texted, private to Shiro, off-network

[15minuteslate]

hey bro

I've laid low long enough, if they were gonna come after me they'd have come after me already

you got some weird superspeed stuff, too, right? didn't you want to practice that? well, I wanna get that in before the holidays and my hours are absolutely nuts.

also how's your swordfighting? because I'm getting pretty good.

Comments

[15minuteslate]

idk if people are even allowed to LOOK at the DD yet man

let's go out of town. anywhere should be safe as long as it's not near the mines. and that farmhouse is sketchy too, right?

[hollowleg]

true. ugh. makes things annoying for sure.

I'll meet you at your apartment and well just drive out of town. I know of an old empty parking lot that should work, as long as we're gone by night. it's a makeout spot. emptier than a church in hell during the day though

[which is probably why he knows about it]

[15minuteslate]

cool. I'll be ready to go when you get here. driving's a good idea -- I can toss the practice sword in the back. like hell am I taking the big-ass carving knife anywhere.

[hollowleg]

you can have the carrying case I got for my sword. i don't need it anymore. you can swing it over your back, and just say it's like an umbrella or something. it's about the same size!

see you soon

[lights camera ACTION!]

[Shiro is there about half an hour later (traffic), and he revs the engine on his motorcycle to get Mamoru's attention]

[15minuteslate]

[yelled from inside:]

Yeah, yeah, I hear you!

[Mamoru comes thundering down the stairs in true young-man fashion, shoving keys and a phone into his pocket and trying to carry what looks like a wooden sword without seeming too conspicuous.]

Took you long enough.

[hollowleg]

[Shiro scoots up on his bike, making room for Mamoru. It's a big enough bike that it shouldn't be too much of an issue. His sword is no where in sight]

Oh, shaddap. Some moron ran the light at Third and Washington, so I had to find a way around THAT mess. Got everything?

[15minuteslate]

[In your dreams, buddy. Mamoru makes no move to get on the bike -- he is not riding bitch, much less on your deathtrap.]

Yeah. You said you had a case for this?

[He holds up the wooden practice sword.]

[hollowleg]

[BE THAT WAY. Shiro rolls his eyes and scoots back, then digs in the saddlebag on the back. He pulls out what looks like an umbrella case made of heavy-duty fabric, with an adjustable shoulder strap] Here.

[15minuteslate]

[Mamoru takes it, sticking the sword inside -- it looks remarkably innocuous.]

Huh. That's a damn good idea.

....you're not bringing yours?

[hollowleg]

Hehe. Right? Works well, don't it.

[he grins a bit] I've got it. I'll show you when we get there.

[he doesn't want to ruin the surprise]

[15minuteslate]

...okaaay.

[Mamoru says, skeptically. He's got a very strong feeling that Shiro is planning to show off. Oh boy.

Anyway. He heads over to his bike and fires it up.]

Let's get going, then. I'll follow you.

[hollowleg]

[Of course he is. When does Shiro ever miss an opportunity to show off?

Shiro nods and snaps his helmet and goggles back in place]

Let's go then!

[AND THEY'RE OFF. It's about 20, 30 minutes out of town to what was probably an old outdoor movie theater. Now, it's just an empty expanse of cracked concrete with Taco Bell bags and beer bottles everywhere. It's also completely empty. Shiro parks his bike and hops off, removing his helmet and replacing his glasses]

[15minuteslate]

[Mamoru parks his own about ten feet away, hanging up his own helmet and looking around.]

....people actually make out here?

[hollowleg]

Look, it's not romantic, but it's dark as shit out here when the sun sets. Makeout points are rarely majestic, bro.

You ready to see something cool? Hehehe!

[Shiro extends his hand. A column of black and red hellfire about the length and width of a katana forms with a "woosh". Shiro closes his hand around it and it coalesces into a physical blade, the same one as before. Platinum-white with an obsidian-black sharpened edge. The rest is just as white, the hilt wrapped in white cloth, and there's a short length of white chain at the end] Ta-da!

[15minuteslate]

[Gross. Mamoru can't imagine wanting to mack so bad you'd drive out here to do it.

But Shiro's feat distracts him.]

Whoa.

[Ok, Shiro, you win. Mamoru thinks that's pretty cool.]

[hollowleg]

Hehehehe! [Shiro does a fancy little twirl with the blade, then lets it rest over his shoulder] Definitely the most useful skill I've gotten. Talk about your concealed weapons.

[15minuteslate]

Yeah, okay, you can quit showing off any time now. We're here to spar, right?

So let's go already.

[hollowleg]

Then let's get to it!

[Shiro turns the blade so that he's attacking with the flat, blunt side, and runs at Mamoru; whether he's ready or not]