IC Contact; Empatheias [CLOSED]

[bondsofsuffering]

[All messages via the crystal network or messenger bird go here!

Be sure to indicate the date and method of communication; messenger bird, text, audio, or image!]

Comments

[bondsofsuffering]

It's been a lot more peaceful lately, but...

Truthfully, the arehtei are the reason I started learnin' to fight in this world.

[purrtagonist]

[THAT'S. . . worrisome]

If they're this world's god-like beings, shouldn't they have more control over their actions?

[and not, like. continually do things to fuck people over?]

[bondsofsuffering]

They're god-like in terms of power, but... emotionally, they're whatever we put into them, you know?

If everyone's lovey-dovey, Elios is all lovey-dovey, too. If people fall into despair, so will Peromei. They're powerful, but they don't have full control over the emotions they experience - they just act based on the emotions we feed 'em.

A while back though, most of 'em were corrupted by some real negative emotions. Whenever they showed up, we were in for a fight.

[purrtagonist]

But you guys managed to swing them back to the positive side of the spectrum. . . right?

[judging by the fact that Elios was the only one they had to fight recently. although, come to think of it, Sosyne had looked pretty pissed off during that skirmish]

[bondsofsuffering]

Sorta?

We managed to get rid of the corruption that made 'em attack us, for the most part... but it's not like we've always been successful at gettin' them to the positive side. [Hi Sosyne.]

And after all this... Well, we should probably reconsider tryin' to keep 'em happy all the time. [Since that clearly didn't stop attacks, either.]

[purrtagonist]

[yeah Sosyne did seem pretty pissy]

Obviously. Too much of even a good thing can be disastrous.

It seems more prudent not to necessarily keep yourself from feeling certain emotions like love and affection, but instead to take time out of the day to balance them out with things from the opposite side of the spectrum.

Spend some time thinking about how much you hate stubbed toes, for instance.

[bondsofsuffering]

[There's a quick flash of amusement, laced with something a bit more... malicious. But just for a fraction of a second before we're back to deadlining it in the emotions department.]

If it's hate, I think I can find somethin' to contribute.

[And there's that light, confident tone again. It's... an improvement over his 'voice' from the start of the message, at least?]

[purrtagonist]

[HIZUMI IS LUCKY THIS IS A VOICE COMMUNICATION AND NOT AN IMAGE ONE?? but the light and confident tone coupled with that response gets Akira to let out a thoughtful hum]

Oh, I'm sure everyone does. Including me.

[far more than he'd like to admit, or even focus on, really]

I, for instance, hate paper cuts almost as much as I hate stubbed toes.

[bondsofsuffering]

[Siiiiiiigh.]

You could at least try and take this seriously!

[Beat.]

Stubbed toes and papercuts are nothin' compared to a brain freeze.

[purrtagonist]

Who says I'm not taking it seriously?

[listen to him. he's absolutely Mr. Serious]

At least brain freeze is easily avoided by not drinking your frozen drink too fast.

[bondsofsuffering]

Paper cuts don't stop you from eatin' the rest of your ice cream!

[It's downright debilitating is what.]

[purrtagonist]

Neither does brain freeze for those strong of heart.

[you sissy]

[bondsofsuffering]

[How dare you insult him.]

Oh yeah? You sayin' you're strong enough to take it, then?

[purrtagonist]

I'm saying I'd never let a little bit of brain freeze get between me and some good ice cream.

[bondsofsuffering]

Heeeeh... is that so?

[The tone of his voice clearly indicates the unsaid sentiment:

Is Akira willing to prove it?]

[purrtagonist]

[my overwhelming GUTS means I'm not at all afraid of Hizumi's challenge!]

You sound skeptical. I'm almost hurt.

[bondsofsuffering]

As they say, seein' is believin'.

And I'm not gonna believe you until you can prove yourself.

[purrtagonist]

You're on.

[challenge accepted without hesitation]

But I feel like if we're turning this into a competition, there need to be some sort of stakes involved.

[he does have a gambling spirit deep down, you know]

[bondsofsuffering]

Oh? And what kinda stakes are you thinkin' of?

[purrtagonist]

Free ice cream for my friends.

For a month.

[bondsofsuffering]

[...]

Sorry, but showin' some guts isn't worth that much.

Free ice cream for a day, tops. We're still too small to go bankruptin' ourselves right out the gate.

[purrtagonist]

Deal.

[start high and push your limits even if you know it won't work!!]

What do you want if I lose/

[bondsofsuffering]

The limit's five of 'em, too. Bringin' in the whole town doesn't count.

[He raises a hand, fingers splayed by example.]

As for you, if you lose, you can pay us back for the ice cream by puttin' on a special promotional show and nettin' us... how about thirty new customers?

[purrtagonist]

Only thirty?

[DON'T BRAG]

I think I can manage that.

[bondsofsuffering]

Only thirty. I thiiiiiiink that should pay it off.

[Also, promotions! The more the better.]

Hope you're ready for it!