⑦ never heard that one before (week 27, day 3)

[sternitfortem]

[ Juudai has that unique expression that results when one is apprehensive to a point bordering terror, is trying not to convey this emotion at all, and ultimately ends up looking even more worried than if they were just honest in the first place

Comments

[ video ]

[kodaksoldier]

[Here is a brand-new face, Juudai. Still, the expression is friendly--calm, and trying for reassuring.]

I only got here about a week ago, but if you could give a description, I could take a look and ask around?

When did you last see him?

[ video ]

[sternitfortem]

I last saw him yesterday. He wasn't in the house this morning, but I thought he'd just left to go get food or something, and then I thought he went to that party, so I went there and called him, but he won't answer his Hitomi and - [ Juudai forces himself to stop after realizing he is actually babbling. Urgh. ] So yeah, this is recent. He just normally wouldn't go anywhere without telling anyone or answering me, so...

Anyway. He's about an inch taller than me, he wears jeans and this long-sleeved shirt with frills at the cuffs - [ don't ask, really ] - and he's got short teal hair. His name is Johan Andersen.

- I'm sorry, I didn't get your name.

[Video]

[pinktintedgamon]

[The message has Raikou frowning a bit, because Juudai's upset is more than clear and he has to wonder... hasn't this kind noticed yet? Hasn't anyone told him about how the directory works?

By the sound of it, that's a definite 'no' - which is why Raikou double checks the Hitomi himself, then pulls the feed back up.]

Juudai-kun? Have you considered the possibility that he's not on this plain right now? I mean, there are other things that could have happened - [Like slavers or kidnapping to fight in the gladiator fights in Yomisato, but he's not going to say that right now] - but he's still alive and here if he's in the directory.

[Video]

[sternitfortem]

[ Juudai nods, trying to conceal his frustration. ] I know - you told me that when Malik left, remember? That's why I'm worried.

[ And then "not on this plane" registers - ] You don't think Amaterasu or someone is talking to him, do you? Like what happened with me?

[Video]

[pinktintedgamon]

[He shrugged and spread his hands, as if to say he hadn't a clue.]

For all the time that I've been here, all I've found is that these gods are impossible to predict. It's possible he's with one of them, or that they've brought him there for some reason.

[Video]

[sternitfortem]

[ Sigh. ] Well, thanks. I'll see if I can find him or get in contact with him if I can.

[can_you_eat_it]

Spiky-head?!

[Here, have a worried Alice. Because she knows the acute pain of having a friend disappear in this place. She knows the cruelty of it and Johan - he was a nice person. He shared his food with her!

This wasn't good at all!]

Do you need help looking for that zoo-keeper? I can help!

[sternitfortem]

[ Well, it's not that Juudai wants to start a panic... even if he's kind of close to panicking himself... ]

I've been looking around, myself. Just, if you could keep an eye out, that would be great. I'm just worried he got hurt and can't get help, you know? [ There are a lot of cliffs around Mizusato... ]

[can_you_eat_it]

No, it's okay! I'm not really doing anything right now anyways, so I'll go look.

[She nods firmly at that as if to say it's settled now.]

[sternitfortem]

Thanks. I really appreciate that. [ Juudai looks really relieved. ]

[cyberroids]

[Shou's face appears on the screen with an expression that is more than a little hesitant. He doesn't like how much Juudai seems to be freaking out and he remembers all too well what had happened the last time Johan had gone missing. To say it had ended badly would be a vast understatement

[sternitfortem]

[ Impatience and fear lends a slight snap to this: ] I'm not going anywhere on my own, okay?

[ He immediately feels bad, though; it's not as if that wasn't slightly deserved, and anyway, Sho's just trying to help. ]

I just... hope he didn't go rock-climbing and break his leg or anything. That's all.

[cyberroids]

[At first he's not sure how to answer his Aniki for despite his words his manner suggested that he was about to do something stupid on his own again. So rather than snap back like he was initially tempted to he calmly responds instead by repeating his last question instead. He thinks he can recognise the structure in the background but he's not yet confident enough to accurately say.]

Aniki, where exactly are you?

[He'll comfort Juudai later. First he needs to find him.]

[sternitfortem]

Mizusato. I was at the ryokan and now I'm checking the city. [ That familiar structure might be that fish market where Juudai freelances for cash; not that he specifically suspects Johan to be there, but checking everywhere can't possibly hurt, right? ]

[cyberdarkscion]

[Hell Kaiser's voice is mildly irritated. Johan is a more or less grown adult, he can go off on his own if he wants to, Juudai doesn't have to act like it's the end of the world if he can't keep permanent tabs on him.]

Just calm down. It's not like he's dead.

[sternitfortem]

Thank you, Kaiser, I'll keep that in mind.

[ This conversation is now closed. ]