1st Bullet ⊗ Voice

[pishirogane]

[The audio becomes live just in time for a single word to be heard]

Fascinating...

[A few more random clicks here and there before the actions cease. It's quiet save for the ambience coming from around the speaker. Their voice suddenly cuts through, whispering first.]

It certainly appears to be on... Greetings. Upon arrival to this place, I

Comments

1/? ...and tags will be slower than ever due to comp troubles

[punk_emperor]

[He knows that voice. He knows it and oh god not Naoto, not here. They'll make her do awful, terrible things and oh hell no! No, no, no. Not Naoto.

In his panic, dread settled in his stomach, Kanji manages to drop the fansuwoth as he turns it on so there's a clatter and a spinning image of a dimly lit ceiling.]

N--

[punk_emperor]

Naoto-kun!

[And his shock and panic is rapidly becoming defensive, righteous anger.]

How-- Why... How dare they?! Damn bastards! It ain't right-- You-- Dammit!

done

[punk_emperor]

[Then he finally calms down enough to pick up the device, looking worried sick as the anger drains away.]

...Naoto-kun, are you...? They ain't done anything, have they?

1/?

[pishirogane]

[Her eyes widen. That voice was unmistakable especially when enraged... and she wasn't exactly thrilled to hear one of her friends was stuck here as well]

[If it wasn't pointing at the ceiling...]

2/3

[pishirogane]

[Oh, there he is.]

Kanji-kun...

[That's one...]

3/3

[pishirogane]

[She pauses]

No. Beyond what I suspect they must do to everyone when they reach this district, nothing else has occurred...

[What is he expecting?]

[punk_emperor]

[He sags with visible relief.]

Good. Good-- So just the tattoo and taking your clothes? N-not that those are good things, but it's better than some of the shit they pull on people.

[pishirogane]

[A nod, but then, concern]

What have they done before?

[punk_emperor]

[He is just... not going to look at the camera at all as he tries to explain, and goes beet red.]

They... They make people do that shit--e-entertainin' and stuff--even when they don't wanna. An' And some of the people that buy... they're real pricks!

[pishirogane]

Unfortunately, we've been purchased as property and that's just how it works.

[Though, her tone gives away that she's none too pleased with this arrangement] ... Have you been bought?

[punk_emperor]

[He flails hard, stumbling over words and looking half-horrified, half-angry.]

N-No! Hell no! I ain't-- They said I was too young for that shit. They've got me working in the tailoring shop. It ain't so bad, but it's really hard to watch people I've met go through that...

[He looks down, brow furrowing.] And...you're older than me.

[pishirogane]

Ah, at least they're reasonable to a point.

[She blinks, but then nods. That's right; he just turned sixteen while she... was seventeen.] ... seven months and fourteen days if it really is the 13th of September. That's not enough time...

[punk_emperor]

It really really... isn't. A-Are they saying you're older too? They're sayin' I'm seventeen now and no way! I woulda... known, right? Something? You can't just miss all that time passing.

[Except there are subtle differences--he's filled out some and doesn't look quite so gangling. If he's grown, it's minimal, but he definitely looks older, if one knows what to look for.]

[pishirogane]

Well, no. I just turned seventeen yesterday... back home at least. Though, your circumstance does sound bizarre.

[It's difficult to see the differences over this black and white video feed. Still, she does have to wonder if he's changed at all...]

[punk_emperor]

[He looks very confused.] But it was a couple weeks 'til your birthday...

[And suddenly extremely worried.]

I didn't-- Did I disappear or something?

[pishirogane]

[Now she's very confused]

No... you were present at the party Rise threw. [Ah... that party...]