011 ✿ Video

[occulthymns]

[When the recording starts the bracelet's camera is focused on some kind of aquarium. It isn't completely filled with water and it has quite a few rocks and logs, some of which stick out above the water. On first glance the tank looks empty, but if one looks close they can see a little red claw crab sitting under a log inside.]

Does anyone know what kinds of things crabs do for fun? I'm keeping an eye on this guy for someone else, and I know I've got his food and home down but it looks kind of boring in there. Especially since he's all alone! Do they even make toys for crabs? He looks like he might break stuff with those claws....

Oh! And what kind of information do I need to give out to get a licence? I've never gotten one of these things before, so I'm not sure if I need to bring something or... what, really.

Comments

[deadcenter]

Not exactly...

More like... we just accepted that's how things went around there. A lot of us had different ways of coping. Minatsuki put on that act that she was some fragile little girl- then she used that in the ring to trick her way into winning.

Me? I didn't really have anythin' to fear, I was the strongest Deadman in that place, only lost once.

[occulthymns]

[That sounds worse than apathy 8(] And you lost an eye. That's a pretty big deal you know!

[deadcenter]

[DEADMEN ARE SAD PEOPLE 8(]

Is it?

[with his free hand he reaches up and touches his eyepatch.] I didn't really think so.... sure, it hurt like hell when that crazy doctor ripped my eye out but... other than that, I think it's fine. That kid pulled off a pretty epic move to beat me, I wasn't angry or anything.

[occulthymns]

[Euri gives him a thoroughly unimpressed look, silent for several moments as she sips her tea.]

You've got a blind side now. That's a big weakness.

[She isn't all that great at strategy, but Witches are naturally strategic creatures so she at least has her moments.]

[deadcenter]

[Fine fine... he finally takes a sip of his tea...

Oh, it's good.

Sips some more before talking again....]

But I look pretty cool with it, right? [HE REALLY DOESN'T GIVE A FUCK. What are appearances, he doesn't care.]

[occulthymns]

[Damnit Senji!]

That isn't the point! You shouldn't just be fine with having lost it!

[deadcenter]

[he shrugs.]

They coulda taken my heart out, I think losin' an eye is better than kicking the bucket early.

[occulthymns]

How can you be so calm about that?? [What if they had decided to pick something more vital?? She'd be freaking out.]

[deadcenter]

[A grin spreads across his face at that, but then he just takes another drink of his tea.]

Because, even if my bones break, I won't. That place can take eveyrthin' from me, but they'll never get me to crack. My will to live is just way too strong, there's no such thing as a 'deathbed' for me.

Being calm about that kinda thing is just natural to me now.

[occulthymns]

[She makes an irritated noise, sipping her tea again. Having a strong will is nice, but it won't keep you from getting killed....]

... Why were you in prison, anyway?

[deadcenter]

[oh- he did have a grin on his face, but that soon faded as soon as she asked that question. That was something that was always a touchy subject with him. He only ever told one person about his past, and that was difficult for him. He keeps that mug near his lips as he talks.]

....Why does everyone want to know that?

[occulthymns]

[She raises an eyebrow at the change in his expression. This must be a serious subject....] I don't know about everyone else, but back home I never cared about why criminals had bounties on their heads. Now that I know one I'm curious.

[deadcenter]

[it is a very serious subject to him.

He's staring at nothing in particular, thinking about what she's saying- but in all honesty, he doesn't give a shit what other people think. In the end, the only one that judges him is himself, he's way too hard on how he used to act and who he used to be.]

I... [should he tell her? He told Ange but that was...] I was a cop once... I was really just a kid, some hotshot that thought he could take on the world just 'cause of an ability I thought no one else had.

[occulthymns]

[Euri, unfortunately, tilts her head confusedly.]

... What's a 'cop'?

[deadcenter]

[he laughs a bit at that. Somehow you made him chuckle during such a serious thing for him Euri.]

Police officer, law enforcement, get it?

[occulthymns]

[Oh. She feels a little dumb now, as she nods.]

... Yeah, like city guards.

[deadcenter]

Yeah, like a guard. In fact.... I figured I was some knight runnin' around helping people- attacking those that deserved to be punished.

My chief... ah, maybe it would be like a captain with guards? Yeah, he was the one that taught me not to kill someone like that- that they needed to be put into jail and all that.

[occulthymns]

[This makes a lot more sense to her. She knows a decent amount about city guards and she's heard lots of stories - exciting ones - about human knights, so she excitedly perks up.]

Really??

[deadcenter]

Hm.... yeah.

[All that is a fond memory to him after all, the only times he can recall where he was truly happy would be with his cop friends.]

No one else believed in a punk kid like me except for my four other cop friends. I uh- got into fights a lot back then too. Other cops would insult me all the time, I ended up kicking their asses a lot. Cheh!

Still... I guess... that doesn't really answer your question yet, does it?

[occulthymns]

No, but all of that sounds like a lot of fun! You get to protect people and kick the asses of bad guys! It's like bounty hunting, but you don't have to worry about not getting paid~!

[deadcenter]

[He's staring down at his drink, thinking about what she said. A lot of fun huh? Yeah, he thought those kinds of times would last forever- that he could keep on being that cop along with the rest of them.]

But.... I relied on them a little too much- you know? I wanted them to believe in me a bit, so I tried really hard to grow up when I obviously wasn't ready yet. I got a letter one day callin' me out... I figured that was my chance to show them that I could take on all those gangs.

Of course... I was wrong. The old man punched me in the stomach, left me there on the ground and told me to be a good little kid- the adults needed to go out and take care of business.

By the time I got there.... [he trails off, this is the hardest thing for him to say]

[occulthymns]

[His story is gradually sounding less fun, more serious, until she's starting to fidget, feeling uncomfortable. But she isn't sure where this is going, so she's still very interested in hearing the rest.]

What happened...?

[deadcenter]

[...Senji glances around, making sure that no one else is listening. He'd murder them for sure if they were- innocent or not.]

Before I tell you.... I need to make sure you won't tell anyone. If you do... [he looks back at her, his eye narrowing and his voice lowers as well.]

I'll kill you. I don't care if we're close- I wouldn't hesitate to cut you up.

[occulthymns]

[It's surprising to hear that, but she supposes she understands where he's coming from - this isn't just a serious subject, it's a secret.

Still, she feels wary as she nods, tone quiet.]

... I won't tell anyone.

[deadcenter]

[....Ugh... he really hates bringing this up, he absolutely despises it. It reminds him of how he used to be, and how much he hates that punk kid that got his friends killed.]

They were like my family, ya know. I didn't really have one, I became close to them all and I felt like they would always be there beside me. Heh, I was so fuckin' dumb, so goddamn naive. I was just a kid after all...

....After I arrived on the scene, I saw them. They were chopped up, body parts scattered everywhere and three of them were already dead. Looks like they left the old man though, my police chief, to lay there bleeding down. He was just a torso, his arms and legs gone.... I remember I could barely breath seeing all that. Of course, he soon died there- they all were tortured and eventually killed, all because of me.

I searched for their killer after that, determined to find the fucker that had done that. I guess that attracted some attention, I eventually got tossed into jail under some false charges just because I had a Branch of Sin. Let me tell you.... I've never hated human beings any more than those days I was searching for their killer.