[Text] ☠ The voice someone calls.

[nightprince]

[ ... 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.

Comments

[action]

[imaging.livejournal.com]

I understand how you feel.

[ Aigis walks to him, taking a step closer than usual, in order to reach out and put her hand on Ryoji's forehead. ]

But you cannot change what's happened--devastating as it may be. We need to be calm, and take care of ourselves--and him. [ Her usually blank expression turns into a small smile. ]

You need rest.

[action]

[derparcana.livejournal.com]

[ ... He is breaking down here, slowly. ]

But I can't... I can't DO anything! Except make it worse...!

[ He is crying now, and he can't help it. He just slams his fist angrily down on a nearby wall, breathing heavily, tears welling up. ]

I can't... protect him... why? Why would he... why would he LET someone play with him like this? Why can't he see how much he MEANS to me?!

[ ... His hand stays on the wall, trying to breathe, but he's crying now and he can't avoid it. ]

[action]

[imaging.livejournal.com]

[ Despite all senors in her body screaming to back away from him, Aigis remains close, hand moving to wipe the tears under his eyes. ]

Ryoji. By staying here, sane, safe, and protected, you are already helping Minato in his mentality. [ There's a pause and a frown as she looks away, eyes locked on the floor. ]

I'm not... not sure how all this could have happened. And while it takes a large toll on... on what I assume is my heart, the most important thing is to ensure that this does not happen again.

[ And then she looks back to Ryoji, intensely, with fierce determination. ]

Listen to me. You are the only one I trust to protect him along side me. I need you to be calm and help me fight off any threats to his well being. [ A pause. ] Can you do it? Or should I seek someone else's protection?

[action]

[derparcana.livejournal.com]

[ ... Easy for Aigis to say. So, so easy. ]

I...

[ He's just so angry right now. His emotions are an utter mess. He merely nods, but his eyes are saying so much more right now.

... He feels like a horrible friend. ]

[action] ; 1/2

[imaging.livejournal.com]

[ ... It's plain to see that things aren't getting through to him, so, Aigis tries a different approach.

She takes a step closer to him—dangerously close—and unveils the guns in her fingertips, pointing them directly at his temple.

She doesn't want to do this. She doesn't want to threaten him, but...

... At the same time, she can't watch him be so distraught over all this. It's going to kill her either way. ]

[action] ; 2/2

[imaging.livejournal.com]

Mochizuki Ryoji, open your ears and listen.

Accept what happened, or die now. You... I need you. I need you to support Minato—to be his closest friend. I need that from you. But the way you are now?

You are of no use to me, nor to Minato.

Wise up immediately. This was a falter on all our behalves, and while I'm not all right with what happened... [ She sighs, losing the faintest bit of confidence. It would be so easy to act like Ryoji right now, but... No.

She needed to be strong for his sake. ]

I understand that you are part of each other—no, forget that. I do not understand what it's like to have part of you hurt in such a way. However, you and I share a common goal, which is to protect Minato at all costs.

We've failed, you and I. So cease your moping around and brighten up so we an ensure that this does not happen again.

[ She presses the gun harder against his forehead. ]

Do you understand?

[action] SOBBING ASJDHFG

[derparcana.livejournal.com]

[ ... He freezes. His instincts are to immediately remove the threat, but he bites back on them.

Last time he had protected himself from Aigis, he had nearly broken her for good. Here... she had a point.

It wasn't something he wanted to do. All the same, he knew that those bullets would be rather ineffective, even this close. Or at least, they normally would be. Hadn't Vatheon weakened him? ... He wasn't sure he wanted to test that. But it wasn't out of fear for his life in the least that he answered.

His tone was neutral. He wouldn't make it a challenge. ]

... Do you really want to do this right now, Aigis?

[ He can tell she's wavering, but he doesn't want a fight to break out here. The last thing Minato needed was him in this condition, he guessed. ]

Because I don't.

[ She was making a point. She had his attention. ... But he wouldn't hesitate to remove her as a threat to himself if he had to. ]

... It won't help him if we're fighting. I prevented his death numerous times before, but I can't do that anymore. Not in the same way.

[ ... But they were still connected. ]

He has to take care of himself, too. ... You're able to control yourself far better than I am. I don't intend to make any more mistakes.

[action] SORRY IT'S FOR HIS OWN GOOD KAJSHK

[imaging.livejournal.com]

I don't. [ She shakes her head, quietly removing her hand. ]

It was simply a test, think nothing more of it. [ She serious expression melts a little bit, and she manages a faint smile. He's... stronger, than she thought. So much stronger. And there a part of her, buried somewhere deep, that can't help but be proud of him. ]

You're strong, Ryoji. Stronger than myself. [ She steps back, away from him. ]

I'm uninterested in harming you—you know this. I merely want what's best for him, whatever it may be.

[ She frowns, since before she considered Ryoji to be "bad" for him, but... but Aigis can see herself reflected in him. He didn't attack her, despite his natural instinct, because to would make things harder on Minato. ]

Will you be all right?

[action]

[derparcana.livejournal.com]

... Nothing some time alone can't fix. I... need to figure out how I feel about this, I think.

[ ... How he feels about Minato being hurt. Why he feels that way. He's not sure. ]

I've never been angry at anyone before then. Not... not really. Someone tried to kill me and I forgave them because they were remorseful. They killed a lot of people, but... that's different.

[ He seems unsure. ]

I don't like the idea of anyone toying with people's lives. Not like that. ... It just happened to be Minato who was first. I'm concerned this person may... hurt others.