o4 ☆ audio (backdated to the 15th!)

[zanarkandbabe]

[ Sharp gasps and stilted breath and a crack of his voice with a pained sob utter through the transmission. His words are muffled, reluctant. ]

I...I think I'm in trouble...

[ His chest had welled with relief when he saw her, touched her hair, held her close. Something sharp and cold intruded his body and left him clutching her tighter until she was air, and he fell on his knees and gripped the incomprehensible pain. It took several beats for him to realize what was even there.

Tucked away in a hallway of The Arena, Tidus' palm tightly shuts the red opening in his side. Blood seeps through the white fabric of his T-shirt, soaking his hand as if there was nothing there at all. And he's never been ashamed to cry, but these tears he wants to keep to himself. ]

Comments

( audio. )

[sends]

[ —that voice!

Though she's only been here briefly, that voice sounds... Incredibly familiar, and like one she thought she might never get the chance to hear again. And yet, he sounds so pained... She has the urge to simply rush to his side, but... To whose? And where? ]

—excuse me, are— Are you alright?

[ Are you... Him? ]

( audio. )

[zanarkandbabe]

[ ...No, don't mess with him, again.

He knows her voice anywhere. In fact, he'd just heard it spoken through false lips, and now it teases him through the transmission. Anger surges through his fingertips and the backs of his eyes as he tenses forward— ]

Go away! I can't...take this again..!

[ His words are followed with an ugly cough. ]

( audio. )

[sends]

Can't take—what? [ There really isn't any mistaking it. She'd never forget it.

But now her mind is racing, with confusion, with excitement, anxiety, worry. A mixture of emotions that makes it hard to figure out what exactly she's supposed to do. Foremost, though, is concern. What can't he take again? She just wants to help him, to figure out what's wrong and help him the way he'd helped her, so many times before. ]

Please, let me— don't you recognize me?

[histories]

...! [trouble... it can only mean one thing!] Have you been stabbed as well? Where are you? I can help.

( audio. )

[zanarkandbabe]

[ He wants so badly to shut it off, to not fall for the same trick twice, but he can't resist her voice. That possibility that it could be her... ]

Is it really you? Please...

[zanarkandbabe]

[ As well..? ]

What's...going on?

[ as he bleeds to death

But no really he was pretty ignorant of the network all day. ]

[histories]

Some others are being stabbed as well...

But explaining the situation can wait - you need immediate attention. Where can I find you?

[video] wow Yuna mun has the *best* timing XD

[disasterrific]

Tidus! Where are you?

[zanarkandbabe]

[ His head is spinning. Is it confusion? Delirium? Something prevents him from responding right away, and in a small, slurred voice: ]

Work... Arena.

[ It was one thing to feel sorry for himself, but for others to hear him like this... Using his free hand to press against the wall for support, he begins to stand up. ]

video

[zanarkandbabe]

At work. [ A long beat as he begins to stand, but the pain in his side juts down to his legs. He settles for leaning against the wall. ] I'm on my way...

video

[disasterrific]

What? No, stay there! I'm on my way!

( audio. )

[sends]

It's me. It's— I'm here. [ She wants to ask if it's really him, too— but now isn't the time. Even if this all some kind of cruel dream, he's hurt and, she wants to go to him. ] Tell me what happened?

[ Actually more importantly— ] Tell me where you are. [ She might not be able to find it on her own, but there are plenty enough people around to ask. ]

( video. )

[zanarkandbabe]

[ Stuck inside his head, Tidus misses most of what she says as he clumsily toggles the transmission for a video feed. ]

The— [ A sharp breath hitches in his throat. He swallows before completing his thought: ] The Arena. I'll come to you. [ He can't do that, but he tries to stand anyways. ]

video

[zanarkandbabe]

Rikku, she's here. I'm talking to her now, I... [ are those tears of pain or tears of joy. either way he's taking baby steps. ] I have to see her!

Video

[machinajackass]

What happened, Tidus?

video

[disasterrific]

Who is? Yunie?

video still, next up, action

[histories]

I'll be right over.

[and cut. hurrying over meanwhile]

video

[zanarkandbabe]

Yeah. Yeah, Yuna...

[ He squints his eyes. ]

Somebody's here.

Video

[zanarkandbabe]

Yuna— [ Tidus runs it through his head and says quietly: ] I don't know...

action

[zanarkandbabe]

[ Tidus presses his back against the wall for as long as he can muster, until he falls back down onto his bottom. He braves a look at his bloodied hand, shirt, waist, and just seeing it makes the wound feel much more real. Resuming his scattered conversations with others is somewhat distracting, but...

For the love of God, not distracting enough at this point. ]

Re: video

[disasterrific]

Yunie's here?! Do you know where? I'll meet up with her and we'll come find you!

[titties]

Dammit--not another--... Are you alright?!

[zanarkandbabe]

Y-yeah, I'm fine—I dunno...

video

[zanarkandbabe]

[ Tidus shakes his head. ]

Re: video

[disasterrific]

Is that a "I don't know" or a "no don't come I'm gonna be a big stupidhead"?