🎙 video

[coasts]

[ The video's pretty straight forward. Samatoki's device is in front of him, giving the viewer a good view of Samatoki's face. There's an ashtray on the desk, as well as a lit cigarette. This is more important!! ]

So, I'm lookin' for a guy. His name's Riou. His hair's... [ Shit, what colour is his hair? ] Orange... brown. Is there a name for that? Whatever. He's like a walking wagyu stick. Large and beefy. He could probably kill you with his thighs. Or if he slapped you in the face.

[ He's getting off topic... ]

Last time I saw him was last month. He camps out sometimes so he might've gone to the forest or the park or somethin' since he doesn't like the city. Got no idea, but he ain't answerin' my calls and texts. What if he got eaten by a bear? Shit.

When the Sanguis people're wolves again, can you try sniffin' him out? Can't exactly go to every corner to find him.

Anyone who's got leads, come to me.

[ Samatoki has no idea people can go back home yet. He'd check the network for other posts about missing people, but he also hasn't thought of that?? Either way, his teammate's gone and he's only just realising that it's been weeks since they saw each other. Forget teaching people how to freestyle... this is more important. ]

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[coasts]

[ Samatoki's not sure what the extended hand is for, but since she's holding hers out, he reaches for hers and gives it a firm shake. Is this what you wanted, Kitsuno? ]

His place is right next to mine. C'mon.

[ It's not much of a walk, maybe fifteen minutes at best. He'll slow down to match Kitsuno's pace, at least. ]

[foxtouched]

[ It works, even if she had to hide a chuckle. However, as he begins to walk, she keeps pace, having no trouble moving in her robes and if he allows her to, she actually will take his hand as they walk to give him a reassuring squeeze as they head to the apartment. ]

How have you been, anyway? You sounded like you'd gotten settled in after that whole prison situation.

[ Probably good to have some idea of how things have been going for him. She isn't very intrusive, but it's not like she had many people to worry about here. ]

Will you tell me about yourself and Mas— er, Riou-san? It sounds like you both are very close.

[coasts]

[ Honestly, the squeezing helps. He looks down at their joined hands as they walk, but he doesn't say anything about it. Truthfully, it's embarrassing, but. . . it helps. It makes him feel a little better. ]

Well, yeah. Just 'cause I got arrested once doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Wouldn't 've been the first time I spent a night in jail.

[ It's totally normal for him!! ]

Riou's a soldier. Well, former soldier, anyway. The army's disbanded where I'm from. We met 'cause Jyuto wanted to get him on my team.

[foxtouched]

[ She's glad for it... she's very, very chroma-starved, though she hasn't been thinking of it for a while, but it is nice to have someone who won't mind. She's so used to just taking a hold of her friends' and family members hands to make them feel better that she doesn't really think of it.

There's a look of concern that crosses her face when he mentions it's not the first time he'd have spent in jail, but she just closes her fingers around his a little more reassuringly instead. When he's done explaining, she looks thoughtful. ]

Oh... what sort of a team are you a part of? You mentioned something with your... Mics?

[ It's still a bit confusing, but she adds- ]

I still don't think I've seen one. Maybe we can see yours after we've looked for Riou-san. I'm sure he'll understand why you broke into his place, too, won't he?

[coasts]

Aa, I told you about the Hypmics. I'll show you mine later.

[ And this time, his mic won't be mistaken for his dick. ]

Japan's messed up, [ He says this, looking and sounding a little frustrated. He's got a temper, but he's not going to suddenly explode because someone asked. ] men fight for territory while women stay in one central place. They run the government, and the men have territory battles with their Hypnosis Mics to live.

[ It's a general and biased explanation, but honestly, he doesn't see any other way of explaining it. The government is shit and that's what he wants to change in the first place. ]

[foxtouched]

[ She acknowledges that he will— Samatoki's not the kind to promise something and not follow through. But she does listen, attentively, when he explains the situation in his world.

It sounds... very controlled and militaristic. How awful... it's the kind of world her fathers worked so hard to avoid. ]

How do these "Hypnosis Mics" help? Do they have powers? One would think you'd use combat...

[ She looks thoughtful but she does shift up closer, her arm moving around his so that she can walk closer. ]

I'm almost worried for the future of the Japan I come from. I wonder if the humans will have to struggle the way you're saying they will.

[coasts]

It's— [ And now she's closer?? His eyes shoot wide and he looks away. His ears turn red, and so do his cheeks.

He'll try to ignore it... he doesn't want to scare her off by yelling at her. ]

The mics're weapons. Other people use guns and swords, but we use mics. It messes with your head and it hurts.

[ Weapons are pretty much banned in Japan. To fight crime, you use mics. It doesn't mean Samatoki doesn't own a gun or two, though. He's Yakuza, after all. ]

[foxtouched]

[ Honestly, the thought of reassuring him is so strong that she doesn't even think of how her action might be taken. She's always found comfort in touch, even though she's had to avoid being close to anyone for a while—

But it's safe now, so she doesn't even hesitate. Instead, she's focusing on Samatoki's explanation and she blinks at his words. ]

That sounds frightening— like the ningyo. They use their voices to entrance, but also to harm.

[ Mermaids. Maybe they've had a hand in these? She pauses as a familiar building comes into view, though. ]

Ah, this is where you live, isn't it?

[ She only remembers because she came to drop off snacks once ]

[coasts]

Mermaids're real where you come from?

[ That's.. actually pretty cool, but Samatoki doesn't say that part out loud. ]

An' yeah. C'mon, my place is just upstairs. Riou's next door to my apartment.

[foxtouched]

Mm, they are. We've plenty of them around. I can show you how they look, sometime.

[ For now, though, she follows him until they stop at the top of the floor, and she pulls away as she places a hand on the door before her. ]

This one, then...

[ She pauses, before gesturing to Samatoki to wait. As she stands in front of Riou's door, she hesitates, letting her fingers move down until they touch the door handle and-

She goes still, suddenly gripping his hand. When she looks up at Samatoki, he'll see her eyes going wholly golden, and her body having frozen up, suddenly pulsing with a low golden glow.

Her voice suddenly goes low, speaking as though it's being echoed through glass, her hand still on the door- ]

... crystals alight, hemming his form- he returns to where he does belong-

[ There seems to be a shimmering reflection of crystal facets in the glow around her, before it suddenly vanishes and she stills, clutching her head as she quickly lets go of Samatoki's hand, staggering back as she leans against the door. The vision came too suddenly, but when she speaks again, her voice is quieter- ]

... he isn't here any longer. He really has been sent back.

[ She looks apologetic before lifting her head. ]

I'm sorry- I should have mentioned... I'm able to see the past and the future. Being- near where he stayed triggered a vision. But I saw it clearly... he's not in this world. He must have returned to yours.

[coasts]

Hey— [ He's a little confused when she suddenly holds onto him, but whatever he wanted to say gets lost when he watches her.

He's never seen anything like it before, and he can't help but feel mystified. Though the spell only lasts until she's let go of his hand, and he pockets it quickly and waits for an answer. ]

... Thanks for findin' that out for me, really. [ Whatever Kitsuno did, he believes it, so... ] Guess he really ain't here anymore, but better there than here.

[foxtouched]

[ She feels bad, a bit. To have to deliver such bad news. But, this place is ephemeral, anyway- surely he could return home as easily. As she steadies herself, she looks over at the door, before looking back at him. ]

At least you didn't have to break in...

[ Even if... maybe he should? Just to have some presence of his friend around. She touches his arm hesitantly. ]

I'm sorry I couldn't give you good news. You might see him again sooner than later...a lot of people have gotten to return, after all.

[ She gives his arm a gentle squeeze. ]

... do you want me to stay with you for a bit? You look like you could use some tea.

[ She wouldn't feel right leaving him alone too quickly- even if she's never seen anyone she knows or lost them, it's still not easy. ]

[coasts]

[ Quite frankly, he could use a smoke. He's not a tea kind of guy, so he doesn't really have any tea to offer, but he does have coffee.

He cocks a head to the opposite door. ]

This is my place. Don't got tea, but I got coffee if you want some. [ He sighs and scratches the back of his head, his white hair getting mussed up and messy all the more. ] You're not supposed to be the one sayin' sorry. I was the one who made you do this, so. . . thanks. An' sorry for takin' up your time.

[foxtouched]

Coffee?

[ She tilts her head curiously, but- after a moment, she nods. It's an excuse to make sure he's fine, at least, so she'll take it. ]

If it's not too much trouble, then. I happen to have some tea with me- I was making some leaves before we spoke.

[ She works with flowers after all and collects teas. ]

But if you've any rice, I can make you those rice balls you liked so much.

[ She just wants to cheer him up... even if she has little to offer to do it. ]

[coasts]

[ She's... She's really nice. Samatoki doesn't think he deserves the kind of treatment he gets from Kitsuno, but it doesn't seem like something he can tell her without her getting worried and doting on him more.

(He's lost a battle that he didn't even know he was part of.) ]

I got rice. The sticky kind. That good?

[ With their objective accomplished, he invites Kitsuno into his apartment so the two of them can have tea and riceballs. ]