026 ~ [Voice/Action] | Forward-dated to Sunday

[distressedude]

[It's been two weeks since the incident with Arietta, and there was still no sign of Anise in the village. They never even had a chance to speak before she left for a mission, likely in an attempt to put some distance between herself and Ion after their argument. It's strange to think that the last time they went this long without speaking to each other by choice was around this same time last year, though for a very different reason. He's been so caught up in dealing with all of this that he actually let the anniversary of the day he first confessed his feelings for her pass by without a single thought!]

[It was strange to think so much time had already passed. He wasn't entirely sure how to feel about it really.]

[But sometime in the late afternoon, he opens his journal. There's no need to bother with a filter while Anise is still out of the village, and it isn't as though Arietta is the one he's trying to reason with here. Her anger is easier to understand and deal with. There's an uncharacteristic hint of exasperation in his voice when he speaks, having spent the last week and a half mulling over this without any obvious solution coming to mind.]

How do you stop two people who hate each other from continuing to hate each other? [Not a very eloquent way of asking, but it's the simplest way he can think of to explain the situation.]

Though this isn't the sort of problem I'm expecting an easy answer to, I was hoping someone might be able to offer some suggestions. Or perhaps if anyone's had any experience in dealing with a situation like this, it might be of some help.

[And regardless as to whether he's heard any solutions to this problem or not, he'll be spending the remainder of the evening in various places around town. He spends about an hour at the library, not quite able to concentrate on his reading. Giving that up, he goes for an aimless walk, lingering on the various bridges around town for a few minutes before moving on again. He probably looks more spaced out than he usually is, and the cold chill in the air probably isn't helping matters. By the time he arrives back home, it's been dark for awhile and he's shivering quite a bit. He probably should have worn his winter coat today.]

Comments

[distressedude]

...that's what I'd like to believe as well. But I know sometimes people can be too far set in their own beliefs to see any alternative.

[Like Van, Mohs, the other god-generals... you think he'd be used to this by now, really.]

Have you ever known someone like that?

[happyends]

Um, some of my friends were a little like that..

[ How Sayaka didn't want to listen anymore after a certain point. How Homura didn't really want to listen either, how Mami held onto her own beliefs-- ]

But.. I thought that if only I would've worked a little harder, I could have maybe gotten all of them to understand each other.

[distressedude]

[...]

Sometimes things like this are just too big for one person to figure out. It's something everyone involved needs to be a part of. After all, for people to understand one another, they have to be willing to listen first.

And even if you try to make them listen... sometimes they don't want to understand.

[happyends]

.. You're right. But still.. one person has to start it, right? Often the two people who are fighting won't try and start to understand each other right away without someone else helping them..

[distressedude]

That's true. It's possible they may not even consider the possibility that they could somehow understand one another. Or perhaps they think the other person won't understand...

[Much like his own frustrations with Sync a few months back... for someone who once stood as a symbol of peace, he's not very good at settling personal disputes, is he?]

[happyends]

[ It helps, thinking of the situation back home - it makes a lot of this much more understandable when she compares it to that. ]

.. That's sad, isn't it..? I think believing in other people is important, believing that other people could understand you..

[distressedude]

...it is. I truly wish they could get along here. After all, given the circumstances, I don't think it'd be possible for that to happen back home. There are too many other factors there... but things are so different here in Luceti. Sometimes it feels as though I'm the only one who sees it that way.

[Perhaps because he's one of the few from Auldrant who don't see their continued existence in Luceti as an obstacle to getting back home. Luceti is his home now, after all.]

[He sighs, then musters up a small smile.]

But I still haven't lost hope. Even if it still seems impossible now, I know it can't stay that way forever, right? Things are always changing here...

[happyends]

Yeah. People come and people leave.. other things change.. [ It's true - in that sense Luceti is just like any other place, never standing still. ]

I.. if it helps, I'll hope with you! I might not know the problem exactly, but.. everyone deserves to be able to get along well here.

[distressedude]

[It's a sobering reminder, really -- leaving Luceti means something so much more different for Ion than it probably does for others, after all. Though the smile never leaves his face, it does wane for a moment.]

[But only for a moment.]

Thank you, Madoka. You know, it's comforting to know someone else out there believes things will work out.

[happyends]

.. Really, do you think it helps?

[ Because that in itself makes her feel better too. Helping out others is what makes her the most happy, after all.. ]

In that case I'll believe as much as I can along with you! Don't worry, as long as I'm here, you'll always have someone to believe with you..!

[distressedude]

[A-Aww, Madoka. He chuckles, brightening at her sudden enthusiasm.]

You really are very kind. I'm sure with someone like you believing in me, I'll be able to keep believing as well.



[HE'LL BELIEVE IN THE MADOKA WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WHO BELIEVES HE CAN DO THI- okay that's enough of that.]

[happyends]

[ and then madoka has kamina glasses ]

Hehe, it's like a circle of belief, isn't it..?

[distressedude]

[So fabu, Madoka~]

Yes, you're right. But that would be the best then, wouldn't it? If it's a circle, then it's like it will never end.

To have something like that supporting me, it makes me confident I'll be able to find a way to fix this. Even if it takes some time... ah, but I guess that's one thing we have an abundance of here in Luceti.