[A little amazed - a little unhappy, because he'd rather not Kashuu be put in dangerous spaces where Baren can't see him, but if it's to save people from dying...]
Actually - yeah.
I'm talking to Minako from Absinthe, that's yours, right...?
[He pulls away briefly - just long enough to go to his phone and send Kashuu the rosters for every single team. There you go, fun information sharing with Baren.]
Everyone was. Our place needed some reeeal group efforts to deal with.
[THANKS KNIGHT ARMY, DEMON WOLVES AND YARI.
But leave it to Baren to be the resident info broker. He checks his phone as soon as it goes off and makes a mental note to look through it later, get a feel for who's in what unique bubble of hell.]
Mm, yeah, that's us. Minako's one of our fighters, too.
What, d'you think I can't sleep without someone else around?
[HUFFING. ...Even if Baren's kind of right and he hasn't been sleeping well at all, which is why he distinctly steps right around actually answering the question. It's sad, waking up to an empty apartment. That's why he'd gone couch surfing when he and Yasusada were having a fight in the first place.]
Baren just laughs at that and hops off his stool, grinning as he goes - ]
I'm gonna take your couch then! C'mon, your place is closer than mine anyway and I'm tiiiiired.
[that's.... well it may or may not be the truth but he's gonna put aside the truth for a second if it means that he'll try to fill up some space for Kashuu]
As if being tired has ever stopped you from doing anything...
[Including making it all the way back to wherever his mysterious HQ is!! But it's probably telling that Kashuu doesn't actually try to roll him out the door. He really is lonely without Yasusada. It shows more than he'd like for it to.
He'll pop off of his own bar stool, either way, stretching his arms.]
Just don't keep me up all night. If you're phone's gonna go off nonstop, I'm moving you to the outside hall.
Good, good. [HUFFS.] ...And I brought some snacks with me.
[Which he kinda chewed on a little but otherwise was distracted by riddles and stone statues and CONCERNING MONSTER BATTLES which he doesn't want to talk about.]
[Of course he doesn't... Absinthe has been mostly forthcoming with information so far, at least. So Baren isn't in a rush.
Regardless, he'll reach out to pet Kashuu's hair as he laughs about the snacks. Stupid.... He pulls his hand back to put it in his pocket next though.]
Nah, I'll probably go through your fridge and make something for us both. If you have a request say so now and don't complain later.
[His team is very well put together, it's true... After he hears about the shenanigans everyone else has been getting into, he'll feel glad that his own was so organized.
BUT FOR NOW he doesn't know that, and he's too exhausted and distraught to even pay mind to Baren's already increased attention, so that's going to come kick his ass someday. He leans into the hand just a little, more reflexive than anything, and sighs.]
Something light's fine. I don't want a full stomach if I've gotta leave in the middle of the night to fight or something.
We spent most of our time unlocking a terminal... Got to talk to a doctor, that was pretty much it. There were some stupid puzzles and riddles and then we had to fight things. I think it's some kinda exam?
[WHICH IS THE WORST what the heck kind of company even is Retrospec, he's exhausted?? All of that work just to unlock a communication line and be told to prepare for the real work ahead.]
Think so. All Retrospec employees have to go through it - it's probably some sort of testing our worth and trustworthiness to help them...? But apparently that'll work for getting the others back, and that's the most important part.
[He's speaking candidly - openly about how much he cares about the well-being of the missing people - which is something that he's less open about when it comes to the others. There were enough times when he was in the Retrospec basement where he thought to himself how important it was to get Yamato back to Kashuu, so he doesn't have to deal with being alone.
I get that it's not their fault that we've gotta do it, but it's still stupid. Especially when we're running on borrowed time already.
[He's pretty hyperfocused on Yasusada, but he hasn't not noticed all of the other people who are gone. Anya, Karkat, Dave, Yato - too many people he knows are at risk. Like Baren, he's worried even for the ones he doesn't know. Even for the ones who don't know about Retrospec at all, and maybe even for the employees.
He huffs out a little sigh, part forced irritation and part real exhaustion.]
He better be. I'm gonna kick his ass for making me wait.
[of beating up Yamato??? okay yeah, apparently. Still though - Baren's exhausted, but he'll make the effort not to show it too much. Not when Kashuu appears to be so down, so he'll skip forward so he's in front - then turn on his heel so he's walking backwards. He bends at the waist to get a look at Kashuu's expression.]
You're really no fun right now... how about a bath when you get home? You can have a soak and get all your contemplative angst out while I make dinner.
[ONE BATH ALONE is not enough for him to get out all of his contemplative angst!! He's also tempted to reach out and pinch Baren's nose, but he'll Refrain.]
Yeah, yeah, sure. I need to take one anyway, the woods stink.
[Of the outdoors and little else but?! That's him for you... Even if he's huffy and prickly now, he's still grateful for the effort Baren's going through, and his expression softens a little into something less severe.]
[THANKS FOR THE CONTROL, KASHUU. Still Baren laughs faintly at that, taking the ever so slight improvement as a good sign. Even if it's gradual, any chance of returning a little to Kashuu's good humor is something he's glad for.]
You're not underground in the crypts, maybe count your blessings? Some people really got the bum end of the deal. Lucky us, right?
[it's like. almost optimism. but in a judgmental lens]
[But at least they're approaching Kashuu and Yams' apartment now? Baren's grinning though, amused as ever. Even if he's tired, he'll keep up appearances.]
Help me make a new one, 'kay? Since you'll probably be helping me cross some of 'em off anyway.
As long as they're not things that're gonna give me wrinkles.
[HE'S TOO OLD ALREADY his old old soul is so tired. BUT YES there's the apartment, and in Kashuu will go, looking tired and sounding tired and pausing just long enough to collect Cat the cat from his perch by the window, where he waits for people to come home when they're gone for too long like a dog in kitten clothes.]
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I'm one of my team's fighters.
[Because half of them don't have what it takes to smash enemy yari and they also need to Protect Their Healer...]
S'there anything I can do to help?
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[A little amazed - a little unhappy, because he'd rather not Kashuu be put in dangerous spaces where Baren can't see him, but if it's to save people from dying...]
Actually - yeah.
I'm talking to Minako from Absinthe, that's yours, right...?
[He pulls away briefly - just long enough to go to his phone and send Kashuu the rosters for every single team. There you go, fun information sharing with Baren.]
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[THANKS KNIGHT ARMY, DEMON WOLVES AND YARI.
But leave it to Baren to be the resident info broker. He checks his phone as soon as it goes off and makes a mental note to look through it later, get a feel for who's in what unique bubble of hell.]
Mm, yeah, that's us. Minako's one of our fighters, too.
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Hey, are you sleeping okay? Do you need me to stay over until Yamyamtaro's back?
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[HUFFING. ...Even if Baren's kind of right and he hasn't been sleeping well at all, which is why he distinctly steps right around actually answering the question. It's sad, waking up to an empty apartment. That's why he'd gone couch surfing when he and Yasusada were having a fight in the first place.]
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Baren just laughs at that and hops off his stool, grinning as he goes - ]
I'm gonna take your couch then! C'mon, your place is closer than mine anyway and I'm tiiiiired.
[that's.... well it may or may not be the truth but he's gonna put aside the truth for a second if it means that he'll try to fill up some space for Kashuu]
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[Including making it all the way back to wherever his mysterious HQ is!! But it's probably telling that Kashuu doesn't actually try to roll him out the door. He really is lonely without Yasusada. It shows more than he'd like for it to.
He'll pop off of his own bar stool, either way, stretching his arms.]
Just don't keep me up all night. If you're phone's gonna go off nonstop, I'm moving you to the outside hall.
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[No, he'll put it on silent but... Yeah, he's getting a lot of messages? Well, guess that's what happens when the city's a mess.
Anyway.]
Did you eat already?
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[Which he kinda chewed on a little but otherwise was distracted by riddles and stone statues and CONCERNING MONSTER BATTLES which he doesn't want to talk about.]
What about you?
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Regardless, he'll reach out to pet Kashuu's hair as he laughs about the snacks. Stupid.... He pulls his hand back to put it in his pocket next though.]
Nah, I'll probably go through your fridge and make something for us both. If you have a request say so now and don't complain later.
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BUT FOR NOW he doesn't know that, and he's too exhausted and distraught to even pay mind to Baren's already increased attention, so that's going to come kick his ass someday. He leans into the hand just a little, more reflexive than anything, and sighs.]
Something light's fine. I don't want a full stomach if I've gotta leave in the middle of the night to fight or something.
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[Listen, if Kashuu isn't going to say anything about Baren's increased attention, then Baren isn't either. He'd rather it not be brought up at all...]
It's better if you keep eating normally so you don't lose energy or strength.
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For now, he just looks Tired and almost old in a way that doesn't suit.]
I'm not gonna be unprepared if I do have to, that's all. [A little, sloping shrug.] But I'll eat whatever you make.
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[He's already contemplating recipes and such on the way back, humming thoughtfully.]
What's your team been doing out in the forest anyway?
[If they've still got time to kill on the walk back - Baren is admittedly still in a bit of an info-hunting mode.]
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[WHICH IS THE WORST what the heck kind of company even is Retrospec, he's exhausted?? All of that work just to unlock a communication line and be told to prepare for the real work ahead.]
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[He's speaking candidly - openly about how much he cares about the well-being of the missing people - which is something that he's less open about when it comes to the others. There were enough times when he was in the Retrospec basement where he thought to himself how important it was to get Yamato back to Kashuu, so he doesn't have to deal with being alone.
He thinks it's the same now.]
Samurai Jack should be on his way back soon.
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[He's pretty hyperfocused on Yasusada, but he hasn't not noticed all of the other people who are gone. Anya, Karkat, Dave, Yato - too many people he knows are at risk. Like Baren, he's worried even for the ones he doesn't know. Even for the ones who don't know about Retrospec at all, and maybe even for the employees.
He huffs out a little sigh, part forced irritation and part real exhaustion.]
He better be. I'm gonna kick his ass for making me wait.
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[of beating up Yamato??? okay yeah, apparently. Still though - Baren's exhausted, but he'll make the effort not to show it too much. Not when Kashuu appears to be so down, so he'll skip forward so he's in front - then turn on his heel so he's walking backwards. He bends at the waist to get a look at Kashuu's expression.]
You're really no fun right now... how about a bath when you get home? You can have a soak and get all your contemplative angst out while I make dinner.
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Yeah, yeah, sure. I need to take one anyway, the woods stink.
[Of the outdoors and little else but?! That's him for you... Even if he's huffy and prickly now, he's still grateful for the effort Baren's going through, and his expression softens a little into something less severe.]
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You're not underground in the crypts, maybe count your blessings? Some people really got the bum end of the deal. Lucky us, right?
[it's like. almost optimism. but in a judgmental lens]
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[BURIED.
But okay that's probably at least the closest to his usual shittery that he's gotten ever since Yasusada disappeared. So good work, Baren?! Maybe??]
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[ . . . . fuck, what's left on his bucket list.
. . . . ]
Make a new bucket list!
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Don't go through your bucket lists so fast! ...Or I guess that's the point, but still!
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[But at least they're approaching Kashuu and Yams' apartment now? Baren's grinning though, amused as ever. Even if he's tired, he'll keep up appearances.]
Help me make a new one, 'kay? Since you'll probably be helping me cross some of 'em off anyway.
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[HE'S TOO OLD ALREADY his old old soul is so tired. BUT YES there's the apartment, and in Kashuu will go, looking tired and sounding tired and pausing just long enough to collect Cat the cat from his perch by the window, where he waits for people to come home when they're gone for too long like a dog in kitten clothes.]
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