thirteenth dazzle | July 29, after dark | video

[tauborn]

[Takuto doesn't look sad for this appearance on the network, but he doesn't look characteristically happy, either. He just looks... tired. Maybe it's just that the only light is the glow from the communicator's screen itself, but he looks far more tired than a seventeen year old boy obsessed with singing out his youth and being a source of metaphorical radiance has a right to look.

He sighs, turning the video feed away from himself, into what appears to be total blackness.]

...Some of them are missing. [The darkness of the image focuses in and out of a blurry gray before slowly resolving into tiny pinpricks of light. Stars. There's the sound of a heavy sigh once again.]

I know it's not a thing that's particular to this city or this world or the situation we're all in. People can leave for reasons much worse than a magical device's whim. But all this leaving is exhausting me. People coming and going and coming and going.

[He pauses, recollecting his thoughts as the images blurs, refocuses. The stars twinkle, distantly, silently.]

I think life is a string of people coming and going no matter who or where you are, but… but here, this… I’m getting tired of it.

BREW sent Yuugi away.


[text | private to Yako]

I'm on my roof and I would like some company.

Comments

Voice

[gonext]

I can totally sympathize. A lot of people close to me went away not too long ago. It's pretty exhausting to try to make friends and build partnerships only to see them suddenly go just like that.

[video]

[tauborn]

[Even though it's on video, it's clear he's set the communicator down and is basically just using it as if it were on voice function. But you get to see the stars go in and out of focus so that's something.]

Exactly. I'm used to people leaving, but sometimes it feels like it's just too much to deal with.

...They say that when we win the war, we can all go home, but I'm not sure if that's true. And if it is, won't that also be sad?

[video]

[gonext]

I guess. But I haven't really stayed here in the city very long. Even so, I think I'd really feel sad about the people I'd be leaving when this is all over.

Text

[shiromadoushi]

Better this way for him

[video]

[tauborn]

[The screen is still pointed at the stars, which go in and out of focus as the camera lens tries to make sense of something so far away.]

I'm sorry, Ryou.

[He knows how much Yuugi means to him.]

Text

[shiromadoushi]

Don't be.

It's better this way

[[he keeps telling himself this. Over and over.]]

I'll see him again when it's my time to forget.

[Audio]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[When it rains, it pours, doesn't it? Not that Shinji had ever really gotten the chance to meet Yuugi, but he could gather well enough that the two of them had a pretty important bond. Between this, Sugata, and Kaworu... he can sympathize fully with the situation at hand, despite not being familiar with most of the parties involved.]

That's... [A small noise of uncertainty here before he tries again.] Would you like some company?

[Takuto had been there for him the other day, and while he might not be well equipped to handle comforting others, he knows he should at least try.]

[video]

[tauborn]

[The stars are still blurring in and out of focus--he's set the communicator down on the roof beside him.]

Actually, I'm hoping Yako will be over soon.

[There's only a small pause, too small of a pause, and Takuto is talking again. Rambling, almost.]

Though I don't have a roommate anymore. I could use one. I mean, it's not like I'm going to suddenly be shiny again tomorrow.

[Audio]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Man, Takuto, if only you could see the look of confusion Shinji's giving his communicator. How seriously should he take that comment? Takuto's obviously not in the best state of mind, so for now he'll file it under 'not entirely seriously' under the impression that he might simply be talking for the sake of talking. But... would that make the answer to his question a 'yes' or 'no'...? Grief is weird and difficult to handle]

I can be there in just a little bit. [Cue the sounds of cloth rustling as Shinji gets up and begins heading to his door.] And when Yako-san shows up, I'll leave you two alone. Does that sound all right?

video;

[i_am_not_eleven]

So what? You want a pat on the head or something?

[video]

[tauborn]

Fuck off.

[He is so not in the mood for you. And don't take it personally that he didn't actually look at the communicator. Even though it's on video, the video feed has just been showing the stars because he's too tired to hold it.]

[Video]

[vintage_magic]

[This isn't exactly news she's expecting after getting back from Oregon. Lily frowns and there's a touch of concern in her Texas-accented voice.]

Yuugi's gone? You're sure of this?

[video]

[tauborn]

[Enjoy the view of the blurry stars, because he's not even attempting to look at the communicator. Why is it on video? Because the stars are supposed to be soothing. That's what Takuto's looking at, anyway.] He was my roommate. I'm very familiar with the signs of a person getting sent home. He's not here.

[The bitterness in his voice is because it feels like BREW has a personal vendetta against him this week. Taking all his friends away.]

[morecowbell]

[Nanami has an indifferent expression when she bothers to move far enough in screen to see it.

Clearly those two were meant to be partners because the Pharaoh has also been sent home.

[tauborn]

[Don't worry, he's not even looking at the screen, anyway. Even though the video function is on, the feed is just recording the sky, watching the stars go in and out of focus. Takuto is doing the same, watching the stars as they go in and out of focus.]

...Is that what it means then? If BREW sends them home together?

[He doesn't believe it for a moment. BREW is full of crap.]

[video; ] I will be nice and not tag Takuto with someone who'd try to harrass him. ;3

[blue_wayfinder]

[Oh dear.]

Takuto... [She doesn't ask, 'are you all right?' because, having been in his shoes she knows he probably isn't.] I'm sorry.

[video] because he has a tendency to refuse to talk to harrassers? :')

[tauborn]

[The video feed remains on the sky while he talks.]

Right. [He sighs, very heavily, and then switches the feed to private.]

Aqua, what do you think about BREW?

[dead_black_eyes]

[L is horribly ambivalent to Yuugi, but he knows that Takuto was close to him.

This kid has not been able to catch a break lately.]

Are... you holding up OK?

[video]

[tauborn]

[The screen remains pointed at the sky, and the stars go in and out of focus because the camera lens can't cope with the distances.]

I'm not going to ask you on a mission, if that's what you're getting at.

[So he's holding up, but not exactly okay.]

text

[ferroustigmata]

[Sasha's message opens with an address for a hookah lounge in Las Vegas with a date and time.]

On me. Don't be late.

[video] also any day/time is good for me

[tauborn]

[It's video, but it's functionally audio with a picture of blurry stars. Until his face looms over the screen so he can read the text.]

Someplace in Vegas?

[He flops back down on the roof, his face disappearing from view.]

Why not?

[deadlydelicacy]

Life is loss.

[She's good at meaningless inanities. And also used to to growing particularly close to people if she can help it.]

If they are important to you, you will find them again someday.

[video]

[tauborn]

True.

[It sounds as if he's conceding her a point, but only one little bit. And the video feed only shows the stars blurring in and out of focus.]

Unless they are dead.

private text;

[itaidakimasu]

I'm on my way.

Should I bring Kerberos?

[text | private]

[tauborn]

If you want. But I prefer you for warmth/cuddling.