[Voice] (Public because he still doesn't know how his machine works, only that it does.)
[There's a fumbling clatter of fingers on the outside of the junogram, and scratching as it's turned around, only for the words to be obscured by the blast and speaker-splitting fuzz of volume and the too close "PHH" proximity to the microphone every time a breath hits it, calling desperately to a person who may not even be there.
But...might be.
the ( Read more... )
A rare moment of wisdom occurs to him, though.
Well...no...actually, they can't can they? And he was loud...
Gau forces a deep breath, and lets it out.
He made it public, not knowing what name Raikou might pick, so naturally, evne strangers could hear it, and...
He's upset. So of course it was loud. a little trickle of guilt works in as he clicks the button to voice back--at a more normal volume.]
...Sorry. [the word sounds more terse than apologetic]
I'm...looking for my friend. I don't know if he came in at the same time I did. [A pause] I'm...worried. [the voice seems to dare him to make something of it. Unfortunately, Gau's voice, though male, is hardly deep and impressive. It sounds like it wishes it were deep and impressive so it could make demands that people would actually listen to, but is better suited to debate tournaments or idealistic, brash calls to short-lived street-barricading peoples' revolutions.]
Have you or anyone seen a man with pink hair, a white-wrapped katana, and terrible fashion sense on the giant-city-thing or in the forest?
It's important.
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What about the sword? It's...a white katana. "Shirogamon". [it occurs to him slowly, finally that Yoite's dying faster...because he might be older, or further along in his path towards death--not because of anything he might have done.]
You're from the 'caravan' right? I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but...there's a thin guy, very tall, warmly dressed regardless of the weather...in a big black coat, and a hat. He walks around like he's going blind, and coughs up blood. He spends a lot of his time hiding from people, but I know he's from the caravan...a ninja of Iga's Kairoushu clan, named Yoite.
[Gau hesitates, writing with his left hand in his backup notebook, noting that two people haven't seen Raikou, but adding in another category.]
Has...the caravan ever been attacked by something? And has a person of that description ever jumped in to defend it as far as you know?
[If Yoite's that far along in his degeneration, either he's made extensive use of his kira...or...
Gau scratches the question to himself: POSSIBLE TIMELINE DIFFERENCES (? "FUTURE YOITE"))]
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Hasn't ever defended the caravan either. Why would he? Haven't you seen the caravan for yourself? Have you had a good look at the giant that's pulling it? Once you do, feel free to let me know if you think the caravan's ever been attacked by much of anything.
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Well...
Gau takes a breath through his nose and breathes it out before clicking the record button again.]
I've...seen it. But I've also fought in the forest, and clearly you haven't. [A flare of obvious irritation in his voice. Gau isn't good at all at hiding his hostility. Never has been. Even when he tries.]
The...things we fought weren't normal. The size of Ogre-san, and of the caravan doesn't mean there never will be something to attack it. Especially if those inside it are negligent in its protection! [Stepped on a bit of a social landmine there. Gau hates negligence and laziness more than anything...]
Especially if you're supposed to be more talented than Yoite-kun!
[He's obviously fuming a little, his voice rising in volume without meaning as he goes on.]
Don't you ever upset him with that attitude! He'll kill you! Painfully. Iga's Kira technique-
[He cuts himself off, and the plastic creaks again, as Gau makes a noise of irritation.]
Just...don't bother Yoite-kun. Not unless you're going to help him.
[And as a brain-to-mouth comment after:]
And someone should be organizing and keeping track of the members of the caravan in case of emergencies! All sorts fo talk of people vanishing? It's poor organization,a nd it's just sickening!
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What's with your obsession with that sullen idiot anyway?
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Robot-san shot some of the creatures with...what looked like a shotgun. And another person set one on fire...somehow. [He's still not sure of the particulars. He hasn't had a chance to talk to the guy with the katana again, yet. Possibly an elemental technique?] It didn't stop it from charging and attacking Robot-san and Eyepatch-kun on his back at all! And they didn't run like normal animals when they were attacked, even then!
It's possible the town was abandoned because of them, or they ate the people or something! [Pure speculation. Nobody really tops Gau for paranoid ability to doubt everything with pure cynicism, or worship with pure idealism in equal excess...]
I mean it! If the caravan needs suppolies, they should take them and leave quickly! This place is dangerous!
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AND IT'S NOT LIKE WE WANTED TO BE DUMPED HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, FOREST OR OTHERWISE!
WHY ARE WE EVEN HERE?!
[An existential question at the best of times, but Gau's hardly a person with the sort of mental depth that frequently ponders the secrets of the universe. You can be sure even for all his yelling and ranting and emotional compromise due to frustration, that he really wants to know.]
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Gau vehemently types to him his next reply. LOUD? He'll show him loud! Take that! Unfortunately, Gau also equates typing his next reply with the epitome of biting witty retort, reminiscent of Oscar Wilde at his finest.]
How can you not care?! Even if you're a part of the group who started out the caravan journey, you have to be at least curious about how you were brought here and WHY!
It's suspicious that people from all different backgrounds keep getting brought here by chance! It's suspicious that there's a caravan to even start with! Running something like this would be high-cost, and what reason would anyone have to help us?!
You have to have people you care about that you left behind, too!
How can your first priority be anything but returning to them and making sure they're safe?!
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And what would you know about me in the first place? Of my friends and family? Of course I have to get home. Of course this whole thing is suspicious. Of course I'd rather be home. But spazzing all over the place and acting like a chicken with its head cut off isn't going to do a damn thing.
Don't be a moron.
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It doesn't come. Gau feels oddly depressed even as he writes the burning earnest implorings...]
Then HELP me!
Raikou-san aside, if I have to stay here, I want to be useful to people! If others are disappearing off the caravan, then there has to be another way back, and it might even be faster! And if there's a way to use that faster way, then it should be found, and quickly!
We should share information and work as a unit so that the innocent people caught up in this don't have to suffer! If you have something you want to go home for, then you should work for it instead of giving up!
If the salmon at first fails to clear the sharp rocks, he should redouble his efforts with greater enthusiasm, until he achieves his goal, even if that goal is upstream!
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Then be useful. No one's stopping you. Why do you think we're all on this caravan, anyway? Because we all want to get the hell home because this place sucks. That's where the damn thing is supposedly taking us. To someone who can get us home.
There's nothing else we have to go on, so for now, that's good enough for me until I find out different.
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