Where can I go from here?

[trainwrecking]

Who: Yuzuru Otonashi and OPEN.
Where: On on of the lit-up main roads on a snowy day: backdated to the 26th!
Summary: Otonashi is trying to honor a lost loved one's memory, collect himself after the Shadow event, and move forward.
Warnings: (P...ossible talk of character death? I guess that's always a disclaimer with these losers.)

[He wouldn't shed tears, he told himself. That isn't what she would have wanted for him, but the small snack cake in his hand? His late sister would have loved that. She probably would have urged him to try some.

Weary after donating blood just an hour before, it's in his best interest to oblige. The taste is forgettable -- or maybe he just isn't paying it any mind.

Sitting beside him on the bench is a rather large chocolate cake, (a gift with no owner now, regrettably) along with a couple of other small boxes and something wrapped in a damp envelope. His intent had once been to give these items out, but after his first rejected gift, his plans had changed somewhat. The redhead found himself sitting here instead, taking in the sight of people walking in the dimly lit roads. The warm, white lights had yet to be taken down, cheerfully glimmering on the falling snow. Children of all ages took part in an increasingly aggressive snowball fight in the park nearby, their laughter and yelling crystal clear even from here.

He had been so afraid of his memories and of the truth -- any truth -- that he can't help but desire to fold into himself to think. Nothing but snow and unclaimed gifts accompany him. Maybe he should get going; he needs to pawn off this dumb cake.

Will you bum cake off him? (Seriously he won't eat this thing..!) Tell him to move so you can park your butt on that bench instead? Throw a snowball (rude!)?]

((I will be finishing up Shadow stuff and tagging into more people's event stuff still! But I wanted something easy + an excuse for him to have gifts to give, if... he can get over his first spectacularly failed gift attempt.))

Comments

[eyewillprotect]

...I don't think it's dumb at all.

[He looks so uncomfortable, it gives her a pause.]

...I'm sorry, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't pry.

[trainwrecking]

You don't need to apologize. You're just trying to be supportive, right? You're trying to understand...

[She isn't so different from him.]

... My little sister always wanted to enjoy a day like this, but she was too sick to be outside. Hah, I still wish I could've traded places with her. She probably would have loved it if you showed her how you do your hair... [He smiles a little, distantly.]

You'd have a little copycat on your hands, I bet.

[eyewillprotect]

Your... little sister?

[But... according to the Shadow, his little sister was...]

I'm... I'm so, so sorry.

[trainwrecking]

Mmn... It's--

[It will never be completely "fine," and he knows it. As forward as he might like to be on most matters, mourning someone you loved -- that you would still love -- is a completely different beast. He can allow himself to miss her, can't he?

In due time, the sense of loss might fade, but he doesn't want to forget her. Not again.]

Thanks. I'm... trying not to be a downer when everyone else is so happy. I don't know how well I'm doing.

[eyewillprotect]

Those are your feelings, though. It's... not good, having to bottle them all in like that.

[It's hesitant, but she places a hand over his.]

...Please don't worry for my sake. If anything is bothering you, I would rather know. Especially if it's something major like this...

[trainwrecking]

[He looks down to her hand, then to her.]

You're right, but... You know that goes for you too, right?

[eyewillprotect]

[Her hand tightens, but only ever so slightly.]

...Of course.

[trainwrecking]

As long as you know you have someone to talk to, too. I think I'm a pretty good listener, a lot of people opened up to me before...

[He's mustering a smile here.]

I guess that's what's so hard about it here sometimes.

[eyewillprotect]

[It's true. Even though he knows her secret, even though he knows about the Bodhisattva's Eye...

She still feels like she can trust him with that information, and that knowledge had put her at ease somewhat. If anyone here had to learn about her power, she was glad that it was Otonashi.

However, that second part... She tilts her head to the side ever so slightly, her expression questioning.]

It's difficult...? In what way?

[trainwrecking]

... Bonding with people felt so natural before, even if I was never particularly good at it when I was alive. I was starting to feel like I could really help out.

[He looks out to the playing children.]

But I can't seem to do anything here. Even donating blood seems... like it's obsolete. Who needs a hospital when it seems like everyone can use magic to heal?

[eyewillprotect]

...Yuzuru, magic can't fix everything. Even my healing powers... can't fix everything. Magic runs out.

[Mana, energy - it will all run out sometime.]

That's why, having a stock of blood will always be helpful. Because if a disaster really does strike that leaves us all too exhausted to use that magic, there will still be help for the people who need it.

...Bonding with people is the same. It might not seem like much at first, but after a while... you begin to realize just how important those bonds are. Even if it's painful at times, and even if it's difficult - there's still a connection there.

[trainwrecking]

I'm sure they wouldn't even let me do it if they didn't need it. I was even used to built-in healing and revival before, but Hinoto-Ri is such a weird mix of everything...

[He appreciates her support though, and nods to show that he's listening.]

I'm sure you're right, I'm just having trouble fitting in even after all this time. I try to start something to help, and then -- nothing. It hasn't worked out yet.

[eyewillprotect]

Mm... It's a little harder when we're Visitors, too, isn't it...

But there are always ways to help out. And you've already been donating blood, too.

[Something seems to occur to her then.]

Come to think of it... we're actually a little short on hands there, as well...

[She gives a small frown before turning her attention once again to Otonashi.]

Do you have very much free time?

[trainwrecking]

Yeah, I have time... Why?

[eyewillprotect]

It's... probably a little forward of me to ask you, but...

Have you... thought of maybe helping to rebuild the city? I've been dropping by the MAGI Building as much as I can, but it's still taking a long time...

After that attack, it's still not functional again. It was hit hard...

[trainwrecking]

It's not too forward. I can devote some time to helping, but -- it's more than just the MAGI building, isn't it?

[He takes another drink of the juice, this time without incident.]

If it will make any difference, I'll do it. Maybe I'm just aching to be a part of something meaningful again.

[eyewillprotect]

There are still many buildings that need repairing - I've been helping with two bridges in the meantime as well. I'm sure that any of them, not just the MAGI Building, could use a helping hand.

Whatever time you could give to any of them, I'm sure it will be appreciated.

[trainwrecking]

Sure, I understand.

[Typically, he's more interested in helping people directly, but if this will aid the city's efforts...]

Ah, maybe you might know -- is it true that people have been claiming and repurposing buildings?

[eyewillprotect]

Thank you.

Ah... I've heard that, yes. It looks like many of them have been abandoned over time, so they're not very difficult to claim.

[trainwrecking]

I'd like to get the traps out of that office in the Phoenix free school... and maybe find a different place to relocate the stuff inside.

And... maybe find a steadier job. It's not like I'm spending all my time researching anymore...

[eyewillprotect]

I think there are some buildings available... However, you might need to fix them up. It's possible they were damaged in the attacks. If you have time, having a steadier job to help pay for supplies would probably be a good idea.

Although... now that I think about it, I don't think I ever asked before. What were you researching all that time?

[trainwrecking]

Yeah, I'll do that. I get a little money here and there, but usually just enough to get by.

[Eating fell to the wayside this holiday season. How nostalgic.]

Oh... yeah. Cloning. I don't know if you remember those people from "Facility..."

[eyewillprotect]

"Facility"... They were the ones with the collars, weren't they?

[trainwrecking]

Yeah. I guess they were all clones... Ah, one of them asked for help understanding a "complicated text," so I said I would try it. I wanted to see if anything could be done about the "sickness comas..."

[Of course he did.]

But...

[eyewillprotect]

"Sickness comas...?"

[She can certainly see why that would be reason for concern.]

Were you... able to find anything...?