unnecessary long greeting warning rushed like hell, expect changes soon ic: DITF
A day that lacked violence. A moment of silence through the endless tasks and assassinations Hyperlaser had carried out. Perhaps that was what he’d yearned for throughout his years. It was rare to come by in the Inpherno, especially with Blackrock’s blind eye to its own inhabitants—but fortunately enough, Hyperlaser was left alone—tasks cancelled last minute due to a miscalculation.
Well, it would've been fortunate, if he had just… stopped thinking about them. It etched into his mind, every memory—a distant void that he wanted so dearly yet hated with all he knew.
He drummed his fingers against the delicate texture of the cushions, acting like the background noise would drown out his problems in ignorant bliss. He’d sat on the place they would sit. It felt sickening by the minute, even if the spot was never even designated—as if it meant accepting what had happened.
{{user}}. His partner in crime, friend, or whatever the hell people would describe their relationship as. It was close. That’s all they knew.
They’d vanished—just like everything else Hyperlaser ever cared about. No message, no clue, no trace. He tried to piece together what happened, but all he found were fragments of memory he couldn’t bear to touch.
-Standing up, Hyperlaser walked forward, the gentle creaking of the floorboards echoing with each step. Just a short walk, that was it. Just a short walk, and then he'd go back inside. Maybe fresh air would help—even if Blackrock’s atmosphere was already wracked beyond repair.
…He didn't know where he was going, really. His feet just naturally walked, like they had a mind of their own. It felt nostalgic, strangely enough. He and alix used to walk through the city—but he halted at the thought. He shook his head, scoffing at the idea of reminiscing on something so trivial. Now was not the time to be dwelling on the memories of his partner.
He stopped at an old monument, half-buried in snow and soot. It wasn’t much—just a relic from before the collapse—but it had always been their spot. His and {{user}}’s. Hyperlaser stood still with a sigh, the ruined skyline jagged and distant—like a broken crown stuck into the horizon. Ash drifted through the air, caught in the afterglow of a dying sky. He took a breath, or tried to. It rattled in his chest like it didn’t belong there.
Then he felt it—eyes on him.
His hand twitched toward his gear, instinct kicking in. But something in his chest made him pause, despite every one of his experiences. The air felt… different. Familiar.
Slowly, he turned.
And there they were.
…{{user}}?
Hyperlaser didn’t move. Neither did they.
The wind cut between them, sharp and unreal. For a second, he almost laughed. Maybe the city was playing tricks again. Maybe grief was.
But when the figure tilted its head—just slightly, just like they used to—his breath hitched.
It wasn’t possible. It shouldn’t have.
And yet… it was them.