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[anbu]

TEXT / AUDIO / VIDEO / ACTION
un: "uchiha, itachi" hungryeyes

Comments

[anbu]

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.]

How different are you?

[pushpin]

[ 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

im all that & more

[anbu]

[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.]

This is clearly a joke.

[pushpin]

LOL
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". ]

[anbu]

No.

[Excuse me.]

A man wouldn't wear something like this.

[pushpin]

yea
thats the point

[anbu]

I don’t understand.

[pushpin]

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

[anbu]

[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.

[pushpin]

i wanna see u every way i can get u

nah hes busy
im sure hell be pissed later but thats his problem, he shouldna left me locked up for so long

[anbu]

I don’t think he’d appreciate my continuing to speak to you.

[pushpin]

does that matter

[anbu]

Yes, to me.

Perhaps it's best if we end this here.

[pushpin]

huh
well that i didnt expect

[ weirdly... touched... ]

u dont even wanna ask me any invasive questions ?

[anbu]

Anything I wished to ask I believe he would try to answer. He is surprisingly honest. I have no intention of taking advantage of him through you.

[pushpin]

[ well... that's not wrong. ]

well awright then
u probly gonna hear from him later tonight

[anbu]

Then I'll look forward to it.

Don't cause him too much trouble.

[pushpin]

[ 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: ]

uhh
hi

oops 2/2

[pushpin]

i didnt have that one before today, i swear

[ you know. that one. ]

[anbu]

Hello.

I assumed as much. Thank you for them. [Because he'd figured out that while that other version of Guanshan might have orchestrated the hunt across Sumarlok, he couldn't have found all of those items in a day. The perfume and weapon were too intimate and premeditated.] ... Excluding that last one.

Are you all right?

[pushpin]

sure
yea im fine
got a headache n im not finishin my shift but
coulda been worse

[ ... ]

did u like how it smelled

[anbu]

Yes.

You surprised me. I expected something... stronger. Is the signature on the card your name?

[pushpin]

[ success!! between a knife and a perfume, the one he was more anxious about was certainly the latter. now he just wants to... smell it on him... is he a creep ]

i figured u wouldnt want somethin too strong
everything about u is kinda.....

[ wait he needs to think is the right word ]

quiet

oh yea its the last character in my name
shan

[ read the same in both of their languages: mountain. ]

1/2

[anbu]

It suits you.

[Mountain... immovably stubborn and dumb as rocks. Meant fondly.]

I'm not certain I will have the occasion to wear it often, but perhaps someday soon.

[anbu]

[Yet the affectionate gifts sober him suddenly.]

Guanshan. There is something I need to discuss with you in person the next time you are available.