017 | video | September 23, Thursday afternoon

[ih8spiders]

[The video feed starts abruptly, and for a few seconds there's a dizzying view of the ceiling as the communicator shudders and settles to a stop on a flat surface. The perspective is odd; it's upside down, and there's someone's arms on both sides of the camera, leading up to a pale face

Comments

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[And the question of where he should even begin looking for the kidnappers is exactly the reason why he hasn't rushed out yet, why he didn't run out the moment he heard that Ash had also been kidnapped. Kurapika is well aware that haring off recklessly is a stupid move, and by now he's gone through it enough times to know what usually happens whenever he loses control--the consequences often embarrassing, especially whenever Kuroro's involved.

In any case, while a search and rescue mission would normally be a walk in the park for the both of them if they'd been in their world, they're not natives of this one. The most practical thing to do is to let the people who are familiar with this world conduct the searching, and just offer help once needed.

So Kuroro's answer comes as a complete--and somehow pleasant surprise. It's almost... mollifying, to hear what the man would do in that scenario. And it's only distantly related to his indecision over what to do about Watson's kidnapping, but it's more than enough.

... Damn him if he's going to show that he's actually satisfied with the answer, though.]

You're right, it's stupid. I'm not even someone you'd normally be looking for. [Grumbled, and where he was sitting up straight and stiffly before, he now settles more bonelessly into the couch.]

[Action]

[alphaspider]

[It seems to be the right answer, judging by the less taut shoulders. It's not often that honesty gets him somewhere, given that his usual frame of mind might equate to ruthlessness and greed to someone else. But it worked, and that also makes him a little satisfied, if still uncertain why his answer is that way. No use musing on it for now -- he's a man of different whims, and Death City offers him a lot of freedom to pursue whims.]

[He finds it safe to join Kurapika on the couch without the blond tensing up on him, so Kuroro makes his way over and sits down next to the kid.]

Something different's bound to happen soon. And then we'll make our move.

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[He's never been good at waiting. It's one of his biggest faults, especially if his emotions are involved--always impatient, always rushing after results. It blinds him to pitfalls in his path, and he's already endangered more than one person in the past because of it. He's doing better with the waiting thing now, but it's ridiculous that it had to take him getting yanked here and Kuroro forcing him to see that he possessed a reckless streak before he realized it. Can he be blamed for it? It worked when he still had nen, when he had to rely on the element of surprise to overcome the gap in numbers and experience.

But the mindset doesn't seem to be acceptable here, and he's been struggling to adjust.]

... You're joining the people planning on going out to the desert tomorrow?

[doesn't move even as Kuroro sits beside him, except maybe to tuck his feet closer to himself so he's not quite so sprawled out anymore]

[Action]

[alphaspider]

Birds and stones. You know the saying.

[Right now, he's just being languid, casually friendly, sprawling a little himself but not encroaching on Kurapika's space too much. Just a little bit more than usual.]

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[The relatively neutral expression on his face turns suspicious as he tries to figure out what Kuroro means with his reply.]

You mean you have another motive for volunteering for the search?

[Action]

[alphaspider]

I always have multiple motives for anything that I do. [Lightly, just stating a fact.] There are very few exceptions, and this isn't one of them.

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[He sighs--the sound like someone letting out the last bits of tension he's been holding in.]

And here I thought you were being oddly altruistic.

[Action]

[alphaspider]

[Very good, Kurapika. Kuroro notes it at the back of his mind.]

It would be good if the rest of them thought that. The idea's pretty funny, though.

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[The tension is from a lot of things: worry over Watson and Ash, guilt over his own helplessness and indecision, confusion at Kuroro volunteering to go on the mission when he can't even make himself decide immediately. To find out that there are actually ulterior motives at play, to know that Kuroro hasn't suddenly turned good and compassionate overnight feels like the world has righted itself under him, if even for a little bit, and he can go back to grousing at the meister.]

I'm sure some of others are smart enough to know that you probably only volunteered for the heck of it.

[Action]

[alphaspider]

[Isn't it funny when Kuroro's natural asshole disposition is what anchors you to calm reality? Kuroro's grin brightens.]

The beautiful thing about it is that they're grudgingly grateful for it anyway. The Zoldyck kid is going.

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[Bah. It's just that he's unused to you being an upstanding citizen! Feels like it's going to start snowing in the middle of the desert or something.]

That's how it goes normally, you know. You do something nice, people thank you for it.

[Action]

[alphaspider]

[Hahaha!] But you also have to admit that there are people here who know me more than the common acquaintance. Getting them to thank me against their will is funny.

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[mutter] Not that funny. [Considering that he'd normally be counted among those who know Kuroro more than the common acquaintance, and that he's had to thank Kuroro against his will on more than one occasion...]

Are you just going as one of the people searching, or do you have any other function?

[Action]

[alphaspider]

[That's why it's funny!]

I'm driving a truck to transport people from site to site. [beam]

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

Not using a vehicle commandeered illegally, I hope.

[audible exhale]

I guess I'm going with you, then.

[Action]

[alphaspider]

I'm borrowing it from the mall. They're aware of it. [Might not have agreed, but they can't exactly do anything about it, can they...]

[grin] That'll be good. We're up for a lot of fighting. [Experimentation tiiiime.]