Post Crossing Meeting

[knockingatthedoor]

WHO: Kel and anyone who wants to discuss The Crossing
WHAT: Second 'Town Meeting'
WHERE: Oasis
WHEN: A bit after the crossing, when everyone has time to calm down and breathe.
WARNINGS Talks of death, definitely, mention of blood and wounds, other CWs to be added.

[Kel has seen people scatter around and, despite still acting like a foolish fool around Mari and Sunny... he is doing his best to try to coordinate things as he can. Armed with a set bright of pink pencils, definitely merchandise of the Sweetheart brand from his place, he prepared a whole wall in one of the shelters to work as a rough chalkboard and, written on it, there are his few observations from staying behind.

- Nothing beside the wraiths did show up. What are we running from?
- Ferryman honest or not?
- When you don't pay the tool, you may still lose memories
- Our bodies can get hurt as if we're still alive.
- Discussion About Crossing from both sides?

It's not much but try to get stuff to appear properly on a blank wall when all you have is a bunch of pencils that don't even write that well. He's trying, though, he really is. A message is sent out to everyone after he's done gathering enough pillows for everyone to sit in, inviting people to come and share experiences, and... that's all. He did, at least, prepare water for everyone to drink.... it's somethin, right?

"Why, thank you for coming! Take a seat, mingle and let's get down to businesses!"

OOC: This is a mingle thread. Feel free to interact with each other and have discussions about things. The 'chalkboard' will be updated if anything is brought up to Kel's attention, I'll leave an open post for that.

Comments

[urtitan]

[To that last part, she only has one thing to say, hypocritical as it is in light of her prior encouragement of him (but granted, she didn't know then what she knows now):]

We are two of a kind, then. What future can we really look forward to? Only oblivion - and even that is a mercy for sinners such as us.

[blindluck]

Well, this is definitely a lot more future than I expected to have after I died. [Not that Nagito disagrees with her. He just thought oblivion should have happened a few months ago.]

I wanted to test Mari-san. That's why I needed her to get away from me. I've done that kind of thing before, too, after all.

[He'd gone--well, too far, testing Makoto's sister. It's a bad thing to let himself repeat.]

[urtitan]

[She thinks for a moment, reflecting on how he acted in life and how he acts now, and comparing it with her own behaviour. While she knows full well what drove her to do what she did, in Nagito's case she can only assume how Enoshima leveraged his already shaken self-confidence and lack of faith in the goodness of humanity to warp him into an instrument of despair. Was he aware of those traits within himself, though?]

...

If you were dedicated to spreading despair, how did you end up becoming so obsessed with hope? Is it the result of Makoto's efforts on your behalf?

[Is he, in other words, his devout follower above all else? And here, she initially thought that his preocupation with hope developed independently from him, albeit within the same SHSL system.]

[blindluck]

Ah, I've always been like this, even before Naegi-sama. But back then, the idea she put in my head--

[He wraps his arms around himself, drumming restlessly on his prosthetic arm.]

If despair leads to hope, and if the strongest despair leads to the strongest hope, then if you encourage the strongest, most all-encompassing despair... Well, that leads to the strongest, most all-encompassing hope.

[More drumming.]

The world did get Naegi-sama out of everything that happened, of course, but it wasn't as if that was the result of me.

[Nagito has limits that he didn't have as a Remnant.]

[urtitan]

[So he did develop his obsession with hope independently of Makoto... it's bizarre and understandable in equal parts. Seeing him hug himself makes her want to comfort him, but what comfort can one horrible person give to another, really?]

And you still believe that - that the greatest despair breeds the greatest hope, and that Makoto became as hopeful and inspiring as he is because your world was filled with despair thanks to your group's efforts?

[blindluck]

A hope as great as Naegi-sama's was necessary to put a stop to the Tragedy. I think things would be much worse if great despair didn't lead to great hope. [He's still hanging onto himself, though. Thinking about his time as a Remnant is... Agitating.] But there's a difference between working within a despairing situation and causing one.

[urtitan]

[She offers a singular nod at his last statement.]

That, we can agree on.

[Originally, she wanted to challenge his philosophy wholesale, try to get him to understand that it's warped and twisted... but now, she just feels depleted. Sometimes, the world is despair-worthy just as it is, without anybody instigating greater desperation - and in those times, isn't it really for the best to have people like Makoto and Mari around? She exhales.]

...

Maybe just try not to walk alone with Mari during the Crossings. I can stay with you, but if you prefer someone else, I understand.

[Of course, she isn't thinking of anyone in particular here...]

[blindluck]

[Nagito smiles wryly--and more genuinely than he often does, honestly. He knows who Frieda is talking about, of course:] As much as I would love to monopolize Naegi-sama's time, I really am at least attempting to be less selfish. I'm trying to keep my distance myself, but if she approaches me on her own--

[He sighs.]

But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised she does that, either. But if you'd be willing to try to stop her from doing that during Crossings, I'd be grateful.

[urtitan]

[Frieda's expression softens into a smile.]

...

I wouldn't be surprised if she did, either. She and Makoto are alike.

[It's a strange feeling to simultaneously be so undeserving of good people's care, effort, and affection, yet be unable to reject it, perhaps because their kindness makes her feel almost like she is a worthwhile human being. Is that how Nagito feels?]

[blindluck]

I can't decide if it's hopeful to have two such people here. Perhaps for us, but surely it would be better if they were alive. [Do the dead need their hope?] And that they keep fussing over someone like me...

[That's definitely not the most efficient use of their time.]

[urtitan]

It's unfair, isn't it? They should still be alive.

[She exhales, trying to let go of that tinge of bitterness. The sooner they accept that which they cannot change, the less energy they'll needlessly waste.]

But we won't be able to stop them from fussing, so let's try to count our blessings and be grateful.

[What else can they do? Seeing how her business with Nagito is concluded - different of a turn as it took from what she had prepared herself for -, she looks back in the direction they came from.]

Let's head back to the camp.

[The last thing they need is for the others - particularly those two saints - to get worried for them.]