zerotohiro | I'll be the watcher of the eternal flame [Eachdraidh IC Contact]

[It's taken a little while for Joshua to send an answer of acknowledgment back, but here it is. All that's in the envelope is a small piece of paper that says the following:]

A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.

[The response is immediate and sent back. It's not written in calligraphy but it's a weird sort of mash-up of kanji and English for super-encryption! (No it's probably just because Hiro's lazy and busy.)]

What's THAT supposed to mean???

[Joshua sends back an answer that's still calligraphic, but exceedingly stylized with hand-painted art and a pretty cherry blossom border.]

I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.

Edited (I FOUND SOMETHING BETTER OOPS) 2015-09-08 00:54 (UTC)

[This is no longer amusing, Joshua, you asshole. It's written in his same half and half.]

You're really unhelpful. I AM thinking. I'm thinking a lot, what do you think I'm actually doing most of the time? Why not be a LITTLE MORE USEFUL?

If you wish to know the meaning behind William Shedd and Grace Hopper's words, then you will need to go find out. Also, I have a warning for you and I do hope you take it to heart in the days to come. It's not an attempt to sway you from your chosen path, though it will sound like it.

As the month progresses, take a hard look at the state of the Drabwurld. Remember that destroying the Void means keeping this world as it is. Destroying it means forever losing all that was lost to it. Remember this, see it with unclouded eyes, and plan accordingly.

One last thing: the dwarves' new pets. If anyone finds a way to destroy them, then information passing will occur, considering they've never liked the Courts in the first place. However, if you're in need of members to help fight this enemy, then I'll be ready to go whenever you give the word. Until then, keep your distance from them if you don't wish to share the fate of those shards.

[This message takes a bit more time to respond to, but when it does it's clear Hiro's thought about this.]

I'll add it to my to-do list really soon. ...I get what you're saying. I really do, Joshua, but think about it this way. Maybe there are also just some things I don't really want to risk losing. It's easier to regrow things than deal with losing them entirely. The Drabwurld's a mess, but if we stop the Void who says we can't regrow it? If the Void wins, who says we'll regain everything we've worked so hard to get now? It's a restart of the worlds, isn't it? Rebirth? Isn't the whole Seelie goal about rebirth? Someone I know has had experience with rebirth and someone he cared about a lot chose rebirth. He told me he's never going to see her in his lifetime ever again. I don't know if I can do that. I don't WANT to do that! I don't want to lose the people I love just because it might make the worlds better! I'm tired of losing people and if I can do something about it I'm going to figure it out and fight for another option. We can fix this somehow. There has to be a way to stop the Void and focus on rebuilding and growing the world. Everything can be healed, can't it? Anyway..about those guys? I bet a lot of people are going to be working to find a way to destroy them. I just don't know if there is one yet...but if I figure out one before you do? I'll let you know. We'll fight them together. Just do me a favor and keep your distance from them, too. I might have another favor to ask you keeping someone else safe for me. I can't lose either of you. Got it?

Hiro, the power required to regrow an entire world would need to be equal to that of a god. The power for reviving all of the worlds lost would take limitless power. It's for that reason that both sides are fighting for the Shards. As one, they have the power necessary to either destroy the Void or rejuvenate the worlds. This world will die slowly and painfully the moment the Void is destroyed, and ours will feel the echoes in time, if not sooner due to us losing our Shards before then.

No, not everything can be healed. Some wounds are too deep. They may scar over, but others will continue to bleed and fester.

Rebirth means another chance. When the faeries asked me to join the battle on this world, I agreed and waited quietly, judging whether or not the cause was worthy. Then, I judged whether the worlds are worth saving or condemning. The answer I came to was that they were. I don't wish to see the worlds suffer. Not mine, not yours, not this one, not any world. If that means recreating the Big Bang to save them, then so be it.

I don't believe they're truly invincible. It's just a matter of finding out their weakness and exploiting it. A chink in their armor, so to speak.

I'll do my best.

No matter which end comes, I, for one, will not let that be the end in our friendship. If you're of the same mind, then I hope you'll find me when it's all over. Perhaps we can have tea.

For what it's worth coming from me, and as I don't think we'll have the time for heartfelt moments, I must say this: thank you.

[This unlikely friendship has come to mean so much to Joshua, and there are no words to really describe that. There are also no words to describe just how much gratitude he feels toward it, not without admitting aloud to Hiro just how lonely both his life and afterlife have been. To come to know Hiro, Riku, Merida, Dorian, and others has been an unexpected treasure that Joshua will keep locked securely in his heart.]

[Everything Joshua says makes sense. Everything Joshua lays out on paper makes sense and for the first time he thinks he might understand why the Seelie goal is focused on recreating the whole multiverse. He still can't bring himself to agree with it and he will still do everything in his power to find another way, but he thinks he finally understands.

He doesn't say anything to it. He says nothing to what Joshua says about resetting the universe except for one simple quote.]

We are twice armed if we fight with faith. I'll meet you at the end of the world. We'll make time.

[He doesn't entirely know the extent of what Joshua's thanking him for, but he imagines it's something similar to why he would thank Joshua.]

I'll keep the feather close, J. Count on it.

[That is to say he values him very, very much, too and appreciates everything...even with as frustrating as Joshua can be. This world has been good for him in that aspect...and he refuses to lose it. No matter what.]

I'll be the watcher of the eternal flame [Eachdraidh IC Contact]

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope, Japanese calligraphy

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope