ceiling_cat | [02 | video, Japanese]

[Yeah, that cut-off little snap! noise might've been a shock, but it's a little hard to tell from the unruffled Japanese drawl as the video comes on to show a section of wall splashed with brightly colored graffiti art. The image pans over a tree dripping red and yellow, leaves swirling into a blue cloud, fish leaping over crosses that cast writhing shadows that bleed into a riotous nebula of green and gold. A few small drifts of snow have collected at the bottom edge of the wall.]

Just so ya know for the next couple days: Caution, wet paint. Anybody wanna name another spot around here that needs spicin' up?

[The video feed pans back to Hanekoma's grinning face, looking a little worse for wear without eyebrows and stubble noticeably patchier than usual.]

Speakin' of things that could use work... hey Alpha, you got a roaster in that coffee shop, and can I borrow it for a batch or two?

Anybody wants to talk me into trading some coffee beans for brewin' or sproutin', just make an offer.

[ooc; open for commentlogs if anyone happens to be walking by Latimir; Hanekoma's mural is on the dilapidated building next door.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

["Wonder if"? Wonder if what? Joshua opened his mouth to ask but caught himself as he recognized the hook.]

[Nope, not playing. He slipped his hands in his pockets and shifted his weight, barely feeling the cold.]

Something is better than nothing. But it appears I have my phone to entertain me, again, which may keep me distracted for a bit.

[Joshua, for the record, really really hated talking around things when it wasn't on his own terms.]

[Hook? Nah, no hooks here; Hanekoma stored the idea away safely for later exploration. Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise.]

Yeah, you got your charger back too, right? [He chuckled, glancing back at the wall - nah. Looked good the way it was. No point fussing past the point of diminishing return.]

Ya know, Joshua, I'm not gonna bite your head off.

[Nail on the head.]

If I appear to be quivering in fear, I must be misrepresenting myself.

[Hanekoma shook his head, corner of his mouth crooked up.]

Wouldn't say quivering. Twitching a bit, maybe....

[He crouched, wrapping his arms around the box of paints. Heavy enough to need lifting with the knees. At least he still remembered how.]

I'm not thrilled about it, but can't complain. I did tell ya to talk to him.

[Well, there went that vindictive excuse. Having nothing to say in response, slightly disarmed, Joshua merely watched him neutrally.]

Wanna come inside? I'm gonna lose a toe at this rate, and those grow back slower than eyebrows.

[Without watching Joshua, he started towards the apartment building.]

[He followed, abruptly in Aloof mode and almost feeling coddled, which left a bad taste in his mouth.]

Why not?

[The psychic gesture of holding the door open just as they reached it was automatic and offhand.]

Hey, thanks.

[Hanekoma edged through the door and headed for the staircase, whistling a folk tune.]

So, has Phones turned his music off since he got that charger, or is he still gettin' over the withdrawal?

[He chuckled, light and amused and letting Joshua change the subject if he wanted.]

[A change in subject would be wonderful. Too bad Joshua didn't have one.]

I've no idea, but I might have a guess.

[Hanekoma managed - barely - not to laugh. And now Joshua was defensive. Was there really much of a change there, though?]

I'm guessin' he might have turned it off to sleep... but only maybe.

[...This conversation was going in that odd direction why, exactly?]

I've never thought it necessary to think about it, really.

Fine, well, you pick the topic then, J.

[Hanekoma rolled his eyes, getting the door at the top of the stairs open with a complicated little elbow-and-heel maneuver.]

[Cranky because Joshua wouldn't let him psychoanalyze him? Reeeeal classy, Sanae. The drawling deadpan was intentionally obvious.]

Some weather we're having.

[More like, exasperated because Joshua refused to accept anything at face value. Maybe it was half his fault, because how often did he say anything at face value? But the other half, now that was definitely Josh's. There was only one mind-reader here right now, and willful misinterpretation wasn't his usual line.]

Nice and seasonal.

[No, no. Joshua was fairly sure it was all Hanekoma's fault.]

A refreshing change.

[Only because Joshua's defenses were a mile high and topped with boiling oil.]

Oh, I wouldn't say that. It was snowin' not long before I left, after all....

[Joshua would not, Hanekoma thought rather loudly, get much out of him. He'd said what he had to say, and if there was some other topic weighing on Joshua's mind... well, the Composer was going to have to bring it up. Tough.]

[If he wasn't going to get a lecture about rules and the... other thing... wasn't going to be addressed, then he had nothing else to say.]

Seems it might be sticking around longer than the other time, though, so you may be in trouble if you insist on going outside in those sandals of yours.

........

That being said, I'm happy to see you've gotten a decent opportunity for a creative outlet. That's really the only reason I stopped by to chat.

[Hanekoma raised his eyebrows, shrugging.]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to get somethin' warm for my feet if this goes on much longer.

...I'd offer to trade ya some paper and pencils, but I don't think they'd stay entertainin' for long.

Don't waste them on the uninspired, Sanae. I've managed till now, so I can keep managing.

Well, I won't mess with what works. See ya, J.

[He shifted the box to prop it against the wall, opening his apartment door and vanishing inside.]

[And that was Joshua's clue to retreaaaaaaat, stalking back to the apartment and beelining for his room, shutting the door firmly.]

[And Neku, sprawled out on the couch with his headphones on and volume turned up, paused to blink at Joshua's closed door.]

J--Uh. ~~What just happened?~~

[02 | video, Japanese]

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