mental link / day 42

[ryohji]

[ Impatience is a hard ball in the lower half of his gut. In taking three beats to speak, it recedes to a manageable calm. Kaji will keep this short; for his sake, not theirs. ]

( If we fall asleep, don't let them take us back to the Station. We'd rather pass peacefully. I hope you all respect our wishes. )

[ Rust's mental presence is peripheral, an averted glance. Tinged with shame: ] ( Doesn't have to be peaceful, not for me. ) [ For a moment, a landscape stretches out—choked with green, night falling fast. Swallowing it up. The ground underfoot earth, asphalt, ice. ]

( So long as it's final. )

Comments

[perroquet]

[ The unpleasant surprise coming from Gildor's end of the link is mostly reserved for Kaji. While this isn't expected from Rust either, it's less of a shock after their last exchange - though he hadn't thought the detective would want to throw in the towel before closing the case on Keya. His reaction is a mix of sympathy, exasperation, and hopelessness conveyed over the deep echoes of a cello. ]

( Preemptively giving up, are we? )

[ryohji]

[ sure, he'll take the heat - the exasperation and hopeless, that is; gildor can save the sympathy for rust. he's not wrong. it's the pitying that is woefully mislaid. ]

( Better to give up with dignity than lose without it. )