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"Um. Kozukata Yuri."
"At the tone, please record your message. when you are finished recording, you may hang up, or press 1 for more options. To leave a call back number, press 9."
"Um. Kozukata Yuri."
"At the tone, please record your message. when you are finished recording, you may hang up, or press 1 for more options. To leave a call back number, press 9."
[is it really better to clarify here.] Sorry, I wasn't trying to make it seem like I was judging you or anything. I think it was sweet of you. I'm sure it helped him.
[The fact he feels compelled to clarify he has a girlfriend amuses her] You didn't have to tell me that. It's fine.
I'm sure Hyoubu was just trying to wind you up. He seems to like doing that...
[The fact he feels compelled to clarify he has a girlfriend amuses her] You didn't have to tell me that. It's fine.
I'm sure Hyoubu was just trying to wind you up. He seems to like doing that...
[ The mutter wins a grin. Well, at least he picked the right animal. (And anyone who likes cats is good in his book, really.)
But it tones down again at her suggestion, and he nods, tilting his head for her to follow him as he leads the way. ]
Yeah. There's a lot to go over. [ His smile disappears completely in favor of a thoughtful look as he debates how to even approach this. ] It might be easiest to just tell you what happened ... after. [ He states it simply, without inflection. After you died. ]
But it tones down again at her suggestion, and he nods, tilting his head for her to follow him as he leads the way. ]
Yeah. There's a lot to go over. [ His smile disappears completely in favor of a thoughtful look as he debates how to even approach this. ] It might be easiest to just tell you what happened ... after. [ He states it simply, without inflection. After you died. ]
I didn't think you were judging, I mean there isn't anything to judge, is there?
[ Hypocrite... he totally went weird when he realised that same sex couples actually exist. ]
But he really does seem to be that kind of person, you're right.
[ Hypocrite... he totally went weird when he realised that same sex couples actually exist. ]
But he really does seem to be that kind of person, you're right.
[She winces a little. 'After.' Yeah, she knows what that means.
She says nothing for a moment, just following after him, before she finally makes a noise of agreement.] Mm. That'd be a good idea. After Mars and I-- After that happened... What happened to the other spirits?
[Of course that's her first question, thoughts going for the spirits that had been trapped] I think we saved them all, but... I wanted to make sure.
She says nothing for a moment, just following after him, before she finally makes a noise of agreement.] Mm. That'd be a good idea. After Mars and I-- After that happened... What happened to the other spirits?
[Of course that's her first question, thoughts going for the spirits that had been trapped] I think we saved them all, but... I wanted to make sure.
... there were no other spirits.
[ He says this without inflection, though his eyes are partly lidded, his expression serious. He does give her one brief, encouraging smile. ]
You saved everyone that had been trapped, don't worry about that. All that was left was what killed you.
[ This he says straightforwardly. He doesn't say it with any hardness in his voice, or harshly. A grim thoughtfulness overtakes him. ]
It was a guard. A robot, actually. It materialized to speak to Merlin and Hyoubu-san and I. It was what had been keeping the spirits trapped there all that time.
[ He says this without inflection, though his eyes are partly lidded, his expression serious. He does give her one brief, encouraging smile. ]
You saved everyone that had been trapped, don't worry about that. All that was left was what killed you.
[ This he says straightforwardly. He doesn't say it with any hardness in his voice, or harshly. A grim thoughtfulness overtakes him. ]
It was a guard. A robot, actually. It materialized to speak to Merlin and Hyoubu-san and I. It was what had been keeping the spirits trapped there all that time.
Oh. [It's said on a rush of an exhale, Yuri's eyes closing briefly as she pauses in her walking to take the information in.] So we did it after all... [She's glad about that, truly; it's a relief to know they were able to keep up their end of the bargain even at the cost of her life.
The talk of a robot guard has her frowning even as she starts walking again.] A robot guard? Did you learn anything?
The talk of a robot guard has her frowning even as she starts walking again.] A robot guard? Did you learn anything?
[This was frustrating. So much so that a pained little noise escapes him, and Neji once again damns his own being. For fuck's sake, though-- were the spirits different from the things his own group had encountered? A different population of
who cared, though? It killed the living; it makes Neji snap his head up and look off in the direction Lee's room was-- so add this to the ever-growing list of things to never breathe a word about. Yuri might have already said it. That made no difference in his duty to shut his trap about it.
He lets the message sit a few minutes. Stupid text function. This was easier with words spoken face to face, then you knew when to charge forward or pull the reins.
No.
No of course the captors didn't want the prisoners free, not even after death.
That was how it worked, right? Power was power, and who would ever give it up?]
There were 5 total in my group. We woke in a dungeon and there were levels below and above us. We were driven into a hall by creatures that resembled bats and we had no way to return to where we started.
[Possibly the only thing that was not his fault-- and still a lie. He could have made a hole in the rubble that'd caved in on them. He was sure.]
The hall led downward and we found a room that housed rows of caskets. We were freezing.
[Literally freezing. It sounded stupid. It was all... so, so stupid.]
With nothing else to do but die we decided to open one with someone suggesting they might learn about the colony's history. There was nothing we could see and what must have been a spirit.
It killed me and I assume the others as well. [Look, he doesn't know for sure. Doesn't know their names. But he's pretty sure he screwed them over because he'd heard the damned thing scream.]
Why should death mean something more to them than to us?
who cared, though? It killed the living; it makes Neji snap his head up and look off in the direction Lee's room was-- so add this to the ever-growing list of things to never breathe a word about. Yuri might have already said it. That made no difference in his duty to shut his trap about it.
He lets the message sit a few minutes. Stupid text function. This was easier with words spoken face to face, then you knew when to charge forward or pull the reins.
No.
No of course the captors didn't want the prisoners free, not even after death.
That was how it worked, right? Power was power, and who would ever give it up?]
There were 5 total in my group. We woke in a dungeon and there were levels below and above us. We were driven into a hall by creatures that resembled bats and we had no way to return to where we started.
[Possibly the only thing that was not his fault-- and still a lie. He could have made a hole in the rubble that'd caved in on them. He was sure.]
The hall led downward and we found a room that housed rows of caskets. We were freezing.
[Literally freezing. It sounded stupid. It was all... so, so stupid.]
With nothing else to do but die we decided to open one with someone suggesting they might learn about the colony's history. There was nothing we could see and what must have been a spirit.
It killed me and I assume the others as well. [Look, he doesn't know for sure. Doesn't know their names. But he's pretty sure he screwed them over because he'd heard the damned thing scream.]
Why should death mean something more to them than to us?
[She taps her fingers against the device, considering. Wondering. How does she respond? 'I'm sorry' sounds so cheap, so useless. She moves to flop onto her side on the couch, curling up and staring at the the text. She reads over it--once, twice, thrice.]
I wonder how many people died. [Either in the groups, or in those places. A lot of groups seemed to run into ghosts.] So far there's no answers. Just more questions. Typical.
The ones in the prison starved to death mostly, I think. It was a lot of memories and feelings all at once. My stomach still hurts.
[The phantom pains of starvation; she's hungry, but looking or smelling food makes her feel nauseous. It's finally starting to fade away, but even now she was just nibbling on crackers to keep her stomach calm. Fun.
It killed me, he says. She stares at the words. 'Again?' she almost asks.]
I didn't know death would be like that. I don't know what to think now. [It had been something she sought, a fine line she tread between wanting to live or die, and it had been tipped. She'd experienced both but was no closer to making a decision on this than she had been before.]
Did you come back alright? I know sometimes coming back means some kind of 'penalty.'
I wonder how many people died. [Either in the groups, or in those places. A lot of groups seemed to run into ghosts.] So far there's no answers. Just more questions. Typical.
The ones in the prison starved to death mostly, I think. It was a lot of memories and feelings all at once. My stomach still hurts.
[The phantom pains of starvation; she's hungry, but looking or smelling food makes her feel nauseous. It's finally starting to fade away, but even now she was just nibbling on crackers to keep her stomach calm. Fun.
It killed me, he says. She stares at the words. 'Again?' she almost asks.]
I didn't know death would be like that. I don't know what to think now. [It had been something she sought, a fine line she tread between wanting to live or die, and it had been tipped. She'd experienced both but was no closer to making a decision on this than she had been before.]
Did you come back alright? I know sometimes coming back means some kind of 'penalty.'
[Wait a minute--]
Using your powers hurts you?
[He'd seen her clutch a hand to her stomach after she'd seen his memory of death, and had dismissed it an unconscious twitch of the fingers.
...gods, though, it hurt her? Reliving the deaths of others hurt Yuri? And suddenly his stomach hurts.
He doesn't know what to write back. His mind's blank and it's not peace that fills it.]
I'm fine. [Coming back was a penalty in itself. --no, that's just melodramatic. Maybe. Damn.] Nothing's changed with me if that's what you mean. [And there's a voice in his head saying that if there's a penalty, he'd like to know what he'd be dealing with. Neji doesn't fret about it; it's always been with him and he always got his answer- the genius of goddamn Hyuga. Keep pushing your luck and eventually--]
Death is simple. Coming back isn't.
Using your powers hurts you?
[He'd seen her clutch a hand to her stomach after she'd seen his memory of death, and had dismissed it an unconscious twitch of the fingers.
...gods, though, it hurt her? Reliving the deaths of others hurt Yuri? And suddenly his stomach hurts.
He doesn't know what to write back. His mind's blank and it's not peace that fills it.]
I'm fine. [Coming back was a penalty in itself. --no, that's just melodramatic. Maybe. Damn.] Nothing's changed with me if that's what you mean. [And there's a voice in his head saying that if there's a penalty, he'd like to know what he'd be dealing with. Neji doesn't fret about it; it's always been with him and he always got his answer- the genius of goddamn Hyuga. Keep pushing your luck and eventually--]
Death is simple. Coming back isn't.
[Oh.
Yeah.
That's not really common knowledge, is it? She never thought to explain it exactly and she feels a little guilty.] Yes. I feel everything the person felt when I experience their memories or their deaths. [She's quiet a moment, wondering if there's anything she can say to make this better--] When it's a spirit like that, taking on their suffering puts their souls at rest and allows them to move on. It's a small price to pay to help. [-- Well probably not that.
Oh Well.]
I'm glad you're alright. [There's nothing more to say there, she figures. He's right, obviously, in more ways than one.]
Yeah.
That's not really common knowledge, is it? She never thought to explain it exactly and she feels a little guilty.] Yes. I feel everything the person felt when I experience their memories or their deaths. [She's quiet a moment, wondering if there's anything she can say to make this better--] When it's a spirit like that, taking on their suffering puts their souls at rest and allows them to move on. It's a small price to pay to help. [-- Well probably not that.
Oh Well.]
I'm glad you're alright. [There's nothing more to say there, she figures. He's right, obviously, in more ways than one.]
[No-]
I'm sorry.
[The bridge of his nose is stinging and his throat is feeling sour and falling back on his bed to rest the tension in his back and shoulders is all he can do to keep the world from spinning.
And well- damn, he already sent that message and isn't sure he can get it back.
So Neji's glad this exchange is through text and all its irritating, infuriating quirks. He doesn't feel so ashamed to suck in a deep breath and close his eyes for a second. Just a second.
Had he already asked if she was fine? What if he pressed Send again, while scrolling through older messages? --he hates this.] You're braver than I'd ever be. [He sends it anyway.] Do you need anything?
I'm sorry.
[The bridge of his nose is stinging and his throat is feeling sour and falling back on his bed to rest the tension in his back and shoulders is all he can do to keep the world from spinning.
And well- damn, he already sent that message and isn't sure he can get it back.
So Neji's glad this exchange is through text and all its irritating, infuriating quirks. He doesn't feel so ashamed to suck in a deep breath and close his eyes for a second. Just a second.
Had he already asked if she was fine? What if he pressed Send again, while scrolling through older messages? --he hates this.] You're braver than I'd ever be. [He sends it anyway.] Do you need anything?
[She feels oddly embarrassed by both the apology and the praise. It's nothing to apologize for--] It's not your fault.
[And it's not, it's really not. She looks away and sighs. Brave? Everyone keeps telling her that but...] Just a friend. You're doing a good job.
[It feels strange still to consciously refer to people as friends. But, well, they call each other by their first names so they must be some sort of close even if they're prickly at each other]
But really, don't be sorry. I used to hate this power, but lately I've found ways to make it useful. I can't complain about that.
[And it's not, it's really not. She looks away and sighs. Brave? Everyone keeps telling her that but...] Just a friend. You're doing a good job.
[It feels strange still to consciously refer to people as friends. But, well, they call each other by their first names so they must be some sort of close even if they're prickly at each other]
But really, don't be sorry. I used to hate this power, but lately I've found ways to make it useful. I can't complain about that.
[Hello to you too, Neji. She answers with a vaguely amused look and doesn't look too worse for wear, despite some bruises.]
Worried? [But she nods] Yeah, I'm fine. Lee got me out once everything started messing up, and I kept myself alive since.
Things just keep getting worse and worse, huh... What's happening with this city? [It's a rhetorical question, of course, but Yuri crosses her arms over her chest and frowns, looking thoughtful]
Worried? [But she nods] Yeah, I'm fine. Lee got me out once everything started messing up, and I kept myself alive since.
Things just keep getting worse and worse, huh... What's happening with this city? [It's a rhetorical question, of course, but Yuri crosses her arms over her chest and frowns, looking thoughtful]
[Not at all, it's just that the city went to shit and everyone he knew from his world vanished along with whatever order CERES had set up, save for his team which only made things that much more nerve-wracking.
He huffs. Worried? No.] Whatever it is, I can't say I hate it. [Could be better, but that's just life.] I'm not looking forward to CERES' response to their problems, but that they're having them is good enough for me.
[Son of a bitch even looks a touch upbeat-- what how did that happen.
No wait--] You haven't been locked out of your apartment or anything, have you?
He huffs. Worried? No.] Whatever it is, I can't say I hate it. [Could be better, but that's just life.] I'm not looking forward to CERES' response to their problems, but that they're having them is good enough for me.
[Son of a bitch even looks a touch upbeat-- what how did that happen.
No wait--] You haven't been locked out of your apartment or anything, have you?
[She stares at him a moment, not sure if she's okay with how happy he is over their entire situation. The inmates are running the asylum now...] It'd be better if we didn't have to suffer for it though. I'm glad to see you're cheered up by it.
[Not all of us our ninjas who can adapt to most situations, Neji!!] Ah, yeah. [She starts a little at the question and answers automatically, looking a tad embarrassed. She scratches her cheek.]
I'll have to get someone to carry me up through the open window or something to get in. It's a bit of a hassle, but... [She shrugs. WHAT CAN YOU DO.]
[Not all of us our ninjas who can adapt to most situations, Neji!!] Ah, yeah. [She starts a little at the question and answers automatically, looking a tad embarrassed. She scratches her cheek.]
I'll have to get someone to carry me up through the open window or something to get in. It's a bit of a hassle, but... [She shrugs. WHAT CAN YOU DO.]
of course it'd be. [Excuse her for feeling the need to point that out.
He's about to point out he's not exactly beaming, this is more the byproduct of comfortable familiarity with disorder and distress but.
Yuri had to interfere by being honest. It's Neji's turn to look mildly surprised.] I guess a problem with the doors would be as common and as harmless as we can hope for. Should i... call for Lee?
He's about to point out he's not exactly beaming, this is more the byproduct of comfortable familiarity with disorder and distress but.
Yuri had to interfere by being honest. It's Neji's turn to look mildly surprised.] I guess a problem with the doors would be as common and as harmless as we can hope for. Should i... call for Lee?
[Someones gotta remind you, Neji.
But she shakes her head at the offer] No, I don't want to disturb him if he's busy. [She eyes him through the video though.] But, if you're free...?
[Maybe they can figure out how to get her door open from the inside while they're at it.]
But she shakes her head at the offer] No, I don't want to disturb him if he's busy. [She eyes him through the video though.] But, if you're free...?
[Maybe they can figure out how to get her door open from the inside while they're at it.]
[As much as Neji's first instinct is to say that Lee would never call coming to Yuri's aide a disturbance, his second instinct alerts him to the fact that he's subjected to the relationship through no will of his own.
Yuri gets a short-lived, but potent, blank stare.
It's followed by that small sigh of resignation that tells him, yes, this is actually all his fault.]
I'm not carrying you through a window. Meet me in front your apartment. I'll just open the door.
Yuri gets a short-lived, but potent, blank stare.
It's followed by that small sigh of resignation that tells him, yes, this is actually all his fault.]
I'm not carrying you through a window. Meet me in front your apartment. I'll just open the door.
[She raises her eyebrows at that stare. YES NEJI? SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE CLASS?]
You don't have to if you don't want to. [A token offer of a way out, even if they both know he won't take it. Ah well, she tried?]
But I'll be there. I'm already outside the building anyhow... [So, you know. Meet you there?]
You don't have to if you don't want to. [A token offer of a way out, even if they both know he won't take it. Ah well, she tried?]
But I'll be there. I'm already outside the building anyhow... [So, you know. Meet you there?]
[It was a terrible thing to note he didn't have anything better to do at the moment. Yuri gets a nod, and Neji ends the video.
And a couple of minutes later, he's leaping down from one of the low rooftops to greet her by the residency.
Well--
'greet'.] How long have you been locked out?
And a couple of minutes later, he's leaping down from one of the low rooftops to greet her by the residency.
Well--
'greet'.] How long have you been locked out?
Hi.
[hello to you too, Neji.]
...Long enough. [AKA the day ratio change messed me up and technically she's been homeless for like ever now but for the sake of Yuri's dignity we'll just say a day or two]
I didn't want Lee to worry. [Was Neji aware their relationship was official now? She's sure Lee must've told... just about everyone by now or something. Or maybe things got too busy for declaring their love from the rooftops-- She hopes it's that option.] And I was sort of hoping the apartments would go back to normal again soon and open up. My keys don't work anymore. [So this isn't her fault, okay? It's CERES.]
[hello to you too, Neji.]
...Long enough. [
I didn't want Lee to worry. [Was Neji aware their relationship was official now? She's sure Lee must've told... just about everyone by now or something. Or maybe things got too busy for declaring their love from the rooftops-- She hopes it's that option.] And I was sort of hoping the apartments would go back to normal again soon and open up. My keys don't work anymore. [So this isn't her fault, okay? It's CERES.]
[As long as she wasn't sleeping in any park benches like a wino or anything. He's gotten enough to worry about with that, didn't need to add Yuri to the slowly-growing pile.
'Didn't want Lee to worry'. Another huff, this time a little drier. 'Good call', he wanted to say, because his ears likely wouldn't have been able to handle to abuse this morning.]
Looks like you're stuck with leaving the door propped open if you want to get back inside, then. At least until you replace the lock. [Or something? Does he look like a damn handyman to her?] You could call Lee over for that. [It's a chore that's below him- Neji doesn't think he needs to spell it out. He nods and they get going to her apartment door.] You've been here longer, Yuri. Has CERES ever been this disorganized before? Nothing of theirs seems to be working properly.
[Yep-- shut like literally everybody else's.]
'Didn't want Lee to worry'. Another huff, this time a little drier. 'Good call', he wanted to say, because his ears likely wouldn't have been able to handle to abuse this morning.]
Looks like you're stuck with leaving the door propped open if you want to get back inside, then. At least until you replace the lock. [Or something? Does he look like a damn handyman to her?] You could call Lee over for that. [It's a chore that's below him- Neji doesn't think he needs to spell it out. He nods and they get going to her apartment door.] You've been here longer, Yuri. Has CERES ever been this disorganized before? Nothing of theirs seems to be working properly.
[Yep-- shut like literally everybody else's.]
Well, it's not like anyone would try to break in. [I mean, they could but who would want to? There are more interesting people and places to try and attack.
Yuri purses her lips and considers the question before slowly shaking her head.] No. Things would go haywire a little while--like with the robots not too long ago, but nothing to this scale. Something must be going on internally-- there was an announcement, right? Mosley was fired, and she said something about 'corporate sabotage'? ['She' being the CEO whose name escapes Yuri at the moment.]
And it looks like we're all stuck in the middle of it.
Yuri purses her lips and considers the question before slowly shaking her head.] No. Things would go haywire a little while--like with the robots not too long ago, but nothing to this scale. Something must be going on internally-- there was an announcement, right? Mosley was fired, and she said something about 'corporate sabotage'? ['She' being the CEO whose name escapes Yuri at the moment.]
And it looks like we're all stuck in the middle of it.
[That's what everyone thinks, and then robots bust in to drag teammates to the underworld.
And anyway. Again, Neji is reminded that Yuri would be a hell of an awful ninja.] Really? [--okay, anyway.
The door is literally more important than whatever Yuri keeps saying.
The veins around his eyes swell and pinch. His pupils, finally, come into focus, the strain of the dojutsu making them dilute. Byakugan, just like that, comes back to life. Neji reaches a hand to the lock and ponders why he volunteered to do this in the first place.]
And anyway. Again, Neji is reminded that Yuri would be a hell of an awful ninja.] Really? [--okay, anyway.
The door is literally more important than whatever Yuri keeps saying.
The veins around his eyes swell and pinch. His pupils, finally, come into focus, the strain of the dojutsu making them dilute. Byakugan, just like that, comes back to life. Neji reaches a hand to the lock and ponders why he volunteered to do this in the first place.]
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