bitcoin scholar junpei tenmyouji (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
coolerjunpei) wrote2026-02-21 12:57 pm
coolerjunpei) wrote2026-02-21 12:57 pm
gay psl
[After the world—or simulation or whatever—was reset, Junpei didn't expect any of their relative circumstances to escalate. He thought, well, about due for a break from all that bullshit, so it'll be smooth sailing from here on out. Imagine his surprise to blink and find himself standing in the Nevada desert again one day, then, only months older and more confused than ever and without Charles.
(Gab, however, did happen to be there.)
The whole... Nevada thing... is difficult to get away from at first, both because crises keep popping up and because certain people in the Nevada Group (only Junpei is calling them that) keep being weird about it, but soon enough he's on a plane going to London and not hunched over a desk in an American office somewhere, conspiracy theorizing about mega-terrorists. There's never actually a question in his mind about any of it—was it real (of course), should he keep their promise (absolutely)—and so he's resolute about getting on the plane as soon as he can.
And Gab is with him, too. Doing great on the plane like a real champ. Junpei has never been more on edge in his life, which is saying something after his life, and either this is a really stupid idea or the only idea that makes sense. He supposes he'll find out soon enough.
First, though, he gets lost in London; although his plane lands in the early morning, it's dragging into the late afternoon that he finally finds where he thinks he's supposed to be. He's still got his backpack (he doesn't own a suitcase) and has Gab tucked in one arm to spare his old man legs, and he's tired, and he's nervous, and if he doesn't march right up and knock on the door right now he's going to evaporate on the spot, so here goes. Unfortunately he's a loser, so he says the first thing that comes to mind when one of Charles's presumably living friends answers the door:]
—Uh, [cool start] I need you to punch a guy straight to hell for me. Is that, like... extra?
[haha....]
(Gab, however, did happen to be there.)
The whole... Nevada thing... is difficult to get away from at first, both because crises keep popping up and because certain people in the Nevada Group (only Junpei is calling them that) keep being weird about it, but soon enough he's on a plane going to London and not hunched over a desk in an American office somewhere, conspiracy theorizing about mega-terrorists. There's never actually a question in his mind about any of it—was it real (of course), should he keep their promise (absolutely)—and so he's resolute about getting on the plane as soon as he can.
And Gab is with him, too. Doing great on the plane like a real champ. Junpei has never been more on edge in his life, which is saying something after his life, and either this is a really stupid idea or the only idea that makes sense. He supposes he'll find out soon enough.
First, though, he gets lost in London; although his plane lands in the early morning, it's dragging into the late afternoon that he finally finds where he thinks he's supposed to be. He's still got his backpack (he doesn't own a suitcase) and has Gab tucked in one arm to spare his old man legs, and he's tired, and he's nervous, and if he doesn't march right up and knock on the door right now he's going to evaporate on the spot, so here goes. Unfortunately he's a loser, so he says the first thing that comes to mind when one of Charles's presumably living friends answers the door:]
—Uh, [cool start] I need you to punch a guy straight to hell for me. Is that, like... extra?
[haha....]
no subject
That's also for later, though. He doesn't resist when Charles tips his head up, but it takes him a few tries of glancing at his face and back before he actually manages to sustain the eye contact for more than a split second. This is real, and in the moment it's both the most amazing thing that's ever happened to him and absolutely terrifying. When he was in the desert, on the plane, wandering around London this afternoon— all of those moments were not quite real, not yet. They were just Junpei running after someone he loves again, caught in the purgatory of searching.
Because he's done this song and dance before, hasn't he? Look where that got him. Charles is not Akane, this is the most obvious truth in the world, and yet the fear that something will ruin this at the last moment is still... there.
(And like hell if he's going to say it, but the something is definitely himself, somehow.)]
No, yeah, I know. This is happening. [Now he's getting teary-eyed, of course, blinking a few times to get rid of it because he's not going to do something stupid like let go of Charles just to wipe his face.] It's just, uh... I don't think I got how real until you walked in the room, you know?
[He huffs out another short laugh, shaking his head.]
And I haven't showered, so I've got airline funk.