video; iPhone

[earnedmystripes]

[It's been bothering Kotetsu for awhile--the fear and horror and distress of the others on the network since the mine incident. The confusion and the frustration in others not sure who or what they're turning into. Kotetsu thinks he's lucky, in that regard. He's yet to have many memories of this "former life", or alternate self, or whatever it is. There's been little that's really turned his life upside down since first finding out about Paul Ben and the conspiracy the police are involved in.

Kotetsu is still frightened himself, still unsure of what it all means or why them or what to do, but he feels he needs to do something.

When the video comes on, it's late in the evening, and Kotetsu is wearing a simple sleeveless white shirt rather than his usual button-down shirt + vest combo or his police uniform. If you look carefully, you can just catch a glimpse of the stitches in his side. He looks serious, too, no trace of his usual goofy grin or animated flailing.

It takes him a little bit to get going, though--a couple false starts, a bit of fumbling over words, but he pushes on despite it. He's never been the most eloquent, but what's been on his mind is important enough to make the effort.]

... I know things've been--rough, lately. What with the mine and all the...stuff we've been dealing with. The "other us" stuff.

[He sighs, rubbing at his neck tiredly.]

Listen, I--whatever happens, whatever...changes or memories or whatever we get, we're still in this together. We're still us, and maybe we are just some random people with nothing really in common who got dragged into this mess for no reason, but. This is--it's our lives, our home, as crappy as it can be sometimes, and like hell we're gonna let a bunch of alien bastards take it from us, right?

[There's a bit of a pause, and then a couple numbers flash across the screen. The first is his network number.]

The second one's my personal cell. If anyone needs me for anything and I'm not around on the network...[A tiny, self-deprecating laugh] I'm not good for much besides putting cuffs on crooks and shooting shit, but I'll do what I can. Even if you just need someone to talk to, or...someone to drive you to someone you need to talk to.

Don't worry about if I'm busy or sleeping or whatever. Just...know you're not alone, I guess.

Comments

[private audio]

[twopercent]

[After taking out those thugs weeks ago, the search really heated up on Jack -- he hasn't made his presence known even on the network for weeks. But he does finally make a brief comment, using Kotetsu's network number to contact him directly.]

You been in to work lately?

[private audio]

[earnedmystripes]

[Oh hey, Jack, 'sup, were you looking to have a calm conversation with Kotetsu? Too bad.]

What the hell were you thinking?!?!

[Texted]

[espigeonage]

I'm glad you're okay. lol, I saw you were earlier, but we were kind of busy. It's good of you to offer.

You know you can ask the same of me, right? Sans driving, cuffs, and shooting. I'm not always as silly as I come off.

[Texted]

[earnedmystripes]

I'm doing fine. Didn't get hurt too bad and mostly just got useful pulse-things outta that whole mine mess.

And thanks. I appreciate it.

[He...doesn't see himself ever taking Julien up on it, but he's grateful for the offer, nonetheless.]

[ text ]

[fatherssins]

I'm still stunned as to just how much everyone here cares.

[ text ]

[earnedmystripes]

Naaa, well. Each other's kinda all we've got, y'know? Telling people outside of this thing puts us and everyone we care about in danger.

And besides that...if we wanna survive this whole mess and move on with our lives eventually, we gotta work together.

( audio )

[argents]

Wanting to help people is plenty good enough. "Whether it be good or bad..." — someone I used to know said that to me. Someone I don't really remember right now, but I wish I could.

He told me to be brave enough to fight off despair. But truthfully, I don't think I could do that alone.

I don't think anybody can. Me, or you.

( audio )

[earnedmystripes]

...Heh. He sounds like a smart guy.

[Being brave enough to fight off despair...offscreen, Kotetsu's mouth forms a rueful little smile. He doesn't think he's that brave, alone or not. He's just an old man who hates to see people suffer, even when he's struggling himself. Helping others is about the only thing that gets him through the day anymore.]

I dunno how much good I'd be at fighting off despair, but...like I said. I'll do what I can.

[Text]

[odd_jobs]

[It's probably after a great deal of the other conversations, probably damn near midnight, that another stray message is left for Kotetsu.]

Hey, for a cop, you're not bad.

[Text]

[earnedmystripes]

[And in no small part due to his own injuries and exhaustion, Kotetsu miiight have been dozing off on the couch when his phone suddenly buzzes again, and he nearly jumps out of his skin.

sleepily, he types out:]

i'm just trying to live up to what we're supposed to be about.

[audio]

[enrages]

Make my dad unground me.

[audio]

[earnedmystripes]

[...He...is pretty sure that is not a thing he can do, but in the spirit of the post, he decides to humor the kid for a second.]

...What'd you get grounded for?

Audio | Cellphone

[icy_heavens]

I'm definitely not going to just lie down and take this. [He sounds a little tired, yeah, but there's nothing but sincerity in the words.]

Audio | Cellphone

[earnedmystripes]

[WELP he's actually pretty upset still that whatever person and/or force of nature that's dragged them into all this decided a kid as young as Toshirou needed to be a part of Saving the World, but there's nothing anyone can do about that. At the least, he's glad to hear that resolve from Toshirou; it's better than the alternative.]

Good. [There's the sound of a fist hitting against a palm.] We'll figure this stuff out somehow, and send those alien ass--er...jerks packing.

[ Video Reply ]

[notquiteanobody]

That's pretty decent of you. Then again, it seems a lot of people caught up in all this crazy shit's oddly decent.

I'm Ciel by the way.

...

I'm also kinda new with all this crap; been piecing stuff together and trying to figure out what the deal with all of this is. So what's this "other us" stuff you brought up? Also all that about memories or changes.

[ Video Reply ]

[earnedmystripes]

We gotta look out for each other, huh? Since we're the only ones we can trust to talk about this stuff without putting them or us in danger, an' all.

M'Kotetsu.

[There's a beat.]

Well...do you remember whatever happened when you first got your network number? For some of us, it was some memory we didn't recognize. Others had random objects show up or their hair or eyes change, or suddenly got really skilled with something they couldn't do before.

And since then, it's...it keeps happening. It's a weird feeling like you just ran a mile or something, and it's like everything going on around you fades out for a sec, and then it's over, and something's different about you.

For me, it's happened like...eight or nine times, I think.

[depolarized]

...How's your side?

viiiideo?

[earnedmystripes]

[A blink.]

Huh?

--Oh! Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. It doesn't hurt much anymore.

[But that's enough about him.]

How 'bout you?

[You were trapped in the mine for two days, man, that's way more to worry about than him 8C]

[voice]

[elfstoned]

Inspiring.

[He's teasing, but it's not malicious.]

[voice]

[earnedmystripes]

Heh. Kinda doubt it, but it was worth a shot?

[There be a self-deprecating chuckle, here.]

[text]

[15minuteslate]

cuffs

so you're a cop?

we've got a cop on our side?

cool.

[text]

[earnedmystripes]

...yeah, i'm the cop.

[Because so far as he knows, he's still the only one. Which is both good and bad--he doesn't really want someone else to go through what he did when he found out about Paul Ben, but on the other hand it's...taxing, having to hide that he knows anything from his coworkers, and with no one else in his personal life he can confide in.]

[ text | cellphone ]

[hoennmaihime]

Why are you being so nice?

[sigh. jesus haruka.]

[ text | cellphone ]

[earnedmystripes]

[There's a minute in which he debates how to respond to a question like that. There's a lot of things he could say, really, but in the end, it's very simple, to him.]

Why not?

audio;

[immortalize]

This is a really nice offer, but... How could you ask us not to worry for you if you're worrying for us? Even if we don't personally know each other? That doesn't sound fair, especially with things being "rough," like you said.

[ Granted, it seems she's been lucky and avoiding the rougher parts of what's been going on, so she's been keep things low... But her luck can only run so far. ]

audio; and then life ate me i'm sorry!!

[earnedmystripes]

[...]

[Excuse the radio silence. It's just that no one has ever called Kotetsu out on his hypocrisy before and hearing it now is like a critical comprehension malfunction. computer is overheat. pressing any key to continue. He just keeps staring at his phone for a bit because he legitimately has no idea what to say.]

I didn't mean--

...

I don't...

[It's almost too bad the video isn't on; Kotetsu's doing a great impression of a goldfish right about now.]

...I wasn't saying no one should--worry in general. Just. Not about bothering me? Like, I didn't want anyone who needed something to think twice about asking for help just because they didn't want to put me to any trouble, y'know?

[Aaaand the hypocrisy continues. Alas. But you tried, Morgan. It was a very good attempt.]