[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]

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.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

That's the one. [Makes a dismissive sound.] People are too irrational. He wouldn't have died.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Poor Doktor. You don't have many willing subjects, do you?

I have to admit, if you offered a lollipop at the end I'd have been in line long ago.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Very few.

...I'm not going to start offering candy as bribes.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Don't be cheap. I should get a free gift at the end of my tenth visit.

It's called marketing.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

I'm not selling anything- what would you want, anyway?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I don't know. [he takes Johannes's hat off, twirls it. Aha.]

A hat. If my brother ever comes back, he'll chew me out good for stealing this.

Or a blanket. Socks are always nice. You have to think simple, but functional.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Stares.]

You should be grateful I'm interested in vivisecting you to begin with, not expect free gifts.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

You should be grateful I want you to vivisect--dissect? I am dead--me. If I didn't, you'd have no vampires at all to work with.

If you make your practice more approachable, you won't have to kidnap people like Sasuke who are tied to people who will kill you for just doing your job.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Dissect- yes, I suppose that's more appropriate- and if you didn't want to be studied, I'd capture you anyway at some point or another. That's how it usually works.

...There's always a risk involved. I've made good offers to people before, but it doesn't work. Gifts aren't going to help.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

And I'd mind control you into letting me go. It'd be very boring for both of us. Except I might feed off you. You aren't interested in donating again, are you?

And anyway, a gift would help me. I'll let you cut me up a dozen more times if I get socks at the end.

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Then I'd find a way to escape or counter it. [Pauses.] Do you need the blood?

...And if you're serious- [Which is hard for even him to believe] I could possibly find something.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Sheepish shrug] As much as I ever do. I haven't fed in about a week.

And I am serious. I'm your best customer by now, am I not?

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

If you don't take as much as last time, I don't mind. I'd just rather not be unconscious if Hitsugaya shows up earlier than predicted.

...And not yet, you're not. Maybe in a few more visits. [No complementary socks and coffee mug for you.]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. I didn't mean to take so much--I thought you meant 'I've had worse' to mean 'It won't affect me'.

How many visits before I'm in the lead?

[He's drunk enough that he doesn't reach for an arm. Kurotsuchi's limbs are well clothed anyway. Instead he moves to settle behind him, and he bites his neck]

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[He's not drunk himself, yet, but he is a bit off-balance by everything - and Horst's teeth were already in his neck before he had a chance to move out of the way or question it.

And once it was there, it wasn't unpleasant. So he held still and payed attention to what it felt like. He only answers quietly.]

A few more.