001 | video.

[permit]

[ when the feed flicks on, it’s to the simple image of a sharply dressed man adjusting his glasses upon the bridge of his nose. or rather, it’s the lens glare that strikes the view first, a flash of blue that obscures the friendly(?) way he eyes the viewer, the practiced way he smiles. ]

My apologies. [ the tone, too, is terribly kept, composed and precise. ] If I may, I kindly request that you lend me your brief attention for but a few minutes of your time.

First, allow me to introduce myself: I am Munakata Reishi. You will have to forgive me, I’m afraid, as my recent arrival will mean my lines of inquiry will run along the road of repetition.

[ it’s formality and ease in idle, clear-cut motions; he laces his fingers together and rests them neatly on the table set before him. his smile hasn’t moved. ]

There is, I understand, a . . . certain freedom to living in the time before we are called to action. Training is -- was mandatory, was it not? I don't suppose all of you have been keeping up with your weekly regimen during this temporary state of confusion.

But I digress.

Let me cut straight to the chase, then.

Certain concerns come to mind. Minimal organization though we may have, I admit I’m rather lost. [ there’s a breath of laughter, possibly meant to curb the tension… not to create it. ] With so many people in a state of little to no enforcement, is it safe there on Earth, I wonder?

. . . And what kind of activities, pray tell, have you found to be the most beneficial use of your undoubtedly limitless spare time?


PRIVATE; TO SARUHIKO FUSHIMI

[ it's a text, simple and innocuous. ]

I trust I find you well.

Comments

[clansman]

Yeah? [ all drawl. ] And how's that?

1/2

[permit]

. . . By humoring me.

[permit]

I can't imagine a bed in the snow [ ground, grave ] would be quite so comfortable.

Does it really suit you?

Suoh Mikoto.

[clansman]

[ silence again, and a slow exhale, unraveling white. ]

Munakata Reishi.

[ every syllable deliberate. ]

S'it matter where I'm sleeping?

[permit]

Not to me, perhaps.

[ perhaps. it's the fact he's lying in the snow, he thinks -- still talking -- that's the terrible joke. ]

Although I would say- [ it comes out, weighed heavy with the irony, low and dragged with the inflection. ] that it doesn't . . .

. . . suit you.

[clansman]

. . . so. Just what'd suit me better?

[ the screen dims a little, swept under shadow as the speaker, still unseen, sits up. laughter curls the words, low and languid. ]

The chains?

[permit]

Don't they.

[ it's (deliberately) gentle, for all that he's caught on.

for all the cues suoh may be dropping.

. . . then again, the red king has never had to try for it to always boil down to this. ]

You seemed to enjoy wearing them, evidenced by how long you tolerated our protocol.

[clansman]

[ and, at last, he sighs. gentleness, is it. ]

. . . might wanna grab better mattresses sometime.

[ thoughtfully - ]

Food's better out here, too.

[permit]

[ i assume you wouldn't protest to more snow, he almost says, but . . . ah. that'd be telling. ]

Is that so? [ it almost, almost sounds genuinely curious. ] What have they been feeding you?

[clansman]

Yeti.

[permit]

Yeti.

[clansman]

[ . . . ]

Want me to say it again?

[permit]

[ . . . ]

No need. [ simple and easy is the curve of his smile to the image of the sky. ] But how discomfiting.

Almost cannibalism, one might say.

[clansman]

Yeah?

[ a beat, working through thoughts. ]

That make it be cheap enough for Scepter 4?

[permit]

Shall I give it my full consideration, then?

Slaughter is not an appealing concept, by far. But to feed the masses, I suppose it can do no harm. [ and here, even with all of the snow surrounding his current audience --

the drop to sub-zero frosts over the casual way he says it. ] When it's only something almost human.

[clansman]

[ a longer pause this time. for this, he deigns to lean into frame, all thought. ]

How long've you been here?

[permit]

[ and there it is -- a red star glowing in the moonlight.

he breathes, low and, for a second, almost tired. ]

Not as long.

[clansman]

You worked fast.

[permit]

. . . I'm afraid I don't deserve such a kind compliment.

That is, if you think I followed you.

[clansman]

[ that earns a short breath of a laugh. ]

Nothing like that. There's worse places to dump me than the middle of a war, right?

[ if it were up to munakata, he means. this, at least, isn't likely to be the sort of position where restraint's needed. ]

[permit]

The snow was a good start.

[ simply, blankly. ]

[clansman]

[ well, okay. face value it is. ]

Think it makes any difference?

[permit]

. . . Not to you.

[ it's obvious by now, that either suoh mikoto doesn't know or... he doesn't care.

and honestly he can't tell which of the two might be the worst alternative. ]

Are you alone, then? There.

[ in the snow, he means. there's enough homra around to start a forest fire, otherwise. ]

[clansman]

[ a beat, missed. ]

It wasn't that cold out.

[permit]

Are you alone.

[ this, at least, comes out more stressed than the rest. ]