008 // video

[fox_shuuichi]

[Kurama is strangely done up, for someone who's supposed to be in jail - although a quick glance at his surroundings might tell people he's no longer being held - and he looks...mostly no worse for the wear after three weeks of incarceration. A little drawn, perhaps, and noticeably thinner, to those who know him well.]I am pleased to announce that

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[punk_emperor]

Kurama-san!

[He's full of worry and relief, relief winning a little.]

Sorry I couldn't visit; I just got off my punishment. But...I'm really glad they finally saw reason. Naoto-kun helped out great, huh?

[fox_shuuichi]

Kanji.

[He finds that he has quite the beaming smile for his friend, after everything.]

Yes, she did - I'm sure it was in great part thanks to her investigation that I was released. But -

[He looks worried.]

Punishment? Is everything all right?

[punk_emperor]

Old man Ino was really pissed off at what I did. I argued a lot and he ended up threatenin' to curse me an' make me an entertainer.

[There's a moment of fear across his face but he shakes it off.] But he just put me on three week's house arrest instead.

[fox_shuuichi]

Ah, I - I'm so sorry, Kanji.

[He looks miserable.]

It's good that he relented, though - I'd hate to have been responsible for making you an entertainer.

[punk_emperor]

Wasn't your fault. He was more mad about the uh... you know and the breaking curfew all those times.

[Except one of those was because he was with Kurama.] I'm just hopin he doesn't change his mind or nothing. They're sayin' I'm 17 and my birthday's in January.

[fox_shuuichi]

[He frowns.]

Well, it's - it's really all about profit, to them. So, if you're doing well at whatever job they've assigned you, and they don't think you'll make any more money as an entertainer, they...probably won't reassign you.

[punk_emperor]

Makes no sense to me; I'd be awful at... entertaining people. I am making more money for him like this.

...He. Uh. Wanted to apprentice me anyway, to learn manners and stuff, I guess.

[Well, if he could get into sex with clients, he'd probably be very prized because of that giving nature, but he can't imagine ever doing that.]

[fox_shuuichi]

[He wonders about that. He suspects Kanji might not actually make a bad entertainer, given enough training and time to work up the confidence. But that's not exactly relevant to this conversation.]

Well. I'd offer to help, but...somehow I doubt Ino would be receptive to the idea of you learning from me.

[punk_emperor]

I'd rather learn from you than somebody else I don't know. And I'm pretty sure he's smart enough to figure that out.

[fox_shuuichi]

[He smiles a little.]

I'm certainly not encouraging you to do anything that will get you into any more trouble, but if you can convince him, I'd be more than happy to take you on as an apprentice.

[punk_emperor]

I'll mention you. You're really good at the kinds of manners and stuff he wanted me to learn, and I told him you were innocent, dammit! So he has no reason not to.

[Even though he's not sure of that, he nods like he is, because it does make sense to him.]

[fox_shuuichi]

[He laughs softly.]

I'll mention it to Sir Koga, as well - he might be useful in pushing Ino into accepting.

[punk_emperor]

Yeah, if he believes you enough to bail you out, he might be able to help.

...but would he? He's kinda a bastard.

[fox_shuuichi]

[He shakes his head.]

He's not so bad. He's been fair with me up until now - lenient, even. He just...panicked and made a bad decision. I can hardly blame him for that.

Besides, the news of me taking on an apprentice can only help business. I can't imagine him turning down that opportunity.

[punk_emperor]

He cursed Naoto-kun when she didn't deserve any of that shit and was too young. He's a bastard.

[He sighs.]

But if you say he's fair, I guess I'll believe you about that, just nothing else.

[fox_shuuichi]

[He frowns at that.]

Yes, I mean to speak to him about that, in any case. It should never have been done, and I intend to express my disapproval.

[He sighs and shrugs.]

Not, I imagine, that it will do much good, but...