video | IM GONNA WRECK IT

[witheringlotus]

Who: Kanda and yu you!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Marsiva only.
When: Early Tuesday morning.

[video;]

[There's a cranky nineteen-year-old staring down through the feed. The feed is upside down. Someone should probably tell him.]

Where is it?

[It's not a question, it's a demand.]

My sword. Where is it?

[He leans in, blue eyes taking over the feed.] Who are you supposed to be? Some other division? [It's not the first time he's been locked up in a lab. If this is supposed to terrify him, it's not working.] You're testing me, then.

Hope you don't have anything important in here. There won't be anything left when I'm done.

Comments

[precedented]

[ Er. Leto hesitates, not sure how to respond to that. ]

. . . As you wish. If you want more answers, you're welcome to contact me.

[witheringlotus]

[He's not sleeping, just-- staring at the wall and waiting for his healing factor to kick in and 'purge' the memories he's experiencing. Of course, this has nothing to do with his healing factor at all, so after a couple minutes he reappears on the screen.]

... Okay. What's with the thing in my neck?

[precedented]

That is the augment. It is a device that allows the Atroma to monitor us and give us the skills needed to maintain the ships.

[ Softer, gentle. ] I know it is not something you would allow, but for now, you must let it be. Do not hurt yourself.

[witheringlotus]

[As soon as Kanda hears it's a device, his hand flies to the back of his neck and he looks like he is deeply considering ripping it out. There's a sort of instinctual panic that Leto, of course, calls him out on. That makes him hesitate. People don't... talk to him like that. Leto speaks to him like he knows him.

He lets out a shaky breath. Very, very slowly, he lets his hand drop from his neck. It's the first sign of trust he's shown all conversation.]

How... [... No, there's no way that Leto knows that about him. He collects himself after a second and tries again.] What's your name?

[precedented]

It's - Dune. Call me Dune.

[ It's his other name, his very personal name. He hasn't shared it with many people on the Fleet because it feels raw, like the human heart of Leto displayed on his sleeve. But this is Kanda. Leto could never lie to him, never deny him. ]

I knew someone like you. Very similar. But you are your own person and I - I respect that. So whatever I have is yours.

[witheringlotus]

[Kanda has no fucking idea. What is communication, honestly. Dune isn't the weirdest name he's heard-- that's not what he's hung up on. The rest sounds... odd and cryptic, and at the end of the day, he's a pretty simple guy.]

'Whatever I have is yours'? That's awful generous for a stranger.

[There is something strange afoot.]

Kanda.

[precedented]

It's an oath I had made, long ago.

[ He smiles. ] It's nice to meet you.

[witheringlotus]

That seems like a great way to lose everything. People aren't so trustworthy that you can hand everything over to the first person you meet.

[He scoffs and blows a bit of hair out of his eyes.]

You're strange.

[precedented]

Maybe so. But I'll take my chances with you.

[ He chuckles softly. ] I am strange. Does that bother you?

[witheringlotus]

Everyone bothers me.

[That's not exactly an answer to that question. He's still not sure about Leto, yet. He might never be.]

[precedented]

[ Leto clicks his tongue, a quiet noise. ]

I'm sure there are degrees of tolerance.

[witheringlotus]

[He just yelled at Allen for like ten minutes straight and they're best friends.]

I'm sure you don't know me at all.

[oof.]

[precedented]

[ His nails dig into his skin, before he exhales, patient. ]

Yes. But that does not mean I would not like to. Or that I would not help you.

[witheringlotus]

[Kanda watches Leto carefully. He doesn't... quite believe Leto. Leto seems to be genuine, but there's something he's not telling Kanda. And Kanda doesn't like being lied to.]

We'll see.

[precedented]

It's up to you.

[ Leto . . . is afraid to push. Afraid of saying more. What if this was too much? He doesn't know. This wasn't the same man and Leto doesn't want to infringe on Kanda's independence by bringing up a connection that holds no meaning to him.

No meaning.

What a devastating thought. ]

[witheringlotus]

Later.

[He's had enough of his brain exploding for a while, thanks. He's... going to need some time. Thankfully he has until Saturday to get his shit sorted out.

He turns away and shuts off the communicator.]

[precedented]