Fan 01 [Video]

[fans_flames]

[The feed clicks on to show a young man, barely into his teenage years by how his face still shows the curves and softness of childhood. Despite that softness, there is something unnerving about the look in his eyes. A pain and an almost deadness to them. That is, if one can get past the outright strange look to those eyes; almost blood-red with

Comments

[turn_a_blindeye]

...Figures you'd be back.

[fans_flames]

Back? So someone else said, yes... That I'd been here before, only that I was older? Care to explain this place to me, Kakashi?

[turn_a_blindeye]

You were older, yeah. About five years older. Long after...well, everything, hm?

This place is Adstringendum, a compression of various times and spaces into a single world. People who were dead are alive, children may be as old as their parents...or brothers may find themselves the same age when they shouldn't be. You get the idea.

That's the basis of it. There's more, of course, but then that can wait.

[fans_flames]

Hn. [Everything... So he went through with it, then. That only left more questions to ask Sasuke later.]

Adstringendum... So everyone here was pulled in just like me? How does one leave this place?

[turn_a_blindeye]

[The lack of question confirms to Kakashi that this Itachi, unlike the one during the event prior, at least KNOWS of the massacre he was set to commit.]

Yeah. In fact, it was...about a year ago that you and I happened to appear at the same time here.

We can't leave, at least not by our own design. Nor can we stay dead, and the only people who do leave with any permanence "disappear" mysteriously. You did that...oh, not too long ago, really. And now you're back.

[fans_flames]

So people just appear and disappear without any rhyme or reason? That's a little... unsettling. Is it common that people come here more than once, like I have?

[turn_a_blindeye]

Mm hm. Pretty much, yeah.

Your brother did. A few others have too, so it's fairly common. Some take days, others months...some never reappear. At least not yet. Between the events and the disappearances, you lose all sense of permanence or normalacy.

[fans_flames]

Events? Sounds like we don't just get to live here peacefully after being dragged in...

[turn_a_blindeye]

No, not really. But did you ever really expect a "peaceful" existence as a ninja, Itachi?

The events are a result of the Animus and their whims. They...amuse themselves, and we suffer. Sometimes. Other times it's not so bad. Like right now, watch out for mistletoe.

[Private/Unhackable]

[A pause. He tries to decide for himself whether or not to ask it at all.]

I...have a question for you. But I believe it would be better voiced in person.

Where are you staying, Itachi?

[fans_flames]

Mistletoe? Seems they're not all bad, then, if we get something like that... [Can't help but think that this is an event Kakashi might well be enjoying.]

[Private/Unhackable]

[Hesitates at Kakashi's question and his little preamble.]

Nowhere quite yet... But someone is on their way to pick me up, and I assume I will be staying with them.

[turn_a_blindeye]

Mistletoe is harmless enough, unless ingested, naturally. But be careful you don't get too close. You'll get stuck until someone is willing to kiss you.

Not that you should have a problem finding help with that, Kohai~

[Private/Unhackable]

[He can guess who this someone might be. Alphonse, Madara, Sasuke...or any number of the people who knew Itachi before. Few, though, who Kakashi believes Itachi would go with upon first arriving.]

Someone? Care to disclose who? Your brother, maybe?

[fans_flames]

[If he wasn't Itachi, he would have blushed at that. But as it was, all Kakashi got from his teasing was a slightly uncomfortable side glance that could have easily been explained away by his question, rather than the teasing.]

Sasuke, yes.

I assume this is still private? Or did Itachi drop the filter?

[turn_a_blindeye]

[Assesses the gesture, but, as usual, Itachi's a frustrating enigma. Right now, though, the question has more significance, as does its answer.]

Good to know. Maybe I'll see you around, then.

Oh, and ...don't let Madara get to him while he's out, okay?

[Private/Unhackable] Still private, derp... The mun dropped her brain. <3;

[fans_flames]

[His lips quirk down into a small frown at the mention of Madara.]

I won't. [His voice is almost tight and his eyes flash for a moment.]

[Private/Unhackable] *scoops it up, dusts it off, puts it lovingly back in* <3

[turn_a_blindeye]

[Notices that. Good...still consistent with what Kakashi's come to understand or at least be told is the "truth" of this odd tale. The Itachi he knew did not like Madara, or...did not like Madara near Sasuke, at least, hence the deal that had once struck.]

Good. If you need help with that, let me know.