[Video]

[loyalraven]

[Gilbert is in Oz's room. And there's a frantic sort shaking to the video feed as it turns on. This is probably because Gilbert's hands are shaking. Significantly shaking. And he can't quite seem to stop them.] Oz.

Oz if you can hear this, you need to answer me. You need to answer me now. Please... please answer me...

[His voice is more than a

Comments

[Video]

[holmes_fanatic]

Gilbert-niisan.

[They can't even have their one moment of happiness, can they? It's -- unfair.

Of course it's unfair. It's the Interloper and Watcher we're dealing with here.]

It -- may be better that he's not here now.

[Video]

[loyalraven]

[Gilbert is quiet for a long moment at the sound of Conan's voice, largely because he's collecting himself. He can't afford to fall apart. He can't. Not with what's going on. Not with the people still here who count on him. Naoki and Ada and Alice, the others.]

It... I hope that's true. [Now to explain that home is just as dangerous for Oz? That his being home means that Gilbert's promise to stay by his side as his servant is being broken?] This isn't his home. He deserves to be home.

[Video]

[holmes_fanatic]

Ah.

Ada-neesan, Naoki-kun, Alice-san -- you're all all right?

[Video]

[loyalraven]

[A nod at that and he speaks, voice still quiet. Strained.] We're fine. Safe for the time being.

[Action]

[scalethetower]

[There's no pause. No delay. No response to the video. Naoki's moving up from the kitchen to Oz's room right away, coming to a halt behind Gilbert, breaths coming shortly--not from exertion. He stares at Gilbert's back for a moment and then moves closer to him.] Gilbert...

[Action]

[loyalraven]

[Gilbert hears him before he speaks, but it's a long moment before he can make himself turn around. And even when he does, the emotion on his face is obvious. He can't put it away, even if he's trying, trying so hard to hold together. He swallows hard.] He's gone.

[Action]

[scalethetower]

I know. You don't have to say anything. [Naoki murmurs softly and steps closer to pull Gilbert into his arms. And he tries to search for comforting words, but he's never had anyone as close to him as Oz is to Gilbert leave. But...] He's--safe, I'm sure. Back in your world.

[Action]

[loyalraven]

[Gilbert is grateful, more grateful than he can explain, for Naoki's presence, for those words and those arms around him. For a moment he tries to hold himself together, but it's really no use and he's half collapsing against him, arms coming to wrap around him tightly.] Naoki, I... [He has to keep telling himself it isn't like before; Oz isn't lost to the Abyss. He's home. Where he belongs.]

[Video]

[bound_by_this]

...Gilbert....

[Video]

[loyalraven]

[The voice has him stiffening just slightly before looking to the video feed.] Jack.

Oz... it seems Oz has gone home. It may be... [He's lying, and his voice breaks.] ...for the best.

[Video]

[bound_by_this]

[Immediately he regrets even speaking up.]

Ah...

[He hesitates, watching Gilbert, listening to him speak. It's painful to do so, and he knows no words he can offer will help, but still, he tries.]

Yes...perhaps it is.... All the same, I'm sorry, Gilbert...

[Video]

[loyalraven]

[For a moment, Gilbert is a little torn. And there's a flash of anger in his eyes, as though maybe he thinks he's found a target for his own frustration at his inability to do -anything- in this circumstance. But looking to the screen, to a face that is so much more familiar than he understands it being.] It... he... I've failed him again.

Did I let you down too?

[rewritethesky]

...Gilbert?

[Oh, not this, not right now. Not with what's going on.]

He might have gone back. But... if he hasn't... [A pause and a gulp.] There still could be a chance...

[loyalraven]

[He looks to her for a long moment, wondering if he can allow himself to be hopeful. Or if it's also a horrifying idea. Could Oz be here but in danger?]

There's... there's no sign of a struggle here. And he wouldn't have left. His... his things are gone. The ones he came with.

[rewritethesky]

[She doesn't like the look, and flinches back because of it. This is just so hard to deal with something so close to what she is.]

Maybe... not there. It could have been somewhere else in the city. But... it wouldn't explain his things.

...Are you... staying away from them though?

[loyalraven]

[He nods a little bit at that.] It's... it's the way people leave. With what they came with. [Gilbert has undoubtedly stolen something small of Oz's to keep on his person in case this happened. It's what brought him frantically into Oz's room to begin with.]

We... we are. It's... Are you safe, Naminé?

[seasaltblues]

[Oz was... Oz was gone? But... Was it the Heartless?

...His things were gone, too, though. So, did that mean?

She couldn't even bear to turn on her video, so audio it was. She was scared and torn. Feeling so cornered. Her keyblade- It wasn't responding anymore. She didn't know why, but- But-

Her voice couldn't hide the panic she tried to keep quiet nor the way she was fighting to keep a determination to her tone. But regardless.]

I'll do all I can to find him. [And help stop all of this. They're from my world. My responsibility. Which was really everyone from her world's responsibility, but alas.]

[loyalraven]

Xion...

[He shakes his head quietly.] I don't think he can be found. He wouldn't have left. And... his things are gone, what he came with. [Gilbert has been in the City long enough to know what that means, what it means when all traces of a person disappear from this place save for memories.]

But thank you. It means... it means a lot, and I...

[seasaltblues]

[That earned him a long bout of silence. Almost as if she had cut the feed. It would sure seem like it if it weren't for her breathing. Breathing that slowly became slightly labored.] I-I'll still try! We don't know- He might be-!

[She had had full intentions of speaking with him more. Of getting to know him more. He was part of Gilbert's family, someone important! If he left, he was home and that was where he probably wanted to be- was where everyone who still had a place to go back to- she understood. She shouldn't be this upset, really, she knew.]

[loyalraven]

[Gilbert blinks a bit at that. He's grateful really, for the words, but signs are pointing to Oz being no longer in the city.] I... mm.

Xion, please be careful.