[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

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[It only confirms the suspicion further, and he grunts.]

How long have you not wanted to think about him?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Almost protests that, but he doesn't have a penchant for honesty so much as a lack of most filters.

That, and he's a terrible liar.]

A while. A few months, I suppose.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Hm.

[What else can he say? So he just watches the city and tries not to think about this, either.

God, he misses Merlin now.]

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Doesn't mind the lack of questions, at least, and stares sort of blankly out at the city himself.

If this was what being sociable was like, it was a very strange experience.]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Of course, Horst would've argued that being sociable was easier when it wasn't done with someone interested in the same person you were.

Without a word, he passed Kurotsuchi another bottle.]

Does he know?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[He finished the first without noticing. Strange; he was usually never this careless. But Kurotsuchi usually didn't drink either, and at one point he hadn't been as fatalistic.

So he takes the bottle, though spares Horst a suspicious look at the question.]

Know what?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He reflects this is like a conversation with Johannes. ...No, Johannes is still more difficult.]

You know what.

Does he know why you don't want to think about him?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

I don't.

[A bit confused, honestly.]

And no. Why? [Mostly because he doesn't know himself.]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He looks at him again, and frowns]

What is it that bothers you about.... Why can't you talk about him?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Stares at him a bit, before frowning back, still speaking a bit defensively.]

It's complicated. I don't know- it hardly matters, doesn't it?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Yes.

I'll answer that question you asked if you answer this, fair enough?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Answer what, why it's complicated? I don't know- if I did, it wouldn't be complicated, would it?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Come now, you can dissect a soul but you can't break down a few simple--

[Abruptly he changes his mind--the vodka's making him sick.

Yeah. It's the vodka. Really.]

Never mind. [He has to breathe, to steady himself.]

Place a bet with me. Who's going to cause the most damage this week?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

A few simple what-

[More tense than he'd like, he stops, pausing before focusing willingly enough on the new subject.]

Hitsugaya's gone mad, several other people are acting strange, but I haven't noticed anyone else that destructive.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

What can Hitsugaya do? I haven't ever met him. Or spoken to him, really. All I know is he's Sasuke's boyfriend and he seems to loathe Tyki.

[Which is ludicrous! How can you hate Tyki?]

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Not really someone worth talking to. But he could destroy half the city if he felt like it. He's already killed one of us, apparently plans on working through the rest.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

You sound understandably very worried. [Oh, sarcasm. It never fails.]

How are you all going to stop him?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

It's an annoyance. But he claims to be going after Ukitake next; if so, I have some time. [Practical.]

Well, we still outnumber him.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[In spite of having died, death just isn't that intimidating to Horst. Not here.] He'll be back to normal in a week. If he kills everyone else, you can just run him around in circles for the next seven days.

[Checks his PCD for time] Six days.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

He's faster than me.

[Blunt, indifferent tone. Drinks in silence for a few long moments before adding-]

He's killed me once before.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst's tone is curious, and oddly sympathetic] Back home...?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Here. It was before you arrived. We never had much to do with one another back home.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Why did he kill you?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Dissected that friend of his. Apparently took offense.

[Still sees this as a complete overreaction.]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Sasuke?

[Unfortunate thing about having Johannes for a brother: Horst may disapprove of this but if he can't do anything about it.... Well. Why fret.

So he jokes.]

That'll teach you not to dissect anyone with loved ones.