Ø4

[painlessfighter]

[VIDEO. Natsuo can be seen lounging on his couch in his townhome (see icon). He yawns, stretches, rests his hands behind his head...]

Lame. If I actually lived here, I wouldn't just be some kid in town. I would be much better than that.

Hey, was that supposed to scare us or something? Even the zombies were scarier than that, and they weren't even scary.

[... He does narrow his eyes a bit at that thought, and his ear twitches... but he shakes his head and banishes those sorts of thoughts.]

Where is everyone? Are we closer to going home yet?

Comments

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie's expression is rather troubled when she activates the CAT. in fact, while she's trying to sound natural, there's a bit of a tremble in her voice as well]

Natsuo, would you like to come over for dinner? I'm making stew.

[video]

[worldsapart]

I don't know... I thought it was kind of nice.

[Xion's smile is... ... sad, somehow.]

[painlessfighter]

[... Did she just offer him food? That's odd. Oh, and he catches that tremble, but he's not going to poke at her about it yet - some things are better to poke in person. So instead, he smiles for her.]

Mm. Okay! I'll come over right now.

[painlessfighter]

It was weird. [He pouts a little, but only for a second, because another thought occurs to him that makes him smile a bit:]

Hey. But it was fun being your cousin.

[video]

[desertdaggers]

Ah… it wasn't really so bad, was it? [not really making eye contact]

[fortune_sought]

[she nods, smiling weakly] Then I'll see you in a moment.

[painlessfighter]

[Natsuo looks away from the CAT for a second.] No... [He shakes his head once, sharply, and looks back up.] But it was still stupid.

Ne, what did you do, Hawk?

[painlessfighter]

Mhm. See you soon. [And he shuts off the CAT!]

[In fact, it’s only a few minutes before he shows up at her townhouse and knocks on the door.]

[fortune_sought]

Just a moment! [she abandons her stew for a moment, hurrying to answer the door] Natsuo. [she smiles, but there's still something strained in her expression] The stew will be ready in a few minutes, so please have a seat. Would you like something to drink?

[painlessfighter]

[He's smiling when she opens the door, but that smile falters slightly when he notices that she's still a little... off. Is he in trouble...? Still, he nods and makes his way inside to find a seat.]

Just water. Can I help?

[text]

[terezi_pyrope]

TH3 ONLY PO1NT 1 COULD S33 W4S M4YB3 TO 4TT3MPT TO G3T US MOR3 'F4M1L14R' W1TH TH1S PL4C3
1N T3RMS OF 4NY POSS1BL3 P4ST 3V3NTS
W1TH 4 POSS1BL3 1NT3NT1ON TO G3T US TO W4NT TO ST4Y H3R3

4S FOR YOU TWO OTH3R QU3ST1ONS, 1 4M ON MY ROOF
4ND 1 DONT HON3STLY KNOW
1 W1SH 1 COULD S4Y Y3S BUT 1T SHOULD B3 OBV1OUS WHY NOT

[fortune_sought]

Oh, yes. Would you mind stirring it? Just now and then, while I set the table. [and she heads briskly into the kitchen to get him some water and to do that. she's not quite ready to bring up the real reason she wanted to see him yet]

[painlessfighter]

Okay.

[And he goes over to start stirring! He's tempted to use the spoon to try some while she's not looking, but there really is something strange going on with her right now, so he's not going to risk it. Heck, he's even keeping quiet, just watching her when he's not stirring the stew.]

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie comes over with a glass of water, which she sets on the counter next to him] Natsuo... [she pauses, trying to think of how to say this. and then she just goes ahead asks:] What did happen with that creature? Tell me the truth.

[ still video ]

[painlessfighter]

Well they didn't make me want to stay here. Even a fake life isn't right without Youji after all.

Roof! Fun! Good view? And... [sigh] I know. I just want to be home already.

[painlessfighter]

[He blinks at her... and in order to cover a wince, he makes a wrinkly-nosed face like he's annoyed just thinking about it, as he automatically brings a hand to rub at the ear that used to have a huge chunk taken off of it.]

I think it bit me! Boo. [He sighs.] But it's all better now. Grown back and everything. That's what happened.

[Hey, it's all the truth. Just with some details left out.]

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie stays where she is, and her expression tightens] I heard that more than that happened if one of those creatures bit you. [she gives him an expectant look]

[summerdoor]

You really don't find some strange shift in our memories the slightest bit disturbing?

[Because Willis definitely finds that unnerving. Sure, there things he'd rather forget about, but noooot like that.]

[text]

[terezi_pyrope]

Y34H
1 WOULD N3V3R L34V3 MY FR13NDS B3H1ND FOR 4 F4K3Y--3R F4LS3 L1F3

1TS N1C3 1N 4 W4Y 4ND 1T DO3SNT H4V3 TH3 VO1C3S 4LL 4ROUND
SO 1T H3LPS CL34R MY H34D

HOM3 HUH?
WH4TS YOURS L1K3?

[desertdaggers]

[Hawk makes a neutral sound, hands in his pockets.] I don't know…

Haha… [his gaze flicks away for a moment, then back] I was a bit more irresponsible than I'd normally be.

[painlessfighter]

But it didn't! Because I didn't let it happen! Meru helped me.

[painlessfighter]

Me neither. No way! Youji would be mad, and Ritsuka and Soubi wouldn't be able to do anything on their own. [Sigh~ but he's smiling.] They really need us. They're so useless!

Mm. Yeah. The stupid voices are still there with the blood on the wall in my place, too. [He wrinkles his nose.] I've been staying in my room.

Ah? Um. It's just... home. There are really tall buildings, cars... things like that. [Pause] Ne, Terezi? In your world, do kids have ears like this? [He points to his cat ears] And when they grow up, do they go away?

[painlessfighter]

No, it's mostly just stupid. It's like we had no choice but to be actors for roles. That's all.

[painlessfighter]

[That makes Natsuo grin a little.] Ah! I bet you had some fun then after all!

[summerdoor]

Actors choose their roles. We didn't.