caughtinanetwork | [one] video;

[ The video flips on, but it's obvious by the look on Crona's face- and the shoddy camerawork- that they don't exactly know what they are doing. The droopy-eyed teen purses their lips and furrows their brow, but not before a small, humanoid growth sprouts from their back, flailing about like its butt is on fire. ]

Crona! What the hell are you doing, you idiot?! Give me that!

No, Ragnarok, stop--

[ The tiny figure swings its tiny fists at the device, but not before pommeling the lilac-haired teen upside the head. ]

Shut up and give me that! You don't even know how to use it--

Neither do you!

You know what it's like being stuck with an idiot like you?! Like being stuck with a turd that won't flush!

That doesn't even make any sense. Besides, I was here first!

[ Crona whines, pushing back at Ragnarok, who is currently trying to pull and smash their face into various shapes. They finally manage to secure the device and keep it out of reach of the tiny Ragnarok. ]

Ugh, fine! But this is all your fault, you know! I know it is. And now we're stuck in this stupid, weird fishbowl under the ocean, soaking wet and with no idea how we got here and no idea how to get back! And I'm hungry!

I know! But it's not my fault. I-

[ They both notice a small, flashing light on the device, and realize it's already recording what was supposed to be an S.O.S. ]

See?! See?! It's been recording this entire time! Who knows who's looking at your ugly mug right now?! And they saw you whining and making such a fool of yourself, too! Gupipipipipi!

[ Crona squeaks. ]

What?! No! I don't want to be on the internet, I don't know how to deal with being an internet celebrity!

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[In fact, one full day, plus the time it takes for a certain, high-emotional-octane run-in with a certain Meister and mutual acquaintance, plus get himself situated with a fresh set of clothing...

There's a reaper coming to call on Crona, provided they're indeed tucked away in a corner of Maka's room, waiting patiently until he is certain the other residents are not inside.

In other words, stalking like a creeper, and now he's finally in the doorway, rapping his knuckles gently against the threshold, a mere formality.

It's dangerous, having Crona in here, with all these other people. But he trusts in Maka's Soul Perception, and in the irrefutable fact that she would not unnecessarily endanger her friends.]

[ The corner of Maka's room is exactly where Crona is, hugging a pillow and moping about quietly. Ragnarok seems to have retreated for the time being, sleeping away peacefully inside his Meister's veins. They're both resting a bit easier in Vatheon, even after a single day. After all, it's somewhat peaceful here, Crona's surrounded by people Maka calls friend, and there's no sign of Lady Medusa anywhere. They might even like this place better than Shibusen.

However, old habits die hard, so Crona's made their home in the corner of Maka's room. They've refused to come out for the most part, still trying to come to terms with it all. It's been quite a shock! Especially when you're Crona, being as how the sheltered teen has practically known nothing but dark rooms their entire life.

The knocking at the door causes them to look up with a start. ]

...!

[ Ah. It's Lord Death's son, the shinigami. What's he doing here? ]

[It's remarkable, the difference between the Crona of mere moments before his arrival here, and the Crona huddled in the corner. A palpable change, even in the absence of the Kishin's madness. This is surely the same Crona who had been with them at Shibusen.

But he needed to be sure Crona posed them no immediate danger. If it is really only a matter of keeping them away from Medusa, then maybe...

Maybe Father wouldn't have to issue such an order to the Spartoi at all.

Assuming the coolly pleasant demeanor acceptable for greeting other acquaintances from the Academy, Kid places his hands into his pockets.]

So you're here after all. How long have you been sitting here by yourself?

[ Crona sucks in a sharp breath. Was he talking to them? Of course he was talking to them, they're the only other person in the room. At least it's just Kid, though, and not one of the many new faces Crona's encountered in their new home. There's at least some familiarity there. ]

I don't know. A couple hours, maybe? I lost track of time.

[ What are measurements of a temporal nature and how does one deal with them? ]

[Not that they've spoken much -- in fact, in his most recent recollection, there was not a single student at Shibusen who had grown as close to Crona as Maka herself had.]

I see. Soul was cooking, earlier. Did you get to try anything?

[If he had been asked two days ago if he'd be engaging in this kind of small talk with the one Death himself had sentenced to die, he would have called it a ridiculous prediction.

Yet here he was, dragging a chair over.]

[ Being from a point much earlier than anyone else from their world, Crona is blissfully unaware of their future self's sentencing. They haven't even met up with the revived Medusa and betrayed Shibusen yet. ]

No. [ Crona's fingers dig into the pillow they've been cradling to their chest. ] There are too many people in this house. I don't like being around so many different people I don't know.

[ Ragnarok, who made it a habit of letting everyone know just how much he hated them, popped out from Crona's back and stuck his tongue out at Kid. ]

[One leg crosses over the other, and, to preserve his personal sense of symmetry, the arm on the opposite side crosses over the other.]

It's not nearly as many as at the Academy, and I'm sure they'll welcome you just the same.

[He wrinkles his nose a little, displeased by Ragnarok's little display, but makes every effort to ignore him. It's a little ruined by the fact that he's already acknowledged him.]

We may be here a while, however, so take all the time you need.

[ Crona nods. That makes sense. The villa is nowhere near as big as the academy, and they got to the point where they could at least come out of a corner while they were there. Crona just needs to give this place a chance. ]

Yeah, okay--

[ Ragnarok lifts himself up with his stubby little arms on his host's shoulder. ]

While Crona takes all the time in the world in this stupid corner, I'm wasting away! You should feed me.

[ He's hungry, but when is he not? Ragnarok is a veritable eating machine. Candy, Tsubaki's cooking, souls... he'll happily take any of it off of your hands! ]

[While it was really Maka who had been able to bring Crona out of their shell and may very well be the case at the villa, Kid wasn't above using this as a convenient excuse to remain in their presence, as he tried to determine the answers to his own, unvoiced questions. Whether Crona decided to stay pent up in the corner of Maka's room forever or not didn't concern him.

...Which is kind of cold, but he isn't the nurturing soul that Maka is. Besides, he prefers things to be orderly.]

There may be some leftovers in the kitchen. Why don't we go check? ...Crona?

[It's up to them, Ragnarok will have to learn to be content with the decisions of the one in control of their body. ...Ha ha, who is he kidding? His bullying will probably never stop being a thing.]

[one] video;

WOW LIKE A WHOLE DAY LATER...

PUNTS INTO THE SUNSET

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