[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

[appraiser]

[ He sees "cool" and "teddy bear" and is so conflicted because Thanatos has never been described to him as cool, and his second favorite animal are bears, and it's a different problem than he was expecting— instead of him being thought of frightening and somebody to be avoided, the God of Death is being taken for a pet... or a friend.

asdfljkh

okay

Ryoji turns back to himself so Akira can see his pout, and then returns the hug, pressing his face into Akira's shoulder so he can't see. ]

The problem is that I can't hug you back when I'm like that.

[maskreant]

[ A pet is very far from a friend, but he will overlook that thought process if it's ever brought up. Thanatos is very much thought of as a friend, a friend with an aura so terrifying it's cool. What Ryoji says kind of confuses Akira, question marks popping up in his bubble again as he rubs Ryoji's back.

Don't pout, friend. ]

Really? How come?

[ He's pretty sure Thanatos has arms... ]

[appraiser]

Because...

[ Because motherfucking badass Thanatos Does. Not. Hug.

Because he's embarrassed, even though they're in his bedroom with nobody else to see or care and he still worries too much about what people think of him, despite a huggable image being much more preferable to a menacing one. ]

Because I can't feel your warmth as Thanatos.

[maskreant]

[ Oh. Oh? Akira never thought about that. Does Thanatos not feel? Is pain, warmth, chill just nothing to Thanatos? That's quite interesting as he continues to hug Ryoji, maybe even swaying him side by side as he ponders a little longer. ]

That's unfortunate, but doesn't exactly answer the question. If anything, it's cruel to withhold hugs; I'm hurting.

[ It seems like Akira will continue to see Thanatos as cool as fuck and a teddy bear (knowing who it is, how can he not). ]

I should probably let you go visit all your other friends, huh...

[appraiser]

If you want hugs, I'll give them to you!

[ As if Akira isn't hurting enough already, Ryoji squeezes back a little harder. Thanatos doesn't need to be a part of this, he can give hugs perfectly fine by himself, why would anybody want hugs from anybody else? ]

...but yeah, I should probably stop hiding here and go see them.

[maskreant]

[ Thanatos is also you, which is why he wants hugs from that version of Ryoji Mochizuki, too. But that's fine. This is fine. Ryoji practically squeezes the air out of him which is evident in the little puff and wide eyes, but he pats his friend's back a little more heartily. ]

Go on ahead. Just remember to come home—we'll be waiting.

[ Akira has to wrangle the cats, but it's all right. ]

[appraiser]

Mmhmm.

[ He lets Akira go, sitting back and staring at the wall opposite him. It's weird, remembering that despite losing everything around him, he does still have a home to go to, and it's one filled with warmth and smiles and so much life. ]

I won't stay out late, so be there to welcome me home.

[maskreant]

I just have to trust you on that.

[ He remembers Ryoji saying he wants to live a full college life (which he assumes includes partying and staying out), but today isn't that day. At least he hopes so. Morrigan, at this point, is beyond spooked, so it's easy for him to scoop the black and white cat up. ]

I'll be there.

[ SHOO. ]