video

[microbrobotics]

[ A rare video post for Hiro tonight - but then again, this is a rare occasion. He's already gotten past the initial crying phase, so he's just numb and a little blotchy more than anything else, but his voice still shakes a little when he talks. A plain bedroom backdrop, clearly from where he lives in Heropa.

He takes a deep breath. ]

Has anyone seen my brother Tadashi? He's - he looks like this - [ A picture of Tadashi flashes on the screen for a moment. ] - and I'm getting error messages from his comm. Nobody I've talked to has seen him and ...

[ His voice trails off to a whisper. He can't even get through a whole post without tears welling up in his eyes. ]

I just - I need to know, please. If anyone has any idea. I need to know he's still here. If he's not, then ... then he's ...

[ Ported out. And dead. ]

Comments

[dormition]

... I haven't seen him, but-- he might come back. Like Ken-kun.

[Minato knows that isn't much consolation, knows that he'd had to deal with Ken's disappearance by not getting his hopes up, but he likes to think Hiro hasn't reached the level of self-protective cynicism that he has.]

[microbrobotics]

[ It's no consolation at all right now. Hiro shakes his head hard. ]

No, you don't understand. He can't get ported out. If he gets ported out he - he's --

[ Does his promise to Tadashi matter any more? ]

audio; TOO SERIOUS FOR TEXT

[hypnotherapy]

Hiro.

I'm sorry. I can't find him anywhere... [ He sounds even more tired than usual. His voice is strained.

(Tears don't come easily to him.) ]

...I'll keep looking.

audio

[microbrobotics]

[ Oh god. If even Magicman can't find him ... Megaman might have missed something, but not Magicman.

Hiro's suddenly glad for the lack of video, though he still sucks in an audible, shuddering breath. ]

When - when did you last see him?

Audio

[restingstitchface]

Oh, that's terrible.

You must be burning up on the inside. Do you wish to talk about it?

[His voice is soft and encouraging, like it had been when Hiro had been a patient.

Still. Burning up. Tadashi. Geddit?]

audio

[microbrobotics]

[ Crane. Hiro makes a face that's likely deeply satisfying before his side of the feed switches off, replaced by heavy breathing. He's furious - and upset - and the two emotions war in him for a moment before one wins out. ]

Shut the fuck up.

video

[aggressiveapathy]

How many days?

video

[microbrobotics]

Just a day, but there's no trace of him. And his comm isn't anywhere on the network either.

private // video

[akito]

Hiro-kun...

[ there isn't much Akito can do to help - that much he knows. and it isn't as though he can relate to what his friend is feeling... but that doesn't mean he won't try and help however he can. ]

We'll keep an eye out around the school.


Are you by yourself right now, or do you have someone with you?

private // video

[microbrobotics]

[ He holds a pillow tightly to his chest, head bent. ]

Aunt Cass is here. And Megaman's in my comm with me.

video

[glitterateur]

Maybe-- maybe he just turned his communicator off! To work on it or something. Where'd you last see him?!

[microbrobotics]

At dinner, at home. I - I didn't realize he wasn't in his room. And even if he turned it off it would still be on the network somewhere.

Action (?)

[megabytes]

[Megaman's trying to stay out of the way of all this, tucked up in a corner of the comm, handling his own responses and trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. He only pipes up when there's enough of a lull to feel sure he isn't interrupting anything.]

Hey, um. Is there anything you need me to do? Or want? [Want me to get out of your hair for a while?]

[microbrobotics]

[ The only thing he's feeling right now that isn't hopeless despair is that reaction Crane's prompting in him. He holds the comm a little tighter, shaking a bit as he tries to resist the temptation boiling up his thoughts. ]

Help me find Crane's comm.

[resipiscent]

[God. They haven't really hung out that much lately, but Riku still considers Hiro his friend. Unfortunately, he has no idea what he's going to say to him -- if he can't find him, then...]

I... if you have something of his, I can try to find him that way.

[microbrobotics]

[ Congrats Riku, you get the very last scrap of hope he has left. ]

You can? What do you mean?

audio;

[rassera]

[Error messages from his comm. Just like when Ken was ported out. Kaneda doesn't want to say it, not on the network like this, but he's got to talk to Hiro. Because Tadashi was an important part of him now too, now with what he knows.

He keeps this audio, for now.]

Oi, where'd you last see him? I'll take a tour of the place.

audio

[microbrobotics]

Home, with me and Aunt Cass. In his room. But he's definitely gone now.

[video]

[timecapture]

I'm sorry; I haven't seen him. But I'll keep an eye out, okay?

[microbrobotics]

Sure. Thanks.

[ He's just tired now. ]

Video

[timeshares]

[He really doesn't have any idea, no real way to help, but...]

Hey.

You okay, kid?

[microbrobotics]

[ That expression is likely a familiar one: wild helplessness that precedes doing something wildly stupid just to keep from despair. He's still fighting, for now; eventually that will stop. ]

-- Can you track people at all with your god skills?

[incendere]

I know it can be difficult, but try to calm down as much as you can.

[Easier said than done, and he knows it. He's been here long enough to know people can be ported out at any moment, and that there's little that can be done if that's the case. Or, there could be another reason for his disappearance as well...His voice remains quiet as he speaks.]

I can see if there's any more information here at the police station. Where exactly did you last see him?

[microbrobotics]

[ Much easier said than done. Hiro shakes his head sharply, barely listening to Roy's advice. ]

It doesn't matter. If he's gone, then he's dead.

... And I saw him at home in his room. I'm sure he was there last.

video

[missleadingquestions]

[Oh no.

Well, Maya was right-- Hiro's the brother of the guy Cass mentioned. But Hiro's also now missing his brother.]

...Hey. Do you want some people to go looking with you? Just-- you know.

So you aren't going around alone.

[microbrobotics]

I'm not going around anywhere anymore. I've already looked.

video | private

[khajidont]

[It's probably a good thing that this is the way he finds out. Tadashi's a friend, a close friend, but this makes him focus on helping Hiro instead of just freaking out about Tadashi.]

Hiro, I can take a look for you, just in case. If there's even a tiny chance of him still being here, I'll be able to find him.

private until noted otherwise

[microbrobotics]

[ If Hiro knew this was new information, he'd feel kind of guilty about it. As it is he's blind to anything outside his own head right now. ]

You can?

audio;

[itistolaugh]

Oof. That sucks.

[microbrobotics]

Worse than that.

Video

[neatniks]

Hiro. We can-- I'll come over, if you want, and we can walk around and look.

[microbrobotics]

He's not here. I've already been everywhere I can think of.

video;

[ursawhiner]

Maybe he just got ported out? I saw him a couple days ago.

[microbrobotics]

That's not any better! If he gets ported out, he dies!

audio;

[amadaman]

[Ken doesn't actually get to respond for an hour or so. It's late at night, but he and Koromaru go out almost any time of the day. They're just resting on their afternoon run when...

Ken's slightly out of breath still when he makes the call.]

Do you want some company?

audio

[microbrobotics]

[ By now Hiro has quieted; the big scene he'd made with Crane has faded, leaving nothing behind. In the long run, this isn't any better for him than the obviously self-destructive behavior, but ... At least he's not actively hurting himself.

If there's anyone in the world who'd understand right now, it's Ken, isn't it? He still hesitates audibly. ]

I dunno. Not feeling up to much.

[ video ]

[disorder_heaven]

Never seen him. Want me to comb the network and see if anyone's seen anything? I wonder if I can hack into the survellience networks...

[microbrobotics]

... Thanks but ... I don't think it's going to work any more.

video;

[attainment]

I've been ported back twice now, and I didn't stay in my homeworld longer than 3 minutes. The second time was far less than that. I know it's of little comfort now, but please know there is a chance the same may be true in Tadashi's case as well.

That being said, I will certainly keep an eyes out for him during my patrols. You have my word on that.

[microbrobotics]

[ That ... is actually comforting. If his brother only goes back for a few minutes ... He wouldn't die, would he? Just inch closer. ]

I - I guess it's possible. If he didnt' stay for long he'd still be safe.

[inmyothertights]

Hey-

Need some help?

[microbrobotics]

I - I don't know. I don't think there's anything anyone can do.

Voice;

[pastdoesntdefine]

[ The kid doesn't look well. But there's a rare person who grief fits well.

And Carolina knows grief well. ]

Are comm errors uncommon here?

voice as well

[microbrobotics]

... Not this kind. You only get it when someone leaves.

[video]

[hands4healing]

Hiro?

I'm sorry, I haven't seen him.

[But she knows all too well how you feel.]

[microbrobotics]

... Nobody has. I guess ... I guess it doesn't matter now.

text; private

[runningstart]

were gonna get him back here
i swear to god were gonna get him back

im still working on it i showed tadashi where the new porter could go

well get him back

same

[microbrobotics]

doesnt matter

too late now

[whitequeens]

I'm sorry, Hiro, I haven't seen him. I'll let you know if I do.

...are you all right?

[microbrobotics]

... 'course I'm not.