[video]

[symmetrophile]

That's much better, but...

[So says a certain young man dressed in stark monochrome, dark hair interrupted by three parallel lines of white running along only one side of his head, as he regards what appears to be a colorful ball -- the sort of toy meant for felines to caper after, once catnip has been placed inside.

Residents of a certain villa may recognize their foyer.

It's looking significantly tidier, or rather like someone had artfully arranged but one side of it, and proceeded to arrange the other side in a spookily precise mirror image. Even various cat toys found scattered around the premises have been doled out to each corner of the foyer in a bilaterally symmetrical fashion.

Someone even went through the trouble of dusting and sweeping. It veritably sparkles. Death the Kid's hair is a little disheveled, in the way of one who had little choice but to let damp hair dry as it would.

Indeed, the young grim reaper had stood there in the plaza since yesterday afternoon waiting to drip-dry, unable to abide by the thought of moving around while his wet clothes insisted on sticking to him, horrifyingly askew. He has standards.]

What do I do? It's almost perfect, but I can't simply place this in one corner.

[This is sort of stressing him out.]

I'll just have to acquire another that matches this precisely! Residents of this house! Where is the nearest market?

[This, while addressing the starfish communicator held in the other hand, until the reaper's golden eyes dart a brief, distressed glance at his own creased (and still uncomfortably damp) suit.]

...No, I should first change into something suitable. But I can't just leave this unfinished!

[Ahh, he can't decide, what should he do? WHAT SHOULD HE DO??? At last, he decides to stow the catnip ball away, and black, crackling tendrils of skull-capped shadow spirits away the toy out of sight.]

First things first--where can I launder and dry my clothing? Don't delay in supplying in answer, this is essential, I'm filthy.

Comments

[video]

[spacecase]

...We have a...laundry room...and you can get clothes for free here, but...

[No, she can't pretend this is normal.]

--But oh my god, who are you and why are you in our house!?

[DID SOMEONE NOT LOCK THE DOOR...]

[video]

[symmetrophile]

For free? How is anyone to learn to value what they have if they don't have to pay for anything?

[Oh yeah. The fact that he's in the house should... probably be worth noting.]

Isn't it a little rude not to introduce yourself first? Very well. My name is Death the Kid.

[Like that's supposed to make this okay.]

action!!!

[toheirishuman]

[John didn't actually see Kid's video broadcast, so when he walked in the door, suffice it to say he was pretty well surprised. This was not what he was expecting to see first thing after coming home from his shift at the movie store. Not that he's really complaining. It's been forever since he's actually seen Kid, and while the two were never super close, any friend of Maka and Soul's is a friend of John's.]

Kid?! When did you get back!?

[We'll address the state of the foyer later, not that John will be particularly surprised by it.]

action!!!

[symmetrophile]

[John, are you aware of that particularly cold sort of look when a complete stranger regards someone they don't know, nor particularly care for what they behold?

Because that's exactly how Kid is looking at John.

(More specifically, at the emblem on his blue godtier pajamas.)]

'Get back'..?

[That seems to snap him out of his disapproving reverie; his eyebrows lift.]

This must be the 'returning foreigners' phenomenon I've heard of. Who are you?

[action]

[heartandsoul]

[Guess who didn't bother looking at the network today? Maka has better things to do, honestly!

Not accidentally stepping on one of Kuro's toys when she walks in with the groceries, however, is sort of a clue that something's different.]

Eh?

[Who cleaned up? Nobody else was home when she left.]

Hello? Hellooooo? Rin, is that you?

[...Wow, Maka, that was dumb. Why would Rin be cleaning up? Somehow she can't do anything but stand like an idiot in the entrance way calling for people that aren't there.]

John? Rose?

[action]

[symmetrophile]

So you've finally returned.

[The silhouette marked out by the light coming in through the hallway connected to the foyer is unmistakable, the gold eyes of that figure shining eerily across that empty space towards the girl.]

I've been waiting, Maka.

[This is the moment when some asshole would cut to a commercial break.

Kid simply steps forward, pulling his hands from his pockets.]

You'd do best to just hand that over and let me put it away for you.

video;

[keepsthefire]

[Well this wasn't what Rin was expecting to see when he turned on his SFC during break. Sure they've been picking up a lot of new comers lately, but usually Maka informs him of them first.]

... Uh who are you and what the hell are you doin' in my house?

video;

[symmetrophile]

Death the Kid, and you can thank me later. The fact is, I'm here in pursuit of someone.

[And with the matter of the catnip ball presently taken care of (or at least, put away for later), this intruder has the nerve to appear proud of himself.]

[video]

[brbomnomsouls]

[...Typical Kid.]

I can take you to the market later, okay? Sheesh, anyone would think that the world was ending the way you're fussing over things.

[video]

[symmetrophile]

What's stopping us from making the trip presently?

[He wants to go noooooow. You don't understand how incredibly uncomfortable being stuck in the same damp clothes for a full day is--unless you're in the same boat yourself, that is.]

...Wait, no. If I were to leave now, I might lose the trail entirely.

[secondcoolest]

[ So. It's a typical day. Bon's done meditating for the afternoon and he's hungry. Which leads him to wandering from the kitchen to the stairs to head up when he stops.

Takes a few steps backwards.

And stares into the foyer. ]

What in the actual-- who the hell're you.

[symmetrophile]

[What are you looking at?

The stranger loitering in their foyer (read: obsessively rearranging) coolly regards Bon with an utter lack of shame for being caught trespassing (and not for the first time).]

Death the Kid. Don't worry, it's not you I'm after. Please go about your business.

[As if anyone could just go about their business after something so goddamn cryptic.]

video;

[lawesome]

[Hello, beautiful alien lady deathlawyer on your screen. So beautifully symmetrical too. Her signs, her horns her... oh god. that top. Two buttons on one side and none on the other. Oh god.]

That is truly a very important conundrum you have there, little alien girl.

[What, that is a girl right? Ugh. Aliens. So hard to figure out.]

Have you thought about cutting the little ball precisely down the middle?

video;

[symmetrophile]

Oh.

[That strangely even skin tone, those brightly colored, angular lenses. Those horns, so elegantly even..! What a picture of sublime perfection! Why, he could even forgive the mistake, for such a magnificently symmetrical creat--

...Wait. What--why are there only two buttons. WHY ARE THERE ONLY TWO BUTTONS ON ONE SIDE.]

Beg your pardon, I'm a man, and a reaper at that.

I would recommend you keep that in mind, but-- [Augh, those impeccably angled horns!] --nevermind all that, it must be two of these. Halving it simply would not do.

action

[snagglefang]

[... Where did his toy go?

Kuro is a bit stunned, staring up at Kid with wide eyes.

'Who are you and what did you do to my toy?' Priorities, after all. He pads over and taps a paw against Kid's shoe.]

action

[symmetrophile]

[A regular cat is easy to miss if you're unwary.

One sporting two tails and little horn-like ridges on its head who can pipe up with actual words tidily interrupting your thoughts? A lot less so; Kid's initial gasp of approval at the sight is spoiled, somewhat, by the mismatched band of white around one front leg.

He does, however, take to a knee to observe Kuro more closely.]

Did you just..? [No doubt about it, that was a voice, but not one registered by his ears. He won't be producing the missing toy, not yet.] What an intriguing creature.

video;

[fulmination]

_{[LET'S ADDRESS THE MORE IMPORTANT PART FIRST...]}

There should be a dry cleaner in the middle of town. The owner hasn't been feeling well lately so her brother has been handling most of the business while she recovers, though I highly recommend them; they've taken care of plenty of my suits in the past and they're... Well. <sub>[He gestures to his own suit--nearly all of it white.]

[A beat.]</sub>

There are also a few stores around the dry cleaners should you wish to pick up something else while you wait. I could give you directions to a few of my preferred ones if you like, Mister...?

video;

[symmetrophile]

[Oh.

Oh, yes. Impeccable fashion sense. Not too shabby, sir. And being one so prone to wearing black and white himself, he knows exactly how challenging it can be to keep white looking so pristine.]

Death the Kid. And who do I thank for this information?

[theinfamous1412]

You going to a funeral?

[symmetrophile]

[That's worth a little raise of both eyebrows.]

None that I'm aware.

[VIDEO]

[bethehugejerk]

What kind of stupid asshole can't figure out that the fucking villa he's standing in might have laundering devices and towels? Are you really that stunted in the pan?

[Hi, Kid. Here's a grey-skinned teenager with horns, and horrendously messy hair.]

Then again, if you've gone to the trouble of fussing over arranging things in some freakish mirror of themselves to the extent you can't just drop the ball where it is, the answer is probably a deafening yes, you are that stunted.

[VIDEO]

[symmetrophile]

[The kind of privileged richkid who has everything, that kind of stupid asshole.

The kind who, upon beholding another of these strange, gray-skinned 'trolls', endures the sort of internal strife that results in a confusing vacillation between mortally offended bristling and pleased intrigue.

Horns, evenly spaced, of equal size (diminutive). Pleasing.

Oh god, that hair.

Oh god, that attitude.]

That's a fine thing coming from a mannerless dog who can't figure their way around a comb!

[video]

[stayb100ponyboy]

You're new here, aren't you?

[video] 1/??

[symmetrophile]

Yes, albeit not for the first time, I hear--

[Video]

[shippingmath]

[Certainly the thing Kid wants to see right now is more asymmetry, right? Because Dirk's hair is styled to one side, and the hat symbol on his shirt isn't symmetrical, either. In fact, about the only thing he's wearing that is are his shades.]

If you can't put it down on either side, then just put it in the center. It's hardly important, anyway.

As for the laundry, you could have gotten new clothes in the plaza.

[Video]

[symmetrophile]

I'm inclined to agree with you, but that's a tripping hazard.

[So matter-of-fact. Organizing a room properly is serious fucking business, Dirk.

Some time has passed since, though; he's had a shower and a change of clothing (and guess what? STILL BLACK AND WHITE) in the meantime, and with this, calm and sanity has been restored.

Er, for the most part. Those sunglasses are ridiculous, but their inherent symmetry does not go unappreciated, either.]

As for the cat toy, I'll simply get another. Are you another resident here?

[video]

[halfhearted]

[Like a little symmetry? Meet some kid in a helmet and was symmetrical so long as he kept the helmet on.]

Wouldn't that mean leaving the task incomplete? What if someone came home to see it wasn't finished?

[video]

[symmetrophile]

[You magnificent troll.

Wow. That costume may be... a little much. But way to rock that bilateral symmetry.

Although it looks a lot like some character in a child's comic book. Missing something. Maybe a dramatic cape.]

On the contrary, I think only the resident cat will notice.

Voice

[has_too_many_moles]

.... Another guest at the Villa?

*sighs* Hello, my name is Yukio Okumura.

If you can wait for ten minutes I can show you to the market personal. I have a few items to gather myself.

Video;

[symmetrophile]

[Some time later, but the change is readily apparent; Kid's improved mood and reduced stress have much to thank in a shower, fresh clothes, and puttering around in one of the villa's rooms that is already pleasingly symmetrical -- his own, actually, although he doesn't recognize it.]

Okumura. Interesting that there would be two. Unless you happen to be related to Rin?

[That part about the market can wait.]

[Video]

[socryptidshescryptic]

Couldn't you have put it right in the middle?

[An interesting quirk, but it seems to Sarah like there are ways around it.]

[Video]

[symmetrophile]

While that would, without a doubt, fulfill the aesthetic requirements--

[Have you ever met anyone so goddamn serious about the placement of a cat toy? Meet Death the Kid, grim reaper and simply crazy about bilateral symmetry. His is a peculiar mind, cuckoo, tread with some caution.]

--but let's not fool ourselves, that would pose a tripping hazard.

[SAFETY FIRST.]