☆020- And the nameless names on the misspelled graves grow tall.

[live_ringer]

Lockon, also known as Aim, is gone.

[Unless there is something in the following comments that needs to be addressed, don't expect a response.]


((ooc: This entry is going up on March 19^th. Below will be threads for quicklogs with the people that were told in person on the 18^th.))

Comments

[quicklog prelude--the night of the 17th]

[live_ringer]

[After Neil's abrupt disappearance, Lyle had not been in much of a mood to do anything beyond throwing something against the wall and drinking moodily. However, in the midst of his small bout of anger Haro had come forth with something held in its little hands.

Important! Important! Lockon!

At first he thought the little bot had gotten confused once more, taking him for Lockon now that Neil had poofed (not that he didn't qualify as a Lockon, but still). Instead, once he picked up the little notebook, he realized Haro was talking about Lockon. It seemed he had trained Haro for just such a situation, because within the notebook were notes. Not just any notes, but Neil's recorded memories, dreams, and personalized notes meant to be distributed in case Neil disappeared.

He sank down on a nearby futon and read it all while a chorus of plaintive Lockon, Lockon cries served as a backdrop. Reading the note that Neil had left him... all the aimless anger had drained away, leaving a strange, numb hollowness in it's place.

The rest would be taken care of later. As much as Neil seemed to have a habit of disappearing... this time he had taken pains to say goodbye. That was new and felt significant as a result. It wouldn't go to waste, either, but he wouldn't, couldn't deal with being the bearer of bad news tonight.

He started the long walk back to Stellaris's place, now followed by a little orange companion that, somehow, managed to roll sadly behind him.]

[quicklog--Krile] Weapon's Tree--Late Morning

[live_ringer]

[Part of him had considered visiting Target first. But really, the first person that would notice and be alarmed by Neil's absence would be Krile.

So he found himself walking through the door of the Weapons Tree. It occurred to him this wasn't the best place for this, but there didn't seem to be much for it.]

[quicklog--Krile] Weapon's Tree--Late Morning

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

[Krile had been a little surprised to arrive at the shop and find that she was the first one there, but while Neil is usually there early, it's not unheard of for him to be a bit late.

The lurking worry she has over any of her friends being late is there, but it's something she can push to the background, so she's just finished getting things set up for today when Lyle walks in.]

Oh, hello! [Her friendly smile fades a little when she sees the look on his face.] ...Is something the matter?

[quicklog--Krile]

[live_ringer]

[So she could see it in his face. That made this a little easier. Of course 'a little easier' still meant it would be damned hard. He stops when he's only a couple of feet away from her.]

Neil won't be coming in. [A small pause and then he holds up Neil's journal, more of a non-verbal signal to prepare her for what was coming than anything.] ...He's gone, Krile.

[quicklog--Krile]

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

[Krile's insides freeze when he holds up the journal--she knows what it means. That seems to have been the signal for any time someone else has given her the bad news about a friend, starting from Tatsu.

But to hear the words still feels like a punch to the gut. She stares up at him, then at the book in his hand. Then she spins on her heel and grabs the edge of the counter with one hand, shutting her eyes tight. Part of her wants to protest, even though she knows better. What should she even say... thank him for telling her? This wasn't Simon or Bastet with whatever means they had to find lost journals. This was Lyle's brother.

This had to be worse for him than it was for her, as much as she loved Neil. So she can't let him see her cry. Even if she knows that this is not an effective way of doing that, maybe she can pull herself together long enough to... something. Say something, although the thought of speaking seems insurmountable just now. Hug him. Do something other than turn away like a child. But a sudden, loud sniff makes it clear that it might not be possible.]

[quicklog--Target] Target's home--Evening

[live_ringer]

[It had taken a bit of research to find the right address, but one thing Lyle knew for sure was that he did not want to do this at Adventurer's HQ. Too public and potentially messy for all involved. Plus, the time spent figuring things out had allowed him to go on autopilot.

Now he would have to come back online and register on the scale of human emotions once more. THAT would be the hard part. Lyle adjusted the rifle slung across his back before sighing heavily and knocking on the door.]

Re: [quicklog--Target] Target's home--Evening

[letmefollow.livejournal.com]

[Hawkeye had just poured herself a cup of tea and was about to start reading a novel she had picked up that afternoon at the book store when Hayate lifted his head from his forepaws and looked at the door just seconds before there was a knock at her door.

Frowning, she got to her feet and went to answer it, leaving her tea and her book on the side table. The brother she saw on the other side was not the one she would have expected to have come and paid her a visit]
Gene? I mean Lyle, sorry. I still haven't quite got used to Lyle yet.

[She noticed the rifle bag slung over his shoulder and then the look on his face. Then she registered that it was Neil's rifle bag, and suddenly her stomach felt tight and her blood ran cold.]

Something's happened to Neil.

[Hayate picked up on the tension and nudged his nose against his mistress' palm as Hawkeye gestured for Lyle to come inside.]

[quicklog--Target]

[live_ringer]

[The pale, stricken look on her face was harder to take than he'd anticipated, and he hadn't even dropped the news yet. Still, she had taken the first step by breaching the subject. One less duty he'd have to perform.

He simply nodded, and stepped inside as instructed.]

You're right. [He waited until the door was closed and they were well and truly inside. After swallowing around a dry throat his words came out sounding dull and hollow.] Target... Neil's disappeared. [His gaze rose to meet her eyes.] I'm sorry.

[quicklog prelude--the night of the 17th]

[lingeringlegacy]

[Just gonna do everything she could to provide some comfort when he got home. And maybe gently persuade Haro to stop going Lockon Lockon Lockon after a while because it's too heartbreaking to hear.]

Re: [quicklog prelude--the night of the 17th]

[live_ringer]

[It will be much appreciated. (By both him and Haro because, if left to his own devices to deal with the robot's crying, Lyle might have relocated the little bot to a closet.)]

[interveningly.livejournal.com]

[There's a bunch of tear-stains, slightly smudged from someone trying to wipe them away a few moments later. brb freaking out now]

[live_ringer]

[He notes the tears, but there's no real telling who it came from.

Either way, sucks, brosef.]

[interveningly.livejournal.com]

[Yeah nobody's going to notice until he doesn't show up for work :|]

[spandexisyouth]

I am sorry for your loss.

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

[Sniper has now gone into lockdown mode--first the several instances of dreamdust, then elevator captives and now this? Something is definitely up.

And poor Gene.]

Gene, I'm

I'm sorry.

[grab-my-bells.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry.

[treeleopardess]

[Nothing here; no pen marks, no tears, and no visible sign that she's seen this at all. All she can do is stare down at the words in shock, her reiatsu flaring with her grief.]

[Anger and bitterness (and guilt) will come later.]

[live_ringer]

[She'll be getting a visit in a couple of days. With the peace offering of addition of booze to make up for the fact that he didn't quite make it to his third 'break the news' round of the day.]

[treeleopardess]

[Bawww. She'll understand when he tells her.]

This is now a [quicklog]!

[live_ringer]

[So yes, about that. On the afternoon of the 21st Bastet will be getting a knock on her door. Once she opens it she'll find a Dylandy on the other side of the door. He looks almost contrite, but more worn than anything.]

[crimsonmischief]

_{[No words, because what could he say in such a situation? He's just going to show up a couple days later and drag you to the bar.]}

[man-genius.livejournal.com]

[Also no words here because even though he never talked to Aim, losing Lyle's twin is too damn close to losing Lyle and Genius is so freaked he can't put pen to paper. He'll stop by with Rick over the weekend with food and they can provide awkward comfort.]

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

My condolences. Please speak up if there if anything you need.

-- 火

[extantlaw.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry.

[bloody-pens.livejournal.com]

Goddamnit.