𝓗ᴀʀᴜ 𝓞ᴋᴜᴍᴜʀᴀ 👑 𝕹𝖔𝖎𝖗 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
girlybruiser) wrote2017-12-10 11:05 pm
girlybruiser) wrote2017-12-10 11:05 pm
inbox.
❝ You have reached Haru Okumura. I apologize if I was unable to answer your call.
Please leave a message with your name and number after the beep and I will respond at the earliest convenience. Thank you very much! ❞
action
[She fidgets a bit, before her hand shoots back towards the cupboard and starts rummaging for the box of tea she just put away]
I'm not sure that this is the kind of thing that either of them would really understand.
action
How do you mean?
action
They weren't a part of the Pantheon. Woden, Blake, whatever you want to call him, he left them alone.
action
Her voice is quiet; not necessarily fearful, but certainly uncomfortable to a point. She tries not to dwell on what happened in the summer, though every now and then she's hit with reminders, either from Woden's presence himself on the network or someone bringing it up.
She's not mad Utena brought it up, however. What happened to them was downright appalling, terrifying even. ]
The Pantheon... [ Her hands shift onto her lap. ] Do you think about what happened often?
action
[There's an edge of bitterness to her voice, and she sighs, shaking her head]
I'm worried, though. He's been pretty quiet lately - I don't think I've seen him around for a while. I used to think that was a good thing, but now... now I'm just wondering if he's up to something. Something bigger than his last stunt.
action
I do not know... there is always a possibility he has learned his lesson and that is why he's been quiet.
... are you worried he will come for us again?
action
[There's an edge of worry to her voice, concern that she hasn't quite been able to escape his grasp.]
action
[ "I gave you powers, and a new identity."
Goosebumps rise along her arms and shoulders thinking back to that conversation. ]
Has he spoken to you, Utena-chan?
action
[She startles as she's interrupted by the sharp screech of the kettle, and after taking a deep breath, she pours the hot water into Haru's mug]
The last time he talked to me was when I was Aion. But I don't think it's because he's learned anything - guys like that never do.
action
A cruel adult with such power... [ Not unlike the corrupt adults back home. It's saddening she couldn't escape that here either, but so-called adults weren't always to be trusted. ] What he did to you was unforgivable. I'm sorry it happened, Utena-chan.
action
Thanks, but I wasn't the only one he hurt. That's why I'm trying to talk to people from the old Pantheon, to make sure that they're doing alright. And if he's been messing with any of us... maybe we can help each other.
action
[ Haru pauses, wondering how to phrase this. It's not that she wants to dismiss their shared trauma, as what happened to them was like a waking nightmare they couldn't escape from.
It's strange how cognizant she had been of everything happening, but unable to lift a finger to stop it. It was as if someone had put her in the backseat and someone else had taken her place. ]
It's been a while since all that. Why now?
action
[How does she explain? How does she explain... She leans on the counter, folding her hands together as she furrows her brow]
I was talking to a friend earlier and Blake came up. At first we were just making fun of him, but then we realized that he's been lying low for a while. And that's probably a bad sign, isn't it? I mean, what happened with you and the rest of the Pantheon... that's not the first time he's messed with me. Maybe that's why he decided to make me Aion - to make sure I wouldn't beat the crap out of him.
[She breathes out and unlaces her fingers, before lacing them again, quietly fidgeting while she waits for the tea to finish brewing]
So, that's why I wanted to talk to you. I just wanted to make sure that he wasn't trying anything weird with you again.
[Weird. That's one way to put it.]
action
[ She's never heard this before, even from Futaba. Was Futaba aware at all? Haru stares worriedly at Utena and deep down, there's a small part of her that wonders if Woden would come for her and the others like Keith again. ]
... no, he has not said anything to me.
action
[Her voice falters as nausea wells in her belly, and she can nearly taste the bile that threatens to rise into the back of her throat]
He's been messing with my life ever since he got here. First he just wanted me to join that creepy band of his, but after that... well, I guess he just couldn't take no for an answer.
action
[ Yet... Haru isn't surprised. His so-called apology to her hadn't been heartfelt or sincere at all. Simply rehearsed. ]
The first time he and I spoke was when I had arrived. I... spoke without thinking, telling him a little bit about my family. It was an error of judgment, though I don't know if he picked me because of that or it was simply random.
[ She sighs, leveling her gaze. ]
Futaba-chan and I won't let him do anything to you again. You will always have the Phantom Thieves on your side.
action
However, her anger is tempered by Haru's promise. She looks up, taken aback; when was the last time someone had promised to take care of her? When was the last time she allowed herself to be the one protected, instead of the one her protects others?]
Haru-chan, I...
[A warmth spreads through her chest at the thought of them both at her side. However, her memories, her duties, begin to chill her. This isn't just about her, is it? And besides, how can she stand idle and let them do all the work? Didn't she say that she didn't want to get her hands dirty? And didn't she agree that she was ready for this? She breathes in and looks back at Haru, meeting her gaze]
Thank you. I mean it, really, but-
[Her voice cracks, overcome with emotion, and she swallows the lump in her throat]
I'm not just worried about me. I can fight back. But everyone else here - the natives, they were a target, too. They don't remember, but... did you ever hear about the bombs? He wasn't responsible, but...
[There's a bitter edge to her voice again, and she nearly spits the last few words out]
But he had some fun with it.
action
She and Keith had managed to stay out of it, but violence had broken out of their own show. She can still recall the surge of anger, hot blood coursing through her, the urge to hurt the people who were only trying to help her and Keith.
There's a chance Haru could have been responsible for someone's life back then; she's already reeling from watching the Narrator suffer at the hands of Kylo while she stood by, unable to do much.
It's... a sickening feeling. She feels responsible enough for the Narrator and she didn't deliver the killing blow.
But to someone like Woden? She doesn't doubt Utena's words about him having "fun" with it. ]
Everything is a twisted game to Woden. I am not sure he is capable of remorse.
action
That's why we need to find some way to stop him. Stop him for good.
action
She sits up straight, blinking owlishly as if she misheard. ]
... Utena-chan?
action
Yeah?
[What.... what are you going to say Haru]
action
What do you mean by stop him for "good"?
[ Perhaps she's misunderstanding the implication? ]
As in... sending him to prison?
action
He wouldn't stay in jail for very long. No imPort does - he'd be stuck there for a couple months, then he'd just be let out again, free to do whatever he wants.
[Her voice is quiet and strained, as she struggles with the helplessness of it all. If they can't stop him the legitimate way, then... well, that limits their options, doesn't it?]
action
And here it's almost the same with those like Woden. He did all that and... well, he was stopped temporarily.
Maybe she needs to convene with Cassandra about this. ]
There are the power dampeners. We can't... you can't do that, Utena-chan. [ Her voice is just as quiet, almost afraid to say the word. ] The nanites in our bodies bring us back.
action
[The timer interrupts her and she startles, her nerves wound tight from the conversation. She takes a deep breath and turns it off, and yanks the teabags out of Haru's mug]
But we can't force him to wear a nullifier all the time. And we can't throw him in jail, and we can't-
[Funny. Back during the time loop she had been able to do the deed, and would have finished it if the reboot button hadn't set in time for him. But like Haru, she can't bring herself to say the actual word.
She breathes out and dumps the teabags in the teabags into the trash can]
There has to be something we can do.
action
action
action
action
action
action
action
action
action