u know what? ok. i trust netzach

[hasteful]

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week 1 friday

[hasteful]

[is it fair to assume that netzach is horizontal or otherwise just resting somewhere -

because here comes buzen, just sprinting in a mad dash after.



after what exactly?]

Rin-san, hold on...!! Wait, where are you going?!

[he's so unfocused there's a chance he's going to trip right over netzach,]

[abstractart]

Wh- Buzen?!

[he

definitely is not going to be able to move in time, with how `fast` buzen is, so yeah there's a very good chance he's going to trip right over him. he's just here on the fuckin ground

the good news is he's holding a blahaj so there's more cushion than usual?]

[hasteful]

[he's tripping - and normally he doesn't but sometimes you're really trying to blitz after someone. something. someone.

he crashes into netzach and there's already an apology on his lips, but he seems distracted still]

Ah, Netz-san, I'm sorry—Are you okay? I just - I was trying not to lose Rin-san...

[and he's already

looking up like he's searching again]

[abstractart]

Wait- Rin...? Did you see him...?

[but didn't the message say-

his brow furrows, there, glancing up and around as well.]

[hasteful]

Yeah, he went that wa—

[though he's going to suddenly jump as though he heard something else and then swivel around to look behind him]

Wait, Rin-san, what are you doing? Who are you calling—

[scrambling to

get up and wander that way now]

[abstractart]

[ohhh boy

yeah, this is a thing he's used to. he hauls himself to his feet, stuffed shark tucked under an arm.]

I wasn't listening, man. What was it?

[-if there's one thing he knows, it's that just going right into 'hey you're probably tripping shit right now' is not going to be that helpful.]

[hasteful]

He's—on the phone. You don't see him, Netz-san?

[and then buzen will look back to netzach - before his gaze is drawn to something over his shoulder, and then he blinks a few more times again in confusion]

Wait, he's there too...?

[abstractart]

...don't think he's that fast.

[just reaching out to set a hand on buzen's arm-- if he's seeing things, then proving he's actually right here early on might not be a bad plan.]

I don't see him, Buzen.

[hasteful]

[ah - buzen responds to the touch and looks down automatically. then he'll just reach up to put his own hand over the top of netzach's like a reflex....

right. grounding.]

... you don't. Okay.

[slowly, like he's trying to piece out what to believe here, even though his eyes are clearly following someone moving behind netzach]

[abstractart]

Nope. Just you and me here.

[he lets him keep his hand there, not moving anywhere.]

...Was he with you last night?

[hasteful]

No...

[he closes his eyes then, like that'll help him focus]

I was in the Cathedral with Matsu, Kaveh-san, and Nahi-chan. I don't... I don't know where Rin-san was, but after we got the announcement, I just started to see... him.

[abstractart]

...wasn't with us at the museum, either. I haven't noticed anything weird.

[just quietly keeping an eye on him, for the most part.]

What were you hearing, anyway...?

[hasteful]

Mm, I think...

[he tilts his head, as though trying to lean in closer to a sound]

... he's on the phone with his Mom. I can hear him, still. Before this, I think he was training for - swimming? He was really focused and didn't hear me.

There's another one behind you, but - he's just... minding his business, I think.

[abstractart]

I'll let you know if you need to see anything, but- I think that's just you.

[he's still got nothing. what in the fuck. is something messing with him or did someone get him high...]

If it gets too weird, I can probably chill you out? Don't know if you wanna combine that with whatever's going on, though.

[hasteful]

No, I...

[his eyes will blink open at that - and he'll make a specific effort to focus at netzach's face]

I can't... I have to keep it together. I mean - thank you, but... If I focus, it should be okay.

[abstractart]

-yeah. Figured you would.

[sounds like him, at least, so-- probably a good sign.]

Keep talking about stuff, it's easier to ignore hearing things if you're not focused on 'em.

[hasteful]

Mmn... I don't really know what to focus on, I'm just -

[honestly?]

I'm pretty frustrated...

[abstractart]

That this is happening?

[or that rin's, you know. dead.]

[hasteful]

Both - but mostly that he's gone.

[he scowls]

I can take it - if I've been cursed. I'll deal with it. I can't take that someone hurt a person who was clearly a civilian.

[abstractart]

Are you still going to be mad about it if it turns out they were one, too?

[hasteful]

[he pauses, like he didn't consider that]

... No. Or at least, I hope I'm not—

Even if I don't know what I'll feel in the moment.

[abstractart]

I don't know whether to hope that it was, or not. I don't want one of them to have felt like they needed to do this... but if it was someone who really knew what they were doing, then going after him is a little different.

[hasteful]

... if it's someone unskilled going after someone else unskilled, because they don't want to face someone who'll take them out easily - I get it.

If it's someone skilled who just wanted a simpler target, then I don't get it. Then I'd hate it, actually.

[ . . . ]

But we won't find out until tomorrow.

[abstractart]

...yeah. Guess not.

At least this time I know what we're doing, so...

[hasteful]

[he smiles faintly at that, a little tired]

I'll follow your lead, Netz-san?