avalononline | video; un: 14th moon

[The video opens up to a room with fake candles around. Jyushi would usually go for actual candles but he is sharing the space with someone else so he isn't going to be too dangerous.

Also, he has a tiger's eye around his neck as a necklace. He has no idea what people are using it for and he just think it's a pretty gem :(]

Ah, the cold winds are upon us! Cruel ice, tearing at our skin! We often think of many parts of ourselves, but our lips...? One of the most important parts of our bodies?!

[Usually he'd do the whole video with his visual kei persona but this is important so he's quick to go to his usual voice:]

First of all, it's important to use a lip exfoliant! [The camera is zoomed in on his lips. Why? Well, it's about lip care after all. So it's zoomed in on his lips and then he holds up an ointment lip balm.] Make sure to use a lip balm that has ointment! Essential oils or something can work but so can glycerin! You want to stay away from harsh things for your lips. They've got a lot to do!

[That sure is a way to word that.]

You'll want to be careful about licking your lips. Don't do that! It can be really bad for them, especially in the winter. I just wanted to help everybody out so their lips can stay strong for the tough time ahead of us!

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[Jyushi is none the wiser to her ulterior motive. Really, he's just happy she seems to like him! He's glad he makes her happy, he thinks. If this persona of his brings her joy then so be it.

And if helping her shop would be something she wants then that's great! He's happy to do it!]

Nothing would bring me more joy! Smooth skin can be just another part of the shield we wear to help us through the grind of the day to day! As a warrior of moonlight and romance, I would be ignoring my duty if I did not help!

.. wow.

[ Some of that surprise is dramatic. Acted.

But a part of it? Is also very genuine. In fact, it's the latter that wins out when it comes to Minako's total lack of a brain-to-mouth filter, considering the first thing she says in the middle of her surprise is just: ]

I can't believe you agreed so quickly..

[ In a good way though!! She is amazed! Usually she has to harass people way more before they go along with her ideas! ]

[Minako's surprise is almost enough to set Jyushi off track just a bit. His act drops for only a brief moment as he looks surprised and then brushes his hair out of his face:]

I do not see why there is a need to be so surprised? Why would I not help a maiden in need?

Well.. It's not like all guys out there are that nice! [ At first she was going to say handsome guys, but no, Minako knows that this is a thing that goes all the way across descriptions like that.

There's plenty of jerkish guys around here, and Jyushi isn't like that at all. ]

Even if a cute girl might ask them something like that, they might start to whine and complain about it.. Or just reject her request outright, even though it might just be a little, teeeensy thing to ask for! [ She huffs. ] You have no idea how many guys even do that to me, the goddess of love and beauty herself! Just dismissing me, as if I'm not super cute and sweet and pretty!

[Jyushi is very well aware of how guys can be jerks. He's been a victim of this himself. But it isn't about him and about Minako. As he does listen to her, he frowns a bit because it sounds like she's gone through some stuff. It takes him a moment to figure out what to say. Usually when he's in his visual kei persona, he doesn't struggle with words at all.

But although he does find his words, his voice is a bit quiet.]

Ah, has someone hurt you here, goddess...?

[ There's something about the faint shift in him - the thing that suddenly makes him speak up more quietly that renders Minako quiet for a moment. Normally she would have immediately reacted, rambling on to him about it, but..

This doesn't feel quite as dramatic anymore. And no matter what Minako seems like, she hates involving other people in her trouble. Even relatively minor trouble. ]

Well.. [ Her voice trails off, like she's hesitating. Or buying time while she's thinking of what to say. ]

Not really, you know? After all, I'm a goddess! There's no way a mere mortal could ever hurt someone like me!

[Jyushi can understand. Although in his case, when he'd been going through the worst, his own reluctance in asking for help had caused something much worse.

But Jyushi doesn't see it that way, when Minako talks to him, and he thinks she just isn't comfortable in sharing. That's fine, too. But he's empathetic enough to know there's something that does bother her and so all he can do is say:]

Ah, I see that your armor is as strong as the beauty that surrounds you! However, if you feel like your armor needs renewal then know that I would gladly aid you. After all, I am a warrior, am I not?

[So he'll definitely help her out!]

.. you'd help me?

[ It's such a sincere question. Especially when compared to all of Minako's usual dramatics and fangirling. There's something a tad more vulnerable about it - though only a tad, like there's a door that's only being opened just a smidge, rather than being fully thrown open.

Mostly since all of this catches Minako off guard so much. It was one thing for him to offer her help with silly things, but here he's even (jokingly) calling himself a warrior.

It feels even kinder, and somewhere deep below Minako's surface, in the sea of her insecurities, it's.. kind of nice. ]

Sheesh.. You really are even more of a noble warrior than I expected, you know. [ At least she's smiling a little again as she's saying that. Perhaps even blushing a bit, because of the surprise - and the fact she just feels flattered. ]

[Jyushi really wonders what had happened to her. Is it so surprising that anybody would help? He knows that back when he was being hurt, it had felt like there was nobody who could help. It was why when someone finally had, well, Jyushi clung to them.

So Jyushi understands how important it is to help. But if Minako isn't ready then she isn't ready. All he can do is keep being there until she is ready and wants to talk.

And also keep up his visual kei persona because he thinks that's what she would prefer right now? He thinks. He's not so good at this. So he laughs, dramatically, hand to his forehead.]

How can one let go of nobility? When your path is lit by only the stars, virtue is the only thing that keeps you on the promenade of your pursuit!

[ It definitely makes things easier when he slips into his persona - so he's making the right call here. Especially when she just smiles as she hears him wax on about the usual stuff. It feels more familiar. Easier to deal with. She doesn't have to expose her vulnerable emotional underbelly when she can just cover it up with constant dumb dramatics.

Like right now. ]

Oh, noble knight of the night! I won't forget your noble offer.. [ See, that leans a little closer still to the vulnerability, so she quickly adds-- ] .. nor your beautiful face!

[ Nailed it. Better to be a superficial airhead than someone with actual feelings, right. ]

[This persona is like his own form of protection, a shield that he can hide behind when he feels like the complete opposite of a brave and noble warrior. So Jyushi does get it and so if this is what she needs then so be it.]

Ah, you show how kindness is something within your blood. Merci, Goddess.

video; un: 14th moon

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