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. )
(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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He'd been approaching, to say the least, a comfortable, trusting level with the old man. But that was gone, he reminded himself sharply. That was stupidity.]
There's absolutely no sign of others here, beyond the three of us?
[Others being their fellow heroes, or their superiors.
Or Ouroboros.]
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Not according to that phone thing. It updates all the time, though.
[He kicks a stone at his feet roughly, and as it goes skittering across the pavement, he can't help but wonder who will show up, and when they'll show up.
If Jake was still alive for his partner and Origami, then he's even fair game.]
Bunny, you really should come live with us. [He'll probably never stop pressing.] It'd be safer.
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Barnaby's well aware that Tiger would probably never stop pressing. And how he hates having to concede that the old man is making a logical and reasonable point.]
Lead the way, then, old man.
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Wait. Really?
[He's got a look on his face that just screams "did I hear that right?" and "wow, that was easy" before he grins and excitedly takes his partner's wrist once more in his hand.]
We're going the wrong way, then.
[He begins to guide Barnaby in the other direction. They're close, that's indicated in how he so eagerly seems to know where he's going.
Just hang tight, partner.]
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So he's quick enough to free his wrist from Kotetsu's grip, shoving the hand into his pocket as if to dissuade further attempts to grab hold.]
Don't look so excited about it. [Partially because he's angry and patrially because he fails to understand why his partner would be excited.]
I didn't say I'd be living with you. [In light of everything that's happened, it's deceptively easy to forget about broken trust, particularly when Kotetsu is as irritating as ever. But Barnaby isn't the type to let go of such things.
He shakes his head and walks on.]
I'll look at the area and the building.
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His partner pulls back once more, and Kotetsu merely sighs and jams his own hands in his pockets. He's going to have to get used to this. The Barnaby he had dealt with would have probably kindly removed his wrist with a simple "stop that, Kotetsu"... not rip himself free.
He needs to be less touchy-feely. Less cheery. He'll try remember to do that.]
What's wrong with excitement? You could benefit from some. [Because Kotetsu knows best, clearly.
At the rejection of his offer, and his partner's ever changing mind, he huffs a breath, perhaps a little dramatically.]
It'll be up to your standards, I considered a lot of things when I picked it.
[That's said almost defensively. Like he firmly believes that he made a great choice here. Whatever the case, they arrive at the apartment building and he pulls the door open, gesturing for the other to enter.]
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