[He approaches the endeavor with a trained mindset, caution written into every sense as he scopes out the area surrounding Guanshan's place of work. The restaurant is bright and busy in the Underground's usual clinging gloom, rich scents heavy in the air, distracting, disguising. No one looks up to see the shadow perched on the roof of the building.
From that vantage, he notices the lamppost. It isn't his first choice, or even his second—he's not one to gravitate toward sentimentality. But it occurs to him when he sees the package that there is intention behind the location. Of course.
But Guanshan is working. So what is going on?
Itachi lands on the post, balanced easily on its fixture, tightrope slenderness of wrought iron nothing to him. He exercises caution even here; the hands that pick up the package and begin to unwrap it are the hands of a clone.]
[ no ticking bomb or set traps; even at his best (worst?), Guanshan's too simple for them, too direct. murder, danger, love — things worth doing at all are worth doing directly, without lies or subterfuge. were his shadow capable of it, he'd just be handing the gifts directly to Itachi. ]
[ this one is soft, pliant, no hard edges. it crumples in the wrapping as its picked up. 1 down, 2 to go. ]
there are too many words for that
[ a passing shade in the window, blink and you miss it. Guanshan's cell phone is not in his bag the way he thinks it is. ]
[He's mulling over that response, uneasy, though finding no reason not to go along with the mysterious hunt. It still sounds like Guanshan. It feels like him, through every word, through this overcomplicated game with dashes of sentiment mixed in.
Next is an easy choice: the park in Emerald District that serves as a frequent workout circuit. He starts off, package in hand.]
ur that eager ? thats cute u dont wanna gather them all up n try to figure out which egg is rotten ? might save you some embarrassment lol
[ unstoppable force, continue on. the dash of sentiment makes it obvious by now: the next package, taped beneath the seat of a most infamous bench. hopefully a cleaning droid has come by and sanitized it... maybe a few times. ]
[ this one is heavier, a neat little box, all hard edges. plain and unassuming as the last. all things considered, this one is probably his favorite among them — priorities. ]
[It's difficult to reconcile how this makes him feel. After he's collected the second item—giving the bench a long, quiet look in the process—he returns to their conversation with a more critical mind.
Guanshan has always been careful with him. It has taken little guesswork to glimpse into that greater depth, unspoken starvations barely peeled back during their encounters, but...]
Would he agree with you? Is he going to be angry when he discovers what you've done on your own?
[There are other places to check. The supermarket, the corner store, a few other spots in the Underground... all part of a flexible routine. Yet they seem clinical in contrast to their relationship. So he heads down the street toward the Emerald District, Guanshan's own apartment now the final, reluctant goal.]
lol when isnt he pissed w/ himself at least im getting shit done, hes such a fuckin coward do men fulla only stupidity n terror even deserve to get outta life alive
[ the obvious choice, at this point — and the final package is strapped to his balcony, facing the street, promising discretion only to one of its inhabitants. smaller than the last two, it's in a box that fits neatly in the palm. a rattle will reveal at least something about this one: liquid sloshes within. ]
Is that how you perceive him? Unintelligent and afraid?
I would disagree.
[This last one is retrieved also by a clone, then brought to him across the street, up on top of a nearby building roof with a good view of Guanshan's apartment, clearly an area scoped before. Once in hand, Itachi places all three gifts down in front of him together—and begins to unwrap them.]
[ the mix of sentimentality and playfulness remains constant. the last one claimed from his patio has already been discussed: a bottle of perfume without label, a card signed solely "山". it's unisex in its aroma, notes of green tea and sweetness with a core of firesmoke, staying on the subtle side more than powerful and overt. ]
[ the next gift from the park bench is far more ostentatious — an ornate red dagger. self-explanatory. ]
[ as for the last, well... "gag gift" might be stretching it... haha, unless...?? ]
dont compliment him too much, he might think u actually like him or something gross
[The perfume is a surprise despite prior discussion, yet paling in comparison to the third and final gift unveiled to his eyes. Strange and rarely felt embarrassment jolts through him. Feminine, delicate clothing not meant for any man—black frills and sheer lace ensuring little is left to imagination. Slack hands drop the silky fabric back into its slim box as color heats his face. Fortunately, no one is there to witness it on him, and he soon calms the reaction down.
Is it... intentional? Surely Guanshan cannot expect him to make use of this gift. The other two present a whole separate degree of practicality. He can, at least, understand them.]
doin things ur not supposed to do is hot someone told u u werent allowed n that it aint " right " who to fuck, what to wear, how to behave, who gets to be violent & how but why sometimes bein " wrong " just feels good or at least sayin fuck u to all that does
[It sounds enough like Guanshan that, again, he's thrown for an immediate reply. Itachi watches the dark-paned windows of the apartment in front of him and wonders how to approach this.]
Then it is sincere. You would want to see me wearing this.
[Being wrong feels good—he doesn't know if he can comprehend that. He needs time with the idea.]
The other two gifts are more logical to me. They're relevant to conversations and experiences I've shared with Guanshan. So you must be some part of him, or at least have access to his thoughts and memories, if you are not him. Does he know you're speaking to me? And others, too, I suspect.
[ true enough, hours later he's gone through his phone and witnessed the havoc his shadow has wrought. he doesn't know what it says about the quality of his relationships that his inner circle has... well. behaved themselves, even when "he" was incapable of it. ]
[ in some ways, it would've been easier if they hadn't — but he finds himself grateful all the same. unsure of what to say but wanting to follow up all the same, he sends a (shy) little: ]
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From that vantage, he notices the lamppost. It isn't his first choice, or even his second—he's not one to gravitate toward sentimentality. But it occurs to him when he sees the package that there is intention behind the location. Of course.
But Guanshan is working. So what is going on?
Itachi lands on the post, balanced easily on its fixture, tightrope slenderness of wrought iron nothing to him. He exercises caution even here; the hands that pick up the package and begin to unwrap it are the hands of a clone.]
Who is this?
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[ this one is soft, pliant, no hard edges. it crumples in the wrapping as its picked up. 1 down, 2 to go. ]
there are too many words for that
[ a passing shade in the window, blink and you miss it. Guanshan's cell phone is not in his bag the way he thinks it is. ]
keep going
where to next ?
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[He's mulling over that response, uneasy, though finding no reason not to go along with the mysterious hunt. It still sounds like Guanshan. It feels like him, through every word, through this overcomplicated game with dashes of sentiment mixed in.
Next is an easy choice: the park in Emerald District that serves as a frequent workout circuit. He starts off, package in hand.]
What motivated you to do this?
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u dont wanna gather them all up n try to figure out which egg is rotten ? might save you some embarrassment lol
[ unstoppable force, continue on. the dash of sentiment makes it obvious by now: the next package, taped beneath the seat of a most infamous bench. hopefully a cleaning droid has come by and sanitized it... maybe a few times. ]
[ this one is heavier, a neat little box, all hard edges. plain and unassuming as the last. all things considered, this one is probably his favorite among them — priorities. ]
things were movin too slow
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Guanshan has always been careful with him. It has taken little guesswork to glimpse into that greater depth, unspoken starvations barely peeled back during their encounters, but...]
Would he agree with you? Is he going to be angry when he discovers what you've done on your own?
[There are other places to check. The supermarket, the corner store, a few other spots in the Underground... all part of a flexible routine. Yet they seem clinical in contrast to their relationship. So he heads down the street toward the Emerald District, Guanshan's own apartment now the final, reluctant goal.]
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at least im getting shit done, hes such a fuckin coward
do men fulla only stupidity n terror even deserve to get outta life alive
[ the obvious choice, at this point — and the final package is strapped to his balcony, facing the street, promising discretion only to one of its inhabitants. smaller than the last two, it's in a box that fits neatly in the palm. a rattle will reveal at least something about this one: liquid sloshes within. ]
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I would disagree.
[This last one is retrieved also by a clone, then brought to him across the street, up on top of a nearby building roof with a good view of Guanshan's apartment, clearly an area scoped before. Once in hand, Itachi places all three gifts down in front of him together—and begins to unwrap them.]
How different are you?
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[ the next gift from the park bench is far more ostentatious — an ornate red dagger. self-explanatory. ]
[ as for the last, well... "gag gift" might be stretching it... haha, unless...?? ]
dont compliment him too much, he might think u actually like him or something
gross
im all that & more
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Is it... intentional? Surely Guanshan cannot expect him to make use of this gift. The other two present a whole separate degree of practicality. He can, at least, understand them.]
This is clearly a joke.
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send pics !!
ur gonna look so delicate n beautiful, im gonna peel the lace off u w/ my teeth
[ filthy imagination for something that's just a "joke". ]
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[Excuse me.]
A man wouldn't wear something like this.
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thats the point
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someone told u u werent allowed n that it aint " right "
who to fuck, what to wear, how to behave, who gets to be violent & how
but why
sometimes bein " wrong " just feels good
or at least sayin fuck u to all that does
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Then it is sincere. You would want to see me wearing this.
[Being wrong feels good—he doesn't know if he can comprehend that. He needs time with the idea.]
The other two gifts are more logical to me. They're relevant to conversations and experiences I've shared with Guanshan. So you must be some part of him, or at least have access to his thoughts and memories, if you are not him. Does he know you're speaking to me? And others, too, I suspect.
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nah hes busy
im sure hell be pissed later but thats his problem, he shouldna left me locked up for so long
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Perhaps it's best if we end this here.
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well that i didnt expect
[ weirdly... touched... ]
u dont even wanna ask me any invasive questions ?
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well awright then
u probly gonna hear from him later tonight
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Don't cause him too much trouble.
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[ in some ways, it would've been easier if they hadn't — but he finds himself grateful all the same. unsure of what to say but wanting to follow up all the same, he sends a (shy) little: ]
uhh
hi
oops 2/2
[ you know. that one. ]
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1/2
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