Game 021 [Action] - Happy Six-Month Anniversary. Sucker.

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua has been running a few errands today. Maybe you've seen him traversing the main area of the village. Now he's left the plaza and was about to reach the nothernmost bridge when he suddenly collapses.

He's awake when he hits the ground, and within moments, is doubled over, clutching his stomach. Within a minute, he's audibly suppressing gagging noises.

Good afternoon, Luceti. Josh is getting hit with Shibuya withdrawal. ]

Comments

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

Glad you did. He's mad at me, is all. It's not that I can't actually help the guy.

[ He's walking fast, voice clipped. No, he feels that Josh isn't mad so much as he is afraid, but that's not something he would want told to Neku, so Mr. H doesn't say it. ]

[soundfrequency]

[Whatever the reason it didn't matter right now, just as long as Mr. H could help. Though now it was just a question on if Joshua would even let Mr. H help. Neku didn't really want to think about what the reaction would be when they got there. But he picks up a little more speed, trying to get back as fast he can.]

[neverplaysfair]

[ And Josh is still lying there on the ground where Neku left him. His eyes are closed and he's curled up tightly, but he can still sense energy well enough to know that that's Hanekoma approaching. So his head snaps up to look, the rest of him going rigid. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ He's nearly running, but slows to a careful walk as soon as Josh looks at him like that. Hanekoma puts his hands where Joshua can see them, up at his shoulders, palms open and harmless. The way criminals do when caught. ]

[soundfrequency]

[Yeaaah, Neku's instincts are telling him to stay back a little. He only gets a little more closer before stopping, letting Mr. H take over. But damn if he doesn't give Joshua a very guilty and apologetic look.]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua isn't focusing on Neku at all, right now. If you think that cute little gesture has won you any vague scraps of trust you are very mistaken, Sanae. Joshua glares as long as he can, and then just a little more before making a cough that gives way to more retching. But oh, he's keeping a glare on Sanae as best he can manage. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

I'll explain once we get back to my place, Phones.

[ He says it without taking his eyes off Josh, and he's still approaching, if slowly. Sanae can sense the change in that connection, and he's seen it enough times with enough Composers to know what this is. Dropping to his knees, and one drops to rest on Joshua's shoulder. ]

[soundfrequency]

[That surprises him. Neku nods, not that Mr. H can see it, and just watches.]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua finally manages to pull himself out of his mini-fit when he feels that hand on him, and then his expression isn't quite so much hostility as it is panic. He fliches back as he reaches for his cellphone and pulls it out. It wavers in his grip as he manages to flip it open and, hand shaking, starts hitting buttons. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ Wha-- oh no you don't, Kiryu. Moving much too fast, Hanekoma knocks that phone right out of his hand, the other arm looping around his back and trying to pull Josh up against him. Definitely intending to restrain the guy, if this keeps up. ]

[soundfrequency]

[...yeah he's definitely going to want an explanation later because what the hell.]

[neverplaysfair]

[ His phone is gone. His phone has been knocked away and he has no way to defend himself and Hanekoma is holding him against his body.

Joshua's entire body tenses for a second. Then again, and suddenly his gagging noises have a lot more substance to them. Hey Hanekoma, lucky you that Josh hasn't bothered eating for a few days, so all you get on your nice vest is the digestive fluids. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ ... oh that's lovely, Joshua. No, really. You know what you get for puking on him? Just. This. Face. And ellipses. Forever.

You should be pretty damn grateful that he's still holding you, instead of, you know, committing the murder you seem to be expecting. ]

[soundfrequency]

[Well then. You probably have spare vests anyway, don't you, Mr. H?]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Yeah, well Hanekoma grabbed Josh when he was terrified. He totally deserves it.

Also, Josh is now shivering and not doing much else. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ Okay so he does kind of deserve it. And the man's probably got a million vests back at the café. So after a minute he's just gonna start rubbing circles on Josh's back, the same was Neku was doing, and brush the guy's hair out of his face. In a tired voice: ]

Phones is here watching over you, Josh. Wouldn't hurt you in front of the kid, would I?

[soundfrequency]

[...huh. He might be taking a few steps closer.]

[neverplaysfair]

[ The shivering doesn't stop, and Joshua tilts his head back a bit so he's facing up towards Hanekoma. When he speaks, his voice is low and hoarse. ] Sanae, get away from me.

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

Can't. Gotta fix you up, first.

[ He's attempting a soothing tone but it's tenser than before, between hurt and disgust and how he's just waiting for Joshua to Jesusbeam him. Still rubbing his back, though, and almost desperately searching for a way to fix this. He knows what it is, but the usual solution of drag him back to Shibuya isn't an option here. ]

[soundfrequency]

[Man, when Joshua says that it's kinda... sad. Neku just shifts awkwardly, wondering if this was a good idea or not.]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua is in no state to be using his own power. If he had been, he would have used it long ago.

There's almost a moment of hesitation, knowing that Neku's here, knowing what sort of impact this will have. But every muscle is shaking with an instinctual fear that he can't rid himself of, and he could swear he can feel Sanae's vibe and his power on his skin, and he's pretty sure that the taint on his Soul wasn't quite so large the last time he saw him, and is it growing even now? How many moments until that taint is too much, until Sanae's selfishness takes over again, until whatever this is claims Josh's body for just long enough that it's easy for Hanekoma to do something, something to Erase him and it would look like a simple accident to Neku, oh what a pity, dear old Mr. H. didn't make it in time.

And he gave Sanae warning, which in itself might have been more than he probably deserved. Joshua's body tenses for a moment, and then he forces his muscles into action, hoping that he can just get the gun pointed at Sanae before he's stopped, or before his finger twitches just a little too much.

The loud bang in his ears startles even Joshua himself. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ He'd be able to settle Joshua's vibe, if that were all it were. But it's his connection to Shibuya that's in danger, it's an effect this alien world is having on him, and he's not sure just how to help. He can't dare to hold Joshua so close to him for much longer. It's only panicking the guy, he needs a solution now, and--

And he realizes what Joshua is doing an instant before he does it, but by then it's too late. Point-blank means he can't run, can't attack, can't teleport.

He doesn't hear the bang, too caught up in the impact.

It's something massive and jarring, enough to make the world flicker, and an instant later comes the hot harsh searing ripping tearing shooting pain. He's gasping, panting, clutching at the hole in his stomach and scrambling back away from Joshua. Fuck. It hurts the way he can't remember anything ever hurting, not for years, not since he died and even that is so faded that he can't be sure it was worse than this. ]

[soundfrequency]

[The gunshot is loud and piercing even from Neku's point a few yards away. He can't hear himself gasp but he knows he must have, because his body is telling to exhale but he can't. He just shakes from shock, not able to believe what just happened. But then Mr. H scrambles back and Neku can't stop himself from darting forward to Mr. H's side. No no no no this isn't happening. Neku drops to his knees on the ground next to Mr. H, reaching for the man's shoulder.]

Mr. Hanekoma!

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua feels himself hit the ground and it's relief, sweet relief that he doesn't have Sanae so close to him any more. He's not even sure whether the shot connected until he looks to see that Hanekoma's reacting. Josh goes to lift the gun again, but he can feel the cold metal slip in his hand. It's heavy, much heavier than it was a moment ago. He looks for his phone to find it too far away, and he can barely lift his gun, much less himself to crawl over to it. His eyes slip shut and he drags his gun close to clutch it against his stomach, weakly vomiting again what little remains in his stomach. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ Hanekoma's still sitting, one hand clutching at that bullet wound and the other planted on the ground, propping him up. Joshua is throwing up again, he's bleeding -- bleeding a lot, it can't be good that he's bleeding this much, he's seen humans die this way and knows he's headed in that direction -- and Neku's touching him. Mr. H would really like for Neku to stop touching him; the world is pressing in on him enough as it is. There's a faint buzz of adrenaline in the back of his head and tips of his fingers, which at least helps the hurt to not be so sharp, and it slows the world down for him.

His vibe slips higher until there's a slight glow to his skin, faint enough that it might be imagined, and already the pain is easier to bear. Thinking is easier to do the further he is from human. ]

--Josh. I'm... I gotta fix Josh.

[ It's breathless, and he isn't even really keeping track of what he's saying. Too distracted by pain and adrenaline. ]