[video]

[infezione]

WHO: Fugo(?)
WHERE: ?????
WHEN: May 3rd
WHAT: A very special message! :)
WARNINGS: y'all are probably gonna get at least a lil swear-y :)

[♪ epitaffio]

[The video starts off with static. Once it clears, Fugo can be seen in the video, sitting in front of bookcase that looks like one of the ones at the library, but something feels... off about him. He's wearing one of Ash's jackets, and he's... well, he's not even looking at the camera. He has what appears to be a script in hand and that's what he's looking at, though he looks... disinterested.

(In the fact that he's being recorded or in the script? Yes.)]

"With graduation coming up, I guess I'm really going to have to think hard about what I want to do." [God, it's like he's not even trying to sound like he isn't reading off the script.] "I've got so many options ahead of me now that it's a little overwhelming. But I'll figure it out, I'm sure." ... What a waste. What a stupid way to end it.

[With those last words, muttered in Italian, he tosses the script over his shoulder, rolling his eyes.]

Anyway. Hi there. Pardon me for stating the obvious, but if you want to chat with Patrizio, he's unavailable for the foreseeable future. I can take your message for the time being, but I can't promise it'll get to him in a timely manner. Or at all. [In Italian:] Not really my problem either way.

[He leans back, tipping the chair back onto two of its legs with a sigh.]

Of course, I suppose if the message is that urgent, or if you perhaps wish to talk alterations to that script, you can come find me.

[A beat.]

That being said, I'd advise you get here before the library closes... for good.

[He stops tipping the chair back, eyeing the camera with scorn as he reaches for it.]

Ciao.

[And with that, the recording cuts.]

Comments

video; un: silverrose

[fionnuisce]

...

Shit.

un: kesitakame

[hoshikiri]

It's happening again, isn't it? Like last year... Hells take me.

[fionnuisce]

But how? Last time it was at least for a reason, I don't underst-...

[He trailed off abruptly, with the look of someone who just had an idea they did not care for occur to them. After all, he'd never really trusted the Metaverse in the hands of the Black Order to begin with. But...no, maybe he was wrong. There was no evidence save for higher Order activity and a sneaking suspicion, so he elected not to say anything.]

...Keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel. No doubt we'll be organizing to get the kid out of there before long.

video

[prunedworlds]

"You know what's going on?"

Because she sure didn't have a clue.

[fionnuisce]

[A deep breath, followed by a sigh as he took his sunglasses off and spoke clearly.]

The Metaverse. In summary, a kind of Spirit Realm intricately tailored to and shaped by those who find themselves within it. It forms a sort of labyrinth built of the individual's heart: reflecting their memories, fears, and insecurities in a tangled mess. My own took the form of the Clock Tower, overrun by dying roses.

[An implication he swiftly breezed past, continuing:]

That both was and wasn't Fugo speaking to us; more specifically, it was an aspect of him. That which one denies, represses, loathes about themselves...that's the form taken by the figure at the center of their labyrinths. If he's not recovered quickly, his other self will likely kill him before long.

voice | un: kissmyash

[switchaxe]

[In German:]

Goddamn son of a fucking bitch.

voice

[medicgunner]

[A short while after this and with the sound of wind in the background:]

Where are you? I went to your place and you were gone! I'm trying to find him!

off app phone call

[switchaxe]

[Answer your phone sis!]

UN: ecraig | video

[fiddlestick]

[So the storm has finally come. Elliot would be lying if he said his chest didn't tighten with fear as he watches the video, recognizing the format from last year. And to know it was Fugo.

So that's their angle. They will pay for this.]

We need to check any libraries in the city and places Fugo likes to frequent for the gate. Come prepared for a fight.

[A pause before he adds]

I have a few guesses to why this is happening, so I'll make one thing clear: if anything happens to my stepson? There will be hell to pay.

private voice

[switchaxe]

[He sounds angry, but Elliot can probably tell that Ash is scared and distressed.]

Fuck everything.

private voice

[fiddlestick]

We'll find him. Just like we saved Jusis and you last year.

Get your weapon and ARCUS ready.

video; un: theprofessional

[sg09r]

I’ll come back you guys up.

[This is the Black Order’s fault, he’s sure of it. So of course he wants to help fix it.]

I wasn’t here for last year, anything in particular that I need to bring?

[fiddlestick]

Thanks, the back up would be welcomed.

I'd suggest bringing a way to defend yourself. If it's like what happened last year, we'll be facing the inner thoughts and fears of Fugo. They can be... a lot.

video: un: bar_cat75 private

[wiseoldbartender]

[Well... shit, it was Elliot's kid. Husk's ears pin back as he mutters to himself under his breath. It'd be smarter to stay the fuck away from this, the Order is blatantly painting targets on people and he doesn't want their eyes to turn on him and his own.

...But he guesses it technically already has. He knew being dragged into a team again would fuck him over. ]

I'm gonna see if I can figure out where to cut this from the source. This shit ain't gonna stop.

[He'd rather this end before the fuckers drag more people into this bullshit. A pause. A sigh.]

It's pointless telling you not to get yourself fuckin' hurt trying to help him. I get it. [Because he would set the whole goddamn world on fire for Lapis and let himself burn down with it if he had to. He wouldn't be shocked if Elliot felt the same for Fugo.] But still.

not quite here but her roommates can hear

[medicgunner]

[What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck, WHAT THE FUCK?!?!]

Fuckin' right BASTARDS the Order!!!

yelled through the house

[killerapp]

If you go out take Pod! I've got the scanner trying to find anything but it's gonna take me time.

voice; un: freelancer; 1/2

[lapislazily]

[Zhongli's voice cuts through, marked with panic, not a common thing for him.]

Patrizio? Patrizio!

[He knows what this means. He doesn't want to know what this means.

He was not only there last time, but the conductor of that grand fucked up symphony, and the one who bore the blame. He wasn't given enough information, but he knew it was risky anyway. And for a child to be dragged into it...

One more time, there are children involved. Fugo was there to help Jusis, too.]

2/2

[lapislazily]

[There's a pause, and then a snarl in his voice. He's dropped his veil but it doesn't matter. He's out for blood now.]

... I know you are listening. If there is a playbook, I was its author. Did you think it would escape my notice?

We will retrieve him.

And then I will come for you.

voice | UN: Inazuma

[eiternity]

[Fugo...]

[He was a good kid. He was trying to escape his past, much like she was. But he was doing so much better.]

[She's mad. She's angry. She can't think, but she also can't blow her cover just yet. Not when she has the Gnosis. Not when she still has work to do.]

Rex Lapis.

I am afraid I must sit out of this battle.

I trust you will be able to take care of it.

Please, show them the wrath of an archon.

Voice | UN: jalbarea

[noblerise]

[Jusis has been losing his mind with worry since he hasn't heard from Fugo in an unusually long time. With the failure to find Teresa's murderer and the new Guardians who have shown up, he's been feeling more protective and anxious about his son's safety.

Now comes this post. He recognizes it instantly, having experienced it himself last year. Jusis watches intently, silently, and he can feel a rage hot enough to make him feel cold instead. It takes every remaining ounce of self-control to not destroy his phone. He breathes in. Breathes out.

When he responds, the blond's tone is as cold as ice with steely undertones.]

...To whoever has taken my son, I will be the last thing you see and no amount of begging will make me spare you.

[Jusis never calls for another person's death as the first course of action. It's always been his last resort. However... this time someone has threatened his son. A kid he promised to protect and has all but adopted since Patrizio's assignment to this city. He can't and won't let this stand.

However, threats aren't going to help Patrizio right now. So he swiftly moves on after saying that.]

If this is anything like the incident from last year, we need people on the ground to help detect a new Gate that most likely opened up. I understand POKEGO has a device that can pinpoint the locations of new Gates. Would any of you be willing to use it to see if it's possible that it can detect a Gate generated by the Metaverse?

private voice | un: shinope

[killerapp]

Already working on it.

UN: Shroud | Voice | Private

[whiteshroud]

[Well Jusis already knows his identity, so there's no point in pretending he's NOT part of POKEGO]

We're looking into it.

Do you think the Order's behind this?

private voice

[medicgunner]

I'm on it. I'm not gonna let them get away with taking him!

[Eunie was just as on top of things in POKEGO as she was in the Order. Jusis isn't her boss anymore, but she responded as if he were. Which was barely any different than how she did as Jusis' friend.]

private; voice; un: theprofessional

[sg09r]

I'm coming with you guys. [A pause. A breath.] How are you and Elliot doing right now?

[Besides being steaming mad, of course, Leon can see that. He doesn't know Fugo as well as most, so he's a lot calmer than Jusis is, but he's still pretty fucking angry himself. How fucking dare they drag the kid into this when he'd gotten out.]

voice: un: bar_cat75 private

[wiseoldbartender]

I'll see what I can find out - if nothing else, maybe I can figure out where the source of this is coming from and get it fuckin' stopped before this happens to more people.

[Because there's no pretending otherwise. This is just the start of something much, much worse. They don't even have to pretend who is behind this. It can't be coincidence that Jusis got told to find the murderer and when he failed to do that the first person that got nabbed was his kid.

It was pretty fucking clear who did this. ]

Try not to get yourself killed. You ain't use to any of us- 'specially not him</i. if you're fuckin' dead.