03 [video] I once was lost.

[shortestfuse]

[ When the communicator turns on, you are immediately able to tell that Shizuo is in some kind of distress.

Not because you can see him, all you seem to be looking at is an expanse of sky and a few blond hairs like he's laying next to the device. The hoarse breathing and disoriented muttering is a dead giveaway though and he doesn't look like he's ready to walk around for a while yet. This might be because he's trying to sort out what happened in his head, but frustrated groaning signifies he hasn't had much luck.

A seagull circles him, perhaps a hint to where he is. Near water of some sort, the lapping of waves against something is making a noticeable sound in the receiver. The shoulder of a crumpled white shirt comes into view finally, his face following suit. He decided to sit up after all. ]

... I need... [ He closes his eyes and rubs at one of them tiredly; his voice is husky, he's pale, shaking, sweating, his hair is in complete disarray and there seems to be dried blood on his collar. ] I need help. Don't know what happened...

[ Shizuo never asks for help, but this time seems different. ] Don't know where I am. Don't know how I got here. I was... where was I... I can't feel anything.

[ With that he lays back down, slowly but surely, to wait for a reply. ]



[ Shizuo has gotten his chip removed anonymously! He's experiencing the removal sickness and his abilities, if angered, will go haywire, but other than that there are no other symptoms present. He just doesn't know where the fuck he is, but he hasn't looked at his map.

Edit: Gin found him! Everything but action is welcomed so hard. ]

Comments

[shortestfuse]

Hong Kong-san said that too.

Ah, maybe. I'm not cut out for learnin'.

[scimitar]

So yer okay with bein' a dumbass?

[shortestfuse]

I never had the need for smarts, really. [ He's street smart though! And... randomly... knowledgeable. ]

[scimitar]

Well, all right then! But if ya ever decide ya wanna learn a language or three, I'm the guy to go to.

[shortestfuse]

I have trouble with English sometimes, but I learned it in school.

Hong Kong-san's books help. But oh man... [ He sighhhs. ] I hate readin'.

I gotta keep myself busy, so... maybe. Doubt it though... what do you know?

[scimitar]

What do I know? Y'mean what languages?

[shortestfuse]

Yeah. Which do you know.

[scimitar]

[...why did you ask him this]

Uhhh, geez. A whole buncha dead languages, Russian, English, German, Arabic, Italian, Albanian, Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Greek, Croatian, Bosnian, Macedonian, all 'em Turkic languages, their dialects... Turkish 'a course, too!

I've had a whole lotta time on my hands!

[shortestfuse]

[ He's baffled. ]

... Holy shit.

[scimitar]

Well, what'd ya expect? I was an empire!

[shortestfuse]

I didn't think you knew that many. I don't know what an Empire has to know!

[scimitar]

Yeah! Most 'a those languages are from the ones I conquered, soo.♪

I'd only teach a few outta those anyway.

[shortestfuse]

Conquered? Ah, Taiwan-san spoke about that.

I don't know what'd I use 'em for, though...

[scimitar]

Okay. I got a great idea, then.





Ya teach me Japanese.

[shortestfuse]

... I think you're overestimatin' my ability to teach.

[scimitar]

It's all right! I'm a fast learner!

[shortestfuse]

That... doesn't mean I'm any good at teachin'...

[ He scratches his head, oddly embarrassed. ]

Hell, I don't know where to start.

[scimitar]

Conversational partner, then? An' ya jus' correct the shit outta me.

[shortestfuse]

[ Well, he never had anything like a conversational partner. What could it hurt? ]

Alright... but I don't have much in the way of entertainin' things to say.

[scimitar]

It's okay. Jus' conversations like this, an' it's fine.

[shortestfuse]

Okay.

...

Like right now...?

[scimitar]

Right now what?

[shortestfuse]

Do I start talkin' in Japanese right now?

[scimitar]

Well, I dunno any... I'm gonna have to find someone else to teach me first.

[shortestfuse]

Oh. Okay. Well you should memorize kanji first. [ He scratches his head. ]

Speakin' is one thing. If ya don't learn to write, you're as good as illiterate.