Text; Ainir 2

[twistedempathy]

Has anyone seen Kiwi? They didn't come home last night, and their name isn't on my contact list anymore. None of the priests have seen them at any of the temples, and they're not in jail.

They usually like to sing and dance in town to brighten people's day. If you haven't met them yet, they look like this.

[Attached is a video clip of Kiwi holding a Flareon's front paws and dancing around energetically with her, apparently trying to teach her to sing? She skitters around with them on her hind legs, making a good faith effort to attempt to mimic their sequences of notes with bright yips and slightly (if you're being generous for the sake of cute) musical howls, fluffy tail wagging furiously. Will isn't in the picture, since he's holding the camera, but it's easy to hear him laughing.


He's not laughing now. He doesn't trust himself to maintain his characteristic smile or tone, having to look at people or talk about this out loud. And if he's with Cor at the temple..... He doesn't want to trouble the older man with something like this, either. Cor has enough to worry about already. Perhaps that's most telling of all; Will almost never used text if he can help it. He always prefers video, or at least voice.

When Akira, Goro, and Kei had vanished, he'd been terrified, knowing they could be in danger from lingering spider monsters, trapped under rubble, sick, or hurt. But now..... None of that is an issue. There's nothing else that could be keeping Kiwi from coming home. This time, he's just..... Tired, and defeated, and more hopeless than he's felt in a long time.

This entire message is pointless, of course. There's no way anyone could have seen them. But Will doesn't think he could forgive himself if he just..... gave up on Kiwi without at least trying.]

Comments

[Audio]

[original_is_best]

I have not.

[He said it plainly, but he did stop to think. Will had lost quite a few people before, and recently both the soldier and 'His Majesty' had taken... 'ill', perhaps, was not the correct word, but close enough.

But he wasn't one to have comforting words ready on the tip of his tongue, which was why a lengthy silence followed the first statement, as if he was leaving it at that.

'They would find Kiwi'? He could not give that assurance. 'Kiwi was safe'? He wasn't so willing to make that assertion, as others did. They had no idea what happened to people who disappeared, they only had reassurances without proof.]

Did you... wish to move?

[twistedempathy]

I don't know.

[Facing an empty house like this is just..... unsettling, to be honest. Depressing, when he knows the one he's waiting for will never come home. It doesn't even feel like home anymore. And yet.....

It's a minute or two before he sends his next message, too.]

Three at the same time, and then a fourth. It's hard to believe that's really just a coincidence, isn't it?

[He had tried to convince himself it was, after Akira, Goro, and Kei had vanished. But it's awfully hard to think that this isn't some kind of emerging pattern. He's not sure how or why, but isn't the only consistent thread between the four living with him? Or at the very least, spending a lot of time with him? Regis and Cor falling ill like this does nothing but lend that idea credence.....]

[original_is_best]

[Again, comforting words don't come to him readily. Of course he could see the pattern, and he wonders as well.

However, he doesn't see quite why it would happen around Will in particular.]

It is possible. I don't see how or why, however...

[Not that that negated the possibilty. Much of this place made little sense. Especially when it came to Will - of the people he knew, Will most adamantly attempted to fit in with the culture here. So why punish him?]

...I am confident that the soldier would desire your company in his residence.

[He would offer, but why would Will want to live with him rather than his lover? He wouldn't likely be the chosen option.]

[twistedempathy]

Probably. But I don't like the idea of blindly putting more people at risk if this really is legitimate.

[Especially not Cor or Verstael, or Reggie. They're all so important to him..... How could he forgive himself if he knowingly let something like this happen? Cor and Reggie have already gotten sick and teetered on the edge of vanishing.....

It just doesn't make sense. He doesn't understand this at all, and as much as he isn't comfortable with the idea of staying here alone..... he likes the idea of selfishly, recklessly endangering people without knowing the stakes even less.]

[original_is_best]

[He let out a hefty sigh. He couldn't verify if it was true or not, and he wasn't one to lie about results. Thus far there was a pattern, Will wasn't wrong.

But he still had a lot of pride in himself. After a moment, he offered another thought.]

I will not be vanishing. I won't allow it.

[That he could more confidently reassure Will about, even if it was based on his own overly large ego.]

[twistedempathy]

Still too many problems to solve, right? If anyone could make breakthroughs on these things, it's got to be you.

[He's not entirely convinced, without anything but Verstael's determination to back it up..... but it is kind of reassuring in its own right. Verstael is a man to be reckoned with, a creative and intellectual force driven to achieve incredible things with willpower alone. If anyone could cling to existence in spite of efforts to be erased, and forcibly unravel the secrets of this place.....]

video

[scentsitivity]

I've seen them a few times before whenever I walk around the town, but not recently.

[ It sounds really strange though. It's like this Kiwi person disappeared into thin air. ]

Are there any traces of they left behind? Like items or a hat?

[twistedempathy]

Everything is still in their room how they left it. I'm not sure about anything they might have had with them, like their tablet.

[scentsitivity]

[ Tanjiro goes silent for a brief moment. He briefly considered the thought of sniffing them out, but maybe he could try looking around for Kiwi later tonight. ]

... I think you should hold them on, with any hope the Gods returned them safely back at home or given the right time they'll be back here.

[twistedempathy]

I'll leave things as they are, just in case. But just getting back home safely doesn't mean they'll stay safe.

[And that's part of why this is so utterly devastating. How can he take comfort in them going home when there's nobody there to take care of Kiwi or keep them safe? Who's going to help them, if they can't save the world by themselves? Miriam can't be there.....]

[Action]

[flawed_immortality]

[He sees what you're doing here, babe. Not trying to bother anyone or cause a fuss. Cor sets his tablet aside, reaching out to drag Will down into the nest of blankets that have accumulated at the foot of Regis' bed. Noctis was on top of the King, Cor would just curl up at his feet like a good dog waiting for his owner to wake up.

But when he sees the text message he wraps his arms around Will, pulls the smaller man back against his chest, presses a gentle kiss just behind his ear.]

Dulcissime....

[twistedempathy]

[Will doesn't spend very long with the boys, to be honest. He comes to bring them things--food, clothing, whatever they need--, sits with them for a little while to make sure everything is okay, and fades away again once they're done. He doesn't want to intrude, or make the recovery room more crowded than it already is--not to mention that spending too long in everyone's company like this is just painful. Even brief visits have him nursing headaches by the time he leaves.

It's been hours since he made this post, while he was still at home; it's not at the front of his mind at the moment. Needless to say, Will is properly startled to find himself dragged from his seat and into Cor's nest, landing in the older man's lap in an ungainly sprawl.]

Wh--a-are you okay?

[flawed_immortality]

[Cor lets Will get himself a little more settled, not quite the same messy flop, pulling a blanket around them both.]

I am...

[His breath comes out a little shaky, worried but he knows it's killing Will to be here even as much as he is. This time the worry is firmly directed at Will, not Regis, as Cor curls around his boyfriend.]

You could have told me.

[He understands why Will didn't. With Regis and Luna and this whole mess, of course he didn't. It doesn't change the fact that Cor wants to be there for his boy, though.

I'm so sorry, Will.]

[twistedempathy]

.....Oh.

[That. It takes a moment, but he realizes what Cor is talking about soon enough. It's a subtle thing, the way he wilts, more easily felt than seen with the way Cor wraps around him. He cranes his neck back to press a kiss to Cor's jaw line, equal measures reassuring and apologetic himself.]

You have more than enough to worry about right now. You need to focus on what's important.

[What's important is making sure his king, his heart and soul, his entire world wakes back up and recovers fully. Compared to that..... Kiwi should barely even be a footnote for Cor right now. It's not like they can save or nurse back to health someone who's just..... gone.

He'll be just fine. Isn't he always?]

[flawed_immortality]

You are important.

[Firm and insistent, punctuated by a brief squeeze that's just a little too tight.]

I didn't know them well but... they were important to you. It seems we've lost a number of our people, unfortunately. The oracle, Lady Lunafreya...

[He lowers his voice, glancing in the direction of Noctis' sleeping form. The last thing he wants to do is make things worse for Noct while trying to comfort Will.]

I feel it is suspicious that Regis and I both fell... ill at the same time that so many of those close to us vanished.

[Cor, Will doesn't need your conspiracy theories right now. He actually shakes his head, dismissing the thought and nuzzling into Will's neck.]

I'm sorry, dulcissime.

[video]

[the_tailor]

Kiwi's missing? I just checked my own contact list, and I don't see them on there either, but...

[He frowns. Because...really, a disappearance in a peaceful time like this could likely only mean one thing.]

Hey. Do you want me to come over?

Re: [video]

[twistedempathy]

If they're not, then they're just. Out of the house for a long time, and something happened to their tablet.

[Right, and Tepig can fly. What are the odds of that?]

I wouldn't say no.

video -> action

[the_tailor]

I'll be right over.

[And as soon as he sends that, he's up and off towards Will's place. Walking at a brisk place, it doesn't take him long at all to get there. Lance knocks on the door just firmly enough to be heard.]

Will? It's me, Lance.

[twistedempathy]

Hey.

[Will is answering the door soon after, doing his best to offer a welcoming smile.

Arche zips over to greet Lance as soon as he's over the threshold, tail wagging furiously. Lance will make everything better, right? Will is always happy when he spends time with him!]

[the_tailor]

[He'll certainly try his best. After giving Arche a fur ruffle as a hello, he pulls Will into a tight hug in greeting.]

Hey, you.

Text

[yallstupid]

[Hoo boy... Guzma wondered how this place dealt with people coming and going, and here's his answer. He's not stupid enough to think anyone just "disappears" or "goes missing" in a literal walled in city. That's just idiotic to even offer up the thought. No, he's been around the black before, and it's just the same as the worlds past. This person - that weird singer he met a few times - they're gone. They've left, returned back to either their own world, or like Guzma...spirited away to another entirely.

It doesn't make it any easier, and he has experience with people coming and going in the very same way, so...maybe that's why he's a little more sympathetic. It hurts, after all. It always hurts to lose someone you feel close to - whether they be family, friend, or partner.

But what can he say that won't add to that? Nothing, really. Nothing but the truth, as gently as he can. Which may not be much, considering who he is, but...well. This'll be a learning experience for both of them, perhaps.]

how often ppl get lost in this place? r they ever found? [A bit blunt, but...he's also rather curious.]

Re: Text

[twistedempathy]

I didn't know him before he left, but Link vanished and came back. I haven't heard from him since then though. He could be gone again.

[Kiwi might know more details, they had been friends with Link. But neither of them were around to ask anymore, were they?]

[yallstupid]

when he left, did his name vanish 2?

[Blunt, again, and Guzma knows it. It's why he softens the blow a bit with a swift follow up.] ill keep n eye out but idk how it works here... when ppl left the islands they went home

[A long pause, this time, before Guzma sighs, combing his fingers through the longer, white tufts of his hair. Man, he just has to to keep prying, doesn't he? But...misery loves company, so might as well ask.]

do u need company?

[twistedempathy]

I don't know. I'd never met him before he vanished, so he wasn't on my list.

[He only wishes that was reassuring. Honestly, the fact that they probably did go home is part of why this is so upsetting.]

Kiwi's home isn't a very nice place right now.

I'll be okay. No need to go out of your way.

[His own hesitation is much shorter than Guzma's. He knows he rubs the man the wrong way, after all; it's not as though they're friends, even if they're from the same world. This is just a pity offer, there's no need for voluntarily taking on that kind of distasteful chore.]

[yallstupid]

[Ah. That news isn’t foreign to Guzma either. Many people back on the islands of LifeAftr weren’t exactly about to return to anything great. Many of them were given a second chance at life just by existing on the islands proper. Some of those people Guzma practically adopted as siblings, or a part of his extended family – the splinters of a team he disbanded years ago, but still clings onto the comfortable feeling of togetherness. Several of those same people left the islands, left to whatever fate awaited them…and he’s reminded of that ache all at once.

Maybe that’s why he can’t let this go. He remembers how hard he took it after the first few times people left, he barely left his home at all. Slept most of the day, didn’t eat well... It was hard. And it sucked. He never really got used to it, only become a little more receptive to it – a thicker skin. It’s what he’s good at building up, like always. An innate skill. Guzma always bounces back from whatever terrible thing is flung at him.

Not everyone else can, though.]

i no what its like. if ur sure u dont want it, ok, but itd be best 2 talk 2 sum1. dont beat urself up