VIDEO, @GEKOKUJOU

[liquidate]

(in the beginning, it looks like suigetsu is trying to take a selfie with a particularly horrifying looking fish with teeth longer than its dorsal spines. but he lowers his peace sign, pulls the phone closer for a flattering view of double-chin, and grins into the camera.)

Yo, I'm Houzuki Suigetsu, and this is my first network post of all time. I'm gonna make an announcement to commemorate it, so listen, okay? I won't repeat myself just 'cause you wouldn't pay attention the first time around!

(hope your phone has a translator, because it's notably japanese, both spoken and written on the sign suigetsu lifts up. it looks handmade and like something a child in elementary school could cook up. and while there's an attempt at english, to appease the majority of the people here, both languages have poor spelling and even poorer handwriting.)

Do you like fish and fish-like things? Amphibians and, uh, things that look a lot like amphibians that I'm not too sure about? Well, look no further than—



(eyes creasing, there's a flash of pointy chompers that make him look like he belongs there.)

We were open before this, but I thought that there should be more of you guys going now that I work there. Like the sign says, we're open every single day except for Sunday, from nine in the morning till five in the evening. This might mean that you can't come, 'cause you're at your own job, but you should leave there and come here for a tour instead!

What do you think? It's a swell idea, right? Are you coming right now?

(a tilt to his head, raising the phone back up so only his eyes, his forehead, and his fish friends are visible. many bubbles are blown, many alien crab pincers are pinced. and honestly? it looks kind of fun.)

Lemme know if you are, so I can meet you at the entrance and give you one of my super special all-inclusive tours, with a bonus prize if you listen to my whole talk without interrupting. How could you pass an opportunity like this up?! The right answer is that you can't!

Suigetsu, out-o!

Comments

[leatherdaddy]

[ GUYS CAN BE PRETTY TOO I MEAN JUST LOOK AT HIM ]

You can have those too - with your face printed on 'em. It'll make for a good advertisement for your aquarium.

[ Maybe spelled correctly, though. ]

[liquidate]

...

Paper fans have nothing to do with fish. You're weird.

(POT, KETTLE.)

[leatherdaddy]

No, no... you give the fans out. When it's hot outside, people are gonna use 'em.

Then they see you and... [ What is even the name of this place, it's barely legible ] the name of your aquarium. Trust me, it'll work.

[liquidate]

It's the Beachside Aquarium. Beachside Aquarium. Look here. (tapping his sign!)

I can't just go spend a bunch of money on paper fans. I'm more of a paper lantern kinda guy, anyway.

(this makes no sense to anyone but himself. and sasuke.)

[leatherdaddy]

[ Gladiolus stares, then sighs. He tried. ]

Suit yourself. Hey, do you like water volleyball?

[liquidate]

...

What's volleyball?

[leatherdaddy]

[ Gladio squints. FOR REAL? ]

Uh... a competitive sport? It's fun. If I get enough people together, I want you on my team.

[liquidate]

(wh— now he's being included in sports and picked for things?!

did he actually die and not know it?)

How hard do you have to try at it... Like, can I pitch in every once in a while, and float around the rest of the time?

(but are you sure you really want this on your team...)

[leatherdaddy]

[ Try not to overthink it, Gladio wants your mad command in water skills for his team. HELL YEAH. ]

Guess that depends on how far into the lead we are... [ He scrubs at his chin and thinks a moment, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. ] And how much face you wanna lose to your competitors.

[liquidate]

Well, I wouldn't lose.

...

Unless Sasuke was on the other team. Can he be on our team too? If not, I don't wanna play...

(TOO SCARED)

[leatherdaddy]

[ Gladio leans his head to the side. Huh. Okay, guess they're really close. ]

Dunno yet, I only just thought of it... all this talk of water reminded me that you were the kind of guy I wanted on my team.

[ Let's just keep it simple and straightforward - not a complete answer but it'll do for now. ]

You and Sasuke are close, huh?

[liquidate]

That's nice of you to think of me, Gladiooo. I'll be on your team, I said, so don't worry.

(looks pleased enough now, though; he knows he'd be devastating at any water-related sport. he could give sasuke a run for his money, too.

as for the next comment, it gets a quirk of a brow.)

I wouldn't say close; Sasuke and I were teammates a couple years ago. I helped him reach some of his goals and then the war ended, so we're not partners anymore, but I guess we know each other a little more than most people. Why do ya wanna know that?

[leatherdaddy]

[ Ah. Nakama then, or at least maybe at one point. He understands this. ]

Do I need a reason to ask? I don't know anyone here, I'm - [ A pause. ] Maybe a little envious.

[liquidate]

Envious?

(tries to understand... fails...)

Are you missing your pals or something? 'Cause if it's just that, that's okay. You're a nice enough person, so you won't have any trouble making new ones.

[leatherdaddy]

[ It's not just that, it's not that simple. Not just a matter of making friends and --

Hang on, did he just compliment him? ]

...No, no -- Listen, forget what I said, alright? It's complicated.

[liquidate]

If you say so.

(that's it. doesn't ask again, doesn't push for an answer. simple is as simple does.)

Are you coming to the aquarium, or not?

[leatherdaddy]

[ That's admittedly a relief. Gladio isn't in the mood to talk about it. He'll remember that. ]

Right now? [ A pause. Well... he doesn't have any training sessions today. Maybe that won't be so bad. The only problem is that this seems like the sort of thing he'd take Iris to, or a date. ]

...You mean... just the two of us?

1/2

[liquidate]

(is this a trick question)

2/2

[liquidate]

...

Yes?

WELP... /accidental date is a go

[leatherdaddy]

[ Uh.


Okay. So, that's... fine. It's not the first time Gladio's been asked out and certainly not the last, casual dating is the name of the game for someone who can't afford the luxury of settling down. He just wasn't expecting it from this guy. And it's too awkward to question it a second time. Gladio scrubs hard at the back of his neck and grimaces. ]

Sure, I guess. I'll uh... [ Why is he agreeing to this? Is it pity? Morbid interest? Comedic value? ] Be there in an hour.

[liquidate]

Alright...

(it better be morbid curiosity, because if you tell him it's one or both of the other reasons, heads will roll.)

You're the first, so go easy on me. I'm so not an expert yet. Man, I just got kinda nervous.

(this is his first tour, after all.)

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS

[leatherdaddy]

[ By the Six, don't say that - now he's nervous. Alright, Gladdy. You can't disappoint the guy, he might not take it very well. So he's just... going to do what he usually does.

He takes a shower, styles his hair. Puts on basically one of the three damn outfits he owns, all variations of grey or black and leather. A few push-ups to get his arms swole - YES THIS IS A THING. And just. Gets himself in the mood. ]

Oi, Suigetsu.

[ It's an hour later and Gladio's probably been pacing outside for a good 10 of those minutes, not sure if he should come in early. He opts for sliding in right on time to exude confidence. ]

[liquidate]

Oh, it's Gladio.

(he looks strangely normal, already standing by the entrance in a turquoise t-shirt complete with aquarium logo, a pair of jeans, and thong sandals, pointing through one of the windows on either side of the door.) You were walking around out there for a while, did you drop something? (still a ninja, still an expert at being a creep and watching someone nervously pace for ten minutes.

then it becomes clear that there's a fist-sized snail latched onto the back of suigetsu's hand, being casually motioned around while he speaks. there's too much going on here at once.)

I can help you look, if you didn't find it.

[leatherdaddy]

[ That moment when you think you're in the zone, feeling groovy like nothing can stop you -- until something happens to show everyone that embarrassing thing you hoped would fly under the radar. When someone loudly calls across the room that your fly is down, or your wingman says 'you've got a bat in the cave, bro' like five feet from a girl you like - you know, stuff that usually happens to Prompto. This record scratch was brought to you by Suigetsu, what Gladio knows to be the most awkward person he's ever met. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Gladio stiffens up. DAMMIT, CAUGHT ]

Tch -- [ Give him a bit to come up with an excuse, any excuse. Scrubbing at the back of his neck, Gladio stares down at Suigetsu and should feel kinda good about the guy offering to look for his imaginary belongings, but instead he just feels annoyed. DON'T ASK. ]

Nah, I - uh - must've left it in my other pants. It's not a big deal.

[ Why did he agree to this. ]

...So, aquarium. [ Let's quickly pretend that never happened. ]

[liquidate]

If you say so.

(stupid is as stupid does; suigetsu doesn't suspect a thing. he simply turns on his heel and beckons his new student with a wave over his shoulder, setting off to the front desk.) Just wait while I check you in, then we'll head out, 'kay? (lets gladio get his bearings from that doozy of a first minute, picking up a pen to—

oh. right.)

Um, how do you spell your name? G-Gura... Guradi...

...

(writes "gdo".)