[Video]

[whatwas]

[If there's one thing Adstringendum is good at, it's yanking people around. Where Horst had been laughing and giddy the night before, he's...well, not now.]

Mina was sent home. I'm sure those of you who knew here are aware, but....

[But he personally checked everywhere she could possibly have gone. Just in case. Hope springs eternal, they say.

As he shuts off the feed, there's the faint sound of something German-sounding. Or maybe it was just static.]

[A few hours later: Private Video to Raven]

Are you awake?

Comments

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

[For once, Raven had put her PCD aside and absorbed herself in reading. But hearing Horst's voice is enough to make her raise her head from her book and summon her PCD to her.]

I am.

[She frowns at his tone.] ...What's the matter?

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Mina--

She's home.

[He rubs his eyes, shakes his head]

Never mind, I'm going out with Herr Break. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Get some rest, Spatzi.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

...Mina? [Now that explains his tone.] I'm sorry, Horst. I'll miss her too. [And she will, she did like Mina.]

[She looks surprised as she hears the name.] I didn't know you were a friend of Break's. [But she understands what it means. He needs a drink to quelch his sorrow. Raven doesn't exactly approve of that but now is not the right time for lessons.]

You can stop by when you're done with Break. Use the window. [After midnight is technically tomorrow, right?] You too need some rest and... you make a good pillow.

[Video]

[soulcontracts.livejournal.com]

[His voice is distracted. He may or may not be dissecting a rat.]

That little blonde girl?

[Video]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

...She's over 700 years old, Johannes.

[And that's not even the point, Arschloch.]

You're still up?

[Video]

[soulcontracts.livejournal.com]

I slept a few hours.

[His tone is dismissive. He's got better things to do in this place than sleep -- something about it puts him on edge, anyway.]

I've been trying to setup a halfway worthwhile laboratory.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

[His voice is quiet, missing the normal sarcastic tone it usually carries.]

I'm sorry, Horst.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't know what to say about it, and so for a while he's just silent.]

I hope Akira's good to her. [Better than I was, is the unspoken half of that.]

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't know what to say. Because hadn't that basically been what he had said to Rei? To go find someone who was worthy of her and would treat her right? It'd be hypocritical of him to say anything to the contrary.]

You gonna be okay? [Oh look, Horst, your not!boyfriend is actually concerned for you.]

[Video]

[al_truism]

...

Oh no.

[Video]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst doesn't know what to say--he's not one of those people, yet, who will brush it off with 'it happens'. But he has too much guilt over Mina to be completely honest about what he's feeling.

He's left speechless, for once, and he barely manages a nod.]

[Video]

[al_truism]

[Al goes silent, but then nods to himself, determined.]

... would you mind a hug?

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Drinks!

[Video]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Name the place, love.

[He might have gotten started already.]

[Video]

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

You know my home?

[Offline] If that's okay?

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

Horst?

[Offline] Of course!

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst looks up and moves an arm, inviting her closer.]

Are you having trouble sleeping?

[Offline]

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

I... saw Miss Mina left and I knew... [He'd be upset.] So I stayed up. [She's quick to move close to him and climb in his lap to hug him.]

[Video]

[seehowitends.livejournal.com]

[See Spike.

See Spike holding up a bottle.]

[x,y]

[Video --> Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst nods; he's had a few drinks, but it's never really enough, and Spike has always been good company. He holds up two fingers--two minutes--and ends the feed.

When he turns up he smells faintly of brandy, but he hops up nimbly and sits on a windowsill]

[Offline]

[seehowitends.livejournal.com]

[He kicks a chair over to the window, sits and holds out a bottle to Horst.]

[saucey]

Need company? [He can. offer a clone or something.]

[Video]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He nods, almost before Sasuke has finished asking.]

Y'know where to find me? 'm at a pub. I think.

[bunny_flower]

I am sorry, Horst-san.

[Video]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Thank you.