compnetwork | [Video/Various Filters]

[The video feed shows a very stressed, very scuffed-up looking Akihiko, with a cut over his lower lip that appears to be pretty fresh, as it's still bleeding. He wipes the blood away with the back of his hand before speaking. As strange as things have been the past few days, things have now come to a head, and he's not the type to sit back and just watch things happen.]

Anyone who goes outside, be careful, and be prepared to defend yourself. It probably doesn't need to be said, there's no way people haven't noticed, but just in case. Try not to go alone, if you can. For anyone who hasn't seen what it's like out there -- it's total chaos.

[Is he going to take his own advice? Of course not. That would make sense.

He goes on, with the next part filtered to Miki:]

Miki! Where are you right now?

[He knows little sis can take care of herself, but that doesn't mean he's about to leave her to her own devices. The message may be short, but it's safe to assume that once she answerse him, that's where he'll be, too. The next is filtered to Mitsuru. She's been acting strange, from the few glimpses he's managed to catch of her, and it's definitely got him concerned.]

Hey. I haven't seen you in a couple of days. Are you somewhere safe? Let me know. I don't like the idea of you out there alone.

[The last message is filtered to Shinji. Aki's voice has become terse, but he's no less concerned than he was for the previous two.]

Things are getting crazy out there. Are you okay?

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Make sure you be careful too, senpai.

[ That's an order, Akihiko. ]

[An order from Minato, he can respect. At least his leader isn't telling him to stay indoors. That, he wouldn't be able to handle. Not when people are out there getting hurt and he knows he can do something about it.]

I will be. I can't just stand by, but I'll be careful.

Edited 2012-10-23 20:04 (UTC)

Good.

[ He wouldn't expect any less from Akihiko. But he knows how reckless he can be... ]

Are you able to use your persona to heal here?

Luckily, yes. Even if I get more than just a few scuffs, I should be able to take care of it. Polydeuces feels a little stronger than he was before -- it makes the loss of Caesar a little easier to deal with.

I am glad to hear that at least. ... Call me if you need back up and I'll do what I can.

I will. You do the same. I'll come running if you need me, leader.

[It's become an affectionate nickname more than anything, really.]

[ In the beginning it might have flustered him a little to be called that (even if he hid it well), but now it's ... nice. It gives him a sense of belonging. And he likes that, because it's something that's not been too common in his life. Besides, being called anything with affection isn't something he's ever really going to object to.

So he nods, even if Akihiko can't see it. ]

See you later, then.

See you later -- and be safe.

[The camera follows Miki as she speaks]

I'm getting outside! There's scorpions everywhere it's worse than a swarm of ants!

[Someone is not a fan of the buggers and he can probably hear her squishing a bunch of them with her foot and kicking them away.]

[He winces, briefly. The crunch of a squished scorpion isn't exactly a pleasant sound. He nods, jostling the camera some as he starts to move, as well.]

I'll meet you out there! We'll beat them off together!

[Family togetherness, okay.]

[It takes him awhile to reply, but he does eventually, attempting to keep himself composed enough to reply even though he feels like he's seconds away from jumping out his skin, flinching at anything that makes a sound.

He grits his teeth, pupils dilated. He's starting to dislike the constant rotation of people coming in and out of his room. He's glad when they return safely, but it distresses him to see them go even though he can't stop them. He can't even set foot outside his apartment door without feeling like he might have a nervous break down and dissolve into incoherence, like an animal trapped in a corner.

At least in the apartment, things are familiar.

You believe me now?]

...Better than you.

[Yes, Shinji. He believes you now.]

Somehow, I doubt that.

[Still, at least he knows that Shinji is somewhere safe.]

You're still in your apartment, right?

[A nod.]

You don't even listen to your own damn advice.

[Don't think he doesn't notice you're alone. And there's so many of those damn scorpion things.

Shit, though. He hates being right sometimes.]

Edited 2012-10-26 03:21 (UTC)

Do I ever?

[He knows as well as anyone else does that he's terrible at taking his own advice. Status quo.]

I'm on my way to meet up with Miki, though. Neither one of us will be alone.

[One day, he hopes to be surprised.

He also told her to not go out alone, but is she fond of listening? No. Everyone's going in and out and making his apartment feel like a revolving door. And he can hear the noise outside. Screams. Things being knocked or tipped over. Running in the halls when it's loud enough.]

Don't... [He shakes his head. He doesn't like the situation any more than anyone here, and while he doesn't like and is terrified of the chaos he sees through the camera, the dread is starting to become more localized, mind focused and drawn to something else. Something he can't see. Whatever it is, things ain't over yet by a long shot, and none of them, no matter how stubborn and hardheaded they are, can stay out there fighting forever.] don't do anything stupid, alright? This ain't Tartarus.

[None of this is going to be over in an hour.]

Yeah... I'll be careful. I promise.

[And while that may be received with a bit of skepticism, he is somewhat better about looking after himself these days -- still not the greatest, but there's been some improvement.]

You stay safe.

[It's received with plenty of skepticism, considering his gut instinct at the idea of Akihiko actually being careful is to laugh, maybe because it feels like he's two steps away from losing what composure he has thanks to years of practice, as well as everyone else in what can only be a matter of hours. He's seen what the outside looks like when he's dared to look outside of his apartment. The city has turned into a living anthill—just bursting with a different kind of insect, scattering up through whatever hellhole they crawled out of.

He hears a screech—hard to tell if it's coming from just outside the apartment walls or through Aki's video feed—but it makes him jerk. After a second, he shakes his head. Aki can fucking have his endocrine system. He could probably use the adrenaline that's not doing him even the slightest amount of good.

His frown is placed with a far wryer look.]

Nothing's getting through this damn fort. [Though he doesn't quite believe it.] Starting to think I'm the only sane one left of you.

[But he doesn't believe that either. He's slowly starting to feel like a coward. A coward with a brain and justification—he knows a personal liability when he feels it—but one nonetheless.]

[It's so strange to hear Shinjiro feel so on edge. His words are the same as ever, few and cutting, but the voice behind them has changed. There's uncertainty there, something Aki's not used to seeing in Shinjiro. They were both different shades of stubborn, most of the time, but despite Shinji's insistence that he not worry, Aki can't help it. After all, Shinji is family.

Akihiko frowns at him in reply, shaking his head slightly. For now, it would have to be enough to know that Shinji was staying firmly in one place.]

We'll just see about that. Miki might have a leg up on you, there. I'll check in with you again once she and I are together.

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