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

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[zerotohiro]

[Pitting a teenage boy against video games and aliens. Rei, you really do know the way to his heart.]

Heh. Can't argue with that logic. [Once she's up, he'll even start to wander further into the game center to get a really good look at what's around. It keeps him moving and occupied, sure, but he's keeping most of his attention on Rei, too.] Usagi told me she's a pretty big game fan. I told her I was going to try and make a game for her based on something from back in your world, too. I just haven't had the time or right parts yet.

[faithfulflame]

Sailor V? [Rei half smiles at the memories of that game, their first training system. And how Luna had motivated Usagi to get anything done at all.]

She would want a remake of that. Even though she's finished it a million times. With...Ami's help.

[Usagi was never, ever very good at it.]

[zerotohiro]

I guess it really is her favorite. [There's a short grin to confirm. Yep. Definitely Sailor V.] It'd be a good challenge for me, too. I've never built a video game cabinet or a ViViD level before. I sort of wanna try both. [He shakes his head then.] At least it's something to keep me busy.

[faithfulflame]

It is, definitely. She'll appreciate it, and there's a lot of history with that game and us. It's a little funny that she asked you to make it.

[Not bad, just. huh.]

[zerotohiro]

Heh...I might have actually volunteered to do it when she told me about it? It was kind of a joint effort. [He rubs the back of his neck, looking away in embarrassment.]

Anyway. You had something you wanted to talk about didn't you? [i.e. "Rei stop me before we board the nerd train."]

[faithfulflame]

[Yes, yes, she gets that.  Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out a small paper wrapped object.]

I had something I wanted to give you, yes.  [Inside is a charm like the one she’d lent him, though his one has different characters.  Protection against spirits, defense against ghosts, that sort of thing.]

[zerotohiro]

Oh hey, I remember these. [Said once he's unwrapped the paper, of course. He's busy holding up the charm and reading it, squinting to make out the characters.] You got more?

[faithfulflame]

I did. After the ghosts attacked I thought having some measure of protection to give out would be wise. I intend to make a habit of distributing them to people I know lack spiritual powers to defend themselves.

[And yes that includes you, bro.]

[zerotohiro]

I feel like I should be offended by that and yet I'm not. Thanks, Rei. [He's still examining it even as they're walking and exploring the game center.] It's not a bad idea either since everything's sort of...crazy around here.

[faithfulflame]

Why? We all have specialties. I rely on you for anything machine related, after all.

[She really does, and that's all there is to it.]

Yes though, you're right. I don't want anyone caught by surprise like last time. I think those ghosts could be our salvation, or our undoing, depending on how we deal with them.

[zerotohiro]

I guess that's true, but you know me. ["I want to be better at defending myself." It goes unsaid though as he takes into account the next piece.]

That's the last thing we need. You really think that's true though? You have more experience with them than I do at least. I wish it was easier to get in contact with them now.

[faithfulflame]

[She nods somberly.] I think that the ghosts are an important piece of the puzzle. We can’t just ignore them or write them off as simple hostile spirits, not after learning what happened to England and after what they told me. To me, their presence and his story point to them being victims of CERES, the ghosts of the people sacrificed to appease the elemental spirits.

And if we can reach them, when they appear again, maybe we can turn their anger on their killers. Or remind them that we colonists are in the same situation they are. They could be a valuable source of information, and allies at that.

[zerotohiro]

As long as they can tell the difference between us and them this time. I don't know if I want to take my chances before another widespread breakout happens again. They really only seem to listen to you anyway which...I guess it makes sense. You're the one who released them.

[He frowns lightly.] Learning everything we've learned about England...there're still some things that bother me though. We still don't have enough information to really pinpoint to a "why." I don't want to settle on "because" as an answer.

[faithfulflame]

I will do what I can.  I might…attempt…to summon one of them, sometime.  I’m not sure, and I’d definitely want a lot of time to prepare a place away from the main colony.  But I’m not sure.

[As for the rest…]

We don’t have a concrete reason for that, no.  Other than to appease the elementals.  That’s generally enough of a reason, and it is the foundation of most religion.  To appease and curry favor with beings like those five.  Why they want blood sacrifices I don’t know, but we do know that is what they desire now.

[zerotohiro]

As always, you know you can always reach me if there's anything I can do to help even if it's just scouting out places for you. We should go back to the basics anyway with stuff like this.

[That's still a stupid reason and all the more reason Hiro's not entirely into the idea of religion.] Athena and I are going to talk to Ardeo soon. Maybe I can work out a way to flat-out ask him. I'd ask Caeli but...not exactly the most helpful for answers.

[faithfulflame]

I know, and I will. I'm not sure when I'll try it, I want to wait till after the new arrivals, at the least.

[It is a stupid reason, at the core. Shinto's different, but it's also not a primal religion full of monster gods.]

And you be careful. Athena mentioned this to me. Let me know when you're doing this, I want to be on alert, in case something goes wrong. Not...potentially tied down at work.

[zerotohiro]

That's not a bad idea either. They might give us something else to consider.

[Though he's surprised by that piece of information.] I never realized you two were that close. But we will. Athena's one of his and I'm not so we've kinda gotta be careful. I can text you before we actually go if that would help.

[faithfulflame]

Athena? She was probably the first friend I made here. She's rather important to me. And I bail her out of trouble with alarming regularity.

[Rei exhales through her nose.]

I'm one of Ardeo's chosen too, and it threatened and attacked me, you know. You're planning on speaking to literal fire given form, so you really can't be too careful. Fire can be...fickle.

[zerotohiro]

Somehow a lot of things suddenly make a lot of sense. [An amused snort.] Athena gets in trouble a lot but on the other hand it's not like it's hard in a place like this.

[He gives her a bemused look in return.] Rei...trust me, I know how dangerous fire can be. We'll be careful with him.

[faithfulflame]

I know you will be. It's her I'm worried about about. She seems convinced that Ardeo is harmless, because it was nice to her. Yet again, it attacked me. I trust you, but her judgment is perhaps a little too rose-colored for me.

I may seem paranoid, and may even be, but when something threatens me and starts trying to steal my energy I remember that. And I don't treat it like a potential friend.

[zerotohiro]

After everything that happened out in the labyrinth, I think she might be a little more careful now. Especially after what we found at the altar. I don't think being an optimist is a horrible idea but...that's what she's got people like us for. Maybe Ardeo felt threatened because you're just as powerful as he is? Hard to say.

I don't think that's paranoia at all though. Just sayin'.

[faithfulflame]

There's optimism and foolhardiness. But be that as it may...I'm not sure what to make of Ardeo beyond that it derives power from sacrifice.

And...good. I'm just...I know I can seen negative. But experience has taught me that anything that strong is dangerous.

[zerotohiro]

I mean...considering everything that's happened in your lifetimes? It's pretty valid experience. And anyway you have a better sense of spirituality and how the spirits work than we do.

When Korra was still here, we went to speak to Maris. We didn't find out a ton, but he also didn't seem to want to kill us on sight.

[faithfulflame]

Remember that water isn't necessarily as dangerous as fire, though. Touching it or being near it is generally seen as soothing. Fire? Is the opposite.

I know it's an obvious thing but...my point is that these things should be thought of as manifestations of their element.

[zerotohiro]

Soothing up until you drown in it, sure. [Drowning's not really on his list of to-dos, but Callaghan sure did almost make that happen.]

What does that say about someone like Occidi then? I know more about the other three but not enough about what the earth would be as a manifestation...other than covered in roots and dirt.