voice

[memori3s]

[ Audio, just for you, Toph. ]

Has anyone seen Sha-Ming? I think he went to Bar Lupin for a night, but he hasn't been back in five days.

[ Good thing there's no video so no one can see Minato's actually mildly concerned about this. On the other hand, the fact that he's bothered to post a message on the network might be giving that away anyways. Also, rent at the inn is due in like two days? Guess who doesn't have the cash to cover two rooms. ]

He left a message for me, something about a "salary man with a bad hairline"? Has anyone seen someone like that?

[ There's a screenshot of a text message attached to the post. It reads: ]

to: minato arisato

yo if i die 2nite the salary man w the bad hairline and glasses did it

DONT THROW MY SHIT AWAY i’ll b back 😩

Comments

audio

[memori3s]

Yes. I haven't received anything from him since that message.

[ Unfortunately, it truly is all he wrote. ]

...do you think it's related to what happened with Dara?

[ pls say no, Seimei... ]

[foxphorus]

[ WHILE HE WOULD LOVE TO........ ]

As far as I've been made aware, we still don't have a motive behind the culprit's actions.

I cannot rule out the possibility.

[memori3s]

[ That doesn't bode well at all.....

But on the upside, at least Sha-Ming's organs will wreak way less havoc in comparison. ]

...I see.

[ If that's the case -- ]

Can you sense whether there are areas that might still be affected by the miasma?

[ Maybe the culprit has a form of resistance to it, and that's how he was able to disembowel Dara. Perhaps the culprit is lying low there, where others will naturally be deterred by the lingering curses. ]

[foxphorus]

None that are concentrated enough for me to have noticed them at a distance. To rule that out I would need to search the city proper for any lingering deposits.

[ Which isn't exactly saying he will, but it's also not saying he won't. ]

[memori3s]

[ He's noticed that. ]

...please, I... I need to know.

[ Minato feels no shame about having to plead for help. His worry surrounding the man who'd been there to offer reassurance, the one who'd held his hand when he finally woke from his week-long sleep far outweighs any other emotion.

Sha-Ming might be a no-good scoundrel, but not to him. Even if those memories were false, of those days spent as the man's brother, Sha-Ming was there as he fought for consciousness and battled against the miasma's residual effects. ]

I need to find him. If he's disappeared, then he's disappeared and there's nothing I can do. But... if he's in danger, I need to find him. ...I can't offer much in return, but...

[foxphorus]

[ Abe no Seimei, if asked, will always deny that it's possible to tug on his heartstrings. The world is a cruel place, sometimes cruel things happen and we just have to learn deal with that.

And yet, Minato's going to hear a quiet sigh. ]

You don't need to offer me anything. If either this maniac or the miasma they released are still going to be a problem, it's best to know sooner rather than later.

[memori3s]

[ The world is a cruel place. Minato knows this well. And despite being well-acquainted with that concept, he still finds it in himself to latch onto hope.

Even if Minato was the one who'd asked for help, he's still nevertheless surprised by how many people have offered to lend their help. Abe no Seimei's agreement is no exception. ]

That's -- yes, that's true.

[ He's in favor of making sure whatever maniac or miasma is taken care of, even if that's not his primary goal. ]

...you've said I don't need to offer you anything, but... I can at least offer you my thanks.

[ Sure hope Abe no Seimei doesn't later regret helping Minato track Sha-Ming down -- ]

[foxphorus]

If you must.

[ No actual bark or bite there, like it's an afterthought. It basically is since he's already resigned himself to the fact he's doing this, and so he should do it well or not at all. ]

I'll contact you if I find anything. And I ask you do the same.

[ Let's see, he'll have to remind himself where each organ was found, how, and by who so he can decide which places are worth checking, hmm hmm... ]

[memori3s]

Yes. I'll report to you anything that seems relevant.

[ There's a part of him that's still surprised by Abe no Seimei's concessions. But perhaps he ought not to be, given the sheer amount of help he'd offered with the Dara and miasma troubles.

He'll have to thank the man properly in-person after they've located Sha-Ming. ]