[Yes it is, he wants to argue- but he knows Ryoji can be rather stubborn when he thinks something. So he grits his teeth a little to bite back the urge to fight. Too tired for that.
But at the suggestion...Noah is unsure. He's not an idiot, he knows it happened from Ryoji touching him, and calmed down when Ryoji left. Could it possibly happen again? But at the same time, he doesn't want to banish Ryoji and maybe it is safe.
He ends up glancing over at Minako, the expression on his face reads one that doesn't know what to do, and is looking for her input. For her to lead.]
[Minako has been quietly listening to the conversation until now, taking the moment to let herself feel exhausted-- but when Noah glances her way she straightens up out of her slump, alert once again.]
Yeah. Come on back, Ryoji. But be careful when you come in, okay?
[ Careful because of... broken glass, he's supposing, or the aforementioned potential building collapse, but he about-faces immediately to head back. ]
Minako, could you summon me? That way, I'll be there in an instant.
Nnnnoo? It's more like I can summon him. [A wry smile.] One sec.
[She brings the Evoker to her head again-- sorry you have to see this up close, Noah-- and fires it off, her voice a murmur instead of her usual shout.]
[ There's a flash of light, almost blinding, before the space before the two of them seems to plunge into darkness with the contrast. From that, Thanatos materializes into view, like a mirage of first, then solid and real. ]
[NOPE NOPE THIS IS BAD. He can feel the energy build up in his arm, like it wants to activate again thanks to the sudden MASS OF DARKNESS in front of them. Fortunately, it still doesn't have enough energy to fully activate, so it more like twitching spasms with a few crackling sparks of gray energy as Noah does his best to cling to it and keep it from going nuts]
[Well, that answers the question of whether or not Thanatos was the one to activate the arm. Minako immediately jerks her Evoker away from her head, mentally dismissing Thanatos so that only Ryoji will remain.]
[ Ryoji pops back into existence and his first reaction is to approach Noah and that arm of his, reaching out as if wanting to look at it or touch it or something, if only he could help. He works in a clinic, but muscle spasms are one thing, and sparks are another. ]
[The reaction to Ryoji is the one she's more worried about at the moment, but it...seems like it isn't so bad? At least the arm isn't lunging for him. Minako gently catches Ryoji's hand and gives it a squeeze.]
Careful.
[That's what she'd wanted him to watch out for, more than broken glass.]
[ LOOK. Ryoji wasn't there to connect the dots with Noah's arm settling down the moment Ryoji left, but he sure as hell sees it start to reactivate when faced with Thanatos again. The first time it'd happened, it was just him, but Thanatos is within him and will forever be within him.
His shoulders drop, and he isn't holding Minako's hand back so much as he simply lets it hang there in her grasp. ]
[And here comes the fallout. Minako's heart lurches painfully and she struggles to her feet to face her friend, still hanging onto his hand.]
Ryoji...it's not your fault. You couldn't have known. [She glances back at Noah as well, trying to be firm.] Neither of you. So don't blame yourselves. We know now, and we're going to manage, okay?
[ Not knowing doesn't make him feel any better, because what happened already happened, and it was a horrible experience for all of them. Noah most of all, who doesn't meet Ryoji's eyes and in the silence, all he can read is blame.
How're they supposed to manage this? The simplest way: Ryoji pulls his hand away from Minako. ]
I'll stay away. Minako, if you could make sure Noah gets home safe...
[Noah shakes his head, pushing against the wall to pull himself up as he continues holding onto that arm]
No, I'll go. You two were gonna go eat ice cream, you should do that.
[He wasn't going to let Ryoji exile himself like this. He was the problem. He was the one who had trouble controlling this thing. He was the problem. That part isn't a new thing, at least.]
[Minako lets out a frustrated huff of breath. She just wants to shake them and tell them to stop being upset and feeling guilty, that this is a problem but it's not such a big problem that they can't figure out a way to deal with it. But she understands Noah's need to be alone. Of the two boys, he's probably the one more in shock about what just happened with his arm.]
[ How could they simply walk away from this and go eat ice cream, what the fuck, Noah.
Ryoji chews at his bottom lip to keep himself from speaking up or acting out, because if he had his way, he'd put Noah on 24 hr surveillance to make sure he's truly alright. But he would also hate it if somebody were to do that to him, so he steps back again, with a sigh that threatens to turn into a grumble towards the end because it isn't a happy solution, but it's Noah's decision. ]
...Yeah, get some rest first, and please let us know when you're feeling better.
[Excuse you, ice cream is the perfect food to eat at time like this Ryoji. LEARN TO EAT YOUR FEELINGS]
Yeah, sure.
[He won't. Text. Not for awhile at least. He's not even planning to return home. What if the same thing happened there? Ari has dealt with so much to take him in, he couldn't risk wrecking things for her. No, he had to go...somewhere else, away. ]
I need to go change.
[He starts stepping towards the back to do that. He plans to change as quick as possible, then slip out the back door. Before he does that, he glances around at all the destruction the store got and grimaces. The place is trashed, and it's his fault.]
[The unhappy expression on her face eases into a little smile, strained as it is, and an arch of her eyebrows.]
Who do you think I am, Noah? Don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of everything here and you'll be able to come back whenever you're ready to. [And then the worry slips back into her expression.] So take care of yourself, okay?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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But at the suggestion...Noah is unsure. He's not an idiot, he knows it happened from Ryoji touching him, and calmed down when Ryoji left. Could it possibly happen again? But at the same time, he doesn't want to banish Ryoji and maybe it is safe.
He ends up glancing over at Minako, the expression on his face reads one that doesn't know what to do, and is looking for her input. For her to lead.]
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Yeah. Come on back, Ryoji. But be careful when you come in, okay?
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Minako, could you summon me? That way, I'll be there in an instant.
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You can summon people...?
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[She brings the Evoker to her head again-- sorry you have to see this up close, Noah-- and fires it off, her voice a murmur instead of her usual shout.]
I summon you.
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[NOPE NOPE THIS IS BAD. He can feel the energy build up in his arm, like it wants to activate again thanks to the sudden MASS OF DARKNESS in front of them. Fortunately, it still doesn't have enough energy to fully activate, so it more like twitching spasms with a few crackling sparks of gray energy as Noah does his best to cling to it and keep it from going nuts]
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—Oh, that looks bad...
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Tch- the summon set it off I think.
[But at least it seems to be weakening now, the sparks start going on and the spasms decrease]
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Careful.
[That's what she'd wanted him to watch out for, more than broken glass.]
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His shoulders drop, and he isn't holding Minako's hand back so much as he simply lets it hang there in her grasp. ]
You mean I set it off.
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[Noah glances away as he keeps holding onto his arm. He doesn't want to say it, but his guilty expression alone is telling.]
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Ryoji...it's not your fault. You couldn't have known. [She glances back at Noah as well, trying to be firm.] Neither of you. So don't blame yourselves. We know now, and we're going to manage, okay?
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How're they supposed to manage this? The simplest way: Ryoji pulls his hand away from Minako. ]
I'll stay away. Minako, if you could make sure Noah gets home safe...
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[Noah shakes his head, pushing against the wall to pull himself up as he continues holding onto that arm]
No, I'll go. You two were gonna go eat ice cream, you should do that.
[He wasn't going to let Ryoji exile himself like this. He was the problem. He was the one who had trouble controlling this thing. He was the problem. That part isn't a new thing, at least.]
I wanna be alone right now anyway.
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Text us later?
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Ryoji chews at his bottom lip to keep himself from speaking up or acting out, because if he had his way, he'd put Noah on 24 hr surveillance to make sure he's truly alright. But he would also hate it if somebody were to do that to him, so he steps back again, with a sigh that threatens to turn into a grumble towards the end because it isn't a happy solution, but it's Noah's decision. ]
...Yeah, get some rest first, and please let us know when you're feeling better.
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Yeah, sure.
[He won't. Text. Not for awhile at least. He's not even planning to return home. What if the same thing happened there? Ari has dealt with so much to take him in, he couldn't risk wrecking things for her. No, he had to go...somewhere else, away. ]
I need to go change.
[He starts stepping towards the back to do that. He plans to change as quick as possible, then slip out the back door. Before he does that, he glances around at all the destruction the store got and grimaces. The place is trashed, and it's his fault.]
...Any chance the boss won't fire me?
[His tone is flat, he doubts there is a chance.]
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Who do you think I am, Noah? Don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of everything here and you'll be able to come back whenever you're ready to. [And then the worry slips back into her expression.] So take care of yourself, okay?