re_alignment | video || Trion's Lake

Entry tags:

brave police: j-decker | kagerou

video || Trion's Lake

[Here we have the police bird in his natural habitat. Standing by the lake in Alpha Trion's sector. He looks rather pensive and generally more upset than he usually does.]

I --

[And before he can explain himself, he catches sight of his reflection in the lake. Scrawled on the panes of his left wing are the words "SPACE FOR RENT". On the other wing, in equally bold, obnoxious writing is "APRIL FOOLS".]

[He stares. And then drops the Link in an effort to scrub the writing off with his bare hands, twisting around into a veritable knot of unhappy ninja robot.]

[Unfortunately, all this does is give the viewer a good view of the back side of each wing, on which is written ""POWER JOE WAS HERE :D". One word per wing pane.]

[And it's then, in a fit of avian frustration, Kagerou has the most mature response to life there ever was. He lifts the nearest heavy rock and throws it, as hard as he can, shouting:]

I hate this place!

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[No. Not until PJ knows exactly what he's done.]

What?

... no! Not that! This is... something else. Something that kisses for money.

...

[That makes PJ stop for a moment, looking at him.]

You can get PAID for that?

[That went...SO many miles over his head.]

Apparentl--

[He sputters, his wings flaring.]

That isn't the point!

R-Right.

[He shies away from those wings. He's pretty sure those could swing at him.]

I didn't know that, though! Honest! I've just...seen it on billboards.

And you decided to write it on me?

Do you really hate me that much?

Don't be stupid!

[He reaches for those wings...again.]

If I hated you I wouldn't talk to you, alright?!

You think I'm going to hurt Kay, you call me names, you don't let me be a part of you!

[He steps back, flicking his wings again. Poor PJ picked the worst moment. His careful, collected calm is shattering.]

You didn't do this to the others! What am I supposed to think? You're all... you all have each other, and what do I have? You push me aside!

[And before he can stop himself, the root of the problem just... comes out.]

And everyone who does care for me keeps vanishing!

[Oh, he's just going to cut you off there, Kagerou.]

I thought that! I've heard how you're taking care of her, and...I believe you! And I thought we had this talk, you're part of our team now, right?

[He hasn't outwardly stated that he appreciates it, but that's more PJ's pride than anything.]

I didn't do it to the others because they're not NEW. I used to pick on Doriko all the time!

[But he shuts up really quick.]

What do you mean.

I'm not part of your team! I'm never going to be! I'm always going to be an outsider, aren't I?

[Shouting at him -- just shouting sort of makes things begin to feel less suffocating.]

You pick on them too? All of them?

[He clams up, abruptly. His hands curl into fists, turning his head away.]

... You heard me.

I never said that!!

[He's getting real peeved at Kagerou putting words in his mouth at this point.]

What do you mean?! Who vanished?!

You don't have to! None of you do! You know it's true, you all act like it. You keep everything to yourselves! You won't tell me anything, even if I ask!

[Misplaced frustration? Yep. Precisely what it is.]

Perceptor! Soundwave! And now... Vandal acts as if she's lied to me!

All I have is Kay and how long before I lose her!

[That is... suddenly a very real concern of his. He'd never thought he'd lose friends like this. What's to stop him from losing family too?]

[What good is everything he's done if he can't keep people from disappearing?]

Hey, hey hey!! I'm just as in the dark about things as you are!!

[It was true. Aside from small snippets from McCrane... well, anything Gunmax did was beyond him.

PJ didn't recognize any of those names...but he quiets down. A person missing is a person missing.]

Oi! Don't tempt fate, Kagerou.

If they're...really someone special...they won't ever leave you.

[Sadly enough, he knows this.]

No, you're not. You have your place. I don't. I don't have one anywhere, and you're all making it clear.

[But somehow, the constant arguing is... tiring. It's wearing down the anger and the bottled frustration.]

[The reassurance earns a sharp scoff.]

... They already have. They walked out. That's how it works.

[Unconsciously, he's settled his arms around himself, as if he's cold. One hand is gripping the gylph on his arm. Tight enough to make the metal creak.]

They left. They just... walked away and I couldn't do anything. And it hurts.

LOOK. LOOK AT ME.

[In an act of...rashness, he grabs Kagerou by the shoulders and shoves him. His grip remains, as if giving a shake to get his head together.]

Do you want on our team or not?! If you don't, SAY IT. Because I'm only gonna offer my hand out once.

[His hand is held out for a handshake, green eyes boring into him.]

The choice is YOURS, Kagerou.

...

So that's how you're going to look at Kay now? As someone who's just going to leave you?

[He almost snarls something, almost shoves him back -- he doesn't want Power Joe touching him, or shouting at him, or--]

[He stops. And he stares. Intakes are cycling, as if he's breathing hard. He looks down at that hand as if it's going to bite him.]

[He wants a place. He wants to feel as if he has a purpose again. He wants it so badly it's driven him to this shouting, bickering, broken point.]

... It's that easy for you? You're... you can accept me? As easily as a handshake?

...

[He looks away.]

She's my family. Losing her... I... No, that isn't how I'll look at her. But it's a fear, all the same.

[The hand doesn't move, and PJ looks more serious than he has been since he got here. His mouth doesn't twitch, his eyes don't divert. All that's there is the hand extended.]

If you get punched in the face, it hurts, right?

[Just answer the question, Kagerou.]

It's okay to be scared, Kagebird. But don't let it stop you from doing what's important, got it?

[He looks down at the hand again, and ends up staring at it, rather than answering, for a few long moments.]

... Yes?

[What does that have to do with anything?]

[His grip tightens around his Glyph.]

I tried. It hasn't seemed to do any good. Even back home... all it did was separate me from him.

What do you advise someone does, then?

[And just then, his face lightens up. And so does his voice.]

Then shake my hand before I punch you in the face, Kagebird.

[It's a lighthearted tease.]

I wouldn't ask me for advice, okay? I'm not sure how to deal with this kind of stuff. But if you stop acting all rogue, maybe I'll help you.

[He blinks, surprised. And then looks down at Power Joe's hand again. He takes it.]

[Is it really as simple as this?]

You would miss. I'm too tall.

[His fingers curl around the other's hand.]

Acting... rogue?

[When the hand is taken, PJ smirks that same asshole smirk he's pretty much coined.]

Not THAT tall, Kagebird.

[But that hold is kept for a moment longer.]

I mean I don't want you thinking you HAVE to be alone for all this, yeah?

Taller than you are.

[But it's said with genuine calm. Not his usual forced mask.]

I can't help feeling that way, at times.

Only cause you and Shadowmaru need the extra plating for all your forms. How many does he even have now?

[Mary Sue.]

Look, we just need time to adjust. We were that way with Drill Boy too. And I bet if you asked Deckerd about it...he'd say the same about us.

The jet. The wolf. The car. And himself.

[He doesn't mention the tank. As far as he knows, it was just their secret.]

Mm. Deckerd isn't here to ask any longer.

So four...

[PJ probably doesn't remember the Tank anyway. That was more of a Shadowmaru only thing]

Well...he could come back. I've heard it happens...

... He has the potential for much more. If he tries. [His expression actually seems to flicker into a smile.] He's perfect, after all.

[Then he shakes his head.]

I haven't seen it.

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