FOR THEY CANNOT DIE ANYMORE, BECAUSE THEY ARE EQUAL TO ANGELS.

[cccorp]

Today, the canals of Mac Anu flow as gentle as they always do, gondolas drifting lazy through the paths of sunlight cut bright across the water. Shops and vendors line the stonework streets along the waterways, a general murmur of NPCs circulating through their preprogrammed business keeping Mac Anu, as always, feeling maybe a little more alive than a real city.

There is one particular bridge that nearly every player's taken at least once, because it connects to a great many other places of interest, and it's wide enough for easy travel. Besides, with the professions update, they've put a fishing spot on the other side of it. NPCs with fishing rods litter the spot in alternating shifts, their laughter mingling with the calls of shopkeeps advertising cheap prices for some simple plants to get started crafting with, and the clink of forks and plates at a restaurant nearby, its customers singing the chef praises.

Below the bridge, a gondolier passes, humming, his gondola drifting along its circuit through the canals, his tune in rhythm with the passing conversation. As he comes out from under it and sails further away, he glances up at the bridge, as if he were expecting something, and he seems to see it. His gaze remains fixed there until, eventually, the water takes him out of sight again.

Today, you might notice that at the base of this bridge, just before your feet, is a red sort of smear.

A little further down the bridge, about a fourth of the way along it, is a person collapsed on the ground. The red trails to him, fallen forward.

You see upon approaching his hand grasping at his throat at the singularly cut sliced deep into his neck. His one good eye wide and unblinking, he is—among all the laughter and conversation on either side of the bridge; in the shadow of the clock tower, which stands a silent witness, the sun at its back—no longer breathing, his body cool to the touch.

Perhaps this could be considered a kindness: for one who failed, time and time and again, to grasp the desire to live, maybe he found some suggestion of it in his last moments, his hand at his throat, his palm smeared with dried blood, a curious anomaly in the deathless Mac Anu. Fragment had, after all, taught him a great many things. Should he not be grateful for one more, no matter how permanent the lesson?

Mithrun is dead.

Comments

[userunfriendly]

[ He leans down a little, setting his hands lightly on their upper arms. Is he getting better at this? He doubts it. But he dislikes — with the sort of sudden and fierce intensity that would have turned his previous armor red — that he's getting more experienced at this. ]

...I don't know yet. There are too many factors. But I don't believe waiting here will do you any good.

[tylorific]

For as long as fate allows.

[tinged]

Fate answers to me, and I say forever.

[ regret is not an option. ]

[tylorific]

Then I'll stay as long as you want me to. And if that's forever? Well, I love you, so why would I ever say no?

[ Good, because Tylor lives with no regrets. ]

[tinged]

I might miss him if I leave now. [ a silly thing to say because they miss him already. ] Just a little longer… Just in case.

[ their eyes slide back to the… avatar. ]

Winter-kun. Don’t. Let this happen to you. You’re not allowed.

[tinged]

I love you, too.

[ it’s not an if. but that’s a battle for another day. they would frown, if they could. the option is not possible today.

so they nod like it’s another promise. forever. ]

I’ll send you the flight voucher tomorrow after I check on him again in the morning. [ soft again: ] Don’t forget the umeshu.

[ don’t leave it behind, what they made together. ]

[insinning]

I forgot what keywords trigger it but...

[Tylor can keep holding his hand until they find monsters ]

[tylorific]

Oh. Okay. [ A blink. Guess he'll need to try and act sober enough to get on a plane. ] Is there anything else you want from Japan?

And... We can check on him again when I get there. Together.

[threatmewted]

[She grimaces at the thought.]

...Do you think it was an accident? Someone challenged him to a fight and didn't realize what'd happen?

[userunfriendly]

[ "Just in case." He isn't going to be the person to tell Hani not to hope. All he can do is nod to that. ]

Then I'll wait with you.

[ Better than leaving them alone to contemplate this. He startles very slightly at their words, glancing down at their non-expression again. ]

I doubt that Mithrun intended this to happen, either. But I can promise you [ very little, really ] ...that I'll be cautious.

[tylorific]

Oh man, Morgan usually knows that kind of thing.

[ It's said in such an offhand way, as if even he doesn't realize that he keeps happily relating things back to Morgan. While hope is still there. ]

I don't normally pay attention to the words.

[trollophoroi]

My dear, you don't go for the throat in a friendly battle.

[tinged]

[ anything else? ]

Just you. [ and me. ] And Mithrun-kun, Morgan-kun.

[ two and a half people, but it feels like asking for the world. ]

[tylorific]

Alright.

[ Tylor says, pressing a kiss to Hani's hair and curling over them to rest peacefully before Morgan's unmoving form. As close as the three of them can be now. Maybe ever. This, like any moment before it, is precious. ]

[threatmewted]

Even if it's "just" a video game?

[Is what she's assuming everyone else would think.]

Then what, he was assassinated?

[insinning]

I wish I asked him about his spreadsheet...

[He exhales slowly as they continue along. They're at the foot of the dungeon now so]

Are you ready?

[trollophoroi]

It's a very, hm, how can I say this? Intimate way to kill someone?

[ Very specific level of closeness, very specific cutting motion. ]

That... I don't know. Maybe he was. Maybe he was silenced. Maybe he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was a very nosy man, after all. It's all merely conjecture right now, though, so I hardly plan on saying more. Mostly, I just wanted to warn you. Yael killed me by slitting my throat during some very bizarre incident back when the guilds were first added to the game.

[tylorific]

Remember to ask him next time.

[ Tylor says it airily, but at Vogel's question he shrugs, suddenly wearing a Japanese middle school uniform. It's too big on him, endearingly so. But this is his special set.

And now he's already walking ahead because he's just used to being the tank. But they're both level 50 and this shouldn't be too hard. ]

Let's go!

[threatmewted]

...Don't think I've talked to him.

[But it's good to know nonetheless.]

Checking out the boards, it looks like no one can contact other people in touch with him either. I'm starting to wonder if some stuff didn't go down outside of the game, too. So - you be careful too, got it?

[trollophoroi]

[ Just a ~warning~, although he's sure Yael will be pissed if he ever finds out. That's half the fun, right? ]

From the...? Ah, right. He apparently had caretakers. That is true. One may have murdered him while he was damaged from a recent area crawl. [ But if it's a real life murder, well. ] If that is the case, I don't think whoever killed him will hop over to Tokyo for me but I'll keep an eye out.

[threatmewted]

That, or something happened to all of them. Who even knows anymore?

It's pretty weird they're just keeping his body out for everyone to see and letting the game run as usual. Could be linked, could be separate. Either way it's one huge mess, that's for sure.

[trollophoroi]

It is... You would think they would remove it once Hien was done investigating, assuming he even is doing that. Maybe the body is bugged?

[threatmewted]

I just assumed there was nothing he could do. You know, as usual.

[insinning]

Tylor...what are your other classes?

[ Because they can get too far, there are shield men blocking their way.

Mithrun hated these]

[tylorific]

Hm? Oh, reaper and grappler.

[ He stops before using the Lord Partizan ability he'd been planning to try. Instead, he holds up his new Protractor inspired gauntlets with a smile-- ]

But I see, you must want to go first, right? Have you tried Rue Break yet?