[Accidental Video/Action] -- backdated to early this morning

[loyalraven]

[Gilbert has been avoiding mirrors. Of course he has. It's become obvious for a while that something is going on again in this city. But Gilbert has also been steeping himself in denial for a bit. The things he thought he saw at the corner of his vision in mirrors can't have been real. They can't

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[Is that...him? Stunned speechless, Naoki just stares down into the feed for a couple of moments, mouth open, an 'are you okay?' frozen on his lips. But then he's snapping out of it. Gilbert's apologising, he's afraid, he needs Naoki and--

A breath in, and he says, not sure if Gilbert will hear him:] I'm coming, Gilbert, just hang in there.

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[loyalraven]

[At first he's too busy retreating, trying to convince himself that the things he's seeing aren't true, but the terror coursing through him feels oh so very real. He's failed them. Let them down. They're dead and it's his fault.

But no, that is Naoki's voice, and it snaps him back halfway to reality. He nearly bobbles the communicator, looking down at it.] N...Naoki? [His voice is hopeful, hushed and uncertain. He's ok?]

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[Naoki looks back at him, tightening his grip on the communicator--and then he's moving with rapid steps, out of the house and on to the streets. He's a second away from breaking into a sprint.] Mm, it's me--I'm here, I'm coming, all right? That's-- [Whatever that was. It wasn't Naoki. But, why?]

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[loyalraven]

[Gilbert has already broken into a sprint. He can't even say why those figures -- pale and mottled, blue in places people shouldn't be blue, eyes sunken or gone entirely, but oh so very much still identifiable as their former selves -- are striking so much fear into him, sending him fleeing like a child from a bad dream. but he is running.

Naoki's voice is reassuring though, even heard through the communicator. Gilbert is out of breath, not slowing even as he gasps out.] You're... you're coming?

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I'm coming. [Fierce, insistent. And it's here Naoki breaks into a run. He can feel the eddy of emotions--Gilbert's emotions--and dashes toward where he can sense them. Whatever is around him doesn't matter; Gilbert does. And he needs to see him, he needs to protect him.]

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[loyalraven]

[Gilbert wants to cry in relief at the words. But he can't. Not now. He has to get a hold of himself here, to reign himself back in and think clearly. But he can't. His thoughts are scattered and he's afraid of the ghosts and guilt chasing him. Dead. Dead and it's his fault, his failings again and again.

So he keeps moving, at a rapid clip, now slowing even when Naoki comes into sight, instead running straight to him.]

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[Naoki moves toward him as soon as he sees him, reaches out to take him by the arm. And no sooner than his hands lay on him that he's moving to guide Gilbert behind himself. He doesn't know what he's running from (himself, he saw himself, didn't he?) but he's determined to stand against it, if necessary.] Are you all right? Hurt?

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[loyalraven]

[Gilbert moves behind him, but shifts rather quickly closer to him. His hands move up and along Naoki's back and around his shoulders. Gilbert has something of a death grip on him at the moment.] You're here. You're all right. You're ok.

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[Naoki shivers and shifts under the touch.] Of course I'm okay... [His eyes are directed ahead, before flicking two and fro, watching, even as his hands come up to gently grip Gilbert's wrists.]

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[Gilbert isn't letting go right now.] You were... it looked like you. And Oz. And I... [And Gilbert knew somehow, knew that those deaths were his fault and that he'd lost the things that mattered most and-- His grip on Naoki tightens as those familiar figures come around a corner and into view. Not running, but moving slowly, purposefully.

And they speak, as one, voices fading from one to another.] Why did you let this happen? How could you?

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[Naoki gives him a startled look over his shoulder, then looks ahead at the figures, something in him lurching at seeing them that way. And then they speak and his body stiffens. From the last time with what happened with him, and with what he's observed on the network, he's had a growing suspicion of what exactly these things are.] ...

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[loyalraven]

[Gilbert shrinks back, though he still hasn't let go of Naoki yet. He won't. Naoki is here and alive and real in his arms, then those things. Those things can't be true. Can't be real.]

No! [He answers them vehemently.] It can't be. I wouldn't... wouldn't let it happen. I wouldn't let myself--

Wouldn't let yourself fail? Like ten years ago? [Oz's voice this time, and Gilbert flinches visibly.] N-no...

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[scalethetower]

[... Naoki stares between that version of Oz, then half-turns to look at Gilbert. He moves to take his arm, giving it a squeeze, insistent.] Gilbert. That wasn't your fault.

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[Gilbert looks up when Naoki takes his arm, startled. He tries to focus on that, that Naoki is here and alive, and that shadow of him over there is nothing.] I should have stopped it... [His voice is a low murmur.] What if I can't? What if I lose everyone because I can't...

[The manifestations are moving closer, seemingly oblivious to Naoki's presence, but Gilbert doesn't move, frozen maybe. It's not like he can fight these faces.]

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[Naoki freezes at those words, his eyes widening, then he turns around to face Gilbert. He's paying attention to those manifestations, but Gilbert needs his attention more right now.] No, don't. Don't go off of 'what ifs'.

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[loyalraven]

[Gilbert blinks again, trying to focus on Naoki -- but the manifestations are moving closer, slow steady steps that echo in Gilbert's chest counterpoint to his heartbeats. They're coming for him, and he deserves it. But he looks to Naoki, swallows hard and nods.] N-no what-ifs. Then... they aren't... they aren't real... [But they're still coming and Gilbert steps back, pulling Naoki with them. He won't let them touch Naoki. He knows that much.]