log; and then everyone died

[subservience]

[... Jiros is actually not quite sure what to do in this situation. Or about being dead, really. His thoughts are somewhere along the lines of '... well, shit' and 'damn' and 'I guess I'm dead'.

...

Oh, and he's being attacked by frogs. That's kind of important too.

SO YEAH RUNNING LIKE THE WIND and half-looking for someone to partner up with though really how is he supposed to tell who else is dead—]

Comments

[subservience]

[...

oh. Wrong answer, apparently.]

My... apologies if my behaviour makes you... uncomfortable.

[is this better?]

[inexistence]

[ ... he frowns on the inside a little. ]

I'd take that apology, but it's not like I was feeling uncomfortable in the first place. [ laaaaa still walking along. they have twenty minutes left to get to 10-4, but they should make it in time... probably.... ]

[subservience]

... I see. Then I apologize for the apo...

[... yeah no his voice trails off as he realizes that that sounds stupid even to him.

Anyhow, following, following! And putting away his daggers, yep.]

[inexistence]

[ passing by hachiko... ] No need to be so stiff. We're partners now, or something.

[ says the person who won't trust people for cynical reasons. ]

[subservience]

[hypocrite!!]

I... thank you for the advice?

[inexistence]

Please don't. It wasn't really advice. [ grin! ] Guess you don't really do smalltalk often.

[subservience]

[why is talking to people always so confusing...]

I am... unused to conversing in such a manner, yes.

[if it helps, he's actually better when he's not trying to pretend that he has social skills—]

[inexistence]

Would you rather I be quiet, then? [ said with a little bit of humour. it's almost like trying to suss out the inner state of a cat. ]

[subservience]

[okay he's starting to look a little uncomfortable at the questioning.]

It is of... no particular concern to me. Your actions are not mine to decide.

[in other words, go crazy!

... actually please don't.]

[inexistence]

[ c: ]

Your opinion counts! Seeing as we'll be working with each other for a while, we might as well try to understand each other's position.

[ /this sounds so reasonable ]

[subservience]

[blink]

... However, it would then be best if you were able to voice your opinion as well. In that case, it would not benefit us if you were to be... quiet.

[inexistence]

[ crossing the scramble crossing! he makes no indication that he even acknowledges the traffic around them. passing through cars like a ghost! ]

You wouldn't mind, no matter what I said?

[subservience]

[this is an incredibly strange experience and he badly needs a pillow to punch or a violin to play obsessively...

and oh no this is a tricky question. There's some silence, before he manages to speak, albeit uncertainly—]

I... cannot speak prematurely on that matter.

[He's starting to get the feeling that he's being played around with...]

[inexistence]

[ yes you should get that feeling because... well... you are getting played around with-- ] So we have to test it before you can give me a definitive answer?

[ ah, and there's the wall. specifically, there's the invisible wall. he only stops walking because he suddenly feels an odd presence in front of him. placing a hand out in thin air, he'll give the invisible wall an experimental tap, before checking the numbers on the palm of his hand.

ten minutes left. that's plenty of time. ]

[subservience]

[his conclusion so far: being dead really sucks.

And he doesn't want to answer that, so he's just going to pretend that their new obstacle is incredibly fascinating.]

Is our path... obstructed?

[inexistence]

Seems so. [ stating the obvious! even as he lets his hand drop. he'll turn to you. ] Any bright ideas?

[subservience]

Perhaps we should... seek a path around this barrier?

[inexistence]

Not a bad idea. But you know, I've got a better one-- [ aaaaaand time to live up to his image by walling you. #sexual harassment is the way to go why do all my characters do these things to yours sobbing

there will be a voice right by your ear!!! ] Relax, and don't be so uptight.

[subservience]

[whatthehellwhatthehell FREEZING UP BECAUSE HOW DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO RELAX]

What the hell are you—!?

[laskjdas oh no he sort of swore out loud but seriously get out of his personal space.]

[inexistence]

[ SUCCESS. BEAMING!!! even though his face is like three inches away from yours and nope.jpg still has both hands next to your head.

at least it's not a cicada block??? ]

There you go! I was wondering when you'd do that again. [ YEP HE NOTICED YOUR BIT-OFF SWEARING FROM BEFORE ]

[subservience]

[NO WIPE THAT FROM YOUR MEMORY.]

Y-You—!

[no. No. No. Calm down, Jiros. Yelling and swearing at people is not proper! Even when they're invading your personal space and not letting you move!

...

Maybe he can let his manners slip a bit just this once—]

... Please distance yourself from me or else I will be forced to assume that you are threatening me and will act accordingly.

[inexistence]

[ meanwhile Celandine is not fazed, because believe it or not (though it's to nobody's surprise...) he gets these death threats a lot. and he's already dead.

... and he figures you probably won't kill your partner. therefore he just huffs. ] If you promise to continue swearing, I'll let you go.

Believe it or not, but it's kinda hard to talk to someone who insists on sounding like a mechanical doll.

[subservience]

[Calmly—]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[And meanwhile, since his hands are at least free—those daggers from before? Yeah, he's withdrawing one, though Celandine is right in that he'd rather not kill his partner, so he'll just be pressing the hilt of it against Celandine's stomach as a warning.

You are not getting him to swear again, okay.]

[inexistence]

Funny, because I'm pretty sure you do. [ know what he's talking about, that is.

he feels the gesture more than he sees it (he kind of can't, since he's rather focused on staring at your face right now with that mocking little smile), and the hilt of the dagger at his stomach feels warm. in response to the warning, he presses in closer against the hilt of that blade.

suggestively. ]

There's no need to pretend to be less than what you really are.

[subservience]

[he just kind of stares at that for a moment, because really, that's the first time anyone's told him anything like that—

... except instead of some sort of grand revelation, he just narrows his eyes as he holds the blade in place (and be glad that any implications fly straight over his head, yep).]

We're wasting time.