the13tharcana | IC contact post for Adstringendum

I'm sure it was fate!

[Yes, Ryoji still believes something like that exists, and he'll forever be the biggest sap in the universe.]

Well... a lot of them.

[As in all of them. He knows Joshua is just trying to tease him with this - and yet, that stare of his is only making him blush more. ... Ah, but the kiss is welcome, at least, and Ryoji can't help but smile into it, very content with the whole gesture. He was already set on the idea that he wouldn't be able to do this anytime soon again, so... actually doing it feels really, really nice.]

Maybe. Who knows?

[Honestly, he's not about to rebuke Ryoji for still believing in fate. It's something he's grown fond of, actually. It's just something that fits Ryoji through and through.]

That's more like it.

[There's a little chuckle against Ryoji's lips, but it's quickly muffled into the kiss. It feels like he's been away for a long time, and it's incredibly satisfying, just feeling that warmth. He doesn't let the kiss go for long, though, breaking away and smirking up at his boyfriend.]

Miss me?

[Ryoji appreciates that Joshua doesn't try to burst his bubble there. And he doesn't mind the kiss being so brief. It's enough to get the message across for now, and he's pretty satisfied with it being so gentle.]

I usually start missing you after a few seconds of not seeing you, so... what do you think?

[In case Joshua had any doubts in that regard - yes, it's been over a year of them being together and Ryoji still had it so bad. He simply returns the smile, reaching up to pull a few loose strands of hair behind Joshua's ear in a caring gesture.]

Did you get to go back home?

I knew the answer before you even replied.

[The smirk turns into a softer smile at that, head tilting just the slightest bit. Joshua knows that Ryoji has it bad - he's always had it bad - but it doesn't mean he's above asking anyway.

That question, though... For a moment, as Ryoji is tucking that hair behind Joshua's ear, there's a brief flicker of something in his eyes. Something like... anguish. Despair. But it's only there for just a split second. In the meantime, his smile fades, and his eyes glance away.]

I did.

[Considering how intently Ryoji was staring into Joshua's eyes right now, it was impossible for that change in mood to slip past him unnoticed - and as soon as Joshua stops smiling, it's like a chain reaction. Ryoji's own smile falters, because he immediately knows that something's wrong.

But without being aware what actually happened, he interprets it the only way he can. Joshua should have been happy to be finally back home. Coming back here again, after having that... it must be depressing for him. Realizing that, Ryoji can only feel guilty for actually being happy that he's back.]

...I'm sorry.

[Something is wrong, all right. But it's not quite what Ryoji is suspecting. Not that he's really reading Ryoji's thoughts at the moment, but he's sure he probably doesn't exactly remember that conversation from the dorm buildings event right off the top of his head.]

... do you remember what I spoke about with Sora-kun?

[Quiet, subdued.]

[What Joshua spoke about with Sora-kun? He spoke about a lot of things, he's sure, but... ah...]

...about Shibuya?

[About Shibuya falling into darkness? Did it... actually happen?]

[So he does remember. Joshua is quiet for just a moment, hand moving to his side, fingers lightly gripping into his shirt.]

... everything seemed okay when I went back. I didn't remember this place, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But a couple of days after that...

[... he's been trying to put off thinking about this. He really has.]

[So Joshua went back and forgot all about this place, just like everyone else who experienced it. Meanwhile Ryoji does remember bits and pieces, and probably the most important, unpleasant part of it all...]

The thing with... the heart of the city and the darkness happened?

[He wishes saying it out loud wouldn't be too hurtful in case it was true, but... Josh could probably use someone to talk to about it right now, all things considered.]

[It's frightening, knowing for certain that he won't remember this place upon returning. He wouldn't be concerned about it, though, if it weren't for the memories of Ryoji. He... doesn't want to forget those.]

No one survived. Reapers and humans alike. Nothing we could do would keep them down. And they were coming for me.

I... managed to hold on to Neku's soul, and the souls of his friends. I was trying to escape, to find a place that was safe... and I ended up coming here instead. But it doesn't appear that I managed to bring them along with me.

[Whether that means he'd lost his hold on them, or if he'd simply been pulled back here from just before he managed to find solace... he's not entirely sure.]

Joshua...

[Ryoji's voice is quiet; he doesn't know what to say. Hearing all of that is more than disheartening. Even more so that he can relate to having one's world destroyed.]

I'm so sorry to hear that...

[All Ryoji can do is hold Josh close and hope that can bring even a little bit of comfort.]

A lot of people disappeared and then reappeared after the ritual... so maybe you simply got dragged back here with the Animus' power again. Sora-kun said that you were supposed to appear in that town where you meet up with him after the whole thing, right?

That's what he mentioned. Neku-kun, too, and Riku-kun. They all knew.

[Joshua accepts being held closer like that, but suddenly, he feels much too exhausted to even consider embracing back.]

... Shibuya is gone. I'm not sure how I can still be the Composer of a city that doesn't exist.

[Ryoji notices the lack of response, but he still doesn't go. He won't let go.]

But neither of them knew if Shibuya could be restored or not, did they?

So, hey... don't lose hope just yet. Maybe you'll still be able to figure something out.

They said that it would take a very long time, if it were possible at all. And that the hearts of the people...

[Joshua shakes his head, leaning in to press his forehead against Ryoji's shoulder.]

... only they could bring it back. I couldn't do a thing.

Well... time is something you shouldn't have to worry about too much, should you?

[Perhaps Joshua wasn't immortal, but being there for over 160 years was saying something compared to a normal human lifespan. Ryoji would like to believe Josh could hold on a lot longer than that.

A hand makes its way to the back of Joshua's head as soon as he leans into him, and Ryoji buries his nose in its tip.]

It seems like you'll simply have to trust your friends on this one, then.

[To Ryoji's first question, Joshua simply shakes his head against his shoulder, not saying a word in reply. He's rebuilt his city in the past, and not just once. He'd be capable of doing it again if need be, and he would. The problem is... he can't fix it. Not as it is now.

But, trusting other people to do something like this is difficult for him. He can trust his Reapers to do what they're supposed to do, but only because he's there above them, watching their every move and able to step in in one way or another if need be. But putting his full trust in someone else to take care of something... only Sanae has had that privilege. It's difficult for him to let go of his hold on something and let someone else take the reins.]

I suppose.

[Ryoji knows that it's a difficult thing for Joshua to accept... Still, trying to cheer him up in any way is the only thing he can do right now. They're unable to really do anything about it for as long as they're here.]

You know, a little while back I talked with Castiel-san about fate and how The Fall was supposed to happen back in my world... He told me that the apocalypse was destined to happen in his own universe. And he also always thought it couldn't be changed, that it was all set in stone from the beginning... but they've stopped it. I didn't believe that it could be the same case with my world, even though Castiel-san tried to convince me.

But then that other me appeared here together with Minako-chan for those two weeks... and it turned out that The Fall didn't happen for that Ryoji, after all.

[That had a big impact on Ryoji's views and beliefs. It took him a while to actually accept and come to terms with all of that.]

So your world can't be off that bad. I'm sure there's also a way to save it.

[... it... didn't? To be perfectly honest, Joshua had been more or less keeping to himself for those two weeks - understandably, considering both the fact that Sanae was there, and the whole mess with Catherine. He hadn't heard about this. ... so it meant that, in Ryoji's world, there was a way to prevent it from happening.

His world, though... Joshua still isn't too certain. He wants to be optimistic about it, because Shibuya is his life. But optimism isn't his strong suit.]

If there's a way, I'm not sure what it is.

[Suddenly he's shifting a little, not moving away from Ryoji but freeing up his hands to retrieve his PCD. He'd saved this conversation, because it had been important... So he's going to queue it up. Just to refresh his memory, to see if there were any options he couldn't remember.]

Edited 2014-03-21 21:26 (UTC)

[Ryoji couldn't believe it at first, either. But now that he knows that his world could be saved, he's pretty convinced it's also possible in just about any other universe out there as well.]

The current 'me' isn't supposed to know how to save my world, either. So I'm sure you'll learn it at some point, too, once you go back home again.

[The moment Joshua takes his PCD out, it makes Ryoji remember something back from a time when they were at the bridge, talking just like this. And just like last time, he acts on his idea, shifting to get behind Josh and snake his arms around him from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder while pulling him closer. It's easier and more comfortable for them both to watch the recording like this.

And this time, Joshua most likely won't ask him what the hell he's doing.]

Mm. It's possible. ... even my attacks wouldn't keep them at bay for long, though.

[He's not entirely sure what to do. Simply being there is threatening enough - with his attacks not being as effective, he'd have no real way of keeping himself from being consumed. It had been the reason behind fleeing, honestly.

The recording begins to play, but suddenly Ryoji is moving behind him, wrapping his arms around him, and-- ... mm. He'd done this, that one time... But this time, Joshua is simply leaning back into Ryoji. There's no argument at all. It's... comfortable. He's grown a lot more used to this sort of thing.

... unfortunately, as the recording plays, Joshua doesn't find anything he hadn't heard before. And even Riku hadn't been sure how the worlds had come back, here...]

... it's happened. It's possible. We're just not sure how.

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