Text

[angelphones]

[Public]

Naoya has left. If anyone had business with him you still need taken care of, you can take it to me.

[Private to Hubert]

... Sorry. I need a few days off from patrolling. I hope you understand.

[/Private]

[Action]

[If anyone's looking for Katsu, he's not that hard to find. He's sitting on a bench near the main plaza, staring up at the coral.]

[Why does he feel so terrible? There was so much bad blood between them... maybe it's better he's not here. His version of things went the way he had wanted, right? Maybe he'd be happier now.]

Comments

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[Well.

Naoya did ask him to look after Katsu. And while he's not particularly fond of the kid, he's not about to deny Naoya his last request like that.

So he finds him, hardly a difficult task for the spy, and approaches with his arms behind his head.]

Hey. Are you busy?

[Action]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[He looks up at the sound of Matthew's voice. ... Heh.]

Not at all. What's up?

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[...he nods.]

Good. Come on.

[Are you following, Katsu, you'd better be following--]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[... Fine. He stands up and heads after Matthew, wondering where they're going.]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[To be honest, he has no idea. What he does know is that he doesn't want to leave Katsu moping. So they walk.

And walk.

And he tosses over his shoulder--]

Hey. Tell me about your brother.

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[Well, okay then. He keeps pace decently well, but the question surprises him a little.]

That depends. What do you want to know about him?

[Seriously, he has no idea how much information Naoya's told Matthew. :T]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

I want to know what you think is important about him, not what I think is important about him.

[This is...important to him. To get to know the Naoya everyone else saw as well.]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

... Ah.

Well... I think he's a good person. I don't think he sees it sometimes, but he's helped me a lot, ever since I was little. I felt like I could go to him more than I could go to my parents, sometimes. Sure, he's a little... strange... but I always figured that's just how he was.

He was always there for me when I was sick, or couldn't sleep because of nightmares. He's really smart and he always knew how to do things. I missed him when he went off to university.

... Even knowing what I know about him now, it doesn't change the fact that I really care about him.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[......mmm.]

Good.

I'm glad to hear it.

[He stops at the park, pausing a minute. And then he turns to look at Katsu.]

You're right, you know. He's a really helpful person. Strange, isn't it? That was the one thing he always pretended he wasn't.

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[He can't help but smile a little bit.]

Yeah. I mean... I wouldn't have made it if he hadn't helped me. I just want to help him in return.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[A pause and he turns fully, facing the other.]

Is that so?

What about this--just a hypothesis, and all, alright?

What if he doesn't need help...but rather support?

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[... Eh?]

Isn't it... kind of the same thing?

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Haha, no, not at all! They're completely different!

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

What do you mean?

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He taps a finger to his lips for a moment, as if thinking.]

Ah, I know!

You know your cousin pretty well, but there were some things you missed in your description of him. He's stubborn, hard-headed. He doesn't like accepting help. He's used to relying on himself, you see?

Because he's used to losing people. He told me so...if not in so many words.

Do you understand yet? Trying to help him will just make him try to get away. He's not very good at leaning on people. But supporting him...that would be entirely different.

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[Well, he thought those things were kind of obvious, but okay. :Oa ]

Yeah... how do you think I could support him, though?

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[Hush. He had to make a point.]

How about...

Being his cousin! That sounds like an excellent plan.

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

... I do that anyway, though.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He turns his back to the other then, tilting his head at the ocean above.]

...Liar~!

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[... Matthew why are you confusing and frustrating - ]

... No? I mean, I can't do anything but be his cousin.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Wrong!

[He chuckles, stepping a few more steps forward.]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[... :T ]

You're confusing.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

And you are passive!

[He chuckles, shaking his head.]

And that is the problem!

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[... Maybe he's right.]

It's too easy to do that here. It's not like back in the Lockdown...

[Hmm... :T]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't look so surprised!

Haha, of course I'm right! But hey...at least that's something you can fix.