[010]

[ceiling_cat]

( private | text )

The Composer's Proxy has been brought back to Discedo after a brief disappearance. Presumably, he was returned home during that time: he now remembers the week immediately following the game. However, he seems to have lost all memory of his earlier stay in Discedo. It is possible that he is from a fractionally different world. However, I have not yet observed any differences in his demeanor and his memory of Shibuya and the Game. Memory modification is the most likely explanation.

The Composer...

...If they modify memories, I doubt I'll ever get any of these submitted.

I'm worried about the Composer. His emotional state has not improved during the past month. Although his Proxy's return may move him back towards stability, I have yet to observe any changes.

Mere stability is not the goal I am hoping he will achieve. It would provide no more than a short-term fix: the Composer's refusal to emotionally engage with the world led to increasing dissonance and stagnation in Shibuya prior to his Game with the Conductor. Unless that problem is dealt with, Shibuya's current renaissance will not last forever.

Neku Sakuraba's participation in the Game has come to an end. Nonetheless, the Composer's attachment to him provides an opportunity to induce the Composer to open up to at least one individual. Even if memories are erased in the transition between Discedo and our world, emotional states should be maintained. It is a slender chance, and yet the dangers of allowing the Composer to undergo this level of emotional distress while in his District are too great.
Unfair though it may be, I need to use Neku for this now.

( public | Japanese audio | text translation )

Hey Josh, bad news - looks like the library's lost everythin' except the fiction section and some how-to books. Not that the fiction isn't interestin' stuff. I could probably drop some by your place on my way back home.

That said... it has been way too long since I worked on a canvas that was the right size.

Anybody wanna point me at a boring wall with a good view?

Comments

[commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

When Neku was wandering a monster-infested city, in the RG, without any ability to use psychs? Not likely. Hanekoma chuckled, too amused to hold much of a grudge over the blood on his wet paint.

"Sometimes," he said. "Hey Josh, aim away from the wall next time, okay?"

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

The shadow wobbled a bit and made towards them, Joshua appearing like a lens snapped into focus, hands in his pockets and looking for all the world like he had no idea what the other man was talking about.

"You make it sound like I have control over everything."

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

"Isn't that because you, uh, do have control over everything?"

The blood was just starting to dry, now, on his clothes and skin. He hoped that didn't mean it'd be impossible to wash out. Thanks, Josh. Thanks a lot.

[commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, yeah," Hanekoma sighed, tossing a glance at the Composer. Nobody had better get shot while he was inside finding a bucket for water, he thought loudly, and headed back for the front door of the more intact apartment building. At least he was on the first floor; the blood probably wouldn't have enough time to dry if he hurried....

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

Joshua frowned briefly in Hanekoma's direction as the man left. What kind of thought was that? He'd just saved the both of them. Honestly, expecting Neku to notice anything other than his idol's work? How absurd.

The roll of eyes was quick and brief, but not unnoticeable, before he looked back to his proxy with a wry look. "You let your guard down."

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

Neku glanced between the two of them at Josh's odd expression, then decided, firmly, that he didn't want to know.

"Yeah, and that totally warrants blowing up a monster in my face. Thanks a lot, Josh."

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

Joshua shrugged elegantly. "Still convinced I exist for the sole purpose of making your life/unlife absolutely miserable, Neku-kun? I was almost expecting you to point out the obvious irony here."

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

...Yeah, he was just going to ignore that.

"Whatever. Why are you following me?"

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

"Well, what else do I have to do?" he asked lightly, tilting his head. He'd told Neku that he was bored when the boy first arrived, after all. It was a perfectly legitimate excuse.

If he couldn't realize the obvious - the purpose of his safety - it wasn't like Joshua was going to help him along.

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

"Other than stalk me? Go to the library or something!"

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

"But this is much more fun," he hummed, flipping his hair and pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket, tossing it to the boy.

"...At least it matches your hair. Almost."

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

It wasn't enough to wipe off all the blood--not by a longshot--but it'd get rid of some of it, at least. ...Wait a minute.

"Is this mine?"

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"...In a way."

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

"Joshua. Why do you have my handkerchief?"

That was. Beyond creepy.

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

He couldn't help it. He giggled. "You want the truth?"

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

No, Josh, I want you to lie to me.

"............"

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

"I'm not exactly the cliché romantic type, Neku-kun~" Really, Neku's sarcasm was just too fun to play off of, so blunt and honest that he wasn't even aware of how such things could sound to another person's ears.

Not that this was fair, Joshua picking thoughts straight out of his head, but whatever worked.

"The last you gave it to me."

Re: [commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

Ignoring the first comment--because how the hell was he supposed to respond to that?--Neku turned his attention to the second one.

"Why?"

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

"It was just after I'd laid eyes on you - him - again, after such a long time apart. Nigh immediately, I found myself with the most horrible nosebleed..."

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

"Stop. Right. There."

He'd ask Mr. H, if he had to. No way was he listening to that, even if there was an explanation hidden in there somewhere.

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

Joshua smirked, though his expression lost much of its humor. "He punched me in the face before I could get a word in."

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

That was... well, no, not unexpected, though Joshua up and telling him was. But... punched him in the face, huh? Why hadn't he thought of that. Probably wouldn't work, now, tempting as the prospect was.

"...You deserved it."

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

Joshua seemed to actually consider this for a moment, eyebrows slightly raised with his head inclined just so. "Hm, I may have. That you had thought this place was the ruins of Shibuya. I believe Mr. H told you he was from after our game but hadn't yet been revived?"

[commentlog]

[iamnotatunaroll.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. He mentioned it."

How Josh knew that, he didn't want to know. Stalking and eavesdropping, probably. Somehow, he wasn't surprised.

[commentlog]

[holyjesusbeams.livejournal.com]

"Finally starting to notice, are you?" Joshua purred cryptically, and thought of certain pictures he still had on his cellphone of a certain busy street in Shibuya with an enthusiastic girl taking off her partner's pants in the middle of the street...

And then Hachiko, of course. Both times.

"But yes, I issued a Mission Mail to him to light a fire under his tail, so to speak. He didn't seem to appreciate it all that much." Sanae hadn't, either, but that was another issue entirely.