codeforhope | Voicemail

[There are no Rotoms in this store, thankfully. Too many expensive appliances for that, but not enough for them to make a lot of mischief with anyway.]

Um...I'm not sure, actually.

[He looks at the tag on the headphones themselves, showing that the basic ones only come in white and black.]

Just two, looks like...but I think white would be okay.

[Okay, Rin, remember that Chihiro likes white. Is that even a color? It must be, because Chihiro likes it. Or maybe she didn't like black. -- ah, whatever! Too much thinking, not enough doing.]

White, got it. ...What's your favorite color?

[THEY ARE GETTING THOSE HEADPHONES. Rin turns to get the cashier's attention. Hopefully she won't take too long to get them checked out and back to gaming.]

Hm?

[Favorite color...]

My favorite color is green, I think. ...what's yours?

[...That is not a girly color AT ALL. But it fits. It fits very well and he must approve. He takes a second to think which color would be his favorite.]

I like green too. [R-Really, he's not saying it just because Chihiro said it first. That would be weird.] ...And I guess orange is okay. It's really bright but - a happy kind of bright?

[NOT THAT IT WAS AN OPTION HERE SO...]

[Chihiro smiles a little as he reaches out to take the bag that the cashier placed the headphones in.]

Orange is a good color, too. Bright colors are always nice.

[BRIGHT LIKE THAT SMILE???? Rin smiles in return. Yes! His color choices are approved. The walk back to his place doesn't seem to take nearly as long. Rin feels like h's walking on clouds.

She thought bright colors were nice.]

[Thankfully, they return to most of the remaining snacks they left behind in tact, though judging by how Isamu is sprawled on the floor asleep, one must wonder just how much he did consume in their absence.

Once inside, Chihiro takes a seat on the couch, pulling the newly bought headphones from the bag.]

Okay. This should be better now.

[Poochy is shooting Isamu the Dirtiest Look in Existence. Once their guests were gone, she would have to have a few words with Rin.

The PokeGear is already in hand, the game just about ready to start up.]

Let's see if it works for you this time. ...Lemme know if it starts to get too creepy for you!

[He nods once the headphones are on and firmly in place. Already they're doing a good job, cutting off the tail end of Rin's sentence just as he starts getting the game ready.]

[Well, Chihiro looks adorably content and Rin is happy with that. All that's left now is to start up the 1st night all over again.

Let the games begin!]

[As the game starts, the first thing that's evident is the fact that he can't really hear it at all. Not that the game had music before, or anything- the silence is still as offputting and foreboding as ever, but at least now there aren't any unexpected noises to scare him to death.

...and when he talks it's a bit louder than normal, though seeing how soft his voice usually is, he may as well be talking normally.]

Make sure to keep an eye on the power this time.

[It's not a problem to Rin at all. This way he won't have to lean in close to hear what Chihiro has to say. There was something very cool about the way Chihiro seemed to be a lot more calm about the game this time. It was like their time in the records shop, when she led him by the hand.

This was Chihiro's element, wasn't it? So long as Chihiro gave out directions, Rin would follow them. And so far they seemed to be doing good about keeping their power from depleting too quickly. By 4am, they had enough to safely make it through the next two hours - if they played their cards right.]

[The relief is palpable, to say the least. Though...there are five whole nights of this? They've barely made it through the first...but they're doing a lot better this time around, at least.]

Where are they now?

[Five long, terror filled evenings with animatronics... Rin does a quick check into every room to show Chihiro their locations since his voice wouldn't be heard at all. Their special friends seemed to be keeping their distance. It was the power of their teamwork! He doesn't bother verbalizing it as he makes sure to check the vents -

- this time it's Rin who jumps first.]

Dammit, you were supposed to be in the room...

[Chihiro tenses, but only because Rin jumped at the sight of their adversaries making an unwanted appearance. His hands ball into loose fists in his lap, this time a lot less like he's trying to hide behind Rin, and more like he's determined to actually get past this one night.]

Just...keep watching the doors. We only have to keep them out for another few hours.

[Rin nods in affirmative. He rolls his shoulders and settles in for the next hour. They (thankfully, finally) reached 5am and there was still 25% left in their power gauge.]

I think we've got it this time.

[Chihiro says after some time in silence. It's clear from his tone that he's excited, but at the same time this game is tricky. It could easily throw them at the last minute.]

[It tripped them up last time; it wouldn't hesitate to do it again! Rin attempts to be even more diligent in his observations. The last thing he wants it to be surprised by some machine sneaking up on him during the final stretch.]

[It's almost agonizing having to watch the clock ticking down alongside their power gauge. It's really a race between the two while they fight to keep out of the sights of the monsters in the dark the entire time.

It's 5 AM, meaning that there's only so much time left for this one day...they can make it, he hopes.]

[Tick tock

tick tock

tick ... tock

The seconds turn into minutes, the minutes drag on almost senselessly in various directions. Was there going to be a surprise right around the corner? Will there be enough power to face the next challenge?

His palms are sweaty.
He's leaning closer to the screen.
His every action is fine tuned to this moment.

CAN THEY MAKE IT OUT?????]

[Even with headphones on, it's getting hard for Chihiro to keep focused on the screen, lest something pop up and surprise them. A jump scare is only as scary as the screeching noise it makes, but that doesn't make it any more pleasant to see. He does resist the urge to hide behind his hands as the clock ticks on, though, and he finds himself leaning a bit closer, too.

For a long time, nothing happens...

Then, without warning, the screen goes dark.

But instead of a power outage, it's the 5 AM clock slowly turning to 6.]

[D-Doth his eyes deceive him? That sure is the congratulatory music playing in the background. That sure is a number six. IT SURE AS BALLS IS 6AM.]

We did it? [MAYBE. MAYBE IT'S A TRICK??????]

[Once he was sure that the level (or night, as it were) had ended, Chihiro pulled off the headphones, so he manages to catch Rin's question.]

We did it!

[delayed cheering in 3... 2... 1 .. - ]

We really did it!!

[GONNA JUMP AROUND AND PULL CHIHIRO ALONG FOR THE EXCITED PRANCING ABOUT

THERE IS ALSO THE REQUIRED HIGH FIVE OF MAXIMUM AWESOME ACHIEVEMENT

EVERYTHING IS AWESOME]

[With how grueling getting through that night was, Chihiro is just as excited about the win as Rin is, letting him pull him into the celebrating without complaint. Even Isamu looks up from his position in his food coma on the floor to see what all the ruckus is about.]

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