After the storm

[jianai]

[1]
[Late at night, Ren is looking up at the starry sky. It is peaceful and quiet, with wind gently blowing, a fresh breeze on everyone's faces.]

I was a fool, wasn't I?

If you close your heart, if you stay distant from others - then they can't really hurt you. And if you are not sure about someone's intentions, that is the best way to avoid disappointment and harm.

And yet...

And yet I will continue being a fool.

I am aware of horrible things human beings are capable of. I even experienced it first hand - this doesn't change anything. Because, every day, I am surrounded by proof of wonderful things people are capable of, too. People of Earth, and of other planets.

[Ren notices the shining object in the distance. It was not there just a few days' ago. Cybertron.]

Great kindness, incredible cruelty and everything in between. That's what it means to be human, doesn't it? Sorry for waxing so philosophically.

[2]
Hello!

[Ren approaches people they know with a glint in their eye. It might be time to run.]

So many people were concerned about recent happenings, I'd like to help them get at least some relief. And I know how.

Would you like to attend a religious ceremony with me?

Comments

1

[abugslife]

If that is your decision.

[jianai]

You do not seem incredibly happy about my decision, Hetepheres.

[abugslife]

You understand your foolishness. And yet you persevere with it.

[jianai]

This is what makes us alive, doesn't it? Pursuing the most logical option is not always the correct choice of action.

1

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Loneliness isn't much better, is it? At least those weird students in back when I was a teen in school who'd go on about not believing in anything when trying to analyze literature were also the ones always crying in the corner at parties...But maybe they just talked about it to please the teacher. She was pretty melodramatic most of the time. [There's a small hint of a smile and a lighter tone at the last sentence.]

[jianai]

Trying to fit in is a big part of being young like that, isn't it? But for some it means going with the crowd, and for others - trying to appear cool and going against it.

And it's often a bit of both. That's what it means, being a teen.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Yes. But, that wasn't really the point. It was that just trying to ignore everybody and do it on your own probably feels worse than dealing with others, even with the risk of betrayal.

[jianai]

But did they really wish not to deal with others? Or perhaps it is more complicated than that.

Well.

[Ren continues enjoying the night sky.]

It's not my place to judge one's teenage years, right? For those who had them, at least.

1

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Mizuki would be doing better if the moon wasn't out. Even its light -merely reflected from the Sun- is cause enough for her to keep her umbrella up. Still...]

It can definitely hurt. And people you want to put your faith in can wind up being very disappointing. I know that well enough.

... But shutting yourself off from all interaction fixes nothing and can ruin a great deal.

[jianai]

Please don't misunderstand, Mizuki. The alternative is not to cut off all human contact whatsoever. Merely... to not become close to anyone.

After all, if people are transient and times are dangerous, those you know today might as well be dead tomorrow. Won't they?

[empress_without_a_throne]

I know, I know, I'm just... trying to say you're making the right choice. Though I do think you're going too far with fashioning yourself out to be a fool.

[jianai]

A few of our shared acquintances would disagree on that.

Well. I don't mind.

2

[63rd_shockwave]

Oh? What kind?

[jianai]

You could call it... a mass, I guess? The congregation gathers to ease their worries. I offered my help.

[63rd_shockwave]

...You sure you'd fit in with that sort of crowd? I mean, you got the love and peace thing down, but...

[jianai]

Oh, the horns? Don't worry about it. I am already thinking a step ahead!

1

[brought_it_back]

A closed heart has its drawbacks. A guarded one, as well.

[It's Eva, doing that thing she does where she just...shows up. In this case, leaning against a wall nearby.]

...I heard about what happened with Mark.

[jianai]

So you did. I am sorry for not mentioning it before, Eva.

[Ren looks apologetic, once again.]

I loved him. If I said it wasn't really painful - I'd be a liar.

[brought_it_back]

I want to know why you didn't tell me.

[jianai]

What would it change, other than hurting you - right after you woke up from your own wounds, in fact?

1

[caressthedarkness]

[It takes a while before Seta says something...]

...You are not a fool, Ren.

The way of the Kijin was originally to isolate oneself and serve one's own purposes. I cannot say that I need others the way the people of Earth do, because it is in my blood, and it is who I am...

However, after being here, I have come to realize that it is not so simple...even for those like Madame, and my father.

[jianai]

Thank you Seta. This means a lot to me. It really does.

I realize that looking at humanity and feeling that I am not part of it may have been hard for me - but for you and other Kijin, it was even more so. Wasn't it?

[caressthedarkness]

It may have been...

[She brings a hand up to her chest.]

Although, I still intend to uphold what I decided a while ago...

My father wanted us to be more human, and Madame wished for the exact opposite: to remember what we are, and not rely on others. Both their teachings had merits. So, I will use the best parts of each.

Hopefully, things will turn out alright.

1)

[tillallareone]

Not just being human I think Ren... more than that...

Its what it means to truly be alive.

[Optimus is next to Ren, looking up at his homeworld.]

I suppose we are both very foolish beings aren't we? To forever hold hope of the best in others.

[jianai]

My life is so short, you have been through so much in yours.

Even if my decision is a foolish one, to look at someone who was alive and fought for thousands of years, to tell him - "no, your experience is all wrong, the decision you made based on it is stupid".

Well, that'd be foolish itself, wouldn't it?