nightprince | [Text] ☠ The voice someone calls.

[ ... Unlike his usual peppy self, Ryoji's post to the network is short and private client messages are left to several people. All of them are in plain black text, however. You can tell something is up, he's bothering to use apostrophes and such. ]

[ FILTERED FROM IZAYA ; UNHACKABLE ]

... I'm sorry, everyone. If I'm not around this week, something important happened. I'll be at the Volo dorms if you really need to get in contact with me.

- Ryoji

[ FILTERED TO AIGIS ; UNHACKABLE ]

[ ... His typing drops here considerably when he messages Aigis and Vriska, as though he is upset. ]

Can we talk???????? im downstairs.

[ FILTERED TO VRISKA ; UNHACKABLE ]

[ ... This is hard on him. But he trusts Vriska, so he will get her opinion too. ]

hey........ i need to talk to you. were moirails, right...? its really important. i know the Curse is over now and i really need to know what you think about this before i do something i might wish i didnt... or did.

im not sure right now.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

*Fuuka was just walking down the stairs when Ryoji made the announcement. Something seemed off ... So she walks down to his door and gently taps on the door.*

Ryoji-kun?

[ It's kind of obvious he's been crying. The door isn't locked, but when he does answer, it's more of a quiet mumble. ]

... It's unlocked.

[ Right now he's just sitting on his bed, his head in his knees. He can't even bring himself to get up to open it. ]

* Fuuka enters his room carefully, as if not to break the sober silence surrounding Ryoji. She stares at him with a sort of heartbroken expression before she runs out of the room and returns only few minutes later with a cold wet towel.

She holds it out with two hands.*

... Here.

... Thanks, Fuuka.

[ No honorifics. He's just... too tired. He wipes his eyes and uses the cloth, silently looking down.

He wants to open up to her, but... he's afraid.

... Then again, it would be impossible for her NOT to sense WHAT he is, if she didn't already know and was from an earlier timeline.

He looks down at his feet. ]

*Fuuka does know what he is, but despite that, she feels sorry for him. Sorry that he is so miserable. Sorry that there isn't much she can do.

Even on New Year's Eve, when they all made their decision, Ryoji tried to look cheerful, but now ...*

You're welcome.

*Fuuka puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. There is a small smile on her face, but she looks rather sad.* If there is anything I can do, tell me, okay?

[ He shakes his head. ]

No, I'm fine, Fuuka-chan. ... Thanks.

[ A small smile, though it's forced. ]

... Mm.

*She wants to say something encouraging and it takes her a moment to gather her wits.*

You know Ryoji-kun, I'm glad you're here.

... Why?

[ He bites his lip. He can hold himself together for SEES. For his friends. But right now... ]

I haven't done anything but make things worse. That's all I ever do.

I don't think that's true.

You even gave us a choice in completely bleak situation - ... *Although that choice was pretty horrible one.* We wouldn't have known what to do after we made our choice either.

- I actually wanted to thank you ....

[ ... He looks up, honestly very surprised. ]

Th... thank me?

[ He knows the choices Minato will make. He knows. He knows he will have to explain to SEES what they will do when he gets home.

He knows he will probably still keep a lot from them in the end. All things he knows.

But... no one had ever thanked him for that. The decision. To... to do what he felt was selfish at best, but also what he felt was best for them at the time. It was their choice. Ultimately, it was... Minato's choice. And he had decided long ago. ]

I... I thought that would be the last thing you'd want to do. After all, I'm the one responsible for all of it...

*Fuuka thinks about this. But in the end, she can't really bring herself to say it was his fault. Something didn't feel right to. Like he wasn't the cause, but rather just a player like most people involved in Dark Hour was.*

... I don't think it's right to say it's your fault, Ryoji-kun. In New Year's Eve, you looked like you were conflicted yourself. Like us.

*She smiles gently*

So yes, I wanted to thank you. Thank you very much Ryoji-kun.

[ ... How can he possibly ever tell her? How could he let Fuuka know that the very conflicted look she likely saw was his pausing to wonder if he would miss his humanity?

...

He couldn't. ]

I... I'm not sure what to say. I just... I wanted what's best for everyone. But I know now that it wasn't the right thing to try to force on you, either.

*... Perhaps he did press the matter, but his hope that they would live, however short, without fear. Wasn't that evident?*

You did what you thought was right. I understand.

*She squeezes Ryoji's shoulder reassuringly before letting go and straightening up.* If you need anything, we'll be always be outside the room, 'kay?

... I know.

[ His smile is a little sheepish, if sincere. He didn't want anyone to worry about him too much when he knew Minato was the one he wanted people to be concerned over, right now. ]

I'm still trying to do the right thing. It's just... not always clear what that is. So I guess right now... all I can do is try to figure it out.

[Text] ☠ The voice someone calls.

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