[ voice ]

[couragetodare]

Feels quieter today. [Over the Forge, Naruto's voice is quiet too. Weary.] Like the city's just waitin'. Ever get the feeling that people're just-

[The Forge rattles a bit. There's a tinny exhale.]

Got that job back. Wasn't even that hard. I thought it'd be harder, I just--

[And another pause, this one lingers, as though he is either unsure of

Comments

[Voice]

[melodious_magic]

[Fai is quiet for a moment - he hadn't known Near very well, but the loss of another Scorched is saddening]

Are... are you sure there's no other explanation? I mean, the mist does some strange things, and although I hate to bring it up, the killer is known to negate powers. Perhaps there's some sort of effect blanketing Near-kun?

[His attempts, much like his voice, are feeble and weak]

[Private]

If you're going to go look for him, please take someone with you. If nothing else, please tell someone.

And... if you need someone to just hang around with, call.

[Voice]

[couragetodare]

I was protectin' him. [A pause.] Supposed to be, an' he was here. But then-- The mist, the Dismas. I've been lookin'.

[Nothing, yet.]

[Private]

I'll let someone know, don't worry. [That however, is a blatant lie.]

Thanks, Fai. I figure, he's just gone home, y'know?

[Voice | Private]

[melodious_magic]

Make sure you do, kay? [He's worried. Syaoran was like this when he lost sight of Sakura, and he never bothered to let people know when he was heading off.]

I think he's gone home too. And if he's gone home, then that's for the better, right? [Fai's voice is sympathetic; he was never great at these things to begin with.]

[Voice | Private]

[couragetodare]

Mm. [Because the more vague a response Naruto can offer here, the better.] Don't sound so worried, Fai.

Yeah. Yeah, it is! He shouldn't have been here anyway! [But if he's not-- if he's stuck somewhere here...] He's probably gone home.

[i_love_squats]

Hey, Naruto. I just wanted to say... [His voice falls quiet, waits for a moment, before starting again.] I'm sorry your friend's gone. I know what it's like to lose someone you're close to.

If you need anything, let me know. I'm here for you, kid.

[couragetodare]

We weren't close. [Kneejerk reaction. Half a lie. He wasn't close to Anatole's Near.] I was just- [--trying to make sure he was safe.] We weren't close.

If he's here, I'll find 'im. If he's not then... I don't need to anyway.

[i_love_squats]

Sometimes, you don't know how close you are to someone 'til they are gone. [He says the words soft, kind.] And sometimes it's not them, but just the feeling, the reminder of things they give us.

Either way, I'm here for you, Naruto.

[couragetodare]

He gave me a cube. Puzzle. Thing. [A Rubik's cube. As ever, Naruto takes Zack's words too literally. But he does know what Zack means.]

Don't talk like that. S'not like he's dead. If he's gone home then you bet your ass I'm happy for 'im. [If.]

[voice]

[dollchains]

[Long silence here. Near's -- and she was just about to try to contact him. What kind of message would she get from a dead Forge?]

I --

[She breaks off. What can she say? What can she do? She hates to see him sad, but she can't find any optimism in this either.] ... Do you think... he went home?

[Her voice becomes a little bit more quick-paced, then -- she's getting close to panicking. She also seems to be half talking to herself.] I mean, he couldn't have gone out -- that's why he asked me, right? That's why he asked me to do that, so he didn't have to leave --

[voice]

[couragetodare]

Oi, oi, Namine! [He tries for reassuring, he really does. But these days it's not as easy to find. Still.] It's okay.

It is. He didn't go out. I was with 'im. He didn't get up an' just leave. He... wouldn't. [Not without working something out. Near was far from stupid and he wouldn't have wanted a repeat of... that.]

I think-- m'pretty sure, that he's gone home. [No. He's not. But he tries to sound sure anyway. Succeeds relatively well too.]

[voice] /hasn't used this icon ever

[dollchains]

Were you really? For how long? [No, she doubts anyone would want to repeat their -- their own death. It's not as if he were suicidal -- if anything, she might describe Near as a little paranoid for his own life.]

I hope so. I hope he's okay... [Her voice sounds a little strangled at the end of her sentence -- and then she's put the Forge down, sitting beside it numbly. The rabbit, Shell, paws it curiously, then scampers off, but Namine doesn't turn it off. Kaien's out, and she doesn't want to be alone with this.]

[voice] /feels so bad for Namine now

[couragetodare]

Since he came back. [From the dead that is.] I was-- It was, I mean ... I guess I was protectin' him. [Trying to. Trying anf failing to.]

[He falls silent then. Listening. He does this for a while, aware of the things silence can do. But Near is fine. He wants to reiterate that. To believe it.] Oi. Namine. You alone over here?

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

[He didn't know Near, but he remembers how much it hurt when Spirit disappeared. And he's terrible at this sort of thing, but he'll try anyway]

...

I'm sorry. About Near.

[ voice ]

[couragetodare]

Scar.

[It's almost a whine. Not exasperated. It's more like he doesn't know what to do with this sympathy or empathy or whatever it is.] People need to stop sayin' that they're sorry, like he's- He's not- We- He's probably gone home. I bet he's okay. [ But Naruto is looking regardless.]

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

[His mouth tightens into a thin line.]

I know. Still hurts, though, when it happens.

[Speaking from experience.]

[ voice ]

[couragetodare]

[Naruto knows it does. He knows it many times over. So he's silent.]

He's better off in his world, than bein' here.

[voice] /throws a Riza at you just to make it awkward

[firebornfidelis]

I'll keep an eye out for him.

[Because she knows how he must feel. Because she still hasn't stopped looking for Sayu. Not really.]

Are you all right?

[voice] oh god Riza, your timing is amazing and scary! He's been having nightmares about you!

[couragetodare]

I-- [Well. He thought he was doing fine until he heard Riza's voice. Now though the plethora of memories freezes him.]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine! He's gone home. I mean, I think he's gone home. He's probably g- [He's babbling.]

Thank you. I mean. For... for that. Appreciate it.

[voice] oh no, poor Naruto!! /pats him

[firebornfidelis]

[There it is, that something in his voice that makes her wonder. Makes her worry.]

I'm sure he has. [She makes her voice sound strong, reassuring]

Of course. Think nothing of it.

[She wants to offer to help him, to support him in some way, but she isn't sure if that will make him feel better or worse.]

[voice] no it's good! He needs to talk to Riza more it'll help! XD

[couragetodare]

[And Naruto hears the reassurance. The strength. He nods, unseen.] He has. [Sounds more convinced.]

... you didn't have to offer. You've probably got a lot goin' on, huh?

[Half a tentative question. He can't run from his demons forever.]