Cerealia IC Inbox

[faithfulflame]

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[zerotohiro]

Yeah, mostly. Minimal damage, it's not that bad.

[Bumps, bruises, scratches, mild hypothermia, whatever.] We got back to the colony safe. Sounds like most people did. Did you end up inside the volcano, too? [It would make sense, given she can use fire magic and what-have-you.]

[faithfulflame]

I did. What about you? Underwater? Or the mountains?

[She hasn't gotten in touch with Edgeworth yet, so she's lacking details on Earth...]

[zerotohiro]

The mountains. Tadashi ended up somewhere else, too.

[It's his subtle way of confirming Tadashi's alive again.] I didn't know underwater was an option. Who ended up there?

[faithfulflame]

Ami-chan. And it may have been the coast, but the way she talked it was...quite wet.

What about Tadashi-san? I assume he was Earth?

[zerotohiro]

I guess so since he told me he woke up again in a different part of the jungle.

Why do you think they separated all of us by elements?

[faithfulflame]

Because we are 'theirs' and they claim rights over us. Ardeo decidedly seems to think that, at any rate.

[zerotohiro]

We might be theirs, but that doesn't give them a reason to just ditch us until Mosley decided to show up and rescue us. I'd like an explanation for that. And how they decide who belongs to who. What if someone wanted to change their claim? Think it's possible?

cant html on my phone...

[faithfulflame]

It's probably temperament. But I don't like the idea of being 'claimed' by any local diety. You know why, being a member of a religion myself.

As for changing? I doubt that they would allow it. They seem possessive and territorial.

[zerotohiro]

Well YEAH. And you can get why I'm not really into it either. [Y'know. As someone who's a very active member of "science > religion" camp.] Did you actually talk to Ardeo when we were out there?

[faithfulflame]

Yes, unfortunately. I had the displeasure of speaking with him. Though, it's not something I'd care to discuss over the network, if that's alright with you.

[zerotohiro]

Understandable. [There's a pause.] I think I can take off for a little bit. Where should I meet you? Same place as last time?

[faithfulflame]

If you don't mind, yes. I'll bring some food as well. Something you can take home to Tadashi-san as well. I've been cooking all morning, just to calm down.

[zerotohiro]

Sounds good to me. I'll see you there in fifteen minutes, maybe? [Maybe more, maybe less. He's preparing himself to get used to the idea of going places without Tadashi again.]

And can I bring you anything besides your beads? [Hiro Hamada's being considerate of somebody else. The world is truly ending.]

[faithfulflame]

No, thanks alright. I'll see you there.

[And there she is, whenever he arrives, patiently seated at the table with a basket of goodies.]

[zerotohiro]

[For once when he arrives he's without his giant robot. He's decided Baymax needs to stay behind to monitor Tadashi instead and that he's totally, completely fine. Really. By the time he arrives he attempts a half-grin as he approaches Rei, waving as he gets closer.]

I didn't leave you waiting too long, did I? [Let's just sit at the table here even as he's idly eyeing that basket. That...looks like a lot.]

[faithfulflame]

[When he arrives, she waves right back and stands up, walking on over with a half smile. She's flanked by two crows, swooping and diving in circles around her like bumblebees.]

Not at all. I've been here just long enough to get these two fed.

[At that, the pair of birds swoops in and lands on her shoulders.]

These are Phobos and Deimos, my two oldest friends. They...ah...arrived shortly after we talked here last.

[zerotohiro]

[It's easy to focus on Rei and the birds instead of his own thoughts and it allows him to step out of his own head for a moment as he watches them swoop and dive. He blinks up at the birds, taking a tentative step back even as he eyes them curiously.]

...they're crows. [Yes thank you, Hiro, that's great. Birdies please don't peck out his eyes...] I didn't think you had pets. I'm glad they found you.

[faithfulflame]

Ah...a bit more than simple pets.

[The duo peers carefully at Hiro, chirping and not at all menacing. They're just birds, huh?]

They're more like guardians. I share a bond with them in a way. But anyway. That's not why we're here, is it?

[A beat]

How is your brother? [And how are you...by extension?]

[zerotohiro]

[He blinks in surprise because, well, they're intelligent birds then. Guardians. Whatever. He tilts his head and before he can stop himself:] So they're kinda like feathery Baymaxes. [He grins a little at the comparison.

…that grin fades a tiny bit at the question. That's a complicated question.] He's okay. He came back in one piece and his code seems okay…he was taking a nap when I left. I shouldn't be gone for long. [It's clear that he's still a little anxious about being away from Tadashi for too long after everything and after the conversation they had that morning.] Baymax is watching him to make sure he keeps resting. What about you and your friends? You guys are actually okay?

[Deflecting the conversation: A Hiro Hamada story.]

[faithfulflame]

Ah...something like that. [The two birds bow and then hop off her shoulders, landing neatly on the ground and bow again before going over to peck at something that'd caught their eyes.]

And see? I told you. Everything's okay. [Not...really but as okay as things can be. But since he's deflecting, she'll play into it and catch that pitch, but do bet that she's going to double back on you soon, Hiro.]

Just so for us. Minako-chan and Ami-chan are both just fine. Tired, disgruntled, and currently using both our bathtubs, but fine. And not about to go traipsing back into the jungle anytime soon. Especially not with a poisonous atmosphere.

[zerotohiro]

They're kinda cool. [Trained birds. He's half-tempted to follow after them just to study them a bit more but that's rude. Nodding in response, he doesn't verbally respond to the notion that everything's okay. There's plenty that isn't okay but he's not quite ready to unpack all of it yet. Best to focus on the girls instead.]

The jungle wasn't really good for any of us. I don't really blame 'em. [There's a slightly sheepish smile.] I'm probably going to do the same thing when I get back. [This was more important than resting or soaking in a bathtub.] It's dangerous but…I might want a second look now that we know what's out there. We can prepare ourselves, you know? But definitely not anytime soon.

Might skip the mountain this time though unless I've got a snowsuit.

[faithfulflame]

You're planning on going back out?

[Let's focus on that. Because her birds are more than cool. They're superhero alien princesses from a half a galaxy away. And only in Rei's world is that not a completely outlandish thought. So. Don't make her correct you and tell you how they are incredible friends and hero birds.]

How do you intend to deal with the atmosphere? [There's a pause, and she quirks her head to one side.] Because you aren't planning on going out alone. You aren't that foolish. You must have some plan.

[zerotohiro]

[He actually looks a bit cowed for a moment because...well.]

I mean I haven't thought of that yet? I'm not going back out without a real plan and until I make some upgrades on me and Baymax. But it's there, Rei. I have to try when I come up with a good plan. And I've got a helmet, maybe I can figure out an oxygen tank or something to help.

[Or he can be an air elemental and be totally fine. Whatever. He doesn't know that's going to benefit him.] It wasn't that bad out there until the last day when it was too cold to move. I could breathe just fine.

[faithfulflame]

[It'll help temporarily at least...]

It was different for myself, and Ami-chan. We were struggling with it for most of the time there. Just...the air was heavy, and it was definitely affecting us by the end of it.

[Yes, she'd had a way to communicate with other areas.]

Maybe it's because you're smaller than we are and got less of it, or it might be the locations. I mean, I was in a volcano. I'm surprised I don't smell of brimstone. [Wouldn't that be a treat?]

And atmosphere aside, what are you going to go looking for?

[zerotohiro]

[He actually gives her a skeptical look at the idea that she could communicate with someone in another area and he's about to ask how when she officially distracts him.]

I don't think it's because I'm smaller. [How dare you insinuate such, Rei. He's still growing, gosh.] But I wouldn't think there's a lot of air inside a volcano either. There's a big difference between that and a mountain.

[He pauses again.] I'd like to learn more about the planet before Vincere bought it and before Cerealia was formed. We're going to find more hints out there than in here, don't you think?