action and text; @bacura

[mellowyellow]

[It's late on the seventh when Masaomi wakes up on a church pew. At first, he can't bring himself to do anything other than stare at his hands. Slowly he raises them above his head, takes in the palms, flips them over, hesitantly touches the backs, slides his fingers down his own arms.

He's whole.

Suddenly, he digs his nails in. It hurts, and he pulls back, leaving harsh red marks. Masaomi sits up then, still staring like he can't believe his own senses.

He's not crying. You're crying.]


[It's not until the eighth that he sends out another text. No ominous snapshots this time.]

Didn't cut it as a carny.

Comments

@lonk; audio

[sublimebeast]

[Ah, this fellow again... Link can't help but feel a little annoyed with this person for being reckless but his heart is also breaking with concern over his well being.

A voice, low with a bit of a steely edge but also heavy with worry speaks.]

Where are you? Are you okay?

...All things considered, I mean.

teeeeeext eternally;

[mellowyellow]

Peachy keen! Plum brilliant! Fresh and fragrant!

All in one piece even.

[sublimebeast]

Well that's...good?

I think.

Uh, is anyone coming to get you?

[mellowyellow]

Oh, I've already been got.

It was a very funky feeling. Do not recommend for casual players.

[Texting in disconnected, unfunny metaphors: the coping mechanism.]

[sublimebeast]

[Link does suspect the humor is an attempt at either coping or deflection. He does similar things himself.]

Well luckily I'm not a ...casual player?

Actually I dunno what you're saying.

But...Listen, I know this is probably not what you want to hear right now but when you're up to it could you contact me and tell me what, exactly, happened out there?

It won't be a pleasant conversation but I need to know everything I can about this ...thing... if I'm going to find a way of stopping it.

[From what little he knows jumping on it and stabbing it in the neck with a sword won't work which means his usual approach is useless.]

[mellowyellow]

No.

[Two letters. That's the extent of Masaomi's response. Which part exactly is he saying no to? He has declined to elaborate! But it might be the part where Link tries to stop the parade.]

[sublimebeast]

Listen, this is important, that thing is clearly dangerous and we don't want it hurting anyone else, right?

[A small groan; the sound of him sitting back, rolling his neck and giving himself a silent moment to curse whatever Gods may be for this whole situation.]

Stopping it doesn't mean I intend to fight it, you know. Maybe we can reroute it. Maybe if we know more we can, at the very least, safely track it so we always know where it is.

So...If you change your mind, contact me, okay?

My thing is "lonk".

[Goddammit.]

[mellowyellow]

[Masaomi grimaces down at his screen before biting at the inside of his mouth. This Lonk guy definitely isn't giving up just because a dumb teenager refused to spill the beans. He doesn't get it, not even a little, and Masaomi doesn't know how to explain in a way that won't make himself physically ill.]

No.

That thing didn't do anything.

Not one of those spirits touched me.

[sublimebeast]

They didn't? Then how---

[A sigh.]

Never mind.

Like I said, if you ever feel up to it, talk to me. Doesn't have to be right now.

[mellowyellow]

If you go after that thing before then, I'll follow you.

[...Yeah, that's meant to be a threat.]

[sublimebeast]

Oh, you will?

[He goes silent for a brief moment before he can let out the small, amused laugh he feels growing in his chest.]

...I won't go after it.

[Although if he feels he has to protect someone in danger he has every intention of rushing the parade.

It may not be wise but he has to fight. It's the only way he can make sense of himself being here.]

[mellowyellow]

[Don't laugh!!!1! He's being super cereal here!]

Good.

Cuz I kind of like you.