kismet_loop | [accidental video]

Entry tags:

unknown armies | samantha patchowski (oc

[accidental video]

[The feed cuts in mid-shriek, Sam’s drone apparently having interpreted the start of the sound as its cue to begin broadcasting. It shows the adept pushing herself to her feet, having been knocked to her hands and knees by---what? Water. She’s drenched to dripping, and the street she stands on is wet for several metres all around.]

Calvaire de crisse...!

[It’s no more than a mutter as she straightens and immediately starts for the shelter of the closest building, casting an anxious glance up as she goes. She’s through a doorway in a matter of moments due to making haste, and relaxes---marginally---as she moves further away from the entrance.]

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I'm not planning on doing it again any time soon, but I am open to suggestions, planning to warn you if possible, planning to drop the ruse as soon as I am safely indoors, and frankly impressed. You wasted no time tossing that toaster.

[Talk about a surprise attack! It's enough to earn an approving nod.]

...I'm also sorry for giving you a scare like that.

[So maybe Hiro isn't the only one feeling sort of sheepish.]

...yeahhhh, sorry about that. You're lucky I wasn't holding anything more dangerous though. [Who's been working on a laser gun, not Hiro, nope, not at all.]

It's fine. The toaster sacrificed itself and evened out the playing field, let's say.

True. You can do a number on somebody with a toaster, though.

[Certain ongoing projects are going to make life even more interesting upon being uncovered, but the incident at hand is one Sam already regards as being no big deal, now that the air's clear. She steps over the ruins of toaster #2 to get further into the apartment, and spares the wreck a glance.]

Are you already thinking about how to best build/rebuild the thing? And I've got another question...

Ehhh, my aim was a little off.

[Hiro's going to hunch down by the toaster, looking thoughtful.] Yeah, I'm thinking combination toaster/toaster oven. Less aerodynamic, so it won't get thrown.

...what kinda question?

[Sam hunches across from him, so as to look him in the face.]

The kind you might not like so much, since it's 'what's this about you being haunted?'

[What, wait, no fair, he wasn't expecting that. Hiro backs up a couple steps, automatically twisting his fingers together, for once without something in his hands to fiddle with.]

I-I don't know what you mean.

[That's exactly why she's asking now, instead of allowing him more time to come up with some cover.]

Still a shit liar on the spot.

[It's a nearly-neutral observation, but then her expression softens somewhat, concern surfacing.]

Tell me what's happened? Please, kiddo. C'mon.

[gdit Sam, now Hiro's too far away to elbow you for the insult re: his fibbing skills. So instead he'll try and shrug the concern off.]

I-It was a ghost thing. Happened to everyone here, yeah? No big deal.

[Elbowing can come later, when she least expects it.]

Some sort of deal. Why didn't you say anything? Has it been an ongoing thing? We could find a way to clear the apartment, probably---I have done some work for ghost wards.

[There's a long moment of hesitation before Hiro says, quietly:]

I'm actually sort of used to it. The whole ghost thing just...enhanced what I already kept seeing and hearing.

...does that make me totally crazy, or....?

Nah, it doesn't.

[That answer comes easily, almost immediately, as Sam lowers herself to sit on the floor next to what remains of their toaster.]

It makes me kinda curious, though. I can tell you're a bit bothered---maybe just because this has come up in conversation, maybe by something more---by looking at you, so I want to know; what aspect of it is it? How bad would you say it is? And, do you want to do something about it?

If it's the talking about this that's really bothering you, I'm not gonna take offence. Promise. It's just...

[She shrugs.]

I want to have your back, here. And having missed all this, I feel like I could do a lot better when it comes to looking out for you.

[Hiro sits as well, across from Sam, leaning back against the cupboards with his legs crossed underneath him. Talking about things is weird, even after all this time, even when he's fully aware that it's probably definitely the best course of action.

He shrugs again, picking at a thread that's coming loose from the hem of a pant leg.] You're doing a good job. Really. A lot better than most people would.

...I, uh. I miss my brother. That's kind of...all that's bothering me. All that's ever really bothered me.

[You go ahead and you pick at that pant leg as she shakes out her still-damp hair. This is a serious conversation, but it doesn't need to be all stiff and stilted---not between the two of them, anyway.]

Thanks. I try. Cause you should have someone looking out for you. Not just because you're a kid, but you're a good kid, and yeah, do deserve that.

[Sam stills to listen a little more attentively and nods once. She considers... and slides over to sit beside Hiro. That's better. Now, it's easier to talk without looking at him as much, (good, because this isn't the kind of conversation one wants to be watched in) and the nearness seems to be what should be.]

If that wasn't a thing bothering you, I think I might worry more. This ghost thing...

[She opens and closes her hands.]

Has it eased up since it first started, is it ongoing, or...?

[Ew, damp hair, gross (yes, that's a go-ahead to do the shake-out thing again once you're next to him, Sam, just to make him irritated). Hiro hesitates for about three seconds, then slowly leans against Sam's side, tucked up on himself, quietly enjoying the closeness. It's...weird, how much he misses that, especially after one of his self-imposed lonesome periods.

The question gets a shrug.] I...see or hear him all the time. It was just extra vivid this past week. Which, yeah, super creepy, but...

...but now I miss it.

[Rather than shake her hair out a second time, Sam wraps an arm around Hiro.]

Y'know, that actually makes perfect sense to me.

[Hiro starts to say something, probably something cool and offhand and careless, like he isn't still upset. But what comes out instead is a sound somewhere between a squeak and a sob, so he just turns and tucks himself against Sam's side instead.]

[One arm about the shoulders just isn't enough---Sam turns, too, and pulls Hiro into a proper hug. As an only child, it's hard for her to imagine what it would be like to lose an older sibling. How it would be to have a sibling, though...? That's easier.]

[Much easier than it once would've been.]

[It's definitely a start, but Hiro still doesn't allow himself more than a couple small, soft, hitchy-with-tears sounds before he's pulling back a little and wiping at his eyes with his sleeves and mumbling:] Sorry, s-sorry, I'm...I'm okay.

[Sam allows him to pull away enough (and long enough) to wipe his eyes, but by that second 'sorry,' has him in a hug again.]

You've got nothing to say sorry for. And it's my line, anyway.

[Hiro lets out a very soft squeak when he's pulled into another hug, but he eventually relaxes and hugs her back.]

What are you sorry for, then?

Not having this out earlier...? And I'll find some other stuff to say sorry for. [She'll subject him to a light squeeze before letting go... and letting her little wiseass smile surface, to show things really can be okay-ish.] Canadian, remember? Means I got my quota to meet.

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