[ Voice | Open ]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«Hello.»
[ Some may recognize that synthetic, female voice from somewhere; especially when coupled with her rather unique manner of speaking. Subaru is asleep, exhausted from her day's training, and Mach Caliber has commandeered part of the vine for herself at this hour in the late evening. ]
«I wish to forward my thanks to those who guided me after the accident. Subaru's safety remained because of your help.»
«There was resolution. Thank you.»

[ There is a long pause in which one might think she disconnected altogether, having completed the initial objective of this call. ]

«...I must know: what is the meaning of an individual?» [ Someone has been thinking about what happened during those days in Subaru's body, and the new things she has learned. ]

Comments

[ritsu_kouyou]

Something that is alive, isn't repaired; it heals. And if those who can repair you aren't there to repair you, you will still cease to exist. If there is no one there to help someone who's alive heal, they still heal on their own.

Life isn't just existing. It's not just being able to follow a preset program that dictates how you react. It's having intense feelings that affect they way you act, the decisions you make. It's feeling the greatest highs and the lowest lows, knowing fear and hatred... experiencing love and feeling sick inside because of it.

Being alive is being in pain. And I don't mean physical pain that's conveyed through nerve endings. But real pain and accepting that pain - both good and bad - is part of living.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«People are born with this knowledge?» [ That seems to be what Akiha is implying. Her exposure to infants is limited; seeing Vivio grow up is about the closest to a "new-born" that she's ever truly gotten. ]

[ritsu_kouyou]

People are born with those emotions and they cannot understand what they mean, or why they make them act certain ways. They learn about them as they grow and experience more.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«My evolution is limited.» [ Does she have that right? ]

[ritsu_kouyou]

Then therein lies your problem.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«My consideration was not for a flaw.»

«I thank you for your input.»

[ritsu_kouyou]

Don't thank me; someone had to point it out to you.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«The option was yours.»

[ritsu_kouyou]

The quickest way to settle a troublesome matter is to act. And I dislike troublesome things.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«What trouble was heard?»

[ritsu_kouyou]

You asking about this behind Subaru's back among other things.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ ...oh, now she gets it. ]

«I have no need to lie. I would never betray or harm.» [ So kindly stop accusing her. ]

[ritsu_kouyou]

That doesn't mean you wouldn't hide something from her to protect her.

And I'm not going to argue that with you.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ Argue or not, she has to explain. ]

«My experience has been one quarter of her life. I freely give to her my every action.»

[ A brief hesitation. She did say she can't lie, so: ] «I did not want Subaru to speak for me.»

[ritsu_kouyou]

Nor did I imply she would.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«You have suspicion.» [ Far as she can tell. ]

[ritsu_kouyou]

No. I don't.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«I do not understand the concern.»

[ritsu_kouyou]

Because... [Come on, Akiha, you can say it.] Because... Subaru is... my friend.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

«I know.» [ Stated simply. Subaru has a lot of friends; what does this change? ] «I do not understand your worry. It is not my own feeling.»

[ritsu_kouyou]

Enough. I'm done with this conversation. Maybe someone else will give you the answer you look for.

[And she closes the Vine.]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ ...that just leaves her confused. Not enough to try a direct call, but certainly enough to sit there and process the conversation over and over again to try and make sense of why Akiha ended the call the way she did.

Perhaps it was a translation error. ]