I suppose that's what we'll all have to do. It's odd to think that things like this were happening all the time but we didn't even blink an eye at them before this app. How much did we really miss?
I'm sorry! I really debated for a while if I should say anything, but I was wanting to know if you were alright and trying to find you in person like at your job or something seemed like it'd be a little much.
[ Yes, that would have been a little creepy, Orihime. ]
i'm not sure that's a question anyone can truly answer.
it's fine. you would have had a hard time finding me with just "ren" or "ben solo" regardless.
[Honestly, Ren wouldn't have been that bothered by her showing up at his job. Weirded out slightly, sure, but not creeped out. It helps that he can move things with his brain now. And that he's not exactly a small man in the first place...]
Nope! I think it's good to be curious. It's how we keep learning!
[ Sorry, Ren. (It's always gonna be weird when she's concerned.) ]
A good secret agent doesn't reveal state secrets! I could tell you but I'd have to kill you.
[ Case and point? ]
But it's good to hear that you're okay, all things considered. I know you shared a lot with me even if you didn't really meant to do it, so...I thought I would also offer to share something I learned recently, too. If you wanted to hear it.
[ It isn't something she's discussed much, even with the people who had to deal with the creature firsthand. It just seems easier to pretend that's all it was--a monster. But... ]
When everyone was having nightmares, I wasn't. Yours wasn't the only dream I ended up in. But there was a creature that followed me around for a few weeks. I didn't realize that's what was happening at first, but it kept appearing. At first I would just hear it, then it would be waiting at the bus stop or outside the dormitory. Then it started to try and hurt people. It tried to eat them. I thought it was a monster and I wanted it gone.
Then it tried to talk to me...and I felt bad. I didn't know why, but when it finally listened to me and I told it to go away, it just said it didn't want to be forgotten.
Well, now I know why it made me sad. I haven't seen much about this other life that everyone keeps talking about, at least not until now. What I thought was an angry monster? It's my brother. The other me's brother.
I know that doesn't mean much to you, but since you shared something with me and I haven't really been talking about this to many people, it just felt a little unfair that I would know something important if you didn't too.
[A few minutes pass before Ren sends his reply. As much as she says it's for the sake of fairness, this isn't really the same at all. And honestly, it seems wrong.]
this isn't really the best thing to share over text.
are you free at the moment? we could talk over coffee if you like.
[ Honestly, she was just expecting something along the lines of "okay". For someone who isn't much of a conversationalist, an offer or coffee is surprising. ]
I am, yes. Are you sure? I don't want to be an inconvenience.
i'm not doing anything important at the moment, so it's fine.
[Well, that is to say, he was practicing with his new abilities, but that can be done basically anywhere. Coffee shops included.
And no, he's not one for conversations, but that's typically because they're mostly small talk. When it comes to more important things like memories that are hard to deal with and their emotional impact, Ren takes them seriously.
... plus he's much more eloquent and personable over text than he is in real life.]
somewhere near the university? [He assumes she's a student there.]
[Ren is a sad individual who lives under a proverbial rock, has not heard of cat cafes, and is also a failure at looking into things ahead of time. He just assumes it's got cat-related decor or something silly, and he's not going there for the surroundings.
[ Poor Ren has no idea what's about to happen to him.
It really isn't far from campus so Orihime arrives first. She figures that finding a table will be the most polite thing to do so he won't have to wait at the entrance for long. She ends up picking one a little out of the way, given the nature of their discussion, and just waits patiently as she looks out the window.
Well, her and a cat. Who also happens to be sitting in the window looking out. ]
[It's about the promised fifteen minutes before Ren arrives, and he spots the orange-haired girl as he walks by the window, his gaze briefly going to the cat before he moves towards the door—
But then he stops short and looks at the cat. Then at the cafe behind Orihime, where there are more cats. Then he leans back and glances towards the sign, and drops his gaze towards the door with a dull stare.
He has no one to blame but himself. That doesn't mean he's not going to try to blame cat cafes as a concept, for existing.
Ren rubs his forehead briefly before heading to the door in earnest and fully dooming himself to an existence filled with multiple cats for the next however long. It's fine. Animals don't tend to like him. Maybe if he's lucky they'll just leave him alone. (Yeah right.)
At least he doesn't have to spend time awkwardly looking for her.]
[ The struggle is very real for Ren. Orihime doesn't seem to mind the surroundings, though. She'd spend more time here if she thought she could afford it!
At the sound of his voice, Orihime looks over and offers a smile. ]
Hello!
[ And she'll stand up because it's the polite thing to do. ]
Is this seat alright? We can move, if you'd like?
[ The cat sitting in the window turns to look at him as well. And just stares in that unnerving cat fashion. ]
[Given the girl's apparently altruistic nature, that's no real surprise. She probably loves cats. She probably loves everything. He's not even sure that would be a big exaggeration.
He looks over his shoulder to see if he can read the menu, but just for a few seconds.]
I'll get something in a bit. You can go ahead, if you're thirsty.
Being haunted by a former self's family isn't something I'd want to discuss over a text.
[That has to be at least ten times worse than a text breakup. Not... that he's got a lot of experience with that. But aside from that—people are far easier to read when they're right in front of you.]
[That kind of connection... there would be a lot of uncomfortable implications she'd have to confront. Ren himself is dreading any memories regarding his past self's family.]
It's easier knowing the past will remain where it is, rather than being some kind of omen for the future.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lostapprentice) wrote2017-04-24 03:46 am
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I'm sorry! I really debated for a while if I should say anything, but I was wanting to know if you were alright and trying to find you in person like at your job or something seemed like it'd be a little much.
[ Yes, that would have been a little creepy, Orihime. ]
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it's fine. you would have had a hard time finding me with just "ren" or "ben solo" regardless.
[Honestly, Ren wouldn't have been that bothered by her showing up at his job. Weirded out slightly, sure, but not creeped out. It helps that he can move things with his brain now. And that he's not exactly a small man in the first place...]
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I can be very crafty and resourceful, you know!
[ Don't make it weirder, Hime. ]
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[Nor is wondering about what ifs—as Orihime herself saw play out in Ren's head.
Too late, it's officially weird.]
oh really. what exactly would you have done to find a man who's done his best to avoid attention for several years?
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[ Sorry, Ren. (It's always gonna be weird when she's concerned.) ]
A good secret agent doesn't reveal state secrets! I could tell you but I'd have to kill you.
[ Case and point? ]
But it's good to hear that you're okay, all things considered. I know you shared a lot with me even if you didn't really meant to do it, so...I thought I would also offer to share something I learned recently, too. If you wanted to hear it.
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[Eye rolling goes here. At her offer, though—what is he going to do, refuse?]
what is it?
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When everyone was having nightmares, I wasn't. Yours wasn't the only dream I ended up in. But there was a creature that followed me around for a few weeks. I didn't realize that's what was happening at first, but it kept appearing. At first I would just hear it, then it would be waiting at the bus stop or outside the dormitory. Then it started to try and hurt people. It tried to eat them. I thought it was a monster and I wanted it gone.
Then it tried to talk to me...and I felt bad. I didn't know why, but when it finally listened to me and I told it to go away, it just said it didn't want to be forgotten.
Well, now I know why it made me sad. I haven't seen much about this other life that everyone keeps talking about, at least not until now. What I thought was an angry monster? It's my brother. The other me's brother.
I know that doesn't mean much to you, but since you shared something with me and I haven't really been talking about this to many people, it just felt a little unfair that I would know something important if you didn't too.
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this isn't really the best thing to share over text.
are you free at the moment? we could talk over coffee if you like.
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I am, yes. Are you sure? I don't want to be an inconvenience.
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[Well, that is to say, he was practicing with his new abilities, but that can be done basically anywhere. Coffee shops included.
And no, he's not one for conversations, but that's typically because they're mostly small talk. When it comes to more important things like memories that are hard to deal with and their emotional impact, Ren takes them seriously.
... plus he's much more eloquent and personable over text than he is in real life.]
somewhere near the university? [He assumes she's a student there.]
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The Catmosphere Cafe isn't very far. But I don't mind traveling outside of Apprassage!
[ Which is exactly where Ren would want to go, right? ]
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This will go great, like all his not-plans.]
that's fine. i can be there in 15.
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[ Poor Ren has no idea what's about to happen to him.
It really isn't far from campus so Orihime arrives first. She figures that finding a table will be the most polite thing to do so he won't have to wait at the entrance for long. She ends up picking one a little out of the way, given the nature of their discussion, and just waits patiently as she looks out the window.
Well, her and a cat. Who also happens to be sitting in the window looking out. ]
-> action!
But then he stops short and looks at the cat. Then at the cafe behind Orihime, where there are more cats. Then he leans back and glances towards the sign, and drops his gaze towards the door with a dull stare.
He has no one to blame but himself. That doesn't mean he's not going to try to blame cat cafes as a concept, for existing.
Ren rubs his forehead briefly before heading to the door in earnest and fully dooming himself to an existence filled with multiple cats for the next however long. It's fine. Animals don't tend to like him. Maybe if he's lucky they'll just leave him alone. (Yeah right.)
At least he doesn't have to spend time awkwardly looking for her.]
Orihime.
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At the sound of his voice, Orihime looks over and offers a smile. ]
Hello!
[ And she'll stand up because it's the polite thing to do. ]
Is this seat alright? We can move, if you'd like?
[ The cat sitting in the window turns to look at him as well. And just stares in that unnerving cat fashion. ]
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It's fine.
[He just has to keep telling himself that. He'll at least follow through with the sentiment and sit down, though.]
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They actually have a really nice selection of drinks and treats! Their vanilla mocha latte is one of my favorites.
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[Given the girl's apparently altruistic nature, that's no real surprise. She probably loves cats. She probably loves everything. He's not even sure that would be a big exaggeration.
He looks over his shoulder to see if he can read the menu, but just for a few seconds.]
I'll get something in a bit. You can go ahead, if you're thirsty.
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Mhm! It's a nice place to go if you want a break from studying.
[ He's really not far off. She'll even be gross as she reaches over to pet the head of the cat in the window. ]
Okay, if you don't mind.
[ Catching a nearby server's attention, she orders the vanilla mocha latte, as expected. Once they leave, ]
...Thank you, again--for meeting me here. You really didn't have to.
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[That has to be at least ten times worse than a text breakup. Not... that he's got a lot of experience with that. But aside from that—people are far easier to read when they're right in front of you.]
Do you have any siblings?
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[ She drops her gaze at that, laughing lightly, though it's clearly awkward. ]
When you put it that way it does sound...
[ Orihime just lets it trail off, looking back up from the table. ]
Mhm. I have an older brother and sister. It wasn't him that I saw, though. I'll admit that I was kind of relieved by that.
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[That kind of connection... there would be a lot of uncomfortable implications she'd have to confront. Ren himself is dreading any memories regarding his past self's family.]
It's easier knowing the past will remain where it is, rather than being some kind of omen for the future.
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...Is that what this is? The past?
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[And that's always up for debate. Ren sits back, folding his arms.]
None of it makes any sense, given the conflicting things we've all remembered, but it's one of the few possibilities.
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[ She's only had the one memory, so she's not sure she can be much of an authority on anything. ]
I guess I don't have any reason not to believe them. Are people remembering the same things differently?
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