curingidiocy | Inbox (Synflux)

Entry tags:

inbox,
synflux

Inbox (Synflux)

Dr. Ratio

"There's no rush."

Dr. Ratio

Greetings, I am Veritas Ratio.

Dr. Ratio

Knowledge should flow freely between people, and the same fate should befall truth. You can ask me about technical problems at any moment, and I shall do my utmost to give you a reply.

Dr. Ratio

But before you ask, remember to establish best practices for intense self-rumination, and remember that time is precious for everyone, as for me, so for you.

Dr. Ratio

code

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Doctor, could you please come to the flower shop when you have time for it?

I'm not interested in discussing the bouquet for Aventurine at this moment. There are matters more important that I must handle.

[ There is a bit of a delay till her next reply. ]

The people in Seoul are dead and we would not be allowed to help them even if we could.

Even if not for the bouquet, I would still like to see you.

[ He's busy. He could say no. He's never been deterred by impoliteness, and he doesn't believe Ereshkigal is here to scold him or offer insight for future projects. There's no point in talking to her right now.

... ]

I do not know what you seek from me, but I doubt the conversation will be pleasant for either of us.

It will only be unpleasant if you decide to make it so.

If truly you have no desire to see me, I understand and wish you a good day.

...I am in need of a break anyway. I'll be there in fifteen minutes.

[ He's been neglecting his rest, moreso than he would normally allow himself to. It's not good, the logical part of his brain supplies, and despite the emotions warring within himself, he makes his first good choice of the day and heeds that logic.

It only takes twelve minutes for him to reach Ereshkigal's flower shop. It is a beautiful little store, decorated with a clear eye for style, and pleasant all around to look at.

Nature and greenery have been shown to be positively correlated with mental health, he thinks absently as he enters the store. It's a welcome reprieve from books and words.

To Ereshkigal, Ratio will for the most part appear no different from his usual self, except for a subtle look of fatigue on his face. ]

[ Upon entering, he will find Ereshkigal looking very different from usual. Gone are her usual dark dresses, the capes and elegant attires. No, as she is working, the goddess is instead wearing her gardening attire— black and red overall with flower patterns, a big floppy sun hat and garden gloves.

... Okay, the attire is fashioned to somewhat resemble her usual dress so as to be more fashionable than your average gardening attire. A goddess needs to always look presentable. ]

Oh, you've come...! [She'd been unsure whether he'd actually make it there or find some excuse not to stop by.] It's hard getting you to relax, doctor.

[ Ereshkigal wears the look of a gardener well. There's an irony in seeing a goddess of death nurture life, but it's one that Ratio appreciates. Beings like her seem to understand how precious life is, so there is logic in her appreciation of this job.

He sighs, walking closer to stand within an acceptable distance of her for conversation. ]

Is that what you called me here for? So I could relax?

[ She nods. There's no need to hide it, he's there. And she doesn't think he would be so rude as to walk out on her without a word! ]

And to make the bouquet for Aventurine, of course.

[ She's not giving up on that. But it's not just about that. Ratio is the one who made the post where the debates had occurred. He then cast his own vote in the camp to chase. And she remembers his reaction when she'd called him out on not understanding the human heart...

If she's right about this, he's not as okay as he makes it seem. ]

Difficult times are when humans shine... But it also when they're at their most vulnerable. [She moves behind the counter to take a sheet of paper.] Love is one of the strongest weapon in such times.

[ Oh, she underestimates how rude Ratio can be when he feels it's warranted. Were he not in the mood, he would do exactly that. But as he'd said earlier, he was in need of a break, because he hasn't slept for over twenty four hours and it was starting to take a toll on him.

Ratio's eyes narrow. He isn't someone that needs the reassurance of a loved one to continue moving forward. He's experienced so many failures and weathered them alone, and he intends to do the same this time. He crosses his arms and stands tall, proud and angry. ]

I do not need to be comforted with empty platitudes like a dull-witted fool. There is no time for despair or self-pity. When one encounters failure, they must learn from it and move on. That is what I have always done without assistance. This time will be no different.

[ Don't bring Aventurine into this, Ereshkigal. Ratio does not appreciate it. ]

[ Thankfully, she has zero intention to bring up Aventurine besides the bouquet. Though, his reactions so far are less than encouraging. She'd figured he had to be feeling incredibly down and - while he probably is - he's even more obnoxious and rude than usual. ]

... So this is what you meant by our conversation being unpleasant.

[ He's not even trying. What if she supposed to do...? Guh. She's imagined multiple possible paths their interaction would take, and this is somehow worse than even the bad path she'd imagine so far. ]

You are not invincible, doctor. [Unfortunately for him.] I did not call you for empty platitudes. I was simply hoping...

[ ... To help him? She's not sure what she'd been hoping for any more. She's been pretty badly affected by this and she's been trying to force herself to be better for everyone's sake, but that's just not going to cut it here, huh? ]

[ Yes, this is what he meant about their conversation being unpleasant. He has always been an abrasive individual with strong opinions. How he behaves rarely matches with how people expect the average person to behave. It has never costed him much socially, because he could leverage the eccentricity that people expect with genius. However, that meant that when it came to making genuine connections, it was far more difficult for him than the regular person.

So no, he's not really trying. This is not what he wants from Ereshkigal. He'd prefer her anger over... whatever this is. ]

Hoping that I'd bare my heart to you and reveal sorrow that you could soothe? So you could feel better about yourself after your failure to help Seoul? If so, you've picked the wrong person to use.

[ This might be the opposite of trying, actually. ]

[ Ereshkigal freezes on the spot after what he's just said. That's... She'd invited him to try and help him, even knowing he wouldn't make it easy on her. That much, she had expected.

What she hadn't expected was for him to pick at her insecurities. For him to accuse her. She's aware it's her failing. She'd voted to stay, but it hadn't been enough. She knows as a goddess, she should have found a way to convince everyone. But she didn't. ]

...

[ Ereshkigal remains silent a moment longer, staring absently at the cash register. Is that what she'd been trying to do...? To feel better about herself? Is that why she's contacted him and others? It's true, she doesn't do that usually. But... ]

... The store is closing.

[ Her voice is cold, her tone distant. She turns her back to Ratio and moves some things on a nearby shelf. She utters but one more word: ]

Out.

[ She crumples like a wet paper towel after being called out just once. He scoffs at her, opting to approach instead. ]

And now you wish to wallow in self-pity? For a goddess that claims to serve humanity, your reaction is utterly pathetic. You criticize me for my flaws, yet when confronted by your own, you wilt without resistance. Where is your conviction, goddess? Are you even trying to preserve humanity's future on this planet? Will you cry every time someone dies due to your decision?

[ Is he trying to goad her into anger? Maybe. ]

[ There is a lot she could say here. That she didn't make that decision, for one. That she's been trying as hard as she possibly can ever since the day she's been summoned. That she intends to keep on going, no matter what hardships await. She could say all of those things. But she won't

It gets cold all of a sudden. So very cold, one would be forgiven for thinking winter has suddenly fallen upon Neo Tokyo. ]

I said: out!

[ She turns back to look at him. Though she is obviously teary-eyed, she is also uncharacteristically angry. But more striking of all are her eyes: they shine a golden hue, rather than the usual red. ]

I will not tell you a third time.

[ She didn't, but he thinks she would have cried just the same, if not more, had she been the one to make that decision.

Her anger doesn't scare him. For all that she is angry, he knows she will not hurt him in any way that would permanently harm him. She is a kind, gentle goddess—maybe far too much for this planet's cruel reality. Far too much to handle Ratio, a mere human who has nothing but his words and his brain and tries so hard to help humanity.

He sighs, and turns to leave, but not without one last quip. ]

Our decision to chase the kaiju is not your burden to bear. Do not demean our will and intelligence. Humanity does not need to be coddled by you. We must bear our own failures in order to learn and improve.

Think carefully about what your role should be, goddess.

[ And with that, he departs, his mind clearer and even more determined than before. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Inbox (Synflux)

@goddess of death; the day after they're back to Neo Tokyo

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject