Capsule 013 💊 | Audio; backdated to 12/01

[rassera]

Tetsuo's gone.

[It's the hardest thing Kaneda's ever been able to admit, and a large part of him didn't even want to make this broadcast. Something about how this was his business, or how it meant admitting defeat in his search for his best friend and family. His voice lacks the confidence it usually has, the undertone almost a soft squeak, as if he's trying to hold back tears.

That may explain why this is audio.]


You know.


For anyone that was looking, or whatever.


[There's an audible inhale and exhale, gloves covering his mouth as he thinks some things over.] So...I'll be taking over Neo Tokyo til I can kick his ass for ditching me with it. You know how to find me.

[No they don't.]

Comments

[rassera]

I don't surrender to ankle biters!!

[Kaneda can't help but break into laughter as the boy scrambles to stay on his back, hands clinging to his shoulders and koala-ing there comfortably. His hands reach under his legs to support him, turning his head back ever so slightly.]


And I'm wearing my gloves--of course they're red.

[amadaman]

Inacceptable!

[Kaneda turns his head back. Ken is a child with incredible balance and core-strength; the hands under his legs help, but he mostly keeps himself upright with the legs pressed up against Kaneda's side as he releases his hands and presses them against the other boy's cheeks, smushing them now.]

Your face looks stupid.

[rassera]

[He can feel his skin pressed together, vision blurring as Ken's hands smush his face together, trying not to let a smile break through those lips. He knows what Ken's trying to do--hell, he'd done it plenty of times to them.

Ken just has the foresight to make sure he's firmly attached to him before attempting.]

Muh fush--

[He tries to shake his head away.]

My face is perfect, thank you.

[amadaman]

It's stupid anyway.

[Ken's grip is staying. Kaneda's face might be permanently molded into that squished state if he holds it there for much longer, but he's staying.

Then he leans forward to knock his forehead against the top of his brother's head, brown bangs mixing with black ones, a strange, awkward embrace.]

Don't make that sort of face alone.

[rassera]

[He stops fighting it, letting that boy's hands smush his face any which way he desired at this point. It's a fight he can't win, and it wasn't even against Ken himself. It was fighting his own ability to move on from this.

A soft touch of their foreheads, brown and black locks tangled together, both eyes closing...]


I know I'm not. [Alone, that is.] But it sucks.

[amadaman]

I know.

[Ken knows. He knew Kaneda knew, too. They weren't alone -- they promised each other they wouldn't be -- but the pain of loss still stung. It still burned a hole in their hearts, still tore their nerves to shreds, and left a chill that could never be warmed. That was loss.

He stops pressing so hard on Kaneda's face and wraps his arms around him instead.]

I know.

[rassera]

[Arms let go of supporting those legs, knowing full well that Ken can hold on with leg strength alone. They'd gotten to know each other inside and out during their time here together, enough to even consider themselves brothers. All three of them were knit tighter than one of Mabel's sweaters...

And one of those threads was cut, leaving the other two to either bind together or unravel.

Arms reach around Ken, holding him tighter than he ever remembers. Tighter than the August Swear-In, tighter than when he returned in October of that same year.

As if the boy would slip through his fingers if he didn't hold on.]

Don't you leave me too, got that.

[amadaman]

I promise.

[That's the most dangerous promise, one maybe all of them are fated to break one day or the next. But Ken makes it anyway, with the firmest, surest of tones, as if willpower alone could help him make these words truth. This is a promise he has to make now. One he can't be wishy washy on now.

Kaneda needs him.

And he'll be here for him. His arms are right, holding onto him with all his might.]

I'll be right here.