[She nods to that. She was used to quiet people, or at least one. But there were different kinds of quiet. If she knew Shin better she might ask about it. Since she didn't she would just acknowledge his words.]
You like the ocean, right? I thought so because of your fish.
He gave her a small, but genuine smile, nodding as he looked out over the water. "I'm sort of like Umi, that way," he admitted. "Sorry the fish are... more or less everywhere."
action: apologies for the delay, had own parties over the weekend x_xsoulofoceanMarch 15 2010, 18:47:09 UTC
Why so quiet, there?
[Umi approaches the spot where the birthday boy is... sulking? On his birthday party? That's just not right! A big smile lights up her face as she sits beside him on the shore, not in the least bothered by the cold of the waves lapping at their feet.]
Kate hadn't been sure what to get Shin for his birthday, so she settled on a movie gift card inside the generic birthday card she'd found on her way home from the office. When she arrived at the beach and looked for him, introducing herself to the strangers that were friends of his she'd never it, it took her awhile to spot him so far removed from the group. Well, that didn't bode well.
"You know," she says before plopping down in the sand next to him and holding out his card. Kate knows when it's time to mince words and that sometimes the mincing only made the issues worse. "You don't have to pretend. It's okay to be shaken still."
That was awfully sweet of her -- he wasn't expecting presents, really, and in the line of gifts, picking him up when he was freezing, incoherent, and naked on the beach really trumped all. And he felt bad for the people who didn't know each other. This was his party, he should be present for it.
He glanced over at Kate for a moment and gave her a small smile, propping his chin on his knees.
"It's not okay," he admitted. Since she'd bypassed any pleasantries and illusions, he felt free to say what he was feeling. "Whatever it was -- don't get me wrong, I know it was bad. But it can't have been the worst thing that I've been through. I wish I could remember, because my mind is playing fill-in-the-blank with memories..." His voice trailed off. Being tortured by Arago, and later, Dr. Crazypants. Watching his friends' souls darken and be overcome by Mukara and his corrupt power.
She wants to assure him that she knows how trauma can affect a person more harshly than they expect it to. She could talk about her mother's murder and how her father handled it but instead she just lets him talk. Maybe it would help if he got some of it off of his chest.
When he's silent for a moment she breathes deep and leans back on her hands. "But there are a few factors that are probably contributing to it, regardless of what exactly happened to you. Not knowing can be worse sometimes, leaving you always wondering, not a moment goes by without thinking about it." Kate still feels that way about her mother, though as she told Rick, she's moved on a certain amount from it; it doesn't consume her life. "If you still feel wrong about it, maybe talking to someone might help? There might be someone assigned to the force if you'd ever like me to look into it."
Shin doesn't know about Kate's past, but he's aware that most of the people in the City have a history. It's not like back home, where he and his friends were special -- everyone had some sort of superpower or significance in their home world.
"The people I want to talk to aren't here." He wouldn't have to talk to them. Back home, they're so close that the guys would just know. He'd have Seiji and Touma to break things down analytically and Ryo or Shuu for emotional support. But here, he was isolated. Outside the police force, he hadn't told anyone he was even dead.
"I guess it bothers me that I'm taking it so badly. I'm stronger than this, I know I am."
Comments 30
You're awfully quiet to be celebrating your birthday.
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-- Quiet by nature, I guess. [And have a smile.]
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You like the ocean, right? I thought so because of your fish.
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[Umi approaches the spot where the birthday boy is... sulking? On his birthday party? That's just not right! A big smile lights up her face as she sits beside him on the shore, not in the least bothered by the cold of the waves lapping at their feet.]
Aren't you having a nice time?
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I am. I really am. Thank you, this is wonderful.
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[She smiles back at him, hoping her reassurance shines through.]
Is it because of that big case the police is busy with? Still have that on your mind?
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[You're very reassuring, Umi, just... not the right person to reassure him. He misses Shuu.]
Thank you for all of this, really.
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"You know," she says before plopping down in the sand next to him and holding out his card. Kate knows when it's time to mince words and that sometimes the mincing only made the issues worse. "You don't have to pretend. It's okay to be shaken still."
Reply
He glanced over at Kate for a moment and gave her a small smile, propping his chin on his knees.
"It's not okay," he admitted. Since she'd bypassed any pleasantries and illusions, he felt free to say what he was feeling. "Whatever it was -- don't get me wrong, I know it was bad. But it can't have been the worst thing that I've been through. I wish I could remember, because my mind is playing fill-in-the-blank with memories..." His voice trailed off. Being tortured by Arago, and later, Dr. Crazypants. Watching his friends' souls darken and be overcome by Mukara and his corrupt power.
Reply
When he's silent for a moment she breathes deep and leans back on her hands. "But there are a few factors that are probably contributing to it, regardless of what exactly happened to you. Not knowing can be worse sometimes, leaving you always wondering, not a moment goes by without thinking about it." Kate still feels that way about her mother, though as she told Rick, she's moved on a certain amount from it; it doesn't consume her life. "If you still feel wrong about it, maybe talking to someone might help? There might be someone assigned to the force if you'd ever like me to look into it."
Reply
"The people I want to talk to aren't here." He wouldn't have to talk to them. Back home, they're so close that the guys would just know. He'd have Seiji and Touma to break things down analytically and Ryo or Shuu for emotional support. But here, he was isolated. Outside the police force, he hadn't told anyone he was even dead.
"I guess it bothers me that I'm taking it so badly. I'm stronger than this, I know I am."
Reply
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