But as you linger over the picture, you understand something:
It's such a strange feeling. It feels too perfect to be true, at the same time as it feels hopelessly doomed. She's so beautiful and talented and charismatic, at the same time as she's frustrating, flippant and stubborn. She knows her own value, but she's always trying to build your confidence for you, too. When it comes down to it, she has the type advantage, and that is as intriguing as it is daunting.
You can't be too daunted when there's a security in this setup that you've never had before, though. Perhaps you can't control her, but you can show her the truth! You already made her accept your romance! Make her accept your life together! If you fail, you will mourn her with a clear conscience, without any regrets! Whether she lives or dies, it is as your beloved!
You had a commonality with him, and you were desperate for the acknowledgment of someone you could trust to be telling the truth, without flattering or consoling you. Yes, you built up momentum in that early desperation, and it carried you very far away... But, in the end, you got what you wanted, didn't you? You really thought you were lying to everyone when you said you would end things definitively, part without regrets, and then be a better friend to him afterwards. Isn't that exactly what happened, though? Incredible. You are sincerely happy to have such a close friend.
She's a sensible, dependable woman, and you're glad she's a teammate of yours. You were surprised to hear she was facing such devastating tragedy and self-criticism, and felt inspired by her tenacity in the face of it—her encouragement of you to fight, too. You can sense a wall that she keeps up, that you can't overcome with your politeness. But it's her business if she keeps the wall, you think. You only hope it helps her more than it hurts her to have it up.
[ It hurts a bit, because she feels the same way about their teammate...
She makes her way over to the photo of Lear, Gordie, and Piers. She had run into one of these gentleman before, hadn't she? She wonders what the photograph will say. ]
You didn't expect so many young, modern trainers to appear, who had no real connection to you. Are you a peer to them? Someone to look up to? You still feel like an impostor, having forgotten so much. You don't know how to approach people from your own world and your own time anymore. More than anyone else, these people hurt the most to admit your personal tragedy to. More than anyone else, they know you are an outlier. Most people at home will never go through what you went through, and haven't ever thought about it happening to them. You hope you can be of use enough to overcome that inherent discomfort, and support their bright and promising careers.
[ Ah... This resonates with her more than she thought such a photograph would. That feeling of being unworthy of being a role model, yet wanting so desperately to be of some use to the younger ones, knowing that you're an outlier...
She clutches at her chest as she makes her way to the last photo, the one of Ritsuka. ]
You have come to realize that in some ways, she is like a Pokemon that hasn't been fully domesticated. Sometimes you just can't help your desire to corral her. Still, she's an energetic young woman, with an impressive force of will, and humility that doesn't match her accomplishments. You won't ever forget the miserable experience of walking through that bloody sea of hatred. To imagine that someone with that inside of her is such a cheerful and forward-facing person—it's mesmerizing and inspirational to you. In another lifetime, where she had a different destiny, it would have been nice to be a parental figure for the long-term. But at least you have her blessing for the future. You have to do your best for her sake, too!
As you linger over the picture, you understand something:
For someone from such a distinct culture, you can relate to him. It excites you to witness someone who is comparably fond of his brother, and comparing and contrasting the situations is fascinating. Some things can be universal, even under very different circumstances, you suppose. If you had met Arthur a little earlier, you might have had a complex about him, too—someone so stylish and socially graceful, with the talent to heal others! It is all very impressive. You are honored and relieved that he will consider you a friend.
In the very beginning of your reunion you felt some fear, recognizing how much power he held over you. The vast expectations he had for you. The concept is hard to comprehend nowadays, even if a vague memory lingers. Does the sky hold power over the earth? It is a meaningless question to ask for two things that coexist closely enough to be one continuous whole. When the sky fills in all the gaps of the earth, is a vast expectation so unreasonable for either of you? Should you limit the definition of yourself, just out of fear? You can be considered separately. But why would you want to be?
[ Hey but for real why is that so touching? Arthur will never understand what it's like to be a twin, but he knows what it's like to be a sibling. What a lovely sentiment.
Now on to the picture of Ori since she won't do it herself. ]
It was a blessing to have her with you in those elevators in the air. To have a teammate who has seen tragedy before, who has lost herself before like you have, but who still gets emotional about it happening again. It hurts that someone else has had to experience something like what you have had to experience. And it's uncanny to see someone else who is as polite and earnestly service-oriented as you are, if not more. But you have such positive feelings about her. It makes you realize more easily how people might feel positively about you, too. Do others see you as such a bright and loving person?
You had a complex about him at first. He was like you, but better and more successful in every way, you thought. More confident, less awkward, younger and prettier than you, on a team that won every time when you were desperate for a single token. It embarrassed you that he had to be the one to tell you that a person like that can be a friend and not a rival. But you haven't stopped being grateful that the friendship happened. He fills a unique space in your life. You hope he understands, even if you must be very vigilant about the boundary between you.
A brilliant talent like hers does not deserve to be dragged down by loneliness or restlessness. In some ways she reminds you of yourself when you were younger, but in other ways she is an unpredictable firecracker whose actions you could never replicate, even if you tried. You're sure she makes a fantastic Champion. You want her to have that again... And you want to at least do the bare minimum of remembering it for her. Whatever your connection was at its deepest, she deserves that much support.
[ There certainly is a melancholy tinge to all of these, aren't there? It's plain to see that the loss of Ingo's memories eats at him more than he would let on.
Assuming Ori will take the one picture remaining and that they have both gone around to collect the various vibes they have missed: ]
[ she hugs him SO TIGHT. We love hugs here in Sphinx, but also they haven't even gotten a chance to catch up on so many things... ]
Right. We'll do our best...!
[ Which reminds her... She'd been so focused on the photos, she hasn't even thought to look out the window! Has the view just been of dark subway tunnels the whole time!? ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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They are! Let us take a closer look.
[ He's gonna start with the picture of himself because he's curious. ]
Ah, I remember this.
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[ she trusts Arthur's fashion sense. Just look at him.
She wanders over to some of the other photographs, and sees the one with Da Vinci and— ]
—! This is...! Did they get married without telling us...!?
[ SHE'S TEARING UP A LITTLE?? Miss Da Vinci looks so beautiful! ]
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But as you linger over the picture, you understand something:
It's such a strange feeling. It feels too perfect to be true, at the same time as it feels hopelessly doomed. She's so beautiful and talented and charismatic, at the same time as she's frustrating, flippant and stubborn. She knows her own value, but she's always trying to build your confidence for you, too. When it comes down to it, she has the type advantage, and that is as intriguing as it is daunting.
You can't be too daunted when there's a security in this setup that you've never had before, though. Perhaps you can't control her, but you can show her the truth! You already made her accept your romance! Make her accept your life together! If you fail, you will mourn her with a clear conscience, without any regrets! Whether she lives or dies, it is as your beloved!
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Oh, Mister Ingo...
[ She's absolutely going to blab about this to Da Vinci after this...
For now, she looks at... the photo with Vicious! ]
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Interesting... Ori has yet to meet this fellow, but now she knows about. This. ]
Oh! This one is of Lucretia...
[ She will look at that one, now! ]
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[ It hurts a bit, because she feels the same way about their teammate...
She makes her way over to the photo of Lear, Gordie, and Piers. She had run into one of these gentleman before, hadn't she? She wonders what the photograph will say. ]
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She clutches at her chest as she makes her way to the last photo, the one of Ritsuka. ]
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For someone from such a distinct culture, you can relate to him. It excites you to witness someone who is comparably fond of his brother, and comparing and contrasting the situations is fascinating. Some things can be universal, even under very different circumstances, you suppose. If you had met Arthur a little earlier, you might have had a complex about him, too—someone so stylish and socially graceful, with the talent to heal others! It is all very impressive. You are honored and relieved that he will consider you a friend.
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Oh... Ingo, my friend. I'm honored to know you, too.
[ What about... this photo of Emmet? Cause, you know, brothers. ]
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Now on to the picture of Ori since she won't do it herself. ]
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[ He's going to make sur Ori sees this one too, since it's so sweet. Sweet like the both of them!!
But after that, he will check out the picture of Saturn. He hasn't spoken to him much, but Arthur remembers him. ]
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He moves onto Hilda next. They've not spoken much since he taught her how to braid her hair. He wonders how she's doing. ]
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Assuming Ori will take the one picture remaining and that they have both gone around to collect the various vibes they have missed: ]
How are you faring, my friend?
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Ingo... He's a very good person, and teammate. I hope that we can help him like he's helped so many of us...
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That is why we're here. We shall do our very best.
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Right. We'll do our best...!
[ Which reminds her... She'd been so focused on the photos, she hasn't even thought to look out the window! Has the view just been of dark subway tunnels the whole time!? ]
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(For the most authentic experience, don't read the other threads yet.)