004 - Lucid Dreaming

[tabularasa_mods]

Lucid Dreaming Event Info Pt.1 ▲ Event Info Pt.2 ▼ Comments Please see the two info posts linked above for details on the nature of the event, the nightmares within, and the setting it takes place in. You may ask any unanswered questions in either post. If your character dies at any point during the dream event, please leave a comment in the death report thread to notify the mods.

As a final reminder, all characters will fall asleep for the full duration of this event whether you decide to take part or not. You may continue tagging threads that take place before the event, but everyone will fall asleep simultaneously.

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Falling Asleep, Waking Up
The shift happens without warning, much like the first time people appeared in the world. Perhaps you remember what you were doing in the last moments before a strange feeling of exhaustion overwhelmed you - or perhaps you remember nothing at all. Whatever it may be, you've appeared somewhere new. A seemingly ordinary train station, if not for the bizarre walls of flesh blocking the only exits. The only path forward is down into the pulsating depths, a humid breeze pushing at your back.

There may be others here with you, or you may be alone. Could there be more people trapped in this strange place? You won't find them just by standing around.

Nightmares
The screeching of a distant train will echo through the tunnels on occasion, shadows flicking through the translucent flesh of the walls. Sometimes, however, instead of fading away the noise will only grow louder, closer, until it sounds like the train should be upon you. It never appears, but something else always will.

The train is a siren call for nightmares, and you're unfortunate enough to be their victim. The shadows turn alive, twisting and growing as they rise up from the ground and begin to transform. What form they take varies, but the shadows of the mind know the true fears of those who walk among them. Are you prepared to face the darkness?

Volcanic Panic

The shadows congeal at the edges of the floor, and soon after a hot orange glow begins to fill the room - molten lava is pooling in from the other end of the tunnel. It rolls slowly forward, devouring everything it touches with an unquenchable searing hunger, leaving behind only the charred bones of its victims... although, strangely, the tunnels themselves appear to be completely unharmed.

Outrunning the flow of lava shouldn't be a problem, but there seems to be no end to it. How long can you run from something that never stops? Or worse, what happens if you find yourself surrounded? You'll need to find a way to higher ground before that happens.

A Radiant Plague

The shadows rise up into familiar shapes, and at first glance it'd be easy to mistake them for people. They may even share the faces and voices of people you know, stumbling towards you with wide, open arms... and empty, glowing eyes filled with an orange light. Something smells sickly sweet, and it's only once they're close enough to grab you that they begin to attack.

These are not your friends, and they'll do whatever it takes to make you one of them instead. Unfortunately, it's not an experience you'll be able to survive. Your only hope is to fight back before the plague can take hold, lest you become another mindless husk that knows only to further spread the infection.

Trust No One, Not Even Yourself

The shadows stretch and fill the air, choking everything in a thick blanket of darkness... before dispersing just as quickly as they'd appeared. A few moments pass and nothing else seems to be happening. You must've gotten lucky this time!

... Or did you?

Surely it can't be that simple. Nothing else here has been, so something must have happened just now. It's only you and the person you're currently traveling with... but are you sure that's really them right now? How do you know they haven't been possessed by another nightmare, waiting until you let your guard down to stab you in the back? Should you interrogate them to be sure, or start with restraining them and ask questions later? Wouldn't it be better to just kill them before things get out of hand? The sooner you strike, the safer you'll be when their true form emerges.

Yes, that must be the real explanation. It has to be them that's been possessed by a nightmare. What else could it be?

Joker’s Wild

There’s no limit to what form the shadows can take. The world may have its own perception of fear, but your nightmares are something only you could understand. What darkness lurks in the depths of your heart?

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code bases by tricklet

Comments

[bachagain]

A. WAKING UP

[ ... ah, is this a kidnapping in a kidnapping? the regular train station is silent enough that it leaves leo slightly unsettled, the meat wall behind him blocking his way not helping matters. this is a new one -- new like the memories. was the void being a mcmess just gonna be a thing here now? void god, please?

leo doesn't have much choice but to wander around aimlessly, obviously. but for obvious reasons he's... a little jumpy. don't mind him if he jumps when he rounds a corner and finds you there, though. he's been fortunate enough to avoid the shadows thus far, but unfortunate enough to not run into anyone he has been looking for, either.

regardless, any face at all is one he's gonna consider friendly. that fact doesn't change simply because they're in meatmentos, land of the I Sure Hate Everything. ]

Oh -- woah! I was starting to think it was just me! Am I glad to see you!

[ please save him ]

B. CHECKMATE (both leo and izumi will be responding here!)

[ at least leo's not alone now. is that a good thing?

those approaching may find that funnily enough, the shadows here are dead! well, no, they aren't dead -- some take the form of bloodstained corpses of teenage boys, run through with a multitude of swords. others are "alive", dressed elegantly in outfits fit for the stage, clenching their weapons sloppily in their hands. all of them, however, surround a pair in a chaotic ensemble.

leo and izumi stand at the center of this, their own (false) swords in hand. though they cut at the figures surrounding them, the number of the crowd never seems to lessen. they return the blows aimed at them, but that's just part of the nightmare too -- an echo to a time in the past. for the knowledgeable, the aggressors are obviously the shadows. to those more ignorant, and even then, it sure seems like leo and izumi are doing this less to survive, and more just because they... can?

not that they'll succeed in it. step in before they destroy themselves? though given the mindset involved, expect some resistance from more than just the shadows.

enjoy! ]

C. WILDCARD

[ hit me up with whatever you wish! feel free to pm me here or at trinities if you want to hash out anything personally! ]

a AND AS PROMISED, I AM TAGGING BOTH HERE I AM

[forethinking]

(As Leo makes that turn, the first thing on his vision is none other than his very good friend, in his full Phantom Thief attire, glaring at an exit as he tries to figure out what to do next. Nothing has budged so far, and in efforts of saving resources (he is the resource), he's been working from bottom-up on the cost of the skills that he's casting upon the flesh.

Behind Joker is not a Persona Leo will recognize from the memories he's gotten, but a much cooler one that is a few meters taller than he should be. Just because. He was about to give a command when he heard Leo's voice--

Huh?)

Leo? Are you ok? Unharmed? (He asks, scanning the other for possible injuries. Did everyone get pulled in?)

OPENS MY ARMS WIDE

[bachagain]

[ huh!

ren's attire isn't something he should be surprised by, given the memory that sits in the recesses of his mind. it's still something else to see in person, though, and the persona that stands behind him is even more of an image.

... maybe leo's reaction's a little delayed, because he has to take this in. when he does finally respond, it's with a smile and the same cheerful tone as always-- ]

Yep, yep! I'm good, Mysterious Phantom Thief-kun!

[ :) wew. he's trying to keep his worries about this place out of his voice. easier, when someone he knows is around.

he's also aware that there's... maybe something else that ren's called when he's in this outfit fit for a live, but he can't really remember. ]

This's new!

[ referring to sataneal. leo's gonna walk up and like, not touch it, but--

--mildly tempting to see if his hand will just, phase through this giant satan man tbh. ]

[forethinking]

(Joker himself pauses at the delay, is Leo ok? Did he already forget all about thi-- oh, no, there he is. Phew.

He's happy to see that even in a situation like this, Leo still remains himself, even when he can hear the concern behind the words. Who wouldn't be?)

Joker, (Just because he knows for a fact that Leo has terrible name-memory, and with the contents of the memories he's seen, the last thing on his mind probably was picking out the codenames.

Ren tilts his head back, to look at a very solid Satan before he nods, it is true, it is new!)

I awakened to him right before we ended up in the Void. (And if Leo tries to touch him, he will literally touch Satan. You are welcome!)

[bachagain]

[ ........ fuck it he's touching satan, he can't resist. maybe it's half a check to see that this is reality, because surely if this was some kind of dream leo's hand would phase right through satan-san, right?

just kidding, ghosts exist too.

regardless, satan is indeed very solid, and leo draws his hand back like he didn't immediately succumb to temptation like a two year old. not that he's ashamed of that or anything. ]

I see, I see!

[ the way he says this implies he very much doesn't see ]

Or, mm, actually... I don't see! [ there we go. ] But he kinda matches with your codename, huh? Very wild, Re-- uuuh, oops! I mean, Joker! Wahaha!

b yes

[forethinking]

(He's not walking freely in the mazes. Much to the contrary, it's a much like a Palace to him and it should be treated as such - considered there to be a danger at every corner.

Joker first catches sight of several Shadows from where he's standing, against a wall as he peeks into the scene. It is only when he hears the fighting grunts that he realizes those are not waiting, but surrounding instead. Joker has seen enough things horrors and of course the death in the scene can bother, but never to the point it would stop him from acting.

Without hesitation, he draws his pistol, shooting the Shadow that blocked immediate vision from whoever is behind them -- Sena? Leo?)

[obsessiveness]

[ there's no end to them, it seems. but somehow it doesn't bother izumi as much, so long as leo's here. it's sappy, but it's true. they may look like they're completely swamped with shadows here, but their teamwork is impeccable and almost impenetrable at first glance, with how they're cutting down randos coating in shadow left and right.

which is why the resounding sound of a fired bullet seems to take izumi out of it, and he whirls around to face ren angrily. uh oh. ]

Oi, what are you doing here? I don't remembering permitting you to attend this Live. That's against the rules.

[ what is he even saying. then again, he doesn't recognize who this mfer is anyway. who does this showoff think he is? ]

[bachagain]

[ --ah?

this is the only pause leo's taken in a while. sword swing after sword swing stops only after the sound of a gun, something about the sound of it triggering a thought in his mind.

but, maybe he shouldn't think about it too much. there's that small moment of hesitation until he strikes again, blade cutting through shadow at the same time as izumi's voice cuts through the silence, and finally leo turns around in interest. ]

Mmm? If you didn't invite him, maybe he's here to challenge us too?

[ which is, you know, fine. just another one. a gun might beat the refined edge of a sword, but there's the two of them here, so--

leo adjusts the sword in his hands, the point of it waved in the air towards ren's direction. ]

You gotta wait your turn! Sena and I are unbeatable, though, so maybe it doesn't make a difference when you join in? It'll be the same either way!

[ what the hell is happening

that being said, leo'll just go back to cutting down his Known Opponents until ren's place in this entire thing is confirmed by izumi. ]

[forethinking]

(... No, you are not unbeatable. Ren can just see how the number of foes increases, and he has combat experience enough to know that when enemies just keep coming, you start lacking in resources.

Of course, the resources here are not exactly like his own. In their case, it would solely be their energy that should not last long.

That is, if they're not overwhelmed by the Shadows first. Sorry to you two, you got a friend who cares about your wellbeing much more than he cares about your feelings on his help. In a quick movement, the mask is ripped from his face and the towering vision of Satanael emerges from electric fire behind him.

It's quick - a command and the curse emerges from the ground, flashes of black and white obliterating the Shadows that are quickly replaced by others, like a never-ending loop.)

A

[psychokinesia]

[For a minute there, Add was really excited to finally see another person... but then it turns out to be Leo.

He's less excited now.

He's not turning heel and running away, though, so that has to mean something positive, right? Instead he just sighs and drags a hand down his face, glancing around in the futile hope that someone else might be around to distract him instead. Alas, it's just him and Leo.]

I'll admit that I'm surprised a pathetic idiot like you managed to last this long on your own. [at least he knows this one can't be a murderous doppelganger because the real Leo is already a nightmare...

also his six dynamos are here, just kinda hovering in a neat little formation behind Add for now. a good bot.]

[bachagain]

[ gee thanks add!! it isn't like dee-dee is diverging from the norm here, so that kind of reaction isn't unexpected.

add remains add. maybe, in a weird way, that's sort of reassuring. though it could just be the familiarity of the man himself?

ah, details. leo won't think too much on it -- again, surprising no one. he'll focus instead on just the emotions this little meeting is giving him. like relief, and some amusement in what is otherwise a whole lot of "why"s. ]

Wahaha! Yeah, I'm glad to see you all healthy too, Dee-dee! [ rude boy ] Normally I'd say "shut it! be quiet!" to meaa~aan words like that, but it's kinda nice that you can stay true to character even in a weirdo meat maze?

[ said with the usual smile, all while looking at the weirdo bots floating behind add. leo won't ask about those... yet. the curious look in his eyes likely says it all anyway. ]

[psychokinesia]

An idiot's still an idiot no matter where you are. As if I'd change my mind just because of a place like this.

[that statement could apply to both of them, honestly. a dumb and embarrassing part of him is totally glad to see Leo right now. ugh.

He glances over at Leo again, looking him up and down... he doesn't appear to have any obvious weapons on him. Is this kid seriously wandering around by himself, unarmed? In a place where the walls can literally just pop out and eat you at any moment?? Add stares for awhile longer before clicking his tongue.]

I'm not really interested in babysitting dead-weight, but I suppose your chances of survival would be slightly higher than zero if we stay together for now... hmm, having a human decoy to fall back on wouldn't be too bad, either. How fast of a runner are you? [somehow, this is Add's way of saying he's lonely and wants the company.]

[bachagain]

[ stop calling him an idiot….. as he wanders around the meat maze with absolutely zero (0) combat skills beyond some fancy footwork and agility. an idol skillset doesn’t exactly translate well into fighting, and it’s not like he has a bow and arrow to mess around with, however effective that would be--

--it’s why he doesn’t automatically go into karate chopping add in the darn head, but he still has to look offended for like, 0.2 seconds. then he can settle into the realization that if add truly hated having him around, he’d have thrown him to the shadows and killer walls by now.

… right. ]

I’m gonna put on my selective hearing ears and ignore that again. You sure are saying less words than usual, wow!

[ god. moving on: ]

Anyway, depends what I’m running from? If it’s a huge lecture, I’m a ten out of ten. If it’s Sena getting mad, eleven out of ten! I think I’d rank the stuff around here about Sena level, maybe a little below, soo… Yeah, pretty fast!

[ nice. he can understand the gravity of this whole thing, but that’s why he has to make even more fun of it-- ]

By the way, I’m gonna run with you. Don’t use me as bait, I’ll get mad!

[ so much for selective hearing ]

wildcard; you know what tf is up

[obsessiveness]

[ it doesn't take long for izumi to find leo again after splitting up to look for clues on their whereabouts, and... well, izumi has had enough of supernatural misadventures for one lifetime, really. he isn't built for this? but neither is leo, so it may as well be better to stick with someone for a buddy system rather than roaming the place anyway.

so here they are, exploring some narrow corridor in a rather precarious place, izumi gulping at how high they're up. it's fine, so long as he has a solid grip on leo's wrist that's practically cutting off bloodflow from his partner's hand, rip. ]

Ugh, we're probably getting nowhere with this. [ he whines, as usual. ] Well, it sure beats having to fight those guys back there. Kinda fucked up that they looked real familiar, but I guess that's because of this place?

[ great. more ways for this world to bring out their trauma. didn't they over this a while back? ]

Hell~o? Earth to Leo-kun? Not that you're ever on Earth anyway, but say something, will you?

[bachagain]

[ goodbye leo’s hand…...

teenage idol noodle boys are definitely not built for nightmare meat mazes... leo feels as if he’s running on fumes at this point, a small bit of exhaustion wearing at his mind. maybe it’s the constant run-ins with weirdo danger that they’re not really equipped to handle? the resurgence of their past being shoved into his face, over and over? or maybe it’s that tiiiiny bit of anxiety that’s digging at him, towards something he can’t quite pinpoint just yet?

it’s distracting.

distracting enough that he’s zoned out for about half of what izumi says, the direct call-out bringing him back to their high-rise, potentially dangerous reality.

( “kinda fucked up that they looked real familiar”, huh? yeah, of course it was--

--is it odd that sena’s so casual about the whole thing, or is that something that would normally be reassuring? isn’t it his fault that they’re seeing stuff like that in the first place? or, ah, wait-- that’s not right? right? )

tune back in, okay, you moron. ]

… Mm, I’m here -- what d’you want me to say, Sena? [ ah, that's a little direct. ] Umm. Sorry, sorry, I’m kinda tired! Watch where you’re stepping? It’s pretty high! ... Though I think you know that, 'cause my hand's getting tingly.

[ obv

iously. ]

[obsessiveness]

[ the only reason why izumi’s being so casual is... well, not much reason, really. someone has to remain calm between the two of them, and as usual that job falls on izumi’s shoulders. just grabbing leo’s hand and dragging him along to god knows where, because even add and that catgirl don’t know about the layout of this place much. the world has warped it out of recognition, much like it has warped their shadows into taking forms of their fellow comrades.

and themselves too, in a way. while they didn’t do actual swordfighting back home, it was rather exhilarating to hold a sword like that. izumi didn’t know he had it in him to cut shadows down like that, but seeing leo back there reminded him all too much of their shared burden. he had to pull leo out of there and quick, and hopefully this far-off place wouldn’t let those things reach them.

his stare at leo hardens at that tone just now, but he’ll wave it off as he loosens his grip on leo’s wrist some. ]

I’m even more exhausted, you know. I’m never gonna be built for that kind of stuff? Even if that was all make-believe. [ forever a twink ] And it’s not like we have a choice. We can’t go back there, so we’re going to have to risk this path. So just hold on to me and don’t move around too much, okay?

[ the path is getting narrower and narrower, so izumi will have to go on ahead while tightening his grip on leo again. for all that bravado, he’s probably more scared that leo is. ]

[bachagain]

[ yeah, make-believe. leo had to remind himself of that occasionally, given the whole thing felt too real. it's not as if the very concept is new, or... unfamiliar, but something about the way it came at him so unexpectedly and so suddenly is disorienting. he'd said he wouldn't, ever again, but he ended up losing himself there, too... they both did.

good thing they have each other for support? maybe? and that sena's directing the both of them, even if "hold onto me" is a difficult task to do when his wrist is being grasped like that.

leo's still fighting those nagging thoughts in the back of his mind, and it feels like it's getting harder to push away, but he has to focus. a misstep means death, after all, but beyond that they'd said they'd support each other, so he can't-- be useless here. ]

We split up and covered more ground, but nothing ended up being safer than this, huh... What'd you run into out there, anyway? [ maybe that's half a distraction from the horrible death trap they're currently tiptoeing across, or maybe he just really wants to know. ] And, if you wanna shuffle back a little, Sena, we can swap and I'll lead.

[ not that he also isn't anxious and scared here, but heights are likely the least concerning thing for him here in this sea of terrible. ]

B

[theforgottenboy]

[Cole knows well enough this is a "dream," or at least something close enough to one, to know that the scene he comes across isn't so real as it may appear. The dark emotions that emanate from the shadows help make them even more distinct from the two figures at the center while also making it harder to read them, but...]

[Whatever the reasons for things to take this form, he knows the not-real people are dangerous, and they're attacking Leo. With them focused on the two in the middle, it's easy enough to bury his dagger into the back of one and let it fall, giving him a better line of sight. Will Leo even see him, the way things are now? He finds he doesn't like the thought that Leo would forget him or look through him, but, well. There are reasons he's had few friends. Maybe he just won't try to draw attention to himself at all]

[Either way, he can help cut down some of these shadows to protect him- and... is that Sena? He didn't know he was here too. Although.... are they fighting to defend themselves...?]

[bachagain]

[ as he turns and watches that shadow fall, leo does, in fact, see cole. not the way he would normally -- with joy at his edges as he exclaims "ko" -- but, instead, as if someone new and interesting stepped into a place they shouldn't be.

there's a lack of recognition in his gaze, and that's confirmed with leo's next words as another shadow falls by his blade. these ones don't truly fade -- the ones cole cuts down, however, do. ]

Wahaha, hey, hey! I've never seen you around before!

[ that... seems wrong to say, somehow, but leo can't spend much time focusing on things that aren't the goal right in front of him. ]

You shouldn't bust into a stage that's not yours, you know. What're you doing here?

[obsessiveness]

[ izumi finally takes five after hacking down a shadow, panting as he looks over to leo and another stranger. he'd thought that leo would've known everyone else in their world by now, but maybe not.

maybe that guy isn't so important if leo doesn't know him. ]

Oi, Leo-kun. Don't make small talk with the enemy. The last thing you want is lowering your guard.

[ he looks at cole with steely blue eyes, brandishing his shadowy sword at him. ]

And you - you're challenging us, aren't you? We're pretty busy, you know. Unless you want to be cut down by us that badly.

[ jeez. ]

[theforgottenboy]

[He can hear the lack of recognition from him more clearly than he can see it, and- it shouldn't hurt. Maybe it would hurt more, if some part of him wasn't expecting it. People forget him. This may be some kind of dreamscape, but that's his usual reality. Not everyone in the dream has forgotten him, but... there was no reason to expect that Leo would remember, right?]

[But while that part he can at least rationalize, there are things that aren't right. Leo's acting strangely regardless, and Sena- Izumi? Is this the person Leo fought so hard to stay friends with, pointing his sword at him so casually? They're cutting these shadows down like nothing about this bothers them at all. That's not like the Leo he knows.]

I'm not your enemy. I want to help.

[He drives a knife into another shadow that gets too close. Why aren't the ones they're fighting fading back into the shadows? Is this part of their fears...?]

Maybe we can't be friends after all, but I'll protect you.

[Spoken for Leo, but, well, it applies for them both. Leo won't remember what he's talking about, anyway.]

for add.

[bachagain]

[ was add looking for leo after their awkward, horrible last parting?

whether he was or not, they meet again. this time, on the wider end of a thin corridor spanning a rather scary-looking drop. there's none of the usual energy to be had from this orange-haired disaster... actually, there's not much of anything -- just a blank stare into the nothingness of that chasm, as leo's in front of it, motionless, on his hands and knees.

should add call out to leo, there won't be any response. it doesn't seem as if there's room for anything except the cacophony in his mind, screeching guilt and regret tearing at his thoughts. wow, who knew someone could get so hurt from just getting yelled at and emotionally bullied by an awkward engineering loser?

... just kidding. anyway, it sure looks like leo's going to... fall in, maybe, so. have fun with that, add. ]

[psychokinesia]

[He'd been trying not to think about Leo, for the most part. It wasn't until his conversation with Izumi that he realized he'd fucked up... but it didn't seem appropriate to seek him out, either. In the end, they were two people who barely knew each other, and Add had made some pretty nasty assumptions, not to mention his choice of words. He should apologize, but... maybe later, another time, once he'd sorted out his feelings. Apologies just never came easy for him. He'd figure it out eventually, once he stopped wallowing in his own self-inflicted despair.

In the end it was by pure chance that he ran into Leo again. Add stops at the opening of the walkway, hesitating. It doesn't seem like he's been noticed, so maybe he should just leave before things get awkward...

... but something doesn't seem right. Leo is just kneeling there, staring down into the pit. And where's Izumi? Shouldn't they have met up again by now? They didn't do something stupid like split up again, did they? If Leo is on his own and acting weird, it would be irresponsible to just leave him here. He needs to return this idiot to where he belongs.

It's with these thoughts in mind that Add finally steps forward, calling out as he slowly crosses the tracks.] Hey, you...

[and then Leo tips forward.

It's not something Add was prepared for—is he falling forward from exhaustion, or is it intentional?—but instinct and programming kicks in before he has time to think about it. Add kicks off from the ground, leaping over the edge of the walkway and diving after Leo, his drones speeding after him in a six-pronged trail of light. Even with the depth of the chasm it's a close call, and with just a scant few meters left to the bottom he grasps Leo by the back of his shirt. There's an electronic screech from Dynamo followed by jolt of brief weightlessness as their descent is halted, Add yanking his new passenger up onto the invisible platform that is Dynamo's levitational field. Their final position is barely a few inches off the ground.

Add breathes out a heavy sigh as his machines quiver, not quite willing to release his hold on Leo's shirt.]

Gonna give me a fucking heart attack... this is exactly why you shouldn't be wandering around on your own! What if I didn't happen to be here just now, huh?! You can't just expect someone to swoop in and save your ass every time you do something stupid! Fuck!

[this isn't really an apology, but enjoy standing on that cool hoverboard tho]

cw: suicide/suicidal thoughts

[bachagain]

[ the past is looping and it's worse, somehow, because leo keeps fucking up and fucking up even when he'd resolved himself to moving forward and getting better. but, it turns out he didn't. and now, because of him--

--before, he had truly, truly, truly wanted to die. to cease existing, because living was just too painful. in the present, with what feels like izumi's blood on his hands, he wants to die even more. he doesn't want to live. it's painful, yes, but beyond that, he's not sure he even deserves it.

not that it matters, anyway, because he doesn't. rabid thoughts that felt like they were being pulled out of him by gravity come rushing back with add's rescue, running through leo violently when he speaks.

-- expect someone to swoop in and save your ass every time you do something stupid--

there's a hope that hits him suddenly, wrapped in guilt. and, without thinking, leo can only conclude: ]

... Sena?

[ it's obviously not. when leo turns around frantically to meet add's eyes, it's obviously, obviously not. ]

Dee-de-- [ oh, no. even with the haze in his mind, he can remember that add hated that. hated him, maybe. ] Mm... Um, Sorry. Add. You still mad...?

[ even pretending to muster the energy is too much for him, as the exhaustion tears through him just from that alone.

ah, he'd really done it. this really happened. leo sure is enjoying standing on this cool hoverboard, yeah, but actually now he'd really like to get off it so don't mind if he's pulling lightly against add's grip on his shirt.

it hasn't quite settled what being at the bottom of the chasm means, so that's gonna be even better. ]

[psychokinesia]

[Add is rambling for sure, but he stops when Leo's voice cuts through. Sena—unfortunately, he has no idea who that name might belong to, so the meaning behind it is completely lost on him. He's more worried about that frantic look in Leo's eyes...

The confusion is brief, though, before Leo's energy seems to drain away again and he meekly apologizes for something pointless. For the first time it actually stings to have Leo call him by something other than that dumb nickname. Add frowns back at him, looking a bit exasperated, but... mostly he's just relieved, and worried. Yelling is just how he expresses himself. If he's mad at anyone, it's himself for almost letting something like this happen.

If he'd chosen to put this off again, to turn away when Leo was about to fall... he never would've been able to forgive himself for it.]

I'm not mad. Just... don't do something stupid like that again, alright? [a little softer than his usual tone

The danger has passed, but something still doesn't feel right about any of this. Leo is still acting weird... so Add is reluctant to let go of him just yet. That light pull isn't going to be enough to get away.]

What happened? Izumi was looking for you, I thought you'd be back together by now.