soft_focus | IC INBOX

Your notebook... yes... about your travels and what you saw. [It's good that she's working on something. Tsukikage wonders how detailed it is and what it looks like. He hopes he can see it in the future, it seems really interesting to him.

However, he can't bring that up. Not when Reira says what she actually wants to do.] Did I want to talk? If you permit me so, Reira-dono. I worry about you. [Humorous to say, in this situation]

... I know you do. But you know it won't ever be quite the same because of what happened, right? This... event has taken its toll on all of us.

Yeah! I've been trying to put more pictures in it... [she mutters, before getting back on 'topic'.] We can talk in my room though, and sit on the bed...

[It's easier that way. She can lead him away from the shiny shiny reflections, they can sit in a pile of stuffed animals, and then once they're sitting there they can...talk.

About whatever comes up, she supposes.

Never the same...in her mind, she knows that, she guesses. Even if just Ron survives the mess, or if the park remains the same-if one or both are still corrupted, if the fog corruptions stay behind, the tension will never leave. Just as Yuzu said.]

...It can be normal again in the house though, can't it?

...I'm okay if we talk. ...I just don't like being asked things about what's happening.

[He follows her quietly, letting her pull him along with no resistance, as easily as how Reira used to carry her teddy bear. Tsukikage looks at Reira with distant eyes, filled with melancholy. He does not say anything else to begin with. He follows, like how a good servant should.]

... I'd like to think so. Even without Steve and even with Robbie being... Robbie. It will be okay with Sora, Ron, you and me. Vriska too, of course. [He smiles at her gently. She's a child. It's sometimes so easy and so hard to remember that fact.]

... How are you feeling?

...Tired, I guess. [She holds her notebook, and sets it between them, grabbing one of the stuffed toys in its place. Curling up, she clings and forms around it like a pillow, her chin resting on its head quietly.] I'm not as scared of him any more, but...Robbie went to kill people.

...And I think he did kill someone, too, [she says softly.] ...the lake is okay again, and so are some other places now, so it's just the park left, and...

[Well. She stares to the floor.] ....And somewhere in Vandare. [She doesn't know how much Tsukikage knows, but she knows the ninja isn't stupid.

He probably knows Ron is a conduit.]

[He sighs and sits down next to her, looking at Reira's tired face. So many worries burdened upon her. He worries so much for Reira's health. This sort of thing isn't good for her.]

I noticed...

...

[He sighs quietly and rests a hand on her shoulder.] I'll keep you both safe. No matter what. You know that, right?

[He knows, and exactly where Ron is corrupting too.]

...Yeah, [She says softly, nodding her head.] ....I just want everyone to stop hurting each other though. ...Everyone on the computers is talking about killing until they find all of them, and they don't care about what happens if they're wrong..!

And they don't listen when anyone else says to stop, because it just means nothing is fixed anyway..!

[Emotion drowns her words, and Reira shakes considerably as the pressure from the weeks builds and bursts. She shakes, and she looks to Tsukikage with wide-but dry eyes.] ...Why can't there be another way..!?

[This is exactly what he means. But the human has no answers for her, at least at first. Any thoughts about his brother dissipate as he focuses on his young master in front of him, shaking quietly. He sighs quietly and moves his hand off Reira's shoulder so he can look at her properly.]

I do as well. Even when the areas do get fixed, there's nothing good that comes out of all this slaughter, and then they say they're justified when they do end someone's life. It's scary, but unfortunately, as kind as people can be, they can be cruel. People are often very cruel when they're scared, Reira-dono. Especially when they know it will fix things.

[He sighs.] I suppose it is the nature of this world... Death is part of life here. I too wish for another way, for change. Unfortunately... there's not, Reira-dono.

They're not being kind, [she mutters angrily, thinking to the words she sees so many others use on the devices.] They're being dumb, and they're not thinking about anything, even if someone says something to them. ...and then...they think that as long as it's gone, that it's okay and they can just say sorry! [she cries, still keeping the tears at bay.

Her voice is soft, and quiet, and after many moments, she speaks again.]

....I hope the 4ths corruptions stay, [she says quietly. It is barely a whisper, but it is a determined one, filled with anger and exhaustion.] ...I hope they stay, so that everyone can realize that...all the killing won't fix it...

I'm not saying those people are kind. [He sighs.] One of the important things I've learned in my life is not to forget humanity's inherent kindness, despite what happens. If you do that, you submit to despair and become a bitter person. Those people may be awful, but others aren't. You've seen people try to avoid conflict as much as us.

[He looks at her quietly, his eyes dark and quiet, before he shakes his head.]

...If that is what you wish, Reira-dono.

I will do what I can to make it stay, so they may see. And you can get some rest. [He's so worried about you, Reira. Words could not describe the hurt he feels seeing you like this.]

[She listens, but she is quiet. In fact, there is little she says in reply, merely staring at the ground.]

..,I don't want you to have to hurt any one, [She finally replies.] ...but...

...if you just keep Ron and I safe....

...You said, no matter what, we would be safe. ...If Ron lives...it'll be okay.

I know you don't... But your protection comes first. I will do anything for you, Reira-dono.

[He looks at her carefully and he takes her hands into his, squeezing the girl's delicately.]

... You will both live, Reira-dono. I promise you that. You will be safe too.

... You're still worrying me though, Reira-dono. You can tell me anything, Master Reira. Anything on your mind...

[Reira squeezes the hand back, and she nods, chewing her lip.

But she still says nothing. Nothing except...] ....Everyone keeps talking about the trees in the park, [she says softly.]

...but...

...no one is talking about the animals that were there....

I never considered that myself...

[Reira has always been sensitive to the environment around her.]

... Do you know what happened to them? Did they escape? Or did they perish like the plants?

.... [She already knows that answer. They both know, no doubt. But...] ...It didn't kill humans, [She says quietly.] ...So I don't know.

...There's a lot of places that aren't trees in there though. ...There were restaurants...and statues...there was even a really big 'carousel', with different animals that you could ride.

...I wanted to bring all my friends there, [Reira continues, her voice soft.] ...But Nagisa would wilt, I think...

Maybe we'll be lucky. I saw someone walking their dog near there, so we can't do much else but hope they're safe.

[He didn't realise it meant so much to her. No wonder.]

Bavan Central Park is a beautiful place. I regret not noticing it before. [It wasn't really important to him, honestly. Then again, many things don't take his notice unless it involves Reira and the others.] It's an important place, isn't it? To you and many others? I'm not surprised the Fourth took it, if it had that much meaning.

[It's a strategic position, much like how the lake was]

[Reira's hand brushes over her notebook, and slowly she opens the pages up. It is the recent ones-the ones she's been working on over the last week or so, that she falls to. Her eyes downcast, the pen and pencil smudging slightly from frequent touch. There are attempts to draw things such as the trees and flowers that were there, but also the birds,
and the dragonflies. There are even drawings of sheep...

...They are among the few pages she hasn't written notes for. The park,
in its death, is in the 4th's view right now after all. He can see it for herself.] ...It was important to lots of people that didn't notice.

...People don't notice things that are important to them until it's too late, I think.

[She's a good artist. Tsukikage looks over her art and sighs.]

Indeed. Loss makes us understand how valuable things are. It reminds us to count our blessings, and to remember how much value it has.

[Hikage...]

It may be too late... I doubt we have much more time and the conduit has yet to be identified. It will be difficult, if not impossible to replace all of that nature.

[Indeed, it must be too late. Time is short before the gods will be done. Remaining conduits need only wait things out, and after all that was the goal in distracting Ron was it not?

To keep him safe until he didn't need to worry.

Something about Tsukikage's words makes her feel, if anything, better. It is strange-to think that such misery could ever be necessary, but it makes her wonder if maybe there can be hope that people find what was important. That they find the beauty in the other parks, care for the other animals, find peace...

But she remembers where they are, and it feels like a dying wish again.] It's probably really hard.

[She doesn't want to think it's impossible though.] ...but...

...I don't think he wanted to do it like 'that'. ...I don't think he wanted to kill everything, [she half whines, returning to clutching her plush. Out of everything, that's the most important part after all. To her, it was the intent.
The accusations. The stories about why.] ....it feels like that just happened.

[Unfortunately, the people here were rash, violent, prone to resentment, anger and revenge. In any other place, most would move on with regret in their hearts, but Tsukikage and Reira have been here long enough to know what this place will continue to bring. Some people will still hunt down followers after this. More will be agitated and fearful. People will continue to do as they have been, and worse.]

There's no reason that he would want to kill everything, huh?

[The intent is important to Tsukikage. As Robbie's actions to Reira were destructive, so too are the Fourth God's. It's wrong. There's no forgiving the damage caused. However, he knows this isn't the time to be talking about things like that when he's talking to Reira. He didn't want to fight about alignments. He knows how Reira feels to the electronic mastermind.] ... The gods of this world seem to inherently be drawn to destruction. The Night and Day destroying each other. The Fog and her tendencies. Whether or not he meant to or not, I suppose it was an inevitability.

...He had to take life from something. [Such is her personal conclusion. The gods are drawing power from various locations. The Fog does one thing. The 4th, another, and...]

...The Fog makes everyone hungry if they go in it. People kill each other faster, or eat more, or do more. ...it feels like she would get stronger that way, with everyone dying.

...but...that's not what happens in his areas. ...Everything's already dead. ...I don't think you can take life without something bad happening...but I don't think that means he knew it would happen either..! [she protests, shaking her head.] ...I gave him flowers at Christmas...from the lake I went to, the ones that made Lusus-and he liked them, and he liked playing games with me...

But all everyone wants to talk about are the things he did wrong..!

They won't even wait to see if he tries to fix it himself, another way!

...they won't even wait to see why he did it...

I wish he would at least tell you for what reason. [He doesn't even want the answers for himself. He just wants answers out there, so Reira didn't feel so lost. If this was Ron, he would have taken Reira into his lap and stroked her hair, trying to calm her down. But she's too big for that, so all he can do is gently hold her, putting an arm around her shoulder.]

I think he knows more than you think, Reira-dono. He's clever, didn't you say? I think he knew, but he's... like Yuzu. He knew sacrifices needed to be made. If what you say is true, he may not have liked the choices he made, but he made it. It doesn't make him bad... it just makes him a someone who wants to further his goals.

It's hard not to throw judgement though... especially when everyone is dying. Especially when the Fog God is doing the same thing as the Fourth in her own way. It's hard not to lump them as the villains. You know that.

.... [Like Yuzu, hmm? ...Somehow, that is a comfort, but all the same.

Tsukikage does not understand, that much, she feels.] ....

[They have not been entirely honest about the 'reason', have they? It was as said on the network. All of the followers knew their reason, even if none of the 4th followers had come clean about it. Ron didn't understand-but Yuzu, absolutely, did, as did others, she could tell. That was why...] ...I said I didn't know why it had to be like this, [she says quietly, leaning against the other.]

...And...I don't know if it's 'why' he did it, either. ....But I know what he said would happen after, [she says more softly, chewing her lip.]

...And it's important. It's the most important thing there ever is, and it would mean no one has to get hurt, like when you stayed at the obelisk...!

...it's not a 'favor', like they said for the fog.

It's something bigger.

[Yuzu being the poster girl for instability amongst the Arc V cast.]

......

[Reira-dono is keeping secrets from him.

As a servant, this is alright. He's supposed to listen to Reira regardless. But as Reira's friend... as someone he sees as close to him as his own flesh and blood, it hurts a little. It makes him curious. It shows in the human's eyes as he looks at the kelpie, leaning against him for support.]

...

Like the Obelisk?

[... He frowns deeper. That explained a lot more than he realised.] I knew the Fourth protected you all from Fog Forms...

But he can protect you from the hunger as well?

...He's trying, [she says quietly, and her voice is weak and strained.] If even just Ron lives, it'll work. If even that happens, then being 'hungry' won't make you lose yourself, it won't do anything..!

[Of course... She chews her lip again.] ...He can't make it go away still. If we don't eat people somehow, then after a while, we'll get weak, and then starve...

...But it won't be like when you forgot at the obelisk, [she squeaks-and only now do tears start to show in her eyes, as she shakes her head and trembles.] It won't have to happen ever again.

...

[Tsukikage brings both his arms around her so the girl can cry against him if she wanted. Being that monster, having to deal with going crazy with hunger and berserk with the pull of his fog form almost every month, makes him one of the best people to understand how insanely important this all is. Now what cryptic things Yuzu had been saying at the lake begin to make sense, and pieces begin to fall into place.

It's so important. So many lives could be saved...]

The cost is high... but the reward is great. You're all taking a big gamble...

[But by the sound of his voice, it's clear he gets it, a little more at least.]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CCC-REDHORSE. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 134.64.202.69 * CCC-REDHORSE has joined 134.64.202.69 <CCC-REDHORSE> This is Reira Akaba! <CCC-REDHORSE>**I'll try to answer you but sometimes I'm busy or sleeping, so I don't think about the message right away.

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