◊9th Ride◊ Anything For You [Video]

[last_to_kneel]

[Varon is leaning on his yellow motorcycle and looks directly at the feed. He's not really even going to draw that much attention to it. The fact that he has it back does make him calmer.]

These stabbings, like what Sam said, I think he's right. I didn't put a connection together at first but I've been payin' attention. The lion, a symbol of strength an' integrity in some cultures is also a symbol of bravery an' power in others. It's not called a king for nothin'.

The owls, in some cultures, are a symbol of death and wisdom. Those came first. Put it all together an' we have somethin' worth lookin' into. The gods are tellin' us somethin' an' I really think we should listen.

Where I'm from, symbols like these shouldn't be ignored but we've gotten so used t' bein' trapped in our own lives to care.

[He runs his fingers through his hair. Surprisingly, those thick, wild locks of hair isn't all that tangled.]

Damn...there was somethin' that I wanted to say but it slipped away from me. Anyway, just puttin' this out there that what we give can be easily taken away. That sounds cryptic as hell. Huh, guess that's it then.

[He closes that feed and starts another.]

private to Apollo

I hope that you're doin' okay. These stabbings has me worried. I listened t' that old man. As strange as it sounds, I'm glad I did. You alright out there?

private to Conan

Any headway on those murders? I know I'm not part of the investigation but I'm concerned that you're safety is jeopardized. Don't get in too deep, okay?

private to Chihaya

Are ya okay? Last time we spoke you had me worried. Don't fall apart, okay?

Comments

video; private

[attorneyatloud]

Hi Varon! I'm okay, don't worry. I listened to him, too. I'm not about to take anything for granted here. I'm glad you're all right, too.

[When mysterious old men gave him warnings, it was as likely as anything else that they might be valid, in this land of cupcake contests and ice fairies.]

I'm actually sort of wondering if this whole thing wasn't set up by the gods: the warnings, the omens, the stabbings. It's all a little too staged.

video; private

[last_to_kneel]

[Varon steps away from the bike and moves toward his bed. It's been a while since he's been seen on the network. He certainly doesn't want to leave the people he really cares about to worry either.

He thinks carefully about what Apollo said.]

Yeah, come t' think on it, it's like they're wantin' t' see who's worthy or not. I guess that's the game but I can't be sure of that either. It's like you said, a test of some sort, staged t' look random. Maybe not, but it's not a bad line of logic.

Ides of March...Julius Ceasar, the lions, the owls, the stabbings by loved ones...it's all a test and a powerful one at that. Trust is gonna be shaken among friends.

[His eyes widen.]

Wait! Wasn't the owl associated with Athena?

video; private

[attorneyatloud]

Yeah, it's just too convenient, too much like the story. This is the gods' city, and what happened is nothing like the attacks from outside. So it makes me worry. It's awful to think the gods themselves might have set things up like that. I don't trust them in the first place, but still!

[He nods.] You're right, they were.

[Apollo is sitting on his bed, and a Golden Retriever comes to sit beside him, looking curiously at the screen.]

video; private

[last_to_kneel]

You got a goldie!? [He smiles at the screen.] That's damn awesome!

[He goes back to thinking.]

Ya know, I wonder if it's not some multi-pantheon thing goin' on that we don't know about and it's hidden from us. Maybe a clash or conflict of interest between the different realms. I can't say that aloud. It might cause confusion t' everyone else that doesn't know what t' look for.

That can also explain why there's a Greco-Roman influence in a place that's supposed t' be Norse founded.

video; private

[attorneyatloud]

Yes, I came back and she was here. I've been taking care of her at home, so--I guess she's my dog. [It's still a little strange to think of her as such, but he smiles.] I was glad to see her.

[But then he considers Varon's words.]

Maybe? It's just hard to say anything for sure about these gods. They only let us know what they want us to know, when they want us to know it.

Oh, so maybe since all worlds are supposedly connected to this one, different gods might be, too? It is confusing...

video; private

[last_to_kneel]

Yeah, it's still cryptic but it's definitely worth not to see it at some point. I hope I'm wrong on that. I'm thinkin' with all these different influences from different worlds might have some pull in that direction but that's yet to be seen. Like you, I can only speculate unless I see somethin' otherwise.

Ah, ya know, on the subject of your dog, I'd like t' see her sometime. It'll be fun when things calm down, eh?

video; private

[attorneyatloud]

Right, we should keep looking out for clues and information, but we don't know anything definite yet. There are a lot of possibilities. [He frowns.] The more time we spend here, the less I like the gods. [He knows they might be listening in, but--too bad. He'll speak his mind.]

And sure! You can see her anytime. I've been taking her out. She loves going on walks.

video; private

[last_to_kneel]

[He lets out a laugh. It was good to see Apollo's rare side and that really cheered him up.]

Good onya, mate! I'll meet up with ya sometime for those walks. Be good t' get some fresh air after a bit.

video; private

[attorneyatloud]

I think so. We could use it after all this. [A sigh. His Mr. Negative side is asserting itself again.] It's just one thing after another here.

And now Trucy's here-- [Someone else to worry about.] Oh, right, I didn't tell you, someone else I know from home showed up here.

[audio - private]

[holmes_fanatic]

Ha ... definite 'too deep' Varron-niichan!

((dude, how did I almost miss this. So sorry!))

[audio - private]

[last_to_kneel]

[He chuckles softly.]

Now, why am I not surprise? Geniuses are hard t' cage. Looks like you're in that category, mate. It's good you're still around. Anything yet?

((It's all good. You've been busy. :))

[audio - private]

[holmes_fanatic]

Nothing really big -- but being confined to a hospital bed's not so different from being caged when it comes to trying to investigate.

[audio - private]

[last_to_kneel]

That's frustratin'. Wait...you got injured?

[audio - private]

[holmes_fanatic]

Stabbed.

[audio - private]

[last_to_kneel]

[Hold on a moment while Varon tries not to jump out the window and find the person who did it.]

What?! Not you too! DAMMIT! Man, this sucks...who brought you for help?

[audio - private]

[holmes_fanatic]

Question's more like who didn't ... I accidentally turned my bracelet on before it happened.

[audio - private]

[last_to_kneel]

That's good you got help.

[Varon's still a bit bitter from when he was nearly killed and how people pretty much left him there to die...if it wasn't for Apollo.]

I must've missed that one.

[Now he's looking back through his bracelet.]

Yeah...I missed it. I was sleepin'. I'm so sorry, mate. That's even after I promised I'd be there t' watch your back too.

[video|private]

[sora_wo_koete]

Varon-san... thank you. I'm alright now. And-

[ Chihaya pauses, looking a little uncomfortable. ]

About last time... I'm sorry.

[video|private]

[last_to_kneel]

[Varon taps his pen to the desk. He wants to say more other than what's at hand.]

It's a'right. I don't really understand anyway...ya know, the pressures of an idol an' all that.

[video|private]

[sora_wo_koete]

It... was a little more personal than that, actually... but.

How have you been holding up? [ A change of subject, because news of all these stabbings is a little more worrisome to her right now. ]

[video|private]

[last_to_kneel]

Sorry.

[He switches subjects.]

I'm doin' a'right. Ya know, the usual, tryin' to make the best of it an' all that jazz. I'll be back to work soon.

[video|private]

[sora_wo_koete]

Oh... you've almost recovered, then?

[video|private]

[last_to_kneel]

Yeah, I'm feelin' better. I'll start back in my routine fully in a few more days. Honestly, I can't friggin' wait. A few more acupuncture treatments an' I'm free t' go back to what I used to do. For now, I'm workin' on my strength training.

[video|private]

[sora_wo_koete]

That's good to hear- wait, what other kinds of training do you do? [ Strength training "for now"...? ]

[video|private]

[last_to_kneel]

There's all kinds. I started meditation not too long after I got here. Been doin' a lot of that while I was in recovery. Since I was in bandages, I gotta work on my arms again for tone and strength. I still do my runs an' acrobatics or gymnastics. I switch it up to keep in shape.