Inbox;

[flaredo]

"Heeey, you've reached Yang! Well, actually, you didn't reach far enough, 'cause I'm not here right now! But don't yang up! Just leave a message on this baby, and I'll get back to you soon enough, okay?"

[ Please specify VOICEMAIL, TEXT or CALL. ]

Comments

[masakados]

Hey yourself, Yang. [HE'S HERE FOR SUPPORT. So, steadying her with his hands on her sides it is. He glances over her shoulder back from where she came.]

What're we running away from?

[flaredo]

There's a weird doctor back there who likes tying people down to tables, and I'm not really into bondage, unless it's with you.

[ Aren't you glad your girlfriend is candid-- ]

[masakados]

[Naoki makes a noise, the type any guy would totally make when their candid girlfriend brings up that in the middle of a creepy hospital situation, embarrassed and amazed... as usual.]

Okay, let's, uh... hurry and go this way, then.

[flaredo]

... And why are your hands covered in blood?

[ Which is now on her sides-- ]

[masakados]

Ah... ahh! [Naoki pulls back his hands, wincing apologetically. Damn, he wasn't even thinking.]

I wound up in the basement a little while ago and there was some younger me and... When I touched it-- me-- this happened. [He looks at her sides.] Sorry.

[flaredo]

Hey, no, it's fine... I know a few tricks for bloodstains. More importantly... we were looking for a way out, right?

[ Shame, she would've liked to see him as a kid... ]

[masakados]

[He slumps juuust slightly in relief-- of course he doesn't want to leave blood all over her, gosh. But, with a nod, he shifts to start walking.]

Yeah. I keep trying to log out but it just calls me spineless and doesn't let me.

[flaredo]

You too, huh? Looks like we'll have to reach the last level first.

[masakados]

Yeah, and seems like the basement wasn't the last level.

[...] Wonder if that creepy doctor is the final boss. [They could just punch him out, or something.]

[flaredo]

... Well, I guess we should go knock him out, then.

[ She says, so calmly?? ]

[masakados]

If someone hasn't beaten us to it.

[Mildly enabling his girlfriend's violent tendencies.]

[flaredo]

Then we should hurry! [ Brightly, gripping his BLOODY HAND to start hauling him in that direction. ]

[masakados]

Wait, Yang-- [HE HAS ONE PROBLEM, ONE LITTLE ISSUE.] Can we at least make a stop along the way so I can wash this blood off?

...and so you can, too.

[flaredo]

... [ Yang slows, glancing down at herself-- then back at Naoki, with a light smile. ] If we can find a bathroom or a water fountain, sure.

[masakados]

[Naoki looks a little apologetic, flexing his hand in hers...] Okay. Well... since you're already bloody now, guess we can keep holding hands.

[flaredo]

Listen here, mister... [ SUCH MOCK STERNNESS. ] If you think a little blood was gonna cut in on our hand-holding time--

[masakados]

[SNORTS.] Hand-holding time's way more important, huh?

[flaredo]

Hand-holding is the most important to me. [ Most seriously. ]

[masakados]

Out of everything?

[flaredo]

Yeah. I was holding your hand long before I ever kissed you, remember?

[masakados]

Yeah, I remember. So kissing comes second to hand-holding?

[flaredo]

I can't kiss you in public, because you'd die of embarrassment, but this I can do.

[ See, she knows. ]

[masakados]

I wouldn't die of embarrassment, [MUMBLING.]

[flaredo]

Okay, you'd be in grave peril of dying from embarrassment.

[ Matter-of-factly. ]

[masakados]

I feel like you're really underestimating me right now.

[No, she's pretty on point.]