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 He's discovered that his weapon has been replaced by a far inferior one.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]

[ 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!!

1/2

[begleiter]

[wat]

[begleiter]

[Now he looks mad. He hadn't cared about Wakaba's funeral, but he's a little offended that Shuri honestly thought he was speaking so crassly about the whole affair.] I'm not talking about that!

[antwort]

Then what? That's what I came from! I told you!

[begleiter]

I'm talking about Princess Ouka's birthday party! [Konatsu supposes Shuri did tell him that his father had just died, but he doesn't think that would indicate that he'd come directly from his funeral.] Your father's funeral was nearly a week ago!

[antwort]

I think I know when my own father's funeral was!

[begleiter]

And I would think you'd know I was referring to the Princess' masquerade when I called it a masquerade.

[antwort]

That hasn't happened yet!

[begleiter]

It just happened! You were there!

[antwort]

It did not! I was just getting home!

[begleiter]

That's absurd. How could you just be getting home from the funeral?

[antwort]

How are you doing something that isn't until aweek from now!

[begleiter]

[Konatsu lets out a slow breath, trying to contain his temper. Shuri might be a moron, but enough of one to completely forget a week's worth of memories? Konatsu suddenly leans forward, peering intently at Shuri.]

... Did you hit your head or something?

[antwort]

[ pulling back. while he wouldn't have complained about this before, the funeral put some things in perspective. ]

No!

[begleiter]

[Shuri certainly looks clear-eyed enough, though that could just be because he'd been crying a moment ago. He could be lying, but Konatsu doesn't find that terribly likely. He leans back again.] Then something must have happened when you were brought to this place.