An Itch You Notice When It's Gone

[photonicfighter]

Has anyone seen Zed anywhere? I haven't. Haven't heard from him, either.

[In spite of her best efforts, worry is creeping into her tone.]

He's not by the sparkling fire-wand. I thought for sure he'd be there. Could he be somewhere else...?

Comments

[dino_zarf]

I can't feel him in my head

[triggerhappytraitor]

I haven't seen him either.

[[and the fire would be where that guy would wind up, wouldn't it...]]

You've tried reaching him on the network?

[photonicfighter]

....you can't? Are you sure?

[Don't be upset, don't be upset, she's just a child...]

[photonicfighter]

Was he on the other side with the rest of you? The place with the snow? Do you remember?

I have. I didn't get an answer, but... but maybe he was busy?

[triggerhappytraitor]

...I don't think I saw him there either.

But I wasn't out much, over there. It was a bit too cold.


[[and if he sounds a touch distracted, it's because he's heading over to her rooms now]]

[photonicfighter]

Oh. I... I wonder if the cold bothered him?

[He's not gone, he's not, she's not going to think about it-]

Was it very bright? He wouldn't have liked it if it was very bright!

[The laugh she gives sounds strained.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Bright enough that I wound up wearing my sunglasses a few times.

[[walking a bit faster now.]]

[neverfeltthatway]

...He's not in liminal space. I'm sorry.

[photonicfighter]

All the light reflecting off the snow, right, right. That's a concern when spending a prolonged time outdoors in the winter. You can go snow blind.

[She's starting to babble, in the effort not to process what she doesn't want to acknowledge.]

-> Action

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[And while she is babbling, there'll be a familiar figure stepping through her doorway, not even bothering to knock. He does, at least, wait for eye contact before he rests a warm hand on her shoulder. ]]

[photonicfighter]

...oh.

[Anyone else telling her that, she could find a reason to deny it or argue against it.
But if Armin was saying as much, then it had to be true. Armin knew how to tell for certain.

There's a considerable pause before she projects to the network again.]

Will you help me keep watch for a dungeon door for him?

[photonicfighter]

Dakki's room has upgraded since the last time Tachibana stopped by. The aesthetic is still the same curves-and-lights futuristic theme, but the kitchen is bigger, there's a table and chairs where guests can sit to eat, and past a waist-high divider wall on the right side of the space there's an entertainment and game room visible. The finer details might easily go unnoticed, however. Dakki is who he's looking for, and Dakki was standing in the middle of the kitchen, clutching onto a slightly uncomfortable-looking Rappy.

"...Tachibana?" She turns, Rappy looks up and over, and when that hand settles upon her shoulder, words simply fail her. There are tears welling in her golden eyes, tears that she's trying very hard to not let spill.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Giving Rappy time to hop clear, he gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a proper hug. "It's okay if you want to cry," he assured. "If the tears are coming... don't hold them back. It just hurts more later."

[photonicfighter]

Rappy knows an incoming hug when he sees one. Not wanting to get squished, he hops free from Dakki's arms with a little peep, and skitters off to fetch a box of tissues. He has a feeling that tissues are going to come in handy.

Dakki lets herself sink into that hug, head dipping and forehead resting against Tachibana's shoulder. "I-I'm not crying. I don't cry." And oh, it hurts, it does... it hurts more sharply, even, now that someone's there to hold onto. And she's holding on. "Not, not over something like this. I sh-shouldn't."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Don't be ridiculous," Tachibana chided fondly, shifting to hold her more closely. "That guy was your friend, wasn't he?"

[neverfeltthatway]

I... yes, of course.

I'm not very good at sensing dungeon portals myself, but I'll ask Eren to keep an eye out too. If he shows back up, we'll find him and get him back. I promise.

[Not that Armin knew Zed very well, or really liked him. But he likes Dakki, and she's hurting - besides which, he'd do as much for nearly any Traveler out of ambit, no matter how he feels about them.]

[photonicfighter]

Thank you. Even if you're not good at sensing them, maybe you'll see it, if it appears?

[She pauses awkwardly. Aah, she's asking for foolish things...]

...thank you. I don't mean to, to impose. Thank you.

[dino_zarf]

I looked for him. He's one of Mama's friends and he lets me do things Daddy doesn't.

[neverfeltthatway]

If I see it, I'll definitely let you know. And Eren can sense them, and he'll tell me if he finds anything.

[His expression is gentle, his eyes compassionate.]

It's not an imposition. I promise.

[photonicfighter]

"He was!" As she protests, her head lifts. "But I've lost friends before, and he's not... he's not dead, he's just... gone. So I shouldn't be upset." For all that she is trying to logic her way out of the feelings that she's having, her eyes are still wet with tears, if Tachibana looks. She's averting them, at any rate.

[triggerhappytraitor]

"That doesn't mean it hurts any less," Tachibana pointed out. "Or that you shouldn't feel anything."

He was quiet a moment before continuing, voice softer. "And sometimes... it hurts a little worse, when you know they've just vanished."

[photonicfighter]

"I don't want to hurt like this..." And maybe that gets to the core of the matter. Her head dips again and her fingers curl, digging into his clothes. "I don't want to hurt over someone who's ridiculous and scary and impossible and, and...." The more unkind ways she thinks to describe Zed, the harder it is to keep her tone even. Her voice crackles the slightest bit.

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Noone wants to hurt. But it happens. And fighting against it just makes the hurt last longer. You can hide your tears against me, if you don't want them to be seen. I won't tell anyone."

[photonicfighter]

I'll have to thank him, too. I'll be sure to. Does... does he like muffins?

[It's not an attempt to change the subject. Honestly.]

Thank you. Again.

[photonicfighter]

That's such a kind offer. How could she not take him up on it? With that promise given to her, she lets out a funny sort of gasp, before dissolving into tears. Her vocal synth wasn't perfectly designed for this, just as it wasn't perfectly designed for singing. There are little skips and catches, betraying that she's a CAST. But her tears are hot and real and genuine, and starting to soak Tachibana's shirt.