...sunflower seeds don't sprout in people's palms. [It's a weak argument, something to be contradictory but he absolutely gets what Katsura's saying. Even if they have no idea what to do with CERES after they took it back, it would at least be theirs to figure it out. Mochi swipes a paw at Katsura the moment he lets up but Hiro's quiet and solemn for a moment.]
Tell me more about the captive. If she's someone who could help us, we should start learning more about her. Anything's better than us just sitting here going along with whatever they want us to believe.
[This is literally the worst idea ever. Who let them meet. Who let Katsura plant ideas in Hiro's head and vice versa. Mochi's tail flicks, swatting Katsura in the face but Hiro doesn't notice.]
She is very hostile towards CERES, as are some of us. I think she could be a potential ally, but she should be treated with caution, as CERES is seeming to. She might be something very powerful.
A sleeping pill or injection. Something to make her unconscious. An explosive of some kind— one that can move on it's own. These are just ideas that have been weighing on my m—
[ there is a paw hitting him in the face. It probably hurt, but he doesn't care. Instantly, his attention diverts: ]
M-Mochi-dono— are you playing? I felt your paw pads... uwahhh, they're so cute. [ instantly, he goes straight for the paws, pressing one of them to see Mochi's little toes spread apart.
also why is he using such a respectful honorific for a cat. ]
[Mochi doesn't seem to care at this point and it's really only because at least Katsura's not trying to shove rocketboots on his feet like a certain boy genius. In fact, the cat's starting to purr and let Katsura squish his paws.
Hiro, on the other hand, lets out an exasperated sigh.]
Dude, focus. We're not using explosives but do you really think if we drugged her to knock her out she'd trust us any more than she trusts CERES?
It's not dude, it's Katsura. [ Sweet, adorable purring... Zura's face is as red as can be at this rate. He can't do this. But he's going to try. Finally he pulls away completely from Mochi and stays seated to himself.
He sounds like he is about to burst any moment. ]
Explo..sives, aaah, well— [ he can hear the purring ... ] It-It's what I am accustomed to working with.. ah, you know.. f-for my line of work.
It's knock her out, or risk ourselves, as we don't... [ he looks at Mochi then focuses back on Hiro. Katsura flinches his eyes shut. This is really the task. ]
—We don't know how powerful she is, but considering h.. how she was under such surveillance, I imagine she is strong in some ways.
[Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purrpurrpurr. Hiro's about to comment on the "dude" thing when Katsura's words catch up to him though and he stops, lifting an eyebrow even higher.]
You never actually really specified what it is you do anyway. [What kind of line of work involves a lot of explosives?] Maybe that's true, but that doesn't answer why CERES knows enough about her to lock her up in the first place. Maybe she's actually not that dangerous and she's just...I don't know, pretending to be to scare them?
[Mochi hops off of the back of the couch and straight into Katsura's lap. Please pet him.]
[ Katsura smiles. He genuinely smiles. It is probably the truest and softest expression Hiro has seen yet. Zura's face always looked stern and serious; but here, he looks absolutely delighted. Katsura swallows hard, then provides Mochi with gentle strokes along his back. ]
H-Haaaaaah.
Aaaah. [ he looks at Hiro, pulling his stoic look again. ] I do normal civilian things. Completely normal. I wake up, I don't promote terrorism, I go to work.. a... salesman.. then I go to the temple and pray, I don't do terrorist things, I come home to a partner— we watch commercials— I'm not a terrorist— and go forth to sell things the next day! Hahahaa.. ah—
[ AHEM. ]
I have a feeling she and CERES have a long, terrible past together. CERES is keeping it secret from us for a certain reason.
[That's...something. A whole lot of not-terrorist sort of things and Hiro eventually settles on a derisive snort. Mochi purrs, totally content to let Katsura keep petting him while Hiro slowly shakes his head.]
Completely normal, non-terrorist things. Got it. I guess that makes sense. [You know. If he believed that at all.]
If it's a secret then I want to find out. And I'm going to find out. I'll share anything I learn from them, too.
[ Katsura suddenly gives Hiro a thumbs up. ] Excellent! We are partners in this quest that we have. I'm glad I was able to warn such a smart and passionate youth-person.
I have faith in you.. even though you are young. [ Young people can do the most amazing things. Zura, of all people, knows that. ]
I cannot promise these things.. but I will try my best. [ Katsura seems to gather himself up to move— was he actually leaving? With a wave over his shoulder, out he goes.... ...out the window again. ]
no subject
Tell me more about the captive. If she's someone who could help us, we should start learning more about her. Anything's better than us just sitting here going along with whatever they want us to believe.
[This is literally the worst idea ever. Who let them meet. Who let Katsura plant ideas in Hiro's head and vice versa. Mochi's tail flicks, swatting Katsura in the face but Hiro doesn't notice.]
1.2
A sleeping pill or injection. Something to make her unconscious. An explosive of some kind— one that can move on it's own. These are just ideas that have been weighing on my m—
2.2
Instantly, his attention diverts: ]
M-Mochi-dono— are you playing? I felt your paw pads... uwahhh, they're so cute.
[ instantly, he goes straight for the paws, pressing one of them to see Mochi's little toes spread apart.
also why is he using such a respectful honorific for a cat. ]
no subject
Hiro, on the other hand, lets out an exasperated sigh.]
Dude, focus. We're not using explosives but do you really think if we drugged her to knock her out she'd trust us any more than she trusts CERES?
no subject
[ Sweet, adorable purring... Zura's face is as red as can be at this rate. He can't do this. But he's going to try.
Finally he pulls away completely from Mochi and stays seated to himself.
He sounds like he is about to burst any moment. ]
Explo..sives, aaah, well— [ he can hear the purring ... ]
It-It's what I am accustomed to working with.. ah, you know.. f-for my line of work.
It's knock her out, or risk ourselves, as we don't... [ he looks at Mochi then focuses back on Hiro. Katsura flinches his eyes shut. This is really the task. ]
—We don't know how powerful she is, but considering h.. how she was under such surveillance, I imagine she is strong in some ways.
no subject
You never actually really specified what it is you do anyway. [What kind of line of work involves a lot of explosives?] Maybe that's true, but that doesn't answer why CERES knows enough about her to lock her up in the first place. Maybe she's actually not that dangerous and she's just...I don't know, pretending to be to scare them?
[Mochi hops off of the back of the couch and straight into Katsura's lap. Please pet him.]
no subject
H-Haaaaaah.
Aaaah. [ he looks at Hiro, pulling his stoic look again. ]
I do normal civilian things. Completely normal. I wake up, I don't promote terrorism, I go to work.. a... salesman.. then I go to the temple and pray, I don't do terrorist things, I come home to a partner— we watch commercials— I'm not a terrorist— and go forth to sell things the next day! Hahahaa.. ah—
[ AHEM. ]
I have a feeling she and CERES have a long, terrible past together.
CERES is keeping it secret from us for a certain reason.
no subject
Completely normal, non-terrorist things. Got it. I guess that makes sense. [You know. If he believed that at all.]
If it's a secret then I want to find out. And I'm going to find out. I'll share anything I learn from them, too.
no subject
Excellent! We are partners in this quest that we have. I'm glad I was able to warn such a smart and passionate youth-person.
I have faith in you.. even though you are young.
[ Young people can do the most amazing things.
Zura, of all people, knows that. ]
I will be checking in.
[
breaking in. ]no subject
Checking in's cool. Just...knock like a normal person next time, would ya? And don't steal my cat.
no subject
[ Katsura seems to gather himself up to move— was he actually leaving?
With a wave over his shoulder, out he goes....
...out the window again. ]