animus_network | 001 | Text/Voice/Video/Derp

[There's a burst of static, and a garbled sound like someone talking for a brief moment before it clears, beginning a voice message.] -doesn't this thi-[More static, along with the sound of buttons being pressed. Likely buttons that should NOT be pressed, if the beeps that keep sounding mean anything.]-ith instructions or something?

[That? Is the sound of TEN MILLION BUTTONS being pressed. One of them has to let him write. But WHICH ONE?

Until now, this has been a mystery to Sora.

But apparently he figures it out, because suddenly, text!]

jkl;q23fa8sdpj

oh, there it is! Now I can send messages to people. This is neat!

but writing everything out like this takes forever. [Because guess who's typing one. letter. at. a. time.

But there must be another way! Maybe if he can figure out how video works...

Oh, hey. Time to abuse the terminal's keyboard again.

This goes on for a few minutes, occasionally accompanied by various warning beeps and error messages. Finally, the video flashes on briefly, revealing the face of one (1) VERY SURPRISED Sora, who...was maybe starting to think that this wasn't going to actually work.

...but then he has the biggest smile because GUESS WHAT? IT DID. Computer: 58, Sora: 1.

He's definitely catching up, okay?]

Alright, it wor-huh?!

[And all of his hopes are dashed when the screen turns bright red, and the video shuts off after another, this time much angrier, error noise. Apparently, the terminals do not take kindly to misuse.

Finally, there's just a minute of silence. Then...]

...did I break it?

[Meet the future savior of all worlds, everyone.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It takes Riku another moment to catch himself again, though he's still maybe slightly pale and when he speaks up again his previous playfulness is almost entirely gone.

He takes a step forward, leaning down to take hold of the keyboard.]

It's not that complicated.

[Case in point: Give him two minutes and the monitor will be warning-message free again.]

Yeah...sure.

[But that time, Sora did notice the change in tone, and registered the look on his face. He couldn't tell for sure, but he thought that something had changed.

When he speaks again, he definitely sounds concerned.]

Hey, Riku. You okay?

[Riku wants to kick himself. Hard.

He shouldn't have let himself drawn in by the comfort of old habits, of the ways they've always worked, of teasing and smirking like nothing has changed, like he somehow has the right-

He can't change that it happened though. That it will likely happen again, no matter how much he tries to distance himself.

He can only do his best to keep what distance he can, to make sure to filter his snark before he asks another question like that again.

His eyes are firmly glued to the screen as he answers.]

Sure.

[But even he notices that his voice is still tense, that even Sora can tell that he's lying through his teeth and really he just wants to kick himself three times over again.

Finally he shakes his head and looks at Sora, a sad half-smile tugging at his lips.]

It's nothing. Don't worry about it.

Sure...if you say so.

[But Sora doesn't sound (or look) convinced. At all.

He just doesn't get it. Why is Riku acting like he's done something wrong? They were just talking, like they usually did. Or, at least, for what Sora still considered "usual". Sure, Riku was a little bit...different now. It had been a whole year for him, so that makes sense, right?

But this seemed like more than that. Sora just couldn't put his finger on what might be wrong.

Or even how to ask.

So, for now, he doesn't.]

[Riku makes a point of turning back to the computer, ignoring Sora's lack of conviction, as he works on the settings.

He might be feeling the questions hanging between them, might be even able to guess at them, but that doesn't mean he has to acknowledge them.

Finally he takes a step back, satisfied that the device before them is now back to proper working order.]

There you go.

001 | Text/Voice/Video/Derp

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