[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]

[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//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[A small smile]

I spent most the night drinking, and I'm going to sleep at Raven's tonight so she can be sure I don't do anything entirely brainless.

I wouldn't mind a game of darts tomorrow...? [Yeah he might want some not!boyfriend time.]

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

Thank her for me.

Never played before. Sure you're up for teaching me? [He will not mention how this relationship just keeps getting weirder and weirder. Or how he kind of likes it.]

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I will.

[He grins, then. It's not as cheery as he usually is, but it's something] Can we still place wagers once you've learned the rules?

[Never mind that Cloud is so going to kick his ass. Horst is strong and fast but he's not in any way a match for a soldier.]

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

Depends on what the wagers would be.

[He knows your game well by now, Horst, whether he'll kick your ass or not.]

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

We'll decide when I see how good you are.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

Didn't you already?

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[that almost gets a sputter. He manages to turn it into a laugh]

And I thought you wished to forget!

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

[He totally wins that one, Horst. Admit it.]

But it got you to laugh, didn't it?

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Which makes you something of a miracle worker. I'll give you double or nothing if you make this vodka bottle full again.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

I can have some ready when you come over.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Expect me right after sundown.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

I'll leave the door opened.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He laughs softly]

It only took seven months, but you're finally letting me in your home routinely. We've made progress.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

Guess I'm just... going soft.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

We could always fix that. [No conversation is complete without innuendo.]

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

Is that what this is going to be then? [He has to ask. He doesn't want to, but he has to.]

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst is quiet a moment, because he has no idea how to answer.]

It depends.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

On?

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

On what we want.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

[He's silent for a long, long moment. For the longest time, he had thought what he wanted was Rei. But it had ended badly, crashed and burned spectacularly. He wasn't sure he could jump into something else right away.]

Guess we'll find out when you get here.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[And Horst...well, his relationship just barely ended, not that he was any sort of honorable boyfriend while it had lasted.

His frown is skeptical.]

You'd prefer to discuss it in person?

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[mirroredecho.livejournal.com]

[That's the other issue, Horst. He'd expect you to be faithful. He's pretty sure you couldn't handle that.]

Wouldn't you?