[Accidental Voice/Video ->Text; Backdated to Morning]

[themortalhalf]

[The feed begins with noise.

It's sharp, sudden. No video, just the sound of something being roughly rummaged through, with no apparent concern about being quiet or subtle about the affair, before it's shoved away across some surface—falling. Hitting the floor. A box, maybe, with something in it.

Then, a voice: tense, frustrated, uneven, breathing rapid, shallow, and unsteady, words strained and laced with panic.]

Dammit.

Where did—

[More noise.

Then, abruptly, the video feed flickers to life. There's a glimpse of a hand touching the screen, shaking, before the device is quickly shoved away. It slides along the surface of an apparent desk, catching a brief glimpse of a ceiling as it tumbles onto the floor, landing not far away from a cardboard box and a beat-up looking radio. The room it lies in is one dimly lit—the only light provided is due to the streaks of sunlight peeking in from the gaps in the curtain and blind-covered window. Makes it hard to discern much in the way of detail, but it's enough to make out a bed shoved at an odd, jutting angle—nearly shoved up against the closet—with tangled covers. A sign of some sort in front of the long curtain that's covering (as anyone familiar with the layout of the apartments might deduce) the entrance to the balcony, and then, finally, an obscured half-view of the desk shoved against a door. There's more movement off camera, sounds of a drawer being pulled open and gone through, until, finally, there's a quieter sound—perhaps of a lid popping open and its contents retrieved— followed by a period of silence.

Not long afterward, Shinjiro finally steps into view, crossing the room and sliding slowly down onto his bed.]

Shit. Can't even—

[He looks down then, eyes settling on the COMP on the floor. He stares at it for a few moments, grimacing, before standing up again, movement unsteady, reaching down to swipe it up off the floor. If he notices the feed is still recording, he doesn't show it, and the feed, after a moment, cuts off.

Then, a few minutes later, a message:]

[Failed Filter/Private Message to the P3 cast]

i dont know where you all are but get back home and stay the hell inside

just do it alright

Comments

[Text]

[risetocaesar]

Shinji? What the hell is going on?!

[Text]

[themortalhalf]

[he has no intention of saying the shit that's going through his head, because hell if Aki'd believe him. why would he?]

doesn't matter

just stay inside.

[Text]

[risetocaesar]

[He grits his teeth, unseen, before responding again. He doesn't follow orders well. Especially not when the initial message gives him such a bad feeling.]

It does matter. You know I can't stand by and do nothing while you're acting like this.

[Text]

[themortalhalf]

don't be a moron

[Text]

[risetocaesar]

[Shinji, don't you know how he works yet?]

I'm not the one being cryptic and just expecting everyone else to do what I say.

[Text] -- > Voice

[themortalhalf]

[He does—knows how he works like he's some kind of goddamn fortune teller who's rarely wrong, but every now and then hopes that he'll change. That one day he will say "stay," and Aki will reply, "I will."]

just call it a hunch

[And he doubts the truth is something he'd want to hear. He certainly doesn't want to write it down or say it out loud himself. He knows it sounds crazy. And shit, maybe he is. But he could also be right. He stops texting then, breathing in, gritting his teeth, and switching to voice. Because, shit, it was becoming hard to type when your hands insisted on being erratic. It was starting to feel like he was playing a game of dyslexic scrabble.

He fights to keep his voice level, but it fluctuates despite his wishes.]

Staying in one place ain't gonna hurt anything but your damn pride.

[text]

[helenchanted]

Shinji? What's wrong?!

[text]

[themortalhalf]

[everything's wrong is what we're probably all going to die, didn't you get the memo?]

where are you

[text]

[helenchanted]

My room!

[As she writes that, she sees the video of him and OH GODS the hell is even...]

I'm coming over.

[text]

[themortalhalf]

[what—hell no]

no

[imagine that in caps, bold, and italics]

stay and wait for Aki

[text]

[helenchanted]

It's going be okay Shinji...

[Sorry but not listening to those words.]

[Text -> Action]

[greatseal]

[So far, the reports of paranoia and other irrational behavior on the network have remained safely separate from Minako's immediate concerns. Even Elizabeth, while a concern, isn't the same as someone truly close becoming afflicted...

...As this post just showed.

Minako almost doesn't bother with a message, but ends up dashing off a reply text even as she's heading for the door.]

I'm coming over.

[The time delay between the beep of the comp and the knock on the door is barely five seconds.]

Re: [Text -> Action]

[themortalhalf]

[Well, good luck getting through the door because it's locked and may or may not have an entire table in front of it and he ain't opening it. And he's all ready blockaded himself in, fit for a haphazard siege.

he does jump when he hears the knock though.]

i said stay.

[it's dangerous and the world might be ending, didn't you know?]

[Text -> Action]

[greatseal]

[she's so over the world ending thing by now. been there, done that, got the souvenir doorknocker. or... became it. Same thing.]

Open the door. You promised, senpai...

[voice]

[themortalhalf]

[technically—

he grimaces and switches to voice even though he'd rather not]

Not pretending, am I?

Go—

[No, she probably shouldn't even be next door to him. Nothing was safe. The suppresents aren't doing their job. Still hearing damn voices—]

Go stay with your brother.

[voice]

[greatseal]

He's busy. [And she's pretty sure that if Elizabeth is even half as bad off as Shinjiro seems to be, Minato needs to keep all his attention there.] If you don't open the door I'm going to stay out here in the hallway by myself.

[She doesn't like having to threaten. But it's this, break the door, or jump the balcony, and she doesn't want to do that to him in this state. This isn't like the 4th, he's not well and she can't risk hurting him more somehow.]

[text]

[ihaveanannouncement]

Senpai, are you injured? Do you need a doctor?

[text]

[themortalhalf]

no

[like they could do a damn thing—like any of them understand]

go stay with Minako

[she'll be safer

not like they're safe at all—no one is—but

safer]

[text]

[ihaveanannouncement]

[She actually would. Except now she's a little distracted by her own problem.]

Okay.

[and a while later she adds on] But you should be with her too.

[text]

[themortalhalf]

[gdit eikichi leave the girls alone.]

use your persona when you go out

[use it to sense people and navigate]

dont trust anyone

[and be careful.

as to the last thing, he appreciates the sentiment, but he can't, but the reasons aren't something she needs to worry about or understand, so he says nothing. he knows exactly where Minako needs to be.]

Text

[fracta_anima]

[And with that one little note from Shinji the normally cheerful girl is in full Field Leader Mode.]

What's wrong? D:

Text

[themortalhalf]

Nothing you need to worry about.

You in your apartment?

Text

[fracta_anima]

I don't need to but i will anyway, Mister. B|

N. the streets. people down here need help. ruok?

Text

[themortalhalf]

[Help?]

I'm fine.

what's wrong

[What's she doing out there in the streets?]

Text

[fracta_anima]

Scorpion thingys r attackinh people. need to help. look out for peple in the apments k?