inbox & overflow | songerein

[stillarhino]

Y'all still usin' voicemail? That's wack, yo. Just send me a message or somethin'.

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[pactmarshal]

[ The nudge seems to loosen Trahearne up a bit, and he flashes a little smile.

He's right, of course. It's just hard to shake the feeling in the moment.

He drops his shoulders slightly at the statement. ]

We did.

[ He looks at his hands again, eyes narrowing as he tries to mentally recount everything Aglovan told him. ]

He is from a time many years in the future from the year I last remember. He told me Tyria is at last at peace and freed from the dragons.

[ He taps his thumb on his other hand in thought. ]

It is both...comforting and disquieting to hear that time marches on without me.

[stillarhino]

[What he hears comes as a bit of a surprise. He's heard whispers of things moving on while you're away and he dreaded to hear what he might've missed back home.

But what catches him off guard is how this wasn't the first he'd heard a friend say something similarly. Neku's experience was similar when he disappeared from Shibuya all those years. Beat looks at the ground for a moment, then back at Trahearne.]

You know, had a friend back home who kinda had to deal with that.

[Slowly, he moves to sit directly beside Trahearne, cross-legged, his back facing away the memorial wall.]

We was gone for a coupla years an' all sortsa stuff happened even if he wasn't 'round. If he was 'round, he prob'ly'd get whatchu sayin'.

[pactmarshal]

[ When he senses Beat move, Trahearne looks up to watch him do so. His eyes follow him as he listens, and his head tilts slightly in curiosity. ]

Gone? [ Huh. There's something a bit "obvious" about the phrasing, but considering the context, Trahearne had a feeling Beat did not mean he was simply away. ]

Did time feel short for him as well?

[stillarhino]

[The way Trahearne phrases that confuses Beat... After giving it some thought, he eventually scratches at the back of his head, trying to figure out how to explain things.]

I dunno 'bout short but... Phones also kinda died back home. I say kinda 'cause it ain't... [Augh, now he's made it awkward, hasn't he?] He was trapped somewhere for a coupla years. Everyone thought he was gone like legit.

Leas' everyone 'cept me.

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne simply observes Beat, trying to process what he's saying. He hums, having a feeling something is not quite connecting.

He looks away again. ]

I have only been in Songerein for a year and a bit; I awoke here upon the moment of my death.

[ That feels so long ago now. ]

Yet my brother informed me that it has been nearly eight years since that moment for him.

[ He could understand Tyria experiencing another year, as he did, but that did not seem to be the case at all. Either time moves much more slowly here, or Songerein exists in a space separated in time.

He turns to look at Beat again. ]

Did your friend express the same when you found him?

[stillarhino]

[Talking about death had always been hard for Beat, and it shows in how he squirms, shifting in his seat. Even if he knew about Trahearne's own death, it didn't make the topic any easier.]

Shit, man. Eight years? No wonder you's in shock.

[A lot had changed in the time Neku was gone but the amount of time paled in comparison to eight.]

But yeah. It was like Phones was dead for three an' stuff kept happening without him.

[pactmarshal]

[ Ah, Phones is the name of a person. Trahearne nods slightly when he gets it, mostly to himself. ]

I suppose it is the nature of things.

[ He feels like...that isn't quite it, and he's still reeling from several revelations Aglovan had given him, but he'll let Beat speak. ]

But your friend came back.

[ Had he said this last year, it would have been tinted with bitterness. Not this time around, though. It's just an observation.

Trahearne is never going back. ]

1/2

[stillarhino]

[A small smile finds its way onto Beat's lips. He remembered the relief he felt when Neku did return. How, after so long, he felt like he let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding in. How shocked, how relieved, how happy he felt now that his friend was back.]

Yeah. Yeah, he did.

[Somehow, he had known that Neku wasn't dead. That he was out there despite whatever one believed.]

[stillarhino]

[But slowly Beat's expression shifted to one of realization—his eyes widening, brows moving further up his forehead. That wasn't the case with Trahearne though, was it?

Oh. Oh shit.]

Crap. I shoulda kept my mouth shut.

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne's gaze drops for a second, before he looks back up at Beat. There's a small smile on his face, the tiniest hint of melancholy in his eyes. It's been a while since he's worn this look. ]

It's all right. I...suspected something like this must happen at some point. As much peace as I've made with the reality, it is still...shocking.

[ And a bit sad.

He pauses, before a genuine hue takes over his expression. ]

I am glad your friend came back, though. He must be dear to you.

[ He Knows That Look, My Guy ]

[stillarhino]

[Beat makes a mental note not to mentioned things like that around Trahearne if it's a sore spot for him. Thankfully it's not something that's likely to come up again. Hopefully.

He still feels awkward about it as he scratches the back of his neck. But he's thankful for the change of subject.]

Heh, yeah. It's 'cause a' Neku I ain't a sorry-ass punk no more. [He chuckles at that. At least now he's just a punk.] Wouldn't know what I'd do without him.

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne just looks at Beat for a moment after he says that. There's an odd softness to his expression; he thinks of himself. Of the people--person, really--he could not do without.

At home, at least. He would not be who he is without him.

...Though there is that twinge of disappointment again. ]

Those sorts of people are incredibly important to both of us. [ He gently places a hand on Beat's shoulder and squeezes. He gets u my dude. ] I hope he's there waiting to greet you when you awaken.

[stillarhino]

He better, yo! I was there when he got back!

[The squeeze and weight on his shoulder is enough to make Beat turn to Trahearne. But suddenly his brows knit together as a puzzled look begins to form.]

Yo, why you lookin' at me all funny?

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne tilts his head, the softness of his expression slowly morphing into confusion. ]

Am I?

[ He doesn't think so.

He drops his hand and rests it in his lap again. ]

I'm glad you have someone like that, Beat. Not everyone does.

[stillarhino]

[Somehow he can't help but feel like he missed something, his brows remaining furrowed. Clearly he hasn't put two and two together.]

Don't you got someone like that back home too? That second of yours you told me 'bout.

[pactmarshal]

I do, yes.

[ He's so happy Beat remembered... He doesn't talk about his commander much. Beat is only the third person in all of Songerein who knows how much he loved him--the first two have already departed.

It's hard not to smile at the memory of him, though, nor at the revelation that Beat has the same. ]

He's lucky to have someone who loves him as much as you do.

1/9 I think

[stillarhino]

[Huh?]

[stillarhino]

[What does Nightlight mean by that?]

[stillarhino]

[Wait. Was he talking about Neku?]

[stillarhino]

[...Neku has someone who loves him as much as—]

[stillarhino]

[...]

[stillarhino]

[Wait.]

[stillarhino]

[Wait.]

[stillarhino]

[WHAT DOES HE MEAN HE LOVES NEKU?]

done lmao

[stillarhino]

[The realization comes slow, but the blush comes fast and furious. Trahearne has a front row to Beat's entire face journey as everything sinks in, finally reaching a climax when he opens his mouth, his hands waving frantically in front of him.]

Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo! Ain't said nothin' 'bout lovin' no one, yo! 'Specially not 'bout Phones!

[He speaks fast, practially tripping over his own syllables. It's... really quite a spectacle.]