o n e // video

[begleiter]

[When the video turns on, Konatsu looks irritated, annoyed, frustrated. He's concluded that this isn't a dream and that he's not just hallucinating. He's discovered that his weapon has been replaced by a far inferior one. And he's tried and long since given up on trying to remember a worse day of his life.]

[So instead he turns to his communicator. Perhaps he'll be able to find answers this way.]

Colonel Adams mentioned a headquarters that supposedly brought us to this town. Is there a means of contacting them?

Comments

[antwort]

How should I know? [ yes. ]

[begleiter]

You haven't tried to learn about the city at all? [Not... that Konatsu sounds terribly surprised.]

[antwort]

All I know is that something bad happened and nobody wanted to talk about it! So I came here.

[begleiter]

[Konatsu sighs -- just a little. What did he do to deserve this...?] And you just gave up?

[antwort]

I didn't want to ask about it. [ Huff. ] And they didn't either.

[begleiter]

There are other ways of finding information.

[antwort]

I don't want to be criticized right now!

[begleiter]

You'll never improve if you aren't aware of your flaws.

[antwort]

My father just died and I'm in a strange place so I don't want to hear it!!

[begleiter]

Fine. Stay in your apartment then. [Which will at least guarantee that he stays out of Konatsu's hair for a while.]

[antwort]

Whatever!

[begleiter]

[Well, that was surprisingly easy. Konatsu doesn't think getting Shuri off his case has ever been so straightforward.]

[It's not quite what he was aiming for, but he's not about to try to continue the conversation.]

[antwort]

[ Shuri huffs and sulks for a while, but surprisingly maintains that stiff upper lip.

He doesn't cut the connection though. ]

[begleiter]

[Shuri might not, but once Konatsu realizes that it's still connected he pauses to end the transmission. If Shuri's going to be a brat then Konatsu isn't going to make it easy for him.]

[antwort]

[ sniffle. whimper. ]

[begleiter]

[No, no crying. Konatsu is going to pretend he doesn't notice and quickly shuts the connection down.]

[He ends up making his way back towards the apartments in any case. Damnit.]

[antwort]

[ He's just going to curl in a ball and wail a little.

By a little I mean a lot.

This is a lot of wailing. ]

[begleiter]

[Geez, Shuri, Konatsu can hear you all the way down the street. Not actually, but it certainly feels like it. Just leaving him there is tempting, but... well, it's annoying, it's noisy, and it's not gonna be long before he starts drawing attention.]

[So he meanders a bit until he pinpoints Shuri's apartment, approaches the door, knocks, and curses the awful, awful luck that lead to Wakaba ordering him to keep an eye on Shuri in the first place.]

[antwort]

[ The walls are thin enough to hear him scrambling to put himself in order. He scrubs his face and opens the door. ]

[begleiter]

[Konatsu would have loved dearly to simply walk away -- or better yet, to have never approached the door at all. Allies, he reminds himself, meanwhile wishing that Teito might show up and provide a distraction.]

[Though Shuri's clothes are a distraction in their own right.] You had time to get dressed after the masquerade? [More specifically, Konatsu is surprised he elected to change back into his uniform.]

[antwort]

[ Shuri's expression cools considerably. ]

"Masquerade"? Is that what you're all calling it now?

[begleiter]

[Konatsu's expression shifts from surprise to confusion -- and mild irritation.] That's what it was, Oak.

[antwort]

[ That's not what he was expecting. ]

I-it's one thing to think it, but to say it!! He looks like he's about to cry. ] How could you?!

[begleiter]

[Well, now Konatsu doesn't know what to think. The annoyance fades away, replaced with complete bewilderment.] What else would it be called?

[antwort]

What decent people would call it! My Papa's funeral!!