two 王 video ○ taka candroid

[controlsdesire]

[When the video starts, the camera is facing down towards a particularly non-descript carpet. While the camera isn't moving around a lot, it is shaking quite a bit, and a small, high-pitched noise accompanies it. It almost sounds like a bird is in the room, though the noise is more mechanical than animal. The noise continues near the camera for another few seconds before the camera moves up and over to a patio door, not showing much of the apartment its in on the way there.

Oddly enough, when the camera reaches the patio door, there's just enough reflection to see that it's a small, red and silver mechanical bird, who begins tapping its beak against the door as if to ask to be let outside. It hovers in front of the door, continuing to make the same mechanical caw.

In the background, there's a voice that only a handful of people on the Network might recognize, speaking in Japanese.]

"Stop recording."

Comments

[ursoreckless]

[oh cousin, you're just as dramatic as Shou likes to get, but you do it in different ways.]

I will.

[of course he was talking to empty air because Shuji had hung up, but eh, that's how it goes. shrugging to himself, he heads on up the stairs and is soon ringing the doorbell.]

[controlsdesire]

[Shuji opens the door fairly quickly, standing there with his hair messed up, his suit jacket off, and the sleeves of his shirt rolled up past his elbows. It's clear he just happened to fall asleep right after work and hadn't bothered to do anything else once getting home. At first, he just tilts his head at the other, before stepping back and motioning for him to come inside.

The apartment is as much as one would expect from Shuji. It has just enough furniture to be furnished and there's not really anything of personal value he's showing off, since he didn't bother to bring anything with him. On the floor is a short table filled with paperwork, a laptop, and his phone, next to which he had dropped his work bag as soon as he'd come home. The table also has a red and silver can on it, though it doesn't look like a soda can on closer inspection. There's a pillow on the couch, which Shuji picks up and tosses over near the table once he gets to it. It seems like he only ever spends his time in that small five-foot area.]

Sorry about the mess...

[ursoreckless]

You're less messier than I am.

[which was true. if left to his own devices, Shou's living space ends up turning into a tangle of clothing, cosmetics, and papers. it's half the reason why he has a cleaning staff.

he took a seat pulling off his sunglasses and shoving them into a pocket of his white and black jacket, the leather looking well-cared for despite of the two bullet holes near the zipper on the left hand side.]

What do you have to show me?

[controlsdesire]

[Shuji headtilts at the other's jacket, waving his hand towards it as he follows after, somewhat concerned about the placing of those holes.]

What happened?

[ursoreckless]

I've no clue. [he stuck his finger into the topmost hole and wiggled it around. a clean shot and one that would have hit something vital if a person was wearing it at the time.] I found it in my closet after that day in the mines.

It's not exactly the only thing I got too. [that though he wasn't going to go further with because it was a bit odd.]

Maybe it belonged to the same person that sang that one song.

[controlsdesire]

[Shuji's going to let Shou keep the rest of that to himself for now, since they're here to talk about the strange things Shuji has been getting, but he'll remember it for later.]

It might. Have you remembered anything else about that person?

[Walking over, Shuji reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small, red medal. It's heavy and jaggedly broken into two halves. If Shou tries to take it or touch it, Shuji will immediately pull it back to himself. It's too important to let someone touch it.]

I found this in my pocket the other day. I don't remember how I got it, but I knew it was important. Tied to the person I was having those feelings about.

[There's an awkward moment of hesitation as he bites at his lip.]

I think I've found him...

[ursoreckless]

Not really. I wish I did since he seemed important, but nothing mor ehas come up yet.

[Shou frowned at the medal, leaning in close but not touching it. He knew his cousin and knew that he wasn't one that liked others playing with his things. That especially might be true if it was far too important to trust anywhere but inside of his pocket.

That second statement had Shou look up, his frown a little deeper. Things were going to get complicated now, weren't they?]

You think..? Do you want me to check them out?

[controlsdesire]

[Now that Shou's had a chance to see it, Shuji's putting it away again. He sighs and goes into the kitchen to grab a couple bottles of water, holding one out to Shou when he comes back to sit down next to him.]

I was walking around the mall while on my patrol. He works there. A Japanese kid with blonde hair, quite a few years younger than us. ... I introduced myself to him and gave him my card. I can almost swear it's him. I...

[He waves his hand a bit, trying to think of the words.]

I had a memory of him. It was like I'd been separated from him for a long time, only to find him again. ... sort of like this. I know he's important to me. I didn't even want to leave because I was scared I wouldn't see him again.

[At this point, Shuji takes a long, deep breath, looking far more emotionally invested that he has about anything else in his life.]

I feel like I'm going crazy.

[ursoreckless]

[he takes the bottle and settles back into his seat, turning slightly so he can watch him. Shuji didn't give away much with his voice, but there were clues in his face and hands when it came to what he was really feeling versus what he was willing to show.]

It's odd that we are running into a lot of our people in this place, especially since this city isn't as big as New York.

[Shou shook his head slowly. He had no answers for Shuji, nothing that would make him feel any better. All he could do was help him in whatever way he could.]

I think we're all going insane. But, if you want me to see what he's like, I can.

[controlsdesire]

I've been wondering about that. Maybe there's something that draws us here. People on the Network talk about how some things only affect them and not normal people. ... maybe this is where the fight starts. All that talk from the guy in the cave. If we're really needed and a fight is breaking out, we're the front line.

[He sighs and shakes his hands out, looking over at his cousin.]

You're better with people than I am, so... maybe you can find out something about him. [He pauses.] ... it feels underhanded to ask you to do something like that for me.

[Really, Shuji is feeling more and more like he's stalking a crush.]

[ursoreckless]

The front line... [Shou sighed, leaning back and looking up at the ceiling.] A bunch of students and various wacky adults against whatever is pulling the strings. I think whoever set this up is having a grand old time laughing at us right now.

[he looked at at Shuji, smiling a little at him.]

That's why I'm offering to talk to him for you. It's not really stalking, it's more like you're just not good with people and it would be better if someone eases the way.