video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Distinguished and not-so distinguished residents of Riverview, hello.

Currently, you are graced with a mugshot of one Peter “Space-Duke” Quill and a view of the messier half of his shared apartment. In his hand is his trusty mp3 player – which boasts at least three hundred songs, holy crap, y’all – and while he has one bud in his ear, the other dangles from the wire. ]

So. Apparently if nothing else, this place has, like, all the music ever. So if I’ve gotta be stuck here, might as well make the most of it, right?

I’m on the hunt for somethin’ new. Tryin’ to play a whole lot of catch up. If anyone’s got any music recommendations, I’m all ears. Songs, artists, albums, weird, avant-garde stuff with a guy saying “number nine” over and over – hit me with your best shot. I’ll try anything once.

Also, uh.

[ A pause, and he turns the mp3 player’s face toward the camera. The screen happily displays the album art of The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 while “September” plays. Zunes, man!! Aren’t they rad? ]

Don’t suppose anyone here’s familiar enough with this that they can show me how to add stuff?

Comments

[infact]

[ She quietly gives the song a careful listen, despite the quality through the speakers. ]

That was quite nice and... emotional.

[nostalgiabomb]

small>[ Peter huffs out a laugh, and while it goes unseen, he bounces the Zune a little in his hand. ]

Yeah. It’s one of my favorites. They’re a good band, too. ABBA. Everyone knows “Dancing Queen” right off the bat, but they’ve got a lot of other good stuff, too.

[infact]

Ah... yes. "Dancing Queen". That one's a popular choice in karaoke.

[ Not a song she has tried singing herself, but she has flipped past it a few times on the English hits page. She wasn't aware that was ABBA. ]

I will look into their other songs. [ To save him the time too. ] "Thank You for the Music" gives me a joyous feeling. I've always aspired to sing songs that would move a listeners' hearts somehow.

[ That was probably cheesy but she sounds pretty serious. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Oh.

Okay. It’s weird that she seems to say all of that straight, but then again, Peter doesn’t deal with a lot of earnest people very often. And for him, speaking with more than, like, 80% sincerity tends to give him hives, so he avoids it like the plague. Drax is probably the most honest person he knows, which isn’t necessarily a great thing, especially when it’s at the expense of everyone else’s comfort.

Still, though, that sort of sincerity is endearing (when it’s not filled to the brim with Far Too Much Information), and he feels himself smile a little. ]

That’s a good goal for an artist.

I’m expectin’ to hear those covers whenever you get them done. Just so you know.

[infact]

[ As cheesy as it sounds, she upholds her calm demeanor. It's a good goal, as he says. And nothing for her to be embarrassed of. The older girls of her agency often praised her for her honesty. She's mostly mindful of how much she says, unless she's feeling overwhelmed. ]

Yes, of course. I should properly credit the artists and you, for the recommendations. [ A glance over the username. ] ...Star Lord...-san? Is that an alias?

[ Sounds like it. She's not too sure with this place. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The way he smiles at hearing his code name makes him smile – and by now, it's an automatic reaction. ]

Something like that. It's a sort of call sign.

[ Because Peter still maintains that it's way cooler for someone to go, "Help me, Star-Lord. You're my only hope," than it is for them to say "Peter."

Even so, ]

Peter Quill works, too. But don't worry about crediting me, or whatever. I'm not really bothered about all that.

[infact]

Ah, I see. So, like a super hero? Pretty cool.

[ She's not the sort to yell how awesome something is, but there's the sound of quiet awe in her voice. ]

...Arisu Tachibana is my name. Pleased to meet you. [ The first name is said with a bit of an accent, but it definitely sounds very much like "Alice". ]

I insist on giving you credit, Quill-san. It feels proper to do so.

[ Just as she feels the need to address him by last name. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Oh, no. Peter grins at that, and while he's not one to embarrass easily, he still thanks every star in the sky that he's not currently on camera so she can see how doofy he looks. ]

Pleasure's all mine. And I still don't think you have to. I'm just doing my due diligence, you know? I like sharing music.

[ And a bit of a pause before he adds, ]

Just Peter's fine, by the way.

[infact]

Just... Peter-... san?

[ Well, suddenly she sounds very uncertain. Quickly calling others by their first name is one of the many things that easily breaks her calm composure. Too many people here want her to call them by their first names. She's not used to it and to her, it's immature. ]

Um... to be sure, is that really alright? It feels impolite. I prefer to address others by their family name.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ It doesn't slip his notice, the way she suddenly sounds unsure, and he relents a little. ]

Just Quill, then. [ He is, in fact, used to being called by his surname, anyway. ] Quill or Peter. No need for formalities, though.

[infact]

No formalities? [ Oh. A pause. That still sounds rude to her? Yet she reluctantly obliges. ] If you insist... Quill.

[ She says with a sigh, entirely dropping the honorific from earlier. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ For his own part, Peter sounds just as chipper as he always has. ]

Much better.

Should I be calling you Tachibana, just to be fair, or—?

[infact]

[ She'll get used to using first name basis. ]

Yes, please call me Tachibana. I'm not very fond of my first name.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter pauses at that, and a little curiously, ]

What’s wrong with your first name?

[infact]

...It doesn't sound very Japanese and it came from a children's fairy tale. It's childish.

[ Well, she is a kid. Trying to act like she's older than she is. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He presses his lips together to hold back a startled sort of laugh. Then, ]

Have you ever seen Alice in Wonderland? Or read it, I guess.

[ Although Peter can't speak for the book. The Disney version though? He remembers that well enough. ]

[infact]

Of course. My parents read the book to me when I was much younger.

[ No wonder her name's Alice. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

I mean, I never read the books, but from what I remember from the movie, Alice took herself really seriously, right? And she was super polite and courteous and well-spoken...

[ He trails off – he's clearly trying to make a point, here. ]

[infact]

[ Oh. A pause, because she may never have stopped to think about it before. Those sure sound a lot like the traits that Arisu tries to exhibit, to be like an adult. ]

Are you implying that my first name is befitting for me?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He tries to smother a bit of a smile, because that pause seems a little telling. Peter enjoys being right, and in this case, it seems his point has been made. ]

Yeah, sort of. I mean, just at first blush? It seems to be a decent fit.

Plus, I don't think it's childish. Naming a kid after a beloved book character? Go for it. Naming a kid after Optimus Prime? Maybe give that one a second thought.

[infact]

[ She's too easy to read. ]

...Maybe calling me Alice is okay.

[ "Maybe." It has to be Alice though, and not Arisu. Arisu is stubborn and has been butting heads with her producer and colleagues over her name for a long time. She doesn't want to fully agree that he's right. ]

I'll see how I feel about it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ eyyyy.

He stops smothering the smile entirely, but it's still a little muted. Peter so rarely enjoys being the one to have a point, so he quietly celebrates. ]

Alice, then. At least until it stops being okay.

It was a pleasure meeting you.