networkinthenight | @jtodd, text

[ Vanitas seems, as ever, at odds with the world around him. He always seems to juxtapose the people around him. There are still fireworks going off the the distance, the spirits creating mild havoc in their wake. Riku, at his side, looks in some ways diminished— fatigued, or something else.

If Vanitas is aware, he certainly isn't telling; but there's a sharpness about him. As though Riku's elevated negativity has fed right into Vanitas himself. Like he's a spring loaded trap ready to snap closed at any moment. ]

Who do you think was with him before?

[ Vanitas drawls, but there's no venom to it, not the way there may have been before. He turns, angles himself toward Jason when he appears. Under his black beanie his hair is pressed down, making his yellow eyes even brighter. The venom that wasn't aimed at Riku seems, instead, to be redirected toward Jason. ]

Why were you dumping around in the sewers?

Maybe the spirits don't want you to go sticking your nose into what isn't your business.

[ Riku knows about Vanitas and his involvement in Bruce's rescue and protection during the recent siege. In proper, perhaps universe-specific, fashion, he had to expositionalize a little about his motivations.

As Vanitas seems amped up and keen, Riku is subdued - which isn't all that unusual these last few months in particular - he's focused and grounded. ]

That changes things.

Someone probably locked that for a reason. I'm not afraid to check it out, but I don't think this is something we should do without preparing for the worst.

[ He means a proper exploration team, with bonfire torches, and ideally-- ] I'd feel a lot better if we had a backup plan to seal the sewers if whatever ends up on the other side of that gate turns out to be a big problem.

I can take care of that. [ because it was his idea in the first place. ] Just need a month to get the parts from Rastus. [ his first actual request ]

Unless someone's got a bomb laying around. The tunnel's not unstable, but it won't take much to knock it down either.

[ he gives Vanitas a cursory look, raising his eyebrows. He sees you buddy. He sees what you are trying to do, and he's long past the point in his life where he feels the need to engage with that. the magic of learning coping skills means sometimes he can actually focus on what he set out to do. he looks back towards Riku.

he doesn't necessarily agree with the idea that this requires a full exploration team, but he doesn't think this is the hill he wants to die on. if this goes bad, more chances to fix.. or more people dead. It's a balance, and not one he really cares to make a strong decision on. ]

However you wanna handle it, I'm fine with that. But given that the spirits watch the network, it's going to need to be kept off of the public spaces, at least.

You're too cautious.

[ He says it like he's disregarding Riku's opinion, flippant almost— but unlike the rest of his social circle, he's never been the planner. Vanitas is the rabid dog pointed in the direction destruction is required.

He needles Jason about his nosiness, that this could be dangerous, but even if it released some dark horror Vanitas still doesn't really care about the well being of Beacon at large. He has less than a handful of people he's become invested in, but he can leave or take the rest. ]

Would you rather wait for all your friends to know and turn up and get caught in the cross fire?

[ He says this to Riku, who between the three of them, certainly has more friends than he or Jason. His attention comes back around. ]

Show me. Bringing down the tunnel will be child's play.

...

[ Riku doesn't like the idea of putting his friends in danger, likes even less the idea of one of them trapping themselves in the sewers with whatever might be down there. But the people he trusts most to have his back and effectively deal with challenges also tend to be in his more intimate circle of associations. ]

I've already got one here.

[ He presses his elbow and forearm against the back of Vanitas's shoulder, shoving at him. ]

I agree we can't rely on the network. Let's stop by the bonfire and ask for some torches first.

[ well, if Vanitas wants to crash the tunnel, Jay's of a mind to just let him. Less overall work. no worries about anything finicky about bombs without light or what that might look like. but, he's glad that Vanitas sees the point in what waiting for a full exploration team would look like. he has his own thought on it-- ]

Alright. Gives me a chance to message Pete, see if he's got anything on his dance card.

[ since Peter should be there. He helped him find it, after all. ]

We'll be headed towards the Junkyard. Goal was to head south-- try to find the lab. And if this doesn't work, there were a few more things I wanted to check down that way that don't require a key.

Gross.

[ He says this with vehemence, shrugging off Riku's affection physically, and not without the parting jab of putting a hand on his ribs to actual push distance between them.

But interest sharpens him again at mention of the Junkyard, and while he knows that isn't the point of this, the familiarity is still there. That junkyard dog. ]

How many more people do you idiots want along for this? The bigger the group the more attention we'll draw.

Tell Peter to hurry up.

[ Riku huffs an amused noise when Vanitas pushes at him, but sobers a moment later. ]

Four is plenty. Who wants to ask Rastus for a few torches? Two should probably do it.

[ Sewer tunnels will be dark, and Riku doesn't want them encumbered unnecessarily. ]

With another bike, we can get there quickly.

[ Quickly is up for debate - the bikes don't have headlights. Well... except for Riku's, which appears to be effective, and powered by the lantern inserted into its casing. ]

Four is my limit.

I don't want any uninvited guests coming along. [ he knows he went from "whatever" to having an opinion, but is it really changing your mind if that was your underlying opinion the whole time? last thing he wanted was a crowd of people who could... or could not be wastes of space.

anyway, he pulls his tablet from his jacket, firing off a quick message to peter.]

If he can make it, I'll tell him to meet us on the south side of town.

Should know in a few minutes. Anyway, you two can go grab the bike, since you've already got it. I'll grab the torches.

@jtodd, text

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