[NPC] CONSOLE | OPEN

[ironrule]

[The Foreigners have been privy to Snake announcements over the consoles before. The difference here is that those announcements have always been made by Meisheng, and have always been broadcast to the entire populace of Keeliai - kedan included. This particular announcement is also a public broadcast, but it's directed towards the Foreigners.

And when the announcement starts, viewers will be treated to Tu Yunxu himself, looking very grave.]

Good afternoon. One of my patrols found Jintou by the edge of Water Sector last night, just inside the city walls. He's alive.

[Always start with the good news, especially during a show of good faith. With any luck, not every Foreigner will believe Yunxu had anything to do with this.]

I must warn you, however - he is not himself. There is very little I or the hospital can do. Should anyone wish to take custody of him, please see Meisheng at her usual post in Central Sector.

[And the feed cuts off.]

[OOC: Characters are free to respond to this network post directly, although there's no guarantee Yunxu will indulge anyone for very long. Alternatively, action threads can be played out here as well if your character chooses to go to Meisheng about this. Please contact me either through Amaraq or by PMing this account if you have any questions!]

Comments

[aquanimity]

[The frown on Aqua's face tells little of the waves of failure crashing inside her heart. She'd sworn to protect Jintou, to keep him safe, and she had failed in that duty. She'd hoped that maybe he'd escape his abductors, or turn up alright, but this... this was not right.

Setting her shoulders, Aqua approaches Jintou. She reaches out to put a hand on his shoulder, like she had months ago in the Midnight Hotel, and to catch his attention.]

Jintou? It's me. Aqua.

[Perhaps there would be a spark of familiarity. She hopes.]

I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T SEE THIS

[needmetoo]

[Honestly it's starting to feel like this isn't her place to be. Meisheng is primarily addressing Aqua for now, and given how Xion is still simmering under the surface, that was maybe for the better.

That, and maybe Aqua would be able to get a reaction out of Jintou. The two had certainly spoken to each other more than Xion had. And Aqua had probably done a lot more to gain his confidence.

Still, there's an uncomfortable feeling knotting up in her stomach as she takes a few steps back. The reminders of what she and Roxas must have been like continue. She wishes now that Axel were here, so she could ask him what it had been like, to look after them.

Not to mention it would mean Axel was here. Axel who seemed to know better her and Roxas how to deal with... most everything.]

[ironrule]

Aqua.

[Jintou repeats the name, but without a flicker of recognition or familiarity. It's like he's learning to talk all over again. The hand on his shoulder, however, makes him twitch.]

Aqua.

[His voice is a little stronger the second time.]