Harumasa Asaba (浅羽悠真) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
life_ethereal) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
kaisou2025-01-17 04:47 pm
life_ethereal) wrote in kaisou2025-01-17 04:47 pm
Entry tags:
Text | UN: HelplesslyWeak
WHO: Harumasa and you!
WHERE: Libra Network
WHEN: 1/17
WHAT: There's another newbie on the Libra network! Hopefully he's friendlier.
WARNINGS: None, but will update if it comes up! Please remember to fill out his permission/opt-out post~
Okay, so, I ran all the antivirus programs I've got on my phone and this app keeps coming up clean.
So I guess I'll introduce myself!
Hi, I'm Harumasa, nice to meet everyone, etc.
Don't know why I'm here on this app, but here we are!
Guess I'll do a little bit of an icebreaker or something.
I'm between jobs, I'm a Cancer (crab), and I was born in the year of the rabbit.
Favorite word: sleep!
Favorite color: probably yellow or green!
Fun fact about me is that I'm oh so very delicate and frail! My health is so poor, just the worst. There's never enough sick leave. Woe!
[Even through text he manages to make that sound so fake.]
Even thinking about work gives me SO much fatigue.
Anyway, I got a really, critically important question to ask:
Is it always this cold in the winter?!?!
I feel like just stepping outside is going to make me come down with something!!
My poor, delicate constitution isn't cut out for this....
WHERE: Libra Network
WHEN: 1/17
WHAT: There's another newbie on the Libra network! Hopefully he's friendlier.
WARNINGS: None, but will update if it comes up! Please remember to fill out his permission/opt-out post~
Okay, so, I ran all the antivirus programs I've got on my phone and this app keeps coming up clean.
So I guess I'll introduce myself!
Hi, I'm Harumasa, nice to meet everyone, etc.
Don't know why I'm here on this app, but here we are!
Guess I'll do a little bit of an icebreaker or something.
I'm between jobs, I'm a Cancer (crab), and I was born in the year of the rabbit.
Favorite word: sleep!
Favorite color: probably yellow or green!
Fun fact about me is that I'm oh so very delicate and frail! My health is so poor, just the worst. There's never enough sick leave. Woe!
[Even through text he manages to make that sound so fake.]
Even thinking about work gives me SO much fatigue.
Anyway, I got a really, critically important question to ask:
Is it always this cold in the winter?!?!
I feel like just stepping outside is going to make me come down with something!!
My poor, delicate constitution isn't cut out for this....
Off Network | UN: Apollo
[And he'll switch to the off-network communication he uses with Phaethon. Harumasa has his suspicions that he just spoke with her on Libra, which is very interesting to him.]
I've passed by it, yeah. Want me to meet you there?
It'll mean I have to brave the cold, but I suppose I do owe you~
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[Sent along is a picture of Eous the Bangboo, snapping off a little salute for the camera.]
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Holy shit!
Harumasa instantly gives her his address. It seems to be at a short-term housing area. It's more like a hotel than an apartment in style. He even includes a room number.]
Give me one knock on the door so I know it's you.
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[It's a little far, but bundled up as she is, Belle doesn't mind the walk. Eous accompanies her, hand in hers, and the two of them make their way over to the hotel and Harumasa's room relatively quickly.
Beyond the door, the distinctive ehn-na-nas of a Bangboo can be heard. After a moment, Belle knocks on the door once, then just stands there and waits, her heart in her throat.
A flicker of memory: the whistle of arrows in flight, aimed at a monster, the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Steady hands, steady aim. She's missed him. (She's missed them all.)]
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He also feels like something else is missing. Something important.
He's still thinking about that when the knock comes. Harumasa unlocks the three locks on his door and opens it up to see... Belle. With Eous. He can't help feeling like they're only half complete without Wise. It's almost wrong to imagine the siblings separated.
But there's a huge grin on his face as he opens the door for her to step inside.]
Belle! And little Eous! Not sure what's going on with my memories at the moment, but... I'm... really glad to see you. C'mon in, I can make us some coffee.
[And also give Eous a hug because he loves that little Bangboo. So cute!]
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[She knows names and faces, recalls Wise the best of all, but looking back now she can see the gaps in her memory of her past life. But she's glad she remembers Harumasa, glad that they ran into each other even by accident, glad they're here at all. She breathes out, and something inside her heart loosens and relaxes, like a cat basking in the sun, for the first time in years.
Meanwhile Eous is doing their best to hug back, chattering in ehn-nas. They've missed Harumasa! They've brought chocolates. Work's been slow with the blizzard, so they and Belle have just been watching movies. Hey, where's the rest of Section 6?
Belle swoops in then, gently telling Eous:] They're, ah. They're not around yet, Eous.
[to Harumasa:] We did bring chocolates, though. You have no idea how glad I am to see you, seriously.
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[That was a shot in the dark guess, but....
Harumasa understanding the Bangboo language is really surreal. It's both familiar and not. That might lead to a headache later, but for now he's just going to be smiling along as Eous babbles. Up until Section 6 is mentioned. It's only for a second, but Harumasa freezes at the name.
Ah... that's who he's forgotten. Miyabi, Yanagi, Soukaku. Three people he owes his deep loyalty and trust to, just like the two Proxies. It feels like he's suddenly aware of a gaping hole in his heart where those people used to fit.
But he doesn't show that on his face. He keeps smiling instead.]
Not yet, but I found my way here, right? So they shouldn't be all that far behind.
[He lets Eous go and pats its head affectionately before standing up to address Belle properly.]
Chocolates? Truly, I'm being spoiled! I think I've got a good coffee blend to go with that.
[Harumasa starts heading over to the kitchen, which really is just part of the living room. The place is quite small with only one door leading to the bedroom and en suite bathroom.]
Honestly, I'm glad to see you, too, Belle. And not just 'cause of these new memories. I feel a lot better about my decision to come here.
[After all, she's one of the very few people in his life who know the full extent of his illness. An illness he's starting to realize is very similar to what he had in that 'other' life.]
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[Zelos is, instead. Well, most of the time, anyway, when the snow isn't thick on the ground. She doesn't blame him, it's just strange to turn to the side expecting someone there and finding no one at all. At least when Zelos had been around, that odd feeling of wrongness was mitigated, but he's off in El Nido having a good time in the sunshine. She's glad for him, she really is, it's just...
She's just lonely.
With Harumasa here, though, she smiles, and the loneliness melts from her, even for a little time.]
I'll bet. I guess I'd better start stocking up on snacks in case Soukaku drops in.
[She'll take a seat on the couch, and Eous hops up next to her, pulling their bag around so they can pull out a pack of very high-quality chocolates. Thankfully this is one of the OnlyFans packages that don't come with a, uh, questionable picture of her half-brother.]
Yeah, Kaisou's a good place to live, and I'm not just saying that because I've lived here my whole life and am really biased. The people here are incredibly friendly, they'll jump at the chance to help out a new guy. Especially on the Libra app, although—hey, did someone send you the alternate version, without all the ads?
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[It's a promise. Harumasa swears he'll find Wise for Belle. He just hopes that either he finds the guy soon or he happens to arrive in Kaisou someday. Either one would be the best possible outcome.
Still, he laughs at that as he waits for the coffee maker to finish, pulling out two mugs.]
No kidding! Man, that girl could really eat. Hey, do you think the Chief is gonna be as feral in this life as she was in the last? I can almost guarantee that the Deputy Chief would be just as much of a workaholic as she was back then, haha!
[The memories make him sad, but that's exactly why he's going to engage with them and try to make light of it. Harumasa turns around to lean against the counter, crossing his arms as he looks at Belle. Same smile she always saw on him back then.]
Yeah, that game dev I know from my D&D group? He sent me a link to Gemini. I promise, I ran all the antivirus software you gave me to check on it. I'm just as paranoid about malware as anyone would be.
[More so because of what Krusnik did to him.]
How would you like your coffee, Manager~?
[Careful, Belle.]
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[They're both going to keep looking. At the very least, Belle's hoping for some closure, if she can't get her brother back, alive and well.
That's a lie, she can't stop herself from hoping he's alive.But at the reminder of the rest of Section 6, she snickers, memories bubbling up into the forefront of her mind. She shakes her head a bit, mostly just to clear the slight headache from suddenly remembering these people, seeing their faces in more detail when before she only vaguely recalled a few things about them.]
Oh, god, I'll bet. I can't see Miss Miyabi being anything but feral in her own composed way. But ah, I really hope Yanagi's learned to take it easier, there's a little less to worry about here and now than there used to be, back then. [Back in New Eridu where Hollows, and the risk of falling into them, were so common as to just be a fact of life.
She raises an eyebrow.]
The fishing game guy, right? I know he released a video game into early access last year, but that's pretty much it. And hey, good! I was about to launch into a lecture about trusting weird links even from good friends. [Belle's a hacker, she knows her stuff.] But I can vouch for Gemini, too. Less ads, less tracking, less corporate oversight.
[A beat.]
...a teaspoon of sugar's fine? If you've got any, that is. Otherwise I'm fine with taking it black. [But she will look sad about it the whole time.]
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[Harumasa isn't about to witness another family be torn apart if he can at all help it. The Phaethon siblings have both helped him out immensely in both of his lives. He can only honor that by doing the same for them.
He pulls out the sugar.]
Exactly! Which is why Tsukishiro is probably going to be an enormous workaholic in some administration position. You and I both know that she couldn't even take a break without thinking about what she could be doing at work. [He shudders.] Ergh, gives me the heebies just thinking about that.
[Yet Harumasa is easily the one who tries in the background to take some of the load off of her plate during emergency situations. He just doesn't want it to be acknowledged.]
Sounds like a great app to use, then. And yeah don't worry, I took to heart all those lectures you gave me about weird links. Really, it was very lucky that I ran into you first and not someone who would've taken advantage of a guy fresh from... that place.
[At least he'll acknowledge it had been very desperate and very stupid. It did work in his favor the one time, but that's never a guarantee for future results.
He pours the coffee into two mugs and stirs a heaping teaspoon of sugar into Belle's. Harumasa balances the canister of sugar on his arm as he sets a mug down in front of her, and puts the sugar there as well. He takes a sip of very bitter black coffee without flinching.]
Use as much as you like! I was working at a bakery not too long ago. Kept some sugar on hand to bribe some of my coworkers' kids into behaving with some cookies I made at home.
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He had better be. Running a video store is hard on your own even without everyone calling it "the last video rental in the county," which isn't even true. There's like, four in the county.
[And she misses him, still, like missing a limb or a lung or a piece of her heart. That Harumasa is on the case—she appreciates that more than words can express.]
Oh, wow, now I'm remembering. She wanted to rent a video to relax, and then she ended up getting a video to play in the waiting room. [Belle just did not have the heart to remind her, again, that she'd missed the whole point, after that.] I honestly wouldn't be surprised if she was in Zodiac. That company is full of workaholics. [A wince.] Is it bad, that I kinda get it now?
[Being a business owner is very hard. She almost prefers the hacking, really.
That place, he says. She nods.]
Really lucky. [Phaethon's not the only hacker out there, after all, but she has her standards. She's also aware that not every hacker has those same standards, or else the Internet would be a far less toxic place.] Tell you something? I stayed up all night when you first contacted me, because just off the texts alone I felt like...I had to make sure I got you somewhere safe. [She'd once said to someone, a long time ago: I'm your Proxy. I promised to get you out, so that's what I'll do. Not Harumasa, she's sure of it, but...
When he'd asked for her help, she'd promised.]
I think...maybe some part of me, back then, could almost recall. Couldn't let you down.
[She takes the cup from him, and stirs two teaspoons of sugar into it. Ah, coffee. She should maybe cut back on her caffeine intake.
In the meantime, Eous is busy exploring Harumasa's place. They're taking note of exit routes and sight lines, the way something well-used to their owner doing shady shit might do, before they circle back to tap Harumasa on the knee and declare that this isn't a half-bad place, for a short-term stay, but has he found anything more permanent yet?]
Ah, Eous is right, you find anything for a long-term stay, yet? There's three places I know of that don't ask you to pay rent.
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[How rude that he can't recycle material!
Still, hearing that about the Deputy Chief has Harumasa sighing in mock exasperation.]
Yeah, that sounds just like her. Did you know she memorized the entire instruction manual to a VR training program we were testing?!
[But then Belle talks about back then. Harumasa definitely remembers how desperate he'd been to get as far away as possible by any means necessary. How terrified and paranoid he had been, but something about contacting Phaethon gave him hope. Like he could trust the person on the other side of that username.]
Well... Maybe it was the same for me. I... felt like I could trust you with my life. That I wouldn't be quite so alone anymore.
[Now that he has the context, and now that one of the Phaethon siblings are here within walking distance, he feels that same protective urge his past self did. No matter what, Harumasa won't let anything happen to his Proxies. He'll protect Belle and he'll find Wise.
Harumasa blinks and looks down at Eous when he feels the pats at his knee. He looks back at Belle with a familiar, mischievous smile.]
No, but I've been recommended the Fortress by so many people that I know it's currently in the lead for my permanent residence! What're your thoughts on that?
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[A little snort of laughter.]
I did not know that, but it sounds exactly like something she'd do, so I'm not surprised. I'll bet you anything that wherever she is now, she has the entire handbook just embedded into her head. [A pause.] Hey. If any of them walked through the store's door—I'll let you know, first thing.
[And she silently decides to start actively looking for them, as well. Won't be easy, if they've reincarnated but they don't remember. And if any of them at any point got picked up by the Black Order—well, she dearly hopes not.]
...thank you. Really. There was—a really long time when I felt alone, but knowing you were alive out there...that helped me, too, more than you can imagine. [She knew grief in her past life, she's sure of it. Belle the Proxy had been looking for someone too, but—she'd had family, then. Here and now, she's...much lonelier, and then she'd helped this guy who'd come fresh off of something bad, and—she just never stopped looking out for him, her loyalty sealed from that first night spent up.] So it's good to see you here in the city, even though I worry about you. I'm sorry it's not at its best right now.
[As for the Fortress, she hums.]
I actually haven't been down there myself, but I think it's a good place, so long as you're not scared of fish. I know that it's very secure so no worries about anyone breaking in there. The Aides du Meropide use it as their home base, and they're good people, so neighbor-wise you're set. Not sure what the wi-fi situation is, but given people can connect to the app even there, I'm sure they've got something hooked up that works okay. About the only con is the part where it's underwater, but people seem to be doing okay even then.
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[Harumasa laughs at that. As much fun as this is, he really does hope that their new lives have been kinder than their previous ones. His hasn't been, but he did get the family he never had in the bargain so....
He blinks, surprised by the offer, but then his expression seems to soften.]
I'd appreciate that. It's a shame I can't tell them that I... [He trails off and pauses for a little while.] Well. That I'm not much better than I was when they knew me. At least I don't have to worry about turning into an Ethereal, so that's something!
[A little confirmation to what Belle must already suspect about him. He remembers that... both of them had been told by him about his condition.
Still, he smiles and reaches over to ruffle her hair gently. It's instinctive for him in this life, using that gesture as a way to comfort the younger kids at the facility. Something a big brother would do.]
Hey, it's fine! I'll take this over what I had before. For one thing, we're both less alone this way.
[Even if the cold brings back awful memories and feelings, he's got people he can trust here and a cat to cuddle for therapy.
Harumasa listens intently to her assessment of the Fortress. If she'd told him to stay away from it, he might've hesitated. However, having that outside source give him the greenlight on the place truly settles it. He sees no reason to not choose the Meropide as his new place of residence.]
Well, if even you've got good things to say about it, looks like the choice is an easy one to make! I've got two little brothers and an older sister--no blood relation to any of them--living down there, so you won't have to worry too much about my frail self~! They grew up with me when we were kids. You should come visit when you get the chance. I'd love for you to meet them.