[video]

[shortestfuse]

This has gotta be some kind of… screwed up dream…

[ There's lightly panicked breathing, albeit calm for one who has just woken up in a strange world. Adrenaline is high, but there's no one around for him to blame, nothing around for him to throw.

A blond man in bartending regalia lights a cigarette, unconcerned with the fact that the communications device is making a small documentary: Inside the Pocket, the untold story. There's a grunt of disproval, he obviously realizes something's amiss after a quiet beep alerts him to the piece of technology hidden from view. ]

What the hell is-… a phone…?

[ He's obviously stressed, his voice clipped, strained as though he's trying to keep his wits about him. The feed shakes, the image blurs from a violent motion, a rough hand locked around the camera. A thumb moves and you finally see the man's face.

… He looks quite angry, a tick at his brow, a twitch at his jaw where his teeth are clenched around the filter of his abused cigarette. Like an animal backed into a corner. ]

Spyin' on me now? Tch. I don't get it -- whaddaya want me to do?

[ The image takes on a new angle; Shizuo holds the camera up, pointing it down towards his face at a rather artistic angle and he stares up into it with a squint over his sunglasses as though trying to decipher an unintelligible code. ]

Well… fuck this. Fuck you. Like I'll make it that easy!

[ Expression darkening, the cigarette he can be seen holding snaps between his fingers. The device loses focus immediately, white noise flickering briefly when the uneven ground catches it, managing to land with its camera pointed up at grey sky.

Just in time to record the heel of a dress shoe dropping down on the lens. ]

Problem solved!

Comments

[video]

[shortestfuse]

That's convenient. Now I don't have to go sniffin' around.

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

Are you some sort of hound, now?

[video]

[shortestfuse]

Heh. I gotta good sense of smell is all. And a better judge of character.

[video] thin eyebrow brigade

[eyeforaneye]

We'll see if you do or don't. I wouldn't expect any kind of perception from a hothead.

[video] never trust a man who sculpts his eyebrows

[shortestfuse]

Won't you be surprised. [ It's spoken bitterly. Through his teeth. ]

There's plenty of shit people notice when they take the time to look. I'm always lookin'.

[video] CLEARLY

[eyeforaneye]

As am I. And right now I see a man eager to pick fights before he understands the situation.

No matter; it's to my benefit.

[video]

[shortestfuse]

[ He flashes a toothy smirk, but it's strained; repressing his anger was difficult, especially considering how stressed he was with his recent arrival. ]

You don't know me or what I can do. [ It's true that he's as impulsive as the day is long. ] I wouldn't talk so loose. But I guess that's part of the fun.

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

You're doing the same in regards to me, aren't you?

[video]

[shortestfuse]

I don't mind bein' a hypocrite.

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

How frank.

[video]

[shortestfuse]

"How frank"? Isn't that frank? [ Laughs. ] Looks like we're in the same boat.

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

I don't enjoy lies or dancing around an issue.

[video]

[shortestfuse]

Are we just gonna list shit we have in common now? Or is that gonna interfere in our fights?

[ Dry sniff of amusement. ]

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

I won't go easy on you for any reason. That isn't the way I work.

[video]

[shortestfuse]

I'd be offended if you did. Droppin' your guard's not healthy. But you don't seem that type.

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

Again with the quick assumptions... If you really want to spar then you'll see how I fight soon enough.

[video]

[shortestfuse]

I said I wanted to spar, I said that. So obviously I want to.

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

Fighting and sparring are not the same. Though I guess it doesn't matter; I'll stop before you're dead.

[ Overconfidence! ]

[video]

[shortestfuse]

Same enough to me. That said, I can't guarantee I'll stop. [ There's nothing funny or arrogant about this. ]

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

With such a temper like that I shouldn't be too surprised.

[video]

[shortestfuse]

So you understand. [ An embittered, impatient smile. ] And you still wanna fight. Good, good, good.

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

[ It's at this point that he's really starting to get the impression that Shizuo is a bit psychotic. Maa, he can handle psychotic, can't he? ]

I'm not scared of you, if that's what you mean.

[video]

[shortestfuse]

[ Ding ding ding, we have a winner. Shizuo gives a wave and rolls his head back to squint at the sky. ]

It's not what I mean. I mean some people have a stronger sense of self-preservation.

[video]

[eyeforaneye]

Such a big head...

[ Sense of self-preservation? When it comes to fighting? Sasuke has none. ]

You sure like to talk tough.

[video]

[shortestfuse]

I can, 'cause I am.

[ It's spoken plainly. Seriously. Like he's rattling off random facts. ]

Otherwise I wouldn't.