voice test ☀ joker

[jokered]

the hierophant; cafe leblanc

[most days have routine. get up, eat breakfast, hop on subway. school, meeting up with friends afterwards, and then a brief reprieve to do homework before some evening shenanigans.

but of course, some things don't always go as planned.

like the rare occasion where someone comes into the cafe leblanc for some coffee or curry (or perhaps both; they complement each other well here, after all) and the proprietor is nowhere to be seen. like this moment, for instance, when a certain scruffy-haired teen comes down the back stairs, bag slung over his shoulder (is that a cat popping its head out?), and he just pauses.]

Huh?

[he questions quietly, wondering why the place is unattended—he can only guess it was meant to be brief, and with the assumption that nobody would show up. whoops?

either way, it looks like akira is walking himself behind the counter, placing down the bag and picking up an apron like a semi-pro. unless you're one of the phantom thieves, in which case he's not helping your ass unless you ask, like a true pal.]

Can I help you?

[see? totally a pro!]

the magician; mementos

[how you got here may not matter. but it's certainly a strange looking subway station. it's devoid of people, but full of... something else. monsters? well, shadows, but this particular area seems to be devoid of even that.

until there's a rustling sound. one corner. the next. then behind a pole.

...do you feel like you're being watched?

...or maybe like someone is about to ambush you?

well, it doesn't matter, because as soon as joker has discerned that this isn't an aggressive shadow, but someone else, he'll somersault out from where he's hiding, gun in hand. to those who know him, he may seem familiar, even recognizable entirely. to anyone else, this masked trickster is joker of the phantom thieves. his smirk skirts on the dangerous side, knowing he's got someone cornered—though he doesn't seem particularly aggressive before asking the most important questions:]

Who are you? ["and why are you here?" he doesn't lower his gun completely though, instead twirling it in his hand.

show off.]

the chariot; texts

[did you want to make plans to hang out tomorrow? did you think akira would want a text from you?

...well, he probably does! except that he fell asleep, so being woken up to a text that says "do you have a second?" or some variation of it is going to be met with a response.]

1.

[and then, immediately after that, a second text:]

Time's up.

[nobody said it would be a helpful response. please though, continue.]

the fool; wildcard

[idk do whatever, make up some stuff!]

Comments

[bufudyne]

[if he's offered food he'll take it, he's the classic starving artist tbh]

That's not necessary-- I'll sample your coffee today.

[There's probably a more normal way to ask for your friend to make you a coffee but it's Yusuke and Akira knows him so he's not concerned. In fact, he's even WATCHING HIM EXPECTANTLY and he's also already flipped open his sketchbook, balancing it on one leg.]

[jokered]

[oh.

well, that's fine too. he'll place himself in front of the coffee maker; he can feel yusuke's expectations, and he knows this means he has to do a good job.

if yusuke's using his likely meager funds on coffee today, then akira knows he has to make the best cup of coffee that he can. he's silent for a moment, focused on the prep work for making the house blend.

but while he's working, he'll at least pipe up to ask one thing.]

Are you hungry too?

[bufudyne]

Ah.

[From that question alone... he's remembered he's hungry. What is this?? Why is the human body such a strange thing??? Are his desires and basic needs so buried he needs the assistance of another person to recall them?!

Anyway, that aside, feed him please. His stomach's growling.]

It appears so... I was so engrossed in my painting this morning I didn't think to eat.

[jokered]

[there's that part of him that sincerely wishes that yusuke would look after himself better—he really doesn't like hearing that he's always so hungry if someone's not feeding him.

then again, akira is also always ready to feed him when that happens.

funny how that works, isn't it?

he doesn't make any statement of judgment, or even scolding him to make sure he eat better. instead, he places the coffee in front of yusuke and immediately moves to scoop him a plate of curry and rice.

his treat.]

You must have been inspired today.

[bufudyne]

[Akira who indulges him... See, he's never going to learn at this rate.

He smiles magnanimously, at least having the good grace to close his sketchbook and set it aside given he has delicious food and drink in front of him. Or maybe he doesn't want to drip curry on the pages. Who knows.]

I awoke just overflowing with ideas.

[A sip of coffee first, to see how the student compares to the master.] I was trying to pursue some of them at the station, but everyone was in such a hurry. Not even security wished to.

[he was making friends with security apparently]

[jokered]

[he can't help it... it's his way to just take care of his friends, even though it means yusuke won't learn his lesson. maybe morgana or ann, or one of the others can do a better job of scolding him for this.

but it won't be akira.

akira would much rather help yusuke chase his inspirations (and aspirations), even if it means money out of his own pocket to try and help.]

I guess the station was busy this morning. [in the meanwhile, he watches yusuke for his reaction to the coffee—the coffee student needs to track his progress, after all.] What will you do, then?

[bufudyne]

[Akira's so very good to him. Hey, after all, Akira's one of his lights that give him hope and inspire him to keep creating. It's no small feat to be something like that to him!

After taking a sip from the coffee, he tips his head slightly to one side, like he's really mulling over the flavour. And then he nods to himself THIS COFFEE IS LIKE ART EXCEPT MORE EDIBLE AND DELICIOUS.]

I thought to stay here for a while, see if the patrons here would be more accommodating. [Yusuke might end up chasing off what little business they see, though...] Or maybe... Hmm.

[jokered]

[oh. that's a good reaction to the coffee. akira smiles to himself, feeling a bit proud that yusuke is enjoying it—his efforts are being rewarded by knowing that he can make a cup of coffee that yusuke likes.

he's no sojiro, but he's doing his best.]

Do you have another idea? [he'd kind of want to hear that first, if only because he's not sure other customers would take well to yusuke's eccentricities when it comes to his art. akira hardly minds, but not everyone is as patient as he is.]

[bufudyne]

[And he'll be helping himself to this curry thank you very much, for a starving artist this is the most delicious thing... Truly, Akira has gotten good at this.]

Perhaps. [A smile and his fingers twitch, like he's itching to pick up his pencil but it would be a shame to waste the coffee and food so he's going to demolish both first.] If nothing else, I can capture a fellow artisan honing his craft.

[Nodding VERY SERIOUSLY at Akira. He'll do a couple of sketches of him while he's working, nbd. Better than in the nude, right?]

[jokered]

[better is subjective, considering akira would probably do it if yusuke was really that serious about it. just as long as they're not actually in public.

probably.

either way, it doesn't really take very much at all for akira to grasp those implications. drawing him as he makes coffee—it's an idea that only yusuke could come up with, and he's sure, that only yusuke could capture in a flattering way.

so he nods his head.]

I'll have to work hard to meet those expectations too, then.

[bufudyne]

[As expected of Akira... he understands.

Yusuke is smiling as he eats, excited, itching to get to sketching. One of his aspirations is to draw every one of their motley group of thieves, but Akira's special as someone who's seen all of the artistic struggles he's gone through firsthand.]

Yes, show off the skills you've honed for my brush to recreate!

[BIG NOD, BIG EXPECTATIONS also he's using a pencil but whatever.]

[jokered]

[it's fair reasoning—and really, if akira can help him with his work and feeling inspired, then it's not a bad thing.

even if he's not entirely sure how he should show those skills off in a way that would be easy for yusuke to work with.]

I'll do as you say. [akira won't even point out that he's using a pencil. you do you, eccentric friend, he's got no opposition. still less weird than what happened at the church, anyway.]

[bufudyne]

[Perfect, marvelous, he couldn't ask for a better model. It's not going to be a dedicated painting, just some sketches, but nevertheless he's pleased that he's getting the opportunity to sketch Akira. Cleaning his plate, he eagerly snatches up his sketchbook.]

Good... [Mumbling to himself, already half-engrossed before he adds:] This is not like my previous works, you can move about freely and naturally.

[He's not going to make him pose like he did in the church (for now)... He'd knock coffee beans everywhere and that's the last thing they want Sojiro to come back to.]

[jokered]

That should be easier, then. I don't think other customers would want me posing like that right now.

[he's joking lightly; it's not like he minds posing, but if anyone else shows up and that turns them away, sojiro's probably going to give him an earful.

he'll pass on that, he thinks.

instead, he meanders around the coffee maker while yusuke is setting up, preparing himself to refill the cup so he'll have more coffee to drink while he works. (besides, it's better to be in action instead of just posing like he is, right?)]

[bufudyne]

[Yusuke's already going headfirst into this-- first he's framing him with his fingers, one eye closed as he figures out how he wants to draw him. Au naturale is the goal here, he's not making a full composition but rather wants to do a character study of sorts. It never hurts to get more practice, either.

For that, it doesn't matter if his lines are loose or if he draws multiple things. He begins to sweep lines in his sketchbook, watching Akira closely as he lingers at the coffee maker.

He seems to be muttering to himself, too... Sorry, he's already gone. Gone to the world, only art matters now.]

[jokered]

[that's really just like yusuke, isn't it?

at least akira is more than aware of this fact; he expect that much from him. when akira starts talking to him stuff, muttering and humming without responding when someone speaks to him, it means he's completely engrossed in his art. and really, that's a good thing—seeing yusuke be inspired to follow his calling and continue on despite everything that's happened to him is kind of inspiring, really. if he can help with that... well, he's pretty satisfied with it.

he can't help but to smile, endeared by that much as he works. he won't interrupt yusuke or try to break his train of thought, instead letting him draw to his heart's content. when he's done, he'll speak of—akira can wait until then.]

[bufudyne]

[Yusuke's lips move as he mutters indistinguishable words, staring down at the sketchbook as he refines some of his shoddier lines. He glances up again, following Akira intently with his eyes. He'll be at this for a while, watching him and sketching or starting new sketches just to go back to ones he's already done.

By the end of it, he's filled up more than two pages, a character study of sorts, and one can tell his passion has cooled by the more languid way he scratches in shadows and light.

Akira makes a good subject. As expected!]

[jokered]

[akira's fine with letting him work until that passion has cooled a bit—he understands, after all, how engrossed yusuke gets in these things.

but when it seems like there's a chance he may actually respond, akira breaks from doing the work, stopping by the counter and placing his elbows on it to peer over a bit.]

Did that help? [since it seemed like yusuke was really itching to get some work done and all.]

[bufudyne]

[At least his pause is fairly brief before he answers, time to finish up some more definition and shading before he shifts his grip on his pencil to look up toward him.]

Very much. Thank you, Akira.

[He's finally managed to put something down on paper!! He feels much more accomplished.]

[jokered]

[yusuke looks pretty satisfied with things, and for akira... that's enough, honestly.]

Glad I could help.

[even if all he really did was stand around, but if yusuke's pleased with it, akira's pleased too.]

[bufudyne]

Perhaps for next time, I'll think up a theme...

[DRAFTED FOR NEXT TIME, NO ESCAPE.

Akira's fault for making himself so easy to work with. Even more than that, easing to work with, making Yusuke more relaxed simply by the merit of being in his presence.]

[jokered]

A theme, huh.

[well, there's no getting around the fact that it's very yusuke to say that. he' always coming up with themes and ideas for it artwork.

...but akira likes it, honestly. yusuke following whatever his creative mind wants, that's what he likes to see.]

I look forward to whatever you come up with. [he wants to see it and be a part of it, to be sure.]

[bufudyne]

Yes, do. I'll spare no effort.

[Yusuke's got that smile he gets when he's confident, at least...

Maybe next time they won't go to a church. What other themes are there, however?] ...But, what do you think? I'm accustomed to coming up with themes on my own, but your input would be appreciated as well.

[Akira's good at cooking up ideas and making him think from a different perspective.]

[jokered]

Draw me like one of your French girls.

[he's. probably not actually serious and that's not a real suggestion at all. but the phrase popped into his head so he had to say it.

...though knowing yusuke, who knows how he'll respond? akira's admittedly curious to know wha he'll say.]

[bufudyne]

[????

Yusuke looks so puzzled and then his expression becomes... despondent?! He half-slumps over as though he's been weighted down all of a sudden, placing a hand dramatically on his head like he's just failed his wonderful leader somehow. HE'S A DISAPPOINTMENT.]

I apologise, Akira, I have a long way to go before I'm on the level of François Boucher. Rococo is not an easy style to replicate...

[okay he's thinking of painting and portraits done of actual French women in what's probably centuries ago, it's Yusuke after all]