[TEXT] UN: STOPMESSAGES

[eyeforaneye]

A number of things.

First, I want to know how many people are familiar with ninja and the shinobi world.

Second, I’m interested in increasing my knowledge when it comes to the technology on the ship.

Third, in connection with the second point, is there a way to stop others from being able to send messages to your communicator? Stopping all of them temporarily would also be acceptable.

[ That's it, Sasuke's first message, no name attached and no hint of an introduction in sight. Still, it's downright personable for him. ]

Comments

[maleured]

You inquired as to what others know of both ninja and the shinobi world in order to ascertain whether or not there were others who shared your world. I gave you my answer.

[ He recognizes those words all too well, spoken from one child to another, and while coincidences do happen, the previous mention of Konoha was proof enough. He'd said his goodbyes already. He'd done what he'd needed to do - what he'd been able to do. That should be enough, right?]

This isn't a debate.

[eyeforaneye]

That's the purpose of my asking. As I've said.

The descriptions I've heard of ninja from others are limited in both influence and ability.

[eyeforaneye]

Even a simple untalented man can be capable of causing chaos.

[eyeforaneye]

That capability would be a bonus. To be turned off or on at will.

[eyeforaneye]

[ The words stand out starkly on the dimly glowing screen, enough to make him close his eyes and digest them. An answer he isn't sure he wants is becoming clearer and clearer in his own mind as well. ]

No. It isn't. It's a discussion. Our philosophies are different enough for one. [ Still, though those distinctions grow more subtle as time passes. It's been a very long road to get to this point. ]

Where are you?

( private encryption )

[classification]

I will see what I can do.

What is your name?

( private encryption )

[eyeforaneye]

[ The start of a beautiful encrypted friendship. ]

My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I'll expect results since you've made a deal with me.

Who are you?

[maleured]

Medical.

[ He was supposed to be dead, not sitting here while unfamiliar people poked and prodded him in an effort to rebuild the internal workings of his body left damaged by illness. It's kind of annoying, actually, but as soon as they decide he's not going to walk out the door, cough up both lungs and have his heart explode in his chest, he's leaving. Hospital areas aren't exactly enjoyable. ]

For the moment.

[eyeforaneye]

[ Not the answer he'd wanted and one that carries a few very unpleasant implications. Sasuke chooses to focus on the fact that that's far more public than he'd like rather than imagining the reasons behind it. ]

I'm in room 309. It shouldn't be hard to find, when you're finished. [ The cautious approach, rather than having a reunion in front of medics he doesn't care to know. ]

[maleured]

I suppose. Though, you assume I would care to find you.

[ Of course, once they're satisfied he won't up and die on them, he's gone. Sure, he's taking it a little easy due the whole "I was supposed to die" thing, but still gone all the same.

And despite what he says, Sasuke can expect a visit. ]

[thisisourfuture]

[How the hell would he put it? That's not easy.

...]

I'd call it idealistic and fragile.

I have done a little research. It wasn't long after I got here that the power outage happened and the murders started.

( private encryption )

[classification]

[ Some people just like their secrets. He's not going to say anything regarding the expectation. Locus knows his skills and knows he can deliver—usually. Most networks like this don't have a heavy encryption and he can figure it out one way or the other. Probably. ]

You may call me Locus. I'll be in touch.

[despairing_hope]

Perhaps....

[He couldn't really deny that potential. Even if he just stood around doing nothing going his luck might take affect.]

[eyeforaneye]

[ Somehow it's exactly what he expected to read. Having his prediction verified doesn't bring him any particular joy, however, not when his stomach is now knotted with anticipation and his eyes keep dragging over towards the door as if he should expect a knock at any moment.

There are too many familiar lines and ideals in his texts for it to be anyone else but still Sasuke almost catches himself hoping. How many more times can they go through this? Will he remember the Edo Tensei? What's the right way for him to feel about this? ]

It's your choice. But whether it's now or later, we'll see each other.

[eyeforaneye]

Or misguided and at risk for dangerous outcomes. [ Yeah. That'd be another less optimistic way. ]

Murders? That's the first I've heard about any.

( private encryption )

[eyeforaneye]

[ ... ]

I have to wait that long? [ Hold up. ]

[thisisourfuture]

You're not wrong.

There were four. They started shortly after the power outage. The outage was an attack on the fleet ships but, I don't have any details beyond that about it.

So far we know each discovery was a piece of a person, and never the same person or same piece. People were going missing before, but they didn't turn back up like this.

[eyeforaneye]

Don't give such a wishy-washy response. Be firmer if you have something to say.

[ Now we're defaulting to lectures on personality. ]

[eyeforaneye]

I know I'm not. [ Modesty. ]

How overboard. Have the victims been identified? You said they were unique so I'll assume that they had some kind of markers if not.

[despairing_hope]

You're rather demanding, aren't you? You should be more polite.

1/2

[eyeforaneye]

[ .......... ]

2/2

[eyeforaneye]

No.

[despairing_hope]

You're not going to get very far with that atitude.

[liquidate]

(fighting with the black market vendors adds one small excitement to his day, but it'd have been far better to be given permission to teach them a lesson in trying to rip someone far stronger off.

permission... that's a word that sits oddly with him, right now. is he obeying sasuke out of familiarity, in the sense that one would for the sake of the "good old days", or because a large part of him still feels like he wants to? whatever the reason, it still runs parallel to the caution he's taking while on board the eluvio. while there were many places to run while landlocked, after his slaughters in the mountains of the land of water so long ago, the eluvio is too small.

while his thoughts coincide with sasuke's, suigetsu makes his way back with a series of new, shiny weapons on his hip. kusanagi sits along so as to not be disturbed by the others. then, the sheathed daggers that look nothing like the more familiar kunai — which proved impossible to find — sitting in a bag and wrapped gratuitously in thick paper to keep them undamaged. overkill from a shady dealer, but suigetsu can't sniff at their blade care. finally, the plain wire on a spool on his belt with his water bottles, strong and conductible.

suigetsu found one sword that ended up appealing to him and came with a bag of necessary cleaning components. so when his arm pools beneath sasuke's door and slaps blindly at the button to open it for the rest of his body, the mist ninja looks particularly overburdened with supplies.)

I took a while, sorry. (a default apology, apparently fake due to the pleased smirk on his face.)

Eeehh, look at you keeping busy. (readily marches over once his arm's reformed at his shoulder, beginning to pile the goods at the end of sasuke's bed.) It's so crowded in the black market, Sasuke, but your directions got me though the worst of it. That was a nice shortcut, as always.

[maleured]

More assumptions. I could choose to actively avoid you instead.

[ As much as he doesn't like the idea of going through this song and dance again, and there are far too many unknowns to be certain, there's still a part of him that dares to hold out hope. Things will never be the way they were, but it's not like he's expecting everything to be easily smoothed over.

On one hand, some closure would be nice. On the other, this could be opening up a whole new can of worms, the likes of which he hasn't seen before.

By the time he actually reaches the door though, he's once again resigned himself to whatever fate throws at him. Find your answer and follow through. No weaponry and no Akatsuki cloak, but without the blood and burns - this time, he won't be staggering toward him and delivering a bloody poke to the forehead, just standing at a door and expecting to be faced with a blade. ]

But I won't.

[ Careful to keep his posture loose yet tense enough that he can dodge or defend if needed, he steels himself for the myriad of possible outcomes before lifting a hand to knock. ]