001 ✘ Video

[johakyu]

[A lanky figure looks down at the communicator in his lap, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth and twitching the thin mustache that lines his upper lip. Amusement dances behind dark and heavily-lidded, almond-shaped eyes.]

Some reception.

[He's referring, of course, to the military escort, too-verbose debriefing about the reason for his being brought here, the bipolar attitudes of the native civilians, and the unexpected offers for free beverages or sample-sized snacks from store owners. Ordinarily, the latter would have been refused—after all, he can just take what he wants if he wants it—but there Nobunaga is, a malt shake in one hand, some stuffed confection in the other...and what appears to be two gawky looking young boys reaching over his shoulders to grab at the treats, one with an absurdly crooked nose and the other with a rat's nest of curls atop his head.

Nobunaga chuckles as the pair make off with their faces stuffed, perhaps finding their boldness entertaining.]

Take it! [A shout over his left shoulder at their retreating backs.] Not like you kids didn't earn it, anyway.

[Hands free now, he picks up his communicator with one and lightly scratches at the stubble on his chin with the other.]

Weren't too keen on telling me how to use this thing until I offered 'em something in trade. Pretty smart. Hoping that there might be some more forthcoming people on this network, though.

[He shifts, the clink of something heavy at his feet sounding off against the cement.]

See, I'm looking for some friends of mine. [Is there something peculiar about the way that he says that, in the way the word "friend" rolls off his tongue? Or perhaps it's imagined. After all, he seems like a pleasant enough person, doesn't he? Calm, collected, smiling almost benignly...] Maybe you folks have heard of them?

[Someone has to have. There's no way such massive auras could be overlooked, right?]

One of 'em is a kind of prickly lady named Machi, she's one of the people I saw last before coming here, and the other... [His lips purse distastefully for a moment as he huffs and throws a glance off to the side.] ...a gaudy clown. Hisoka.

[That smile's back again, like it was never gone. A little lazy looking as he nods to the camera's watchful eye.]

Might be there's others, and since it's best not to postpone reunions between old friends, maybe you'll tell them for me that Nobunaga's looking for them.

Comments

vidya

[cephalothorax]

[If there's one thing that will instantly make Chrollo throw off his extreme carefulness with his image, it's the presence of one of them.

Even so, he does briefly consider making his response private... but actually, no, better to leave the opening public so that he doesn't need to bother hiding his associations later. That's the tactic he used with both Hisoka and Uvo, after all. He can always switch when something pressing comes up, or (more likely, really) just go meet with him in person.

All that kind of flashes through his head instantaneously, but in the end, all he says is...]

Nobu.

[And he isn't really hiding his appearance today, although he's not dressed up - his hair's slicked back, and his head is uncovered, but he's in all black at least. A little more "civilian" than usual, but nothing unrecognizable. A little breath.]

Machi isn't here. But you should steel yourself. [...] You'll see why. I'd rather not spoil the surprise.

omg it's a spida on a vidya

[johakyu]

Haa...that's not like her. [Nobu's fingertips scratch the stubble on his chin some more before he shakes his head.] I wonder what's keeping her?

[He can think of a few things, and most of those things involve having to babysit a certain irritating fool, but...

...wait a minute.

He blinks.]

Boss?

[That can't be right, can it?

Can hardly believe his eyes let alone his ears, but there's no mistaking that face or the voice that greets him. It shouldn't be possible, though...or what did he and the other Spiders go to all the trouble of hunting down an Exorcist for?

...he could be suspicious.

In fact, he very nearly is, but Nobu is also more trusting than many of the Troupe's other members. It's not quite intuition. It's just...faith.]

Hm. [A bit of a smile, small for the confusion he can't help but be overcome by. He has no idea what surprise Chrollo is speaking of. What could be more surprising than the Phantom Troupe's leader appearing again, and appearing to be rather well?] Steel myself...you're not gonna try pulling another one over on me, are ya?

SPIDERS. CAUGHT ON FILM.

[cephalothorax]

[Chrollo smiles when Nobu starts talking, smiles wider when the reality of this moment catches up with him. It's so endearing, watching those gears turn. Ugh, he misses that. Missed that.]

Hi.

[A good reason to have faith: no one could fake that sentimental little face.]

There's a lot to talk about. But no tricks. Not from me.

...where are you, exactly?

[bulwank]

Hello Nobunaga, sir. [A man appears all clean and pressed in his shiny black and gold Goku uniform. Gamagori's shoulders are back, arms bent behind him, crossed, chest out, looking definitely around his age of 20.]

I am Gamagori Ira, Nonah ImPort Ambassador and Cape Canaveral Boot Camp Instructor and I welcome you. [A light, giving a small smile, brows raised. The interaction between the man and those endearing as if anything.] I see you're already getting along well but I regret to inform you this 'Machi' individual has yet to arrive here as far as I am aware. As for the man named Hisoka.

[A slight sneer, he only knows him through reputation alone. A criminal and a bad one, though he's been quiet lately, which is good.]

He is infact a resident here, though I am unaware of which city. [Certainly not Nonah.]

That aside, please, if you have any more inquiries I will do my best to see that they get answered and be as forthcoming as I am able!

[johakyu]

[Nobu whistles.]

You like to talk, don't you?

[He sounds like he's grateful for the information, though. Or perhaps just amused? With some people, the difference between the two isn't always so distinct, and Nobunaga happens to be one of those people. And if it is, in fact, a case of the latter...his amusement might have something to do with Gamagori's obvious distaste for a certain someone.]

A Nonah Ambassador... [A big shot. He'll remember that.] Maybe you know a good place to get a drink and a bite to eat?

[He could ask about the tattoo or the nanites or the weird power noted in his file that he'd never had before, but why bother on an empty stomach? Those things aren't going anywhere, and neither is he by the looks of things. Besides, it's just as important to keep his strength up right now, isn't it?]

I knew he was gonna whistle. I knew it.

[bulwank]

I do what I must to see that my point has gotten across.

[Which is a lot. He'll do a LOT to get his point across.]

Hm? [A hitch in his serious expression, thinking for a moment.] That depends, sir, what did you have in mind?

video;

[brushoff]

I don't know Machi, but Hisoka's definitely here. We're...intimately acquainted.

[ said with a small smirk. ]

video; 1/2

[johakyu]

Wait...are you bragging about that?

video; 2/2

[johakyu]

[Nobu bursts into laughter, hand slapping at his thigh and eyes crinkling in the corners.]

Hooboy...that's sad!

video;

[brushoff]

[ wait WHAT.

you just fell down to like the bottom of Dorian's shitlist, Nobu. so, he pretty much states SUPER ICILY, ] Excuse me?

Not here.

[debauchewy]

[gowild]

[No... no way. No fucking way. Of all the people he'd been hoping would show... this is just too good.]

[Never mind how painfully telling it is who he's looking for. Fuck it. Video time.]

Nobu! All this talk about old friends, and you're asking for that clown before me? I didn't know you were so cold!

[SEE IF HE MAKES YOU PAY FOR HIS DRINKS NOW]

NOT HERE

[cephalothorax]

[this is too exciting, chrollo would be eating popcorn if he had some thanks.]

[johakyu]

[As Nobu's breath catches, the whites of his eyes enlarge and he stares disbelievingly for several minutes at his communicator and the face grinning back at him with such a strikingly familiar form of unbridled excitement.

It's not possible...

But Chrollo had spoken of a surprise. Was this it? Was Uvo what the boss had been talking about?

Alive...

It's too much. Nobu takes a few subconscious steps forward before coming to an abrupt halt, suddenly all too aware that his friend isn't quite there.

Not yet, at least.

Making it a little easier to withhold the tears for now, though there's no denying the way his eyes burn with the threat of them, no ignoring the manner in which he has to squint to keep them at bay.

No denying the way he hides his feelings behind bravado, either! Raising his voice and yelling...]

UVO! As if that idiot's a friend!

[He'd have asked after you in a heartbeat...if he'd thought for a second you still had one.]

[gowild]

[Surprise! He can't say he didn't expect that reaction, but expecting it and experiencing it are two very different things. What Nobu must be thinking right now--]

[...no, he doesn't need to guess at that. He knows. Reads it right down to that slight squinting, the raised voice, the choice of subject. Gosh, at this rate he's gonna get all choked up himself, and who wants that.]

You're telling me! That guy's something else...

[Behold how he is all kinds of not getting into that right now though.]

Hey, Nobu. Don't make such an ugly face. I hear it sticks that way.

voice

[heavyhitter]

C'mon, you're in a brand new world and all you can think to do is look for people you already know?

voice

[johakyu]

That's a fair point...but not all strangers are worth the time, you know?

voice.

[glowsferatu]

You'll have done that yourself, just now. I'm sure all you'd really need to say is "Hello, I am now here" and they'd crawl out of the woodwork.

But clowns tend to be such terrible company to keep.

voice.

[johakyu]

I don't recall ever saying he was good company.

text

[debauchewy]

a aahhh, i feel so popular! - u -

text

[johakyu]

[YOU ARE SO LATE, HISOKA.

And, of course, making things difficult...]

can't you talk like a normal person?

[theslayerofgod]

So, you're from Uvogin's world, huh?

Didn't mean to be nosy, but he's hard to miss even on the network.

[johakyu]

[He doesn't mind nosy. Actually, the reminder that people can see and hear what he says is appreciated! Might wanna guard his tongue a little better going forward...

Or attempt to, at least. He's often easily distracted by his enthusiasm, be it positive or negative in nature.]

Yeah, we're from the same world.

[His turn to be nosy now.]

How do ya know Uvo?

audio | id reads "karen starr"

[boobwindow]

"Gaudy clown" is one heck of a way to describe a friend.

audio

[johakyu]

You're right, I should have mentioned 'inappropriate' too.