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]

[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.

[occulthymns]

[It was much, much worse than she had expected. She couldn't imagine how painful it would be to see her mother or Dog tortured... but she could picture humans getting tortured very clearly.

No, not just picture it - she could remember it. She had seen Light Keepers get captured and tortured in the town square back home, and never once had she considered what it might be like having one of them as a loved one.

She shifts in her chair awkwardly. No wonder Senji talks about hating his own kind. It's perfectly reasonable in her mind. Her voice is quiet and somber as she replies.]

Did you ever find the killer...?

[deadcenter]

[he sets his tea down, bringing a hand up to the back of his neck and rubbing it. Man, telling this story just takes a lot out of him for some reason. He just gets way too ticked at everything that had happened.]

I did. The fucker was in Deadman Wonderland, he tried to kill me- he was taunting me and everything about what happened. He was turned into a Deadman, some fake little shit. In the end I cut him in half, right dead center.

[occulthymns]

[She gives him a small nod.]

It's good you got revenge for them, but still....

[She curls her hands in her lap.]

It's terrible you had to go through that.

[deadcenter]

....Yeah.

[all of the Deadman went through shit like this, maybe not as bad as Senji- or maybe even worse. He doesn't know their pasts, but he knows how much they all freaked when those masks appeared.]

People wonder if I'm weird or somethin' because I don't get too close to others, or ya know... girls for that matter. But I was a little busy throughout the years tryin' to get stronger and find the killer.

Besides, seems like people that know me end up dying.

[occulthymns]

[Given how important vengeance is in Witch society, she doesn't blame him for spending years focused on it. It... seems pretty normal to her, actually.

But there's something else she dislikes.]

It's okay to worry about people, but that shouldn't stop you from being close to them.

[deadcenter]

[...Ah, he smirks at that. Ganta was the one that taught him he could get close to people again, he liked that kid a lot after all. This place changed him too- he has a lot of people here that he considers to be friends.]

Looks like some good things came from this place, I don't really think that here. The people I'm close with seem to be able to handle themselves. Or ya know, not afraid to try and train with me. [keep up the good work with the training euri!!]

[occulthymns]

[She grins at him, shrugging a tiny bit.]

It's worth it. You're a good teacher.

[deadcenter]

Much to my surprise, you're a good student.

[he's just teasing a bit.]

[occulthymns]

[She giggles lightly.]

Hey, when I'm properly motivated I'm a great student!

[deadcenter]

That's what I like to hear.

Don't give up- even if they knock you down tell 'em to go screw themselves and just try harder. [it's basically how he got through life.]

[occulthymns]

I will! I didn't give up back home, and I'm definitely not going to here.

[deadcenter]

That's the spirit! Keep that up and you'll go far kid.

[occulthymns]

Except I'm not a kid! I'm a completely capable adult!

[deadcenter]

Maybe in another five years.

[occulthymns]

No, right now! I've practically been on my own for two years!

[deadcenter]

You're gonna have to prove to me you're an adult before I believe it. Didn't I say I was eighteen when I thought I knew everything too?

[then his friends died.]

[occulthymns]

.... [That shuts her up pretty quick. She doesn't sound nearly as fervent.]

It's a different situation....

[deadcenter]

[Ah well... he's been trying to get it through to her that she's just not an adult yet- but looks like she's way too stubborn. He rolls his eye and brings that tea up to his mouth, sipping it again.]

You sure this isn't some kind of truth potion? You got me to talk about my police friends, only one other person was able to do that.

[occulthymns]

[She blinks at him.]

It doesn't, I don't have any plants that can do that yet.

[Yet.]

[deadcenter]

Heh, guess you're just good at gettin' people to talk.

[not really, he wouldn't tell anyone unless he wanted to but.... refuses to admit it!!]