Oh, hey, he's back.

[nomen_est_numen]

[video]

[Most people probably didn't even notice he'd gone missing--he doesn't socialise much, after all. At any rate there he is on the other side of your screens, looking a bit bedraggled and with a bag of ice tied to his head. He's rather annoyed, all told.]

So apparently I was knocked out by a basketball. Does anyone know how that could have happened?

Comments

[faithful_kitsune]

My goodness! Are you all right? I was quite worried!

[nomen_est_numen]

[And his feathers fluff. Again. o_o]

Ah... I. I, yes. I am. All right, that is.

You were?

[d'awwwwwwh.]

[faithful_kitsune]

Why yes! Disappearing like that, after leaving such a message. From how Joachim put it, you sounded like you were quite distressed about things.

[nomen_est_numen]

[Oh. Oh, dear.... He looks down for a moment and when he speaks his voice is very quiet and tired-sounding.]

Did he tell you about the memory?

[faithful_kitsune]

*She tries to think of the best way to answer this.*

He did. But tell me: You possess this knowledge. What will you do with it?

[nomen_est_numen]

[He thinks on that for a few beats, gazing quietly into the middle distance. His focus stays there when he speaks again, almost as though that's where he's getting his thoughts from.]

My first answer would be 'as little as possible,' but that's not quite right. I know why I did it--I remember why I did it. But I still don't understand why I did it. It feels... as though someone else has stepped into my memories. I can't... put my mind in that sort of a place any longer. I remember the smells, the sounds, I remember being there during the raid, I remember the thoughts I had... they make no sense to me, now. I can't imagine having any desire to kill anybody. It simply makes no sense.

[faithful_kitsune]

*She listens thoughtfully. Then smiles quietly, and nods.*

I believe... that is all I needed to hear for now. Many of us have blood on our hands. It is how you choose to accept that memory that is important.

I do not understand why you would do such a thing. But perhaps this place has given you a chance to redeem yourself for such an act. Embrace that, rather than the past.

[nomen_est_numen]

Redeem myself... [His gaze is still distant and a little bit hopeful.]

D'you think it's possible? D'you think others would... accept an attempt to redeem myself for... genocide? [He doesn't look very optimistic.]

[faithful_kitsune]

Hmm... Well, Joachim at least did not seem willing to judge. It may be something you have to work at every day for the rest of your life. But the fact you show remorse at this point would strike me as a sign there is something salvagable. If you had none, then I would have worried.

Either way, what has happened has happened. It seems you have been reborn like the phoenix. Maybe some will find it hard to forgive, but I think if you do good by others, even they will find it in their hearts to move on.

[nomen_est_numen]

I won't lie, it sounds difficult. But it's true that nothing worth having is had easily.

[This next bit is harder to get out.] D'you... would you... that is... Can... how do I say this... Would you? Forgive me, that is? Or do you? Or...

[flounder flounder flounder]

[third_alternative]

Uhhhhhh...basketball, you said?

[nomen_est_numen]

[He's giving you the benefit of the doubt, right now. More fool him.]

Yes. I was in the forest not far from town and the next thing I knew I was waking up on the ground with Gordon and Joachim standing over me and telling me something about having been struck with a basketball.

[third_alternative]

In the forest?

Wow. Didn't think they'd go that far.

[nomen_est_numen]

[...]

[He frowns, and with those eyebrows it's quite the frown.]

And d'you care to tell me why you were throwing basketballs into the forest in the first place?

[third_alternative]

What? Psh, who said I was throwing them? That's just crazy talk.

I just saw them flying through the air all around town! I didn't think they'd get to the forest too.