TWO; uh oh--!

[salaryman]

Hello, everyone. Yuuto here.

[ The voice is bright and full of cheer despite all the circumstances surrounding his broadcast. But he does attempt to broadcast to everyone that is not in the tunnels. ]

I'm a little weakened and so only offering commentary on the brave souls that came down to the tunnels. It seems like we're about to begin...

[ He claps his hands together and allows for everyone to see the battle against the monstrosity.

It is broken up in parts as he slips away to get to a safer location and another group does their part. He breathes out a small sigh as he watches everything from where is relatively safe.

Notably through the "broadcast," his emotions seem to become more and more erratic through the feed. It may be because of what he's witnessing but also he doesn't do anything to help. He is just a witness to events and steps back once the Rat King is fully dealt with. ]

... wait, did someone...

[ He has a more thoughtful tone to his voice as his shoulders seem to drop; a sensation felt through the Murmur itself. ]

It seems like we've achieved victory but with a bit of tragedy. I think? I wonder if you die in the waking world... what happens to you?

[ A beat. Longer. Stretched. ]

sihT nsi't good. I kniht I evah ot teg tuo fo eseht slennut.

[ Translation: This isn't good. I think I have to get out of these tunnels. ]

[ ooc: Your character can see however much they want to and get the rest from other characters, if they so wish. It can be said that Yuuto's connection starts to get a little less stable as he starts to destabilize due to succumbrance. ]

Comments

[merged]

[ Sharon can't devote all her attention to the Murmur, not when still hunting for Runes, but the moment Yuuto begins streaming the events in the tunnels, she finds it nearly impossible to look away. From her, the emotions ring loud and raw, fear and fury in some equal measure. A desperation for everyone to escape this fight.

As the battle winds down, Yuuto's words cut through: tragedy, he says. Death. A deep, pressing terror coils in her chest as her heart drops into her stomach. She senses, almost distantly, that Yuuto's connection is... fragile, warped in a way that feels eerily familiar, but her focus is elsewhere. ]

Who? Yuuto, who died?! [ Her voice trembles. Too many of the people she cares for—arguably, loves—had gone down there. She scrambles through her tethers, tracing threads, trying to steady herself. ]

[salaryman]

[ He has started to head back toward the surface. His sense of survival tells him that he can't stay in the tunnels. The disconnect he felt during the battle is different than usual? He probably would say that much. Seeing things go wrong wrong - he should've stepped in to do something, but didn't. Even he isn't that lackadaisical. Or he'd like to think that he isn't.

Yuuto pauses as he is still connected to so many people. He didn't break the connection - is that, too, out of survival? He isn't sure, but he pauses at her question. The smile he sends is strained, confused. ]

I don't know. I don't think I knew them. [ However, there is confusion, like he isn't sure that is the right answer. His head dips as he keeps walking. If he sees the surface, maybe, it'll make sense. ] tI's lla gnimoceb yrev delddum, norahS. I'm yrros.

[ Translation: It's all becoming very muddled, Sharon. I'm sorry. ]

[merged]

[ Yuuto isn't doing so hot. Even the smile he offers her is strained, like something underneath it is out of place. She hadn't noticed any obvious injuries during the chaos, but something has happened all the same—something that shook him, rattled something loose in that head of his.

Is he speaking backward? Yeah. That's bad.

Keeping the sharp edge off her worry takes effort. ] You—fuck, you need to get checked out by someone before you even think about heading back up. You don't sound right. [ The urge to press him, to demand answers, is there, but she swallows it down. Pushing now wouldn't help either of them. ]

[salaryman]

Oh - there is a lot happening at the moment.

[ His words trail off as he seems to look over his shoulder before returning to his steady pace upwards. ]

I think the people injured need more attention than me. [ A slight pause - continuity slipping in as he chimes with some cheer. ] I do think I am afraid. Fear does tend to make a person be less than helpful.

I'll make it up to you. Perhaps, I'll find a nice rock as I'm headed to the surface.

[merged]

[ Yuuto is afraid. Sympathy smashes hard into the connection, numbing the edge of her frantic concern. ]

How about you just get out of this in one piece for me, yeah? That'll more than make up for... whatever.

[salaryman]

[ Sympathy? For him? Ah dear - he feels a sense back toward her. It's a sentiment that he feels is a bit wasted. But he appreciates it in this moment. ]

It makes up for not doing what I set out to do. This is the first time I have not completed my task [ At work, ha-ha. ] and I feel a bit bad.

My hope was to -- [ Hm, does he remember? He's grasping at some straws. Why? Did he do this? Hm? Can he get a vowel? ] -- yes. Information. Knowledge. To see what is happening versus to hear of it later. Memories are one things, but seeing through this connection is another?

But it seems... there are limits. A good thing to know on that front, though, yes?

[hallowedly]

( Following, digesting, incorporating in between the upside Host swarm — )

What's wrong with you, Kigai? Losimg your touch?

[salaryman]

[ Scrambling, hurrying steps, he's abandoned the wounded and recovering to head toward the surface. ]

Ah, I'm a very average person. [ A casual reply. ] Seeing blood made me feel faint. [ But this voice - he does know it. ] Ah - Seishirou. What you're saying is right.

This is why our company never sent me to meet with clients unless it was necessary.

[hallowedly]

Was it, now? Necessary.

[salaryman]

For me to be here? Possibly.

But now I must run home, crying. [ A beat. ] Some people are rather injured back there, but hm - did anyone die? I'm not sure. Is this why they say eye witness testimony is no good? What about testimony seen through this Murmur?

[hallowedly]

...you're rambling. I suppose this is... fear?

[salaryman]

Oh. That's novel.

I guess I must be afraid.

[ Ha-ha. He forgot the name of the emotion. ]

[sculptedash]

[Ash is only just regaining consciousness after the fight.]

Fuck yeah, we did it!

~Weeeeeeeee are the chammmmpions, my friend!~

[salaryman]

We are friends, right?

I'm so happy.

[ Aah -- he's already scrambled close to the exit. ]

I'm only sorry that I'm not there to celebrate with you, Ash.

[sculptedash]

Yeah- I don't see why not.

I mean until one of us eventually betrays and murders the other.

[The impression of a shrug comes over the murmur.]

Don't sweat it.

I'm sure we've got plenty of time for a party later.

[salaryman]

Between the two of us who do you think is going to betray and murder first?

[ He sends a smile along with his question. The tone is light and breezy despite the fear laced beneath - however, the fear is not to the question or possible future, but his own mind being in shambles. As such, it isn't any feeling directed toward her but more background radiation. ]

I'll try to find you something nice when I get to the surface.

Anything you like in particular?

[sculptedash]

Hard to say.

I've been pretty chill since I got here. I'm due for some mayhem.

[For all her jokes, Ash matches that feeling with something similar. There's a fear, pain, and deep anger that she keeps from bubbling to the surface. Like with his it's not directed at him, but it's something she has to keep in check.]

if you find any severed limbs that look cool, bring 'em up. I'm starting a collection.

[salaryman]

I'll be sure to look for some.

[ Mmm -- ]

Did you get any from that giant rat?

[for_sake]

( oh it's—yuuto-san. yoshiki still turns their conversation over and over in his head, wondering; now, he stops uncovering a rune to listen to yuuto's commentary… and struggle to parse the violence shared through the murmur, the erratic accompanying emotions that feed into his own. )

Die? ( nauseating terror comes like water leaking in slivers along a wall and slowly rotting it. yoshiki shakes his head. die? who? who? he fumbles with tracing tethers but feels, instinctively, the ones he grasps are whole. he can't be sure.

but he's sure something is wrong with this connection. yuuto's garbled speech scrambles his mind. there's no way it's because of the distance. )

What, what's wrong with you?

[salaryman]

[ As terrible as fear may be, Yuuto remains a "normal person." He told someone that he was going to be a responsible adult to them (something he never promised Sharon), and he has not forgotten that - just forgot a lot of other things in the course of a few minutes. Which is alarming, but probably not as alarming as what Yoshiki is feeling.

The terror that he feels almost bleeds into his own, but - but - he told him something and yet to be told he doesn't have to do anything. It's a little out of obligation; it's a little out of the funny way he lives his life.

And so he pauses in his scrambling to toss a smile. ]

I'm afraid I am just a little fearful is all. [ A shaky hand reaches to lightly pat his shoulder through the Murmur. ] I should've cut connection.

I'm sorry for scaring you.

[for_sake]

No, don't cut it.

( he's not sure why he said that—he always says he's no good with scary crap. but… there are so many times he's felt afraid, and so many times feeling isolated in it only made things worse. if yuuto asks him to cut the connection himself, he will, but otherwise… how could he leave him alone? )

An' don't apologise, ya can't help whatcha feel.

( just when he was thinking the absence of those smiling sensations made it all the more haunting, yuuto actually goes out of his way to toss a smile. to pat yoshiki, as if he's the one running for his life. it is the very least he can do, offering a smile in return, but he's never been good at lying so it's simply a forced rearrangement of his frowning worry. )

I'll stay to make sure you get out of there. ( so get out of there. it's not said so much as conveyed by an insistent tug on that shaky hand. )

[salaryman]

You're a really good person.

[ It is the conclusion that he comes to as he hears everything that he has to say. It's something he mulls over through the fear - it's a consolation and an honest opinion. Fear is one thing, but being polite through it is another! ]

You are growing up right. I'm sure everyone is proud to know you.

[ If he dies, he would like to give some positive reinforcement and affirmation to someone younger than him. However, if he wasn't talking to him, he wouldn't care about that at all. He would simply be fearful and die. But since someone is sincerely worried and concerned for him - he wants to seem like a reasonable adult and act like an adult should in these situations. ]

I'll be sure to give you more praise when I get out of here.

[for_sake]

( ‘good person’ he can accept with minimum bashfulness because he does try. that might be the source of past conflicts with 'hikaru'. being proud to know him— )

Yer being too kind... ( —is another story, but not one yoshiki will debate or reject when he's, very literally, tuned into yuuto running for his life.

so his presence remains steady, attention unwavering, as he clutches their connection. he can't stop the emotional feedback loop, tapped into the uncontrollable parts of what he's becoming and what he is, but he can try to soothe it. be a good companion if nothing else. the affirmation helps. ‘when I get out of here.’ it does wonders to stabilise yoshiki's end of their connection. )

You- ya really don't have to. The praise, I mean. Just come back safe as ya can.

1/2

[salaryman]

No, no, I mean it.

[ He lightly waves his hands through the Murmur. ]

I'll do my best.

[ It is an odd feeling. He wonders if it is simply because Yoshiki's a good kid. No, it probably is that - Yoshiki doesn't want anyone to die. He thinks that is a kind and wonderful thought. Yuuto does pause, however, as he quells down the fear and anxiety.

He can make jokes and console someone, because that person deserves to be rewarded in some small manner for trying to be good. ]

[salaryman]

Huh?

[ He pauses. ]

Ah - I have good news. Someone found me. So, I'll just go with them.

[ Because surely, they want to leave these terrible tunnels. ]

I'll be up on the surface soon. [ And he sends the sensation of lightly patting the top of the teenager's head. ] Stay out of trouble until then.