2 - [Accidental Voice]

[church_man]

[When the comm turns on, it's pretty clear it isn't intentional. Every now and then there is the sound of a button being pressed on the comm, but other than that it's silent. After a minute of this, the silence is broken by a sharp intake of breath.]

What... what is this supposed to-

[He's interrupted by the familiar buzz of the comm giving a

Comments

[prodigal_axe]

[Shinjiro headed up Bonito and around the corner as quick as he could--almost running--and he'd left his own coat at the Northern Lights. Not that he noticed the cold. A dozen bad scenarios painted themselves across his mind. He was paranoid right now with Takaya here. This wasn't like last time. After what happened with Legato, he couldn't help but take Takaya's arrival more seriously.

His concerns didn't make any sense, but his gut-reaction wasn't listening. He'd keep on half-running down the street until he found Wolfwood. Once he looked at him, saw he was fine, he'd bury this irrational whatever it was and stop thinking like a crazy person.

It didn't take long to spot him. It looked like he'd been heading away from Horton-- so maybe he'd just been frustrated by the damned communicator. He wouldn't remember it shocking him before. Relief washed through him, sweet as it was brief--

--because Wolfwood's enraged shout broke through the space between them. Shinjiro stopped dead, eyes widening as his mind raced through the possible explanations for that question. There were a lot of them, and he didn't like any of them. He tried to keep his voice steady.]

Just... what the hell are you talking about?

[church_man]

I took a look at your entries on those communicator things.

[His volume had lowered, but the anger didn't lessen.]

Is that why you act like you do? 'Cause that other me fuckin' offed himself?

[prodigal_axe]

You did what?!

[Of all the precautions he'd taken, why hadn't he considered that? Wolfwood could just look over all those entries and find out anything he wanted. His eyes widened in an 'oh fuck' expression that 'surprise' didn't begin to describe...

...but when he heard those last couple words, he took a step back almost on reflex. He tried not to think about that time--pain and guilt went through his eyes, and then he slowly forced his guard back up.]

You were here for fuckin' years. You don't have any idea what kinda awful shit goes down in this place... what, you want me to explain what happened?

[That offer came out sounding obviously reluctant.]

[church_man]

[If he'd been calmer, he might have pried more into his horrified reaction at hearing he'd looked at his entries. But he hardly even noticed that. Everything he said only seemed to confirm what he thought. That was the reason Shinji acted the way he did, and he- his other self- had killed himself to get away from the hardships of this place. His hands closed into fists, trembling at his sides.]

What's there to explain? That- that man, whoever he was, it wasn't me. I'd never do that!

[prodigal_axe]

Shut up for just one god damned minute... [This was too much. He bit into his bottom lip so deep he tasted blood, and only then could he go on. His own hands mirrored Wolfwood's, curled into frustrated, white knuckled fists.]

You were crazy. Half the city lost their fucking mind... people killed each other, themselves, destroyed shit. They didn't know what the hell they were doing. That's why it happened.

[His voice wavered on the last line, and he quietly corrected himself.] ...that's mostly why it happened.