Messenger Box

[eyeswideopen]

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

Messenger birds, action, what have you.

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day after elios trip; action

[gottacatch]

[ Red hates that feeling a day after mayhem, when it clings to you and nothing has been resolved; it's like being empty yet full at the same time, a puzzle piece slotted somehow into the wrong environment when nothing of the life resuming around him matches what he knows. He feels it all the more returning to where he lives with Cilan, where being out on the road would at least feel less... normal.

Sleep barely gives him any rest with the thoughts that infiltrate his dreams, yet it's the farthest thing from his mind when he reaches the location where he and Komaeda had agreed to meet: near Lake Niras, where the pair of them had spoken after meeting with Piphron and Red had spilled far more to Komaeda than he had intended to. Trusted him with more than any other from there on.

Trust was maybe one of those things in his chest when he sees Komaeda, standing up from his place beside Lapras on a spread blanket, bits and pieces there in case they were necessary, but none of it on his mind as he approaches to meet the white-haired man. Words were on his tongue of what they would speak about, on where it went wrong, on how they would help Peromei. Yet they all slip away when he instead opens his opens and takes him into an embrace, pulling them tightly together and burying his head to his shoulder.

The sympathies still come; not apologies, though Red may be able to find areas to say sorry, but knowing blaming himself won't help. They're for Peromei, for Komaeda's relationship to her. But more than that, they're for the pair of them, for everything on their mind and everything that had happened. Because they were friends.

Because they both knew the places where it went wrong. It didn't have to discussed, though it would.

It was perhaps a better source of comfort, too, than any words that would follow. ]

day after elios trip; action cw: dr2.5 and dr3 spoilers

[eyeswideopen]

[It surprises him every time how warm hugs are. Red seems to have a knack for putting as much comfort into one but his experiences with them are few. Only four people have ever hugged him. He'd tease him he had a talent for it if he felt like laughing right now. There will be a time for jokes later.

It takes a bit of doing to keep from squeezing back too hard. He hadn't bothered to reapply the sense of touch back into his metal arm. He needs it to be unfeeling. The only way to separate the past from the present right now is the evidence all of the madness is over. The gears creak and whine, a sound that reminds him constantly he is free.] I'm so grateful we made it out of there. Your voice called to out of the fog. Thank you.

[He will find places to apologize for how far into the darkness of despair he had stepped. It isn't their fault but, some responsibilities...are his to bear. If Peromei were back he'd be curled up against her side in the Tree of Memory, insisting they have their meeting there in the safest place he knows. But she is far away, fighting. Slowly he lets go and steps back.]

Did you take care of your injuries? If you had any from that...last part. I was a bit too out of it to offer to check everyone over. [He'd rode on a snowmobile wrapped in his darker aspect, chains rattling and eyes on the mountain they were leaving. Balance. Balance and sacrifice. Nothing in this world or any other came without a price.]

I'll deal with mine when I've rested more.

[gottacatch]

[ Whether the metal presses too close into Red's back, he never says, nor would he care. It's a fulfilling embrace enough, that he might understand why Usagi likes them so much; not because he's never known the comfort in one, but to have so many people around him, more than his pokémon, that he would think to ever give them to?

That's new. ]

I would've been lost without you there. [ It's a return for the thanks, that Komaeda was just as an important presence as whatever he did with Jude's device. He'd have to thank Alvin later for thinking of getting him those. He brings his arms close to himself, tightening them together. ]

I was fine. ...I need rest, but I'm fine. [ The moment of comfort gone, there's a tension to his arms that he's reminded of, that he needs to not focus on. Hate and love fighting in his mind, fluctuating; it's a horrible reminder, one now distant, yet still too close, like the ice might form beneath them if they're not careful. He nods to the blanket, moving and leading Komaeda to join him on it. He'll have to keep that note of Komaeda's health in his mind for later.

But when Red settles, those topics that had been on his tongue before find themselves an outlet, as if they had been waiting pressed against his mouth the entire time. ]

There were too many new people. None of them took the situation seriously. [ Lapras brings her head close to where Red sits, eyeing his trainer with a quiet, stern expression. Red closes his eyes for a moment before opening them again. ]

We said we needed compassion as well as hate, but some of them-- it was a joke. [ Most brought hate, but seemed to leave the compassion also asked for in their other pants that day. ] I don't know why they were there.

Cw: mentions of self harm

[eyeswideopen]

I had thought everyone would do some checking into the easily accessible information but, I keep being proven wrong on that front. [He settles on the blanket and favors his right side more than his left. He'd done a number on his ribs with the two solid punches he'd nailed himself with.] Maybe next time we should take a lawyer.

At least they know how to debate. [His sharp words are backed by a derisive snort. Coming home to find Edward is gone had been a blow. He'd intended to rope the spitfire but logical man into his plans for the future.] Lack of experience was also a factor. And miscalculations.

[He grimaces. The burns had been minor but he'd still gotten a few.] But. ...I underestimated Elios. I thought he was listening to me. He told me exactly what I wanted. I knew it was a trap but...like that.

[Another sigh. But then he tips his head slightly to the side.] Those devices were very useful and the slow release...I feel that makes them safer.

[gottacatch]

[ They went over information before leaving, of the advice given by the government on how to approach Elios, how he should be reassured, but been firm with.

Some of it was understandable, once in the heat of the action-- or would be for some. But not for all. There were those who thought they knew best. ]

Thras said we needed a blanket. The plan was never to overwhelm with Elios with hate. I didn't want to use the device any other way. [ Unless in an emergency. But what happened was exactly what he was worried for. A young-minded Elios using his hate in response to the hate received. ]

All we had was a chance that he'd listen. After Daimonia went to him... we knew it was going to be nearly impossible, but we wanted to try. Everyone did. We voted to go anyway. [ He breathes in, sighing after. ]

They might be useful for the teleporter. With the way the ice was reaching Diateris, if we want to keep it open, it'll be the safest way to create a barrier around it.

[eyeswideopen]

I agree. ...and I'll make sure they know no one should be posted to monitor it. As it stands, Elios is too unstable. [But what could they do to observe the situation? Peromei will be too busy fighting. He grimaces and presses a hand to the side of his head.]

I'm afraid we might not be able to monitor anything. But, I think we need to get him to leave his lands. That has to be part of the problem. That tunnel...more importantly, you noticed the black armored people, right?

[He's sure Red did. Most of them had to have looked at the ice encased people and seen something. Red tends to pay attention better than most.]

The white...I've seen them before too. In Peromei's memories.

[gottacatch]

Inoman. [ He had kept his eyes averted from the bodies as best as he could, but he had seen them, and he nods with the name. The armoured individuals always bring his mind back to the floating village where so much had started to be revealed to everyone, but he had learnt about later on. ]

They were around where Elios took us to bring life to the land. They... those were the ones who attacked the people of Inoman and their faith. You couldn't touch the armour safely. Like the weapons we found at the shrine outside Daimonia's lands.

[ Though they hadn't seen the armours there, his mind is reminded of them for their intensity, how Glenn had reacted upon touching one. ]

What do you remember about them from Peromei's memories? I tried asking Elios if he knew anything, but he didn't.

[ And there was always something, just something that bothered him about them. ]

[eyeswideopen]

The white armored warriors were charging her. They were crying. [They might have been Peromei's people but he isn't sure. The black had attacked Inoman.] She ran them down under her hooves.

...Some of it is hard to recall. I was dealing with too much bloodloss. [He doesn't want to discuss that. But he leans back.] I think I can review those memories. But I need the assistance of the Tree of Memory.

...I'm still not sure why it's crystallizing.

[gottacatch]

[ Komaeda may not want to discuss it, and it may be too late to do anything about, but 'bloodloss' is going to get as much of a look from Red to Komaeda as it should deserve, one of concern, yet relenting.

(Komaeda, please.)

But oh, the Tree of Memories...? ]

...Simpathis? [ We're going with one worded responses here apparently, but-- ] It started happening around when we visited her city. Lavieti. Didn't it? I remember emotions were pulsing from the tree for a while...

[ But there, his mind blanks. He couldn't remember a timeline without jogging his own memory. ]

The tree isn't from this island. It could have come from one of her lands. [ Which is a throwaway thought, and he waves his hands. ] Maybe it's reacting to something. It used to always do that in the past. Didn't the petals use to show a memory based on how the city was feeling? But--something else is going on.

[eyeswideopen]

[He had stayed behind to handle government related work and to update records. But he can remember the strange pulses. They had especially noticeable for him when his business took him past there or into it.]

...I wonder. I believe you're on to something. The question is what is going on? Do you think Piphron will have any idea? He is the oldest of the Arehtei. If this is tied to her...

[He puts both hands over his head and sighs heavily into his hands. Focus on one thing at time.] Keeping an eye on that is a good idea.

But now that we're discussing Arehtei. Elios...I wonder if he's going to subject us to a second trial if he reaches us first.

[gottacatch]

[ It's not deliberate, but even Red can't focus on the subject of the tree once the topic serves back into Elios. Trials? He lips pinch as his brow knots. ]

Will it be better if we can get him to leave his city? The real question is, if he will... he doesn't need to be here to start affecting it. The weather's already getting worse... the island really reacts to everything every Arehtei is going through. [ Whether from a distance, or afar.

Mmmh. ] But Peromei is where he is. Unless we can get Peromei to come here, and make him follow...

[eyeswideopen]

[The idea of Peromei being bait makes his stomach turn. Yet, she is strong and will do what she feels needs done. Komaeda stares at the water, watching it lap at the bank.] I can communicate this idea to her when it's time if we choose to take that route. We both agreed to do what was necessary.

It won't take much convincing. [The necessary actions. His purpose in this is clear.]

I've been thinking since I got back. The way he behaved before we entered the tunnel. While I don't think those people are alive. I don't think I was wrong that their emotions might still be feeding his.

[gottacatch]

...It's the home he loves... it was theirs, too. There's nowhere that can compare to it.

[ "Home is where the heart is," in other words. Ghosts of emotions left behind. Elios had fallen so quickly upon his return home.

Red follows Komaeda gaze for a moment, but he brings it back inward. A plan. A plan is what he had before, yet it was a plan that involved teamwork. Teamwork for a team that had no bonds like he did with his pokémon. It made him unsure to toss ideas even now, but... ]

The rituals--Sanae's rituals. They were used to direct Peromei before. We can use them to communicate with Peromei, even anger Elios if we need to. He wants to get rid of hatred. Won't he come to get rid of something like that? It might give Peromei an opportunity too if Elios can't control his emotions and they're linked to the weather.

[eyeswideopen]

[It doesn't hurt quite like it used to but, the sting is still there any time he's reminded of Sanae. Komaeda nods once,]

Yes, I was thinking of the way Sanae lured Peromei outside the city. We also have a willing representative to serve as a pillar. ...the rest I completely agree with. I suspect he loves Peromei very deeply. Where one goes, the other might follow.

No.

I'm sure he will.

[gottacatch]

[ There's a bend to Red's brow at the mention of Elios's love, like either he finds the idea strange, that he may be reminded of something else, or the combination of the too. Nevertheless, despite the skew to his mouth, he doesn't say anything of it, the look falling as he considers the rest.

A plan then. ]

...We should speak to one of the other Arehtei first, and figure out if provoking Elios directly one way or another is a good idea. Just directing Peromei might be enough... we can get her ready. Doing anything with Elios will be harder-- we're likely to get the feedback we used to get in the past with the Arehtei calling for him.

[ But, if it's just a call... wouldn't that be good enough? This idea really was turning into a trap. ]

[eyeswideopen]

[He catches the look and raises both his eyebrows. When no comment passes he dips his head in a nod.]

Yes. Discussing this with the other Arehtei should be the next step. We might even adjust ourselves based on their advice. I still feel that getting him away from his lands needs to happen.

If they suggest otherwise I bow to their expertise. ...either way, it will take preparation. I'll need to explain to the government whatever is planned. All three, I suppose.

[gottacatch]

The safest place is going to be this island. They'll need to know as much as we do. [ He felt bad already thinking of how much talking Komaeda and Usagi would have to do with the officials, and that makes a troubled look nearly settle on his face. But really, what can he do to help?

Well... ] But maybe we can get Thras to help us have his city be an escape if people want to get off the island, or help secure Verens, in case anything happens there. They have better dunamis users than us, and it's the best offence against the ice.

[eyeswideopen]

That is an excellent idea! It might also serve to help the two cities forge a stronger alliance. [The two cities have a decent alliance right now but an even better one never hurts. Komaeda laughs. It sounds tired.]

I think checking the records of Shaarnath and Theasthai would be a good idea as well. But, first we need a solid plan. And government backing since this will once again affect everyone who lives here.

[Not that Red doesn't know that. Komaeda is thinking out loud. He hms, quietly to himself. Sometimes he wonders if Sanae would find him to be a decent representative. But she is gone.]

At least if this works we have picked the battleground. We can prepare for it. I want to be sure to have a defense against that wind of his.

[gottacatch]

Like... some kind of invention? [ A giant fan?

what if a giant fan. Unless Komaeda is thinking about terrain, but... ]

Dr3 spoilers cw: self harm mentions

[eyeswideopen]

Yes. I... [He looks away again his eyes on the water as his voice drops low. Fear tinges it.] I won't be brain washed again.

I'll do almost anything to prevent that. [He had hit himself full force in the ribs twice to keep being himself.]

[gottacatch]

...

[ Wherever they are, Red reaches for his hands. One for each, pulling them towards him but not entirely away from Komaeda, letting his own rest in his lap. ]

Komaeda. [ He says his name softly, yet not to be missed. A calm begins to permeates around them like a new fresh air--one Red that could press into those hands, but he doesn't. He just lets it linger like a blanket, knitted together with an understanding. ]

It's scary. [ His own head hangs, looking at those hands: one metal, one not. Brainwashed--that was never quite the pair of words Red had ever used to be consumed and made one way, but he knows it in his own fashion. And maybe it's that which leads him to the next thought, knowing he shouldn't, but-- ]

I can give you one of Jude's containers. You can mix what's inside it with your dunamis.

[ He'll just say he lost it. It doesn't matter. ]

[eyeswideopen]

[He stares down between them at their hands. It's difficult to find words, and he tries a few times. Finally he bows his head.]

No. We might need those another way. I've been thinking about...a long time ago I went to Elios. He said we humans can't take each other over. But we can influence each other.

I wonder if we linked together we could keep from sinking. [The fear is a little less but only because he's consciously starting to pull it back inside. What Elios had done had shaken him to his very core.]

Just like how your voice called to me. I will call to you. We wouldn't be facing it alone. Or divided. If more and more people tied to each other by bonds of friendship linked together...would it be like a boat at sea? Or a kite?

[gottacatch]

A boat. [ He doesn't even really seem to consider the answer, with how quickly he says it. ] ...I don't know if it really is, but bonding together with someone you don't know, that's like a kite. You can do okay, or you're fighting against a storm and feel powerless when you can't find your own control.

[ At least, the way Red is imagining it there. The winds pick up sharply, barely grazing their face like some sort of an example, Red's hair fluttering in some example. ]

But a boat... a wild ride can shake you to the core. That's friendship to me. It can be a cruise ship, or fighting against a storm... pfft--

[ That's a scoff, a chuckle trapped in his throat that find their way out, and there's some presence of liveliness there that had forgotten it could exist, small and fragrant, leaving the smallest smile playing on Red's face. ]

What am I saying? I'm no good at these! [ Metaphors. He can remember Thras's dumb stupid blanket, as much as he'd wanted to take it to heart. He squeezes those hands, as ineffective as it is against metal. ]

But I believe in the power that a bond between two people can give. There's nothing else I believe in more... the bond I have with my pokémon and the bond I have with you--the possibilities are endless!

[ It would still be scary under their feet, but fear was normal. Red could trust it wouldn't swallow him, and he wouldn't fall. Not so easily. ]

[eyeswideopen]

[Komaeda listens with rapt attention and ducks his head slightly to hide his flushed face. Hearing talk like that stirs his hopes that are never far these days. When he raises it his smile is a little more relaxed. Faint threads of green littered with glimmering dragon scales flow through the wind Red called up.]

A boat it is then. I don't know much about them! But I remember they need a wind and sails to navigate without any sort of engine. It's fitting isn't it? Holding steadfast against the elements with just our wits and luck to carry us on.

I used to just let luck decide things. ...it's still strange to think how powerful bonds can be. But, [His smile grows, finally reaching his eyes. A warmth in the grey as he says softly.]

But I've seen the evidence for myself. I'll never doubt the strength of friendship or the courage it brings when you know you're not alone. No matter where we are this tie will always be here.