[IC Inbox - Carvaka]

[necrowmantic]

Notes: Henry's network object takes the form of a book, that looks nearly identical to the tome Grima's Truth. So as a default, all responses from him are handwritten (text). Where noticeable, his handwriting would show up as a small, casual-looking script that's more precise than may be initially apparent. Occasional bloodstains may or may not be involved.

Comments

[necrowmantic]

[Ah, there it is indeed. It's reassuringly normal after everything, and Henry finds he'd kind of missed it. And it's more of a relief than he expected to hear Otonashi give his apparent blessing to the relationship.]

Can do! I'm not bad with a knife myself, maybe we can teach each other new techniques!

[Surely he had relevant experience. Surely.

Henry's tone changes a bit in the next, but if it was spoken, it'd still be delivered in his usual cheerful tone.]

But anyway, I sort of died. Again. Didn't have a choice this time, so I guess it's more 'I was murdered and it got really really messy', but that's not actually the point.

It kind of didn't feel too great, since I'd just promised to Seijuurou that I wouldn't die anymore, that we'd stay alive together and I already blew it. And I'm not sure why, but not dying with him this time was sort of....

['Sad', is the feeling he's looking for, but Henry has a hard time even finding that simple of a word for it, so he moves on.]

But when I revived, Seijuurou was there waiting for me in that bloody room. I dunno how long he was there with my corpse, but... he was the first thing I woke up to and that's a very very important memory to me.

--And then he gave me his EYE. To me, this total loser who'd just broken a promise and died. Just because he'd promised it to me before, in return for my broken one, even though his own vision had already gotten better. That's the kind of person he is.

Uh, long story short, it's a special eye to me and it kind of hurt when you were that horrified at seeing it and told me not to do it again?

[trainwrecking]

You're more of an... uh, extractions expert than a "putting it back together correctly," I think.

[ Not that there isn't value in removing pieces if they need to be out.

It doesn't take him terribly long to read Henry's message the first time, but processing all of takes another two read throughs. ]

It... probably wasn't fun to die with him when you hadn't planned for it, and before you knew if it'd be forever. You didn't know what was happening, and someone you love was suffering too. I would have felt awful until the end. Sad... Guilty.

[ Otonashi can at least put words and sentiments to what he thinks Henry's trying to describe. It speaks to the kinds of stories he knows very well. ]

Listen, I... I get the sentiment, even if I don't like the pain aspect of it. If that was his wish and you appreciate the gesture, then that's what matters. That's what we have by the end... Important memories of the lives we lead. This is yours. You're making the best of it.

And you're not a loser, Henry.

[necrowmantic]

[The sentiment and words feel more awkward than anything, and he's already had to think a lot more about emotional things than he ever wants to, so he backs off from the topic as soon as he can.]

Yeah, I guess it's all something like that.

But anyway, that's about it, isn't it? Wow, I'm sure glad that's cleared up, I was thinking of hexing your voice away so I wouldn't ever have to hear it out of you again. Sure glad I didn't get around to it!

[trainwrecking]

Uh... y-yeah, good thing...

[ Text, voice, whatever the medium: the awkward laughter is clear in its implication. ] Please don't do that, okay? I'm kinda still using it. There's just one last thing...

[necrowmantic]

Yeah, but I wasn't sure if you deserved to keep having such a cool voice!

But what's up? Any amputations you've got scheduled?

[trainwrecking]

I... uh, don't know if I should be flattered or scared. I really don't. Maybe I'll just go with "thanks for letting me keep it..."

[ Better not linger too long on that. ]

Sorry, no amputations on schedule. Just a splinter I got this morning, but that shouldn't require amputating anything. What I was going to ask you about was, uh... brain related.

[necrowmantic]

Good thing you noticed it though, I've had wounds go all slimy and gross 'cause of missed splinters!

[Exactly what Otonashi wanted to hear about; isn't he relieved they're talking again.]

I can do brain stuff too. Need me to stuff ya full of new memories or something?

[trainwrecking]

[ Oh good. The glamour of wanting to be in medicine: the weird stories. ]

Yeah, I... can see how that could happen. Sorry about your - festering... wounds. Let me know if you get more.

[ Because he knows it'll happen, it's only a matter of when. ]

No! No - thaaaat won't be necessary, thanks. I'd settle for getting back the boring old ones that got stuck. I dunno, maybe we can come up with a cool one if you want to be creative - as long as it's small.

[necrowmantic]

If you're sure! It's about time I got around to messing with that head of yours.

I'll make sure you had a really cool life! An exciting past awaits!

[trainwrecking]

Thanks, but... I can't accept nothing but false memories. I had a life, even if it wasn't cool or exciting.

If I purposely try to erase that and replace it with something else, then I'd be remembering a life for someone who doesn't exist. It wouldn't be mine anymore. So... Can you try to make sure you just show me the real thing before I consider anything else?

[necrowmantic]

I guess so, but... I COULD make it so you don't know any better. Erase this whole conversation so you remember nothing but me definitely promising nothing but the truth.

Then you'd be satisfied AND remember a good life, how's that?

[trainwrecking]

I appreciate what you're trying to do for me. [ He won't say outright that it shows some level of care and desire to see a friend happy, but the sentiment is there. ]

But if you wade through my real memories, you do know you'll get to see several death traps go off very successfully... right? You wouldn't want to remove that, would you?

[ What a bargaining chip. ]

[necrowmantic]

[Which is probably good, as he'd just laugh it off and deny it meant anything at all.

But what a nice bargaining chip. Henry has to hesitate at that.

Well....

If you're extra sure you want to keep things like they are, who am I to improve on a good death trap?! Nya ha!

[trainwrecking]

There you go, that's the idea. [ Except it's really, really not. At least the concept of death traps worked. ]

I'll probably see you around -- soon? Uh. Wherever you're sleeping these days.

[necrowmantic]

[Whatever works, in the end.]

That's kind of 'around' myself... haven't figured out a new place to bloody up.

I'll see you somewhere, anyway!