059: Let Them All Walk Away

[contract_star]

[Hei is at his hut again. He's sitting on the bottom step, leaning tiredly against the railing. By now it's clear that he's been growing his hair out, as it's now down to his chin.]

[There's a single, half-empty bowl of ramen with him as well as a tumblerful of something alcoholic. A basic, composition notebook is open on his lap and he's idly writing something on one of the pages--though you might notice that "Ryotarou" is written in Sharpie on the front. There's also a pair of black and electric-blue Air Trecks propped next to him on the step.]

[Hei yawns and taps his pen against the paper, frowning a little.]

Comments

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

I definitely preferred it when the Twins didn't bother with me.

[contract_star]

[He's silent a moment.] I don't know what I prefer at this point, really...

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

[He falls silent himself, and after a few moments drops his gaze to the notepad.] ...is that his?

[contract_star]

His...? [He looks down at the notebook.] Oh. No. This is mine.

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

[He glances away from the notebook, his disappointment clear.] Oh. You haven't seen him, then?

[contract_star]

He's gone.

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

[...way to burst his denial bubble there, Hei.]

[contract_star]

[Hei's good at that. He remains silent, fidgeting with the corner of a page.]

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

[He looks distant, not really paying any attention to Hei or his surroundings, but he eventually seems to find his voice.] I know.

[contract_star]

Did you know about Zeronos? About what was going to happen to him?

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

[And here is the parental concern.] What's going to happen to him? Is he alright?

[contract_star]

[Hei shakes his head.] It doesn't matter now. And I'm not sure how much he'd want me to tell you.

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

You can at least tell me how worried I should be. You know what he was to me.

[contract_star]

...I know.

There was always the chance that we would all forget about him. Completely. It was because of those cards he used, remember? I found out about it, and the only thing I could do was record everything. [He holds up the journal.]

I suppose it's useless now.

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

[He snorts, wry amusement evident in his features.] In the end he would've been better having one about us.

[contract_star]

[Bitter little smile.] I suppose that's true, huh?

[After awhile,] A lot of people have disappeared from here.

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

The worst part is you don't even notice at first.

You just carry on like normal, until you realise it's been a while since you last spoke to someone, and then you're not even sure how long they've been gone.

[contract_star]

Never mind that some people just...don't show up for awhile. Like Jack. I hadn't seen Jack in a long time, and I was starting to think... [He shakes his head.]

[damnfinecoffee.livejournal.com]

I don't think Jack's been coming here as much, lately. I see him around the Hub, so I know he's still around, but I think it's been about a month since I last spoke to him here.

[contract_star]

I saw him a little while ago here. He seemed alright, mostly. [He's silent awhile.] It's good that he's still here.