[Private Level 2 to basically everyone Tachibana knows well]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Sayoko--

This world's Sayoko is here. Alive.

[[There might be a bit of a note of panic in his mental voice]]

She saw me. Recognized me...!

....and she's a Pillar.



[[Anyone who comes looking will find him in the garage, sitting on the couch with his head in his hands, Garren hovering worriedly at his side.]]

Comments

[vrepit_no]

Easy, Tachibana, easy... Where are you right now? We'll figure this out.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Home.

The garage.

[[The normal level of focus he has when talking on network is just simply not there. He's far more rattled than he'd like to be letting on.]]

[chalicejoker]

Are you still there with her?

[triggerhappytraitor]

... no.

...I teleported away.

[[and he sounds insanely guilty about that]]

[summerorange]

Sayoko-san...!? Is she still with you?

[She's not sure if she should ask if this version of her is a fellow Rider...yet...but just the fact that he's talking on the Network alone is alarming enough]

[triggerhappytraitor]

No.

...I panicked and ran away.

[vrepit_no]

Stay there, okay? I'll be right there. Leave the door open for me?

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[There's no reply because he just nodded. Which doesn't really come across the network to well.

But his door is open, Garren fretting back and forth from it to the couch.]]

[photonicfighter]

She's here? Is she alright?

[No, no, that's not the thing to ask.]

Are you alright? Where are you?

[He is probably not alright. She needs to find him.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

... Pillars are people who've lost hope.

[[so to answer the first two questions... no. Not really.]]

[vrepit_no]

[It doesn't take him long to get there, and he pauses just long enough to scoop Garren up and set him on his shoulder before coming to sit next to Tachibana.]

Hey. You're not alone, all right? We'll work through this together. Have you had anything to eat or drink yet?

[photonicfighter]

Oh.

[There's a brief silence as all of this processes. She has lost hope. She recognized Tachibana. This world must have had a Tachibana. So where was...]

Tachibana, where are you?

[It's gently insistent.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Garren clings to Shiro's shirt collar for the ride over before hopping down to look up at his Slammer in worry]]

[[Tachibana glances up before shaking his head]]

I just...

[[he lets out a deep breath, running his hands through his hair before leaning back against the couch, looking up at the ceiling.]]

Kenzaki's overlay... and Sayoko's... both of them...

[[he trails off a moment before a small, humorless huff of laughter escapes him.]]

Even when it is me that dies... [[the words are quiet for their weight, his eyes closing]]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Home.

The garage.

[summerorange]

...Tachibana-san...

[She understands why he would panic. It's the 'running away' part that has some exasperation mixed into her concerned tone.]

Where are you now? And is your partner with you?

[triggerhappytraitor]

At the garage.

He was on my shoulders when I teleported.

[photonicfighter]

I'm coming. Stay there, Tachibana.

[She can't teleport, so she needs to run, and across a fair bit of dream distance... but she's not at all out of breath once arriving. Rappy, however, flops into a feather, panting pile next to the doorway. She just strides forward without him. Now where is Tachibana in here?]

[summerorange]

Good. We'll be there soon. Just...try and take deep breaths.

[She's already moving as she 'speaks' on the Network, her (normally tiny) partner fluttering alongside her.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Sitting on the couch, elbows on his knees as he holds his head up with his hands.

Garren makes a small alarmed sound, rushing over to Rappy's side in concern]]

[vrepit_no]

[gently] I'm going to need you to talk me through this, Tachibana. Tell me what happened, what she told you, what you're feeling and what you're assuming. Think you can help me out here? Did you see her first? Or Kenzaki first?

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Deep breaths won't do a thing to stop the tumbling turmoil of thoughts and emotions he's trying to sort through.

Garren is in the doorway when they get near and waves frantically at them.]]

[triggerhappytraitor]

... I didn't speak with her. I ran away when I realized...

[[he trails off, pressing his lips together unhappily before letting out another slow breath]]

Kenzaki-- Most of Kenzaki's overlays are him at the core. Kentrolite... something hurt him. Acting like Therion did after-- [[a moment as he all but winces, pressing his lips together again]] -- after he saw Karis murdered.

That Sayoko recognized me... a version of me had to have existed here. And that she's a Pillar...

[[He closes his eyes again, expression pained]]

[photonicfighter]

[Rappy waves a wing dismissively at Garren's concern, which ends up being kind of weak and wobbly and more of patting motion against the little pog's helmet.] I'm okay, pii.... go see your partner, pii....

[Dakki moves to the couch, then quietly sits down beside him, placing a hand atop one of his.] I'm here. It's alright. [And then, after an uncertain pause,] ...can I get you anything?

[vrepit_no]

...

[That has implications, but it there's not enough evidence yet. Tachibana's not a person for physical comfort as far as Shiro can tell or there would be hugs right now. But he needs information before he shakes things up.]

Did you talk to Kentrolite at all?

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Garren is going to do his best to help Rappy up and over to where the two Slammers are talking]]

[[Tachibana glances down at the hand in something bordering confusion before shaking his head, shifting to lean back against the couch.]]