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

[private]

[shalnark]

You shouldn't do that.

[smirking a bit, but he turns off his own communicator as well. No use talking to something that won't get him a reply. There are better methods for that!]

[action]

[ih8spiders]

[He ignores the message. There's nothing to reply to, anyway.]

[video//private]

[idkmybffgon]

Hey.

[video//private]

[ih8spiders]

[The reply comes after a moment. The feed turns back on to show Kurapika with a hand over his brow, hiding his eyes. It's obvious that he's trying to regain control over his temper.]

What is it?

[He pulls his fingers away and blinks a few times. His eyes don't look as red anymore, but they're still dark, almost black in the afternoon light.]

[video//private]

[idkmybffgon]

Don't get pissy on us now.

[What is tact?]

[video//private]

[ih8spiders]

I'm not.

[That may or may not have been a growl.]

[Action]

[alphaspider]

[He'd been on the way back up from the lounge when he sees the post, just after scrolling through other network posts -- girls wanting to talk to him. Kuroro spends a few minutes in the hallway replying to them, counting minutes to give Kurapika some time to cool down, before making his way inside.]

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[Kurapika's calmed down by this time. More or less. He's still seated at the couch, with the communicator on the coffee table in front of him--looks up and over his shoulder at hearing Kuroro coming in, and for perhaps a second or two gets this indecisive, shifty look as if he's thinking of asking something, but the moment passes and he turns back to stare at whatever it is that's held his interest since accidentally making that post.]

[Action]

[alphaspider]

[This is something Kuroro is less good at than all the other things he's good at. Comforting people. Because Kuroro never really comforts people so much as bullies their troubles out of them with plain and cold logic, and feelings sometimes don't fall so neatly into that. Sometimes.]

[He makes his way inside and to the kitchen, considering what to drink and just ending up with tap water instead.]

We'll get them all back eventually, you know. [Lightly.]

[Action]

[ih8spiders]

[Monk would be horrified that Kuroro's drinking water directly from the pipes. But that's not what he's worried about.]

... What would you do if I were one of those taken?

[The question comes out odd and stiff, and very indirect. He's trying to figure out what he should do now that he's been sufficiently roused--and he'd somehow started wondering what Kuroro would do in his situation. As if the answer might point him in the right direction, but that can't be right. Why is he even considering basing his decision on what Kuroro would do?

But he's already asked it. It would be interesting seeing how the meister would reply.]

[video]

[lavenderglasses]

[Hey look, flashing red eyes.]

Ah...that's different.

[video]

[ih8spiders]

[It's a wonder that he's even replying to you, but here, have a steadier view of his red eyes.]

What do you want?

[video]

[lavenderglasses]

Nothing in particular. You just seemed upset, that's all.

[video]

[ih8spiders]

[You think??]

[And he forces himself to calm down. A slight narrowing of his eyes is the only indication of the effort he expends to force them to go back to their normal blue.]

... I'm fine.

[Voice]

[zodiaconigiri]

[She sounds very worried.]

K-Kurapika-san...?

[Voice]

[ih8spiders]

I'm all right.

Sorry if I scared you.

[Voice]

[zodiaconigiri]

No no! I-I was worried..

But..um- I'm sorry to hear about Watson-sensei.

[Voice]

[ih8spiders]

[audible exhale]

I didn't know. I was out of the city yesterday.