codeforhope | Voicemail

D-...did the power go out...?

[It's obvious that it did but he can't help but ask to confirm in the smallest voice possible.]

[THERE ARE EYES FLASHING IN THE DARK HALL. FUCK THIS MUSIC, MAN. Sorry Chihiro, Rin's not going to answer that because things are starting to get a little freaky. -- Not that he's scared.]

There's something there...

[Chihiro's trying really hard to not hide behind his hands the whole time but it's getting progressively harder to keep looking.]

Is it...a Pokemon?

I - ...do we want it to be a pokemon?

[Who's that Pokemon?]

[...]

[SURPRISE, TIME'S UP!

INSERT INHUMAN SCREECHING SOUND FROM THE BOWELS OF HELL]

[Even though Chihiro was watching through his fingers, that sure is a jump-scare and it sure does cause him to scream, turning to hide his face in Rin's shoulder out of reflex. It's enough to cause Isamu to look up and nearly knock his now-empty bowl across the floor because WHAT HAPPENED WHERE'S THE FIRE]

[Rin yelps and drops the gear as though it were on fire. It bounces onto his lap and stares up at them as innocently as a screeching horror monster can. The "GAME OVER" logo flashes at them momentarily before returning to the start screen.

Poochy doesn't even flinch. She figures if her trainer were really in danger, he would break a chair over the threat first before calling her over.]

[As the horrible screeching finally dies down with the appearance of the Game Over screen, Chihiro remains where he is, quietly peeking out over Rin's shoulder just a little, as if afraid that something else might pop out if they wait too long.

That...could have gone better.]

[HE IS SO SORRY...]

Uhm... [SO ELOQUENT. SO VERY ELOQUENT. Let's try that again, Rin. It's not like this could get any worse. It could only get better! Look at the positives, like Chihiro being all clingy like those girls in some cartoon shows.

That's - really flippin' cute.]

It wasn't too freaky until the end, right? Haha, I really messed up in there! [See, Chihiro? We're all about laughs here.]

I say we take a break before we tackle it again. Whaddya think?

[If nothing else, Rin's laughter is contagious. It helps to calm him down a little, even if his smile is a little weak and shaky.]

...alright. That...that's probably a good idea.

That...wasn't too bad for a first try, at least?

[That's a nice smile, even if it does look like it's about to fall apart at any moment. He nods enthusiastically. This is what it means to play video games! Trial and error! Being with friends! Food!]

Yeah! I think the two of us could come up with a solid strategy.

[...Rin's strategy is to ~~burn everything~~ hit things until they stop moving. THINK THIS THROUGH BEFORE AGREEING, CHIHIRO.]

And then our next try'll have us finishing the whole game!

Mm...how long is the game, anyway? Just five nights?

[He HOPES that's the case, or else somebody's got some explaining to do.]

Just five nights. [That's what it's called. FIVE nights.] ...It doesn't look like it has any bonus rounds.

[Oh thank god.]

It shouldn't be too hard to get through just five, then. It's like...five levels, really.

...Five levels with weird screaming robots. [He is so giving the 'gear a dirty look. But then! Suddenly! He has an idea!]

Hey! You should wear earplugs! If you can't hear 'em then it won't be as freaky!

[That's...a good idea, actually.]

I do know they're coming...it's just the noise...

[He sighs, bringing up a hand to brush his bangs from his face before looking up at Rin.]

You wouldn't happen to have any, would you?

[Occasionally his ideas can be beneficial! He's just about to chirp that he most certainly does has a pair for Chihiro to borrow when he remembers -
- that pair is still sitting pretty on his desk back in his dorm room.

Yeesh.]

No, but we can totally go get you a pair now. We can get more snacks while we're out!

[Because the pokemon snack bowl is looking horribly empty. T-Bone and Brownie are starting to stare down the potato chips.]

[Isamu could probably eat all of those chips in one sitting, do not test him.

Meanwhile, Chihiro nods. He thinks he'd like the break from the game anyway, if only long enough of one to go pick up a few things.]

Okay! Sounds great.

Awesome! You can pick out whichever ones you want!

[Not that it's his treat or anything, but because he doesn't know what sort of headphones (or earbuds) Chihiro prefers. ...Okay, so may it is his treat. But it's not a big deal...

After he sends a quick text out to ask for some information, he'll be ready to go.]

Ready? [Unless Chihiro had to powder her nose or whatever.]

[Thankfully he doesn't, though he did take a minute to tell Isamu to stay behind while they're gone and to not eat the remaining food on the table.]

Mhm, I'm ready!

[Poochy can make no promises about the salvation of the remaining food. She will lead the revolution if they don't return in a timely manner.

Rin leads the way to a small records store not too far from the dojo he was staying at. The music it blasted was not unlike the kind heard from the Radio Tower. It was a cozy little records shop, lined with vinyls, posters, and memorabilia from a time not too long ago. Even if they couldn't recognize the singers, they seemed oddly familiar.

The cashier was a particularly pretty young woman. Not that - okay, he's noticed this for a while but he wasn't going to mention that in front of Chihiro. That was rude.]

Hey, Chihiro? What kind are you going to buy?

[Chihiro looks over at Rin from where he had been examining the posters on the wall, shaking his head a little.]

Mmm...I'm not sure. Anything will do, really, as long as it blocks out the noise.

Shouldn't any kind of headphone block sound -

[...It's with a moment of sudden clarity that Rin realizes that maybe headphones and earplugs aren't exactly the same thing. Wouldn't headphones be the exact opposite of what Chihiro would want? Chihiro didn't want to hear those things bump around in the dark, not have the sound right in her ears! UGH. UUUUUUUUUUGH.

His face is colored a rosy pink with that horribly embarrassing realization. Granted, there might still be earplugs in a place like a records store but that doesn't ease his growing humiliation. Great, he lost the game and now he took Chihiro to the wrong store!]

- ... Uhm. M-Maybe there are noise cancelling ones we can look at? [DO THOSE EVEN EXIST...]

[Chihiro just...tilts his head a little at that, noticing the shift in Rin's expression. Something's a little off, but...

...wait, he did say headphones...didn't he.

...Ah...]

I...w-well, yes! I'm sure there are. Come on Okumura-san, let's look around.

[He's going to save his friend the embarrassment of his mistake, instead reaching out to take his hand and start to tug him toward the back of the store where (hopefully) some headphones may be up for display.]

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[action] this was hiding from me jsakfdsf

[action] it's ok!

[action] at least it didn't take me two months this time?

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