{005} Network Video + Log

[lovesickkiller]

[Misa is obviously freaking out a little. He eyes are wide, she's breathing fast, and she is newly blonde since she last appeared on the network. But her latest echoed change isn't anything that's visible.]

The lights over Tokyo— something is happening, I'm going home. If anyone is coming and needs a place to stay, my apartment is open to you. It's not very big, but I'll make room for anyone who needs it. Bring a sleeping bag or air mattress if you can. Private message me for the address, and if you have a doppelganger either do it in person or by phone. I don't want any uninvited guests showing up.

[[ooc: feel free to handwave Misa giving your character this information, as long as they are not a doppelganger and we have some previous CR.]]

-----
Who: Misa and ALL THE PEOPLE
What: Crash at Misa's one-bedroom apartment during insanity in Tokyo. SLUMBER PARTY. There will be separate header threads for different weeks, plop your person anywhere.
When: April 10-28
Where: Tokyo, Misa's place

Comments

[stefanged]

[Adjusting his own bag straps, he follows her inside. Instinctively, he intertwines his fingers in hers and squeezes her hand. He's not sure what they'll find either, and honestly, no amount of counseling training could prepare him for the worst.

Her question, though, jolts him back to reality.] Huh? Sure, I guess. [He tilts his head slightly.] I mean, you're you, no matter what you look like.

[lovesickkiller]

[It's very nice to have someone around who will give her a reassuring hand squeeze instead of tensing up or shying away from physical contact. And it maybe makes her heart flutter just a little bit. She giggles, from nerves and at his comment.]

Good answer. I'm not sure if I'll keep it like this, but I'm getting used to it. Would you believe my Other was a movie star?

[stefanged]

You're kidding. [He doesn't mean it maliciously, even as he takes his other hand and holds it near the symbols (though he doesn't activate it). He just... he has a preconceived notion of a movie star, and Misa doesn't fit that diva mold.] That's great, right? Explains the hair, but...

["But did she want to be one?" It's a question he doesn't want to ask.] But that means your past life must've been pretty famous.

[lovesickkiller]

I know, it's hard to believe. I got back a magazine with an article about her. It was really weird.

[Not least of all because reading the article carried with it an echo of being tortured, but even before that the experience was strange. She glances at his hand and wonders what he's waiting for.]

I'm ready when you are.

[stefanged]

I bet. It'd weird me out too. [He laughs nervously, going ahead and activating the transporter. Stefan's no stranger to using it - but he's never really used it multiple times. Plus he's never visited Asia. (The Middle East, sure, but that didn't technically count.)

Stefan unconsciously squeezes her hand tighter. He doesn't know what to expect, with the rampaging, but at least they're not going alone.]

[lovesickkiller]

[Misa squeezes his hand in return, not too tightly but tight enough. She is no stranger to weird sights and dangers, not anymore, but it's different when they've all happened around her in foreign lands. This is her home. She wasn't prepared for it to change while she was away.]

[There's a whooshing sensation in her stomach as they are transported, and Misa prays that they wind up somewhere she can navigate to her apartment from quickly. She knows her way around Tokyo quite well, but it's a big place. There's no telling where they're going to arrive. Cautiously, she touches Stefan's arm with her free hand and steps outside.]

[Except they're inside. In a... Go parlor? Misa glances around at the mats and Go boards, set up in various stages of play, mystified. It seems to be deserted.]

[stefanged]

[Go figure. Stefan's not sure what game people were playing - he's not exactly accustomed to Japanese culture, but even he can tell that something's up. His throat tightens as he scans the area for anything unusual. Even the drinks are in disarray - and one might've been spilled in their haste to get out of town.

He can pick up sounds from outside. Turning to Misa, he gestures towards the door.] I don't think there's anyone here. Should we head out?

[lovesickkiller]

Yeah...

[Obviously distracted, Misa continues scanning the parlor for any clues as to what might have happened. What sounds like sirens in the distance picks up, making something in her chest clench uncomfortably. This isn't just a slow day.]

Let's- let's go.

[She strides toward the door, heart beating at an accelerated rate already. This is how American horror movies begin.]

[stefanged]

[Thankfully, Misa's blonde now! She'll survive to the end. Stefan winces, holding a hand over his ear. The sirens weren't supposed to be this loud - and neither is her heartbeat, now that he thinks about it. His hearing must be going haywire, because he can even hear panicked voices (and they're probably nowhere nearby).

He takes a breath, reaching out for her hand as he holds the door open for them.] Yeah. Hey - if you know where your place is from outside, I think I can get us there faster.

[lovesickkiller]

What do you mean?

[Japan is 13 hours ahead of New Jersey, but Misa has never noticed the time difference as starkly as she does now, having teleported between the two. The sun had set not long ago in Locke City, but here she has to raise a hand to block her eyes as she steps outside into the midday sun. Regardless of what is happening here in Tokyo, it's going to be a long day.]

We're... I think I know where we are.

[What she can see of the street looks abandoned but otherwise fine. However, there is an unidentifiable stench in the air and smoke in the distance that she doesn't like the look of. Misa hopes that her apartment is still standing.]

[stefanged]

You do?

[He too holds his hand over his eyes, ducking his head slightly as he adjusts to the sunlight. Logically, he knows it can't hurt him - but that instinct to duck's there all the same.] If you can give me directions, I'll show you what I mean.

[Pause] Unless you get motion sickness or something.

[lovesickkiller]

[Well now she is exceedingly curious.]

No, I don't. I'd usually take the train from here, but I'm not sure if it's running...

[She glances at their surroundings again, wincing into the distance. It feels like she can see better than she used to somehow, father than was previously possible. She can make out a train stop in the distance.]

We need to go that way. [She points ahead.] We can follow along the train route for a while. We're about... 5 miles away, I think.

[Not a distance she is keen on walking.]

[stefanged]

[Memorizing the directions to heart, he glances in the direction she's pointing. Stefan can't quite see it, but he'll take her word for it. He winces sympathetically at the five miles. It's not a distance he's keen on running, either - but desperate times call for desperate measures, right?] Sounds good.

Um... [His face turns red as he gestures towards the route and bends his knees, in order to properly scoop her up.] It's okay if, I um... [Actually, should he ask if there's no other way? Without another word, he turns into a blur, scooping her up and running in the direction she's indicated.

Once he's certain they've run five miles, he slows down and comes to a halt before an apartment building. There's still smoke around it, but it can't be hers, right? His face is even more flustered as he inhales sharply to catch his breath. Maybe he should've asked first.]

[lovesickkiller]

[Misa has no idea what Stefan is suggesting— she is about to ask, but suddenly she is being whisked off her feet instead. She shrieks and grabs onto his shoulders for dear life as he carries her faster than should be at all possible. Is this really happening? Stefan had said he didn't have any powers when they met! Obviously that has changed, unless he was lying then.]

[Without any sense of how far they have traveled, Misa is caught off guard once again when he comes to a halt. It takes her a minute to absorb their surroundings and realize that Stefan has found his way to just in front of her apartment. Shaking, she makes no move to let go of him or be put down. She'll need a little more time than that to come to terms with what has just happened and trust herself to stand on her own two feet.]

[stefanged]

[He definitely should've asked first. Stefan glances at the apartment building, then at Misa, before he smiles apologetically at her.

At this point, he's supposed to say something to break the silence. He's almost certain of it. Stefan just holds her, trying not to let guilt overwhelm him as he (finally) regains his composure.]

Sorry. That whole... thing kinda came back recently.

[lovesickkiller]

[Misa takes several deep breaths before she can even attempt to speak.]

You just... ran all that way?

[Though the evidence is all around her, she has a hard time wrapping her mind around it. Misa turns her head to look at the building before them again. Yes, that is definitely her apartment, and she knows they were miles away just minutes ago. It's a lot to take in. Her attention goes back to Stefan, and it finally seems to dawn on her that she is being held in his arms (judging by the light flush that colors her features).]

A little warning, next time! Since when can you do this?!

[stefanged]

[cringing:] Yeah.

[His face turns even redder than before - and it probably matches a tomato nicely at this point. God, can he melt into a puddle somewhere? He definitely, definitely should've asked (and like an actual gentleman too).] Since uh, a couple of weeks ago? Not... super long or anything.

[lovesickkiller]

You could have told me.

[Grumbled under her breath. But really, Misa isn't one to talk about withholding powers right now. She tentatively loosens her vice-grip on his shoulders.]

You can, ah... put me down now.

[stefanged]

Sorry.

[He sets her down as gently as possible, before turning to face the building.] I didn't think--[He pauses, laughing.] Well, that was kind of it, but I didn't know when to bring it up.

[lovesickkiller]

[Misa keeps a hold on his arm for support as he sets her down, still not quite trusting her legs. She has so many questions about this new power and what means, what Stefan is, but they can wait until she finds out what's happening here.]

It's okay.

[She digs through her bag for her keys, fumbling with them a bit before opening the door.]

I'm on the 4th floor. The elevator is... probably safe, right?

[Her voice is uncertain, but it doesn't seem like anything inside the building is broken. Then the lights flicker, making her rethink that assessment.]

[stefanged]

[The elevator cables are shaking more than usual - Stefan can hear them, even from here. He shakes his head as they walk in.] We'll be safer if we take the stairs.

Are you okay with walking up? Or should I carry you again?

[See, he's learning! He doesn't quite have his super-strength to match his speed, though, so he stretches his arms before looking for the nearest staircase.]

[lovesickkiller]

[Misa might have accepted, but the way he starts stretching just makes her embarrassed that she is heavy despite knowing this is not the case.]

I can handle stairs!

[She leads the way to the stairwell and starts climbing them as fast as she can, aware that compared to Stefan's new speed she must be going at a snail's pace.]

[stefanged]

[Was it something he said? Stefan blinks back surprise, momentarily frozen by her reaction - maybe he should ask Lettie later?]

I know you can, I just-- [Sigh.] I'm sorry?

[lovesickkiller]

[Misa glances back at him, confused and still a tad embarrassed.]

Sorry? Don't be sorry, I just meant... you don't have to go to the trouble!

[stefanged]

But I wanted to. It wouldn't have been any trouble.

[Wait.

Wait, should he have said that out loud? Stefan doesn't even know what he's trying to say anymore as they climb the last flight up to the fourth floor.] Err. You know what I mean.