11 | [Video]

[chalicejoker]

[Hajime doesn't look like he's been sleeping too well when he opens the feed. Between things blowing up in the Dead District, the Halloween party, and his own concern that he's slowly losing his mind in monster fight instincts, sleep hasn't been much of a thing for him as of late.]

I'm guessing everyone made it through the Halloween party okay. Can't say I remember much of it after the monster showed up.

[The actual monster fight is somewhat of a blur, Hajime was so wrapped up in those monstrous instincts. He is pretty sure he rampaged somewhere somehow and can only hope he didn't accidentally almost kill anyone the way he'd accidentally almost killed Thomas back in the Dead District. He looks like he's trying to think of something else to say before just continuing on with the reason he's posting this video anyway.]

I got something back. It's a photograph.

[He'll hold out a photograph for everyone to see. He's handling it rather carefully; some part of his brain is telling him this thing is important.]

I recognize some of the people in it from the memories I've been getting. Thought I might check to see if anyone else did, too.

Comments

[Text]

[shiromadoushi]

Other you's family, do you think?

[Text]

[chalicejoker]

I'm not sure. I remember the woman and the child welcoming me home in the rain.

The girl's name was Amane. I know she was very important to me.

[And that this confused him to no end, but pretty much anything related to family seemed to do that to his other self.]

[Text]

[shiromadoushi]

[[There is a very long pause]]

That was the name of creampuffs little sister

[Text]

[chalicejoker]

[Well. That was unexpected.]

Wonder if that's a coincidence or something more...

[There's a long pause on Hajime's end.]

I don't remember her having any siblings, but it seemed like they were kind of adopting me.

[Text / Private]

[shiromadoushi]

[[aaaand swapping to texting Hajime directly because... well. This topic is touchy.]]

There are a lot of coincidences. Way too many of them for them not to mean something.

Amane isn't as uncommon a name as Bakura is, though. Can you remember her last name at all? Because if she has the same family name too, then we are seriously in "this means something" territory.

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

Then you're doing better than I am. I still don't have any names for anyone, except Queen Victoria, and someone named "Biffy".

[But on a more serious note, he can tell Hajime is a little shaken, and he definitely looks weary. He is a little concerned. He doesn't ask about how the party crashing went, just yet.]

So who is that?

[Audio]

[chalicejoker]

Queen Victoria? The Queen Victoria? And you're sure Biffy wasn't someone's cat or something?

[Nope, he doesn't know what to make of that.]

The girl's name is Amane. She was pretty important to the other me...

[And some of his other self's confusion about that sort of unconditional love is bleeding into his voice there.]

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

[Interesting. And a bit uncomfortable. Lyall knows the "other fellow" was close to a couple people, but not very many, and he doesn't know their names just yet. So he replies to the easier part.]

No, he was someone we were rescuing. I was, and someone who the other fellow habitually called "sir". I actually have seen him, in the visions.

And yes, the Queen Victoria. Though not the one in this version of the world, given she knew all about werewolves and vampires and such.

[Audio]

[chalicejoker]

Yeah, I've seen several people...even if I'm having trouble remembering faces in some cases, and a lot of them were wearing weird bug-eyed armor anyway.

At least that gives you a definite idea of the time period you're remembering. That's got to count for something.

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

It's something, at any rate, even if it isn't particularly useful.

So was it weird bug-eyed armor, or actual bug-changing people, like, well, like yourself?

[It sounds awkward to come out and say it like that.]

video {iphone}

[ursoreckless]

Now we both have photographs from the past.[he's a little scraped up, but in much better condition than he had been. he's thinking that he was mostly hysterical and doesn't realize that he's healing faster than normal.]

You still don't have names?

video

[chalicejoker]

Yeah...you're alright? Got out okay? Like I said, I don't remember much after it showed up...

[Sorry he is such a horrible date, Shou. He actually feels bad, even if he was the most awkward of awkward during the party itself.]

The little girl's name is Amane. That's all I know.

[Yet there's still a trace of affection in his voice when he says the name.]

video

[ursoreckless]

There was this big bug I sort of caught a ride on out of there.

[he's teasing. sort of. but then he sighs and smiles a little.]

Hey, you can make it up by hanging out with me next time you're free. No special costume or plans involved.

[his voice softens a little more]

She sounds special to a part of you.

video

[chalicejoker]

...and I thought that part was just some fever dream I had after crashing when I got home.

[See, Shou, Hajime can joke, kinda.]

That sounds preferable to a party...and hopefully won't end in another fight.

[Hajime looks a little sheepish at that.]

Yeah. I...my other self...cared for her a lot. Even when he was kind of failing at acting like a proper human, she didn't care.

video

[ursoreckless]

I'm fast, but even being fast doesn't mean I can avoid injuries. So figured you aren't as squishy as I am so... [he shrugs cuz whatever man]

That would only happen if I get too drunk. I tend to fight with everything then.

I think... the other me had a crush on Yi-Che. He was always looking at her and looking away when others caught him doing it.

Video;

[sugoku]

[She doesn't say anything at first, seemed to just be looking at the image of him and thinking. When she does speak, it's with a sombre look on her face]

You don't look too good. Is there something wrong?

Video;

[chalicejoker]

I'm fine, really.

[He's just trying to play off that weariness with a careless wave of his hand, and it would probably be more effective if he didn't have to kill a yawn in the middle of it.]

Just...had to work a couple of late shifts at the restaurant.

[Yes, that's a good lie. Everyone knows he's a workaholic, right?]

Video;

[sugoku]

[She leaned in on her elbows, watching the tired look and yawn]

Shouldn't you sleep while you can, then?

Video;

[chalicejoker]

Nah, I'll be alright...

[Not like he's really anxious to admit he's been giving himself nightmares thanks to the whole rampaging monster bug thing he has going now.]

Besides, seeing if anyone else recognized the people here seemed more important.

Video;

[sugoku]

They're people from your echos, right?

[If he insisted that he was fine, she could only press on.]

text;

[envisaging]

I'm afraid I don't recognize anyone in the photograph, but I hope you find someone who knows more.

text;

[chalicejoker]

Thanks. Even just having the picture and getting one of the names back is making me feel better about all this. I have no idea why it seems to matter so much, but it does.

text;

[envisaging]

As long as it makes you feel better, I think it's okay to accept it at face value, a little.

text;

[chalicejoker]

It's a sign that I'm not turning into as horrible a monster as I'd thought. I'll take what I can get.

text;

[envisaging]

You don't have to be whatever you turn into. I mean, your personality.