caughtinanetwork | [video] log 1

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[video] log 1

[A flurry of blurred images whip across the screen as the SFC's camera whirls around in a slender pair of hands, finally settling on the worn face of a young man, about 25 in appearance. His eyes are scanning something above the edge of the phone as he surveys his surroundings, his wet clothes giving off an attractive squelch as he moves. He brushes his dripping bangs off his forehead before turning his attention to the communicator.]

Video log one. Date... [Shinra lifts up his wrist and sighs at his now-useless waterlogged watch. That was a gift from Celty, too. He'd have to find a replacement once he got out of this place...if he got out of this place.] Let's go with day one.

I'm trapped in some kind of static bathysphere with no connection to the surface world. While my phone was damaged beyond repair at some point between being in Ikebukuro and...wherever this is, I found this star-shaped cell phone in my pocket that has some kind of connectivity to the rest of this place. I also still have my scalpel, which was nice of whoever landed me here. [He pulls the slim surgical tool out of his pocket and smiles fondly at it.]

If there's anyone out there who knows anything at all about the Black Rider, please contact me as soon as possible. It's of the utmost importance that I find out if she's okay or not.

...Additionally, if anyone knows where I am, [He turns the communicator and rotates in a slow circle, panning across several buildings and the shadowy outline of the Great Lamufao.] I'd appreciate the intel.

{video, text, action, whatever floats your boat! or should I say bubble...}

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[Zelda pauses in her silent communication with Shizuo to listen carefully. Those pointed ears of hers aren't just for looks.]

Yes, a horse. How strange...

[They should know better.

By the time that noise processes in their head, they are introduced to a newer and less questioning one--A knock on the door.

Celty is stiffly standing at the door, attempting to juggle her thoughts:

"Why did she knock?" "Well, it's rude not to knock." "Is he in there?" "Well, she saw Shizuo in the background, so she assumed..." "It will be embarrassing if he isn't there." "Really embarrassing."

Nevertheless, she waits.]

[Shizuo recognized the sound and walked to the door just as Celty knocked, figuring his best bet would be to open it and then back out of the way before Shinra's enthusiasm got the better of him. He did just that, pulling it open and standing clear of the doorway.]

Hey Celty.

[Shinra whips his head in the direction of the door as he hears a light knock, his poor heart beating itself senseless against his rib cage.

He just needs to calm down and play it cool, nothing to it. He's fine. He's not going to cry. Definitely not going to cry...

He closely follows Shizuo as he goes to open the door, his gait eager and frantic at the thought of the impending reunion. Shizuo's calm welcome is rather loudly interrupted as Shinra finally catches a glimpse of their visitor:]

CELTY!!

[Excuse Zelda, her ears are still ringing from Shinra's extremely enthusiastic greeting. The boy really needs some control when it comes to Celty.]

Hello, there. Sorry for the sudden call, there was someone here who really wanted to see you.

[She shakes her head a bit to clear the noise.]

[The Dullahan was just about to respond to the two, mentally preparing her excuse for showing up like this, but--

But--

She almost drops her phone at that scream.

Would Celty be crying if she had eyes? Would she be gawking at Shinra across the room? Would she be reacting at all?
Well, she was definitely feeling something. Celty immediately balled up her FIST and may her way towards the overly excited man with mentioned FIST.

Prepare your gut, Shinra. Impact in three, two...]

[That was right in Shizuo's ear, Shinra. He glares and thinks about how Shinra deserves to be hit for that, and if it weren't for Celty -

Celty who is about to punch Shinra. Well, if she is going to do it, there is no reason for Shizuo to bother. He moves away from the couple, so as to stay out of the way, and stands next to Zelda.]

Ah, words cannot begin to describe my unimaginable joy at seeing you again!

[Oh, Celty looks so upset over how long they were apart, how adorable.]

I was so worried about you, and I tried to find someone who knew you or where you were, and I was terrified I'd never see you again, which would make my life lose its meaning, but then I met Zelda and found Shizuo and-

[She's coming closer -- is she about to passionately embrace him as she confesses her undying love? What a beautifully romantic moment!]

-I'm...so glad...you're here...

[...Why is she drawing her fist back like that?]

[Zelda's going to step behind Shizuo in case Celty sends Shinra flying. With her fist pulled back like that, it's possible!]

[BAM!

Embrace that feeling Shinra. It should be familiar, shouldn't it?
She stands there for a moment, silent... At least until she pulls him into her own embrace. She might have forgotten the pain she just inflicted on the poor man, but she couldn't help it.

Believe it or not, she's really trembling at this point. Forgetful of the fact they aren't alone, she holds on.]

[This is somewhat awkward. Shizuo looks away as Celty hugs Shinra, not wanting to interrupt their moment by staring. Then he turns around to Zelda and whispers.]

Should we go?

[It's his place, but leaving makes more sense than imposing on their reunion.]

OOF!

[Ah, the all-too-familiar pain of Celty's slender knuckles colliding with his solar plexus. While he's still not convinced the act of violence was warranted, he really doesn't mind the stabbing sensation in his abdomen; that punch is as good as a kiss in his book.

A kiss that Celty follows up beautifully with a tender embrace. The room and the pain in his stomach fade away as he pulls the dullahan closer still, trusting the silence between them and the weight of his arms to take the place of anything he can possibly say.

Oh! She's...]

Shaking. You're shaking.

[His own voice sounds light and nervous.]

How silly of us, to make a huge scene like this.

[Zelda smiles fondly at the scene, watching for a little bit before turning to Shizuo and nodding in response. Yes, they should probably leave. She slips out the door quietly.]

[Shizuo followed Zelda out the door, closing it behind him with a soft click.]

[!!!!!!!!!!!!

Celty remembers their situation at the last moment.
Gently pushing Shinra away, she barely hears the door click.

Once again, like it's completely inevitable, silence hovers... Her mind suddenly seems too sensitive to have this situation thrown in her face, quite clumsy and unlike her collected self.

She would be taking advantage of this joyous occasion, but instead twiddles her thumbs. What should she say? She should go apologize to Shizuo? Well, they were kind enough to let them have a moment alone. There's that.
Finally, she reaches for the PDA and takes her time typing her message. Lifting it, the message glows:]

I was afraid I would never see you again.|

[It's only as he feels Celty's resistance that Shinra remembers their two spectators, looking up just in time to see the front door swing shut behind Shizuo.]

Ah well, I'm sure they'll find something to do.

[So now they're alone. His eyes wander back to the dullahan -- he could really spend hours just watching her and never lose his utter fascination for even the briefest second. A grin spreads across his face as he notices her fidgeting.

Is she really twiddling her thumbs? Oh, that's just too adorable.]

I was terrified of the same thing. Being able to hold you in my arms just now, to read a message from you on the phone I gave you, it raises my spirits higher than a bird caught in an updraft.

...That's not the right phrase, is it? Well, you probably get the gist of it.

[Celty's shoulders hunch up and lower to indicate a "sigh." With all this time, couldn't he figure out how to say something less corny?

No, no--She understands. She quietly takes his hand and holds it, giving it a reassuring squeeze. It's really him and he can say whatever he wants. Even if it is silly.
Which is always.]

Well, we're together now.|

[She cringes a little at that. Ahh...]

Then again, Shizuo must have told you about Vatheon?|

Yeah, we are -- and I plan to keep things that way, no matter what.

[His guilty smile at Celty's exasperation widens as she slips her cool fingers around his hand. There's something truly exhilarating about her touch that he can never ignore as he tightens his grip in turn.]

Yeah, I've gotten most of the basics, but there are still a lot of holes in my understanding. What I'm more interested in is you: tell me everything! How long have you been here? What have you been doing? Where are you staying? Have you met anyone interesting?

[...She didn't find other lovers in a moment of weakness, did she!?]

[Yikes! Already trying to catch up to every little detail... She pats him on the head. Like an excited puppy.]

I've been fine, just waited to see whether I would ever go home... or if you would show up.|

[The one she has spoken to the most has been Izaya. So, that's a big fat NO.
Honestly, there's this swelling feeling of "I told you so" in her head right now. How dare he try to fill her with doubts about--ugh. Shaking that thought cloud away.]

[He lets out a bright chuckle as Celty pets his head. She's been waiting for him! What an endlessly perfect creature she is.]

Well, I'm here now! And judging from the way things have been going, it doesn't look like we'll be making a return trip to Ikebukuro anytime soon.

[And maybe Celty can finally stop looking for her head and focus on her life with him. After all, there's no conceivable way it could have ended up in a place like this, right...?]

[She shakes her head.

Nope, it doesn't seem that way at all... Hopefully this place isn't cruel enough to separate the two just as they reunite.
And she has lingered in that thought before--But it's been long since that familiar "feeling" haunted her. Her head.

It isn't here. But she's... actually okay with that.]

Well, with our time here, we shouldn't hog Shizuo's home.|

[A new city - no, not even - a new universe where he and Celty are together, finally free from the shackles of his deceit and her yearning for her head.
Finally free to be happy with each other. Twenty years of pining and not-so-subtle hint-dropping, twenty years of a love bordering obsession, and he might have finally gained what he's wanted for so long: a life where Celty doesn't have her head to think about before him.
Maybe this place isn't so bad, after all.]

Ah, you're probably right. I'm sure he isn't too thrilled about us driving him out of his own house.

[His eyes dart towards the front door with a sheepish chuckle. It's probably better not to push their luck with Shizuo too much; he still has a few years before he's due for a reminder of how easily the bartender can break down a door.]

Did you have somewhere you wanted to go?

[Celty hoped Shinra wouldn't distract himself in her attention, as nearly impossible as it sounds. Vatheon is an odd place and she has the gut feeling another curse is around the corner. Waiting. That probably won't be a very enjoyable experience.

Unless he would actually enjoy that kind of thing.]

I'll take you back to my place.| [She causally straightens her helmet and fiddles with her phone. Impersonal like behavior, yes, but she truly is excited and raring to go. Yet, she doesn't seem to notice the smoke from crawling out out helmet. It begins to gather into a large cloud over her head.

Oh, geez.]

Our place, I mean. Are you ready to go?|

[Shinra watches with a wry smile as smoky wisps begin to slip past the edges of Celty's helmet, wafting upwards with nervous, dancing movements. Try as she might to remain casual -- and heavens knows, it's adorable how hard she tries -- there's really no way for her to keep her true feelings a secret from Shinra; he knows her 'face' far too well.]

'Ready to go'? My sole purpose for existing has been, and always will be, to accompany you to the ends of the earth if you so desire. Lead the way and I will loyally follow without a second thought!

[Chivalrous words aside, an uplifting sensation fills Shinra's chest at the mention of their place. He'd almost begun to fear that, with all the time apart, she'd have found a better roommate to replace him.
How foolish of him - there's no way a love as strong as theirs could have been dampened by time or distance!]

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[video] log 1

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I'm going to go ahead and post to leave you two alone~

THAT'S RIGHT. gimme yo crib for some shinra lovin' :I

BOW CHICKA WOW WOW~ /shot

:U /detective feei on the case... succumbs to laziness

A for effort! xD

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This voucher can be exchanged for one punch to Zay's gut for taking so long to tag back.