exsilium | first strike.

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first strike.

[ There's a brief fumbling of the feed before a dark-haired, dark-eyed, dark-skinned face comes into view, countenance stoic and lips pursed thin. When he speaks, his tone is low, stern, and straight to the point, almost cuttingly so. It seems this person doesn't have much patience for beating around the bush. ]

This message is intended for members of the Initiative. I am currently seeking information regarding an organization known as "Celestial Being". If any of you have details regarding their current whereabouts, please contact me immediately.

...in addition, if you've happened to see [ hesitating ] sparkles of some kind in the sky, or anything else out of the ordinary, let me know. Thank you.

[ Yeah, that totally wasn't conspicuous at all. Going to be shutting that feed down now and definitely not muttering tersely in the process. ]

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...I'm guessing you don't mean stars. They easy to spot?

Not stars, but they can appear similar. And yes.

Then I haven't seen any, sorry. Been out all day too.

What kinda 'anything else'?

Something very big. Made out of metal.

...You sure it's even here? 'Cause that sounds pretty hard to miss.

It has to be.

You gonna back that up?

[Not challenging, but questioning. There's a rush of air as he rides his way up to the roof of some tall building. It'd be good to know what he's supposed to be looking for.]

It's a part of me. Part of who I am. Without it—

[ Hesitating again. What if it isn't here?

No. He can't accept that it's simply gone. Without his Gundam, he might as well be... ]

Uh—

[Damn if that doesn't make for one hell of a mental image.]

Got it, got it! It's important. So how'd you lose it?

During the transport, probably. It's not responding to my signal.

[ His eyes narrow, unseen. ]

I'd say it's impossible to hijack, but considering everything else that's happened...

Transport? [ beat ] You're new, huh.

[Another pause, this one longer and more sympathetic before he awkwardly ventures:]

Sorry man, but I'm guessing it didn't come with you.

...didn't come?

[ No.

No. ]

No.

[ Someone's pretty adamant about this. ]

[So adamant Kazu can practically feel that denial jabbing him in the ear. He winces, tugging restlessly on his beanie. HOW DOES HE DO THIS.]

Oh man... Don't freak out or anything but—listen, the Initiative only brings people here, right? Unless you've got it ON you when they grabbed you it probably got left behind.

[ Sorry, Kazu, but you basically just told someone they're dead, and now you've got to deal with the repercussions. That is the equivalent of what Gundam is to Setsuna. Giant robots: they're serious fucking business. ]

I'd never leave it behind. It would never leave me behind.

Who's in charge here?

[To be fair to Setsuna, Kazu would fill that Gundam-shaped hole in his life with tears if he owned an awesome mecha and lost it too. Teenage boys have dreams.

There's a distinct lack of commentary on the first part.]

The Initiative! Nobody gave you the low-down yet?

I want a person. A face.

A name.

[ Someone to go after and stab... err, politely interrogate for information. Said interrogation may or may not involve several sharp objects and murderous threats.

Hey, just because his Gundam's all about the peace, love, and understanding doesn't mean it lacks the firepower to back it up. Neither does he. ]

[This escalated quickly. Kazu has no way of knowing what Setsuna's capable of, but the guy sounds upset, so he's paused his search to turn all attention to the tablet he's holding in both hands, like that'd help him get through better.]

Haven't got one! They don't talk to us that often, all right? Not since I've been here. And I dunno if they could fix it anyway, the tech's kinda unreliable.

Edited 2013-01-09 06:25 (UTC)

[ There's an aggravated sound on the other end, something like a growl, but Setsuna's quick to calm himself. Flinging all his anger into a stranger's face wasn't exactly fair, especially since they'd already been more forthcoming than expected with information. He's quiet for awhile after that, and the first words out of his mouth next are a jumbled apology. ]

Sorry, I didn't really—of course. [ Trying again. ] But if they were powerful enough to take us from our homes, why not our possessions, too? The things that mattered most to us? This doesn't make any sense.

If they want me to fight a war... I'm useless without my sword.

[Kazu's acknowledgement of the apology is just as awkward, but at least he doesn't seem to have taken offense.]

S'okay—you're kinda having a bad day. And uh, I'm guessing they can't with the tech they've got right now. They don't even get to pick who they want, man. Everyone's grabbed at random.

[He hesitates then, unsure how well the next bit of info will be taken—but surely it's better than feeling useless.]

...Think they'll let you pick something else to fight with, though.

[ Bad day was an understatement, honestly, and the more Kazu elaborates, the sicker Setsuna feels. Ordinarily he'd just cut the feed and stew on his own (he has no obligations to this person), but he'll linger, if only to answer that last statement. ]

I have my gun. My blades. I can fight with them.

But my Gundam is... everything.

[There's the sound of more awkward silence and fidgeting. Twice he tries to offer some sort of reassurance, but the words sound trite in his head and knot on his tongue. Eventually, he offers the least he's able:]

...Only been here a month so I dunno the whole city yet, but I can get in most places and I'm pretty fast. If you can tell me what this Gundam's like, I'll help look.

Just in case.

[ They really were going above and beyond, weren't they? His spirit lifts some, but it's not enough to pull him out of the gloomy mood that's set in. His weary voice reflects as much. ]

It has great wings on its back. Like an angel. A mask, like a man's face. It's painted in white and blue. If you talk, it can hear you. Its name is 00... 00 Raiser.

And it belongs... no, we belong to each other.

[...That didn't sound too disturbing. Kazu's not about to judge, though! Who knows with the types they get around here.

He looks out across the city, trying to map a route while also piecing Setsuna's description into a rough mental image. It... turns out approximate at best and uh, pretty funny-looking. Some kind of giant doll that kicks ass? Setsuna also said it's made of metal, so he supposes it could be a robot—a remote-controlled one, maybe? Is that what this guy meant with his talk of signals and hijacking?]

Guess I'll know when I see it... Last thing, how big's big?

[So he doesn't waste time looking where it wouldn't even fit.]

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first strike.

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