RYSLIG IC contact

[whiteofcrime]

(THIS INBOX IS NO LONGER IN USE - please see this post for the current inbox.)

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, TSUKIBAKARI. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 968.14.510.12 *** TSUKIBAKARI has joined 968.14.510.12 <TSUKIBAKARI> Hello hello? <TSUKIBAKARI> Man what's with this crappy technology. Takes so long to type stuff out. <TSUKIBAKARI> Hehe love the channel number. Thanks whoever assigned it to me! <TSUKIBAKARI> Less impressed with the name. Seriously? 'Moon-addled'? Rude.

[ IC CONTACTS LIST ]

Aliases:
MAGICKAITO - Kaito's default username (used on the public network)
TSUKIBAKARI - the username he will use for, uh, 'work' and private communication

'Anonymous' aliases:

• REDSNAPPER (David)
  
• SILVERPERCH (Duke)
  
• BLUEMARLIN (Ilia)
  
• BLACKBASS (Fog God, DisasterLeo) [manticore] Fog
  
• YELLOWFIN (isawsaw321) Fourth
  
• WHITEBAIT (XIII) Fourth
  
  
• GOLDFISH
  
• GREYMULLET
  
• GREENEYE
  
• SALMONPINK

Common fish names for my reference

Comments

<magickaito>

[whiteofcrime]

Funny. Last I checked, I didn't need to kill to survive here. And yet I still get targeted.

The jewellery store wasn't me. How the hell do you make that leap?

[ In a manner of speaking. ]

<mothra>

[cryingmothis]

I dunno, the same sick kind of humor in your post and the one bragging about it? I wouldn't be surprised it was you at this point.

[There is a pause as Akari leans back and blinks a couple of times in sudden realization.]

Are you all right? Those things you are doing now don't fit what you said back the last time we met at all. I'd thought you understand the way fear works - they don't see us, they just see one of the many scary monsters that kill over hundred people each month. The same way I'm willing to bet you didn't check the face of each of your victims before you used them for that.

[Kaito, what did the Fog God do to you?]

<magickaito>

[whiteofcrime]

Guess what: I'm not the only monster here and I'm definitely not the only one who could have posted that.

They don't even sound like me.

And I'm fine, okay? Don't call them victims, you make it sound like I did kill them.

[ He is very much not fine and doing his best to brush of Akari. ]

<mothra>

[cryingmothis]

I'm starting to wonder about that. I'm the last one to toss stones about the physical abnormalities of others, but Christ, Kaito! Look at what you are doing!

You are turning living, conscious people into an art installment!! For fun!! While prompting others to do the same!!

<magickaito>

[whiteofcrime]

People have done weirder things for art. I still don't see what the problem is.

Also I don't want someone like you taking the moral high ground here. I haven't forgiven you yet.

<mothra>

[cryingmothis]

No, they haven't. What kind of excuse is that even??

If even *I* am telling that shit's gone too far then you should know that you crossed some lines here, not act like an upset teenager!

<magickaito>

[whiteofcrime]

Wow I didn't realise you were an expert on all art all of a sudden.

You seem to really like pulling out that line, "acting like an upset teenager", "acting like an upset kid". Does it make you feel better to pretend you're the adult here?

Being through hell and back doesn't give you the right to look down on others. I'm not going to sit here and listen to you tell me what I can and can't do.

<mothra>

[cryingmothis]

[Akari startles at the call-out. His brows furrow, but it's true, isn't it? After a long pause he pushes a button and sends Kaito an audio file instead of text.]

Kaito.

[His voice is strong but has a distinct note of weariness in it. There is steel covered in layers of dark silk, because Akari might bend, but he refuses to break until all things are said and done. The only time he has broken was when he had faced the dead body of his girlfriend and no way to save anyone anymore without giving up on himself. ...he still feels sick thinking of that. But it's not as if that matters anymore. That's a different regret he has to face on his own at a different time.

There is a soft rustle of cloth as he shakes his head followed by a deep exhale. Okay. No more playing games here. Subconsciously, he shifts into a pose as if he were confessing to a priest.]

You're right. I have been acting up this 'Adult' role of mine a lot when interacting with certain people. It's no role I like. I'm not suited for it, and hell, I don't want it. I can think of a dozen other people who would be better adults than me at any given time, but unfortunately none of them are there. Some are younger than me.

[A deep inhale sounds across the ether, followed by another exhale.]

The truth is I'm trying to make excuses for both of us here. If you are a teen and just angry and arguing for arguing's sake and trying to take your place or whatever other cliches there are, then that's fine. What you do would be still not okay in my eyes, but we can chalk it off to seeing things differently.

But if you insist on being treated as an adult- [His voice trails off and suddenly there is no veilings to reduce the edge or confessionals anymore. Instead Akari's voice rings like the cold steel of the blade he has been named after, unyielding and undiscriminating.] Then I will treat you as such.

I don't want to think of it because you originally gave me the impression of somebody who had far better morals than I myself, but if you insist on being a person who has wholeheartedly, reasonably decided that no life is worth more than your personal amusement then I will treat you like such a person.

But I don't want to think of you too that way. It'd be too sad.

[Another pause before his clothes rustle as he stands up and grabs the device.]

I'm tired of fighting against windmills, Kaito. If you want to take this as a sign that you win, then so be it.


[Akari has been trying very hard to keep things from seeing the humans around him deteriorating into monsters that didn't give a damn about others pain. But the more he has watched in this world the more he has seen that makes him want to let go of his faith. The picture of Kaito laughing and apologizing after he set off the firecrackers in that lab shatters ]

<magickaito>

[whiteofcrime]

[ It takes a long, long time for Kaito to come back to the machine and record his reply. No longer than a day - a few hours perhaps. If Akari hasn't given up on checking his messages, he'll find one waiting for him.

The voice which crackles out of the speakers is low and difficult to hear. ]

>> MAGICKAITO has posted an AUDIO MESSAGE. If you wish to listen, type LISTEN01.

I only care about winning when it's a game. Do you think that's what this is to me? A game? Then you've already got a point against me. Half of me wants to rip you apart - [ his voice slides into a hiss for a moment there, shaded with the tones of his alter ego ] - and the other wants to give you a second chance. It's really hard to ignore that first voice sometimes. I might be only nineteen but I know what the hell I'm doing, Akari.

You don't have to like it. I don't need you to like it. You don't even have to talk to me if it bothers you that much. I was managing fine before we met.

[ He falls silent. The recording ticks over for a few seconds with the faint sound of his breathing. ]

'S really hard... [ It sounds like he's struggling to get words out. The comment is made almost indistinct by the static. A mutter to himself? ]

[ Cloth rustles. More indistinct speech: ] --'M not. Th--'s noth-- wrong... --e.

[ The one-sided denials continue for about a minute, Kaito apparently engaging in some kind of conversation, before there's a sudden scream away from the microphone: ]

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME!

[ A split second later deafening noise erupts from the speakers. The recording ends. ]