Nix

first off;

• To be honest, I think Nix would think I'm weird. The more I think about it the more I feel we're opposites in a lot of areas. But I guess opposites attract, right?

• Nix is queuing behind me in IIDX. He's annoyed that I keep falling into bad habits and I try my best to not snap at him until... he gets tired and points out what I'm doing wrong. He suggests adjustments to play styles, how to handle certain sections (also while complaining a friend of his falls under similar habits). Huh. After my session I had some things to think on, but I moved to Pop'n for the rest of the night out of shyness.

  • Lets say, I improve after a while. Nix catches on and ques up next. He challenges me out of cockiness, and I warn him I'm still not good. But even though he flexes his higher skill level, he notes I actually took his advice. "Yeah... I guess it ended up helping in the end."

• Nix does something reckless (idk like microwave his water) and me, Siren, and Eiri end up teasing him on it. He comes up with excuses, and it becomes a running joke for the night.

• Nix talks about his situation a little, and I can tell despite trying his hardest to be carefree, there's a sadness in his tone. I give him a hug. It surprises him, but I say "Just... Let it happen dude..,". I don't see it, but some tears start to well up in his eyes

• I try to use the kotatsu, but accidentally bump into Nix (who had retreated fully under). he's annoyed at me at first but relents & makes some room. I feel awkward about it because well, I did bump in to him. But I join in anyways

• Rolling with being in the same universe/not knowing him, I think we would start off annoyed at each other but overtime getting on friendlier terms.

• Riding in a car with him would be an experience. He would be a more aggressive driver. Like not Massachusetts driver bad, but he'd like speeding & passive-aggressively speeding by slow drivers on the road.

Siren

• Me and Siren visit LACMA and view "The Treachery of Images" by René Magritte. I point out it's my favorite famous painting. He comments it's a pipe because it's an image of a pipe, to which I say it's not because it's a representation of a pipe. He thinks for a moment, and comments "well, I guess so. Not like you can actually smoke it,". I say "Well unless you roll it up but that would destroy the painting right?" We exchange a chuckle before moving on

• Siren invites me to be a guest speaker in one of his classes. I'm not sure what I'd do there, but it would've somehow derailed to something strange like 'none pizza with left beef'

• I think I would like to have a drink with Siren. He'd probably order a whiskey or bourbon cocktail. I'd have something fruity like a sex on the beach, or metropolitan.

• On IIDX, I think we'd just play casually. He'd probably make some lighthearted comments about beating me or talk about his 5key days.

• We'd have a joke rivalry due to being from opposite ends of the US; SoCal vs Massachusetts. I'd poke fun at the presence of Erewon and techbros, then he'd joke about our trains breaking every few days. Idk what I'd follow up with because it's true, the T is just like that.

• We're looking for something to watch on a streaming service and I notice a drama that had him in the preview pic. He says it's nothing special, because he's worked with the script and he knows it's not good.

• Siren talks about how he aimed to be an actor in Hollywood, but his acting career didn't pan out. I tell him about how I wanted to be an illustrator and that didn't work out. We lament on our failed career goals until we fall into sad silence the rest of the night.

  • I'll likely move this note to the headcanons page but what if Siren has some envy for famous A-list actors? He watches the MCU movies or other blockbusters & can't help but think "damn that could've been me in there"

• We get $1.50 hot dogs from Costco. that's it. that's the imagine.

Eiri

• Me and Eiri visit an art musuem and stumble on a piece by the nameless artist 'E'. Eiri's oddly evasive and doesn't want anything to do with it. We move through the gallery, but I notice Eiri's oddly tense after seeing the painting. After we leave I (gently) ask him if everything's ok. He sighs and says he's fine. He doesn't have the will to reveal he's the artist, so he just comments that it feels strange to be in an art gallery after so long of not visiting one.

• Me and Eiri visit Mass MoCA to this piece I can't find the name of, I just know it's by James Turrell, and it's a room you sit in as the walls change colors. I think we would have a silent chat about something before sitting for a few minutes in silence, then leaving.

  • It's a piece I got to experience IRL back in 2019. I remember before I sat down overhearing a chat between two people. One of them commented he likes to come down to the museum and sit there for several minutes (likely via a membership). I don't know why this moment stuck with me for so long.

• Eiri offers a ride on his bike. I'm nervous, but I trust him. Once we get to where we're going though he tells me I didn't have to hold on that tight

• Both of us are heavy coffee drinkers... albeit with different tastes. I think we'd make lighthearted jabs at him liking straight-black coffee & me liking lots of creamer

  • Can you imagine though, me and Eiri on a Dunkins run. It's below freezing, but we both grab iced coffees anyways

• I imagine Eiri directly talking about his artistic background would only be after we talked for a while. I think both of us would share similar disappointments in how the art world went. Out of respect for his privacy, I'd keep his artistic background a secret.

EXTRA STAGE: Other characters

The main post is centered around Nix Siren and Eiri, but for a few scattered thoughts for other characters

Shem

• We would both bond over our hatred for fast fashion. The harm to his (and other stores') businesses, the constant waste, the declining quality. It would leave us both seething

Celica

• She's an art student, so I'd imagine she'd ask me for feedback on her works if we interacted... Regardless if I'm qualified for it

• + I would give her a lot of self-confidence talk in terms of body image. idk I just feel bad for her when it comes to those jokes.