[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

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[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

It gets a lot of use, then?

[That was supposed to be a joke. It doesn't come out that way. He lays his head on Al's shoulder when they're seated and just closes his eyes for a moment.]

[Offline]

[al_truism]

More than I'd like it to.

[Al slides an arm around his shoulders, under the blanket, and strokes his hair. It's slow, repetitive and hopefully comforting.]

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst makes a soft sound, not sure if he ought to indulge machismo and move away. He doesn't.]

I'm glad she'll have Akira where she is.

[Offline]

[al_truism]

[Al's glad that he doesn't. Touching always helps. Horst smells a bit like booze, but it's familiar.]

Akira?

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Her fiancé.

[He has to lift a hand and set it on Al's other shoulder to steady himself.]

He'll be better for her than I was...I know that.

[Offline]

[al_truism]

[Al's eyes blink a little wide at that, and he shifts to look at Horst's face. Then, he breaks into a little, hapless smile.]

Oh, come on. You're not half bad.

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head sharply]

You don't know that. You're my friend....

I wasn't good to her, Al. Cheated on her.

[Offline]

[al_truism]

[Al falls silently and then rests his mouth against Horst's hairline, still stroking his hair back. Maybe he misjudged how tipsy and/or drunk Horst is.]

That wasn't good, no. But the point of mistakes is to grow up a bit, isn't it?

[He rubs his thumb against the back of his neck.]

You have a good heart. I wouldn't care so much about you if you didn't.