04 ▸ VIDEO.

[bragnificent]

[ When Reggie turns the camera on himself today, people might notice that his look™ has changed a bit since the last time he made a post, or even the last time they may have seen him in person if they ever do-- aside from his leather jacket he's also got on a black keyhole sweater and eyeliner, clearly going for something in the vein of a "joth" aesthetic. Or his understanding of it, anyway. ]

Y'know, it's true what they say-- bein' here for a while really does start to get you thinking. For me now it's been almost a year since Archie and I first turned up in this place, and I'll be honest... I get that I probably don't seem like much of a thinker, but the truth is I just don't like doin' it. A lot of things are hard to think about, so I don't. Simple as that.

Archie's gone now, but I'm not. And between that and having my birthday fall on Easter this year, it's enough to give a guy a little perspective-- now that I'm eighteen I should be making more of an effort not to hold everything in all the time, so for the next week, that's what I'm gonna do. Try out this whole "sincerity" thing for a change.

Can't really promise anything longer than that, though. It's just not in my DNA.

So who else has got any experience with trying to be a-- [ air-quotes time: ] "better person?" Cuz I could use some tips if anyone's got 'em.

Comments

[baphlement]

Truly a jothic look, Mantle. I think I've already done my part, guiding you to the chthonic gleam within you.

[bragnificent]

Uh, the what? [ Chth... who? But he does a face-to-chest sweeping gesture with his hand. ] That means I got it right, uh... right? Cuz yeah, I gotta admit I look pretty good.

[baphlement]

I'd say you got it right, yeah. You have the blessing of Baphomet.

[nightmarist]

[Ronan does the classy thing and responds to this Very Earnest™ post with a loud wolf whistle.]

[bragnificent]

[ This is exactly why he loves you, Ronan. Reggie winks and clicks a finger-gun at the screen. ]

Not bad, huh? I dunno why they don't already make more sweaters like this for guys-- like, my chest and arms have never looked better.

Text

[plasticbow]

Don't be a dick.

[He's helping.]

Text

[bragnificent]

right right
except 4 when its funny obv even I know that

or do u mean like all the time

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[craftpunk]

My advice? Give up while you can. The benefits in that endeavor aren't worth the effort.

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[bragnificent]

Wow, go off. [ He smirks, but then shrugs. ] But I'm only talking small doses here, to start... like, a week never hurt anybody, right?

Plus maybe you just sucked at it.

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[eloquentness]

Happy belated birthday! Can you drop by the clinic later? I've got something, but I haven't been able to leave as of... a few hours ago...

[ Iris is trying so hard not to beam, but her huge smile and clasped hands give it away. Her time has come and she's gonna shine!! ]

But also: the fact that you're asking is a start. [ "I'm proud of you." ] Communication's the most important thing about being sincere, you know?

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[bragnificent]

[ Oh god why does she look so happy... Reggie's going to be real unhappy if things backfire on him this quickly. ]

Uh-- right, yeah, that's what I've been hearing. Like, it's supposed to... I dunno, feel therapeutic or whatever? [ He holds his hands out in a brief shrug-like gesture, then raises an eyebrow. ] You're not gonna give me like, an ointment or something, are you?

[dreamkid]

[ Matthew appears in the middle of sunny laughter, as usual. ]

You look different. I almost didn't recognize you.

Happy birthday! Even if it's late.

[bragnificent]

Yeah, guess this is the month where I'm trying out a few new things. Doesn't actually feel half-bad, either. [ Reggie grins. ] Anyway, you're not that late-- only by a day. But I just figured if I'd said anything yesterday, then it might seem like maybe I didn't really mean it.

[ Heaven forbid! ]

[sanguinespell]

Huh.

The keyhole sweater's a brave choice.

[bragnificent]

Huh, really? I never even thought of it that way, but hey-- I'll take it. People keep hitting on me and I get to show off my pecs, that's pretty much as win/win as you can get.

[video]

[couldbebeautiful]

You're actually trying this out? I'm—honestly kind of impressed, I didn't think you had it in you.

[She still doesn't, she thinks this attempt isn't going to last, but on the off chance that he's actually being sincere, she's at least presenting some sincerity of her own. It's almost sweet of her!]

[video]

[bragnificent]

I know, who'd have thought that after enough time even I could fall prey to crap like feelings and character development.

[ He says it wryly, but not purely sarcastically. ]

But like, why not, right? Might as well see for myself just how good or not confession really is for the soul.

[restingstitchface]

I, for one, happen to suggest committing one's self to a course of action so heinous that any subsequent undertaking could only be regarded as an improvement.

[bragnificent]

interesting theory

i think this could probably count as heinous, at least it sure feels that way to me rn
so hey maybe im already halfway there

voice;

[subroutined]

[ When Ash responds to this post, he uses the English accent Hux has directed him to use. He doesn't default to video because it's easier to connect to the network wirelessly through his brain than use his phone. ]

Happy birthday.

I don't know about "better," but I've tried being more of a person.

voice;

[bragnificent]

Thanks! [ Spoken with an enthusiasm that can only be sincere! ] What do you mean, though? How can you be more of a person, like isn't that pretty much just the same thing?

[ In like, the colloquial sense of "being a person," at least. ]

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[pummelgranite]

Better question why do you look like you just came out of Baphomet's closet and you're doing just fine?

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[bragnificent]

Well, since I'm gonna be his manager now I figured maybe I should try and look the part, too-- at least a little bit. Have you ever heard the term "joth" before?

[ Because he sure hadn't. ]

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[topmeup]

"Better" is like the worst modifier for how to be a person because it can mean almost anything. You gotta pick for yourself what's better before you can try to be it. Some people think it means being kinder and helping others, but maybe you just need to work on seeing the world differently. It's up to you, bruh.

[Probably not the best advice there, but he's dealt with a few people who probably weren't the nicest or kindest and he likes to think he's a good judge of character about whether someone is really a lost cause or not.]

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[bragnificent]

[ Well... hm. That is a thinker. ]

I mean I don't actually disagree with that, but see, whenever I pick it somehow still doesn't seem to actually count-- or it doesn't matter, like I'm still too "mean" or too "difficult" or what the hell ever.

[ He sighs, heavily and long-suffering, and shrugs his shoulders. ]

So I dunno where a guy's even supposed to start if he was gonna try to be a little nicer, y'know? Even if it is for just a short amount of time.