It's a large city, settled on the coastline of my world. Millions and millions of people live there, and it's quite the sight to behold.
We have some leaders, but most decisions are made by a popular vote among everyone in the city. The idea being that if everyone gets a say, then everyone will be more invested in the world around them.
Four people in my world thought they had invented something that would help our world. In reality, it took it apart. And when I finally found a way to stop it all, I was the only one left. Everyone else had died or had faced something worse than death.
To say that I empathize is. . . perhaps a bit cheap sounding, seeing as my world did not fall into destruction as it was supposed to. But. . . you knew Mochizuki.
[she knew what was supposed to happen to Mitsuru's world. and so, she must understand that Mitsuru gets how terrifying it is to face down what is essentially the apocalypse]
[oh no. Mitsuru can't help but wonder if that's why Red latched onto Ryoji so much. not that it was difficult to like Ryoji-- he was bright and vibrant, despite his purpose in the world]
. . . would you like to talk about him? Blue, I mean.
We...never could be together, officially. He was my bodyguard, and I was a very predominant member of the music community. Given how closely we worked together, and the public attitude of young unmarried women being around young unmarried men when feelings were involved...it never would have worked. The scandal alone would have destroyed both of us.
But sometimes I did wonder what it would have been like, to be married to that man. Sometimes I think I would have said yes, if he had asked.
[for the first time, Mitsuru feels like she's seeing a little more of Red the person, and a little less of Red the counselor. there's something about this story that tugs at Mitsuru's heartstrings after all-- it's tragic, but she relates to it, in so many ways. even if Mitsuru's own situation was different]
I understand. . . what it feels like to be restricted by people's expectations of you.
[she stops, tilts her head up to gaze out at the lake, arms folded]
And how those restrictions can truly prevent you from grasping what you wish to have, before it's too late.
[it's not every day Mitsuru gets to spend time with someone without anything businesslike overshadowing the entire interactions. she's too busy for that. she's too restrained for that.]
[but that certainly doesn't mean she doesn't want it. and as she turns towards Red, she links her hands together and bows her head]
I apologize for how abrasive I've been towards you these past two weeks. I want answers, but I am realizing that I am not always. . . at my best, when demanding them.
[Stan slamming a door in her face was kind of an eye opener]
In Cloudbank, I probably would have taken you on as a pupil and would have taught you how to navigate the social sphere. You would have been good at it, I think.
[It would have been nice, Red thinks. To have a protege like that.]
It's a sign of your forcible personality, I would say. It's good that you don't back down when you want something.
Exactly. That is why I had a bodyguard in the first place: my songs were quite powerful and moving, but I was not so adept at protecting myself physically. Blue handled things like that for me.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-06-21 07:04 pm (UTC)It's a large city, settled on the coastline of my world. Millions and millions of people live there, and it's quite the sight to behold.
We have some leaders, but most decisions are made by a popular vote among everyone in the city. The idea being that if everyone gets a say, then everyone will be more invested in the world around them.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-21 07:27 pm (UTC)[nodnod, she's following along]
Did you like it there?
no subject
Date: 2018-06-21 07:30 pm (UTC)[She looks a little sad now.]
That world is gone now. There's no use reminiscing on the past, I suppose.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-21 07:32 pm (UTC)Ashikawa told me.
[ah]
That you were the only living person left on your world. I can't imagine how painfully lonely that was for you.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 02:26 am (UTC)Twelve hours. One night. That's how long it took for my world to end.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 02:51 am (UTC)How--?
[she shouldn't be shocked. Nyx was supposed to end the world in that little of a time period, too. it's just. . . her ground had managed to stop it]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 02:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 03:04 am (UTC)[:(]
I'm so sorry.
[. . .]
To say that I empathize is. . . perhaps a bit cheap sounding, seeing as my world did not fall into destruction as it was supposed to. But. . . you knew Mochizuki.
[she knew what was supposed to happen to Mitsuru's world. and so, she must understand that Mitsuru gets how terrifying it is to face down what is essentially the apocalypse]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 03:14 am (UTC)[She looks off in the distance across the lake for a moment, focused on something that might not be there anymore.]
Before my world ended, there was a man there. My bodyguard, Blue. The original Blue.
Ryoji reminded me of him. The similarities were uncanny.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 03:17 am (UTC). . . would you like to talk about him? Blue, I mean.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 03:23 am (UTC)[The answer to that is complicated.]
We...never could be together, officially. He was my bodyguard, and I was a very predominant member of the music community. Given how closely we worked together, and the public attitude of young unmarried women being around young unmarried men when feelings were involved...it never would have worked. The scandal alone would have destroyed both of us.
But sometimes I did wonder what it would have been like, to be married to that man. Sometimes I think I would have said yes, if he had asked.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 03:29 am (UTC)I understand. . . what it feels like to be restricted by people's expectations of you.
[she stops, tilts her head up to gaze out at the lake, arms folded]
And how those restrictions can truly prevent you from grasping what you wish to have, before it's too late.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 03:35 am (UTC)By the end of it, Red is smiling.]
We're a lot alike, you know. And not always in the best ways either.
[Same strengths, same flaws.]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 03:45 am (UTC)If circumstances were different, perhaps we could sit down at a cafe somewhere and just talk over a cup of café au lait.
[it's not every day Mitsuru gets to spend time with someone without anything businesslike overshadowing the entire interactions. she's too busy for that. she's too restrained for that.]
[but that certainly doesn't mean she doesn't want it. and as she turns towards Red, she links her hands together and bows her head]
I apologize for how abrasive I've been towards you these past two weeks. I want answers, but I am realizing that I am not always. . . at my best, when demanding them.
[Stan slamming a door in her face was kind of an eye opener]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 05:12 am (UTC)[It would have been nice, Red thinks. To have a protege like that.]
It's a sign of your forcible personality, I would say. It's good that you don't back down when you want something.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 05:11 pm (UTC)[really. which she's a bit embarrassed to admit, but her upbringing is often far more sheltered than she realizes at times]
Perhaps it is. But I suppose force doesn't always help those who need the assistance.
[see: Stan. who apparently doesn't respond well to force at all]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 05:39 pm (UTC)Find someone whose strengths are your weaknesses. Partnering up to tackle difficult situations is a very strong method.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 07:09 pm (UTC)[she will treasure this advice, Red!1]
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Date: 2018-06-22 07:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 07:37 pm (UTC)[after hearing about what Red did to protect them from the hunters, she means]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 08:02 pm (UTC)[She definitely has some muscles now though. She's picked up a few skills.]
Unfortunately, the end of the world doesn't particularly care what your profession is.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-22 08:08 pm (UTC)You're right; it doesn't. I suppose that's when you learned how to defend yourself?
no subject
Date: 2018-06-23 04:31 am (UTC)Fortunately I'm a quick learner.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-23 09:19 pm (UTC)