００１ 。 VIDEO

[selfmotivations]

[The face on the feed ought to be familiar to some. Infact, Barnaby doesn't seem to have changed at all in the time away he's spent - same blond curls, same red and white leather jacket, same frown etched into his features. His green eyes are currently focused on the screen, it seems, and after a moment he huffs, sighing.]This is really the last

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Voice.

[congratulating]

Mister Barnaby! Hello, and again, hello! I told Mister Wild that we would be able to meet with you once, again. Our hearts are drawn to each other by the power of friendship.

Did you know, Mister Barnaby, that friendship is magic? I met someone who encompasses the power of harmony that encompasses friendship! In short, it is good that you are back!

Voice.

[selfmotivations]

[There's silence on his end for a few long moments. Somewhat stunned silence, actually, because sometimes the other hero's good-natured rants have a way of knocking all the sarcasm out of Barnaby.]

Is that what I have to blame? [His voice is wry, but not without a smile. He finds himself privately (very privately) relieved that so many of his colleagues are here.]

Please tell me you haven't been drinking with the old man again. [He's teasing. Mostly.]

Voice.

[congratulating]

Yes! Blame friendship!

No. I was talking to a pony that was actually a young woman! But only for the moment. I'm certain she's back to being a pony by now.

Re: Voice.

[selfmotivations]

[There's another bout of silence before, wearily, he offers:]

It's good to hear from you, Sky High. [As a courtesy okok it's not like he likes any of you or anything!!]

[video]

[fiveminutefail]

[His greeting would be a liiiiiittle more enthusiastic, were it not for the mention of Mr. Maverick. That clearly means that the memory issue is still in play here.

But regardless, Kotetsu is beyond happy to see his partner again. He's never really gone more than a few days without him since their partnership started, and it's been a month.]

Don't worry, I didn't give your room away.

[video]

[selfmotivations]

[There's a momentary relief at the sound of Kotetsu's voice, blissfully ignorant of the tension there. He might even smile briefly - but it's brief indeed, and he's quick to favour him with that deadpan stare, as if he was only gone two minutes.]

That has nothing to do with it.

[video]

[fiveminutefail]

Don't be like that, Bunny.

[He pouts, whines, but part of him doesn't exactly mind the blond's attitude right now. It's refreshing, and while it's not exactly what he was expecting, he'll take what he can get right now.]

Giving your room away would've wrecked the apartment!

[And FYI, he only broke one lamp, okay? That really nice one that Barnaby liked, but it's an improvement...]

[video]

[selfmotivations]

You say that as if it was yours to give away. [You're buying a new one with your own money, mister.

And yet, the sentiment - that letting someone else take his room, even when he was gone for so long, would somehow spoil things - isn't lost on him. He pauses, considering it and promptly decides he's overthinking things.]

Besides, there's a lot more you could do to wreck it, isn't there?

[After a moment's hesitation, he gives a 'tch', but it sounds more amused than before.]

You're really just an old troublemaker.

video;

[boltfumaster]

[Here's a familiar face, Bonny. She may or may not be eating in between sentences (spoilers: of course she is) and there's a wide grin on her face while addressing her older colleague.]

Mr. Barnaby! Now that you're here too, we're almost all together again! Isn't it great?

[Of course it is for her... but wait !!]

Hey! That's not a very nice way to greet everyone, Mr. Barnaby... [Whine. Pout. Tease.]

video;

[selfmotivations]

It doesn't need to be nice, I'm making a point. [He sighs, long-suffering, but her appearance is not unwelcome by any means.]

How long have you been here for, Dragon Kid?

video;

[boltfumaster]

Making a poi -- oh! I get it, you're talking about Mr. Tiger, aren't you? [Yeah, that probably should've been obvious with his track record.

She puts a finger to her mouth in contemplation.]

Hmmm... I've only been here for about a week, I guess. You've been here before, Mr. Barnaby?

Video

[mrmindgoosh]

[Maverick gives Barnaby his kindest smile.]

Why hello Barnaby. I'm glad that you are back. We missed meeting each other last time, didn't we?

Video

[selfmotivations]

[He smiles. It lacks the usual sardonic amusement, the sharp edge, the rueful humour - no, this is a genuine, soft smile, if not a little apologetic. It fades to be replaced with a flat look - blank. Entirely docile, compared to his usual expressions. ]

I'm sorry that it's been so long, Mr. Maverick. How have you been?

Video

[mrmindgoosh]

[ At the docile look on Barnaby's face. He inwardly smiles. Excellent. He doesn't know yet.]

I've been doing just fine. I'm still trying to adjust to this place, however.

How did you ever adapt to this strange city?

video;

[toweltreasuring]

Hey, I wouldn't have been the one wrecking any apartments, much less yours.

[You know who would, though...]

video;

[selfmotivations]

There's no real question of the potentially guilty party, is there?

video;

[toweltreasuring]

No question at all. We should be lucky it's all still standing. You have that much to look forward to, at least.

video;

[selfmotivations]

That's reassuring.

But I think I'll have a survey carried out. I don't want to risk potential structural damage.