Outside (Survivor Aichi)
-Aichi hears Xenos and quickly looks up at him. He didn't expect anyone to suddenly speak to him, especially not from above.-
-Oh, it's Xenos again...-
"...Yeah, could say that."
-Aichi is still silently annoyed with Xenos.-
-...And he's definitely still wary knowing what Xenos does.-
-If Xenos does anything to potentially harm or threaten anyone here, then Aichi will not hesitate to transform with G into his Blaster Blade Exceed form.-
-Regardless, he's doing a decent job of hiding this frustration.-
Good.
If you stayed in the dumps for any longer, I'd probably lose what little respect for you I have.
Which, of course, is a precious commodity in my social economy. -he grins a little bit, entirely self-aware-
I'm also quite surprised... you're either hiding your frustration, or you don't seem frustrated at all.
Honestly, I'm not sure which option of those two would impress me more... and it'd probably speak to how much of what I said sank in.
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postOutside (Survivor Aichi)
-Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Does Xenos actually have any respect for Aichi at all? Because that is something Aichi hadn't expected.-
"...I'm honestly shocked you had any respect for me at all."
-And it sunk in. Everything he said sunk in pretty fricking good.-
-But he's trying to stay calm. He's trying to keep himself level and pleasant.-
-It's not easy, but he's trying.-
-...Naturally 'trying' is the keyword here.-
-Xenos will probably still be able to push his buttons.-
-...Oh, who is the narrator kidding. Xenos will be able to press his buttons.-
"In many ways you were right."
-About Aichi being weak... relying on his friends for his own survival...-
"...But not just for my own sake. I want to see them safe and alive."
Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 9th 2018 at 1:39:37 PM
Good.
That means you have dedication, and dedication is something I do have respect for, even if I don't agree with what you're dedicated about.
And, even me throwing a curve-ball didn't slow you down too much.
Or well, this is what it seems.
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postOutside (Survivor Aichi)
-That curve ball actually hit Aichi EXTREMELY hard. It's just that Aichi can also be somewhat quick to rebound when reminded about what's important.-
-...Although that meltdown of his isn't going to fade from his memory anytime soon...-
-...-
-...He doesn't agree? With what? Trying to find his friends?-
"You don't agree? Wouldn't you want to find your friends?"
I can't agree, if I can't follow your logic...
I don't have friends, never have, and probably never will.
And I'm pretty OK with that.
You and I, we've lived very different lives.
While you were immersed in society, and lived life with friends that could always support you.
I lived with myself, and shut away from society. I had to learn to depend on only myself.
I am an individual. You are one as well, but you've fitted yourself into a position where your friends inform you of who you are.
Like I said to you the other day- I'm not trying to convince you of my point of view. I was giving it as an alternative.
When you break down- build to something new. That's what I do, and that's what I suggested that you do.
But you've built yourself back up to where you were, probably stronger than before I imagine... well the crowbar helps you there.
But if you asked me, I wouldn't call it new.
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postOutside (Survivor Aichi)
-Aichi listens to Xenos, and gets saddened.-
-Xenos doesn't have a single friend? He never did? And he thinks he never will?-
-He's OK with that?-
-Aichi can't even begin to imagine life without his frien— ...OK, well, he's having a much easier time picturing it now for obvious reasons, but without his friends he wouldn't be who he is today.-
-He would have died in that apocalypse as soon as it started...-
-...And he didn't always have friends. He wasn't always surrounded by people that supported him.-
-He once upon a time only had his mom, his sister, and his father (during the rare occasions he was home).-
-That was it. The rest of the world was suffocating him.-
-It wasn't until he met Kai that he saw a future for himself at all.-
-...And Xenos had to rely on just himself... That's even worse.-
"...I guess I should start this by saying that I'm not going to try to convince you to see my point of view"
-Looks like he's going to be sharing his own view now.-
-...Well, here it goes.-
"You don't have to be alone. I'm sure there are a lot of people that would want to be friends with you."
-...-
-...Does this guy know what he's talking about?-
"To have no friends... I've been there. I was alone... It felt like the world was closing in on me..."
-...Well, he wasn't completely alone, but...-
-You can tell by looking into his eyes as he says that that he has experienced the loneliness of feeling like he had no one.-
"But... I met someone. He showed me the way. He showed me a path to happiness... and that path led me to all of my friends."
-Aichi probably sounds very presumptuous without meaning to...-
"You shouldn't have to have no one. You should be able to have someone to rely on, to talk with, have a good laugh with..."
-...-
-Xenos may very well be OK with having no friends. If so... Aichi understands that that's his opinion, but he just has such a difficult time to imagine being OK with it.-
"...You don't have to agree with me, of course, and there's obviously a lot more to what you're saying, but... I just thought I should say something."
-And as for not being something new...-
"...Even if it's not new, it's still stronger than anyone could imagine."
-Because friendship is powerful.-
-Extremely powerful.-
-And yes, he is saying the destroyer of worlds should have friends.-
-Make of that what you will.-
-Xenos just starts laughing for a while-
Oh- now that is dedication.
You even want me to have friends.
But, very well.
I didn't mean to imply that you never experienced loneliness of course... but.
Here's just something to satiate my curiosity- did you have a family?
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postOutside (Survivor Aichi)
-Yes. He does want Xenos to have friends.-
-He wants everyone to be able to have friends.-
-And then Xenos asks his question.-
-...Why does Aichi have the feeling that Xenos didn't even have family...?-
-Aichi, completely truthfully, says:-
"...Yes. I have Mom, Dad, and Emi."
-Of course, he hasn't seen them since around summer break...-
-And perhaps he's asking a pointless question, but...-
"...Why?"
-with a smile on his face, he says-
That's another thing we don't have in common.
-he leans back a little, eating another pizza slice, when something flickers across his eyes-
... Do you know what happened to your family, Aichi?
You never mentioned them before. And from what I understand... family is usually much closer than friends.
That's what I've seen in many human societies.
"Blood is thicker than water" you say. I'd joke here about how it depends on the species, but I'm not going to drive this train off the rails of my question.
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postOutside (Survivor Aichi)
-...Does he know what happened to them?-
"..."
-...Well, they're stuck in the zombie apocalypse. There's a chance they're all dead.-
-Dad had been fine in America before he returned to Japan, but he hadn't been able to contact anyone since he got to Japan.-
"...They're still out there somewhere. I decided to go to college in America. I was staying with Dad."
-Mom and Emi...-
"They were still in Japan, but after I went back home I couldn't find them..."
-...He has no idea what happened for sure.-
"...I do care about my family. I want to find them just like my friends."
-Even if he doesn't mention them, he does care about them.-
Outside (Survivor Aichi)
-He just... doesn't tend to mention them much.-
-He doesn't rely on Emi for things anymore... He doesn't need his mom's comfort like he did as a child...-
-He doesn't need his father's acknowledgement...-
-He loves them all dearly, but he's changed a lot since his childhood and adolescence.-
-...Although he's now relying on them along with his friends. He wants to find them all...-
"...I won't stop searching until I find them and my friends. I know there's no guarantee they're alive, but until I see them with my own eyes, I'll keep searching."
-Perhaps he can be a tad single-minded, but it's still a renewed strength he didn't have before.-
-...He's tempted to ask about Xenos's family, but he's got a feeling that it's probably not a great subject to bring up.-
-Xenos said he had to rely on himself. Aichi's got a bad feeling that means that his family wasn't around to support him...-
Then I wish you the best of luck.
If they inspired you to be how you are, who knows.
Maybe they're surviving just like you are.
Maybe some of them are wondering whether they'll ever find you.
Holed up in an old building... or wandering the streets.
You'll find the truth someday. I'm pretty sure of that.
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postOutside (Survivor Aichi)
-He doesn't want to have to imagine them fighting for their lives or being holed up in buildings...-
-...But he'd rather imagine that than them dead.-
"...Thank you."
-He didn't expect any kind of support from Xenos at all.-
-This is honestly something of a pleasant surprise.-
-And yeah, you can definitely hear the sincerity in him saying 'thank you'.-
-Despite Aichi's issues with Xenos... well, being a destroyer of worlds, Aichi is honestly thankful for his words.-
Outside (Survivor Aichi)
-Aichi naturally gets startled by the sudden tossing of the pizza box (He might be better, but he's still got that 'on edge' thing going on at all times).-
-????????????????????????????????-
-Xenos... tossed Aichi a pizza?-
-He can't help but blink before picking up the pizza box.-
"O-Oh, um... Thank you..."
-He's genuinely surprised.-
-...-
-...He hasn't had pizza in... how long? He knows he ate it in America every so often. It was really good.-
-He didn't have it back home, really. They probably had places that sold it (one word: Tokyo), but he never went to any of them...-
-...And he is rather hungry...-
-All right.-
"Thank you for the food."
-He takes one of the pieces and starts eating it.-
Outside (Survivor Aichi)
-Yum...-
-He's not really smiling or anything, but it's clear that he's doing his best to savor the pizza.-
-...Oh, it's from the mall.-
-...He forgot there was a mall in this place.-
-That might be because he's still rather wary about the idea of going into an extremely crowded place like a mall.-
-Although...-
"I... probably need to go there sometime..."
-These clothes are a mess.-
-...Not to mention that if he did get home, these clothes wouldn't protect him from much of anything anymore.-
-The rips and holes are just begging for him to finally get infected.-
-Unfortunately he does not have any cash, assuming he does manage to work up the nerve to go there.-
Outside (Survivor Aichi)
"I guess Muramasa took care of the rust too... She definitely did a really good job."
-He starts eating another piece of the pizza.-
-Geez, when he's not completely depressed and overwhelmed with stress, he's actually pretty hungry!-
-...Makes sense. He was very limited on what he could eat for a good three months... and after that he hardly went out of his way to get food except for what was necessary.-
-They guy just... he needs food.-
-Good tasting food.-
-And today he's actually not as bad as he has been in a long while.-
-Maybe it's because that epiphany from last night really did help him in the long run (overcoming a mental block???), maybe it's because today's just a better day for him for some reason, maybe he's just feeling extra hungry and can't quite resist the idea of eating more of the pizza today...-
-...Who knows? The point is that the guy actually has a visible appetite today.-

Main Room (Number 108, "Aichi")
-108 is reading the dictionary.-
-He is currently on the word 'castle'.-
-1 : a large building usually with high, thick walls and towers that was built in the past to protect against attack 2 informal : a large expensive house 3 : a piece in the game of chess that looks like a castle tower : rook.-
-...He does not know what 'chess' is.-
-He must keep reading.-
-...HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN READING THIS THING?! He went through ALL of the As and Bs?!-
—
Outside (Survivor Aichi)
-He's looking at that newly upgraded crowbar with a surge of confidence.-
-A rarity for him...-
-It honestly makes him happy that it's never going to break, even if it is extremely difficult to show it.-
-But still... He's worried that this happiness won't last forever...-
-He's still on edge... and probably always will be on edge.-
-He's been stuck dealing with... zombies... for too long...-
-He has finally faced the truth. They are not 'Youmu'. They are zombies.-
-A level of delusion has been broken, allowing him to at least try to move forward more stably.-
-He exhales. He'll find his friends.-
-He'll find his friends.-
-He'll find his friends.-
-His expression is a determined one, even if his eyes still show weariness and show that he has seen things he never should have had to see...-
-...-
-...The scars will never fully heal...-
-...-
-...But he has to try to look towards the future.-
-He may relapse.-
-...No, he will relapse. This was not an instant fix button.-
-He will always have those countless cracks underneath the surface. Things will affect him.-
-But for now...-
-...For now he has started to try to weld himself back together. Not just glue the broken pieces of himself back together.-
-Perhaps it can be seen in that determined expression...-
-One unlike any other he has had since appearing here.-
—
Roof (Misaki)
-Misaki is standing on the roof looking out towards the horizon, her hair drifting gently in the breeze.-
-She doesn't have much of a facial expression, but...-
-...She's feeling it again.-
-Feeling that worry... That worry she tries to bury deep inside.-
-Aichi has been held captive by the Gundam Thieves for over a month now.-
-She finds herself wondering just what they want with him, what they're doing to him, if they really want him for his PSY Qualia...-
-...-
-She closes her eyes and clenches Aichi's deck.-
-It'd be easier to stop worrying if she didn't remember every detail of everything afterwards. She was knocked out when Aichi was captured, but she can clearly remember everyone being upset, Leos working himself to the brink trying to get the Extreme Gundam dealt with, Anna wanting to help fight to get Aichi back, Young Aichi wondering where 'older him' is, Ai having a bad feeling that something's wrong involving Aichi (She is in the right to be worried, but she can't tell her the truth!), and every single other detail since then...-
-...-
-Even Misaki can get overwhelmed.-
-She looks at the deck in her hand.-
-Leos said that Aichi's PSY Qualia let him hear his units' voices...-
-...Honestly, after everything here? She could honestly begin to believe that these cards are alive.-
-That they are somehow capable of talking to Aichi.-
-...No one is around, and she highly doubts it will reach them if she does speak, but...-
-She somehow finds herself speaking to the deck.-
"We'll get him back. You'll be in his hands again... Like you should be..."
-To anyone else, it probably looks crazy that she's talking to a deck.-
Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 9th 2018 at 8:19:36 AM