soul_campaign | video; sept 24

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video; sept 24

[ the video clicks on to a shot of Chez Haruno-Uchiha-Uzumaki in something of disarray. though Sasuke is holding the camera, his face is framed from behind by boxes stacked haphazardly, some still open and labeled. while none of them have an excess of very much, somehow it still seems to have piled up. either way, it's clear that they're moving into a new location.

Sasuke looks less than pleased, but this is nothing new. he has a healing scrape on his cheek from the recent mission and his bangs are tied off his face with a slim piece of fabric (the tie on the top of his head) and he's in a fitted black tank. all of this is accented by very loud squawking in the background. ]

Naruto, your chicken is making this a lot harder than it should be.

[ he doesn't turn around, or even flinch, even when behind him Chicken flaps up on a precariously balanced stack of boxes— and promptly knocks the whole thing down. this is followed off-screen by the sound of breaking glass.

Sasuke's brow twitches. ]

If that was the tea set [ Itachi's tea set... ], it's new name is going to be Teriyaki by the time I'm done with it.

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What the- [ naruto, as it stands, is not home for sasuke deciding he's going to move them single-handedly. it's like you're used to making bad life choices or something. ]

You've gotta talk nicely to him'ttebayo.

[ yeah weird ]

It's in the way.

TALK TO HIM NICELY

Edited 2014-07-07 05:41 (UTC)

Why don't you just take it with you on a leash or something.

Chicken's a free spirit'attebayo.

What the hell does that even mean?

He's not made for leashes. He's gotta- [ his hands wiggle ]

roam.

Sasuke.

[It feels like it's been forever, and here you are with a chicken. He'll mercifully overlook it, however- this time]

How was your trip to Shanghai?

[Because between returning on mission day and then the mission and the follow-up work that needed his immediate attention, he's hardly seen much of anyone]

Edited 2014-07-06 03:23 (UTC)

[ yeah we'll see how long that lasts. ]

Busy.

[ though less because they found anything and more due to general chaos. and naruto. and sai. ]

[Well if Sasuke doesn't feel like expounding the details, he'll just get to their report later]

You're moving?

[ it's more that there was little relevant, particularly considering the mission they were on. ]

Our place is too small.

[The hell are you talking about Sasuke, there's like three rooms- ...ah. Well then]

Sai and Itachi?

Naruto insisted.

[ mostly. Sasuke may have had a hand with Itachi... ]

[ Sakura had been in a different room packing things when she hears the crash! of belongings falling to the floor. she comes in, eyes widening at the collapsed tower of boxes, hearing the tail end of Sasuke's threat. ]

That was already packed elsewhere, don't worry. I think it was just some dishes!

[ she's already crouched down, picking up a few shattered pieces of china. ]

[ Sasuke's glances over his shoulder, feed momentarily cut to turn around and give her his attention ]

It's a menace.

[ stifling a bit of a giggle? sure is. ]

Still not used to it after years of this?

[ he exhales. it's really a sigh. ]

If he'd get a cage for it...

I don't think Chicken would like that very much, considering it's lived outside of one for most of its life.

[ a chicken. of course. ]

Tea sets are replaceable.

[ you had a crow named Bird once okay ]

Tch.

[ we don't talk about that, stop. ]

What an eloquent response.

You needn't threaten Naruto-kun's... [ what do you even call that. ] -pet.

Yeah Sasuke. Don't threaten Chicken.

[ whAT ]

I wasn't talking to you.

Well you are now.

[ Despite telling himself that he's going to backtrack through the Demise archives to try to catch up on everything that's happened since he left, Kurapika actually hasn't gotten that far through the mass of posts. The first thing he's confirmed is that Kuroro isn't here, and it's making him want to smash everything breakable within reach. Prussia's presence has at least dulled the ache in his chest a bit, but that's as much as he knows at the moment.

He should be forgiven, therefore, for hardly daring to believe his eyes when he sees the feed of a harassed Sasuke on his communicator, and hears the other boy mentioning Naruto's name. Sasuke looks unchanged, but Kurapika remembers Neku, and another Neku, and BREW's other illogical habit of summoning the same people from different timelines. It had tampered with his memories. He can't go into this expecting people he knows to know him back--it might even get him killed if a different Kuroro is ever brought here, one who never went through their turbulent partnership with him.

It takes him another minute before he nervously flicks the video on, but he keeps both his voice and his expression carefully blank as he composes his reply. ]

You should invest in a pet carrier.

[ one of the reasons Sasuke avoids Shibusen is because the loss of his entire network was brutalizing. when he woke, and they were all gone, he couldn't put a name to the crushing sensation that had held him for weeks on end. he didn't expect their return. he didn't think about it because that was easier than dealing with the yawning sadness just under the surface.

when this voice comes through, it's unmistakable, and Sasuke stares down at the image of Kurapika for a long moment before he can get a handle on his shock. all thoughts of moving are momentarily forgotten in the wake of this.

but he didn't see any recognition in his face, and the very idea that Kurapika was back and didn't remember him made his chest clench painfully. he takes a breath, mouth soft, before he speaks: ]

I'm better with cats.

[ The lack of any overt reaction causes a different sort of shock, one that's ponderously, almost blessedly slow in registering. The frown that Kurapika can't help showing as is confused as his answer is automatic--something rote meant to buy him time as the rest of him scrambled to make sense of what he's hearing and seeing. ]

It's not a matter of preference. You can use a carrier to temporarily keep pets out of the way if you need to. It keeps them safe, as well; those boxes might fall and crush your chicken by accident.

[ his brow comes down, momentarily diverted by the conversation. ]

I'm more worried about what it's going to do to my pots and pans.

[ a beat ]

And it's Naruto's chicken, not mine.

But you live with him. [ His own frown persists, mind stubbornly clinging to the inanity of the conversation as a way of delaying making the final conclusion that Sasuke might not remember. ] You seem familiar with it enough that the fact you haven't eaten it yet means you've accepted it into your household. Whether it's to protect your own property or to keep it from hurting itself is a responsibility shared between you and your roommate.

Only because I don't have a choice.

[ as if on cue, there's another squawk in the background, followed by Sakura's voice floating after the chicken, indistinguishable. ]

You should know how Naruto—

[ he cuts himself off, short and quick, as though realizing what he was saying only halfway through it. his jaw clicks with how fast it happens.

the Count didn't remember. Sai didn't remember. Itachi didn't remember. he couldn't keep assuming like this.

Sasuke glances away. ]

Anyway, he'd probably whine about it being in a cage if I did.

[ But Kurapika does know Naruto, and that's why he's talking like Sasuke should be able to make the other blond see sense. "It's only temporary. Compromise," he wants to say, and reach through to the feed to shake the other boy, because they're both there, in the same room, not separated by the gulf of time and an unreasonable magical artifact.

Instead he squeezes his eyes shut, pinches the bridge of his nose, shakily exhales. A mutter, too low to be heard completely over the feed, something low and self-deprecating. When he opens his eyes again, they're dull and darkened to near-purple. ]

You two... sound like you get along well. [ He can't keep the pretense anymore; he has to get off the feed soon to vent the ache clawing at the back of his eyes. Nevermind that this Sasuke might think he's a lunatic--he doesn't intend to maintain or start any form of contact, if it turns out that they're entirely different people. ]

You probably don't remember me, but--if you've found a way to let him destroy your hatred, then... then I'm glad. If not, then let him. That's all you need to know.

[ there are number of things Kurapika might have been able to say that would make it clear he remembered who Sasuke was. that this was what he chose—

if Sasuke didn't remember everything he'd been through here, he's fairly sure he'd have laughed in Kurapika's face at the sheer arrogance of such a statement. as though he could unerstand Sasuke's hatred.

as it stands, something in the corners of his eyes softens. ]

You remember.

[ There's confusion first--the perpetual state of his mind ever since he arrived here--because he's all but ready to cut off this part of his memories and tuck it away where it wouldn't fester and drive him mad. The relief that hits him next is so overwhelming that he's unable to answer immediately. When he does, his voice is thick, and hoarse with desperation. ]

Yes.

[ Kurapika usually has a better handle on his emotions than this; tightly-leashed anger hidden behind a cold front, to be served out whenever appropriate, but he's also frustrated, still struggling with his memories, quite frightened that he'd have more trouble dealing with the madness wavelength this time around. The relief is the last straw, and he sees his eyes flash red in the reflection on the communicator's screen. His hand slams down on the mirror almost of its own accord, blocking the view of most of his upper face. ]

Yes. I thought--I thought you didn't. Is Naruto--?

[ He has to stop and bite down on his lower lip. He refuses to let it wobble, god damn it. ]

[ Sasuke doesn't condemn Kurapika for covering his reaction. hell, he's done it plenty of times himself— hiding something you can't control. patiently, he waits it out, because he can hear the thickness in his voice and Sasuke is more than aware of what this is.

he feels it too. the crippling sense of relief. ]

Tch. Of course.

[ Sasuke is sure he wouldn't be as attached to this stupid chicken otherwise. but it was almost beside the point, because while most of Kurapika's face is obscured by his hand, Sasuke can't take the black of his eyes off the small image in the mirror. ]

Kurapika. Come over. We're moving into a bigger place.

[ there's more to it than that. it's telling in the fact Sasuke asked at all. he wants— no. needs to see his friend. ]

[ Kurapika's first instinct is to shy away from the invitation. His thoughts aren't quite grounded, and he needs a few more days of quiet before he'll stop feeling like the next shock might send him adrift. He's more liable to lose control over his temper in this state, too, and doesn't want to let anyone else see more of what he's already shown the few people he's talked to. This continued loss of control is just appalling.

But then he remembers that Sasuke very rarely asks for favors--if ever, even. A request like this usually means something far deeper than what the blunt words might lead him to believe. And if he's to be honest with himself, he does want to see the other two with his own eyes. This might even be his last chance to talk to Sasuke if BREW were to explode on them all tomorrow.

He doesn't take his hand off the mirror; he has to get his eyes back to normal, first. They're here, they're still your friends. No need to get upset. ]

Do you need help?

[ He can always apologize and beg to be excused if it gets too much for him to handle. ]

Naruto's banned from helping.

[ for the most part. it means Sasuke has volunteered to do most of it himself, with some help from Sakura when she isn't working.

Kurapika may be keeping his expression hidden, but Sasuke continues to watch watch what he can see of him. ]

We're in the Fatality Condominiums, 3B. The door'll be open.

That's not a good use of your resources, is it? [ But of course Naruto's banned from helping; if he's half as clumsy as his chicken, Kurapika can easily imagine Sasuke resorting to tying the other blond to a post just to stop him from accidentally breaking things. ]

I won't make very good company at the moment, you know. [ A breathless, humorless laugh as a reminder of his frazzled nerves, but he finally lifts his hand. His other hand is rubbing at his eyes--they feel itchy, strained. Overused, probably, with how often he'd failed to stop them from triggering ever since he got back here. ]

Yes it is.

[ though the reality is that he'll only be able to hold Naruto off for so long before the guy returns to help. anyway, Sasuke isn't going to move that Chicken. ]

It's fine. Just come over.

[ Kurapika gives a yielding sigh and then gets up, looks away from the communicator's screen to run his gaze around the room--his old room, cleaned out after he'd disappeared and still bare of anything personal since he only moved in yesterday. Hardly the most compelling argument for his staying indoors. ]

... All right. I'll be there in a few minutes.

[ He ends the feed after another hesitant pause and slips the mirror into his pocket. Anxiety at the impending meeting, something he didn't expect, but then again he hasn't gone out to stock up on clothes and necessities, and he's still wearing the suit he arrived in yesterday. He leaves his tie on the bed and loosens the collar, and feebly hopes he doesn't look too rumpled.

It takes him half an hour (and ten embarrassing minutes spent standing at an intersection trying to remember which way to go) to get to Fatality Condominiums, and the door to 3B is open, just as Sasuke said. He hears the chicken cackling well before he gets to the threshold, and has to wonder why they aren't worried that the bird might escape. ]

[ because the stupid bird won't leave, for the most part. it knows where the easy food is and thus never roams much farther than the end of the hall, much to Sasuke's chagrin.

there's a squawk from inside the apatment as Kurapika gets to the door, and the image he's met with is Sasuke swinging a dish towel at the chicken to get it away from two swords that are laid out on the ground. a few feathers lift up into the air in it's wake.

he sets the dishtowel on his shoulder and turns in time to spot the other boy in the doorway, and in seeing him Sasuke goes very still. the reaction is difficult to decipher— surprise, maybe, as though he'd forgotten he'd invited him over.

in reality, it has more to do with the fact that Sasuke still isn't sure if what he's seeing is real. ]

[ The chance to see Sasuke shooing at the bird with a dishtowel before the other boy notices him makes Kurapika smile even as he takes note of everything else he can see from his limited view by the door. He doesn't miss the way Sasuke goes still, then, and distantly wonders if that will be how Gon, Killua and Leorio will greet him the next time they meet: like they're seeing an illusion.

He keeps his shoulders relaxed, although his hands in his pants pockets might be twitching nervously. The blond eyes the boxes and the swords on the floor warily and distractedly reminds himself to tell Naruto that he sees a dozen chicken accidents waiting to happen. ]

Very domestic.

[ The deadpan amusement in his own tone makes him wince inwardly. ] Still talking like a Nostrad group leader... [ The last is said in a self-recriminatory mutter, and he finally lifts his eyes to meet the other boy's gaze, apprehension evident despite his trying to act like he's handling this meeting just fine. ] Sasuke? [ Is there something on his face...? ]

Edited 2014-07-13 16:39 (UTC)

[ Sasuke's gaze lingers on Kurapikas face, traces down the length of his body (cataloguing) until he speaks. then the black of his eyes snap back up to the other's face, and whatever tension had clambered for his shoulders bleeds away. domestic, huh? ]

Tch. [ his expression twists, something in the corner of his mouth that is closer to embarrassment than it is any kind of resentment. ]

Don't stand in the door.

[ he casts it over his shoulder as he turns around, tucking the dishtowel back into the waistband of his slacks. despite the disarray of his apartment, Sasuke seems— remarkably at ease. as he rounds the kitchen counter, his gaze flits back to Kurapika. ]

You look different.

[ It's his clothes, maybe. Or the slightly colder bite to his eyes that says he won't think twice about resorting to questionable measures now if it means getting what he wants from trash who don't have the right to own eyeballs stolen from corpses. But that's not an answer Kurapika will offer on his own, and it's not an acceptable topic to bring up first thing after being reunited with people he didn't think he'd ever see again. So he shrugs as he steps into the apartment, gaze tracking Sasuke's back as he picks his way into the kitchen area. ]

And you look sound. [ Healthy, despite the visible injuries, anyway, and comfortable with himself. He's pleased, with each confirmation of the pair being all right steadily eroding his apprehensions away--it might even be enough to cover the remaining holes left by the knowledge that his meister isn't there. ] You've been doing well, I hope?

...still terrorizing people, I see.

[Yes, she is in fact, talking to the chicken.]

If you give it something to peck at, it will be suitably distracted. For a bit, at least.

Like what?

I found that small, stuffed toys worked best.

How do you know that?

Who do you think took care of it while you were both away?

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video; sept 24

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[video] I'm starting to regret deciding not to get paid.

[video] i know these feels lmfao

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/arrives hella late with starbucks

of course!!

sry bb

i'm the last person to talk tbh

/squeezes