junpei

[polyapathy]

Comments

W1, SATURDAY;

[crashout]

[After the trial, there's one specific girl on his mind. He would've followed up with her anyway regardless, but after Monika's accusations and the ensuing chaos? Now it was more pertinent than ever.

It's why he actively seeks Katy out, approaching her wherever she's at.]

I feel like we could both use a drink after that. You in? [He'll get to the real intentions of this conversation later, but also the last nine hours sure were something.]

[polyapathy]

[Junpei will likely find Katy roaming around one of the various floors of the ship, checking rooms, looking for something... But, oh, Junpei is apparently a worthy distraction. She laughs.]

All the way in. Lounge or pool?

[Since they have a variety of "bars" to choose from now.]

[crashout]

Pool if you're good with that. I get the feeling the lounge is gonna be a little crowded tonight and after being locked in a room for nine hours...I'd kinda like the fresh air. [And he'll gesture for her to follow along.] Congrats on not actually being a culprit.

[polyapathy]

I'll never say no to some fresh air.

[She follows him out, pleased that he clearly made the right decision in venue.]

Thanks for not voting for me. It's good to know this group has brains when it counts.

[Which isn't actually shade at this particular crowd. Just, like, crowds in general. There's usually at least a few dumbos, so she was expecting to have at least a couple votes.

Once they make it out to the deck, she takes a moment to bask in the night air before heading to the bar. Yes, this is good. This is nice.

And this time, she's the one that steps behind the bar.]

What're you drinking?

[crashout]

Yeah, well...it's gonna be a long couple of weeks if this keeps up. May as well start early. [With thinking, he means. Maybe he's just a little awkward about the compliment even if he's pleased all the same.

He follows along, rolling his shoulders a bit and heading toward the bar. He lets her take his original place and leans on the counter to eyeball the bottles on display.]

Whiskey's fine. Or surprise me? Ladies' choice. [He's mostly interested in what she'll pick.]

week 2; tuesday night; pool bar

[polyapathy]

[They keep running into each other like this. For good reason, though—the bar and general pool area is the best place to hang out on the ship, if you ask Katy. She's here to grab a drink before likely turning in for the night, and apparently Junpei's got the same idea.]

You've got good taste.

[She leans against the bar, offering him a smile, and then grabs for a bottle of whiskey since that's just where she's at right now.]

I think this officially makes us drinking buddies.

[crashout]

[It's been some kind of day, and he thinks about how he used to spend his nights on the streets and at bars when he wanted to drink alone. It's sort of what he had in mind for tonight, a drink with a view to stop thinking for a while and time away from everyone who talks to him...but there's Katy.

Katy, of course, is an exception to this. He doesn't mind her company at all, finds it fun and easy to talk to her and as he approaches there's a grin right back.]

Yeah, well, guess I could always use more of those. [The whiskey gets an approving nod though.] What're we drinking to today?

[polyapathy]

[She takes a swig straight from the bottle and then slides it over to him as she thinks.]

To sleeping through the night on Thursday.

[Is that too real? Might be, but it's the kind of thought that's on your mind when you're on a dark ocean.]

And to all of us getting out of here.

[crashout]

[There's a look that says it's too real but he doesn't disagree at all, taking the bottle to down his own pull. He doesn't pass it back right away, thinking for a moment.]

Good goals to have, even knowing we're at a disadvantage. [The bottle slides back to her. They can trade.] ...I've been thinking about it a lot, too. Every time I look at someone...well, you start wondering if it'll be the last time you see them.

week 2; saturday post-trial; lounge

[polyapathy]

[It's fairly late when Katy stumbles into Junpei in the lounge—not literally, mind you, no aphro today, but she wasn't expecting him to be up here, is all. She starts a bit when she notices him. Was she beelining for the liquor cabinet??? Maybe.]

Oh, hey.

[She runs a hand through her hair.]

How are you holding up?

[crashout]

[He's busy burrowed in a corner of the room because he figures there are enough lounges and bars elsewhere, but belatedly he remembers that oh yeah, the pool bar is busted to hell and back. He blinks in surprise at Katy's appearance, but he settles on a nod even as he glances at the cabinet.]

A real question or a rhetorical question, Katy? The choice is yours. [So that probably says something.]

[polyapathy]

[Ah.]

That swell, huh?

[She's a bit more stumbly that usual, but she makes her way over to him. It's probably fine. She leans back against the wall and then just slides down to the floor next to him, though she keeps a careful amount of distance between them so as not to crowd him. For the aphro touching, yes, but also because she wouldn't want someone all up in her space if she were him, so.]

You'd better not be blaming yourself over any of this.

[crashout]

[He appreciates it, thanks Katy. But...he stares at his feet.]

I can blame myself for part of it. I definitely consciously did some things. [Just. Ugh.] And anyway...I shouldn't, but I feel partially responsible for her.

week 3; monday; garden

[polyapathy]

Hey.

[What's up, Junpei. Katy slinks up behind him to bump a shoulder into his. The sex boat is free from the aphro curse and she's going to take full advantage. She missed casual touching.]

How're ya now?

[crashout]

[THANK GOD APHRO WEEK IS OVER. Instead, Junpei's in the garden and even if it's indoors, it's kind of nice to be surrounded by something that isn't water. He seems to be glancing at a patch of purple flowers when Katy approaches, but there's a grin and a gentle bump back. Even if he won't say so, he's kind of a big fan of casual touching, too.]

Is it too much to say "better now that you're here"? [Teasing, of course, but there's a light smile anyway.] But...I'm okay, I think. [He lifts a hand and gestures to his head.] This is quiet for once.

[Probably not for long, but the five minutes of peace is nice.]

[polyapathy]

[She laughs.]

How sweet.

[He's right, though. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and inhales deeply; finally, something that smells a little like home. She's used to sprawling farmland, not seaspray.

If the killer(s) this week fuck up the garden, she's gonna crack skulls.]

So long as you're good as you can be.

[No one's ever really "good" here, she gets that.]

Keep an eye on the ruins when you're able, too. I gave Escha my lighter and told her to send us some smoke signals.

[She's not expecting it to work, but there's hope in it, at least.]

[crashout]

Yeah...working on it one day at a time. [What else can be said about it? It's another day with more mysteries to solve. Also let's be honest, it's a new location, of course someone's gonna fuck it up. But that's a thought nobody needs to dwell on right now. He doesn't seem to mind the laugh. It's sort of a nice sound, all things considered, and this time when she speaks he actually turns to look at her.]

Very smart thinking. I've been checking on them every hour or so to see if anything changes, so now I have something to look for. [He subtly adjusts the watch on his wrist. The time's still running even if it doesn't match the current time itself. But something occurs to him and he pauses.] You showed her how to use it, right?

week 3; friday post-investigation; deck

[polyapathy]

[It's a bit late by the time Katy heads out to track down Junpei, but she eventually finds him (spins roulette) out on the deck. There are few places left on the ship that aren't downright cursed, so although she's been avoiding the deck this week, she's glad to find him out here. The fresh air will be... nice. Needed.

Maybe he tries to greet her or maybe he doesn't notice her until she's like right there, but either way, she slugs him hard in the arm.]

I know you've got a role, and it lets you sniff out other roles. Haymitch told me. What the fuck?

[She will never stop being a brat over being left out of the loop.]

And before you start with me, yes, I'm aware there's rules, you couldn't tell me, whatever.

[But she's still grumbling as she yanks her cigarettes out of her pocket—a different pack this time, Junpei might notice. Someone's made use of the gift shop.]

[crashout]

[He's on the deck and his head's reeling from everything which means that, like, yeah he isn't noticing until he's suddenly punched in the arm!?]

Katy, what the fu-- [The words die as soon as it registers what she's just said. And now he's just. Staring. Blankly. For a long moment.

...and his expression very slowly clouds over like he's going to be responsible for a third body today.]

...what exactly did Haymitch tell you? [Also he's eyeing the cigarettes and he, like, doesn't normally smoke but he's sorely tempted to ask because he's livid goodbye everyone.]

[polyapathy]

Don't give me that look.

[But she sighs, and after she lights up her cigarette and takes a puff, she offers it to him. Yeah, she saw that look, and she super gets it.]

He told me you two were working together, and that you'd uncovered a shitload of others with roles. And that you can't say shit unless I tell you I know what's up first.

[Hence why she opened with that.]

I know what he can do too, as you'd expect. He's all hellbent on keeping this shit under wraps, but I don't see the point.

[crashout]

[Just. The same withering look and he'll take the cigarette. He's tried once or twice in his life, so it's only one drag before he passes it back. It was possibly just out of spite, but who knows.]

...I didn't even know Haymitch and I were really working together until a few days ago, even though I found out about his role on Saturday. But I won't lie, I'm pretty fucking pissed he told you more than I would've liked. No offense against you, but there are people with those roles I'm trying to...["Protect." The word dies a little too easily.]

The point is there are still people out there I'm trying to find and until we really know what all of the roles can do and what the point is, we can't just start telling everyone out in the open. Especially since some of our roles have been getting killed.

But, since we're being honest--[The word's spat out, an effect thanks to a feeling of broken trust from Haymitch.]--I was going to check you next week if I didn't figure it out from you first.

week 4; friday post-investigation; 2nd floor hallway

[polyapathy]

[Junpei is just about to FINALLY ENTER HIS ROOM.......... when Katy appears, hello, they've locked eyes and must do battle.]

Got a minute?

[She nods at his door. Clearly, she's got something she needs to talk to him about privately.]

[crashout]

[He has absolutely expended his daily amount of energy he's regained in recovery from being a human battery, which is why he looks a little bone-weary when Katy shows up. But, he nods and scans his clamshell in to open the door, holding it open for her to walk in first.]

What's going on? [And he follows and shuts the door.]

[polyapathy]

[In she goes, and she's not even gonna bother with hi-how-are-yous, it seems. She's talking as soon as the door closes.]

Did you know what Edelgard was up to when she offered me up as a suspect last trial?

[crashout]

I had a feeling when she wouldn't let up, but I'm still pretty pissed about it given Escha tried the same trick and we still lost her, not to mention we would've let two demons go.

[...] I found out about her role after I told the others what I knew. I didn't get a chance to update anybody before Saturday.