[LOCKED TO ENMA] VIDEO UN: 333

[holeful]

[Well, if anyone was still waiting to put a face to the terrible number puzzle that got posted a while ago, here's your chance, but only if you're in Enma. The fact that it's locked to the Enma faction is exactly why Fukuda has deigned to use video, since everyone that works in Kaigo no Bou has seen his weird face before. He's just the office hole-in-head man. And right now he looks pretty banged up. He's clearly been out in the blood rain, but has been somewhat haphazardly wiped off, and is inside now.]

Ah, since Cain said I'm supposed to stay put, I tried to think of other ways I could help, and Captain Shiki said I could try to keep tabs on everyone. So I thought I'd ask everyone if they can tell me what their status is currently? And how things are looking out there.

[He pauses, scratching at his head and revealing some intense bandaging on his arm.]

I know that the blood rain can mess with your head pretty badly, so if you start feeling strange, I think it's okay for you to take a break. Being inside helps a little.

Comments

un: jlfan (text)

[ahost]

[ he wasn't going to answer, however— ]

Is that ... Cain?

[holeful]

[He's surprised Yuuji replied to him, honestly.]

Yes. He's just resting here for a while, after he brought me back here. He's just tired.

Are you okay?

[ahost]

Alive.

[ saying 'he's okay' is pushing it, considering the circumstances. ]

He needs to get back home.

[holeful]

How come?

[ahost]

Because he's supposed to go back to his own apartment and join his roommates.

[ are you holding him a hostage? ]

[holeful]

[... Oh!]

Ah, he's your roommate, Itadori-kun.
[Nodding as if this makes perfect sense to him.]

When he wakes up I'll tell him you're worried about him and want him to come home.

[ahost]

[ nnnghhghgn feels weird to be called so formally by someone like that man. he really left a bad impression on their last encounter, even when yuuji isn't really proud of how he reacted. it's just— yeah, he hates this. ]

Are you guys friends?

[holeful]

[Meanwhile Fukuda really just is used to people treating him however they want so he's not awkward at all. He is also probably still a little woozy from blood loss.]

We are. Cain is a better person than I deserve, but he says we are so I'm not going to correct him.

[ahost]

[ a part of him wanted to be an asshole and say 'that's right! You don't deserve Cain.' — but he didn't. ]

Fine. I'll check up on him later, then.

[holeful]

[Fukuda makes it hard to be mean to him sometimes like that, by doing it first.]

Good! I think Cain is the type to not take care of himself because he's too busy taking care of others.

[ahost]

[ you know what- ]

... Why are you acting nice?

[holeful]

What do you mean?

[ahost]

You said a lot of hurtful things, but now you're acting like you're this nice guy who cares about others ... and it doesn't match the person I've seen.

You're either faking it, or you're two completely different people.

[holeful]

[There's a long pause.]

Well I wasn't trying to be hurtful. I was just saying what I was thinking, the same as what I'm doing now.

I've been told that part of being an adult is learning how to fake things, but I've never been very good at it, or dealing with other people. But I understand how people work in fiction, because I read a lot.
[So trying to apply narrative tropes to difficult situations is his idea of helping, because it's how he manages with people.]

[ahost]

[ he's so confused. why is talking to this man seems like he's solving a puzzle all the time? ]

There are certain things you don't say to others, even if that's what you truly believe. You need to learn that, otherwise you're going to upset a lot of people. Do you understand?

No one wants to be alone in this hell.

[holeful]

[Canonically Fukuda's subconscious mind is broken apart into puzzle pieces so I feel like that doesn't answer the question but further backs up the sentiment.]

I mean, I understand that in theory but how am I supposed to know what's going to upset people? I thought what I was saying would be helpful.

[ahost]

I'm pretty sure I wasn't smiling when you were trying to be 'helpful'. If you don't agree that what you said was hurtful, talking about the death of loved ones ... it's still easy to 'see' when someone is upset.

[ a pause. ]

It came out so malicious. I was certain you were trying to hurt me on purpose.

But, I'm starting to think you really didn't mean it ...

[holeful]

I wasn't, I wasn't! I was trying to explain what I meant, because I wasn't trying to say it's good when people die, but then you got mad at me and left.

I was trying to say more that, when bad things happen, even though they're bad, sometimes they can help us to grow as people. Not to say we should want them to happen, but a silver lining, sort of thing. Does that make more sense?

[ahost]

It kinda does ...

[ a moment later- ]

I owe you an apology, then.

[holeful]

You don't have to!! Like you said, I probably should have just shut up! I'm not really that compatible with hero types so it wasn't like I was surprised.

[He's Used To It.]

[ahost]

[ god, this man. yuuji didn't want this apology to come off out of pity, and it's not. it was simply what he owed him. he fucked up, after all. ]

I'm really sorry for hurting you, Fukuda-san. I'm not gonna make any excuses. It wasn't right and I'm really sorry.

[holeful]

[Well if he insists.]

Well I'm sorry I upset you, too, Itadori-kun. As the adult I should be setting a better example, probably. And it's not like you said anything I haven't heard before.

[ahost]

Okay but I didn't mean it.

[ LOOKS AREN'T EVERYTHING, FUKUDA!!! ]

[holeful]

You didn't??

[LIKE ITS FAIR HE IS A FUCKED UP LITTLE MAN.]

[ahost]

I didn't! I was just trying to hurt you back. It wasn't true.

[ just a mean teen. ]