[network] Day 027 Night; Video; Exercising Caution; @dreamsnhonor; [open]

[heroproceeding]

[ With Kunsel being as cautious as he's been and understandably so, although Zack's feed goes on with the video recording, he's got the tablet propped so it's downward facing. That leaves anyone watching able to see the bottom half of him from about waist down dressed in loose slacks stuffed in heavy military boots. Thankfully, the coat also hangs low enough to cover his harness.

Sorry, Norfinbury. Not that he doesn't trust anyone here at all, but the whole network? Nah, son.

At any rate, he's got business to attend to since he's stuck inside for the night anyway. And that business makes itself known the moment he speaks up. His voice rings solid and sure despite the worry that's been at a steady strum to his heartstrings since he found out he's not the only one there from his Gaia anymore.

...Oh, they might also see his arms swinging back and forth as he walks about with a pace like a slow dance. ]

All right! [ He claps his hands together just above the camera. ]

So! I was thinking. One thing I was taught in my training was to always keep on the move in cold climates. But you don't wanna move around too much and waste a lot of energy, right? So, I kinda came up with a couple of different exercises to keep warm and stay active, 'pecially at night. Any takers?

( ooc: Hey, guys! I'm capping this now since I've reached ten threads and I'm going to die if I get anymore new characters on this entry with going back to work this week! So, if you haven't tagged into this, please help a sister out and hang back for now. Much appreciated! )

Comments

you are going to kill me for this.

[heroproceeding]

Oh, haha. Laugh it up, helmet head! [ Like he doesn't know the routines anyway. But you know. Since he asked, obviously Zack needs to deliver. Kunsel might not be able to see his face, but he can probably hear that sly grin his challenging tone alone. ]

Alright, Kain. I've got one just for you! You ready for this? [ Ready or not, Zack's already getting in position, facing front. ]

/murdurs u how dare

[deus_ex_phs]

[Oi.]

Don't make me rub your nose in something, Zack. Or should I start bringing up your nicknames?

[Challenge met and accepted. Just remember that he's got all the good dirt.]

Wait, wait, I think I've become psychic since we last talked. You're going to do... squats! Aren't you.

I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE BEST PART. which is the worst part.

[heroproceeding]

Nah! I'm good! [ Zack's surprisingly quick to dismiss that and he's right in the midst of starting said squat when Kunsel has to go on and say that. ]

Man, did you have to spoil it? [ Despite that, there's an evident tease in his voice as he... moves off from his position? Wait, what? ]

Guess that just means I gotta take it to the next level! [ ...Why is he turning around? ]

[deus_ex_phs]

Zack, you realize anyone who knows you could have guessed that, right? Even people who don't know you could guess. "Zack's favorite hobby is squats." It was in a newsletter.

[Yes, a newsletter. He's almost sort of hoping Zack doesn't know about his fanclub, so Kunsel can hear his reaction when he finds out about it.]

Wait, what are you doing?

[SO MUCH SUSPICION HERE.]

oh my god I just lost my shit halfway through this tag. I am so sorry this is embarrassing

[heroproceeding]

You'll see! And yeah right! Who's going to write a newsletter about that! [ Of course, little does he know... Yes, he might have been a bit more focused on surviving the past five years to really worry about fanclubs anymore...

He's also more focused on getting into position with his back facing the camera now. ] So, same old standard position and taking down- [ And there he goes, with the camera getting a buttload of... butt. Because this is obviously the way to teach someone how to squat. As in only Kunsel.

BUT WAIT. THERE'S MORE. ] And back up and here comes the new addition! Wait for it! [ And that is. A butt clench. Right there front and center on camera. THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR THREATENING HIM WITH NICKNAMES, MAN.

...okay, he might have planned this from the start. Hey, it's been a while since he's had a legit laugh at your expense, man. ]

aksalfjklajs

[deus_ex_phs]

You don't know? [Kunsel lets amusement fill his voice. Wicked amusement. The kind of amusement that only comes when he's about to make a joke at Zack's expense.

But of course Zack then has to go and derail his train of thoughts, because even as Kunsel is winding up for his delivery, Zack is turning around and sticking his butt up at the camera. Kunsel splutters.]

Wh-what the hell, Zack! Since when did I ever tell you I wanted to look at your butt?!

SO WORTH IT.

[heroproceeding]

[ Oh, he heard that amusement. Which makes it all that much sweeter when he suddenly shuts him down like that. There aren't too many moments when he gets Kunsel this good. It's also been at least five years since the last. Sorry, man. He's going to bask in this.

And by bask, he just buckles forward (which might also mean he unintentionally puts his butt closer to the camera for a brief moment) and starts cracking the hell up. He's stumbling around a bit as he turns back to face the tablet instead but what part of his face that comes close to showing's covered with his hand, obscuring it from view. His stomach's going to be hurting and in knots by the end of it from laughing so hard. But he's seriously not laughed this much in a very long time. He might be tearing. As in there's no doubt, he is.

He really needed a moment like this after over two weeks in this snow hell. And what a moment it is. There's no way he'd do this to anyone else there which might make the joke all the better. He'd missed this. Between fits, he shouts: ] LOVELESS! [ He figures Kunsel doesn't need to know anymore to understand the context. LOVELESS brings out the worst in you, man. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[...oh. Oh, that's right. Kunsel flushes bright red, and is suddenly so grateful he doesn't have the tablet pointed at him.]

Oh, come on! I was drunk! You can't hold that against me!

[heroproceeding]

[ Yet another moment where Zack doesn't have to see him to know the look that's gotta be on his face. In all this time that's passed, he hasn't forgotten. He'll at least be nice enough not to go into detail over the network. As funny as it is to hear Kunsel reacting the way he is, he also has too much respect for him to take it that far. At least not in a public space like this.

He's also working on settling himself down some so he can actually say more than a few words. But finally- finally -he gasps out: ] You mean-! You wish I'd hold it against you! But too bad! [ Snort. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel huffs, just a little put out - but only a little bit. Getting teased is familiar territory, and it's good to hear Zack laugh. (It's honestly a sound he'd started to doubt he'd ever hear again, though he'll never admit that out loud.)]

What, like you have someone better to hold it against?

[Yeah, two can play at this game.]

[heroproceeding]

[ Just as it's good for Kunsel to hear him laugh, it's just as good for Zack to hear him huffing like that. Too long, too long. Still, he has to pause at that prod... Maybe a bit longer than necessary. ]

Maybe. [ But that tone comes out less teasing now. More sober. It's just for a flicker of a moment, but there all the same. Then, he's back at it. He's already on the run with this gag, trying to just make things a bit more lighthearted. The last thing he wants is something heavy. They can talk heavy all night when he gets there. And speaking of which: ]

But I'm not gonna complain if you're offering. You think you can last a few days without this though? [ And just to emphasis this terrible joke even further, he might be wiggling his hips a bit. At least this time, he's not giving Kunsel a camera full'a ass anymore. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[That sober tone makes something in Kunsel still, but they're on a public network. He knows better than to ask. So he sets it aside as something to maybe ask about later, letting Zack deflect back to his horrible humor.

Kunsel responds with all the dryness in the world.]

You do realize that anyone who wants to can see this, right? And also that I could link them to it later?

[Zack, you're practically handing him blackmail.]

[heroproceeding]

[ Zack's more than thankful when Kunsel decides not to touch on the obvious pause. But before he can really think anymore on that, Kunsel's prodding him back and Zack's just... shrugging. His tone? Dismissive. ]

You do realize the whole network can also see you getting a face full'a my butt and how hilarious that is, right? [ As in, that was kinda the point, man. Like he has any shame here. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

I'm not the one shoving my butt in someone's face.

[He's got nothing to be ashamed of here.]

[heroproceeding]

Nope, but the reaction was still priceless! [ He is just gonna be over here, all smiles. Sorry, man. You're too much when you get flustered like that. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

Then it'll be even more priceless when I take pictures and I take them home with me and share.

[And he'll just leave it up to Zack's imagination who he'll share them with.]

[heroproceeding]

[ There's a pause at that. Home... And when he next speaks, the jovial ring that was in his voice seems to have faded into something more muted. ]

...Heh. It's not like you'd have many people to share with. Not that... [ But he just kinda... trails off at that. Thinking about Aerith hurts. Knowing how much longer he's kept her waiting. Knowing how much longer he'll continue keeping her waiting. He can't blame her if she really decided to move on, not after sending all those letters... But it still-

And there he goes, thinking of someone he doesn't want the administrator yanking in there all over again. He's going to hate himself if she suddenly turns up, too. This is no place he would ever wish on her. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel's response is delayed for a moment, and when it comes back, it's quieter, too, but there's still something positive in the tone.]

I think you'd be surprised.

[He won't name names, either - not over the phone like this - but he hopes Zack picks up the hint that this isn't just about teasing anymore.]

Anyway, you should probably take your butt off the network before it gets you into trouble. Someone might decide they want to see more~

[Oh yeah, back to teasing again.]

[heroproceeding]

[ Kunsel doesn't have to name names. He knows how head over heels Zack had been with her. Knows that that's a flame that won't quite go away. He'd been so close to Midgar. But then...

He swallows hard and nods although his friend and comrade in arms won't see. He's not so sure, but it's still... It's good to know she still cared and wondered about him, even after all those long years.

...But no, that's not a conversation for over this space, so he just- grunts at the latter. His tone sounds almost annoyed when he next speaks. ]

What? Getting jealous, helmet head? [ Sorry only not sorry. That will always be the default nickname for you, Kuns. In his eyes anyway. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

What? Of your butt? [And just like that, by some unspoken agreement between them, anything serious about the conversation gets shelved for another time.] You wish. I'm just pointing out that there's people who might like looking at scrawny butts like yours. You might get yourself a stalker, giving them fan service like that.

And don't call me that, dog breath. [The insult is tossed cheerfully, 'cause he's not sorry either.]

[heroproceeding]

Dog breath? Really, man? You couldn't come up with anything better? [ Yes, just like that, they're back to that old routine. And he's good with that. ...That statement also might have been far too accurate given only days back he and Lancer had been snacking on dog biscuits for rations. ...Not that he'll even tell Kunsel that. ]

But hey, you know I can handle myself, no problem. I'd be more worried about the other guy! [ And his butt is not scrawny, man! It is a fantastic, manly asset to his fantastic, manly physique! ]

[deus_ex_phs]

I could, but then I'd have to censor it anyway. Might be kids listening in on this.

[So not apologetic for trolling his friend. Gaia, he's missed this banter so much. Zack better hope that Kunsel never finds out about those dog biscuits. Spoilers: He will, because he's Kunsel.]

What if it's a girl? Would you beat a girl up, Zack?

[heroproceeding]

[ Oh, he is hoping. He is hoping so much. Spoilers: He's so screwed.

BUT OH NO YOU DIDN'T. As he's about to protest something about that though, Kunsel goes and-- ]

What? No! Why would I do that!? [ Unless it's someone on equal footing. Cissnei alone showed him that ladies aren't anyone to mess with, just the same as the guys back at the barracks. But anyone without proper training? He might habitually go easy on... Even if they can be annoying ie. Yuffie. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[Your best defense now is to find all the cat stuff in his pack.]

Oh, so you don't mind if a girl pervs on you?

[Now he's just deliberately twisting Zack's words, trying not to crack up at his friend's reactions.]

[heroproceeding]

[ OH, HE IS GOING TO. IT'S GOING TO BE A THING. AND THEN IT WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL, MAN.

...!?!? KUNSEL, WHAT? ]

You know I didn't mean it that way!

[ YOU SHIT. If he was looking to get Zack all flustered, bingo! Not a common occurence lately, but it does happen! Especially with this pain involved! He had almost forgotten this side of things- and he's not sure if it's a good reminder or not! In truth, it is even though he is gonna hate his life later if someone brings up this part of their conversation. THANKS, MAN. ]