futurology | VIDEO. UN: LOKI

VIDEO. UN: LOKI

[ the sound of the wind storm hollows dully against the cave walls. Loki's squidge, Bacon, can half be seen crawling in the confines of his tacky green jacket and over his knee from where he sits, sometimes ducking and squeaking when a particularly large gust hits. to keep it from screaming, Loki offers his fingers absently, which the little squidge pulls on with its pudgy arms before ducking low again. ]

Hello there, it seems like we'll be waiting this out for some time considering the weather-type circumstances. While we're all rotting away, etcetera etcetera, I thought we could amuse ourselves with a game. A little bit of team bonding funtimes, so to say. [ he twists a dark nailed hand in the air, gesturing. ]

Soo—oo ... it's called Two Truths and a Lie. How do you play? Glad you asked, it's simple! Give two true statements about yourself and add a lie to the mix, shake it up then toss it out there and see if your team members know you well enough to spot the lie.

Usually this is done with copious amounts of alcohol, but we're lacking at the moment. [ pause. ] But—ah—you could always enjoy the satisfaction of being right. It's not like we're doing much else.

NOTE | Feel free to threadjack if that's your thing!! :****

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[Urahara's in the process of wringing out the bottom of his haori when he hears Genji, beaming as if the rain were as inconsequential as anything.] Oh this? Compared to the rainy season back in Japan, this is nothing.

[he's only seen Genji over the network before, so it's no wonder he looks fascinated at seeing him in all his cyborg glory up close and personal.] That's an impressive set of tech, Genji-san. The network doesn't do it justice.

It is a second chance of life. [ His tone is appreciative, though, but he realizes that's an odd response back and ducks his head. ] I suppose that it can only show so much.

But what about you? Are you doing all right? There is also a lot that the network can hide, and it feels wrong to air out such ... laundry in front of everyone. [ Says the person who repeatedly gets into yelling matches with his brother. But hopefully those will be less now. ]

Hm? [his return smirk is lopsided and without being able to see his eyes- shadowed as they are underneath his hat- it can only look flippant. what you can't see is the perplexed expression and the tiny bit of strain. he knows what this is, and he's not accustomed to people being concerned for him, and the small part of him that dwells in self-loathing thinks he doesn't deserve it one bit, and that he should put a stop to it this second.

his voice drops an octave, now less casual and cheerful, and more serious- testing the waters a bit.]

Do you think I have much to air out, Genji-san? [maybe he's just more transparent than he thinks.]

[ It is the change in tone that surprises him. For a second, he thinks that he will be dismissed and be waved off as being unnaturally worried. ]

I do. [ A slight pause. ] It is presumptuous that you would wish to do so with a stranger like myself. But ... I would hate to think that I said nothing. [ How could he not have a lot to air out? Urahara is a shopkeep from Tokyo. Someone who owns a small shop and is thrust into this sort of situation. Yet he smiles and laughs so easily -- isn't it obvious that Urahara is hiding being insecure or scared? ]

[Urahara looks down at the cane he's holding- Benihime sleeping sounding in her sealed form, waiting for the cry to do battle after having been used the previous night as little more than a shield. He is so much more than mere shopkeeper, yet if he intends to keep himself ahead of the game, he needs to keep things as simple as possible.

Keeping things simple, however, has become something difficult, and he's dropped so many breadcrumbs here and there that he'd be remiss to keep this going any longer when too many have suspicions he's more than just what he suggests he is. Genji is far too kind to be allowed to keep believing his reflexive deception just because he hasn't had cause to show him otherwise just yet.]

You're concerned over a shopkeeper who has never seen battle and has no reason to be here. That's what all this is about, isn't it?

I do not mean to belittle you!

[ It probably sounds just like that coming from a cyborg. No, coming from someone who is a veteran in battle. But saying it so quickly like that, isn't it giving himself away? ]

But yes... I'm concerned about you. You are one of our teammates and you're doing your best. Your reason in being here is the same as ours. I won't look down on you for that. But you have not seen battle... if things get difficult, I would -- [ It's too much to ask someone that he just met, and there is the pride of a person, isn't there? But he looks up as he comes to his decision. ] -- you to please to humble yourself a little and hide behind me.

[ Yes. He lifts his hand to brush off some dust and the like from the front of his chestplate. Genji points to what has been etched there -- "God of War." ] That's ... that's what I am. [ If it seems like too much kindness, then view him as a thing to cower behind. Yes, that would be just as well, too, wouldn't it? ]

[the longer Genji goes on, the more the guilt grows, and as much as he can laugh it off as another "simple" person insinuating so little about him. he doesn't seem offended, even though emotion is difficult to parse from him.

he lifts his cane up, toying with the head of it.] "God of War?" That's a very frightening title. It wouldn't be humbling at all to have someone like that provide me with protection, but you see, Genji-san...

[he slides the bottom of the cane away from the head, revealing the slim blade.] It would be cruel of me to keep this ruse going when you seem so willing to show a mere shopkeeper such kindness. You should know precisely the person you wish to protect.

I may be a shopkeeper, but I have another title as well- one almost as lofty as yours. Shinigami. [he smiles, the expression lopsided and self-deprecating in the irony of the meaning of such a word.] "Death God."

[ He cannot help but look a little surprised. The face visor hides it well but it probably is read in his entire body language. Shinigami? ]

You're an assassin. [ How surprising. His shoulders drop just a little. Genji sees that he's been completely taken in. But his master would want him to continue to trust people, right? ] That's very surprising, Urahara-san. I suppose that is why you were called upon.

[ But still-- ] You felt bad for lying to me, right? For having me worry about you? [ Why else would he reveal himself? Wouldn't it have been easier to say nothing and let Genji protect him? ] Doesn't that mean that you're still a person that I should protect?

Shinigami means something very different where I'm from, but it would take too long to explain. [he shoulders Benihime, a little bit of the same casualness returning to his form.] But I was once. It was a very long time ago. As it stands, I don't know if I can trust the people here yet, so I've kept the act up. It's no offense to anyone- I just have to plan ahead when I can.

[no hard feelings. there's never any hard feelings. he does what he does and he expects nothing and sometimes he's forgiven and sometimes he's considered a snake. either way, he will not have a man put himself at risk like this. he'll scheme a great deal, but this isn't a situation that is advantageous to anyone.] Guilty? I guess one might call it that... You seem like a good man, Genji-san. I would hate for you to focus on me when there might be others who need your protection.

This means I trust you [in the bare minimum he'll trust anyone, but that's neither here nor there], and I trust we can keep this between us.

Edited 2016-08-09 06:25 (UTC)

I would like to hear it one day. [ Now probably is not that time, right? ] The people here may surprise you. But I can understand your hesitation, too. [ No one should reveal parts of themselves without feeling like they are safe and comfortable. Isn't that what Zenyatta taught him, too? ] Because you feel you are alone, Urahara? Because you feel you are alone, you have to plan ahead?

[ Yes, there are others that he sees that could use him as a shield. ] I am not so weak that I cannot look after more than one person. And it seems like I would just be back-up for you, anyway, right? [ He doesn't like being tricked. But he came clean. So, he should forgive that. ]

I have no reason to spread other's secrets around. [ And for someone who hides himself well, it is surprising to be told that he is trusted. Still, while the story of the title will take a long time, he hopes this answer will not. ] ... was everything a lie? Your shop? The children that you looked after?

Oh no, none of it was a lie. I simply didn't tell anyone the full story, and let them make their own assumptions. And these days, I do tend to just run my shop. In fact, I think before I ended up here, I was due to make that my sole occupation.

[he breezes past it all with that same air of nonchalance that he's had since the day he first greeted him. the truth hasn't made him lighter, however. it just seems to have made him more eager to brush the whole thing aside.

he slides Benihime back in her sheath, the point made for now.] And as for planning ahead... That's just how I work. I need to have plans in place for any "what if" scenario, and, in this case, it means not letting everyone see what cards I have up my sleeve.

[ Genji muses over what he has been told. An ex-assassin who now owns a shop, right? Though, he doesn't quite have the picture right. In any case, he understands -- wasn't he also trained to be one, too?

Furthermore, to not allow others to see what he has yet say that he trusts Genji with this secret and to keep it between them, he cannot help but smile. Urahara isn't that bad a person. ]

I am happy to hear that it wasn't a lie. For someone who has seen so much battle... it is nice to find peace somewhere, isn't it? [ A nod. ] I suppose I should be madder at being deceived but you've made up for it quickly.

[his smile is genuine in that it seems unbearably tired and for a brief moment when he tilts his head up, his eyes are no longer hidden by shadow- light gray and lined and weary.] I have that effect on people.

[it's not meant to be self-aggrandizing- rather, it seems to be something he isn't proud of at all.] I'd like this to be a chance to wipe away debts I can never repay otherwise, you understand, but I think I'll always be accruing new ones, regardless. And I'll always be finding a new war to fight, but I think you understand that one well enough.

[ That isn't the kind of smile that he would like to see, but it is Urahara's real one, isn't it? ]

I see. You believe you cannot pay me back? Fair enough. [ There is a small bit of humor in his voice, but he accepts that answer all the same. He lets out a tired sigh before speaking. ] Yes... it seems as those that would like to cause trouble do not seem to learn from their mistakes. But it isn't finding it as it is allowing ourselves to be reenlisted, right?

[ A smile can be felt in his words. ] It seems as though you are a person who also cannot remain idle in those times.

[He notes a rock in the cave that would make a suitable seat and sets down, folding his hands over the top of his cane and placing his chin on his hands. the dreary little smile becoming more of a rakish smirk.]

You've got me pegged now. Maybe if I hadn't turned up here, I would have just made my own problems, just so I could find a way to solve them again. Boredom doesn't suit me.

I'm afraid that you do not seem the type.

[ Not going to buy that, unfortunately. A lie to hide his nature? Come on, now. ] You would not want to incur any debts that you could not pay, right?

[but hasn't he created a problem bigger than the one he was trying to solve? wasn't that the whole and sum of the hogyoku? but he did pay that debt, and, in turn, he accrued a far bigger one, one he'll probably stake his entire being on righting one day, because Ichigo Kurosaki deserves so much better.

and all he can wonder is if he truly believes that or if he's convinced the dangers may never really be over, and he can't bear to lose such a magnificent pawn. he is a creature of habit, and his habits aren't good ones. ]

Mmm. I wouldn't seem the type to do many things I've done, Genji-san. I've been called unpleasant- and for a second, you thought I was too, didn't you?

[there's no judgment. he expects it- would be more than surprised if a person didn't find someone willfully deceiving everyone around him to not be an unpleasant act in itself.]

But what ALASTAIR is doing... It does seem a good way to clear the books, doesn't it? Start fresh.

Being lied to doesn't make one feel warm toward the person, no.

[ But there is a light way that he is saying it. Urahara could have revealed that he was capable while Genji was dying after saving him. He could have just said nothing. This he keeps in mind and why he just continues to dismiss how the man tries to paint himself as a villain. Someone who is a villain would not look the way he did -- that moment when the shadows of his hat did not hide his eyes. ]

I've already started my new life. I do not need another start. And after all that you have done and achieved for yourself, do you really want to clear away the books and pretend it did not happen? [ Ah. ]

... another presumptuous statement but ... I do not think that the journey that we take to get to where we are is something that should be erased... and I do not think it is something that can be easily erased.

I guess you you've got me there. [there's plenty that made it all worth it in the end, and aside from maybe being a bit more clever 100 years ago (and even that comes with its consequences), he can't say he'd really change anything. that carries its own set of problems he supposes.

so really it's all a series of excuses, hiding the real truth. he chuckles.]

I think the real truth of it is for all that ALASTAIR's goals seem to suit me, I don't know if I can trust them to carry out things the way I would. Not everyone can think objectively, and they're going to find me a very stubborn and determined man if they ever try to force my hand to do something I don't agree with.

I will join you in that if they turn out to be such people.

[ Yes, he will definitely not allow them to force anyone to do what they do not wish to. Not just Urahara but others that he have met. If they are supposed to save worlds, yes, there may be hard decisions, but he won't allow those friends that he's made here feel like they're being pushed into a corner in order to make the "right" decision. ]

So, if you happen to see something we do not, please let us know. [ Again, he'll politely remind Urahara that he is not alone. ]

[he has a hard time dealing with that- if anything, Genji reminds him just a bit of Tessai. all his quiet respect and surprising gentleness and politeness for one so fierce looking. it's comforting in a way, but even so he'll always be surprised when people have his back, especially when they know the truth of it.]

Well, we are a team, aren't we? [for once, he smiles in a way that's a little less sad- he said something similar to Ururu once and meant every word of it. it was such a small little disaster, and it feels so long ago, even if it hasn't been a year yet.

he can't promise he won't keep some things close to his chest or move people around as he sees fit. he can't promise that he won't carry the weight of all of this, himself, because that's the lot he's made for himself. but he can offer this much- he does believe in teamwork. the problem is that he often feels he has to control that teamwork.]

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VIDEO. UN: LOKI

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