[video];

[lucycoded]

[The feed clicks on inside the spacious and tastefully (re)decorated apartment. Shinji's face is close to the camera, the twisted smirk, lack of glasses, and smoldering cigarette between his lips making his identity obvious. This is the first time he's spoken to the network so blatantly since the torture that led to his death a month ago. There's

Comments

[voice]

[deathlessness]

[...Well that explains a few things.]

Seems like you found those zombies.

[Whether he's talking about the video game or something else isn't entirely clear.]

[voice]

[deathlessness]

It's not myself I'm concerned about. [Insofar as being shot in the face goes, anyway.]

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

...

You're worried you might shoot him in the face? I can understand that. Well, I don't have those feelings but I guess some people might.

[voice]

[deathlessness]

[And for that, you get a laugh. A very well-practised laugh.]

Now that would be an unfortunate situation, wouldn't it? Perhaps then we would shoot each other in the face, and that would be the end of that.

Though I don't suppose there's much point to that, if we were to simply rise from the dead again, don't you think?

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

It would be a senseless waste. Especially since people can come back here. It would be a lot better for you two to try to get along, you know. Shinji's a good friend.

[And a deadly enemy.]

[voice]

[deathlessness]

I'm sure he is, to those he likes. Unfortunately, I'm not counted among that number.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

That's unfortunate. But I won't hold it against you. I'm the nice one, after all.

Well. Nicer.

[Nobody's as nice as Kazuhiko.]

[voice]

[deathlessness]

[Oh, he knows. Why do you think he feels so guilty?]

That's terribly generous of you.

["Hold it against you." Seems an odd thing to say with regards to a friend disliking someone. The reason that friend dislikes someone, then.

The longer he speaks to Kimihiko, the more absolutely certain he is that the man is aware of his part in Shinji's death. So why the act? What does he have to gain by it?]

But are you sure he'll approve of that?

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

I'm his friend, not his pet, you know. I'm allowed to have my own opinions.

[And it's not Urick his anger is directed against. Oh no, far from it.]

[voice]

[deathlessness]

Really now? That's good to know. I'd be a little concerned if you said otherwise.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

I have to admit I'm worried about these supposed homicidal urges you have against my best friend, though. I'll have to try to keep you two apart, I guess!

[voice]

[deathlessness]

Oh, not to worry. I don't plan on going near him if I can help it at all.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

...

You really don't know Shinji all that well, do you?

[voice]

[deathlessness]

It's fruitless, I know. I think he's already proven that well enough. But I can assure you at the very least I won't be hunting him down. Those homicidal urges... you know how they are.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

That's good. Otherwise it might get a little difficult for you.

[His tone is entirely cheery.]

Being a murderer isn't exactly a good way to get by, after all.

[voice]

[deathlessness]

[Oh, that one hurt. There's the slightest hesitation, barely a second, hardly noticeable unless you were paying attention. And his tone is just as cheery when he responds.]

Maybe someone should try telling him that. It would be unfortunate if he got nice people like yourself wrapped up in all that torture business, don't you think so?