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This place really has been harping on us talking to each other and forming connections. Thorns was cursed a few weeks ago to go around holding hands because of it.
The idea of facing yourself doesn't surprise me though.
[ of course it wouldn't. ]
The idea of facing yourself doesn't surprise me though.
[ of course it wouldn't. ]
Considering we don't really have time for being subtle, I can also appreciate it.
It just means more time for puzzling out the rest of this stupid stuff, like all of this.
It just means more time for puzzling out the rest of this stupid stuff, like all of this.
[ I was about to ask you in my next tag if you wanted a mem funnily enough
A young Tokinaga, about fifteen or so, has already decided where he needs to be in his future. He studies for years and years and years, and he's accepted at the age of 24, into the Meteorology Division. He arranges to have a personal meeting with the head of department. There, he tells him everything -- of the true origin of the IPOs, and the demon responsible behind it all. You had all your evidence lined up, having had nine years to organise it all, and you made sure they were in an order that made the most sense, was the easiest to follow.
He soon finds his coworkers has become distant from him, and he's thereafter removed from the team. His head of department approaches him not much longer after that and explains how they cannot have him working here, and to put it lightly, pressures him to quit. He silently walks back to his bare desk, and the reality of what just happened sinks in.
'......I screwed up...! I have to go back... to my first day...!'
Back then, his bruises only came up just to his ankles. This time, when he speaks to his head of department, he avoids mentioning Nisroca at all. This time, he mentions that the sea soil samples retrieved by an investigation team in 1990 may have a connection with the appearance of IPOs. He posits it purely as hypothesis and theory, so they don't question his mental state again.
But he's a member of the IPO Invasion Prediction Department of the Meteorology Division. This is above anyone's paygrade here. They're already busy as-is, so if Tokinaga wants to work on anything else, he's instructed to pursue it as a personal side project.
Two years later. They'd never followed up on his warnings, he's not heard a word. He should be getting for work already, but he can't bring himself to do it. He remains in bed, haggard in appearance and worn down. His psyche's been crushed by the persistent tension and unease brought on by his need to try to change things, to save people -- but nobody had listened. He's stopped liking people, and feels so utterly alone.
'Nobody even wants to listen. Even though so many people are going to die if they don't...'
Then, a voice beside him cheerily yips.
"Tokinaga! Good morning! You're going to be late for work!"
There's some... creature beside him. Even through the haze of memory, its form is a little unclear to Lucien's perception, but it appears as some sort of amalgamation of features -- an eyeless sharp maw with antler-like horns, birds' wings and feet, and a snake-like tail.
"Everyone's going to die anyway," he replies dully, face buried in his pillow. The creature lays there on its back, feetsies up in the air, though its ears fall. It's hard to read, but maybe it's in thought.
"......Tokinaga, you're... so sensitive to the suffering of others, but you undervalue your own far too much." Then, with a renewed cheer, it shouts -- "That's why I like you, Tokinaga! You're so kind!"
Something about that kicks Tokinaga back into focus, slowly sitting up. There's a mild horror to his face as he realises how far he'd fallen.
"......You're... right. I... I used to have a human heart. That's why I wanted to help others to begin with. I'd stopped believing in anybody -- I almost just lost myself."
Ah. He can't let that happen. Ever. The creature uprights itself, ears perked back up again.
"Tokinaga's back to normal! Hooray!"
The Tokinaga in the memory looks back, managing a slight smile once more.
The Tokinaga in present watches that play out with a complicated expression. ]
So sure, he's just staring off into the ice and...
He soon finds his coworkers has become distant from him, and he's thereafter removed from the team. His head of department approaches him not much longer after that and explains how they cannot have him working here, and to put it lightly, pressures him to quit. He silently walks back to his bare desk, and the reality of what just happened sinks in.
'......I screwed up...! I have to go back... to my first day...!'
Back then, his bruises only came up just to his ankles. This time, when he speaks to his head of department, he avoids mentioning Nisroca at all. This time, he mentions that the sea soil samples retrieved by an investigation team in 1990 may have a connection with the appearance of IPOs. He posits it purely as hypothesis and theory, so they don't question his mental state again.
But he's a member of the IPO Invasion Prediction Department of the Meteorology Division. This is above anyone's paygrade here. They're already busy as-is, so if Tokinaga wants to work on anything else, he's instructed to pursue it as a personal side project.
Two years later. They'd never followed up on his warnings, he's not heard a word. He should be getting for work already, but he can't bring himself to do it. He remains in bed, haggard in appearance and worn down. His psyche's been crushed by the persistent tension and unease brought on by his need to try to change things, to save people -- but nobody had listened. He's stopped liking people, and feels so utterly alone.
'Nobody even wants to listen. Even though so many people are going to die if they don't...'
Then, a voice beside him cheerily yips.
"Tokinaga! Good morning! You're going to be late for work!"
There's some... creature beside him. Even through the haze of memory, its form is a little unclear to Lucien's perception, but it appears as some sort of amalgamation of features -- an eyeless sharp maw with antler-like horns, birds' wings and feet, and a snake-like tail.
"Everyone's going to die anyway," he replies dully, face buried in his pillow. The creature lays there on its back, feetsies up in the air, though its ears fall. It's hard to read, but maybe it's in thought.
"......Tokinaga, you're... so sensitive to the suffering of others, but you undervalue your own far too much." Then, with a renewed cheer, it shouts -- "That's why I like you, Tokinaga! You're so kind!"
Something about that kicks Tokinaga back into focus, slowly sitting up. There's a mild horror to his face as he realises how far he'd fallen.
"......You're... right. I... I used to have a human heart. That's why I wanted to help others to begin with. I'd stopped believing in anybody -- I almost just lost myself."
Ah. He can't let that happen. Ever. The creature uprights itself, ears perked back up again.
"Tokinaga's back to normal! Hooray!"
The Tokinaga in the memory looks back, managing a slight smile once more.
The Tokinaga in present watches that play out with a complicated expression. ]
[okay but what if he agrees with this weird eyeless creature.
...
but he watches in silence. his hand goes to reach out for tokinaga, before stopping, as though uncertain if it's okay.]
... Would you rather I pretend I saw nothing?
[even if he can't, really.]
...
but he watches in silence. his hand goes to reach out for tokinaga, before stopping, as though uncertain if it's okay.]
... Would you rather I pretend I saw nothing?
[even if he can't, really.]
There's always a center to every maze. But MY fear is that we're gonna have to backtrack exactly the way we came.
Like... what if there isn't another way out but retracing our steps?
Like... what if there isn't another way out but retracing our steps?
E-Er... well, never mind that! [oh goddess he forgot how embarrassing it is to explain his cat's name to other people.] You may come inside.
[enters his room... if rafayel enters, there is a painting of a cockroach in there for some reason but anyway.]
[enters his room... if rafayel enters, there is a painting of a cockroach in there for some reason but anyway.]
There was no guarantee the hypothesis would help.
It's like if somebody came up to you and told you they know exactly how to mend your family's relationships, starting by changing everyone's diets.
[ Sorry if that's a low blow, he doesn't mean it that way. ]
It's like if somebody came up to you and told you they know exactly how to mend your family's relationships, starting by changing everyone's diets.
[ Sorry if that's a low blow, he doesn't mean it that way. ]
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