✗ ✗ ✗ [ Reduction 06; Video ]

[leggierissimo]

[Today, Joshua is looking a little worse for wear. Only a little, mind. There's a healing scratch on his cheek, a small bruised area near it. But, for all points and purposes, he still looks just as nonchalant and calm as ever. Except for a smug little smirk on his face.]Thank you for the bruises, Minamimoto. Perhaps next time we might go a little

Comments

[con_bravura]

[And Neku will just lean on the doorframe, eating a sticky slice of dried apple.]

I still think we should go after him.

[douchecouture]

[Josh glances up from his PCD, but doesn't move. Even partially healed, he's still very sore. Doesn't mean he hasn't been leaving the house on his own, though.]

We?

[con_bravura]

[Neku frowns a little at that.]

We have to fight in pairs, right? I'll pact with you, Beat and Rhyme can pact together. The four of us plus Mr. H.. we'd be able to take him, right?

[douchecouture]

You fight in pairs. I'm just fine fighting on my own, remember?

[It isn't that he doesn't want to make a pact again - he's actually a slight bit amazed, and even a slighter bit touched that Neku would even consider it. Not that he'll admit that. What he's most concerned of is keeping Neku out of this. He doesn't want him hurt when it's his fight. Not that he'll admit that, either.]

[con_bravura]

Yeah, but we can't fight alone. If all of us are gonna be in this game, then we need you to even the numbers out.

[He's not even considering the thought that Rhyme might not want to fight. She and Beat were able to take out that gold bat in the concert hall - she has to be pretty tough.]

Besides - look what happens when you run off on your own.

[Also disregarding the fact that Josh had been sitting innocently in his room when Sho had attacked.]

[douchecouture]

Alone, yes. Running off, no.

[You get an even stare, Neku. He doesn't want to deal with this, not right now.]

This is my fight, Neku.

[con_bravura]

[Neku bristles a little at that.]

He attacked you. That means he attacked all of us.

[douchecouture]

[... there's a long moment of silence at that. Mostly because Joshua... doesn't quite know how to react or what to say. It's his fight. In his mind, it's always going to be his fight. But to have Neku outright say something like that...]

And what happens if your other partner shows up in the future? Where will that leave her?

[con_bravura]

[Neku seems taken aback by Josh's question -- he's mostly just caught off guard.] Then she can pact with Beat.

[It's spoken simply, sort of like he's saying duh.] If Shiki's here, then we might not need Rhyme to fight, and Beat probably won't want to put her in danger, anyway.

[douchecouture]

[Another moment of silence.

And then, a soft sigh.]

I suppose you aren't going to let this go.

[con_bravura]

[He folds his arms stubbornly across his chest.]

Do I ever?

[douchecouture]

[Josh frowns, then glances back up after a moment.]

Fine. I'll allow that.

[con_bravura]

... okay. I'll tell Beat, and then you and me can pact.

[douchecouture]

Alright.

[He's glancing back at his PCD now. Still not in the best of moods.]

[con_bravura]

[..it's his room, too. Neku will just awkwardly step inside, and then...

...tousle Josh's hair.]

Want some apple?

[douchecouture]

[... see icon for appropriate reaction.]

What?