[Mushverse: for OOOs peoples mostly]

[catcameback]

I think I'm becoming more human.

I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

Actually, I'm not even sure if that's possible.

Which is what has me sitting outside in my usual park, at the base of a tree instead of in it for once, turning my Switch over and over in my head, sometimes balancing it on it's point and seeing how long it can stand like that, and wondering...

It's been a while since I've used to last. Not since we found Joe.

I wonder if it's possible for it to stop working.

Comments

[keijisan]

"He took Ankh from me," I say, my voice tight and my right hand clenching in my pocket before I bring it up to rub carefully at the tension building between my eyes. "It's just... going to be a little hard, to get used to the idea that he's not dangerous. He still might be, if he's still talking about being 'one' with Ankh. They're human now, it's not like he can actually achieve that anymore."

[catcameback]

"Yeah, well, that was pretty much my fault too." I shrug one shoulder, because it's true enough. My Ankh probably wouldn't have been quite so vindictive if I hadn't gotten there and tried to use him.

"He's just a kid. I promise. He's just confused. Ankh's not perfect either. If they could just meet once, I'm sure they would figure out how to coexist."

[keijisan]

"We'll see," I say but his confidence makes me relax a little, and it's an odd old world if I can trust Kazari's word about anything but he seems to be honest about what he's keeping from me, at least. Not being a Greeed has changed them in some of the strangest ways.

I wonder how it's changed Ankh, not for the first time.

"And anyway, if he's half as clever as he was when he was a Greeed, he's going to end up finding Ankh and doing whatever he intends to do when he meets him anyway, with or without your help."

[catcameback]

"I guess so."

I laugh at that, strangely proud. "You're right about that. I never find him, anyway, he always finds me. He's still about as much a bird as I am a cat."

[keijisan]

"...I suppose," I say dubiously, but it's obvious Kazari actually likes Ankh--the other Ankh--Lefty, or whoever.

"Are Uva and Gamel around? They're the only ones I haven't heard anything about, save the purple medals, and I'm not sure if they count or not."

[catcameback]

"Yeah, they're around. I dunno where Gamel ended up, but I think Mezool and Uva are staying with the same people." I tilt my head and run a hand through my hair again, preening, kind of.

My nose wrinkles at his mention of the... purple medals. "Yeah, well, the less said about those abominations, the better."

[keijisan]

"Agreed," I say fervently. "Glad to hear that they're doing all right, though."

[catcameback]

"Yeah. Yeah, they're doing okay, last I heard."

Which hasn't been for a while. I've been a little wrapped up in... other family stuff.

[keijisan]

"Good to know." I sound content, watching you curiously now.

"I won't lie, this... is going to take a bit of getting used to."

[catcameback]

I smirk at that. "What, me not trying to claw your face off every chance I get?"

I shrug. "I never had anything against you, anyway. The... rivalry between Ankh and me goes... way back."

[keijisan]

"I know it does," I say amicably, before I grin a little. "But it's still my face you were trying to claw off. I like this, don't get me wrong! It's just going to take a bit of getting used to."

[catcameback]

"Fair enough." I chuckle and shrug, ruffling my hair again. "I've had time to get used to it, and it still weirds me out sometimes, hearing the shit I say."

[keijisan]

"Mmm." I hesitate, then look at you curiously.

"...is Ankh very different?"

[catcameback]

I consider his question carefully a moment, then shrug.

"I guess he is. It's hard to tell, though. He was getting... weird towards the end there anyway. Teaming up with Uva... Triple crossing all of us... Well, he's always had that self-important thing for OOO."

[keijisan]

"I heard about him and Eiji-kun, yes," I sigh. "Well, I suppose I'll find out myself when I finally run into him. I was just curious."

[catcameback]

"I'm not exactly a source of unbiased information on Ankh, sorry." I shrug, almost apologetically.

[keijisan]

"Well, he's such an uncomplicated ray of sunshine, I can't see why not," I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck before I let my hand drop. "It'll just take me a bit to get back up to speed with everything that's happened. Clearly I can never go on vacation again, god only knows what everyone would get up to in my absence."

[catcameback]

I laugh at that. The idea of 'vacation' is kind of foreign to me even still, it's not exactly something my parents participate in.

"Probably a good idea."

[keijisan]

I can feel my face soften at that, and I don't try to stop it.

"I really am glad. That you're all back, I mean. It's weird, I guess, but--I feel like I understand a little of what you all went through, because of Ankh. I really do think you deserve this chance to be happy."

[catcameback]

"You're still a weird guy. But I'm a weird guy, too, so I guess maybe we're meant to get along this time. Alright?"

I offer him my hand to shake like Jou taught me.

[keijisan]

I can feel my whole face lighting up, and I feel foolish, but... maybe he's right. So I reach out and take his hand, shaking it firmly.

"Sounds good to me. And--here." I dig in my pocket and pull out a card, scribbling my personal number on the back, handing it to him. "If anything happens and you or your family needs anything--or if you need the police, I guess--don't hesitate to call me."

[catcameback]

He shakes my hand, so I guess he's not completely freaked out about me. I grin and accept the card he scrawls the number down on.

I'm not sure how much I trust the competence of mortal police, but this guy at least isn't so bad. He's got some idea of the seething underneath of the city, anyway.

"I'll keep that in mind."

[keijisan]

I'll have more of an idea when I can get someone to properly explain things to me.

"Thank you. It was... very nice meeting you, Kazari," I say.

[catcameback]

I smirk and lift a hand to wave.

"Nice to meet you too... Detective Izumi Shingo."