BUNNY 。００１
Who: Barnaby and YOU. maybe. hopefully.
Where: A street in Somni's business district.
Style: I'll follow!
Status: Open!
( possibly spilery for episodes up to 12. )
Where: A street in Somni's business district.
Style: I'll follow!
Status: Open!
( possibly spilery for episodes up to 12. )
He has his Hundred Power, sure. But that won't help here unless he can kick his way out. That won't help here, and it didn't help him twenty years ago - the crescendo in the music, the heat of the flames, the shadow tall as a giant looking over its shoulder at him and -
His breath shudders in his chest, unsteady, and the tension spasms in his shoulders, makes one arm jerk a little. He wants to punch something, but around him is only air and - Wild Tiger.
The wave of something too close to defeat hits him, hard, and for a moment the most difficult thing in the world is remembering how to stand. He shakes his head, wishing he could disbelieve, and then sags, focus falling to the ground he's standing on. Whatever response he had, retort or otherwise, dies in his throat.]
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He may not be the brightest tool in the shed, but he can tell when people are down better than anyone. He's a father. He was a husband. He has copious amounts of practice, and it's paying off right now, as he can see his partner's defeat clear as day.]
Hey, we'll figure something out. [He lifts a hand and claps it right on his shoulder and removes any kind of lingering doubt, defeat and sadness from his own expression, and instead replaces it with a beaming grin.] We're heroes. Not all hope is lost, we just have to make the best of it for now.
[He knows this advice would be easier to take if Barnaby could just remember what happened with Jake, and remember that everything had turned out fine. Barnaby couldn't force himself to, as Kotetsu had told him before, but that didn't mean he couldn't still be reassuring and supportive.]
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If it comes to waiting, then he'll wait. He's waited two decades, and whilst the idea of waiting longer still makes him feel restless and desperate and bitter, he knows that he can handle it. If the city can wait, so can he. No matter what happens, he'll believe in the knowledge that he'll get his chance. He has to. It's all he's ever been able to really put his faith in.
...Unlike his partner, he reminds himself, and after a few long moments of reflective, heavy silence, he shrugs the man's hand away.]
I appreciate the information you've given me. [His voice is curt, a little stiff, a little terse.] ...But don't think this changes things.
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His partner may not trust him. He may be angry with him. He may not remember everything done to fix the gap that a gesture done in good faith with poor execution had created between them. But at least Kotetsu has seen that Barnaby can be happy.
Let's go, Kotetsu.
Things can be fixed. Trust can be rebuilt. All he has to do is believe and work for it once more.
He clears his throat.] So... wanna take a look around with me, Bunny?
[He asks this with renewed enthusiasm, the hand not buried in his pocket gestured out before him, as if pitching an idea.]
I haven't had the chance to yet, so I was just wondering.
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But he doesn't. In fact, he nods and falls into step with the other man, though his gaze is fixed ahead, hands in his pockets and shoulders drawn taut. The last thing that he really wants to do is accept that this might actually be happening, but it seems like his logic is overcoming his supposed good sense. If they're going to be stuck here - three years, they could be here for three years - then they'll need to know their way around.
He, that is. With no company to please, no cameras to smile for, he doesn't need to think of the old man as his partner.
He tells himself that, anyway, as he walks in sullen and anxious preoccupation.]
What else can you tell me?
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He rubs his chin and hums quietly to himself at that question. There's not a whole lot else he can tell Barnaby that hasn't already been heard or said. The most practical idea he can think of right now is what leaves his mouth next.]
I can tell you that you'll need a home here.
[Albeit however temporary it might be, he won't rest easy himself knowing that Barnaby has no where to stay. He takes a moment longer to ponder on that. Should he help him find a place? He shouldn't have to because...
His head shoots up, amber eyes glinting with excitement, as if he's just thought up the best idea ever.]
I know! You can stay with me. Origami already is, and there are two extra rooms in the apartment. [He sounds so triumphant, but it's an honest invitation.] I don't know why I picked such a big place.
[He laughs and rubs at the back of his head. He picked such a big place incase this might happen, so he can house as many of them as he can should they end up in a situation like his. It's not like Wild Tiger to plan ahead, but it's just like him to want to be helpful and keep an eye out on everyone.
Or in another, more common phrase: "meddle" in the affairs of others.]
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(Candlelight catching on the carpet and flaring suddenly, spidering along the rug, and a little voice saying don't let it touch father don't let it hurt him)
The obnoxious enthusiasm in Tiger's voice drags him from that dark doorway and back to the now, though a shiver spiders along his nerves like he's caught a sudden chill.
His flat expression is marred when he narrows his eyes at the other man, though it's a more calculating expression than angry this time. He's not sure he believes the old man when he says he doesn't know why he chose that place. It's not like Wild Tiger to plan ahead, but it is just like him to obnoxiously meddle in someone else's affairs.
He turns his gaze forward again. It's - a nice offer, he supposes somewhat reproachfully, but the idea is still ludicrous. So, carefully neutral, he asks:]
How does one go about getting an apartment here?
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He takes a look at all the buildings that they're walking past, still unsure as to why it works like this, before responding.]
Oh. You just walk in and... take it. If no one's living there, it's up for grabs.
[A free apartment is a pretty nice perk, better than the phone anyway. But that doesn't change the fact that he already misses his messy old apartment back home, and he probably always will.]
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As far as the list of Stupid Things the Old Man Says goes, this is pretty high on the scale, however. Barnaby finds himself looking over at him again, this time with a flat stare.]
Stop trying to joke around.
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He turns to counter that flat stare with an open mouth, wide eyed expression. He throws his hands out before him once or twice in over-dramatic exasperation, and maybe even stomps his feet a little.]
But I'm not joking, Bunny. That's how it actually works! There's no rent, and they all come fully furnished, too.
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Now, however, he turns back to the road ahead, his expression blank and sullen. He has little choice but to believe the other man. That rankles. Tiger had made it clear that he didn't trust him; Barnaby has no desire to put his faith in him knowing that. But here he is, all but forced to go along with it.
He reaches into a pocket, the one where his wallet was usually stowed. But he doesn't find that. Instead, he finds a single card. Taking it out to study it as they walk, he's unsurprised that it isn't one he recognises, A sigh is suppressed as he tucks it away again, and then a little suddenly, speaks up again.]
- our things. We have no way of getting them?
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He sighs.] Um. I don't think so?
[He frowns as he, too, shifts his gaze back to the buildings surrounding them as they walk. He can't deny that he misses his things either. His home, the familiarity of it. His mind can't help but periodically shift to thoughts of his family, as well. If he missed them before, he misses them ten times more now.]
Giving us our things would be too convenient, I guess.
[He grumbles a few choice words under his breath. Stupid Somarium.]
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The idea of being without that - it was almost enough to scare him. That was how he wanted to remember them, standing by him and smiling, not as corpses lost amidst the flames. And without that photo, without that solid evidence that once they'd looked that way, he wasn't sure...]
I guess it would be.
[And while he might not offer up any choice words of his own, he seems to share Tiger's sentiment.]
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The only thing Kotetsu would miss greatly out of his possessions would be the picture of his family (his wife, his child), his mask and perhaps a few more scattered, generally pointless items (like some Mr. Legend memorabilia). Picture of the happier days aside, the rest is passable.
But he knows the frustration the other must be feeling. So he picks up his mood, frown turning into a smile, and gestures toward his surroundings with two outstretched arms.
Nothing like a casual change in subject.]
So, what do you think about this place? Aside from the whole kidnapping things, it's kinda cool, right?
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Aside from the ‘whole kidnapping thing’, we’re without our things, our own homes, our jobs, and time is apparently unreliable here, our dreams could be shown at random to everyone in this damn city, I’m being held back even further, and to top it all off we could be here for years, and I’m stuck with you of all people, telling me it’s cool?
[He stops, wills himself to breathe again, and rolls his shoulders, sighing.]
This is the least cool thing that could have happened, old man.
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Where's your sense of adventure? [He shoves his hands in his pocket, a very prominent pout on his lips.] You really need to learn how to be cuter.
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