Capsule 002 💊 (Video)

[rassera]

[Good morning Nonah/Heropa/De Chima/etc. residents. Hope you've been enjoying it, because you'll need something to buffer here. Kaneda's already outside, lounging on his bike with his feet kicked up, hands behind his head and looking at the sky. Kaneda, you couldn't look more bored if you tried.]

So I guess I'm supposed to give you guys traffic updates or something. And you know me--I've got a burning desire to be an upstanding citizen.

[He turns his communicator about 30 degrees to the left, showing a patch of empty road that his bike was parked next to. Insert the cliche tumbleweed for some added aesthetic.]

Whooooooo-oooo! Brutal out there, guys! Stay safe!

[Okay, even he can't hide his smirk anymore.]

Comments

[amadaman]

Luck?

[He blinks.]

Um, it's not something I rely much on myself but I do think it's something that plays a significant role in the way things work out. Some people have it and some people don't, or if they do it's in the bad direction. Why?

[rassera]

...

[He looks at his fingertips a moment, before tilting his head back.]

This place gave it to me as a power. And not just one way--it could be good OR bad.

[amadaman]

Does that mean you can manipulate other people's luck, or is it like a horoscope how if your luck meter's in the green you're less likely to get hit by a disaster but if you're in the red you should watch out?

[rassera]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. My file says it can affect other people, and can 'have an impact' on things just from me being there.

...

I need to know how much. Like if we're talking just coin flips, or if it'll come through where it really counts.

[In battle, basically.]

[amadaman]

Well, there are ways to test that out outside of battles, but I'll do what I can to help you with combat. What's your fighting experience?

[rassera]

!! Well uh--

I'm...not a stranger to it.

[His shoulders hunch up--there's way more to that story than he's letting on, but it's not something he should blurt out over the feed.]

You know. Bike gangs and stuff.

[amadaman]

Ah... okay.

Well, we live in the same house anyway, and I'll still be awake by the time you get home if you want to talk about it in person instead. I don't actually know much about bike gangs, but if you're not a complete stranger to it then that's something to work off of.

[rassera]

[In person certainly worked, and he already trusted Ken more than he probably should admit to. Then again, he always trusted kids more than adults.]

Hey yeah, that'll work.

I won't be out late tonight--I got enough takeout to last me a few days so I should be there.

[amadaman]

So that's why we have so much garbage lately. Okay.

Just so you know, Koromaru'll probably join us.

[rassera]

Why's it only burger joints in Nonah, anyway?

[A pause.]

The dog?

[amadaman]

Well, there aren't that many Japanese people on this side of the country if that's what you were looking for. California on the other coast has a lot more... we can probably improvise and cook stuff sometime, though. I know a little.

And yeah, the dog. [An answering bark!] He's a knife fighter.

[rassera]

We're going to have to--Bull doesn't even know what Ramen is.

You know, the -good- kind.


[...Ok. He laughs a little bit. Please excuse that little moment.]

What, you're serious?

[amadaman]

If you underestimate Koromaru, you'll get hurt.

[smiling but DEAD SERIOUS]

[rassera]

....

[Suddenly unsure about living with a knife wielding shiba inu.

Considering tossing him into Tetsuo's room for kicks.]

[amadaman]

... He's not for you to draft into your personal war.

[rassera]

Can't blame a guy for trying, you know.

[amadaman]

If you want Koromaru's aid, you'll have to win over his loyalty first!

Food won't work though. Nobody cooks better than Aragaki-san.

[rassera]

I'm not all that great at cooking anyway.

Instant ramen's my forte, you know?

[It's also all he could really afford so.]

Earn his loyalty, huh...how hard could it be?

[amadaman]

... I mostly stuck to bento boxes when I couldn't eat at the cafeteria.

Koromaru's smart. He's not going to not be your friend or anything, but he won't do everything just for a ball.

[rassera]

Well I'm not eating burgers, so we'll have to learn to make it ourselves. Or De Chima's gonna be able to run on our paychecks alone.

...

[But now he's curious on Koromaru. If Ken says it takes effort to befriend him...he'd just have to see.]

[amadaman]

-- I can cook! Now. A little bit. [A little bit.] You shouldn't rely on take out all the time.

[Koromaru is now poking his head into the screen because he heard y'all shittalking. He's friendly! It's not difficult to befriend him. But that rank 10 is far away.]

[rassera]

It works for now, you know? This place is kinda short on good food. Figures when I can afford it, all they got is pizza and burgers.

[Pizza isn't so bad, though. Weird, but good.]

...??

Oh, hey Koro. Guess you heard us, huh?

[amadaman]

[He wuffs and pants cheerfully, nosing at the camera and getting it all wet before he crawls onto Ken's lap and settles there. He's in this conversation now.]

He heard everything you said.

[rassera]

[He had to admit, Koromaru was definitely smarter than the average dog. Hell, he'd almost wonder if Yamagata had competition in the brains department. Love you, Yamagata.]

Did he now?

What do you say, boy? Think we can be friends?

[amadaman]

[Koromaru's barks are firm and cheerful! His fluffy tail wags from side to side as he pants and tilts his head at Kaneda. It's a clear yes, even if there's no one to put words to his actions.]

Do you like dogs, Kaneda-san?