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

[hopedout]

Yeah.

[ He nods quietly as he does so, sighing as he leans against it. ]

I wanted to be wrong, but -- I guess it helped out a little. But I'm not surprised you noticed. Both the amount of styles and how serious I was.

[eyeswideopen]

[His back hurts like hell as he straightens up. Komaeda's boot hits the floor.] Of course I did, I didn't take it seriously as much as I should have either.

[There's a whole host of nasty tricks he could have employed but he went at things like a charging horse. All the subtly of a brick. He pulls his leg up and works at the lacing on his other boot.]

I was too excited and having fun, so, well. Neither of us took it too seriously. Still...fighting with you at level was...incredible.

[That is his embarrassing factiod of the day. He pretends his face isn't a little bit pink. His shoulder brushes Hinata's as he struggles with back pain and doing something that requires dexterity.] I guess I should admit this makes me feel a bit relieved. Should anything happen here you can defend yourself.

[hopedout]

You know, if you took it a little more seriously, I might have had to raise the bar a bit.

[eyeswideopen]

I spar with master, I know when someone is massively holding back. [Their master could flatten the both of them even with Hinata as he is now.] But I didn't really think that far once we started.

[He had fixated on seeing what Hinata could do and stupidly chased after him.] Forgot rule one of a fight, like an idiot.

[hopedout]

During that spar match, when I noticed what was going on, I knew that I couldn't use my full abilities. So I just decided that it was best to hold back a bit...

[eyeswideopen]

[Next time will be a vastly different story. He won't underestimate Hinata ever again. The other boot hits the floor and he sinks back against the wall. Komaeda tips his head back as he slowly inhales. The damage isn't terrible he can recover from it fairly fast but fighting at full capacity is beyond him for at least a few days. He's too tired to even take care of his injuries.] Probably...for the best.

[Raijin appears at his side, flicking his tail and curling up against his side.] ...We need to talk about what I learned from Thras. I might have, [He laughs tiredly, it sounds more like a cough.] Surprised him.

As a result he will never underestimate me again, so I'd call that a small victory.

[hopedout]

Well before you start talking about what you learned, I'll go ahead and treat your wounds for you, then. You already seem exhausted.

[eyeswideopen]

I'll get- [He sighs and relents. Komaeda doesn't like being vulnerable. He hasn't been this weak around anyone in a long time outside of the despair disease and after Sosyne's attack.] ...alright. I trust you.

[He doesn't make any further remarks as he shuts his eyes.] But if you don't mind I'll keep talking. This isn't something that can wait and I'll prefer the distraction. Fair enough?

[He hasn't met Hinata's eyes, his are still closed.]

[hopedout]

As long as you stay still, I don't mind if you talk.

[ He'll get the kit and start working. ] So, what happened?

[eyeswideopen]

He was angry about what he felt coming from the city. [He manages to sit still. Just barely. This isn't some doctor tending to him. It's Hinata. That has a massive significance to it.]

We discussed the situation but, I struck a deal with him. [Komaeda curses when pain stabs at him from a cut Hinata is cleaning out. The bullets had grazed more of him than he'd thought they had. Especially his sides.] He...isn't used to people bargaining like that. I think being treated like a god for so long has made him aha, arro-ow!

Arrogant. He's thought we're weak. Powerless. Fools to be lied to.

[hopedout]

I saw that.

[ But he refused to reply to it because of his own mental state. He needed some time away from any mental communication, honestly. ]

... And I told you to stay still. Anyway, it's nice that you're bringing him back down to earth. [ Even though this isn't Earth, but you get the picture. ] Because we're none of those. So, what kind of deal was it?

[eyeswideopen]

I got maps of Shaarnath off of him. Best I could get since he hasn't been, supposedly, out of his territory. I won't doubt him there. And, ha, sorry there was something in that one.

[He clamps down saying anything at all when Hinata gets the graze on his face. He just quietly breathes and fights to keep from blushing too hard.] In exchange, I offered to show him what memories the pods showed me that belonged to him. One of them was embarrassing for him so he was, Mnh, less than happy.

But, that was the...deal. I learned some potentially disasterous information as...well. [His back is communicating stinging pain on top the other pain he's feeling from it.]

[hopedout]

Alright, that should be done. Let me get the bandage...

[ Hinata shifts through the first aid kit, tearing open the packaging before sticking it on his face. There. ]

What were the memories about? And... [ Hesitance fills his voice, swallowing hard. ] what is the disastrous information?

[eyeswideopen]

[Komaeda draws back and swears, reaching back to brush his fingers over his back. He frowns at the sting of just touching the area sending pain signals. What the hell? Wait. He must have ripped up his back when he hit the wall. Komaeda tells himself he'll take care of it whenever Hinata leaves. Tiredness or not. Dropping his hand, he continues.]

First, the memories relate to a ceremony when he was first reborn, and another, a battle. The later supports the Areta took part in the war. Now for the rest... You're really not going to like it, Hinata. Our crystals contain our lifeforce.

...and knowing that look again at the giant crystal. Thras said the crystal has emotional effects like a person but on an amiplified scale.

[hopedout]

Are you saying that the large crystal is exactly like our own? That it contains the life force of something besides us?

[ He's referring to the Arehtei, of course. ]

Anyway, turn around; don't think I didn't notice that you're injured from behind.

[eyeswideopen]

[He almost argues that he could tend to the damage himself but he knows the look on Hinata's face. With a heavy sigh he turns around and peels his cotton shirt off. The differences in his body since that day long ago on the island are clear. He has muscle definition on his arms and back. Some scars but the problem is the torn up skin of his back. The wounds have bits of dirt and rock and he places both of his hands on the tile wall while trying not to think about being this undressed around Hinata.

He fails not to think about it.] ...How bad is it?

[It's bad enough to be sluggishly bleeding but not terrible.] Anyway, yes, I suspect that is the case. I can't confirm it for now but, this is a theory I'm bias towards.

[hopedout]

Not bad enough to send you to a hospital. I can deal with it myself. Just tell me if it hurts.

[ Which he does. but first, he needs to clean the wound from the slight debris before actually putting some ointment on it. He wants to ask about the scars, but instead, decides to keep mum about it. Might as well be a professional in regards to this situation. ]

Thanks for letting me know. Are you planning on talking to the others about it?

[eyeswideopen]

It is going to hurt no matter what we do. [He braces for it but it still hurts. Komaeda forces himself to relax but a short, sharp gasp escapes. He keeps mostly silent save for soft gasps or inhaled breaths, but his hands clench on the porcelain tile. It's only when all the debris is out that he lets out a slow breath and can speak again.]

Kirigiri and I have..,been discussing it. I've been talking with...the rest of the research team. I...have a contact in the Enforcers I need to explain this to.

[hopedout]

[ He's quiet for a second before he follows with his own sigh, running fingers through the crown of his head before reaching his hair. For a second there, he could almost feel something that wasn't there, but the feeling soon dissipates. ]

I know it's going to hurt, damn it. Just tell me where it hurts the most, alright?

[ Hinata nods, before-- ]

By the way. Was there something else besides that that you talked about?

[eyeswideopen]

I...can't think of anything. It was just Areta, memories, the tree, and ah, the crystal.

[He's clearly stalling since Hinata also asked where does it hurt the most. Komaeda doesn't want to say it. But he also promised not to lie, so. Finally with his flushed face against the tile he mumbles.] My lower back. Where the rock bits were.

[Kill him now.]

[hopedout]

Are you sure? Because you said that you learned some disastrous information. Was that only in regards to the crystal?

[ He isn't going to assume things, but maybe Komaeda's thoughts are muddled because of the situation? Nevertheless, he'll find that area again and point a little more ointment on there, before speaking up again. ]

Alright. How's that? Are you feeling a little better?

[eyeswideopen]

O-oh! [Oh right. He had said that. Komaeda had been pretty distracted by Hinata's hands traveling down. He exhales shakily and to cover it up leans his forehead against his hands.] The diasterous part is I think it's Simpathis in that crystal. Or the system is malfunctioning and waking that Arehtei

He wouldn't confirm which theory was more plausible or if it was both. [Komaeda you're stalling.] I, ah, yes it's a bit better. We should probably bandage it now. [So he can get his shirt on and king oblivious to how vulnerable he is and how intimate this situation feels can let him put his shirt on.]

[hopedout]

Is he not confirming because he doesn't remember or because he just doesn't want to speak?

[ He's going to question every last detail until he drains him dry. ]

Do you think any of the other Arehtei would be more forthcoming? [ A beat, and then-- ] Actually gauzing it would be better in this case. At least for the time being.

[ Which he will do. Hinata isn't oblivious, he just chooses... not to bring it up, as he closes off those particular emotions. ]

[eyeswideopen]

Right. [Komaeda reaches for his shirt and frowns at the blood stains. Ah, he'll need to scrub that out of it later. Once the wounds are properly tended to he pulls his shirt back on. Things feel a little less awkward as he turns back around. Before he answers the question he has to ask...] Did I miss any of your injuries? I did knock you into the wall.

[He pauses as he adds a quiet.] ...thank you for the help. Anyway, I think he just won't answer. I have to discuss the matter with Shun tomorrow. Diamonia might tell us more.

Elios and Peromei won't know anything and Sosyne is like pulling nails out if a board to get an answer from her.

[hopedout]

Don't worry, I'll be fine.

[ Or rather -- he doesn't want Komaeda to do what he had to do to him. That would make things worse, he feels. ]

... Should I ask what Sosyne's like, then?