savetheearth | [Video]

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Saaaay, I know I've been pretty quiet lately but with all the garbage between the doppelgangers and everything I kinda needed a break, you know? Anyway, has anyone seen a sword wandering around?

Y'know, big, metal, sharp, has skulls on the handle?

[He holds up a rough sketch of this for the camera.]

Darn thing just up and left, who would've thought? And I already checked the refrigerator so don't even ask. Apparently that's where we're keeping swords these days.

[He puts on a slightly disapproving frown, but at this point it's fruitless to argue it.]

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No.

[So indignant.]

I knew where it was, it just isn't there anymore.

You sure about that? You didn't take it somewhere to practice and forget it?

C'mon, I'm not that bad. Besides, damn thing was creepin' me out so I left it in there.

And forgot it.

[But he knew where it was!]

You need to check on stuff like that from time to time!

I mean, I got a card that kind of rubs me the wrong way, but I still make sure I know where it is all the time.

Come on! You met that thing, it's creepy.

[So creepy. He is a terrible sword owner.]

Yeah but a card's a little easier to carry around in your pocket than a four-foot sword, you know?

And it's because it's creepy that you need to keep an eye on it!

Creepy enough that I could see it going somewhere on its own if you got the wrong pulse.

[He sighs.]

Yeah, but I still check the stupid thing. Make sure it's where it's supposed to be.

It was in my closet! How was I supposed to know it'd just wander off on its own?

[Well, shit, he does have a good point there. Damn it all. Yeah, he screwed up and he knows it.]

Yeah well that doesn't exactly help me now, does it? You got any ideas?

Because that wouldn't be the weirdest thing to have happened?

[Hajime considers this, then sighs.]

I've seen the sword, and I can sense power. Maybe I could...I dunno, try to bug-bloodhound it.

Fair point...

[Okay, okay, he gets it and he screwed up. Again. Who is surprised? Not Tony, but now he really needs to fix this please help.]

You... really think you could? I'll come with you.

I don't know if I can or not, but it's worth a shot. Let me come over and see if I can figure out a direction, then we can go from there.

[Does power even linger around like that?]

Sure thing. You know where I live, or do I need to shoot you the address? While we're at it, I should probably get your real number. Since the Network isn't exactly secure.

[He's not a complete rube after all. And lucky for Hajime, demonic power is sticky. Has a tendency to linger around for quite some time even after the source has left.]

I think I've got the address. Sit tight, and I'll be over there as fast as my bike will take me.

[Assuming he doesn't get yet another speeding ticket. After a bit, there's a knock on Tony's door.]

Alright, see you soon.

[Don't get a speeding ticket, Hajime, that won't help any. Tony's waiting near the door when Hajime arrives, so it's only a moment before he's opening the door and stepping aside to let him in.]

Hey, thanks for coming down.

No problem.

[Hajime's looking around the area, like maybe he'll see the sword or something.]

Where should we start looking?

[Tony's already looked, but he's welcome to try. No demon swords hiding there.]

Whatever you do don't open any cabinets without asking first. I think I've found most of the traps.

[What? Anyway, Tony gestures for Hajime to follow to his room. Since that's where the sword was maybe he can pick up a vibe or something?] So how's this bugsense work, anyway?

[Hajime freezes there and turns to stare at Tony.]

Traps?

[What the heck is going on here?]

And I'm not really sure I know how it works, just that sometimes I can sense powerful stuff, and sometimes it sets off that monster killer instinct thing--but don't worry, I've had that under better control lately.

[Oh. Right, that's weird for most people still. Tony gives a nonchalant shrug.]

Richard thinks they're hilarious, though I'm still not so sure that's the word I'd use at three in the morning when you're looking for a snack.

[Echoes do strange things and at this point Tony's given up questioning it too much.]

[Uh, monster hunter killer thing? Dubious look.]

Give me some warning before you try to tear my head off, yeah?

Please tell me you're at least going to get him back for that somehow.

[Because that's only right.]

Don't worry, I'll probably growl a little, maybe actually go bug...and then that green thing on my chest starts glowing, that's another sign...

[He sounds a little pained at going through the signs of a monster freakout, really.]

Eventually, when I figure out what I'm gonna do about it.

[Fair's fair and all. Never mind that Tony isn't exactly the best at that kind of thing. His humor is embarrassing shirts.]

You got a green thing on your chest?

[He kind of wants to see but asking might be rude. Never mind...]

...Yeah let's just hope I keep my temper down long enough to at least get you outside. I don't think the house could stand us both on a rampage.

[Although... he's doing a little better. Ever since Cesar decided to test his exorcism game on him. Don't worry, Hajime, if anyone understands monster freakout time, it's Tony. He offers an understanding smile and a shoulder pat.]

Hey, relax. I'm not gonna judge you, dude.

[He's seen him on his own freak out before, it isn't pretty.]

Let me know if there's something you need help with. I'm not much good at pranks, but I've had my moments.

[Even if most of those moments had involved being a giant bug and spewing a lot of bull about being the Lord of the Bugmen.]

When I'm a bug, yeah. It kinda glows.

[There's a wince at the idea of them both on a rampage.]

If I'm just sniffing out a trace of it, hopefully it won't come to that...and hopefully if either of us freaks, the other's gonna keep a level head on his shoulders.

[He looks a little sheepish.]

I might have to, I'm no good at them myself. I mean, you already know how lame my sense of humor is.

[Ugly shirts, basically.]

Huh, is that your weak point? Wait, no, don't tell me I probably shouldn't know that.

[Because he might try to go after it and this time? Tony's a little more capable of taking the beating.]

Hah, well... I'll do my best. Doing a little better these days. I didn't kill Cesar at any rate.

[TONY. FILTER. USE IT.]

What if we brought Shou in on that? He's good at messing with people.

[Calling in a professional might work...but he's quickly distracted by a serious question. And he trusts Tony...]

Look, if I lose it, there's going to be a card box on the side of my belt. Right here.

[He taps on his right hip.]

Get in there, get the Two of Hearts out, and run it through the slot on the middle of my belt buckle. I'll turn back into a human.

[He looks fairly sympathetic to Tony.]

Not killing anyone's always a nice feeling after that happens, really...

Oh damn, Shou would know what to do that's for sure. Now the question is do I really wanna start all out war?

[The answer is probably yes. Because that sounds hilarious. Oh no, serious questions and serious answers.]

Two of Hearts? Got it... I imagine I'm gonna have to figure out how to hold you down to manage that, yeah?

[It isn't lost on him just how much Hajime has to trust him to tell him this. He's touched, honestly, it means a lot to have that kind of faith put in him. He'll try not to let you down, Hajime.]

I don't really know if there's a way to turn mine off, beat me up until I run out of energy? Covering my eyes works sometimes, at least if it's not you I'm after...

[Like a dog that fixates on a target, break his concentration and it might be possible to get him to let up. Maybe. At least Hajime has a sure-fire method all Tony has to do is manage to get him to hold still for a few seconds.]

No... Heh, it's funny, you know? I used to be terrified of getting into fights, wouldn't hurt a fly. Now what's happened? Gotta say I don't feel bad about what I did to his car though, he deserved it.

[Yes if Hajime happened to have seen that wreck, that was Tony's handiwork. Oops.]

You might have to be prepared to declare some kind of truce after a little while. So nothing really bad happens...

[He can see it. He can so see it.]

Hold me down or beat me into unconsciousness for a while, pretty much.

[It is simultaneously nice to have someone else to warn about that, as well as a little weird. Trust. It's funny.]

Maybe one of us could bring a garbage bag. Throw it over the other guy, get him disoriented if he tries anything crazy.

[Even if that wouldn't do much good with bug-spikes...]

I've always been good with fights...though I guess now I know the reason for it.

[But oh, he's smirking a little at the mention of that wreck.]

That was you?

Question is, can my pride take that kind of defeat?

[Entirely joking, but it's fun being silly once in a while. Having people to joke with who actually get jokes is great. That's it, bringing Shou in for backup.]

Got it, I can probably do that.

[Maybe? He's hopeful anyway, he'd give it a damn valiant effort because now he has been tasked with a Mission. And that Mission is to keep Hajime from doing something regrettable, Tony's favorite mission actually. Monsters gotta have each other's backs, yeah? And it feels good to be trusted to do that. Trust sure is a funny thing.]

Hah! Just hope we don't get careless with it. That'd be embarrassing. How would we live that down?

[Or thrashing devils but one can dream.]

[He gives a sheepish grin and a theatric shrug. Oops?]

His copy pissed me off, trapped me in a corner and broke my nose. So I lost my temper a little bit. Do me a favor and don't tip him off though? Kinda avoiding admitting that...

[It got ugly, real ugly real fast. But in hindsight the amount of damage he did was kind of funny.]

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