[3rd Soul] [video]

[soundmind]

I think--

[Well, hello, Genessia, you done being nutso? If not, too bad, because Maka is here anyway rolling a ring back and forth on what looks to be a desk. Since when does she have a ring? Who knows, she wears gloves mostly so how would anyone know. What's she thinking? About that--]

I'm getting rusty doing all this hanging back stuff, I haven't fought with a weapon or even had a spar in a while. Guess I don't make much time for it with work.

[A pause.]

Bah, I'm just making excuses, I'm starting to sound as lazy as Soul. Anybody know about a place where weapons can be bought or something like that?

[Yep, that's...that's definitely a thing.]

Comments

[soundmind]

Yes...I even got to know one of my coworkers a little, her name's Yuuki. Though I guess with all this stuff about Papa and Stein I haven't been socializing much.

[symmetrophile]

You shouldn't let them get to you.

[Yes, that's her father, and yes, that's their teacher (eventually), but to go so far as to stop socializing?

...Then again, he knows what it's like to be so crippled by self-loathing that he can scarcely bring himself to take a step out of his front door. And that was just for leaving a toothbrush tilted to the left instead of standing straight up in its cup when he got ready for class!]

I'll do what I can for Stein.

[soundmind]

[Anxiety, worrying, feeling trapped.

It strangles her, not just keeps her from leaving her own house. Sometimes she can leave, but she's only going through the motions--half there, half shut off. Though she's gotten very good at pretending everything's all right and not showing her negative emotions, Maka still excuses herself very quickly and ends up isolating herself.]

Don't...don't take it all on yourself, remember I'm still here if you need back up.

[symmetrophile]

Ever dependable. Of course I will, Maka.

[In some situations, having two people with a tendency to be pessimistic about themselves and reclusive (or just outright obsessive) is a terrible recipe for a codependent downward spiral of enabling bad habits.

On the other hand, Kid's as liable to haul Maka out of the house as she is of him when things need to get done. For all their baggage, they've got their crap together for the most part. For teenagers, anyway.]

Shall we promise each other to communicate better, then?

[Kid no don't offer your pinky that's silly JUST BECAUSE YOU SAW THE SISTERS DOING IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NORMAL]

[soundmind]

...[Is...is he offering to pinky swear on it?

That's so endearing, how can my god be this cute??

Maka reaches out, tentatively, and returns the gesture. Ahh--his hands are cold but that's not the point Maka shut up

This is weird but she's smiling anyway so she doesn't put her friend off.]

You don't even have to ask.

[symmetrophile]

[Satisfied with this, Kid nods at her, smiling thinly.]

Very good. I had better leave you to it--

[At this, the reaper's attention wanders:]

I think you've received a number of messages while we've been talking, and I don't mean to monopolize on your time.

[soundmind]

Oh, stop it, you're not monopolizing my time--I've got more of it than I know what to do with most of the time. It's driving me crazy.

[But then again he'll need to reacquaint himself with his room, make the necessary adjustments, so she'll stop monopolizing his time in the conversation.]

By the way, someone offered to help make a new weapon for me. Do you want me to ask her if guns can be made, too?

[symmetrophile]

Hmm...

Yes. I'm not sure if it's possible to find a suitable replacement for our Weapons, but I'll be more comfortable with a less conspicuous way of defending myself or our friends.

[You say that like unleashing awesome reaper powers in public might be a bad thing! Who doesn't like causing a little widespread panic now and then?!]

If only there was a way to fire a quantity of my soul's wavelength, I could control the risk of unnecessary force.

[Hey, he's a god of death, but doesn't want to go accidentally killing someone.]

[soundmind]

You never know, there are a lot of different people from different worlds here, maybe they'd understand the concept of our weapons' power being based on our souls.

[symmetrophile]

[That's a pleased noise Kid makes.]

That would be splendid. Of course, I imagine such a request could not be fulfilled without cost.

[Which means he needs to raise some money.]

Something else I'll look into.

[soundmind]

Nah, just bat your eyes a couple of times and that would cover the charges.

[...God, that's the kind of joke she'd make at SOUL, not Kid, she realizes this a little too late.]

Well...[he wouldn't "get" it anyway.] I'll handle it. And I'll stop bugging you.

[As in...right now. Standing aside so he can go through now.]

[symmetrophile]

[Yeeeeep, that blank stare and stoic blink says volumes full of 'huh?'.

Kid doesn't get much opportunity to puzzle over what it means, because she's stepping aside to permit him passage through the apartment.]

I appreciate it. Good night, Maka.

[He knows his way to his room! He might spend a few hours dusting it, though.]