VIDEO; UN: SMOKING_BOMB

[bakudan_bambino]

[The video starts with a boy at the training ground, sitting and looking at his nails. They are covered in dirt, and there's a large hole in the ground in front of him. He's got the back of one wrist against his mouth and he's looking mildly disgusted. There are a lot of sticks in that hole. It's not been covered up with dirt.]

Does... anyone know how to lift a curse?

[He remembers training, but digging a hole and filling it with sticks? No recollection of that. There's dirt on his face if he moves his hand away from his mouth.]

Comments

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera gets up to follow instead of walking on his hands and knees. He’s just sort of bent forward in an awkward, over exaggerated slouch and keeping his eyes on the stick. He wasn’t told to crawl, so he’s following Ken out, and doesn’t even seem to notice when the bell rings.

Honestly, it’s just made the length of time for the curse effect to start over anew. The encouragement is nice, but not needed, and once they’re outside, he’s sitting back down on the ground.]

Bark!

[whatsamada]

[This presented another problem. As much fun as Ken was having, he knew he had to help Gokudera with this problem. However, how could he be at the store and be here to monitor him at the same time? If he were Koromaru, he would stay in place regardless. Would he have to trust this human shaped dog would listen?]

Listen, I need to get you a potion to cure you but I can’t keep my eye on you and be inside at the same time. I don’t mind giving this to you but you need to promise me you’ll stay here.

[Will he do it? He wasn’t sure but it should only take a minute or two to get everything. How bad can it be?]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera tilts his head to the side, not understanding all the explanation that Ken is saying. He assumes he’s being told to sit again, is single-mindedly focused on that stick and whatever he needs to do to get it.

He gives a desperate little groan and lifts a hand. Shake? Roll over? What does he need to do to receive the stick? Gokudera is not trained, but he’s also not dumb, and is set on being preoccupied with the promised treat.]

[whatsamada]

[Looking at the hand, it was clear Gokudera had no idea what he was saying. This was going to be a lot more difficult than he thought. If that’s the case, he had to take this one step at a time.]

Sit, Gokudera.

[He said before pointing to the floor. As he does so, he starts placing the stick on the ground as well. Hopefully this will get him to understand?]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera is already sitting, but he looks at the stick, following it so that he’s resting his full body weight on his forearms and shins tucked beneath him. It’s mildly uncomfortable and he’s clearly holding himself back from diving forward and grabbing up the licorice root right out of Ken’s hand.]

Hrm! -uff.... [Please! Stick! Now!]

[whatsamada]

[Sensing how impatient he was, Ken wasted no time in placing the stick in the ground. As he waited for Gokudera to take it, he was slowly backing away toward the store. It shouldn't take a few minutes to get the potion at the store.

He can leave him alone for just a moment, right?

Right??]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera looks down at the stick, then at Ken, then back at the stick. He cautiously picks it up and then places it between his teeth and chews. Surprised, he focuses on chewing it even more and seems relatively preoccupied with it. It's no normal stick! Tastes sweet...

He watches Ken while gnawing at the side of the root, looking pleased and curious simultaneously.]

[whatsamada]

[As Ken just looked at Gokudera chewing on the stick, he slowly backed away until his back was against the door. So far, he seemed to be okay on his own. Holding his breath in, he had to say this to him.]

Okay, Gokudera, be good! I'll be right back!

[He knew he only had a limited period of time. Luckily, the store owner knew what his problem was and had gotten a potion ready. The problem was how Gokudera would react to him being gone!]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera has no idea what's going on. He has a stick, and that's all he really cares about. It's fine, and as Ken's in the shop, he comes back to himself. Why is he chewing on a stick?

Didn't he come here with someone?]

What're you looking at?

[He glares as some other patron enters the shop, and the bell rings again. Then, he's back to chewing on the stick. Shame.]

[whatsamada]

[Such is the life of Gokudera as Ken immediately comes back out with the potion in hand. As he looked at him, he gave a sigh of relief. He didn't seem to move from his spot.]

Good boy, I knew you could do it! You managed to stay here!

[Did he really call him that? He didn't mean to be he hoped Gokudera wouldn't rip him a new one for saying that.]

Anyway, you need to drink this potion! It should cure you of your problem so you better drink up? [Would he even be willing to take it in this form?]

If you don't, I'm going to take the stick away!

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera looks up when Ken approaches him, just idly chewing on the stick he’d been given. He has no idea what the kid is talking about, but just turns his attention away, looking quite comfortable sitting by the entrance to the shop in the cool winter air. No idea what a potion is and definitely not inclined to take or drink it. He’s happy with his stick, thanks.]

[whatsamada]

[Why was he being difficult? He knew he could understand him despite how he was thinking like a dog. He really didn’t know what to do.

To take away the stick and help him cure his ailment or let him be content with chewing said stick?]

Sorry but we really need to cure you! [He said before attempting to grab the stick!]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera turns his head and grinds his teeth down even harder on the stick, swatting at Ken's hand and moving to get up and leave. He was good!

He can understand to an extent what the boy wants from him, but he's not interested in whatever it is that he's holding. Gokudera will just turn or move away, tip his head to and fro and swat at the reaching hand.]

[whatsamada]

[He had to make this so much harder than it should! If he was going to be that way, he had no choice. Trying his best to grab the stick, he eventually got it! From there, he tugged at it slightly.]

Gokudera, I don't think you want to stay this way! Don't you want to be cured from being a dog?

[Unless he wants to stay that way?]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera tugs back once Ken has his hand on the stick and is tugging. He growls and pushes his hands down, using this as an attempt to play tug-of-war instead of being ornery about taking a potion. He has no idea what’s going on is his curse, is just acting how he believe he’s supposed to naturally.]

Guhhrrrrrrrrr.....

[And then he’s snapping out of it, letting go and holding his jaw.]

What the hell- Ken? Did you get it?

[It looks like a potion. The silver-haired boy stands up and brushes off his pants.] Is the stick part of the cure?

[whatsamada]

[Should Ken give up at this point? He wasn't sure but he just lowered his head as he kept on tugging said stick. Even Koromaru wasn't this rough with him! Just as he was about to say something, that's when he heard a voice.

Was that a full sentence coming out of the older teen? No, really, was it?

As he gave a huge smile, he gave a sigh of relief.] Oh thank goodness you're talking now! You have no idea how awkward it was taking care of a human dog! [He said with a chuckle before holding said potion]

But no, it isn't, it was just a way for you to listen because you sure were one difficult dog to take care of!

[bakudan_bambino]

A human dog?

[Okay so he acts like a dog when he’s under the effects of the curse? Gokudera seems embarrassed and looks over the bottle, reading what is. Gets rid of canine curse? Sounds appropriate.

What he doesn’t know is that it’s mainly a cure for the symptoms, not a countercurse potion. He gives it another once over to make sure that downing the whole bottle at once won’t have any adverse side-effects, then opens and drinks it.

And doesn’t feel much. His ears pop and he sets the bottle down, rubs a temple, then frowns.]

Uh... sorry. I didn’t bite you or anything did I? My jaw hurts. [His voice sounds muffled, and he swallows a few times, taps at his ears.] Do I sound different?

[whatsamada]

[He didn’t know if he should laugh at the current situation. Now that he didn’t need to worry about his comrade (friend?), he sat on the ground. This was an adventure in itself already.]

You didn’t hurt me but you were barking and growling at me. It’s not everyday you get to see someone act like that!

[He wanted to comment how funny it was too but he’ll keep that to himself. As he saw Gokudera drink the potion, he raised an eyebrow.]

Yes, you do. What kind of side effect is that? [Why was it one thing after another?]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera looks a little embarrassed to hear how he'd been acting and is just glad he hadn't done anything too stupid or aggressive like biting a child trying to help him.]

Yeah, sorry.

[He can tell it must have been amusing. If Gokudera saw someone else going through what he did, he'd probably laugh at them.]

It doesn't say anything about side effects. I sound quiet.

[Or at least, he thinks he does.]

Actually... everything does

[whatsamada]

[Why was Ken's life a mess right now? All he wanted to do was do the right thing! And yet, things were never the way they were! Facing his hand over his face, he gave another sigh.]

I'm not sure what's going on but you're pretty loud right now!

[He said (shouted?) before placing both of his hands on the ground and leaning back a little.]

But at least you're not turning into a dog anymore and not barking at me! That's all I can ask for!

[bakudan_bambino]

My bad

[He’s less inclined to talk now, and nods.]

Thanks for your help, Ken. [He feels like he’s whispering, but his voice comes out at its usual tone. Something he has to consciously do.]

[whatsamada]

It's not a problem!

[He said a little louder hoping he could hear him!]

I just hope we can figure out this new problem of yours soon! I wonder if we should the owner for some help again! [Because it sure was one thing after another!]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera brightens up at Ken’s raised voice, appreciating the way he seems so eager to help, and how accommodating he acts.]

By any chance, did you happen to get the name of the potion?

[He looks over the bottle and holds up a hand to excuse himself. Clearly it has to do with quieting dogs.]

I... I don’t think this is what I needed... did you tell the shopkeeper I was cursed?

[whatsamada]

[As Ken looked at the potion, he gave a small nod.]

I did but they didn’t have anything for your problem! They gave me something else instead to counter the effects!

[Although, when he talked to the owner, they did mention something about minimizing the volume of some sound. However, he didn’t have time to think about it as he didn’t want Gokudera running around in the streets!

How careless of him!]

I think they said something about vocal volume potion?

[bakudan_bambino]

Do you think my trigger is when I hear an unfamiliar voice say something?

[It's a really good guess, actually. It would make sense that when they walked into the potion shop, he heard people in there speaking, and someone just had to say one word he didn't know.

Great, now he's going to be even more apprehensive around strangers.]