[Day 2, Night - A House South of Town]

[direstnews]

[Written into the ground alongside one of the houses to the south of town tonight are a series of strange letters, forming a rough circle near the wall. A figure of approximately Loki's build, not there during the day's exploration, leans against the wall at the corner. The door to the house is open.]

[Some hours after the sudden switch from day to night, Loki stands in front of the door, a candle before him, a kitchen knife in one hand and a spoon in the other. He checks the mirror set carefully in the darkness, nothing yet visible in its surface. Then he strikes the knife with the spoon's handle, and he holds his breath - and he waits.]

Comments

[allsneakandnoplay]

[There is a what looks to be multiple panel lines along his spine, though they are practically seamless. The least seamless is at the base of his neck, below his hairline.]

[nyanotech]

[Reeeeeaches up, resting fingers over that.]

Raiden? This may tingle just a little.

[allsneakandnoplay]

[still making alarmed, trying-to-calm grunting exhales...]

[nyanotech]

[A little like a fond hair ruffle, a little like knuckles rapping on the edge of an open firewall . . . and there's a static filled crackle hissing over the comm.]

. . . —s is the c-c-c-c— . . . —iden?

[allsneakandnoplay]

--!

[his head clears up at the startle -- presses his fingers to his temple]

What--?

[nyanotech]

. . . —reqncy iss— . . .


[Another hiss of static, like someone trying to tune a radio to the right station . . . and the snap of a signal finally coming into focus.]


Raiden?

[allsneakandnoplay]

. . .Sh. . . Shader? Is that you?

[nyanotech]

It is! ♫

It's good to hear your voice again. You've been unresponsive since that liquid hit.

[allsneakandnoplay]

Liquid...?

I got-- I thought I... what's happening?... Is this real?

[nyanotech]

It's real.

I don't know if you were forced offline or if you shut down in self-defense, but your systems look clear now. Try opening your eyes?

[allsneakandnoplay]

. . .

[opens it. . .]

[nyanotech]

[One of her hands is cupping his cheek. The other is still wrapped around the back of his neck. From the angle, he's . . . kneeling?]

That's better.
That's better.

[allsneakandnoplay]

[...?!

j-jerks his head back -- whoa still kinda out of it. I feel out of it??]

Whoa, hey--!

[nyanotech]

[Her hands slip away without protest, whatever connection there was between them breaking, lost

lost

as if it never was.]

Welcome back.

[allsneakandnoplay]

. . .

What happened...? What did you do?

[nyanotech]

Patched into your communication system. You sounded like you were trying to get hold of someone.

[allsneakandnoplay]

You patched in to my--! You make it sound so easy!

[nyanotech]

It's not like you have that high a level of encryption on it.

[allsneakandnoplay]

Some areas of my memory are slated to be wiped if someone compromises them.

[nyanotech]

What do you think I am, some kind of amateur?

[allsneakandnoplay]

. . . Well, now I know you're no amateur.

Geez, if Sunny heard about this...

[nyanotech]

That was one of the names you calling for.

Are you okay?

[allsneakandnoplay]

. . . I was... ?

I don't remember doing that at all...


I feel fine now.

[nyanotech]

Want to try standing?

[allsneakandnoplay]

[sstaanndds...]


. . . Feels a little weird to thank someone for hacking me, but. . .