BERTOLT

[bloodread]

Comments

[perspire]

... Actually, yeah. I am.

[ a beat ] Do you mind waiting a moment so I can change?

[bloodread]

I'll be outside. [ And he actually will be, leaning up against the facade of the building, staring up at the sky. ]

[perspire]

[ it's quick, probably because as a soldier he can change quickly but when he comes outside, he's changed from his normal sweater over a long sleeve shirt to his military uniform ]

Hey, I'm ready.

[bloodread]

Let's hit it. The beach OK with you? [ More space, hopefully less people. ]

[perspire]

Yeah, the beach is fine with me. [ BEACH EPISODE TIME ]

[bloodread]

[ To the beach they go! On the walk there: ]

I'd ask what you thought of that whole shitshow, but I think that's the only way to describe it. You were ready to tackle that asshole at the end, weren't you?

[perspire]

[ he pauses but nods ]

Yeah, just in case it was needed. But I'm glad they had it covered.

[bloodread]

I don't think anyone liked that guy, so he had no chance. Wonder if they're just gonna throw him in jail and leave him to rot.

[perspire]

--Would that be fair? He did cruelly kill Marius.

But I don't know if everyone here would want anything else to happen.

[bloodread]

I think so, but who knows what the old geezer or everyone else thinks. [ He means van Zieks. ]

Just killing him is an option too.

[perspire]

[ nods ]

Isn't that how it usually goes? You kill someone and get caught, you get executed?

[bloodread]

Not if you're a believer in the "justice" system. Where are you from, anyway?

[ His tone conveys that he has little faith in the police, perhaps for many reasons. ]

[perspire]

Probably someplace very different from what you're used to.

[bloodread]

Another one of those Africa places, huh. [ Don't ask. ]

Where I'm from there's a whole court system but in the end some old guy decides what kinda punishment you get.

[perspire]

Probably something a lot more distant than... Africa? [ what is africa? ]

But we have courts too, and with how limited resources are, our punishments can be a lot tougher.

[bloodread]

[ Africa is pretty damn far for someone like him who's never been out of Japan, but he's learned his lesson in trying to figure out geography here. ]

So you execute people cause it's easier than keeping them locked up?

[perspire]

--Only those who are really a danger. We wouldn't kill a thief. [ PROBABLY ]

[bloodread]

I think some cops would do that if they could get away with it.

[perspire]

Oh, I think so too.

[bloodread]

[ Akira just shakes his head, smh cops. They're probably at the beach now, so he scopes out a good spot where the sand isn't too packed. ]

You spar with any rules?

[perspire]

Just first one to get knocked down, usually.

[ a beat ] I'm fine with whatever you want.

[bloodread]

Fine by me. Don't hold back.

[ timeskip to after sparring since fight threads are hard? ok with whoever winning or a draw! ]

[perspire]

[ dice roll says akira wins! ]

[ but he's panting as he's lying on the ground, but there's a slight smile to his face ]

[bloodread]

[ Akira's winded too, crouching on the ground as he catches his breath. He's also in good spirits, fighting is just a good time all around. ]

I haven't had that good of a fight in a while.

[perspire]

Haha, same here.

[ lays there for a moment longer before sitting up, stretching out his arms and back ]

I think I really needed that.