Dream 003 [ACCIDENTAL VIDEO/ACTION IN ROUTE 31]

[usedeverything]

[The video feed started to a very strange angle of Souji, grabbing him from a low 45 degree angle. It would only take you a few seconds or a few minutes to find out that this is an accidental recording and from the inside of Souji's duffle bag, just happening to be recording him from open gap he forgot to zip up.

He's is shown to be traveling alone

Comments

[audio]

[restardom]

[ It's probably a good thing this is audio, because forty minutes of not hearing a reply is worse than torture and has reduced his favorite scanner into a teary mess. During the last fight, Souji hadn't actually been gone for longer than five minutes, if even that. Forty-- well, her cries for him had become increasingly strained and softer until it had been more pleas than anything.

And this time, this isn't a nightmare. No one can wake her up from this. What's happening is real, and she can't help her closest friends at this time because she's not there.

So when Rise responds - immediately - it's with a very thick, tear-choked voice. That breathing sounds hideous and she winces a bit, but she doesn't move back from the 'gear an inch. It's his voice. HE'S ALIVE. ]

I-- I'm on Route 32, I'm f-fine-- [ except the group probably thinks she's crazy for having a very epic panic attack, and Rise's voice breaks. She's trying very hard not to weep out of sheer relief. ]

O-oh god, I'm so sorry-- Senpai, what was-- what happened?! W-where are you?? Are you-- everyone-- are the others okay?!

[audio]

[usedeverything]

[Souji listens to the audio reply from Rise and immediately horrible. Goddammit, he wasn't suppose to be making her cry. He hated himself for not realizing that his gear was on and recording that whole accidental video feed now, probably causing others to worry about him. Dammit, nothing was going his way today.

His breathing calms as he manages to catch his breath just a bit more. His head is still pounding from the blood rush of all that running and not knowing if he really did lose that thing.]

I'm on Route 31. Was only supposed to look up ahead. Don't know where the others are right now. I think everyone got split up.

[His sentences are choppy, just like always when he was trying to think everything through and stay calm. He tries to keep his voice under control, just like when he was leader. Just like when he was leader, so don't freak. Stay calm. Think rationally. But with Nanako out there, his voice carries the same slight amount of panic and fear that he held in that one rescue mission back in November.

Another rustling sound is made, this time from him placing a hand of his eyes, pushing down his glasses just slightly on the bridge of his nose.]

Don't lose sight of your group. Stay with them. I don't know if this is the only place that Pokemon is roaming around.

Don't leave them.

[audio]

[restardom]

[ Everyone got split up.

Split up.

It's not as though the group hasn't been separated before in dangerous situations, but Nanako. She'd been alone before, and what had resulted in November-- none of them wanted her to go through anything like that ever again. She's only seven, and she might be a strong little girl, but she's still a little girl. But Rise's not stressing this, because she's detecting Souji's panic immediately. He's just as worried, no-- probably more than the rest of them. And she...

Rise takes a deep breath, forcing herself to shove her panic down. She needs to be calm. She's terrified, and she wants to run to her friends' aid right now more than anything, but Souji was their leader for a reason. And, even though that had ended, he was still a source of authority that Rise trusted with her life. ]

... I won't. [ it's still weak, still trembles at the edges, but she firms it up in a few seconds with all the nerve she can muster. ] Don't worry about me, okay? Focus on finding the others and staying safe-- I'll keep an eye on the network to see if I can pick up on anything.

[ because right now, that's the only thing she can do for him-- for any of them. Crying isn't going to help. ]

[audio/video]

[usedeverything]

[Another rustling sound is heard over from Souji's side of the Pokegear. This time from pushing himself off of the tree he hid behind since he began to reply back to Rise. The coast was clear for now and he couldn't waste anymore time here just hiding away. He already has wasted enough time just sticking around. He'll have to start looking around for Nanako and Yosuke, Teddie as well.

Footsteps come faint in the background, steps that you would normally hear on tile, not over dirt ground. Everything was so pixelized, so different, out of normal. It was worrying to say the least, and that was only half about it. He had to wonder, if this game was starting to glitch up, what would happen to those inside the game?

He didn't continue that train of thought.

The footsteps came to a stop as another horrible sound of fingers running over the mic was heard once again. And in a few seconds, the audio was accompanied with a video; one of Souji looking into the camera. He didn't look worse for the wear, just messy hair and covered in dirt and sweat, usual things he experienced far too many times during their time back in that world.

He musters up a small smile, a reassuring one. One that he tries to put on to calm himself down and Rise if she was still panicking. Just something that could help him back down onto a level of where he can think properly, and it helps.]

Thanks Rise. I'll try. We can get through this, just like always.

[video]

[restardom]

[ She didn't realize just how tense she still was until Souji appears-- and Rise heaves a sigh. The look's reminiscent of their times spent in the various dungeons, and he seems mostly unharmed-- even without a Persona or a comrade to toss a Diarahan his way.

Once the feed flickers into life on her end, it's hard to tell she was crying at all, except for an unusual brightness to her eyes. She's since shoved all of that back down with the ease of an experienced idol, though, and there's an answering smile. Maybe not as reassuring, but an answer nonetheless: "I've got faith in you." ]

You're right... it's just a different place, that's all.

[video]

[usedeverything]

[The most he has as an injury from that large skeleton is his shoulder from slamming himself into trees to take cover, and a whack to the back of his head from tripping over his own two feet. It was nothing he couldn't handle. He faced far worse injuries than a few bruises, even if he no longer had anything or anyone to cast a healing spell over him. A good old bath instead of a shower would do the trick.

He continues on trekking through the Route, running from one area to another. As much as he felt the need-- the want to scream out Nanako's name, or Yosuke's, or Teddie's, he couldn't. No without the chance of attracting that thing back to him. He knows how well that went last time when he shouted out their names, and that only worries him a bit more.

So when he looks down at the screen and sees that smile, he calms himself down once again.]

We'll come back safe, and you will too. Nanako is counting on us. We'll all be in Violet soon together as a group.

[video]

[restardom]

[ She stays quiet to track his progress, even if that's... incredibly hard to do, since the areas look the same from what she can see from behind him. It's easy enough to tell he's still tense, but when he glances back, she's gratified to see that he's able to settle. At least a little. ]

It's a promise, isn't it, Senpai?