( ic inbox. )

[defenses]

❝ I'm not here right now, but—
I'll be sure to get back to you!
You can count on it! ❞

Comments

[defenses]

there's no need to be embarrassed!

are you lost? maybe i could help
i'm great at finding shortcuts

[ says the one person who can't even help themselves... ]

[vacuum]

[ let him tsun in peace. ]

somehow, i don't believe that. we could meet up though. especially since you'll be going there too.

[defenses]

then you'll just have to see for yourself!!
big brother vane will lead you straight to your new home in no time

[vacuum]

'big brother'?? i'm probably older than you. [ he feels older, against vane's boundless energy. ]

where are you? i'll go find you.

[defenses]

eh??? but you're so little
how old are you by the way?? i don't think i ever asked

but, uh ...

i'm right by ...


hm

[vacuum]

who isn't little, compared to you?? i'm 22.

you don't know where you are, do you?

[defenses]

25! i win!

[ ... win what. ]

ahahahahah ha ha

maybe i can find you? ?

[vacuum]

[ ...oh. maybe vane is nii-chan, then. somehow, chuuya doesn't want to accept this though?!? ]

it's not a competition.

i'm in the west end, i think. the place with all the bright lights. [ the lit ...zone. ]

[defenses]

all right! leave it to me!!!!

the bright place, huh? should be a walk in the park to find

[ says vane ....


in a way, having a stable direction to head into is easier. easiest. especially with something more visual to go off of. following the literal "bright lights" is significantly easier than trekking aimlessly through forestry or following vague fortune cookie directions, at least. and... fortunately for the sake of this not actually taking five hours, let's say vane is relatively close to the west end?? half an hour later, chuuya will get another text: ]

what are you wearing

cw: sexting

[vacuum]

[ So that was quicker than he had expected. ]

red shirt, black pants. and my hat.

cw: sexting

[defenses]

what color is the hat

is it red too???

cw: still sexting

[vacuum]

don't you remember what my hat looks like? it's probably the best damned hat you've ever seen in your life

[ he was not wearing his hat in the vr. ]

[defenses]

what

you had a hat on??? ????

[vacuum]

yes. [ no!! chuuya forgot that the vr took away his hat last time. sad. ]

you have a bad memory.

[defenses]

but?? i touched your head?

[ none of this makes sense!?!??! ]

[vacuum]

[ his memory on that is actually pretty vague now, but he's too prideful to admit he's wrong, so he's just going to continue supporting himself. ]

obviously, i took off the hat before you touched it. [ right??? that's definitely what happened. ]

[defenses]

i think i'd remember taking off a hat

i even remember what we ate afterwards

[ as if this is startling proof to his wonderful memory... ]

[vacuum]

of course you would. you're crazy about food, aren't you

it wasn't even real.

[defenses]

who doesn't like food?
i remember you ate it all up too!

...

then doesn't that mean your hat also isn't real??

[vacuum]

of course my hat's real. i'm wearing it right now

why are we talking about this??

[defenses]

i don't remember

but, either way! stay put!

[ after some time, vane ... gets a vague feeling like he's close. ]

how about you stand on something tall so i can see you easily??

then i can pick you right up!

[vacuum]

what are you saying -- that i'm too small for you to spot?

[defenses]

huh?

no?? no way!! i would never imply something like that, chu!!

[defenses]

just try it!!

[vacuum]

[ 'chu' ... ] you're definitely implying it.
fine, but i'm only doing this to move things along.

[ going to stand on the fountain now and try his best to look cool about it. ]

do you see me