[video] forward dated to 9/13

[appraiser]

Ryoji Mochizuki shared a video.
09/13 near Apprassage

[ The video starts up, dark, silent. A bedroom, if an empty desk and neatly made bed and too many cardboard boxes count as a bedroom, and then the view flips over with a soft ] Oh. [ as the user finds the front-facing camera instead of the rear that he always uses on his phone. ]

Hi... It's been a while.

[ The bottom half of the screen blurs as Ryoji draws his knees to his chest where he sits on bare floorboards, phone in his hands. He doesn't introduce himself— doesn't need to, when his name is up there for people who don't know him, his face right here for people who do: the people he's recording this video for, whispers in an empty room. ]

I'm back. I know there are probably questions as to why, or how... and I can't really explain it well myself. But I'll answer the best I can, if you want to ask, texting or in person.

[ Ryoji sits up a little straighter now, looks a little more serious. This is what he meant to say: a confession. ]

But before that, I want to say that I'm glad to be back, however it happened... a second chance like this. I also want to be more upfront about myself, and there are things I want to say to a lot of people.

There was a time in the past where I was a monster: I'd hurt a lot of people, and I ran from all of that, hid myself away, and pretended it hadn't happened. The memories I've been experiencing, I kept the good ones close, the bad even closer, pretending they weren't real and that they have nothing to do with me. I thought... that it would be better to forget about all of that and return to a simpler time. Unconsciously, I think that's what I did. I went back to before everything happened, to start over, and do better this time. But I got it wrong. I made myself forget, but I wasn't forgotten...

[ He's rambling now, a little, so he turns his eyes away from the screen, staring off at something in the distance- it's the moon reflected in his eyes, only half. ]

There's somebody I still need to say goodbye to, but after that... I want to see so many of you. I owe a lot of "thank you"s and "I'm sorry"s and "I love you"s, and I want to be with people again. I don't want to leave this world or its people ever again.

So... I'll see you guys soon.




( ooc: forward dated to 9/13 to give myself a buffer. replies can be via text, or an in-person if you want to fast-forward to ryoji showing up at your character's house/class/chance meeting at some cafe/hi roommates/he'll be finding people around town somehow. for his cr, please assume he checked up on them, whether it's handwaved or not! )

Comments

[thesettingsun]

[This can't be a thing that happened. Ryoji's gone, Minako said so and she wouldn't lie, there was a funeral, but-

But it's Ryoji's voice, and it's Ryoji's face, and it's Ryoji apologizing for making trouble for others even though he's the one who-]

where are you

I need to hug you right now

Text;

[redarm]

[Noah hadn't been following the network that closely the past few weeks, only coming upon this chance. This video it...

It can't be happening. Ryoji was gone. How? Was this some kind of dream?

...

If it was a dream, then it was a good one, he decides as he furiously types out a message]

where are you??

[darkinferno]

[Dante doesn't even watch the full video. He doesn't have to. He sees the name and is about to lay into somebody for dragging this up, and then he sees the face and hears the voice...

He doesn't even bother doing this with text; have an audio response instead.]

Ryoji?! What the fuc--

[He sits there, staring at his phone in shock for a long moment before he manages to continue.]

You definitely owe us an explanation. Do you know how--

[He cuts off again, this time so that he doesn't continue telling the boy off. Come on, Dante, not even an hour ago he was dead, don't lose your temper at him...]

You've got plans for 11AM Saturday. Breakfast with the rest of us. I'll text you where.

Freya, Ritsu, Eleanor, Yuri, Malik, Davey, Toushiro, Mari, Kasen--same goes to you guys. 11AM on Saturday.

[Don't get him wrong, Ryoji, he's actually really relieved to see you're back.]

[appraiser]

hey shuji. i'm home right now, but i can meet you. where are you?

[lingeringwill]

i was at your funeral

Motherfuck

Go tell minako, dont even think about doing anything else

[appraiser]

home. do you want to come over again? i can text you the address again if you don't remember

[thesettingsun]

library

I'll be outside

[appraiser]

I... Yeah, I'll be there. I'd be really happy to see you all again. I'm glad you all got out.

[appraiser]

i'm sorry

and
i will. in person
i owe her that and so much more

[redarm]

yes of course.
send me the address.

[appraiser]

ok. see you soon

[ Library... the public library? The school one? Which school... Ryoji tries the public one first, though if he's wrong and gets the incorrect library, he simply disappears into the darkness and reappears at the next.

When he sees Shuji, that's how it happens, stepping out from behind the corner of a building or straightening up from behind a mailbox, looking around for his friend. ]

[lingeringwill]

yeah. that girl has been through so damn much the past few weeks, from the cremation and funeral to everything else. I never, ever, want to see her go through that again, you got me?

And I fucking missed you too, dammit.





I brought you some sprite

[appraiser]

[ It's the address to the apartment in Crimson Crest that Ryoji sends over. There is police tape neatly rolled up and set on the ground inside the front door, which turns easily as it's already unlocked, has been unlocked for the last three weeks. The entire unit's lights are off, and it's quiet inside aside from some murmurs from upstairs- Ryoji's bedroom where he hasn't gotten up from since he'd posted the video, and is trying to micromanage replies while he's still alone with his phone. ]

[thesettingsun]

[Public library, though honestly, it doesn't matter, because the moment Shuji sees Ryoji appear from behind a corner, nothing else exists.

Ryoji is alive. Ryoji is alive. Ryoji is alive and that shouldn't be possible but he can't worry about that because Ryoji is alive again.

True to his word, Shuji nearly tackles Ryoji in a hug.]

You're back, you're okay...

[He's crying.]

[eyestitch]

What the fuck?

[That's all he's getting, but Nui leaves the camera on overlong after that, frozen.]

[redarm]

On my way.

[Noah doesn't even bother with the buses, he orders an uber instead. As such, it's not long at all until he pulls up to the apartment. He'll have the courtesy to knock, before he tries to door, finding it open. He lets himself right in, calling out as he enters the front hallway]

Ryoji?!

[he knows he's chasing ghosts. He knows he's being rash. But he doesn't care]

[appraiser]

...i didn't know. i wasn't aware of that, or anything, in the time i was gone. selfishly, i only took care of myself
i won't ever leave. i won't ever disappear. i want to promise these things so badly, terra
i missed you too
i missed sprite
i missed having people i could talk to and be with and not need to be the only one who can take care of myself

[darkinferno]

Good.

[He pauses, unsure of how to say it.]

I don't know what happened, but... I'm glad you're okay. Everybody was really broken up over what happened.

[appraiser]

[ If she's not going to say anymore more, he will, with a tired but warm smile to Nui. ]

...That's pretty much what I thought too, when I first realized. How are you?

[appraiser]

—Noah!

[ There's a clatter from upstairs, of a phone being dropped the last couple of inches to the hardwood floor that Ryoji pushes himself off of, coming downstairs two steps at a time before— stopping himself. Right. Right, because the last time he... ]

Noah.

[ This time, his voice is quieter, more reserved as he takes his steps more carefully down the very last few until he's level with Noah, hugging his own arms so he isn't tempted to reach out and pull Noah close. ]

I've missed you so much.

[appraiser]

I wish I could have been there, standing with everybody when we call came back. I remember opening my eyes in the forest... and that was it. I was happy enough just to be home. But you can tell me everything that happened since then when I see you again.

[lingeringwill]

good. She needs you around. And i need a friend like you, too.

Do you even know what happened? You're saying very strange vague things that make it sound like you were hiding in purgatory or some shit
It seems like you don't really know

It's fine if you dont wanna talk about it, it was probably pretty dramatic
That sprite probably didn't get to you wherever you are

So ill bring it over when you feel like having me as company

[appraiser]

[ Ryoji catches him in momentary surprise, hearing his words, feeling the arms around him and tears on his shoulder and he has to bite down on his bottom lip to keep from crying, fails that almost at once, and instead buries his face in Shuji's shoulder so that at least he won't see.

The enormity of it all hadn't really hit until this moment. He'd thought it'd be simple, an "I'm back!" and everything going back to how it was before, but he can't replace the time he spent away, and he can't make up for it no matter how many times he keeps repeating ]

I'm back. I'm back. I'm so sorry...

[appraiser]

i don't mind talking about it
i just
i can say what happened, but i don't know why or how and i don't know whether it's something i need to work out, or simply be grateful that it happened, accept the second chance and stop questioning because it won't come again
but whenever you want, please come keep me company
i said up there, right? i miss people like you

[redarm]

Ryoji-

[It was him. It was really him. It was one thing to see a video, but to see him in the person.

He steps forward himself to hug him, but he also has to stop himself, holding onto his arms. That's right. They can't risk having last time happen again...

I've missed you so much.

Tears well up in Noah's eyes. He can feel himself getting chocked up.]

I- I've missed you too. [He sniffs] I'm sorry.