners. Although Hiyori was just teasing, it's not a bad analogy. "A dirty stray dog in an alleyway" is how Jun described himself at one point.

Like Mary, though, Jun is better at dealing with other people than he used to be. He seems to get along well with others, at home and at the resort—a fact Hiyori is glad for, even if it also spikes his jealousy. But if there's a part of him that misses the time when he was the only one Jun felt comfortable around, it's more than made up for by their new level of closeness. Right now, he's the only one Jun kisses and holds, the one who has Jun's love, and the one Jun calls his "partner." That's good enough for him.

But back to the other Eden members.
]

Hm? That's how you met?

[His eyebrows lift.]

He needs to work on his first impressions. He was being driven around when he met me and Nagisa-kun, too. He said he'd been scouting us for months, which would be flattering, except the way he talked sounded so shady and self-important! I'm guessing he also handed you his business card, right? And you must have thought to yourself, "What sort of kid my own age has a business card?"

[Sorry, Ibara. But in spite of all the dunking, Hiyori looks fond.]

But I guess he's always treated you differently. With me and Nagisa-kun, we were more like "assets" he wanted to invest in. But you must have seemed more like a kindred spirit ♪ Perhaps it's because you're the same age, or because of your past experiences. Ibara's been through a lot himself, after all. Though I'd say he's more like a rose covered in thorns than a lotus flower...

[That'll be the last thing he says about Ibara for a bit. His thoughts shift abruptly at the end, when Jun mentions the possibility that he wouldn't have picked him up if he'd known—a possibility Hiyori's mind instantly rejects. He shakes his head at the thought.]

There's no need to be so cynical. In the first place, the name "Sazanami" wouldn't have meant anything to me.

[Since he didn't even know who Jin was until Jun explained it.]

But even if I had known the full story, I still would've picked Jun-kun. After all, if I'd realized your name was "tainted," that would've made you seem even more resilient. Between being a Non-Special Student and bearing a name that lives in infamy, you had every reason in the world to quit trying to be an idol. Yet still you persisted. That shows a great deal of resolve, doesn't it? And that's exactly the sort of quality I'd want to have in a partner.

[Fortunately, he has a good eye for these things. And fortunately, he chose Jun-kun. As he told Jun in an earlier text conversation, he's glad he made that decision, and it shows in the warm smile he wears now.]
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[personal profile] tfy 2024-07-11 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
[It's okay. Even if Jun doesn't dignify him with a response, Hiyori knows the truth.]

I'm pretty sure he was scouting us for the same reason CosPro formed Eden: to conquer the industry and make a profit! If it's talent you want, it only makes sense to turn to me and Nagisa-kun ♪ And he also said something about how "when God shuts one door, he opens another," though we were both too baffled to really puzzle out what that meant by that. Anyway, yep, he handed us his business card! It was a completely different sort of "card exchange" than the one they're so obsessed with here.

[God only knows what Ibara would think of that card exchange.

In response to the friend comment, Hiyori smiles gleefully.
]

Yes, you two seem like great friends nowadays! Even Kohaku-kun could see it ♪

[Referring to something that happened at the hotel in Kyushu shortly before their arrival.

There's more that he could say about Ibara, who had a hellish childhood, and why he might relate to Jun. But he refrains; it would all be speculation, and in any case, hearing Jun's thoughts on the early days of their partnership distracts him. "Maybe you saw something in me that no one else did, huh...?"

He waits for Jun to finish, his gaze contemplative. Honestly, he didn't know the details of Jun's first year at Reimei; he heard bits and pieces here and there, but hearing that Jun was suspended on the first day is a new one. There's probably a lot else he doesn't know. Still, those days are history. ... unless there's something from that time that Jun wants to share.

At last, he softly replies:
]

Jun-kun was cheeky, alright. And he got cheekier and cheekier over time. But at the same time, I was glad Jun-kun had grown comfortable enough to voice his true feelings and thoughts—even when those thoughts were so rude.

[The last word takes on an exasperated tinge, but he's smiling.]

I might be one of the first to see Jun-kun's good points, but I know I'm not the only one nowadays. Now everyone can see it—our fans, our other friends, even the people we've met here. I guess I'm the one who brought you into the light, though, where everyone could see. So if you want to thank me for that, I'll gladly accept your thanks. And in return, I'll thank you for helping me with this memory task!

... you are comfortable with me sharing what you said earlier, right? I know it was rather personal.
tfy: (pic#16378949)

[personal profile] tfy 2024-07-15 03:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Apparently so! Though I don't recall ever seeing him in the audience. Most of our lives were closed to Yumenosaki students, so it wouldn't make sense for him to be there. But if anyone can infiltrate rival schools, it's him, I suppose. Or maybe he sent spies to watch us on his behalf.

[All completely normal things to do in the world of idols. If you're Ibara, that is.

Anyway, that's all he'll say about his time at Yumenosaki for now. He'd rather not go into detail about what ex-fine's performances were like. Just like the rest of Eden, he prefers NOT to talk about the past and any unpleasantness that may have taken place there.

But perhaps he is glad Jun talked to him about his. The fact Jun felt comfortable enough to do that shows trust, and it speaks volumes about the intimacy between them. Real intimacy—not the House's fake version.

It's something they've all built in Eden. He's the one who's closest to Jun-kun, of course. But Jun-kun is friends with Ibara, and even he and Nagisa-kun seem to be getting along well nowadays. Hiyori laughs to himself as Jun bashfully shrugs off the part about Kohaku—who, by the way, is another example of someone Jun's forged a bond with. Someone Jun tries to look out for. How sweet, he'd thought back at the hotel. Jun really has grown a lot.

But he isn't done talking about the past yet, apparently. Reminiscing some more on the early days of their partnership, Jun tells him how he awkward he felt at first, which causes Hiyori to chime in agreement:
]

Yep, it was super obvious you were uncomfortable! So I thought the last thing we needed was for you to call me "senpai," all stiff and formal-like. Though I hadn't expected you to give me a nickname like that...

[A pun on his name, and one that means "princess." They've had that conservation before. But then Jun's next words make him pause, rather than continue talking about the nickname.

His smile turns a little lopsided. "I was afraid you'd throw me out," Jun says. And his instinctive response, of course, is to ask "Whatever made you think that?" But he doesn't ask that. Because it's not like he doesn't know. Jun just gave him plenty of solid reasons for why he might have been trained to expect the worst, and why he might suffer from low self-esteem.

And it's not like Hiyori did much to convey the message that he wouldn't throw Jun away. On the contrary, didn't he used to joke that he would do that if Jun displeased him?

His lips thin out, teeth sinking into his lower one. He'd like to explain that it was just a joke, one he gave up once it became clear enough that he never really meant it to start with. But that hardly seems adequate, especially after what Jun just shared.

Jun at least doesn't linger on that idea. Quite the opposite—he goes on to apologize for not being "educated," to thank Hiyori for bringing him into the light. Which means Hiyori doesn't have to address that part of their past. Something like an apology would feel out-of-place anyway. Or so he thinks, but is that just a convenient excuse he's telling himself...?

There's a conspicuous moment of silence before he finally responds.
]

... You're welcome.

[He moves the unused notebook off his lap and sets it on the table. His tea will get cold at this rate. But he doesn't pick that up yet, either.]

Though you don't have to apologize for the holes in your upbringing. That wasn't your fault, just as Nagisa-kun's unfortunate upbringing wasn't his fault.

[Raised in an empty room, raised in a broken household, raised in an orphanage and then a military facility. None of the other members had normal childhoods. It's not their fault they turned out rough around the edges. But what exactly is his excuse for turning out much the same?

The answer to that is simple, he figures. Everyone gets tainted by the world around them. Nagisa, Jun, Ibara, even him. There's no use endlessly berating themselves for it. He'd rather they all loved themselves. And it's with that thought in mind that he looks Jun in the eye and smiles, properly this time.
]

But I'll gladly accept Jun-kun's thanks, anyway. Just as long as Jun-kun accepts my thanks for being such a good partner.

[A short pause, and then the corners of his lips tick further upward.]

And for putting up with my personality. Especially back in those days.
tfy: (pic#17317617)

[personal profile] tfy 2024-07-30 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yep, they've talked about this. Hiyori assumed Jun was making fun of him when he first heard the nicknamed. Maybe he was. Maybe he still is. But now that things are more certain between them now, more intimate, it feels more like a term of endearment than ever. Like a name he wants to wear with pride.

Even if he can't resist returning Jun's teasing.
]

You know calling me "princess" takes on a completely different meaning now that we're lovers, right?

[He draws out the L-word as part of their teasing.]

It's like Jun-kun's saying he wants to be my prince! Or perhaps my knight in shining armor. Is that why you've been acting so smooth lately? ♪

[His smirk grows more pronounced. But then he admits:]

It's a bit ironic, when I'm the one who's more prince-like onstage. I'm sure all our fans would agree! But I guess I don't mind if Jun-kun wants to slay dragons for me. Having someone like that around is useful ♪

[But even if Jun fails to be useful, he still won't throw him away.

... even though he threatened to in the beginning.

This is the closest he's ever come to apologizing for that, or for some of his other nastiness. Jun's pointed out that he has a bad personality before. And it's not like he disagrees, despite his ego. There are things you don't say, things you don't do, when you're part of a noble family. His upbringing was strict. He was taught good manners. He worked hard to repress all the ugly thoughts he had. Then it was like a dam burst, and as soon as he was out of his family's reach, he just couldn't stop voicing them. But that's fine, right? He's someone important, so he can treat those beneath him however he wants.

Or so he thought, but that sort of self-serving attitude isn't really any different from the one Tatsumi was fighting, is it? The one that made Jun-kun's life miserable.

It's odd and uncomfortable. Feeling this pang of guilt over something he didn't used to feel bad about. But Jun doesn't see a problem. Jun smiles at him earnestly and tells him he's a good person. Because he "accepted him." As though that was some huge hardship.

But it makes sense for Jun to see him that way. As the kind-hearted savior Hiyori positioned himself as. Jun doesn't know what he was like before they met. What he and Eichi-kun did to the "Five Oddballs."

... Or what he did with Eichi's money.

That's not even something he normally feels bad about: using money to woo girls he'd forget by the morning. It's not like he hurt anyone. They were using him, too, of course. But it's something he's been forced to reflect on, thanks to this place. When he thinks about it now, he's not exactly proud of himself. He'd be embarrassed if Jun found out. But of course Jun doesn't know about that, either.

There's no two ways about it. He was pretty unpleasant back then. Still...

He was given a second chance, in the form of the person sitting next to him. A chance to start over from the bottom and become someone different. Which he did. And isn't that worth cherishing? Jun wasn't put off by his bad personality—he's happy to put up with him forever. That makes Hiyori very fortunate. And he would rather celebrate his good fortune than linger on the past, so that's exactly what he'll do.
]

Well, I haven't been stabbed yet. Even though, as Jun-kun said, I have that personality.

[He smirks again, remembering what Jun said in the past.]

So, since I've still got a thousand lifetimes left to live, I'll just work extra hard to cherish Jun-kun during all those years. That should more than make up for all the rude things I've said!

[He reaches for both of Jun's hands this time. There will definitely be more rude words; he's himself, after all. But no more threats of abandonment or jokes about throwing Jun away. That's what he quietly decides.

And it's not like he was kidding about cherishing Jun, either. Because, as he says next:
]

Jun-kun was kind enough to accept me with his whole heart. So the least I can do, as his partner, is to accept every last bit of him.

[He squeezes Jun's hands.]

Okay? ♪
Edited (geez sorry I can't html) 2024-07-30 20:56 (UTC)