voice;

[dawnward]

[The NV is on, for all that there is silence in the background. There's no sound, no breathing, no moving or walking to be heard. This goes on for a minute, almost two, before someone finally speaks into the device.]

Ritsuka Aoyagi has died.

[For all that the news will be devastating to those who knew Ritsuka, Riku's voice is decidedly calm, hollow as he speaks. It's probably taken him some time to even say this much to the network about what's happened only an hour or so prior to the post. He doesn't know if he can bring himself to talk about the details or what possibly transpired, though he knows he should.]

Those patches of Darkness... Someone said he was caught.

[A lie, he suspects. One he'll be looking into, if only to find out who saw it happen, who left him to die alone, so that he'll finally have someone else to blame besides himself.

He lapses into silence again before he speaks once more, regarding the NV and its open post as an afterthought.]

I'm sorry.

[And then he turns off the device.]

Comments

[madeinoblivion]

Do you... Um...

[Okay. Deep breath. Maybe it's a bad idea to go out darkness exploring tonight like it's a sport, when Riku's good friend just died, awfully. Poor Ritsuka. He's toughed it out for what feels like forever.

There's a lot he wants to ask- did they even try to call an ambulance? Why would Ritsuka walk in the shadows? Hadn't he heard about all the warnings?

But instead he tries the lame, supportive one. It creeps out even expecting a reply that knows it's obligatory.

How could he not, though? When Riku's worked hard and done everything for them, since they've come to city.]

Is there anything I can do?

[dawnward]

No.

[He doesn't want sympathy or comfort. What he wants, as cruel and selfish as it is, is for someone to pay for this. Barring that, he wants Ritsuka back.]

Just don't let anyone else get hurt.

[madeinoblivion]

Yeah.

[And this is not a lip service, not a sarcastic fight, he's nodding woodenly to himself in accord and remembering all of his own promises, and he swallows at the feeling that's welling up.]

Yeah. I'll do that. Riku-

[It's stupid, to resent pulling up on the mature straps and hanging tight to the stuff that matters, instead of running off and doing his own thing. Not now, of all times. So he accepts that charge, because he's done it before, and he can certainly try his best to protect his friends.]

...I'll be extra careful for everyone, okay?

[dawnward]

[It could be lip service. From anyone else, he might believe it to be. But Joe is made after his heart, his data, and he knows that this isn't so trivial to him. This is a promise to keep people safe, something the both of them understand.

He makes a sound of understanding.]

Okay.

[A pause.]

And you too.

[madeinoblivion]

Don't worry about me. [Whatever happened to Ritsuka's more than enough to worry about. But soon he'll be showing up back at the diamond, right?] I'm just as strong as you are.

[dawnward]

[And just as weak, he wishes to say. He doesn't, though. Instead, he lets that comment go.]

Right.