Messenger Box

[eyeswideopen]

If you need to get a hold of Komaeda, here's where you do it.

Messenger birds, action, what have you.

Comments

[eyeswideopen]

I wonder. Maybe we could put tasks on the task board about it. Like you said we have to try every option and what a better way to get the word out? [Red has made a very important suggestion...well not just suggestion, it's advice. He's never one to turn that down.]

Maybe stir up some talks so everyone is thinking about it too! Piphron is counting on us to find the solution and the only way to do that is to search for it.

...

I want to write something about the Arehtei that will help people not think of them as gods. [Komaeda folds his arms over his chest.] Because they're not. After seeing those people during the talk with them yelling as if they're gods....I don't ever want to see that again.

[gottacatch]

...You mean the guy who threw the street party who kept shouting about taking the Arehtei to court?

[ It's so long ago, he can't remember if it was court or jail, but he sure does remember a lot of shouting and a waving of a small notepad at the time. Meanwhile, all of the mood that had been surrounding them not long before might as well be a memory. Red's brow is creased, pinched with a youthful look he might have any other day, while Charizard looks content below to just listen to the words of the two humans. ]

All the material on the Arehtei says they don't like to be called gods. At least, all the stuff I've looked up, but not everyone reads it. [ Which is a bummer. Even he read it!! ]

I guess it's easy to see them something like that, though. To me, they're a lot like legendary pokémon -- pokémon more powerful and older than ordinary pokémon, but still pokémon. They live and die, and they come back again a new person. So... they need to remembered, because they're a part of the world. This world belongs to everyone who lives in it. Everyone has their place in it. A role. It makes everyone equal.

[ ... ] Just get rid of the word god altogether!

[ Red, the boy who doesn't know the big deal with the word anyway. ]

[eyeswideopen]

Hm, if not everyone reads...what could we do to make something accessible to all but still gets our message across?

[A flipbook? That feels a little insulting.] Maybe a poster?

...or a pamphlet? You're right they need to be remembered as part of this world! But right now, if we can spread the word they're not gods. That's a step in the right direction!

[gottacatch]

[ Ah, a pamphlet? ... ]

Doesn't the pamphlets made by Shun talk about the Arehtei? I don't know what it says off the top of my head... but I think now that we have contact with all the Arehtei, maybe things will keep changing in the right direction. The Arehtei won't be pushed out of the picture, but they won't be put on a mantle, either. I want to know what we can learn from Piphron, but...

[ Hmrh. Red's eyes close as he frowns, a hand going down onto Charizard's neck as his gaze lowers. ]

As long as we don't have people telling him it's his responsibility to educate us the same time they use Simpathis's sacrifice as a reason for him to stop licking his wounds and stop being distrustful, he'll be in a better mood to share anything useful with us.

[ That uncomfortable, painful heat lightly coming off Red leaks like a fresh wound, reeled in as he tries to keep it. He bitter. ]

[eyeswideopen]

[Komaeda goes very still, his head coming up and his hands clenching.] Someone did what?

[Compared to before the air around him is utterly still and despite his startled exclamation, his expression is calm. Very calm. It's his representative face.]

[gottacatch]

[ There was a reason for every part of his mood today. Why he couldn't concentrate, why he wanted to be out here to find something to concentrate on in the first place and found himself so unsure of his own judgment.

Charizard knows to move his head away before Red shifts, between them body over to where his bag is and those forgotten petals, their surfaces hazy already with memories caught but yet seen. With the touch, it locks into one without fuss, and relaxing into what's become an uncomfortable spot he's in. Komaeda wasn't the only one causing the air to still, with the petal presented to him. ]

This happened.

[ He doesn't need more than those two words to express his disgust, his anger, his hurt, the bitterness as clear as day about him, while on the petal, the event plays either in his hands of Komaeda, while Red's head is kept turned away from it all. ]

[eyeswideopen]

[He puts a hand over his face. Komaeda's shoulders shake with silent laughter and before anything can be said he lifts his head.]

Don't ever show this to Sonia. She might rage.

[They'd hear the Royal Yell or something like that.]

I can't even begin to go into what's wrong with that man's approach. There's too much and I'm embarrassed for him.

[gottacatch]

[ That particular petal isn't going to get shown to anyone: Red tears it up, as if it holds some answer to relieving some of his frustrations in the actions. The sections do begin to wither and get eaten away at into nothing, anyway, around his lap. ]

He should've known better. [ It wasn't anything Red could find in him to laugh about, quiet or otherwise, but Komaeda's reaction didn't irk him either. ]

He knew he was angering Piphron... but he kept pushing anyway. He acted like he knew better than both of us. [ ... ] I helped him get there.

[ But they might as well have been strangers, in that time. ]

dr2 spoilers

[eyeswideopen]

...it's never your fault when someone decides to make choices you don't agree with. [He can think rather easily of people he's known and those he's seen that made actions he just did things that- Komaeda scrubs at his face.]

And adults won't always be wise. Even if they think they are. Sometimes especially because of that! [Lets all look at the broad of trustees that made Kamukura.]

...his voice sounds familiar. Do you know what other Arehtei business they've been part of?

[gottacatch]

[ It's not satisfying to hear, but there would be nothing that could satisfy him: the damage done is still raw in him, and he has plenty of emotional harrumphing he wants to give left in him, even though he knows better to go on and on, and not just because of Komaeda's question. ]

Business? ...Mmm. [ Did he know anything? He made that monument for Simpathis, but...

... --Ah. ]

He was there when the Arehtei told everyone about Simpathis, with Kylo Ren. He was talking with Sosyne. [ ... ] He asked her who Simpathis at that time.

He then made a monument for Simpathis in the mountains, and invited Sosyne to see it.

[ That was about all of Obi-Wan's business with the Arehtei he knew of. ]

[eyeswideopen]

And yet he used family against Piphron. [He replies thoughtfully while places his hands together. He taps his bottom lip as his eyes drift skyward.]

Don't shame your elders. Do honor to your family. Do not abandon your community...it sounds a lot like that at first.

Those same double standards that can be so easily abused.

[He muses, a thoughtful sound made as he looks to Red.] 'I am an adult therefore I know best', attitude. Right?

[gottacatch]

[ It takes a moment, but that gets a scoff behind his mouth. Right--he knew that attitude. ]

You know, it's always been strange how much I've been able to do here despite my age. ...I guess I forgot that it's going to be something against me, to some people. Even when we've worked together.

[ Maybe he's not so much in the mood to rant and rave. He shrugs his shoulders heavily, taking a moment to speak again. ]

I'll get over it. Next time it happens, I won't let it get to me.

[eyeswideopen]

I believe you. [His smile returns, pleasant as ever. Yes, he knows Red will be fine.] Likewise if this man tries to step into Representative territory, I will deal with him.

We representatives...well those of us who pay attention and take the job seriously anyway! Answer to the government. It means we carry their authority. I'm not about to let someone ruin our tentative status as dipolmats with heavy handed egoism.

[gottacatch]

[ 'Those of us who pay attention and take the job seriously'-- don't give Red a new thing to be bitter about. But did he have any right to feel that way? Like he had any true role other than a few words, before it was taken and turned into what it became.

The pull at his mouth is supposed to be a smile, but it's more exhausted than anything. ]

I'll trust you. [ He couldn't see the scenarios that Komaeda might, but then, he didn't want to conjure any up. He felt he could trust Komaeda regardless, his shoulders sagging some. ]

I know they agreed that the Arehtei would get to pick their representatives... but why would the government keep anyone who doesn't do their job? ...or even show up?

[ He wasn't so clueless to not know somebody might want such a position, for the title it brought. ...but then, he thought it pointless at the same time, too. ]

[eyeswideopen]

...that I don't know. I've been asking myself that for months. [He sighs, and throws his hands up. He personally sees those who are wasting their potential influence and the desires for a better future as useless trash.]

All that aside...how are you feeling now? [He holds both his hands up as he adds.] This sounds like you've had this on your mind for a while. I'm just hoping that getting this out has helped somehow.

It doesn't do good to bottle things up and not deal with them.

[gottacatch]

[ He stares blankly for a moment at Komaeda, his head trying to figure out what he means until his brain can find something, some part of the mangled conversation in his head. ]

It wasn't on my mind. [ He averts his gaze, shrugging lightly, his lids lowering closed for a small time. ] Just some things about it...got brought back up because of yesterday and that, just now.

[ His freak out. He rubs at a finger, massaging into one area, not sure if there's more he should say. But he lets out a heavy breath. ]

I'll be okay. ...but I'm sorry I put you in that position. [ A pause, and then Red looks suddenly at Komaeda. ]

I don't like people knowing what happened to us. [ Him, and the pokémon he rests a hand on in gesture. He doesn't susect that Komaeda would spill it, but at the same time, the request is there. ]

I don't want anyone pitying me.

[eyeswideopen]

Red, I'm shocked! What kind of healer do you take me for? [His smile is easy and light as he waves a hand at his side. It's not something he advertises a lot because he's learning. Not yet capable of adding the title to his list but...]

I'm a healer. What goes on between me and a patient, is strictly between us. More importantly, you're my friend. I will keep silent on this...ah, and please as always keep quiet about my former relationship to Enoshima.

As much as it's public record. I want people to see me as I am. Not as I was.

[gottacatch]

[ --It sounds like a joke, most likely is, but it's the addition of their friendship that makes it comfortable and easy to smile a little about. Nevertheless, he slips in a nod of his head to Komaeda's own request. ]

...You know, if no one can be bothered to read what an Arehtei is, no one's going to read a file like that. You'll be okay.

[ A joke of his own, his smile increasing a little more. ]

[eyeswideopen]

Ahaha, some will but they'd be people directly from home so...that's not going to matter for a while! They'd probably read that instead of what Arehtei are even, haha. [His laugh is a little strained. He isn't wrong. Well... Komaeda waves his hands and lets them settle.]

But all laughter aside. You can count on me to keep your secrets. Not only for those reasons but, only those who you choose to hear your story, should know it.

Right?

[gottacatch]

[ The way his body turns stiff in its movement, head tipping somewhat, but needing a moment to actually nod, tells itself of the difficulty of such a story being out is for him to swallow.

If he could wrap them up and hide it all away like he'd never exposed it, he might just go and do that. But there's no taking it back-- and it's been said to someone he does trust, feels he can, anyway. He knows he shouldn't be like this. ]

Mm. [ He clasps his hands together, trying to swallow away instead his insecurities, and behind him Charizard moves to his side. Hot air puffs against his cheek, and Red turns his head to him, hooking a hand after behind his horns as their cheeks connect in an easy, affectionate movement. ]

...You want your story to come out on your own terms, right? I won't tell anyone. [ His eyes glance over to the biscuits that had been brought, and then, maybe a little suddenly after that-- ] Let me buy you lunch.

[ A beat, and then he throws in as well- ] Cilan made a big vegetable pasta last night too we can eat. But I don't mind going somewhere busier.

[ Eat out or be invited to Cilan's place. Hungry, Komaeda? ]

[eyeswideopen]

Cilan's cooking is incredible! I feel honored to be invited to have some of it. [He slowly climbs to his feet and offers Red a hand up.] But you're right, I want my story to be told on my terms. While I did a lot of terrible things and one would say that I don't have that right...

[He glances at the lake waters, his eyes distant.] That's who I was. Not who I am today.

[gottacatch]

[ Dusty dirt clings to his trousers as he stands, Charizard shuffling to give the room, and to lift as well. His knees feel like they might buckle when he's on his feet, but he keeps his balance. ]

I'm glad to know you, Komaeda. [ He rubs at his hands, looking down at them, but not for long. ] I'd like...to keep doing what we can together, and be there for each other.

You're important to me.

[ And he hopes that doesn't sound strange, as sheepish as it comes out. ]

[eyeswideopen]

Isn't that what friends do? Of course you can always count on my help...and thank you for yours.

[He holds out his hand, as he adds his voice soft.] Red, no matter what, never doubt you're important to me too.

[Even if he were to vanish and return with no memories. Always.]