Cyberformed Inbox; $freebird

[birdsandblades]

This is Kagerou. Shadowmaru, you know where to find me.

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[electricevolution]

[ Elec looks over at his communicator, frowning when he picks it up. That... feels out of the blue. And concerning. ]

No what? You okay, Kage?

[birdsandblades]

[ ...'No what'? Was Elecman not the one who... He thinks of the tiny plastic babies, the ones he'd spent all day clearing out of his vents. Elec wouldn't have done that, wouldn't have... He's miscalculated. Again.

He's so tired, even though all he's done is sleep. ]

No, I'm not coming out.

[electricevolution]

[ This... reveals nothing. Except that his concern is growing. ]

k.

[ Moments later he's hauling himself up into the vents. Which is saying something. He still doesn't care for them but he certainly does care about someone in them. And he suspects further texts won't be super helpful clarifying anything. ]

[birdsandblades]

[ Kagerou knows his first abode very well. The vents are a tangle, but he has refound one of the quiet dead ends and set himself there; there were blankets here still, from his last time, from when he more lived in the vents. But he merely lies atop them this time, head pillowed in his arms rather than on anything softer. A cup of oil sits near, but only half-drank and long since cold.

Usually he hates it cold. Right now he doesn't really care.

He's not expecting company, either. Just half-dozing, optics dim when he is finally found. ]

[electricevolution]

[ ...There's the ninja. Elec had been running and he slows as he approaches. He has a guitar slung over his back. It's the Light Guitar this time, it was the first one he grabbed before yanking himself up here. He picks his way closer. ]

Hey Kage.

[ He nods in greeting and then just... sits next to him, swinging the guitar to the front as he gets himself comfortable. ]

[birdsandblades]

[ Kagerou stills, wings held ever so slightly closer to his frame, as Elecman approaches. He'd heard the footsteps, but perhaps... Perhaps he'd been hoping he'd be passed on by. The dead end ignored once more.

Optics brighten into full wakefulness, but he still doesn't move. Just watches Elecman, and his guitar, and feels emotional tiredness circuit-deep.

It takes some time for him to muster up the will to speak. ] ...I'm staying here. [ It's faint, though. Hardly an argument starter. ]

[electricevolution]

[ He settles himself and doesn't say anything for a moment or two. He lets his fingers move across the strings. The idle plucking making a haunting echo in these wide vents. ]

Guess I'm staying here a bit too.

[ He looks up at him. There are times for arguments and times for understanding. This is one of the latter times he thinks. ]

I never did get around to really playing you that birthday song did I?

[ He's played music before, songs in his room and elsewhere. ]

[birdsandblades]

[ He tenses, just a little. Curling into himself a bit at Elecman's easy admittance. Staying. Just because Kagerou was there. Just because Kagerou was upset.

It helps, a little. Even if he doesn't really smile, not even at that offer. ]

...It's a bit too far past my birthday for that, I'd think.

[electricevolution]

How dare you. I'm simply very early for your next one.

[ He smiles wryly, clearly joking. His fingers strum aimlessly, chasing a melody that's been bothering him for ages. ]

You know your oil looks like it's gone a little cold.

[ It's a simple statement, but it's a question in a way, without being one that has too be answered. ]

[birdsandblades]

[ He cracks a smile at last, as wan and fragile as it is. At least it's there. At least there's a flicker, before it fades again.

In its embers he glances to his oil briefly, and just... Drops his head back into his arms, nestling his face there. ]

It's alright. It doesn't matter.