d33tached | maskormenace

[It takes D33 a moment to respond (he's a little confused as to why Shinigami has switched to voice, but he won't mention that). There's that topic of "friends" again. When it comes to that, D33 really doesn't--]

I don't understand it.

[He's not being self-deprecating, really - it's just a fact. Why anyone would ever want to hang out with him is beyond him and always has been. It's not the same as it was underground where he was feared and respected - not that he preferred that status by any stretch of the imagination.

[But people like Archie and Kaneki? He really doesn't get it. And it's even harder to grasp now that he is realizing firsthand just how miserable of a person he really is.]

You don't gotta.

[His voice goes just a little gentler, puffing out a quiet sigh.] If you spend all your time agonizing over what people see in ya, you're never gonna have the time to appreciate their company for what it is.

[Protecting people from yourself, from what you were- yeah, he knew plenty about that. And he knew plenty about regretting it.]

Don't get so wrapped up in yourself.

[It's easier said than done - surely Shinigami must know that, D33 thinks. But what he's saying makes sense all the same. The only way D33 had been able to relax enough to accept Kaneki was by simply Not Thinking About It. And he would have regretted doing so, had it ruined what he has now. Even D33 can admit that.

[To himself, anyway. But there's still a mental block there that's hard to get over, even with Shinigami's advice.]

I must say, Shinigami, that this advice is a bit unexpected coming from you.

I didn't think you to care about such things.

[There's a vaguely bitter laugh at that, mostly deflated.]

What's that supposed to mean? I give you all sorts of bullshit advice.

[Okay. Fair, but.]

Nevermind it.

I simply wasn't aware that you concerned yourself with my personal relationships.

[Despite them like totally having gone over this two months ago. "Herd species" and whatnot.]

I won't, but nice try!

I'm a nosy busybody. I concern myself with everyone's relationships. But 'specially my pals'. Like you.

[Duo just rolls his eyes to himself. Yeah, they'd gone over this before, but... One little chat never made those feelings just go away, Duo knew that. Reassurances were good things to have.]

[Hold up. Rewind.

[What did Shinigami just call him?]

Do you consider me to be a friend of yours, Shinigami?

[This is, somehow, the most shocking development of them all.]

You're a real piece of work. [Snort] Yeah, kid. You're a buddy of mine- and I always look out for my buddies.

I won't ask the same of you, if that's not your thing. Don't worry.

[...]

I didn't know.

Sheesh.

Well, now ya do. So, whatcha gonna do about it?

[Uhhh...]

Is there something that you would like me to do?

[He's bad at this.]

[Pause]

Yanno what, don't worry about it.

--Actually, there's one thing you could do for me: don't worry about why you're my friend.

Think you can do that?

[Well...]

I suppose so.

Very well, then.

Great!

Well... if you got the uh, technical parts of the situation under control, I guess that's all that's left, yeah?

Lemme know if you need any help with that whole thing.

[Thankfully, Duo was only minimally affected by this whole shebang- well.... insofar as your own kid forgetting who you are is 'minimal'.... But nothing to clean up was good enough as any craziness in these Porter worlds.]

[It's a little weird, but somehow D33 is left so stunned that he feels...a little better?

[Well, that's what friends are for...right?]

Yes, of course.

I thank you, Shinigami.

[Wait, maybe he should uh.]

It is my understanding that this situation affected a great deal of other ImPorts as well.

[Why does he feel so awkward asking this?]

Is everything alright with you, then?

Oh, I'm peachy! For once, I didn't get hit with this bullshit.

Feels kinda nice, not being the guy with his wits lost, for once.

Ahh, well, 'course plenty of others I know besides you were affected. But that's not a big deal.

Have you often been affected by such things?

I tell ya, buddy, in the City? It was a new bit of this bullshit every week.

Non-stop. This place has been loads easier on that side of things.

I can scarcely imagine.

No. You really can't.

[There's something edging his voice, something slightly... deranged.]

When people from the City speak of complete chaos, they ain't kiddin'.

[The tone is certainly unsettling.]

Forgive me.

We need not speak of it anymore.

[Oops, did he let it show? Time to pull back a little...]

--Ahaha, it's fine. Just stressing the point that... it's true, what they say.

There's a reason Cityzens're so... off.

[If they weren't before, hoo boy.]

Yes, I see.

[D33's life motto remains true, then - it could always be worse.]

maskormenace | IC Contact

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duo u fuckin liar

well he only saw OTHER people's memories...

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