FIVE ♦ VIDEO | Day 20, Evening

[toxicinvestment]

[He's playing with a kitchen knife. It might be familiar -- it's the same one he used to murder someone onscreen way back when, after all. He sits for a moment, thinking of exactly what he wants to say.]Every batch of new arrivals, and it's the same thing. He's never one of them

Comments

[video]

[magerights]

You actually want your brother to turn up here?

[video]

[toxicinvestment]

I want us to be in the same place. It doesn't matter what that place is. I'd protect him here, too.

[video]

[magerights]

Still, I'd think most people would prefer to wish they'd find a way home, not have others dragged here to keep them company.

[video]

[toxicinvestment]

Of course I'd rather leave. But I haven't gotten to yet, so I'd rather he be here where I can watch over him than be separated.

[A little more snippish and less smug than usual? Yes. He's feeling the loneliness of being apart from his most important person more than usual today -- though he'd never spill all of it to anyone (or, well, more than he has, since he did say some of his real thoughts to someone here once), it really does eat at him -- they had never, ever been seriously apart before. Not in their entire lives, until he woke up here.

So at the moment he's grumpy, and it shows.]

[video]

[magerights]

But you're really wishing for one of two things that you have no control over. I'd think that if that were the case, most people would want the one that doesn't put people they care about in danger.

[video]

[toxicinvestment]

Do I need to list my priorities for you? I know what's dangerous and what isn't, and I know what I wish for. I'd like to go home. If I can't, I'd like him to be here.

[video]

[magerights]

And what about trying to work towards leaving? If that thing about the tokens is true, then wouldn't it make sense for you to try and gather those instead of only wishing for things to happen?

[video]

[toxicinvestment]

I already have one. I'm working on it.

[And he knows he should have more by now, but hey. The first mission he was around for, he was in no condition to participate. The most recent one, he was busy keeping track of Kait.]

[video]

[magerights]

Do you want to make it two?

[video]

[toxicinvestment]

Depends on what I'd be asked for in return.

[Suspicious as always, of course. But he did perk up a little -- he's curious.]

[video]

[magerights]

Nothing. I don't want anything from you for it.

[Digging around in one of his pouches, Anders produces his token and holds it up to the device.]

What do you say?

[video]

[toxicinvestment]

[He's got a stare for a moment. He does want it. He wants to go home so badly. The loneliness is killing him more than he'd ever want to admit, but he also knows that if he accepts Anders will have it on him that he accepted help from someone. It'll stand that Anders was a kind enough person to give up a token for someone he doesn't even like. Of course, Mao could easily turn it right back to a case of the man's own priorities, but his stubborn teenage pride still doesn't like it.

The bitterness is pretty blatant on his face, but he'll swallow it. The only thing worth losing superiority over is his brother.]

...If you're offering, I'll take it.

[video]

[magerights]

I wouldn't have said anything at all if I didn't mean to give it to you. I'm not in as much as a hurry to leave as some, so I'd rather help those that have people they need to return to.

Is there a place you'd prefer to meet? Or I suppose you can stop by my room if you'd like.

[video]

[toxicinvestment]

...Sure, I'll come over there.

[He's all tense and sulky now, a lot of his haughty attitude deflated.]

Aren't there social injustices you need to go fix?

[video]

[magerights]

[He rolls his eyes at that last part.]

If there were, wouldn't that mean that I wouldn't be around to give you my token? If it bothers you this much, you don't have to accept it. But if you still want to, then come find me in the west dormitory, third building. It's room 120.

[And with that he cuts the feed, curious as to if the man really will come or not.]

--> [action!]

[toxicinvestment]

[Oh, he certainly will show up. He'll be grumpy about it, but he'll show. And of course, his appearance is even more obviously in person -- tall, but bordering on too thin, his (currently falsely) lazy posture and habit of wearing as little as possible make it too obvious that he's still young and all sorts of defensively over-confident to match.

He knocks firmly, as if terribly impatient, and leans against the door frame to wait.]