four! | o8 Video

[vinovidivici]

[ A sector nine apartment. The wallpaper is peeling in a few places, but the surfaces are free from clutter except for a kettle set to one side, spouting steam. Claire ducks into view, checking the shot is lining up. ]

It’s running. Oh, I mean, action! [ He seems to be running on an even higher octane fuel than usual. It’s not hard to discern why

Comments

[Video]

[immortale]

[Wait. He recognizes that girl from the boarding house. Firo's putting two and two together, and...]

That's your girl? [The words are said with obvious surprise, which shows in his face as well. All this time, he was living in the same house as Claire's fiancée(?) and hadn't even realized...

...Well. At least he's sure she exists now.]

Video

[vinovidivici]

What’re you sayin’ it in that tone of voice for, huh? [ He knows Firo well enough to figure there's no malice behind what he says but - wow. At least he's still too cheerful for the glare he shoots at the camera to be at all serious. ] Some potential best man you’re turnin' out to be.

video;

[stoicloyalty]

[ his girl

his girl

Embarassment and confusion overwhelms her momentary curiosity at that familiar voice (surely, she's heard it around the boarding-house before?) and, with a sharp look cast at Firo, Chane stands, leaving the scope of the camera-feed to... get some air. Oh, embarassing. ]

[video]

[immortale]

[There's a bit of a flush showing on Firo's cheeks when he replies; between their responses and Claire's jab at being the potential best man at the wedding, he's embarrassed, and sure that came out a lot more rude than he'd meant it. He knows he's not the most genteel guy, but what a (first?) impression to give Claire's lady...]

Ah- No; I just meant... [He's really doing so well at clearing it up so far.] I hadn't expected her to be someone I'd seen before, let alone...

[After he trails off, there's a distinct pause before he speaks again.]

...It's 'Chane', right? [He's sure that's what Claire had called her before, when she'd gone missing.]

Video forever

[vinovidivici]

[ He mostly ignores Firo's rambling in favor of watching her stalk off (and wondering if he should follow), then ducks to hiss at the camera with a slightly more genuine glare than before ]

You shoulda gone with that in the first place. [ you've been demoted to potential page boy ]

[ditto]

[immortale]

[...This isn't going well. Firo sighs, looking rather disheartened now. So much for clearing things up...]

Look, she lives at the boarding house too, doesn't she? [The question is mostly rhetorical, as he knows he's seen her around there.] I was surprised to find out that your dame was someone from there. I didn't mean anything by it.

[vinovidivici]

You guys lived together all that time and you never talked? You shoulda known she was my - [ remembering that icy posture ] -- that she was the girl I was talkin' about! [ Not explaining how Firo ought to have known. He looks off-camera again to check what she's up to, then turns back to Firo with a grin. ] She'll warm to ya!

[stoicloyalty]

[ Hovering by the doorway, she listens to his and Claire's exchange, eyes on the latter. She has not quite decided to cut Firo off completely-- moreso that the reaction filtered through badly to her in this state of fresh embarassment. That, and he seems to be Claire's friend. She cannot write him off immediately.

Though being listed as Claire's dame, or girl, or-- whatever-- still rubs her the wrong way, logically, it is not too far a jump from 'fiancée'. She wrestles with that internally, brow creasing slightly as she observes their conversation. ]

[immortale]

[Yeeeeeeah, about that...

Firo looks away, his posture and expression turning sheepish-as if Claire had caught him in something he didn't want to admit.]

Actually, I haven't talked to many people there at all... [He gives a small sigh at the admission, and looks back at the camera.] I really hadn't expected to be here this long, you know? I thought that soon enough, I'd find myself back in New York-so I kept my distance. I figured there wasn't much point in gettin' friendly with people I'd never see again.

[vinovidivici]

[ That was unexpected - and he feels a little awkward for not having seen it. While he can't address Firo's longing to go home he can say something about his self-imposed withdrawal, glancing over at the person he gave a similar speech to a few months back. ] It's like I say, there's no way having more people in your world could be a bad thing. How could it be worse than being alone, even if it's just for a while?

[ Jogging his leg thoughtfully, then slapping a hand on the table decisively, channelling a sudden burst of optimistic energy. ] That's no good! You've gotta come have dinner with us - even if it's the last thing you do here!

[immortale]

[Maybe Claire is actually right... At this rate, who knows how long he'll be here-and to spend the whole time only keeping close to those from home? Even if he's not sure he wants to become too closely associated with any of the others around the city, it'll be better than remaining so distant. It's not so much laying down roots as making things more bearable...

-But his thoughts (along with any chance of admitting that Claire has a point) are interrupted by a thump and Claire's sudden declaration.] Huh?

[It takes Firo's mind a moment to catch up, but when it does, he smiles.] If you say so... Just tell me when.