Some Legends Are Told, Some Turn To Dust Or To Gold [CEREALIA INBOX]

[zerotohiro]

'Busy, leave a message!
...oh, you've reached Hiro Hamada. Whatever. Still busy!'

Hamada art by D-Joel, found on tumblr

Comments

[zerotohiro]

Stab wound. I'm fine, I got in a fight with somebody and kinda lost? I think it was more of a draw than anything. It's just not something I wanted to really deal with out there but we can't really choose what happens can we?

[faithfulflame]

[The feed changes to voice. Almost immediately, and Rei's voice isn't exactly panicked, but more...restrained anger.]

What the hell? You were stabbed? Why?!

[zerotohiro]

Whoa whoa whoa, it's fine! [Please don't be mad Rei everything is fine!!! Sort of.] Like I said, got in a fight with somebody. [A beat.] The masks were making people act really crazy out there. I don't know why, but this isn't the first time I've heard of it now.

[faithfulflame]

Fine? Hiro, someone stabbed you. What were you fighting over?

[zerotohiro]

It was just...they thought I was taking their place in somebody else's life, the mask was getting to their head or something. I haven't really figured out the whole thing yet. But we've already talked, things are mostly back to normal now.

[faithfulflame]

One of Ruby-chan's friends?

[As good a guess as any.]

[zerotohiro]

...yeah. [A pause.] Ruby already knows. We both talked to her about it.

[faithfulflame]

Good. Not Yang-san, I hope.

[zerotohiro]

No way! If it was Yang--I mean if it was Yang I definitely wouldn't be here...but Yang and Naoki already had their talk about dating Ruby. It was something else.

[faithfulflame]

I hope she's not that violent anyway. I don't know her well, but she seems nice. Competent, too. She...ah...knows about me.

Because of the elephants. They got loose again on another day.

[zerotohiro]

Trust me, she's not. She wouldn't be teaching me if she was. [Sigh.] If I never see those things again it'll be too soon. It's getting harder to really keep it a secret, isn't it?

[Yes let's talk about Mars and not about Weiss trying to disembowel him.]

[faithfulflame]

[A long, weary sigh. You're dodging, but she can admit...]

I can't not help someone just to preserve a secret. That goes against everything I believe in, unless you know who is directly at risk.

I think what's more alarming is the increase in violent incidents.

[zerotohiro]

...Yu was talking about how CERES wants us to feel really intense emotions so they can leech them from us. Think it's all tied directly into that?

[faithfulflame]

He and I discussed the theory, as well. Psychic Vampirism is certainly plausible, since all they do is provoke those reactions.

As wild as it seems, frankly? I'm starting to feel more sure of it.

[zerotohiro]

Never heard of it. [Psychic Vampirism, he means.] I don't doubt it though, not after everything we've seen. Especially with those stupid mirrors. Why else would those be there?

If it's true, how do we put a stop to it?

[faithfulflame]

It's a simple concept. Drawing energy from emotions. Some extroverted people do it naturally. Like being in a crowd makes them feel alive.

But I don't any idea how to stop it other than not giving in. The worst that happens is what? Death? That's cheap enough here.

[zerotohiro]

Doesn't make it any less painful. [The answer's a sharp snap, but he's quick to draw back from it.] I might head to the library in a few days or do some internet browsing on this stuff. Learn what I can, maybe I can build something to stop it. It can't hurt to try.

[faithfulflame]

I'm aware. I've died too.

[She keeps her voice even, not snapping back.]

And no, it can't. If you find anything out, let me know. It's something I only know a little about.

[zerotohiro]

You'll be the first person I talk to if I find anything. [Sorry, Rei. He at least seems calmer again.] ...let me know if you need anything, okay? I'll figure something out.

[faithfulflame]

I will, don't worry. And thanks, for...looking into the migraine thing too.