video | 004

[thinhammer]

Hey! Does anyone know how to set off fireworks?

[ No context, no explanation, that's all you're getting unless you ask. It's early in the morning, but for once Naruto is wide awake; bright eyed and bushy tailed and full to bursting with animated ideas of what he's planning. Luckily for Naruto (unluckily for everyone else) Naruto isn't all that familiar with the community at large and therefore this request may appear quite a normal one.. There's just the small detail of Naruto's reckless personality that might ring alarm bells, and the fact that he hasn't an ounce of common sense. The way he's staring intently and excitedly into the camera might also be a little unsettling. ]

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private; video; threadjack

[mousquetaire]

Far be it from me to interrupt, but if you value your life, you won't buy from him.

[ You don't just commission a psychopath like Crane to build your explosives. What in God's name is the matter with you, boy? ]

He's a murderer who draws entertainment from the fear and pain of others. This is not the man you want to be building your bombs.

[thinhammer]

[ For a moment Naruto is mostly uncomfortable hearing this - he knows Crane has done bad things, but he's adamant that it doesn't make him a bad person... There's something good in there underneath all the blackness, Naruto is sure of it. ] They're not bombs, y'know, just fireworks. [ He says, as if that makes his idea completely harmless. In all honesty Naruto hadn't even considered his own mortality in any of this... not that he ever does.

A word catches him out, though, and he goes from defensive to.. worried. ]

... Murderer?

[mousquetaire]

[ Let's be honest: d'Artagnan has no experience of fireworks. To him, they're just another form of explosion. ]

In his hands, you won't be able to trust what they are.

He's the man behind the attack at the swear-in, some months ago. He designed a chemical that made whoever breathed it see terrible things. It caused mass panic, multiple deaths, many more injuries.

These crimes are widely known. Don't take my word for it; ask anyone who's been here during the last six months. We all know what he is.

i'm super late and super sorry

[thinhammer]

[ He's been told of what happened at that particular swear in - albeit a little delayed as by the time he was informed he'd already made firm contact with Crane again - but hearing it a second time doesn't make it go down any easier. It puts him in an uncomfortable position to say the least; that much is visible with the way he kind of squirms where he sits. ]

I get it, I know what he did was messed up and I'm not forgivin' him for that. That stuff hurt my friends too, y'know. [ He hadn't been told there was murder, though. That kinda worries him a little more than he'd like to admit. He needs to do some thinking on this. ] He's not gonna put anyone else in danger, not as long as I can help it. [ He pauses, looks like he's trying to pick his words carefully. ] I.. didn't know there was actually killin' is all.

[mousquetaire]

People died that day. If you didn't know it then, you do now.

[ If d'Artagnan has noticed Naruto's discomfort, it doesn't mean him stop or ease up. Possibly, discomfort is what he was searching for. ]

This isn't about forgiving Crane. It's about trusting him to sell you something of his own invention, when you've seen the kind of thing he invents.

I'm warning you to take care. Remember who it is you're dealing with.

[thinhammer]

I ain't dumb, I'll be careful, okay? [ Which is probably his way of saying thanks for the warning, but his manners aren't exactly top-notch. ]

I'm just givin' him a chance. Everyone deserves that. No-one's gonna get anywhere treatin' him like dirt, it's probably just gonna end up with more disasters.

[mousquetaire]

[ D'Artagnan's skin is too thick to worry about manners. He's too busy worrying about Naruto's future health. ]

Giving him a chance to mend his ways isn't the same as buying actual explosives that he's made.

Just be careful, that's all I ask. None of us can afford to forget what he's done.

[thinhammer]

Jeez, gramps, if I did buy 'em I wouldn't go puttin' anyone in danger is what I'm sayin'! He's probably gonna make me pay way too much even if I did want 'em. And I'm not convinced he won't make 'em weird just to mess with me, he's that kinda guy.

[ He's talking like Crane is planning to pull a harmless prank on him. He wafts his hands. ]

I won't, I won't, I swear. [ He taps the plate on his headband; apparently his equivalent of crossing his heart. ]

[mousquetaire]

[ D'Artagnan lets out a frustrated sigh, and thins his mouth at that gramps comment. He doesn't say anything, though. ]

Thank you, that's all I ask.

[ Pointing at the screen. ]

Just take care of yourself. Otherwise, enjoy playing with gunpowder. Try not to blow up anything that won't grow back.