text;

[rideme]

[It's late in the evening when the text post pops up on the network. With no formalities or ceremony. Just:]

hey
anyone seen charlie ? little blonde wizard guy
offered to enchant crap a while back

[A pause. Is that all you want to say, Bull, or--]

didnt touch the shit i got him for that holiday
cant find him at his usual places



messages wont go through
preciate it if someone's seen him, let me know

[CLICK. There's no more. And Bull will be around his house if anyone wants to talk face-to-face. Because... what the hell. Why this?]

[Why right now?]

Comments

[rideme]

Nice, huh? Guess I should be louder.

[The kids are around. They're here and they need someone to stand strong. If they weren't, he'd allow himself to react differently. He'd allow himself a moment to smash something to bits and yell until this pent-up energy faded.]

Don't know he's really gone for good yet.

[amadaman]

Even if it's only for a day, when you miss someone, you can't help it.

[He fiddles with the string of his hoodie for a second.]

You shouldn't have to hold back for us, if that's what you're doing. Um... do you want to punch something around a bit? I know something sturdy.

[rideme]

Can't help it, huh?

[He sounds skeptical, despite echoing Ken's words. He should be able to help it. Isn't that what his training was supposed to accomplish?]

[That one eye flicks down to Ken.]

Something, or someone?

[Because commenting on that 'holding back' part wouldn't... end well right now.]

[amadaman]

Yeah. Even if you can steel your reactions, we can't avoid finding someone we miss.

[Ken reaches up a hand and taps his forehead.]

Something that's a part of someone. Kala-Nemi doesn't have any weaknesses to the sort of stuff you can throw at her, and attacks directed at her won't affect me any more than Koromaru knocking me over.

[rideme]

You want me... to go toe-to-toe with your weird head demon thing?

[Just going to casually sidestep the talk about missing people. And focus on the weirdness.]

[That's easier to talk about, anyway.]

[amadaman]

[Ken sees the avoidance tactic and rolls with it.]

It's an invitation. Only if you want to.

[rideme]

And you're sure it's not going to knock your ass into next week?

[Just checking. Which is less to do with avoidance and more to do with hoping he doesn't actually knock the kid into next week.]

[amadaman]

I'm sure. I'm a lot stronger than you think -- if I get tired you can carry me in and I'll be back to normal by dinner.

[rideme]

Are you just saying this so you get to ride around on my head like Mabel does?

[amadaman]

If you want to see it that way. Come on, stop being mopey and beating around the bush. There's a park a couple blocks away she'll actually fit.

[rideme]

That sounds like my line.

... the fitting in a park thing. But okay.

[amadaman]

You're tiny compared to Kala-Nemi. Believe me.

[But good. Since Bull's agreed, Ken hops to his feet and reaches over to grab one of his fingers since he can't fit his small hand around his. He's gonna hope getting some adrenaline running will help him through the initial slump.

[rideme]

Yeah, I do. Just not every day that happens.

[He blinks down at their hands before rising as well, following along. It probably looks hilarious.]

[amadaman]

[It's probably a comical sight. But Ken quietly tugs him along until they get to that park and he finally lets go, looking up at him.]

I get antsy a lot, so I fight. I don't choose the right opponent sometimes, so I make my friends worry. So I know it's hypocritical but rather than you going out and punching things I don't know, I'd rather you do it with me.

[rideme]

You're letting me punch your brain monster so you can keep an eye on me, huh?

[He quirks an eyebrow down at the kid, leaning back on his hands against a bench.]

[amadaman]

Yes. After all, I'm the most mature person in the house now.

[( ◡‿◡ ✿ )]

[rideme]

[Ken why.]

Ahh...


Yeah.

Probably, huh?

[amadaman]

... I'm kidding. Please don't take it so seriously. Come on.

[Out comes the silver gun and Ken steps forward onto the grass.]

I'm just gonna summon.

[rideme]

Right.

[Please don't mind if he looks away while you pull that thing out, Ken. He's. Still sort of bothered by it.]

Ready then.

[amadaman]

[Ken notices, and he doesn't mind, though his eyes narrow with a sad light in them. Back home, the adults he ran into who knew about Persona had regarded him with sympathy, often pity, and some of them apologized about putting him in his situation, but all of them, he knew, also saw him and his friends as their only possibility. Nobody truly stopped him from taking up that gun.

It's strange to see someone like the Iron Bull so bothered by it.

He makes quick work of summoning Kala-Nemi before closing his eyes, focusing his mind so stabilize her presence. When he opens them again, he's absolutely focused.]

... We're ready.

[rideme]

[The Iron Bull can tolerate a lot of things. A lot of fucked up things. But kids... when it came to kids, his tolerance was pretty low. Especially where dead kids were possible.]

[Or suggesting dead kids.]

[Those... he'd seen way too many of those.]

[He doesn't look back until Ken speaks up again, taken aback -- again -- by the thing suddenly THERE in front of them.]

... How do you want this to go? Just want me to hit it?

[amadaman]

Mmm, yeah. I mean, you can do whatever you want.

The only thing I have a weakness to is darkness, and I don't mean turn-out-the-lights darkness. It's magic. And I don't think we have to worry about that with you.

[He thinks for a moment, looks up, and Kala-Nemi responds by shaking her fist in a punch not aimed at anyone.]

And we can hit back if you want that.

[rideme]

Heh, I was going to say. You don't strike me as a kid afraid of the dark.

[Mostly because of all the shit Ken has already been through.]

[Slowly, he tilts his head up, watching the huge creature pretend to punch. There's a moment. And then he just straight up throws a punch at its leg.]

[amadaman]

[He grimaces.]

Well, I'm not afraid that there might be boogey monsters under my bed. The darkness has monsters; I know that as a fact. [He steps back as not to be in Bull's way as Kala-Nemi takes that punch, barely moving from the impact and holding her place.

He waits a moment before he looks up at her and Kala-Nemi moves, quickly spinning at where her waist would be to swing a punch at him. Ken knows he can stop her with just a thought so he doesn't hold back.]