[Video]

[whatwas]

[The PCD clacks and the view shakes a bit, but finally centers on Horst's happy face. He's up on a roof, with four bottles of liquor and a chair.]

Right, you bunch of nutters, I'm going to sit up here and watch you all run about.

Tyki, you want a drink? I'm up here in the sane corner of the world.

Comments

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

I can see that. [Mild disgust.]

And no- not yet.

[Which was something of a concern, but hell if he was going to admit that.]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

He'll be fine. [As if convincing himself.]

Let's go find him.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Possibly. Depends on how affected he is. [Realistic.]

I could find him at any time, Horst.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

That's creepy, Kurotsuchi. [A pause, and a laugh] But so could I, so I suppose we're even.

Christ. I wonder if he's still mad at me?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Almost protests that simple tracking kidou hardly qualified as 'creepy', and almost asks what sort of ability Horst had that allowed him to track people himself, but files it away as something to ask while he's sober.]

What did you do?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Ich weiß nicht.

['I don't know'. But the fight was enough to warrant several more swallows of liquor]

You're fairly nice for a shinigami. Why is that?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Doesn't understand German, so he just frowns.]

That's not an answer. And really? I don't think I've ever heard that before.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Well, most of my own friends wouldn't ask about a fight with Yuca. But here you are.

[After a moment that other question trickles back. He did answer, dammit.]

I don't know why he's mad. Think he's upset I came back.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that qualifies as 'nice.'

[Pauses, glancing sideways at him.]

Really? I thought you got along well enough.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He looks at Kurotsuchi and stubbornly hands him a bottle. You don't talk about 'issues' without being drunk; it's a man code.]

We do. Usually. I love the smarmy bastard, so we ought to.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Takes it with an internal sigh, and an external eyeroll, but doesn't drink.]

So what's different? You died, but it's not like it matters here. Lose something interesting?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't you be in a better position to tell me? Nothing feels different to me, and Yuca doesn't have much answer when I ask.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Has to stop to consider.]

...Something is different, yes. I'm unsure what it is- I didn't exactly make a habit of tracking your moods.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

No, but you did work with my soul. Presumably they took something from it, since that was what was intruding on them, right?

[He may be a drunk and a manslut, but he is fairly scientific...now. He hadn't been when he first arrived.]

Anyway, I ought to apologize again. I'd just prefer to know what it is that's making things so bloody fucked between us first.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Sometimes they take physical things - limbs, abilities, something like that. Sometimes they take memories. Maybe part of your history changed, or you've forgotten it. ...You do sound a little more logical now, though it might just be coincidence.

Of course, I still have all my records of your soul as it was before. I can easily take you apart again to see if there's a difference there. If it has anything to do with your problems with Yuca, I don't know.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He draws a slow breath. That's not something he ever wants to go through again, but....

'I miss the old Horst.']

I should be able to tell, if you can point out what's changed.

But Kurotsuchi--why do you care?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

What do you mean? ...And you're a bit more scientific, I suppose. It's not really a bad thing.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I meant take me apart. See if you can tell what's missing.

[He hesitates, stalls a bit longer]

As I said, most of my friends wouldn't care to sit and listen to this business with Yuca. Why are you?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Once the week is over, stop by and I will.

...And why wouldn't I? I have no reason not to.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Drama hardly seems something you'd be interested in studying.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

I have nothing better to do at the moment. And it involves Yuca- mild curiosity, I suppose.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Vaguely amused; he's not sure why] Why is that?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

The curiosity? [There's something he doesn't particularly like thinking about himself; waves it off, like an inconsequential.] He's interesting. Does it matter?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst is, unfortunately, very intuitive and he just looks at Kurotsuchi for a long, silent moment.]

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Stares right back at him, vaguely off-put and not really sure why.] What?