video; un: white_lotus

[pummelling]

[With only vague recollections of his child self and even vaguer ones of his teenage self leftover from that last unfortunate week, Kung Jin's stopped being so concerned about what might've happened then. He can't control it, after all, and what (unsalvageable) damage could he have even done to anybody as a teen punk? It's fine. It's totally fine. Yup.

Onto now. He's trained alone as much as he can stand, nearly as much as he'd done during those years at the Wu Shi Academy, even; hung around the library longer than he could stand, and without falling off any bookshelves this time, too; loitered his way across as much of the castle and grounds that he could get to and then some. With all of that done, then, Jin has settled into something much more dangerous: boredom.

He talks a lot, when he's bored. For an opinionated jerk with a tendency to run his mouth, this is never a good sign.]

Let me get this straight.

[The magitek's feed'll treat viewers to the sight of a dark-haired young man seated on the foot of the bed in his quarters, clad in ALASTAIR's uniform and idly polishing an ornate staff with a cloth as he complains speaks.]

ALASTAIR picks up a whole crop of new recruits. Out of the multiverse, as you do. They're supposed to give us the rundown on this timeline stabilizing thing, except their translators are busted-- so they make their old recruits run the welcome wagon. Then we get a big ol' bug infestation, and, what d'you know! All of us recruits are the ones playing exterminator, while some of us are reliving the total joys of puberty for days at a time. And we still haven't seen anywhere else except this castle.

Anybody else beginning to see a pattern here? [He tosses the dropcloth aside so he can focus on rolling his eyes for the camera.] Yeah. Some saving worlds we're handling: all we're doing for them is the chores they're too lazy to do themselves. How much you bet all our rocket ships break down when we're about to fly off to that Q-65 dustball? And that we have to wash and wax all their hulls, too? I swear, I'm gonna quit.

[you cant tho jin... but okay.]

I mean, I've had a lot of bad gigs in my life, but... yikes. This is just embarrassing.

Comments

[pummelling]

[Jin's quiet, mulling his words over. It's struck a bit of a chord with him: that idea, that hope of achieving redemption is never really going to escape him.

His tone's not nearly as sharp now. This is a real question this time, rather than a challenge.]

And you trust that they can give you this, in spite of everything. To help people.

[backthatup]

Yes, I do.

My master would say that we should not distrust others so easily. [ PROBABLY? Oh, he's trying to make Zenyatta sound cool again. But he clears his throat. ] And I say that I want to believe in the good of others... in the good of those that wish to help.

[pummelling]

Then I hope that I'm wrong about this place.

[Not admitting he's wrong, exactly. But there's definitely some sentiment besides hostility there.]

[backthatup]

And if you are, I shall forgive you for your mistake.

[pummelling]

I... appreciate it. I guess.

[awkward... pause.........]

Sorry, your voice sounds-- really familiar. Do we know each other?

[backthatup]

There is nothing to appreciate. Everyone makes mistakes. It is how we recover and forgive that --

[ Ah......................... ]

We met.

[pummelling]

[..........?/ /? ?? ? ?]

I don't--

[wait. no??? no] Please tell me I was a kid. Like a little kid. Not... [WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGE FUCKHEAD???]

[backthatup]

No... it was when you were a teenager.

You look a little different but I was able to recognize you...

[pummelling]

[kill him lmao]

Great.

Well. That probably went super well, right?

[backthatup]

I might have beaten you up...

I am very sorry...

[pummelling]

[....................................]

You what?

[well this is going great]

[backthatup]

You don't have memories of that time?

I'm relieved... forget what I said, then.

[pummelling]

I don't, but you can't just un-beat me up! What'd I even do to you?

[backthatup]

Attempt to steal from me... I guess...

I was a very reactive teenager...

[pummelling]

We were both stupid kids? [SIGH.] Makes sense.

I was like that, too, but "reactive" is nicer than the word I'd have used for myself.

[backthatup]

It's about what happens when two reactive teenagers get together, right?

Well, I finally found a word that fits me... and at least we've grown from how we were.

[pummelling]

[Zenyatta's words are still ringing in his head: fine, fine, he'll play nice. For now.]

So long as you're not looking to go for a repeat performance, we're good here. Better to save it for when ALASTAIR decides they're gonna use us for something.

[backthatup]

No, I don't see that happening.

Yes, yes. It is much better to use those skills where they are needed.

[pummelling]

Then I hope I get to see those skills in action when they do send us out.

I'm Jin, by the way. You have a name besides 'Green Cyborg'?

[backthatup]

I'll be happy to show off for you, then.

I'm Genji. A pleasure to meet you properly.