[Video]

[resenting]

[It's a video post, mostly because he won't be assed to try to write anything down right now. The man in the video looks like hell. Those who know him know he's always kind of grouchy and terse, but now it's much, much worse.]


So what the hell happens to people when they leave this hellhole, again? Does anyone even know?


I swear, if she isn't safe, there won't be a single...


[He stops himself before he gets himself more worked up. That's not a goddamn thing he can do right now, and he knows it.]


Right, whatever. My partner's gone.


The apothecary's closed until I figure out what I'm doing. If you need anything that badly in the meantime, just find me.


[And with that, he shuts off the camera.]

Comments

[Private Video]

[leekspins]

...Do you think you're a dud?

[Because she doesn't think he is. Given how angry and fierce he is, she doesn't think he believes that either. But if he does lack that confidence, it's going to compound and make him feel worse.]

[Private Video]

[resenting]

I think I drew the shortest stick. I had to work ten times harder than the other heroes just to keep up.

[Private Video]

[leekspins]

That's a relief...

[Not that he had to work extra hard, but she's sure he knows what she means.]

That means you're more experienced than they are, right? And this place picked you. Not them. So you have something they don't that makes you valuable.

[Private Video]

[resenting]

I'm the only one of us actually trying to pull my weight, not living out some hero fantasy pretending I'm in some sort of real life video game.

I don't know why they would choose me, but I can think of about a dozen reasons not to choose any of them.

[Private Video]

[leekspins]

I think you'll figure it out eventually.

[She gives one confident nod. He seems like he's been through a lot, and having someone from his world probably helped him not to feel lonely. Liked, even. Maybe he's not ready to hang around someone else, but she should reach out. She wants to, anyway. He's been pretty nice to her, and with them both being shield specialists, it makes sense that they'd probably be friends.]

[...He's also tall dark and handsome, just like her neighbor Milly said she liked in a man.
If he can tell Milly nice things too, then maybe...!]

...Do you want to come over? We can eat ice cream and watch a movie. I can invite my neighbor too, if you want.

[Private Video]

[resenting]

[He visibly pauses, obviously conflicted. Is this an angle? No, what would she have to gain? Raphtalia would probably frown at him again for not trying to trust people.]

[So, against his own better judgement, hesitatingly-]

...Yeah, okay.

[Private Video]

[leekspins]

Okay! You can pick the movie when you get here. I don't have too many, but if you don't like those, there might be something good on TV.

[Possibly. There are a few shows that don't get that explicit anyway.]

Have you eaten? I can order a pizza right now, then it'll arrive about the same time. Here's my address.

[Just one of the many apartments that was given to newcomers, neither luxurious nor excessively humble. It might be close to his, it might not.]

[Private Video]

[resenting]

Alright, I'm on my way.

[It seems so... normal. Is that what he'd be doing if he'd never been Isekai'd? Who knows.]

[Private Video]

[leekspins]

See you soon!

[She waves, and hangs up. ...Oh, she didn't ask what kind of toppings he wanted...hrm. Well, that's okay. She'll order half pepperoni, and half everything else. Then if he wants the works, all he has to do is eat two pieces stacked on top of each other, and if he prefers something simple, he can eat the pepperoni alone. Ha, she's a genius!]