02 | Video

[todistantskies]

[ Alto is sitting at a large table in one of the open rooms. His sleeves are tied back as if he's about to do some work, which exposes the tell-tale signs of the ink creeping past his elbows, though his hair is loose and covering his neck. From the way he gives the device a short, but intentional look, it's obvious the feed is intentional (this

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[action, because how did I miss he was in Hibu?!]

[fox_shuuichi]

[Kurama catches only the tail end of the transmission, walking by the room, and he pauses in the doorway. He knocks, softly, on the frame before speaking.]

You ought to ask the servants if there's any rice paper around, the kind they use on the doors. It ought to be lighter.

[He's dressed in feminine kimono, as always, with his light coat of makeup and the ornaments in his hair - ambiguity is what they're all about, after all.]

[todistantskies]

(ooc: I didn't mention it in his "intro" post. XD; )

[ Alto has since set the device to the side and has begun smoothing out the crooked nose of the failed plane before unfolding it again. He looks up at the ... person in the doorway.

The young man, himself, has a rather simple dark blue yukata on, and his hair and face aren't any more decorated than usual. Someone doesn't care much for how this house works. ] ... I guess I could, if I could catch one. [ Someone has a bit of a rep for being "big and scary" since he scolded the two young ones that filmed him in the bath. ]

[fox_shuuichi]

[He smiles, and reaches out to snag a passing servant by the sleeve, exchanging a few soft words with her before sending her on her way. Then, he turns his attention back into the room, leaning against the door.]

You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar, you know.

[It's said conversationally, with no hint of scolding or judgment - just a statement.]

And some of the servants can be quite helpful, if you get on their good side.

[todistantskies]

[ Alto watches, though it's not like he is taking tips. ] Tch. I've got no interest in the ones who think I'm just here to show off.

[fox_shuuichi]

[The servant returns with a roll of paper, and Kurama motions her into the room. He takes careful notice of the way her expression changes when she sees who is in it, the way she scurries in and drops the paper on the table before hurriedly leaving again.

Interesting.]

And yet, life becomes much easier if you simply play along with their little games. Why, the servants assigned to me have kept me out of trouble time and time again.

[todistantskies]

[ For a second upon seeing that girl drop her gift and run, Alto looks genuinely rueful over something.

It passes when he takes one of the sheets from the top and stars folding. ] I'm not here to play games. I'm not even here to work, and I'm already in trouble, so what does it matter?

[fox_shuuichi]

Unfortunately, you are here to work. We all are, in one form or another.

[Again, it's said in that mild tone, lacking any kind of reproach.]

And Sir Koga isn't above harsher punishments than curses, especially with his entertainers.

[todistantskies]

[ There is a twitch of his hand when the word "curse" comes up, and it causes him to rip that part of the wing. Alto gives them such a look. ] And I'm just supposed to sit here and take it like it's no big deal? Get real. I'm not afraid of whatever it is he can do to me. [ Yet. ]

[fox_shuuichi]

[Kurama notices, but says nothing.]

You make it unnecessarily hard on yourself. He's not the harshest master in the city - and he can be kind, even. Would it be so hard to simply smile and provide pleasant company?

[todistantskies]

I'm a pilot. I don't care enough about all this to sit and make small talk with people who wouldn't know a plane from a bird in the sky.

[fox_shuuichi]

[Ah, that explains the paper airplanes, at least.]

But you cared about something, enough to wish for it.

[todistantskies]

That? [ Alto gestures toward the window. ] Yeah, and I can see my wish outside clear as day, but I can't get to it. Not from here. [ He shakes his head. ] Tch. It's a poor joke.

[fox_shuuichi]

[Well, now - that's curious, but Kurama doesn't think he'll be getting answers any time soon. So he only shrugs.]

I wouldn't be so sure. Anything with the power to hold us all here may well have the power to grant our wishes.

[He crosses his arms, and the motion tugs his long sleeves back, revealing the jade bracelet around one of his wrists.]

[todistantskies]

--maybe. [ He can't very well argue that point. Especially not later when he's heard of the impossible things that can happen here. His anger manifests more as disappointment in this moment. ] I'm not holding my breath.

[ Alto catches sight of that bracelet, and briefly looks down at his own bare wrists. ] ...hm.

[fox_shuuichi]

[Kurama follows his gaze, notices his bracelet on display, and nonchalantly pulls his sleeves back down. Then, he continues as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.]

Well, be that as it may, the servants really aren't much better off than we are - you might think about being kinder.

[todistantskies]

Does that give them to right to film me taking a bath? [ Yes, he's still angry about that. ] Because I find it hard to care about their situation when they pull stunts like that.