video post † 002 † 03-03-10

[slantedcross]

[He's utterly exhausted, after Asuka nightmares, noctaere, warehouses and turning twenty-six. The strain shows around his eyes and in his voice. As a result, he's more caustic than not, and isn't thinking in terms of people's (mainly Sena's, in this case) feelings.]

If you're still alive, call me.

I've spoken to Iris, Ken, and Alice since that--ordeal began, but that's it. I'd like to know who needs funeral arrangements made up before the week is out.

[Beat. Youji forgot to turn the Dreamberry off.]

I'm too old for this, this is not how I was expecting to spend my twenty-six--oh hell, it's still--[CLICK.]

Comments

[slantedcross.livejournal.com]

[Oh, for the love of--]

It's nothing, Alice. I meant it as a joke. Perhaps one in poor taste, but I was feeling short-tempered.

[Subject change!]

How are you and Basil doing? Are you safe?

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[She's sorry Youji!]

Yes... thank you. We're back home now.

[slantedcross.livejournal.com]

[asjkgkfgjer DON'T BE SORRY, Alice!]

I'm glad to hear that, and grateful to you for answering my call. I'm sorry Ken and I couldn't do more for you.

...it is nice being able to speak to each other properly, isn't it?

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

What do you mean? You both did so terribly much for me!

And yes, much nicer.

[slantedcross.livejournal.com]

Well, maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I still wish we could have done more. A fair lady such as yourself didn't really need to be stuck in that place.

It was odd. I'm not fluent in English by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd expect myself to understand a little bit. But all I could come up with were German and my mother tongue.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

You are a very brave gentleman Mr. Yo-gee. You and Mr. Ken both.

It's such a curious thing! I know at least some German as well and I knew you were saying it but it was like I didn't understand it. Which doesn't make sense at all! I at least knew some phrases! But how can one just forget such things?

[slantedcross.livejournal.com]

[Okay, this time, Youji just reaches over, grabs his hat off his bedside table, puts it on, and then doffs it with a flourish, Alice.]

We're most honored by your excellent praise, Miss Alice and Mr. Basil, and hope you'll see fit to call on us whenever you have need.

It really is. I suppose it might be because the German is fresher in my mind. I just finished a teaching job there. What other languages can you speak? Were you able to remember any others?

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[Giggles at Youji's gesture with the hat and gives a small curtsy.]

Well I know Basil and I are in very safe company then since there are such valiant men at our assistance.

Well, I'm relatively fluent in French I suppose, and I know a little German and very basic Latin. But that's about it. I no longer have language lessons so I have no real way of learning more of the languages.

[slantedcross.livejournal.com]

[Youji just smiles at that.]

I see. You're a very intelligent young lady, then. I'm a very old man and all I know is conversant German and English slang.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

I... father wanted to make sure I had a good grasp of knowledge. And don't you know Japanese?

[slantedcross.livejournal.com]

He's done very well, but you can't force someone to learn; they have to be inclined to it.

I didn't count Japanese because I didn't learn it, per se. It's my native language.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

Well learning it would make me a much more proper lady.

Takuuma is trying to teach me Japanese but I'm afraid I'm very poor at it.

[slantedcross.livejournal.com]

This is true. It'll broaden the spectrum of who you can reach out to.

Well, I'm told Japanese is a very difficult language to learn. Especially since the languages you started with are all somewhat related. Japan is much further away from those places, so our language developed differently.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

It's just like nothing I've ever heard before. But I only know phrases.

[slantedcross.livejournal.com]

Well, that's where everybody starts. It's still better than my English.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

I've never heard your English.