IC Contact; DESTINY STRINGS | CLOSED

[bondsofsuffering]

Yo! Aah, this is unfortunate... Well, this and that came up, so it seems I can't answer the phone right now! I'm definitely not trying to ignore you, so please leave a message for me instead, ＯＫ?

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[melodyoflogic]

[Just as he thought.]

You're more familiar with this than I am.

[He'd had his experiences already, but not as many as Hizumi.]

But my bet is this isn't only thing we should expect.

[bondsofsuffering]

Probably not.

I doubt it has anything to do with astrology this time. [They'd probably have experienced different things, based on their signs.] Whatever it is, there's no way to predict the effects for sure.

[It's one of those things.]

[melodyoflogic]

So we need to be ready for anything.

[It wasn't even a question. This place could throw who knew what at them, and he didn't think seeing his brother around like a ghost was any good sign.]

[bondsofsuffering]

Do you have anything besides your Persona?

[For self-defense, naturally.]

[melodyoflogic]

I didn't bring any weapons with me.

[He had the anesthetic gun, but that would probably be useless against demons.]

[bondsofsuffering]

It might be good to come up with something. Just in case.

Want to take the revolver?

[melodyoflogic]

You'll have your sword, right? If so, sure.

[He'd need to come up with a better weapon eventually, though... he couldn't keep borrowing Hizumi's.]

[bondsofsuffering]

Alright. Want me to drop it off now?

[Since the teleporters are working again, it shouldn't be a problem to get there.]

[melodyoflogic]

That works.

[He'd be here.... and there goes the tea kettle whistling, so there might even be tea waiting.]

[bondsofsuffering]

Alright, see you.

[Sure enough, it takes hardly any time for a knock at Ayumu's door.]

[melodyoflogic]

[And the door opens....! To Ayumu in flannel pajamas and slippers.

It's 13 o'clock, of course he's gotten ready for bed.] Hey. Thanks for coming over so quickly.

[bondsofsuffering]

It's probably not good to leave these things for too long.

[He pulls the gun out of his pocket and hands it over, along with some extra ammunition.]

Already going to bed?

[melodyoflogic]

[He accepts the gun and ammunition with a nod, setting both on the small table in the tiny apartment. Really, once they moved out he'd be glad for the room....]

I was. [He might not go to sleep right away anymore, though.] But I was going to have some tea first. Want to join me?

[A nod towards the kettle on the stove.]

[bondsofsuffering]

If you're offering... Sure!

[Maybe it will help calm his nerves. He could certainly use it, after seeing his brother - no, after seeing the man he was cloned from - like that.]

[melodyoflogic]

[He nods again, stepping back to let Hizumi come in and closing the door behind him. As if he'd already guessed Hizumi's response, there are two mugs on the table.

Not that it would be hard to guess he might need some time to relax. Ayumu did, too. The eeriness of seeing his brother whenever he summoned his persona was bad enough, especially after he'd learned the truth, but with Hizumi....

Seeing Yaiba around was a whole other story. He steps over to one of the small cupboards in the tiny kitchen, reaching up to find the teabags.] Any preference?

[bondsofsuffering]

[Hizumi goes ahead and flops into one of the chairs uninvited. He's smiling as usual, but it's not all that bright.

It's not as if he thinks it will fool Ayumu for a moment. But it's nice to at least pretend.]

Hmm... Anything you'd recommend for sleep?

[melodyoflogic]

Chamomile? [And he's pulling down a box as he suggests it, carrying it over to the table as he snags the kettle and a hotpad on the way.]

[bondsofsuffering]

Chamomile... That sounds good. Sure!

[melodyoflogic]

[He adds a teabag to each cup, pouring the still steaming water in afterwards, filling both before settling the kettle on the hotpad and taking a seat.]

It helps my sister sleep sometimes.

[bondsofsuffering]

...Your brother's leaving really was hard on her, huh?

[melodyoflogic]

.....Yeah. [He wouldn't go into details of how bad, but it was.] She was a mess at first. All he left us with was a phone call.

[bondsofsuffering]

Doing things at his own convenience, as usual.

[Typical Kiyotaka, really. Doing whatever it took to further his own goals.]

...Although... He definitely didn't just forget about her in all that time, either.

[melodyoflogic]

Of course he didn't. [He picks up the tea bag, checking the color of the tea before letting it settle once more.]

He might have left of his own accord, but he loves her.

[bondsofsuffering]

[Of course Ayumu would know.]

He seriously couldn't stop looking at her picture all that time.

[It was... kind of depressing, really.]

...But despite that, I don't think he ever meant to return to her, either. [Not if he'd truly planned to return everything to zero.]

[melodyoflogic]

That idiot. [The words are practically sighed. But Ayumu knew he was right. His brother's plan was more than clear, now.

That stupid, stupid idiot.]