1st Shadow [accidental video]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Last night had been a great night for a campfire, huh? The stars had been brighter than they had been all month, and the full moon had been completely visible, so big it almost dominated the whole sky.

Unfortunately, a regular at the campfire (you've probably heard him singing along obnoxiously to any of the songs, though he doesn't know most of the words) never showed up to witness that beautiful night. He was locked in one of the bathroom stalls. In fact, he stays there all night, and he still hasn't returned to his own cabin by morning. Not to worry, though, he's leaving everyone a message to let everyone know he's alright.

...Unfortunately, he isn't going to seem very convincing.

He had meant to send a voice message to the other campers, but perhaps Iris was feeling a bit mixed up today, or perhaps his wonderful smother mother wasn't going to let her gift to him go unnoticed. Either way, he's completely visible as he sits in the bathroom stall, and there's clearly something behind him, something that makes a slight rustling noise as he fidgets.]

Hey everyone. It's Ryoji Mochizuki. Could someone let Chiron or Mr. D know that I'm not going to be at any training or classes today? I... I'm not feeling too good.

[Funny, he doesn't look any more pale than he normally does... Still oblivious, Ryoji stretches out slightly, and the video shows a glimpse of a pair of shadowy wings before cutting off.]

Comments

Video; Private

[hasthepotential]

...Ryoji-kun?

[She isn't alarmed, but she saw those wings. It didn't mean...things weren't changing back, were they?]

Can I bring you anything, at least?

Voice; Private

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji has since noticed his mistake, and has now switched to voice. Still, he doesn't know how much the other campers saw, so he's not going to admit to anything if he can help it.]

It's okay, Minako-chan. I don't think I need anything. If I do, you'll be the first to know, alright?

VIDEO; Private

[hasthepotential]

[Nope. She saw too much.]

It's nothing we haven't dealt with before, you know.

[Sorry Ryoji, Minato's feminine side is something of a pushy type.] You don't have to hide in the bathrooms. We can figure it out.

[She may or may not be calling you a liar. 8|]

STILL VOICE; Private

[notsogrimreaper]

[He is still pretending he has no idea what Minako is talking about, though his voice does sound a little shakier.]

It's just a little flu. I'm sure I'll feel better. I'm just staying in the bathrooms in case I get sick again.

[So please get off his back.]

FOREVER VIDEO; Private

[hasthepotential]

[How do you even know what "flu" is? Ryoji please.]

If you're really sick, [Which she doesn't believe, if her tone is any indication.] then you shouldn't be camping out in the bathroom. You should be in bed!

[So she's coming to get you. She'll get to the bottom of this one way or another.]

NEVER GONNA STOP VOICE; Private

[notsogrimreaper]

No! I-I mean, I can't have everyone else in the cabin getting sick! I'm fine just staying here!

[Are you still listening? Please tell him you're still listening and you're not actually on your way to find him...

Ryoji sighs slightly. At least he's in the men's bathroom. There's no way she can come in here, at least not without Mr. D giving her a long lecture. Surely she'll realize her mistake and give up.

...Right?]

THAT'S OK WE'RE GOING TO ACTION

[hasthepotential]

[She's still listening. But listening doesn't always equate to obeying. No disrespect.

She approaches the boy's bathroom, fully-loaded with stubbornness and ready to charge in, but halts with her hand on the door when she over-hears Ryoji speaking with someone on the other side.

That was...Minato, wasn't it? The boy Ryoji'd associated her with before...

Her hand went limp against the door as it slid down, returning to her side. Then this was...good! This was good! He had others to look out for him, too. What a relief.

Luckily for you, Ryoji, she'll just wait out here patiently until Minato manages to bring you out. She'll do her best not to listen in, but...eh, it's probably not much that she hasn't heard before, right?]

[pheromonecoffee]

[Knock knock.

Who's there?

Blue haired boy.

Blue haired boy who?

You thought this was a joke? Minato is hanging out outside the stalls of the bathroom and tapping his knuckles against the side wall of the first stall. He's leaning against it, trying not to be too in Ryoji's business but also very concerned if his deeper-frown-than-normal-expressionless-one means anything.]

It's me.

[notsogrimreaper]

[Oh, he should have expected this. Minato wasn't going to let him get away with such a lousy excuse. Even if Ryoji really was sick, he'd probably come check on him anyways.

Ryoji knows he'd do the same for Minato, so he's not really that upset when he opens the stall, just enough to peer through.

He just looks ashamed.]

Minato-kun. Hi.

[pheromonecoffee]

You don't have to hide.

[He's not beating around the bush.]

No one's upset with you. [Even if you have shadow wings and are the harbinger of death and caused terrible things to happen and nearly ended the world.

No one has the right to be ashamed with you if Minato's not, regardless of heritage. He'll deck them in the face if they are? Well, not really, but he will tell them to lay off and make sure it's perfectly clear. Doesn't matter. Don't hide in the bathroom. If you're uncomfortable, okay, but come back to the cabin. He was wondering where you were, anyway.]

[notsogrimreaper]

...I know you're not going to be upset.

[He's pretty sure no one else would be upset either, but he didn't want to risk it. He was a bit angry at himself. He was running away from the problem, trying to hide it instead of being honest. That wasn't fair to anyone, and it may even put them in danger.

He knew why he hid, though. For the last month here, he'd been a normal human being, and that feeling was too good to give up. He didn't want to be judged by everyone that knew his secret, he didn't want to have to hide away from others, and he didn't want his past to come back to haunt him. He'd thought this was a second chance, and perhaps he took that for granted.

He sighs, opens the stall door further. He at least knows he can't hide from Minato.]

So... you think everyone saw?

[pheromonecoffee]

[Minato considers before answering. Does he want to lie and maybe make Ryoji feel better, or just tell him the truth and brace him for it? Where are his multiple choice answers.

He shrugs a little.] Probably.

[And then he heaves a sigh.] Did you sleep last night? [Or did you just sit here. All alone. Without even warning anybody where you'd gone? Come on, Ryoji. You're going to actually get sick.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji slumps a bit, but otherwise stays calm. He knew they probably all noticed, but he was hoping...

Oh, and that is a difficult question to ask, Minato. He certainly doesn't want to lie to you, but he knows you'll probably worry more if he tells the truth. Eventually, he realizes that the bags under his eyes are probably noticeable anyways, so it doesn't hurt to be honest.]

No. I don't really sleep very often.

[It was much easier to be an insomniac back when he didn't need sleep... Now he just stays awake until his body forcibly shuts him down.]

[pheromonecoffee]

[He raises an eyebrow, not quite quizzically but... surprised. Clearly he was left with enough need to nap for both of them.]

You need to, here. [Sleeping is very important, says Mr Death Coma. He has a feeling if he doesn't try to at least push it a little, Ryoji's gonna accidentally make himself dead of exhaustion.

He's gotta keep an eye out for his bro, you know?]

Come back to the Cabin?

[notsogrimreaper]

[Hey, they were similar in some ways, but very different in others. This is just more proof of that.]

Of course. Don't worry, I still try to.

[Not his fault he has nightmares. Now that he thinks about it, his parent could be another reason for that as well. A goddess of the night probably would prefer it if her descendents were conscious during her time.

He's obviously hesitant to leave, despite Minato's comforting.]

I... I don't know. I don't want to bother anyone.

[emperor_with_no_groove]

......

[Did he... just see wings? Black wings, like an angel of death.

How appropriate.

But his concern overrides that train of thought and he calls out quietly.] Hey. Do you need anything?

[notsogrimreaper]

Akihiko-sempai?

[Crap, if there was one person he really didn't want to see this, it was Akihiko. He'd just told him the truth not too long ago. He wasn't ready to show him the danger of his existence.]

I'm fine, don't worry.

[emperor_with_no_groove]

[Here's his non-judgmental face. He doesn't really know what to think about Ryoji just yet, but in the meantime, there's no point in being hostile to him.]

Are you sure? You sound... sick. [Short pause.] I don't know what kind of medicine is available here, but you should at least keep hydrated.

[notsogrimreaper]

Oh, it's okay. I've got plenty of water here. I'll be fine.

[He's in a bathroom. He's got all the water he needs.]

[emperor_with_no_groove]

[Don't drink sink water. It's not good for you!]

...Hmm. [He's pretty much already decided to go check up on him, but answers vaguely.] Call me if you change your mind.

[So... when he should go pull Minako away?]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Sorry, Akihiko, but he doesn't really care about what's good and not good.

But at least Ryoji's smiling slightly.]

Of course. I'll let you know.

[esplodera]

[ Gokudera's raising an eyebrow. He's only new here - newer than almost everyone else - but he can tell when someone's lying. ]

Like shit you're not feeling too good. What's that on your back?

[voice]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Lying? Who's lying? Ryoji rapidly realizes his mistake and switches to voice, though his speech, shaky from panic, is probably not very convincing.]

N-Nothing! Nothing there but the wall, heh.

[voice]

[esplodera]

[ Gokudera's too sharp to let that go. ]

Oi! [ He fiddles with the device but nothing switches it back to video. ] That's a cheap trick. You know they'll just come find you.

[ Not that he cares. ]

forever voice, sorry Gokudera

[notsogrimreaper]

[Hey, leave him alone, okay? Maybe Ryoji knows the truth, but he still has the naive hope that the lock on the bathroom stall will keep them out.]

No, they won't. If they do, they'll catch it.

[Because he is definitely sick. Obviously.]