savetheearth | [Video; Laptop] Forward-dated to Wednesday, December 11th evening

[The video isn't focused on Killian's face right away, just his lap. There's a bow (like the ones you shoot) sitting in it, and he's playing with it for a few minutes before he finally turns the video up to his face. It's only focusing on his profile but he still looks like shit.

About like he's been crying, actually. When he speaks he sounds like he's been crying, too]

There...um. The clinic--

[It's really hard to speak. He tries again]

My...mom and I were in the DD earlier and she...she got shot by the Blood Keys. I got her to LSR but she...

[He can't say it, clenching his eyes shut and taking a few moments to recover before continuing]

Um. Yeah. So if...if I'm not, uh, around then...that's. That's why. To help pay...you know, all that stuff, I'm--I got a pulse a bit ago and I can make really fancy jewelery now. [He reaches over and grabs a sample, holding it up to the camera while not looking at it. It's made from the stuff you get at a craft store but it's pretty intricate.] If...anyone wants one, or a bracelet or something, I can make one.

[He hesitates a little longer before reaching over to cut the video]

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[He pulls his socks off and nods]

Okay. What's back here?

A prayer room. Kinda.

[he slides the door open and steps up into the room. The floor was smoothed wood, stained a honey gold color and polished to a bright shine. A couple electric candles lit a small shelf on which was a row of small candles, a couple vases with incense, a framed photograph from the turn of the century and various small brass statues of deities. The air was warm and still, the heavy scent of sandalwood and amber stirring with them entering the room. Shou shuffled over to the shelf and bowed before setting the tray on a cleared space before the picture.]

Come on in and bring your mom over here.

[...whoa. This was not was he was expecting.

Killian joins Shou, awkwardly mimicking his bow before handing him the photo. He doesn't know what to do here and it is painfully obvious]

This is my great-grandmother Akiko. [another bow and then he takes a seat on one of the small pads in front of the shelf.]

Introduce yourself and your mom and sit down.

[Killian shifts a little awkwardly and bows to Akiko.]

Um...Killian Ryan and...my mom, Helen.

[He hesitates before sitting down next to Shou]

[shou switches to Japanese and talks a little to Akiko to apologize for the intrusion but he feels that the gaijin and his mom needs a little time to say good bye and this place was the best place he can think of in this strange land far from the ocean of their home.

After a moment of silence, he then nods and reaches over for Helen's picture.]

We'll place her on the alter near Grandmother, and then what you do is remember everything you can about her. Talk to her, tell her that you miss her and anything else you can think of. This place is a place where you can speak to the dead and help them know that you still remember them so they can finally be at peace.

[He nods and though it takes him a moment, once he starts talking he doesn't really stop. He apologizes again for letting her get shot, for not getting her to the ER, for not telling her about the numbers, for cheating on his schoolwork when he was a kid. He tells her about the pulses he has and says he was going to make her a necklace and that he's sorry grandkids probably aren't going to happen. He doesn't wish he'd stuck with the Church but he does wish they had more time to spend together and that even as he becomes someone else from the pulses he will always, always love and miss her.

He's crying a little when he finally stops, unable to say anything else]

[he lets Killian cry as he uncovers the small tray. there is some green tea in the two cups sitting there and a small dish with beautifully arranged fruits and breads, each tidbit cut into the shapes of flowers and leaves.]

Now, you offer her a drink and some food, and then you light some incense and use the flame to light a candle for her. Offer what prayers you can remember until you feel that it's been enough and then say goodbye.

["Goodbye".

He doesn't think he'll be able to say it just yet, won't for a while, but he knows Shou is trying to help and it was nice to get it all out. He nods and does what Shou says, smiling a bit at the tea.

Unfortunately, the only prayer he knows is Hail Mary. Still, Shou said pray, so he repeats that a few times before falling silent, looking at his mom's picture.

Eventually, he nods]

...thanks.

You're welcome. [he seems better, and Shou likes that fact. the next couple of weeks will probably still be tough with the funeral and everything, but getting out the harder part of grief should help him with the tasks to come.

he talks a little in Japanese to his grandmother, thanking her for her patience and then bows again before standing.]

The candle should burn itself out so we can leave it, and I'll clean everything up later. Why don't you get some rest and have something to eat?

Okay.

[He stands, resting a hand on Shou's shoulder]

...thanks, man. I...I think I needed that.

Sometimes, all a person needs is some place to let go.

[another bow at the pictures and then he waves Killian to the door.]

If you need to do this again, tell me, okay?

I will. Thanks.

Anytime. Now get some rest, and if you need help with anything, tell me.

[Video; Laptop] Forward-dated to Wednesday, December 11th evening

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