Fourth Snapshot | Video

[expertonshutters]

[The smiling, cheery photographer does not appear to be in right now. What the feed gets is someone who is tired, frazzled, and angry.]

I'm glad to see that it looks like everyone made it out of that mess alive. I don't- I don't really know what to make of what we saw down there, but I can say this: I'm not really fond of a bunch of Gods that would put kids through something like that. That was bullshit.

[There's a pause while he tries to get himself under control.]

I need a drink. I need ten drinks. I'm going to go get ten drinks. Someone tell me if there's a place in town that has good drinks.

Comments

[leadingspirit]

[He recoils immediately, hands in the air to show Hayato he wasn't gonna touch him again, and then everything happened too fast for him to quite know what to do with it. Something red flashed across Hayato's face, and then he was running out of the bar and--]

Hayato!

[Sorry bro, but Taki's running after you.]

[expertonshutters]

[This is the opposite of what he wanted out of tonight. Go figure. He's running as fast as he can, panic being the wings under his feet. It's not long before he just flat out gets lost and finds himself hitting a dead end.]

[It's that point he just stops, trying to catch his breath. He could probably jump up to one of the lower ledges of the tower he's near, but then. What good would running really do him?]

[He stays there, hands still over his face, almost like he's waiting for Taki to catch up.]

[leadingspirit]

[Hot damn this guy was fast. Taki's legs were longer, sure, but Hayato was a good bit quicker than he was. Unfortunately for Hayato, he was pretty used to giving chase, and was at the mouth of the dead end within a minute.]

[He stayed there, though, not wanting to corner him entirely.]

Jeez, what's up with you? One broken glass at a bar isn't gonna go on your record, I promise. They'll probably just call you butterfingers.

[expertonshutters]

[Hayato stands there with his back to him. There's a weak laugh.]

...I don't like it when I break stuff like that, but it happens a lot.

[leadingspirit]

[He chances a few steps toward him.]

I figure probably mostly when people overstep, which I'm pretty sure I did. It's not like it's my business what you can and cannot do.

[expertonshutters]

No. It ...just kind of happens. I've broken three door handles at home. I've broken at least twelve sets of chopsticks. I've broken a few glasses- I can't help it.

[ He still won't turn to look at him, but his hands slowly drop to his sides.]

I've been training with Thorin, but I'm still really awful at controlling my strength when I'm not actively paying attention.

[leadingspirit]

...is that what the special chopsticks were for.

[He stops a respectable distance behind him, but is standing to the side so he's visible within Hayato's peripherals.]

[expertonshutters]

Yeah.

[He takes a deep breath.]

That and a poison immunity kind of goes along with being part Steel.

[leadingspirit]

[The admission is nice. He wasn't sure of specific typing, but that's enough of a statement for Taki to get it. He sighs, reaching out and pausing before setting a hand on his shoulder.]

...don't freak out, but I sort of figured that's what was going on. I research them.

[expertonshutters]

[Of course he did. Why is he surprised? What else could his top secret shit be about? He lets out a ragged breath. To his benefit, he doesn't go nearly as tense as usual to Taki putting a hand on his shoulder.]

Of course. I don't know why that surprises me. I mean- I guess it doesn't really. That's half of why I didn't want to tell you. The other half is just because I hate people knowing what I am.]

[A moment passes, and he slowly turns his head to look at him from over his shoulder. There are red lines etched harshly into his face. They give off a faint glow in the dark alley they're in.]

[leadingspirit]

[Taki waits for him to turn to look at him, and smiles in a crooked, apologetic sort of way.]

...then I should probably apologize for figuring it out before you could tell me.

[expertonshutters]

[He can't help the huff of a laugh he gives him for that. He turns shaking his head.]

What are you going to do now? What's your job say about finding Enhanced? Are you going to take me back to Caldera?

[leadingspirit]

[He shrugs a shoulder.]

I'm here to research the facility on the outside of town. Who said anything about finding any in the city? I don't know what you're talking about.

[expertonshutters]

[...That.]

[He turns to look at him, somewhat surprised. Taki had always been serious about his job- but then. Taki was also Taki. He smiles a little.]

Right. Silly me. I'm just a late blooming Earthkin.

[leadingspirit]

[He squeezes at his shoulder.]

That aside, I do research them, so maybe I can help you figure some stuff out.

[A beat.]

Off the record, naturally.

[expertonshutters]

[Taki can probably see why Hayato basically never let him touch him. He feels different than a normal human would when squeezed like that.]

I guess if you wanted to share what you've learned, I wouldn't turn you down.

[With his smile, the scars start to fade, leaving his face exactly as it was before.]

[leadingspirit]

[That's part of why he did it. He almost didn't want to believe what had been said-- but there it was, right under his hand. He quirks a smile, recoiling his hand to pat him on the shoulder instead, jerking a thumb toward the mouth of the side street.]

I've got a bunch of boring paperwork you can read over.

[expertonshutters]

[He nods, heading towards the street.]

Sounds good.