i.

[illneverforget]

[This voice belongs to someone who has a very even, calm tone.]

Excuse me. The way this works is I communicate to this network, everyone may choose to respond, and it may not necessarily be in real-time, correct? Then, if one of you wouldn't mind, I have a few questions when you're available to answer.

I'm going to ask them now to save time.

[The display changes while he speaks.]


The welcoming committee didn't address my question regarding these devices. I was told I can purchase electronics different from what they offered there if I disliked them.

My question was "Who manufactures these?"

[Like a slide-show with a voice-over, it changes again:]


If anyone could give me an overview on trouble experienced while using this network, I'd be grateful.

[It changes one last time:]


I'm also interested in how the peace is kept, along with the local crime rate.

Thanks for your time.

Comments

[tiiger]

... Bunny?

Oi, Bunny! Is that you?

[illneverforget]

[Call it what you want. This method is preferable to accidentally switching on video-recording, wearing an awkward face, and staring miserably at a crowd of people who you can't see, but who can see you clearly. Honestly. Is that the kind of first impression someone wants to make? Barnaby hasn't seen that far back yet on the Network, but rest assured: he will.]

[illneverforget]

[There is a distinct lift in the speaker's tone.]

...hah?

[illneverforget]

[It's obvious to figure out by listening with ears that this isn't a person the speaker expected to reply.]

Kotetsu?!

[illneverforget]

[It takes a moment, but the voice is almost-level again.]

You shouldn't be here!

[Then truly-level. It's not that he sounds unhappy, it's just--difficult to put into words.]

What are you doing here?

[tiiger]

[ HEY.

It’s not like he did it on purpose ??? The video just started and who cares about first impressions anyway! Keeping it real: that’s how he rolls. ]

[tiiger]

[ Also, RUDE. That’s no way to greet your partner. He huffs. ]

Tch, can’t you be a little more excited to see me? [ And in a more serious level now. ] I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but I’ll stick to the idea of being kidnapped by those creepy doctors. It’s not so bad so far, but I don’t really like it here. It's just weird, ya' know?

[tiiger]

[ An awkward pause followed. ]

I’m still trying to find a way … out. It’s not that easy! [ Sorry, John. This whole ‘there is no way out’ is not working out for Kotetsu. ]

[illneverforget]

[Keeping... it real.

He might be keeping it A Lot Of Other Words That Start With The Letter "R", but "real" definitely isn't among that list.]

[illneverforget]

It's not that I'm not unhappy to see you, but this isn't the kind of situation that calls for excitement. You shouldn't be here. Neither should I.

[That's about as good as you're getting for right now. Take it or leave it.]

When did you arrive?

[illneverforget]

[Kotetsu's not the only one pausing. A moment later, as an after thought, he adds:]

Please don't do anything rash until we figure out what's going on. If you break something, we don't know how they'll handle it here.

[tiiger]

[ He is pouting. No man his age should pull a face like that. He mutters ‘but still…’ under his breath, but he quickly moves on to answering Barnaby’s question in a louder tone. ]

Ahh. Well- it's been around a week or so. It’s kinda strange since it felt a whole lot longe-

[tiiger]

[ He suddenly let’s out an annoyed grunt. ]

H-Hey! I didn’t break anything! And if I did, they totally deserve it for saying that my life was nothing but fiction! I had to pretend that I was ‘okay’ with it just so they would let me go! Tch.

[illneverforget]

[Good save on the mumbling. The young man on the other side of the device was ready to ask "Did you say something?" -- but he must find Kotetsu's actual reply sufficient instead of focusing on little details. He listens patiently, even during the fuss. Once it's over, he replies calmly:]

I mean don't break anything trying to find a way out now.

They were well-prepared for adverse reactions and most likely expected us to behave the way we did. Now that we're out, they might not be so lenient.

[Judging by that wording, it's safe to conclude the other participant in this conversation had an equally terrible reaction.]

[illneverforget]

[Suddenly:]

We may have arrived around the same time. I've been here for nearly two weeks.

How have you been feeling?

[tiiger]

[ Two weeks, huh? That’s … a pretty long stay in the hospital.

Knowing his partner, and all he’d gone through, he’s not really surprised. It was still very much upsetting, considering the fact he wasn’t there for him.

Maybe he’s assuming things here. Maybe Barnaby was out a lot sooner but chose to avoid addressing the network? He hoped that would be the case.

Oh. He should probably say something by now ... ]

Heh, I’m alright. Nothing I can’t handle! [ The smile is evident in his tone regardless of his thoughts earlier. ]

Say, Bunny. Are you sure you’re okay? Even though it’s a bunch of lies, but it can be frustrating to hear out. Ahaha- haha ...

[ Is he being too obvious? ]

[illneverforget]

[His tone had been even -- not impolite or cold, but almost empty; like the emotion had been locked away somewhere, or like the device might have filtered it out. ...until the soft sound like the hybrid-child of a laugh and an exhale, followed by:]

Right, right. Of course.

[Those words were much kinder.]

[illneverforget]

[Unfortunately, like most nice things, that tone doesn't last.]

Stop. You're worrying about it, aren't you?

I'm fine. It was difficult to hear at the time, but it doesn't matter now.

[illneverforget]

[To answer a question: obvious like the sun if it was knocked into motion and heading for the earth, hours before the world's undeniable and imminent death.]

Are you using a device they gave you?

[tiiger]

... Oi, don’t change the subject.

[ Barnaby’s attempt to change the subject didn’t really stand a chance and Kotetsu, ever so skillfully, ignores it. I mean- to be honest it was a pretty lame attempt. Sorry. Try harder next time, Bunny. ]

[tiiger]

[ And now back to what really matters. ]

Of course I worry! You’re my partner. You don’t have to deal with this kind of crap on your own, ya’ know? Tch.

[tiiger]

[ There’s a lot of hand gestures and facial expression going on behind the screen that clearly displayed another episode of Kotetsu's struggles with the younger generation.

His kawaii life.

At least Barnaby can’t see any of this! ]

I’m not suggesting talking about feelings or anything like that. Unless you’re up for it? … It’s just- um, I don’t want you to get all upset that’s all!

[illneverforget]

I'm not changing the subject!

[On the bright side, this is the most emotion he's put into a sentence since he got out of the hospital.]

I really want to know.

[The only down-side is it also sounds incredibly fussy.]

[illneverforget]

[At least, until it sounds reassuring.]

I mean it. I'm fine now. I'm not dealing with anything alone. You're in the same situation, aren't you?

[illneverforget]

[Good thing he can't see Barnaby! Who...doesn't look much different from normal, to be honest. He might have stared passively at the wild gesticulations and not been very affected by Kotetsu's plight to connect over their age gap at all.]

If you want to talk about it, I don't mind listening to you.

[Did this just get turned back around on him? IT SURE DID.]