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No, it's just... I'm kind of different in that way. It's a long story.

[ He puts his hands up, shaking his head. ]

That's fine. A lot of people here have a strange history. [ Aha. ] I mean, most of our worlds are probably strange to one another in the first place. There aren't many around where people keep creatures as partners.

But a lot of them sure do have cats and dogs!

That's probably true. [ He doesn't notice the verbal tic in his words for a few seconds before he shrugs. ]

I've never had a pet, personally, so I wouldn't know what it's like.

[ His sight leaves Hinata before his face slightly turns, still wearing a pleasant enough expression. ]

It's not the same as a partner. A partner's someone you trust in completely and work with. They're more than a pet.

[ His tone shifts somewhat as he explains it, losing its casual attitude for something more factual. And then in the next moment, he chuckles lightly, half-shrugging at one shoulder before looking back to Hinata. ]

They're some of my best friends, so comparing them to pets isn't right. We're more serious than that. [ Such an uncomfortable word these days... ]

... I knew someone who saw his pets like that. They were his best friends, his partners who helped him out in every way.

[ He sounds rather wistful at that, and it shows in the cool air. ]

[ ... ]

Here?

No. Back where I'm from.

[ There's something small that bugs him, but Red knows how to shove it away. The air doesn't even change, hasn't changed from the trainer, kept concealed and private, though his look does turn sympathetic. ]

Sorry. He sounds like he really cared about them. [ ... ] Were you close?

[ He smiles a little wistfully; it's clear he's a upset, but he tries his best not to show it. ]

I can't really say that I was close to him, but... he was a classmate.

[ That much he's firm about. ]

Knowing someone that much is enough. You would have seen him a lot.

[ It's not so odd, Red thinks. ]

It's good you remember him, with your memory troubles and all.

Well, I'd like to think that there are some things that I'd never forget.

[ ...you know, this is making him think. ]

Before you came here, was there anything you could do to help remember what you forgot? I have a friend--she's been getting her memories back, but there's one that...she can't remember it, but there's something about it that's troubling her.

Have you experienced anything like that?

For me, personally, I recalled things whenever there were trigger words or things told to me about them.

[ Thanks, Enoshima... ]

Here, though, the memory tree does trigger some of my memories back, but sometimes I have dreams about them too, which does it. I haven't experienced anything like that, but that might be because how I lost my memories is different than other people's.

Mmm... she lost her memories over time, so it isn't the same. The memory tree doesn't work for her the way it does for us either. [ His brow furrows in, lips pinching as his arms fold in front of him. ]

The arehtei can't see their memories in the petals. They only see them in the pods there when they fall.

[ ...Yeah. ]

.... Oh.

[ Now he has a better idea as to who he might be talking about, he can't help but sigh a little. ]

Then, I think that maybe it would probably be for the best to find out the source, or the cause. I-- I mean, you don't remember things just by seeing them in the pods, right?

No. Elios said he remembered over time and by talking too. [ Since he..can't really speak for himself. ] We've been trying that, but it's-- ...it's not always easy.

[ She's difficult, but he doesn't exactly want to say that, his expression just twisting a moment before he continues. ]

The source is the crystal- the big one here. [ Meaning Big Chrissie herself. ] All she knows is that there's something about it, but she doesn't remember what. It could mean anything--I mean, if they had crystals like that in the past, I don't know if it would really be the same.

Yeah, it's... kind of the same with me. I mean, seeing the memories themselves sometimes triggers it, but not all the time.

[ He presses his lips together, serious. ]

I talked with Komaeda about that, and we came up with a theory for it, but we're not 100% sure if it's right or not.

[ Ah? That releases the tension at Red's brow as he looks at Hinata, blinking. ]

What is it?

We were thinking of the possibility of Simpathis being trapped in that crystal, actually...

Simpathis...trapped in there?

[ He repeats it with full surprise, and there returns that tension on his face, the queer look expressed Hinata's way while his mind is processing that information. He's always thought the arehtei was connected in some way to the island, but, in the crystal--? ]

How? She's supposed to be dead, but... [ ...but so what? He knew that didn't mean much for some of them. But his mind doesn't want to wander too far into his own thoughts, attention returning to Hinata. ]

Wouldn't the arehtei already know something like that? It's their sister.

... Yeah.

[ He swallows hard, and shakes his head. ] Komaeda got this theory after talking to one of them, actually. Or at least, he had it from before -- they -- didn't want to say anything, really, it seems. I'm planning on talking to one myself to see if I can't get any answers.

So... you think they knew she was in there? [ If she's in there. ] What did they say to him that gave him this idea?

I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But when Komaeda offered his theory, he was... deflected, I guess.

[ ...That sounds like a Thras thing, and Red doesn't even know why he thinks that. ]

If she is or isn't... Wouldn't it be the best place? All the emotions feed into that crystal, and I remember reading that - some part of us is in our crystals too. So...

[ So why not even an arehtei? But the subject has his sight lowered, quiet, taking a moment to speak up again. ]

I figured the people here had to be connected to her in some way, but I never thought about her being this close.

I don't know if it's good or bad that all of the emotions are feeding into that crystal.

[ He honestly doesn't like the sound of that. Even more so if part of them is in their own crystals. ]

But we'll probably find out if we're wrong or right sooner or later.

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gottacatch - 2016-05-20 03:32 (UTC) - Expand