closed;

[substitutable]

Who: Matthias (pheromonecoffee) and Shintaro
Where: Shintaro's apartment
When: TODAY
What: Shin finds a photo. And Echoes.
Warnings: there is a general blanket warning but idk what for

[Shintaro didn't mention the Vermedi that tried to get him on the way to meeting up with Matthias. It wasn't a real threat anyway; he got away easily enough and there were no injuries, and he didn't get any Echoes that he could notice. Not a big deal. They were meeting up on the way back from one of Shintaro's early-hour shifts to hang out and eat dinner (read: to make sure Shintaro ate some dinner) before his night shift. The same as usual. No big deal.

When they get back to Shin's apartment, though, there's a new change. Shintaro himself doesn't say anything about it because he doesn't seem to notice, but on his desk, where he usually has nothing but his computer and books, there's a photoframe with some unfamiliar-looking faces smiling out at them. Maybe it's his family? Who knows?]

Comments

[pheromonecoffee]

[Matt's an observant soul, but he isn't one to bring up the fact that he's here so often he notices when things are different. He stops by the rabbit cage to offer a celery stick and a headscratch before straightening.]

How late are you working tonight, anyway?

[substitutable]

[The rabbit scarfs up that celery happily, twitching his nose and following Matt's movements with his eyes before scampering around the cage. Shintaro's setting his bag down and pouring a couple glasses of water.]

Ten, tonight. Closing shift. You can stay here if you want. [He knows Matt will lock the door.]

[pheromonecoffee]

You know me too well. [He'll probably be asleep on Shin's couch when he gets home. He moves to the kitchen, then, to see what's edible.]

Do you want anything for dinner?

[substitutable]

Mmm. Today's going to be a busy shift. Something that'll give me energy? [The kitchen is stocked! Ever since Matt started cooking there there have been more groceries.]

[pheromonecoffee]

[Matt nods, pulling random things out of the fridge and cabinets. At least he's a decent cook.]

[substitutable]

[He'll place the water on the counter for him to have if he'd like, taking a drink himself. He enjoys Matt's cooking, and he's said it several times before. He'll move to the other side of the counter to get out of his way and--]

... Is that yours? [He's wandering toward his desk. He never had that photo before.]

[pheromonecoffee]

Never seen it before. [But if it's not Shintaro's... he peers out of the kitchen. Is it an echo?]

[substitutable]

... Oh. [That's the sound of realization coming from Shin as he pauses in front of his desk, taking another drink before picking up the photo.] It looks like a family...

[It takes him just a second to say that. And it takes just that second for the Echo to kick in. The memory hits first, and while he's gotten used to the feeling of something pulsing through him each time, this memory is heavier than the rest. Maybe Matt can see his hand shaking even from where he's standing?

It's barely audible, but Shintaro mutters a "what the hell?"]

[pheromonecoffee]

[He puts whatever he was holding down, coming out of the kitchen and frowning in concern.]

What is it?

[substitutable]

It's nothing-- [That's just an automatic response. It's clearly not nothing, and Shintaro doesn't look like he's intending to hide it, either. Without putting down the photo, he raises his hand to his mouth as he lowers his head, taking a few deep breaths. He feels like he's going to be sick. What the hell kind of memory is this? Even if he's done a pretty good job of keeping his emotions separated from the memories, this one's just impossible to be unaffected by.

(Well, it would explain why his other self killed himself that one time, he thinks idly.)]

An Echo... [That's about all he gets out. He was going to say more, but the moment the twisting of his stomach calms down and he raises his head to say the rest, he winces. His eyes shut as he finally drops both the photo and the glass (it spills, but doesn't shatter) and presses his now-freed hand to his eyes. A wave of sickness washes over him again and he drops himself to his knees, supporting himself by grasping the desk.]

[pheromonecoffee]

[Shit. Matt darts forward to catch him before he drops so he doesn't hurt himself.]

What kind of echo was that?! [He can't say he's surprised. He remembers one of his own being triggered by the contract just before he met Shintaro.]

[substitutable]

[Shintaro's not a particularly heavy person, but he does kind of lean on Matt when he's caught, finding himself suddenly drained of most of his strength. What kind of echo was that? He'd like to know, himself. It's not exactly painful, but his eyes feel like they're burning.]

... Memory? [At least part of it was.]

[pheromonecoffee]

[That's... descriptive. He makes sure Shintaro's not hurting himself, looking for something to help.]

... Want to talk about it?

[substitutable]

Let me get up first. [He's using his grip on the desk to pull himself up. At least he's conscious? It's also fortunate there wasn't much water left in the cup.]

Can you get me some ice?

[pheromonecoffee]

[Matt helps him, and tries to direct him toward the couch.] Bag or glass?

[substitutable]

Bag. My eyes are burning. [He'll go to the couch and sit! His hand is still pressed to his face and he hasn't opened his eyes. But he doesn't sound like he's in any pain. Mostly disgruntled.]

[pheromonecoffee]

Sure it's just a memory? [But he'll go and get the ice, wrapping it in a cool towel to press over his eyes.]

[substitutable]

I think I got two. I don't see the connection. [He'll take the ice with a thanks and hold it against his face.]

There's a girl in the photo. The one with the scarf.

[pheromonecoffee]

[He glances at it.] She's cute. A friend?

[substitutable]

Right. She's his friend.

[A sigh.] ... Was his friend?

[pheromonecoffee]

Sounds complicated. [Matt sinks down next to the couch.]

[substitutable]

I saw him die three times and one time he killed himself. Because he killed Ene, but. [He takes the ice off his eyes, but he doesn't open them just yet.]

I guess it was also because he blamed himself for Ayano's death, too.

[pheromonecoffee]

[Matt pushes it back down there's no way his eyes feel better yet.]

Why's that?

[substitutable]

[He doesn't fight it.]

Boy A tells Girl B to go away. Soon after, Girl B glares at Boy A and tells him everything is his fault before running away.

Next episode, Boy A learns that Girl B killed herself.

[pheromonecoffee]

[There's a long pause.]

... Shit. [That's about all he has to say about that.]