Chapter Text
Episode 00: Let's Get Together
FRET: Heeeeeeey everybody, welcome to the first episode of the 'insert name here' podcast! I'm just one of your hosts, funky Fret, and with me I've got...!
SHOKA: ...'Insert name here' podcast?
FRET: Yeah! It's cool, I'll totally just, like, edit in a name later when I think of one.
NAGI: If half as flavorful as 'Wicked Twisters,' I've no doubt as to its unforgettability.
RINDO: True. I mean, I got pretty used to our team name, even if it was weird at the start...
SHOKA: Well, if our Fearless Leader says so, I'll wait and see the damage.
FRET: Ahem, and with me I've got...?
NAGI: Hwhghgle, Nagi Usui, at your service!
SHOKA: Shoka. Don't wear it out.
RINDO: Oh, uh, Rindo. Hey, people who may or may not be listening.
FRET: Thank you, my wonderful co-hosts! We're gonna have a good time just talking about video games and whatever else might come to mind at the time! And just a quick warning, most of our episodes are only gonna be, like, what, six or seven minutes long? That sound right, Rindude?
RINDO: Yup, all good.
FRET: He just gave me a thumbs-up! Don't give me that look, dude, the listener can't see us!
SHOKA: And the thumbs-up was pretty cute, Rinrin.
RINDO: Cough, cough!
SHOKA: Pfft. Anyway, it's a bite-sized podcast, so even the attention-challenged have a pretty good chance of making it through.
NAGI: For those preferring more luxurious voices 'pon their eardrums but who still wish to imbibe our words, we offer a transcript of each episode as well.
SHOKA: Thanks for taking charge on that, sis.
RINDO: Yeah, and I agreed for my stammers and crap to be included too. For comedic value.
NAGI: 'Tis in the just name of veracity!
FRET: And comedic value!
SHOKA: And comedic value, too.
NAGI: Indeed. And comedic value, as well.
FRET: Haha, nice glasses flash, Boss! I gotta let the listener know how cool you are~
SHOKA: Psst, Rinrin, you know I love you, right? Wait, don't put that in—
NAGI: 'Tis in the just name of veracity!
RINDO: Heh, I feel like I'm gonna regret this. But uh, yeah, hehe, love you too.
SHOKA: A-aww, I, uh...
NAGI: Ghwwh! Should you truly wish to wipe the record, Lord Tosai and I shall excise it from audio and text alike.
FRET: Yeah, Rindude, Shokie, whatever you want taken out is totally all good with me and Boss.
SHOKA: Y—yeah, well, you can keep what I said. The listeners can know I'm holding his hand too...if you're cool with that, Rinrin. And stop looking at me like your brain's going to fall out of your mouth.
RINDO: Oh, sorry! I just—you know me, haha.
SHOKA: Y-yeah, I... I do know you.
RINDO: And yeah, a-all good with letting the listener-reader know all that stuff! I got nothing to hide, not with Shoka.
NAGI: 'Tis wondrous, the fruit of affections borne.
FRET: Awwww, you guys are so freakin' cute! Makes me wanna get up and give you guys a big bear hug—not as good as Beat would, but like, a bear-y kinda hug?
NAGI: I find your embraces bear-y charming in their own right, Lord Tosai.
FRET: Hahaha! That's our Boss! And...thanks.
SHOKA: You gonna make good on that or just threaten us with a good time?
RINDO: Come on over, Fret.
FRET: R-really? Alright! Hope you guys are ready for this!
SHOKA: Come on before I change my mind notthatIwould.
RINDO: Well, don't like, jump at us—
FRET: Yah!
RINDO: Oof, not so rough!
SHOKA: C'mere, dummy. Gonna have to jump harder than that to knock me off-balance. Hey, sis, you just gonna sit there or what?
NAGI: P-pardon!?
FRET: Come on, Boss! The water's fine~ If you wanna, I mean, join in. Don't gotta. I can give you a separate hug?
NAGI: I hadn't presumed an invitation...
SHOKA: Sis. No kidding we want you here, if you wanna join.
RINDO: We've always got room for you.
NAGI: Th-then, pardon the intrusion...!
SHOKA: Oof! Hey!
FRET: W-whoa! We almost fell over, there!
SHOKA: See, Fret, now that was a tackle. Take notes for next time you want to bowl us over.
NAGI: I b-believe the appropriate classification per my fellow EleStraniacs would be a 'glomp.' Ahem.
FRET: I have much to learn from the master...
NAGI: Blessedly, you are a most motivated protégé.
RINDO: I don't know if you should be teaching him how to tackle us.
FRET: I'd use my power responsibly!
NAGI: Not 'would,' but 'will.' You shall learn it yet.
FRET: I will use my power responsibly!
NAGI: Gnufufu... All according to plan...
RINDO: So, like, are we gonna stay like this for the rest of the recording, or like. I-I'm cool with it! Just, uh, wondering.
SHOKA: I guess I don't mind it too much. So, y'know, we can stay.
NAGI: A configuration as divine as His Radiance's anniversary-art visage may remain as long as it pleases.
FRET: Well, if we're staying like this, then we can just move onto the main topic for today! Just, let me move the mic over here... Okay!
SHOKA: You know, for the two minutes we got left.
FRET: Uh, yeah! I guess I got a little distracted!
NAGI: Nary a regret!
RINDO: I'm feeling pretty un-regretful right now.
SHOKA: Ditto. Video games are cool and all, but I agreed to do this because, you know, you guys are...
NAGI: As are you, Lady Shoka.
SHOKA: ...Thanks, sis.
FRET: Hell yeah. Talking with my besties is what I want this to be, anyways.
RINDO: Hehe. 'Video games are cool and all, but have you heard of friendship?'
NAGI: 'Tis more wondrous yet: the fruit of friendship borne.
RINDO: Games are more fun with friends. So like, it all sorta ties into each other. Kinda. I'm trying to find a way to say 'we totally didn't get off track.'
NAGI: As Lord Tosai has taught me well with his shudder-inducing and yet brilliant off-meta team compositions—
FRET: I'm smurt~
NAGI: —the off-track road may be the most fruitful yet. And yes, Lord Tosai, that you are.
FRET: Haha! And yeah, if you wanna ask anyone about getting off-track, I'm your guy, Rindude!
SHOKA: I'm not so sure about smart, but I think you think your own way. And I think that's pretty cool. Seriously.
FRET: Aww, Shokie!
SHOKA: D-don't gimme that look. I'm just stating a fact.
NAGI: More a subjective opining, methinks.
SHOKA: H-hey!
NAGI: ...One with which I agree.
RINDO: Make that three. Fret's smarter than I think we give him credit for. I mean, he set this all up, right?
NAGI: Indeed he did. Perchance EleStra's influence has expanded his tactician's mind...but more evidently, these are the skills he chooses to hone: to bring together his comrades-in-arms and swell our hearts in fair and foul weathers alike. 'Tis not mere levity that accomplishes this task. That we can wear our sincerity and our hearts on our sleeves here owes in part to the atmosphere he cultivates.
SHOKA: Yeah, you say it, sis.
FRET: Wuh-vuh-ahem, B-Boss! You-you're-you're gonna make me blush, what the heck!
RINDO: You are blushing, Fret.
FRET: K-k-kweh?
SHOKA: Your cheeks could give a Phasaurus Rex a run for its redness.
RINDO: You really make a comfy place to be ourselves, Fret. He's really the glue that sticks us together, huh, Nagi?
NAGI: Mwihihi... Most verily.
SHOKA: Yeah, no clue how you manage to make your elbow jabbing my stomach feel comfy, but you better not move.
FRET: Stop, guys, like, my brain, no processing, just brain.
SHOKA: Good thing it's a pretty cool brain.
FRET: Guys...! C'mere!
RINDO: O-okay, tighter, I guess!
FRET: ...I really love you guys. Thanks for doing this podcast thing with me.
NAGI: The feeling is mutual, Lord Tosai.
RINDO: Got that right. Let's just...have fun hanging out on here.
SHOKA: Yeah. We're talking about video games anyway. Might as well be losers together.
FRET: Yeah! Losers, together! And—oop, there's the timer. Gotta end the episode!
RINDO: Uh, let's sign off, but, like, we can keep hugging...
NAGI: Pardon the inquisition, Lord Rindo—
SHOKA: This oughta be good.
NAGI: —but is that a 'we can' or a 'can we?'
RINDO: Hey, I mean—don't give me that look, Fret—but like, yeah, I guess, like... Jeez, ha, way to call me out.
SHOKA: Rinrin...
FRET: Then let's sign off quick so we can get back to huggin'! Thanks for joining us on the first episode of the 'insert name here' podcast! Even though we might not've talked about video games here, we totally will in the future! Anything you guys wanna say before I stop recording?
NAGI: If all the world's a stage, and all of us merely Players, then I daresay we have discussed a Game after all. 'Tis the very game of life.
RINDO: Huh... That makes sense.
SHOKA: Whatever we talk about's going to end up entertaining with all you bozos here. So don't sweat what we blab about. Uh, 'no sweat for Fret,' or whatever.
RINDO: Yeah, pretty much. And thanks for watch—I mean, listening, everybody.
FRET: See ya, everybody! Oh, hey, Boss, when we come up with a name for the podcast, you're gonna edit the transcript, right?
NAGI: In the just name of veracity...I shall leave our sins on display. For they are part of what this program so endearing, and so human, as you are.
FRET: O-oh, haha, thanks.
SHOKA: And that's the 'insert name here' podcast signing off. Later, losers.
