Video

[ysobritish]

[Liquid appears to be holding the phone awkwardly, for the video cuts off the top part of his head, showing everything at a sharp, dizzying angle. If you look carefully, you might notice there's something moving just barely out of sight. There are bruises on his shoulder and he seems distracted.]

Lights in the night are insignificant. Pretty, but

Comments

[video]

[argentcruelty]

I don't care.

[Abrupt. Someone's in a bad mood, it seems.]

[video]

[ysobritish]

... [Oh, that's not a good sign.] Something on your mind, Kadaj? Regardless, it could be dangerous.

[video]

[argentcruelty]

It won't stop me from taking it from them.

[Nope, you're not getting an explanation.]

[video]

[ysobritish]

It killed a man that got too close. There's the chance it may be radioactive; I don't know if you or your Brother can withstand that.

...although knowing you too, it really wouldn't surprise me. Still, if you recover it, you shouldn't bring it near anyone unless it's shielded.

Are you going to explain why you're in a bad mood?

[video]

[argentcruelty]

[Not discussing the Core business. He's already made up his mind about that and he won't be convinced otherwise.]

You knew. About my brothers.

[video]

[ysobritish]

[Knew? Liquid tenses visibly, racking his mind - and then remembers. Yaha. Of course.]

I did.

[video]

[argentcruelty]

I really hate liars. [And withholding the truth counts as a lie in his book, so don't think you're worming your way out of trouble.]

[video]

[ysobritish]

I never lied. I simply didn't answer. [He folds his arms over his chest, frowning.]

Listen, Kadaj. Would you have believed me if I'd told you that you'd forgotten your Brothers were here? That somehow, you'd lost all memory of them existing in this place?

I told you the truth. I met Loz before I met you. I simply didn't tell you he'd disappeared afterwards.

[The cat yowls and tugs at his hair, slightly damaging his reputation.]

If you're angry at me, then take it out on me.

[video]

[argentcruelty]

You knew, but you didn't tell me.

[It was a betrayal. Yet another in a string of betrayals, recently. And it was starting to get to him.]

Don't think I'll forgive you.

[video] - 1/2

[ysobritish]

...

[video] - 2/2

[ysobritish]

...

That is your right to take.

[Liquid actually looks hurt. His voice is sombre, but not particularly depressed. But it hurts, hearing that. Kadaj is practically all he has now, and even before losing everyone else, he'd become fond of the boy. Demon. Whatever the hell creatures like the Remnants were. It feels far worse than if Kadaj had just stabbed him.]

[video]

[argentcruelty]

[There's a long silence on Kadaj's end, as though he has nothing more to say but can't quite make himself cut the connection.

Finally he speaks again, his voice quiet and a little strained. He's been quietly fuming for two weeks, and the pent-up frustration is clear in his tone.]

Yazoo knew. He didn't tell me, either.

[video]

[ysobritish]

I can't speak for him, but I do not believe either of us intended to cause you harm. It was to ease your torment that Yaha took it upon himself to do such a thing. Although I disagreed with it, I believed him when he said he would not do it. By the time I knew, it was too late. When I realised you didn't remember... it was both angering and relieving. You'd been angry for so long. I thought you'd never calm down. I thought you'd never smile again. And there was nothing I could say or do to ease that pain.

[Liquid hasn't felt so oddly wrecked in a long time.]

Kadaj. If you want to vent your anger, I'm here.

[video]

[argentcruelty]

[Kadaj isn't sure what to say. He isn't sure what to think or feel. He can't shake that feeling of betrayal- a feeling that resonated with fragmented memories that weren't his, but someone else's. Memories of another betrayal, a web of lies that had driven a man to madness.

Kadaj was not that man. He was lost and bitter and frustrated and angry, but he was also a child. And if there was one thing this child feared more than anything else, it was the prospect of being left alone.]

...Brother. [His voice shakes, as though he's holding back tears.]

[video]

[ysobritish]

[And with that one word comes relief. Relief that the man doesn't seem to hate him, that he hasn't been rejected entirely. Relief that he's not going to be alone. Relief that Kadaj seems to be feeling something other than anger. There's pity mixed into it, sorrow for Kadaj's situation. He watches the video silently for a moment before speaking.]

Brother. I know you won't forgive me easily. Maybe not even at all. But you're one of the few people in my life I like. And I'm grateful for you.

[Words that don't come easily. Liquid is never truly open with anyone.]

If I can make it up to you, I will. If not... I... to be honest, I don't know what to say.

[video]

[argentcruelty]

[He's been alone for nearly two weeks now, shutting his brother out completely as a crude but extremely effective form of punishment. It had been just as hard on him as it was on Yazoo, but Kadaj persisted stubbornly, determined to make his brother understand. Determined to break him down.

It was breaking him down at the same time.]

Don't ever... Don't you dare-

[He's not even sure what he wants to say, so in the end he just gives up, falling silent again. If Liquid were near enough, Kadaj would have punched him. As it was he simply clenched his teeth and let out a frustrated hiss.]