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

[mellowyellow]

[The most useful intel Masaomi can offer is to stay the hell away from that twisted parade. He's halfway through typing as much when he pauses. There is one other thing... but will it just pique everyone's curiosity even more?

Well. Pretty much everyone here is smarter and stronger than him anyway.]

.....I think they were playing catch.

[This sounds like another joke. It's not.]

[paletteswap]

[Well that's alarming. Thanks.]

With.. you?

[Or his bits. This is a new level of horrifying.]

[mellowyellow]

What? NO!

[It's possible??? He was very dead for that part. But that's not what he meant at all!!1!]

With something else.

I don't know what it was.

I had other stuff on my mind.

It was kind of glowy though.

And green.

[paletteswap]

[Oh good, that's a relief.]

This place has lent credibility to the worst case scenario being the most likely, so I'm glad that isn't what happened. Because that sounds terrible.

Glowing and green like the eyes of the other spirits?

[mellowyellow]

[Much, much too terrible. And now Masaomi is imagining it. Thanks for that.]

Maybe.

I think so.

[Be right back, moving to a sink just in case the jello he ate earlier comes back up.]

[paletteswap]

[He's sorry. He can't help it. Imagining the worst is how you prepare. ]

That might be meaningful. I can speculate a lot of things, but it would be nice to know if they have some sort of power source. Something similar to our lanterns.

In any case, stay far away from them. You've already done enough.

[mellowyellow]

You think???

[Oh wait. Sarcasm doesn't travel well through text, does it?]

You couldn't pay me to hang with that crowd again.

[paletteswap]

I know many who would charge back in there to prove they could.

I'm glad you're wiser than them.

[mellowyellow]

[Wiser? Or just more cowardly? Masaomi bites his lip.]

You're one of the big brains around here, right?

Part of those strategy meetings?

Running around finding all those facilities?

[paletteswap]

Somewhat. There are others who are finding much more than I am. But I have been to all the meetings, yes.

[mellowyellow]

Then tell your buddies at the meetings for me.

Please?

Before you tell any of MY buddies.

[You know, the reckless hero or avenging types.]

[paletteswap]

I think you should tell your friends yourself. Are you trying to keep it from them?

[mellowyellow]

I'm trying to keep them halfway alive.

[paletteswap]

Ah. The kind that will rush out and avenge you?

[mellowyellow]

I hope not.

[He's not feeling very optimistic though.]