hatesviolence | ☣ message box ☣ forgotten tales

...Guess you're right.

[Again he fingers his hair before he let's it fall and shrugs a bit.]

But I'm used to it now. Think I'd feel more weird if I didn't do this.

[Put more simply—he likes it now.]

Hm... [He nods.] Fair enough. [He is, admittedly curious about how he'd look with his natural hair color. Brownie boy. He takes a step back, allowing Shizuo to enter.]

One of the circuits went out while I was working on a project. Thought maybe you could help restart it.

Ahh...electrical?

[He looks at his hand, but since he's calm he's not generating electricity at the moment. It's a little weird to hear someone needing this kind of power, but... Well he does it in his own home, so he has some experience at least.]

Sure, I can try. But if it needs to be replaced, I won't be much help.

[Can't generate electricity to a broken line or light bulb after all.]

I did replace it, but it still won't run. So I think it needs a jumpstart. [He takes him toward the greenhouse, where the lights are currently out.]

The circuit box is out here. Or, well... [There is a physical box, but he needs to locate the "motor" for the circuit box. He stomps around the floor, listening for a sound that was different. Be easier if he could actually see out here.]

I see. [Just follows along until they get to the circuit box. Looking at it, Shizuo studies it for a moment before he looks down at the ground.

...Hm.]

Here.

[Even if the circuit box is out, he can bypass it if he touches one of the lines directly. So going to where the switch is, he extends a hand and releases a small bit of that electrical charge he seems to generate. There's a small flicker before the lights come on. He's not using too much so it's a bit dim, but enough for Disciple to see better.]

Ah. [He looks up as the lights dimly come on.] Thanks. [He eventually locates the panel with the motor inside.]

Here. [...As to what Shizuo is supposed to do to get it going, that's up to him.]

[Shizuo glances up at the lights. Hm... If he sends out a little bit more electricity, it should last for a few minutes longer before they die out again. So after one last boost he quickly makes his way over. With the lights already dying down without a constant stream of electricity, Shizuo places a hand on the motor and frowns in contemplation.

A jump start, huh? So a few bolts of electricity should work... It's worked before at least, it's just a matter of how much. Would be bad if he blew the entire thing.]

...Might wanna step back.

[Just in case.]

. . . [He nods, backing up towards the door.] Be careful. [Out of concern for Shizuo, not so much the motor. That can always be replaced.]

[He just gives a nod in return before focusing on the motor.

For a moment the darkness swallows them as the lights finally give out. In this time Shizuo takes a breath and tries to remember all the other times he's had to jump start various appliances and things in his own home. It's still...kind of "new" and "weird" for him, and there may have a few blow ups before. Fortunately nothing huge. But even so, he doesn't want Disciple to have wasted his money.

Control...just like his anger, it's all about control...

After a few moments more, electric sparks start to form around his arm as he concentrates. It's then channeled down to the motor, and there's a very loud bzzzzzt! and clicks as it starts to run. After a second or two, the building hums to life as the electricity flows through the circuits, lighting up the room and anything else that may have still been activated. Shizuo will hold his hand there for a few more moments before slowly retracting it.

When it's clear that everything is still running, he breathes a sigh of relief. No explosions today.]

Got it.

[The Disciple actually tenses up a little while he waits in the darkness. He believes Shizuo can do this, otherwise why would he have asked him to come here to help? But there's always that small margin that something bad could happen.

Eventually though, the lights will finally return without any explosions. His project is fully revealed as well. There was a small wheel that was partially visible from the ground. It had started to move, sending water from the well outside into the greenhouse. A network of tubes can be seen throughout the greenhouse, where the water was getting pumped into, delivering the water to the plants through the soil. It was a simple irrigation system he had set up.

He smiles when he sees his project fully in action.] You did it. [The work doesn't end though, as he's already off to make a few small adjustments here and there. There were places where there was too much water coming through, or there was a leak to stop. At least he seems chipper in his steps as he worked.]

[........When was the last time he's seen Disciple smile? HAS he ever seen the man smile? It's a bit bizarre to see, even more than the contraption in the building. However even Shizuo can realize it's some kind of irrigation system, one that definitely wasn't there the last time he was here.

So after getting over that shellshock—]

Did you make this?

Yes. Well...it's more like I improved on what was already here. [After the last campaign, he came back to the Index and discovered parts of an old unused irrigation system in the greenhouse. Naturally, like the mad man that he is, he redid the whole system.]

Huh...was this here before?

[He's walking around now a bit curious.]

Not before the last story we restored, no. It was in disrepair though to be of real use. [The water gradually stops flowing in once the Disciple locates the off switch for the mechanism.]

Thank you for helping me to get it running. You did good despite not having much practice with your power.

[Ah, so it must be one of those new things like he received. This is pretty cool, though...

At the word of thanks, Shizuo glances over to him before awkwardly pressing a hand to the back of his neck.]

Yeah, well... I've had a little practice back in my house, so... Just glad nothing exploded.

I believed you could do it. Wouldn't have asked if I didn't. [He comes over and gives him a pat on the back. Have some confidence.]

I'm going to prepare some tea, would you like some?

[So awkward, BUT...there's a small if somewhat embarrassed smile.]

...Thanks. [Disciple's belief in him really means a lot to him.]

But, uh, yeah. If you don't mind.

[He nods, stepping back inside. Shizuo is free to follow or...wander around on his own while he's preparing the tea. It's a bit strange for Disciple to allow someone to wander the property without any direction, but he seems fine with it.

Should he decide to cross through the common area and follow him to the kitchen, he might spot a new doorway into a new room.]

[Shizuo will hesitate, but not wanting to be rude he'll follow Disciple back in. After that...well again, doesn't want to be rude, but doesn't want to be a hindrance in the kitchen. For now he'll just walk around a little. It's been a while since he's been here, but even so...

That doorway definitely wasn't there before, was it? Curious, he'll just wander a little closer.]

[Since it currently wasn't occupied, the room was kept dimly lit, but there just enough light to show it was thematically different from the rest of the home. There were lines of shelves and drawers along the wall for filing documents, a white board and display cases. In the middle of the room was a large table with chairs around it. It was like walking into a strange combination of an archive and situation room you'd see in police stations.

It was still quite bare of use, except for the table. Sitting on top of it was a miniature model of what appeared to be a large town. There were half finished pieces here and there, with an incomplete map drawn off on scraps of paper sitting off to the side, indicating this was still being worked on.]

[Shizuo really isn't one to snoop, but he really can't help but be curious about everything he sees there. So don't mind him as he walks in to take a look, his focus eventually going to that miniature model.

Huh...was Disciple working on this...?]

It's the Index. [Disciple's voice suddenly breaks the long silence as he appears behind Shizuo like some ninja. He held two cups in his hands, with chamomile tea inside.] Parts of it anyway.

[Shizuo had been so focused on looking at the model, he actually jumps a bit when Disciple enters and speaks.]

Eh—? Ah...

[Regaining his composure, he looks at Disciple and then back at the model.]

It's one of those toy models right?

Mm...something like that. [He offers a cup to him.] I just wanted to get a better layout of the land.

[Carefully takes the cup while giving his thanks.]

Wouldn't a map have been easier?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject