o12 ♘ video (action welcome)

[bloodypawn]

[When Zero appears on the device upon setting it up, it might seem that he's exuding a more serious demeanor than he possibly has in the past (that is, at least to those who aren't from his world). A pale, however peculiarly bright white-grey gaze, if only due to monochrome recording, settles upon the camera, well composed. Due to a few earlier

Comments

action;

[theyseemehating]

[It's been a couple days since she was first brought to the safe house, and while during that time she spent in a room dividing her time between brooding and napping, it would appear that she finally has decided to emerge and return to the world of the living.

She's still far from looking happy. Or cheerful. Or anything at all really that didn't seem to make it all too easy to picture a dark rain cloud following around above her where ever she went.

Having seen his post, Mai went out to find the person that must be in charge of this whole safe-house situation. She could have just messaged him, but, meh, for some reason she thought it would be better to face him directly.

And after a couple minutes of searching, she finally just stopped and called out, her voice raised but lacking any other emotion aside from annoyed impatience.]

Hey.

[She pauses, and realizes in that moment when she tried to recall his name that she had no idea what it was.]

Guy in charge.

[Her next pause comes about because her mind choose to bring to her attention that she vaguely remembers having seen two people that look like him, and if not for the network logging numbers for posts she probably would have just assumed they were the same person. Too bad she didn't really care to investigate it before, because it would have kept her from looking like an idiot when she spoke again.]

Are you the one that makes cakes, or... [She draws a blank, so finishes lamely with-] the other one?

action;

[bloodypawn]

[There's only so much monitoring that one can do on a relatively calm situation. Of course, there's no saying what could happen later on, or even within the next hour. Any boredom has been more or less staved off by said surveillance, as well as keeping Yuuki company.

He notices her presence not long before she spoke up.

...and feels a touch amused, maybe a tiny bit irritated, too. It's been ages since anyone really confused he and Ichiru, although Xander seemed to as well. Is it really that difficult, though? Ichiru has longer hair, no piercings, and doesn't have the hunter's charm practically covering the left side of his throat...

He replies simply, and right to the point. Similarly, little emotion colors his voice, however more aloof than annoyed.]

The one from the bakery. I'm Zero. My brother is Ichiru.

action;

[theyseemehating]

[Yes, yes all those details would make a difference to someone that cared. Mai did not. There were lots of people that she couldn't keep straight, and most of them had very little resemblance to one another, but perhaps meeting the brothers in person, or seeing them next to one another would make her blunder so obvious that she'll never make the mistake again. Maybe.

His tone didn't seem to put her off, after all she normally sported a similar one herself. If anything, it was refreshing to the concerned, helpful and happy sounding people she normally comes across.

She turns to face him, her arms crossing as she fixes him with a level stare.]

What's the catch?

action;

[bloodypawn]

...Huh? [He blinks, an eyebrow lifting. If she was going to ask just that, she could have used the device...] To what, the safe-house? There is none.

action;

[theyseemehating]

[She could have used the device, but there was a chance that she might have missed some small detail about his reaction if she couldn't see him in person. If he made any sort of suspicious behavior, she would have seen it by how intently she was watching him.

And also, this way he can't just hang up on her to avoid answering.]

Why go through the trouble of helping people you don't even know?

[Clearly Mai is not very familiar with honest, selfish generosity. And with everything else going on in this city now that the authority is gone and people have their powers restored, her trust issues have only gotten worse.]

You must want something. So, what is it you want to accomplish with all this?

action;

[bloodypawn]

[Were this not Zero, the situation might actually be humorous. Maybe. Although he'll acknowledge his own selfish and greedy nature, it... probably is far from what others might consider as such. Or perhaps he's the very opposite, with how he isn't one who finds himself deserving of very much.

Nevertheless, he gauges her reaction, observant of her demeanor, although it may not visibly show. It's a touch irritating, although he gets what she's insinuating.

Even if she's wrong. Her suspicion doesn't go undetected, of course; he, too, isn't one who trusts easily. Not at all.]

... It's similar to what my job is, at home. I thought there should be a safe place for the innocent and injured to take refuge in, so they won't get caught up in any of the chaos and stupidity going on around the city. I don't care about some kind of payment or reward. Only that those who come stay won't cause a scene, and mind their space.

[Not trusting, but blunt and truthful, if anything.]

action;

[theyseemehating]

[Mai continues staring at him silent for a long while after his explanation is out. It does sound plausible, even though in itself his motivations are so simple that she's wary of them. Funny how she could go along without question with someone that admitted they wanted to crush people under their feet, but then when someone came around claiming that they wanted to help and protect people, she worried about them.

She's allied herself with shadier people for worse reasons though, so she eventually shrugs.]

Alright, so you're a protector of the defenseless and weak.

[The last words were spoken a little more sharply because she didn't like that she was either, or both of those things right now. And even if she accepts his answer, that doesn't mean she won't still be on the look out for anything that might warn her that he actually does have some hidden agenda.

However, in the meantime...]

Baker by day; Hero by night. [She chuckles softly once, then tilts her head at him, looking more curious than skeptical when she speaks again.] Any chance you know how to make a fruit tart?

action;

[bloodypawn]

[An ironic choice of descriptors, when his goals at home include wiping out the most wretched and annoying class of vampires, really. Not that he's going to deny the fact that a part of the hunter's role is indeed to protect and defend the victims and those innocent.

...and an interesting turn of events, with that question. He blinks.]

Yeah. Pan Bakeri sells them at times. [not that he's the only one who bakes there, of course, but he does make them, from time to time.

Pauses, he sighs quietly. Although taking note of the shift in her curiosity, it's still a little exasperating. Is there a reason for this?]

Look. If you want to stay at the safe-house, you're welcome to. That's the point. But interrogating me won't get you anywhere, if that's what you're attempting to do.