IC Contact Post

[riderfist]

IC contact post for Makoto! Leave your letters, birds, PMs, telepathic signals and in person comments here. Though she has no bird yet to return that ...

Comments

voice telepathy, august 2

[purrtagonist]

[on the bright side, this call is seemingly much less random than his last one]

Yo, Makoto. You busy?

[riderfist]

[but is the "call" coming from inside the house]

At the moment? No, not really. What is it?

[purrtagonist]

[NO HE'S OUT SOMEWHERE. . . DOING THINGS. . . idk protag things]

I need your expert opinion on something. Can you meet me in Merchant's Square in twenty minutes?

[riderfist]

Hm? Yes, that should be fine. Is something wrong?

[purrtagonist]

. . . I was just going to ask for your opinion on what to eat for lunch. . .

[yes, but he ain't telling over telepathy]

[riderfist]

Sorry for assuming the worst. I'll find you.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . well. it's not like he has good news for her, but he also doesn't think it's the worst either? so]

See you soon.

[and when she makes it to Market Square, she'll find Akira hanging out near one bench, leaning his waist against the arm as he idly spins his cell phone on the index finger of his hand]

[riderfist]

[she feels a little bad about the assumption but soon she will take it back and everyone wins]

Akira! I hope I didn't keep you waiting.

[purrtagonist]

[exactly]

[immediately palms his phone and slips it into his pocket, turning to face her with a grin]

Actually, I was just people watching. I saw a guy try to feed some ducks and nearly get attacked by one that was a bit too overeager.

[he sounds amused]

[riderfist]

He might just learn to be more careful around wildlife. It wouldn't hurt him to remember that.

[of course you laughed you're you]

[purrtagonist]

[what he isn't telling her is that he totally helped chase away the ducks afterwards, because he is still himself]

I've never known a city duck to attack a person as vehemently as this one did.

[walkin'!! browsing restaurants as they pass]

[riderfist]

[no, that's also like him]

I imagine it would also depend on how often they're fed by people, and if the amount of people food they've received is no longer enough for their liking.

[seagulls ar elike that. steal the food right out of your hands]

[purrtagonist]

[exactly]

Or maybe they're just really impatient. It's a personality flaw.

[Makoto provides the logic, Akira provides the simple explanation]

[riderfist]

That may also be a factor, yes. I'm no expert in ducks.

[purrtagonist]

Neither am I, truthfully.

[flashes her another smile, but it fades quickly]

-- hey, Makoto. Have you heard from Ryuji lately?

[riderfist]

[and there it is. it definitely just got cooler in their vicinity and she shakes her head, slowly, eyes looking at the very nice ground]

... No, it's been awhile. I was hoping I'd just missed him around and that he was busy, but I take it that's not the case.

[purrtagonist]

[his expression is neutral, as it always is. or. . . perhaps the glasses just make it difficult to read? it's tough to say. Akira's always played his cards close to his chest]

[but there's a small bit of darkness, wisps of shadows, that are dancing around the outline of his body now]

Apparently, they post a list of the people who have gone home in the residential district from time to time. I wonder how they know?

[riderfist]

Or if those who leave know they're about to.

[morbid, maybe, but no one is happy. this is awful. Makoto is certainly better now at letting her frustrations show, but this is something else entirely. she can't help but remember the last time it was Ryuji who vanished, even though that lasted all of five minutes]

Have you already looked?

[purrtagonist]

[that had been just a little (har har) more panic inducing than this instance, at least]

I have.

[as always, he's on top of things]

Anyway, home is where we all belong. So I'm glad he made it back.

[even if he left the rest of them behind. stupid Ryuji :(]

[riderfist]

[on a technicality. it still hurts, especially given what they left when they came here.]

I see. I-I mean, it is good that he was able to go back home.

[kinda]

But it's still a lot to take in.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . yeah. it does. just like it would if Makoto left, or Futaba, or Sojiro, or Mishima. but hey, losing friends always hurts. even if the loss is temporary]

You okay?

[typical Akira, ignoring his own feelings and refocusing his attention on hers]

[riderfist]

[sorry, no catting out of this]

I'll be fine. The two of you are much closer, so this must be hitting you harder.

1/2

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

[purrtagonist]

It kinda sucks.

[KINDA]

[riderfist]

Well, that's certainly a precise way to put it.