♥ September (Ohnir) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

September (Ohnir) Event Log
The month of Ohnir brings with it a slow but steady relief from the heat, as summer gives way to autumn and the city begins to change with it. Plants are slowly deflowering, leaves are starting to fade and fall, and while the season is not yet in full swing, all the signs are there if you know where to look. The city is abuzz with new energy as the residents realize that for the first time in centuries, they have some actual nature clean-up ahead of them: raking leaves, pruning branches, protecting young wildlife and fresh plants from the incoming chills of winter. Such work used to be relegated to those who cared for the botanical gardens and zoos, but now everyone who's been enjoying this year's garden harvest has to learn how to future-proof their treasured flowers. Offworlders are encouraged to do the same, lest all of the growth be lost over the winter.

---

❥ PROMPT I: A Clean Getaway

With all of the work to be done, it's no surprise that some are looking for new ways to refresh themselves and relax, and what better time would there be to open up the Public Baths! All the volunteer work cleaning the place has paid off, and the facilities are officially open and available for use. It is technically free to use, as a public facility, but those visiting are encouraged to tithe a small donation once in a while to pay for upkeep and freshen up the place, provide new soaps, etc. No judgment if you can't! It'll just make everything that much nicer in the long run.

The baths are separated into a few sections: oil baths for the native residents, and water baths for the offworlders. For obvious reasons, offworlders are encouraged not to enter the robot-residential sections! Though they are not strictly forbidden... it would be quite messy and bad for your health.

The offworlder half has additional separated sections that may interest characters when they visit:

1) Hot Springs Style - Clothed or Unclothed: there are 3 available rooms for each, one for separate presented genders, and a shared bath for those comfortable with the concept or don't wish to use either male or female. Each room has one larger pool and a few smaller sets, so you can sit by yourself or with others as you please.

2) Pool: a shared public pool! The water is nice and cool, which should be a comfort to those still struggling with the lingering summer heat. There is some water game equipment available for open use if people want to play and get their sports on.

3) Sauna: similar to the springs, once again, there are 3 rooms for gender splits so everyone can enjoy the place at their own comfort level.

It all seems very nice and relaxing for everyone, but this wouldn't be a proper event without some shenanigans now, would it? There are a few effects that may occur within the baths, and these effects are somewhat random. Some characters may experience them to a powerful degree, while others feel nothing at all. Players can decide for themselves who and where these will affect, so feel free to mix, match, and go wild. The effects are:

• The spring water is so relaxing that you feel free and more willing to talk about yourself, or share your feelings more openly.


• The swimming pool is cool and energizing, making you want to horse around and play with others nearby. You may also feel inclined to drape yourself onto others, like a cool, comfy pillow.


• The sauna has you dishing up spicy hot takes, releasing negative emotions or complaints, and makes you a little more inclined to gossip.

All effects can either be nullified or emphasized according to player discretion by physical contact. For some characters, holding hands or something will stop the effects, but for others it'll intensify them - it should keep characters guessing!

❥ PROMPT II: REM Stands for Realistic Emotional Memory in These Parts

Characters who were around last year might remember a bout of strange and sporadic dreams that plagued the town around this season, along with the sensation that they were being followed. This year, dreams once more enter uninvited to one's mind, but this time, it occurs as a random daydream while they are awake, and it is very different from person to person- instead encouraging you to do the following. All visions start out hazy, like a grainy old movie where details and figures are difficult to make out, but there is something both familiar and alien about it. It feels like a memory… but it is not your memory. Over time, the visual begins to clear the more often the dream repeats, until slowly the images grow more distinct, offering clearer faces, the addition of voices, discernable quotes or expressions. The memory will provide hints as to who it might belong to, though the subtlety of those hints will likely vary. Before too long, if you have not found a way to rid yourself of the dream, you will experience an entire memory of another person in town as if you were witnessing it from their perspective!

Now, how does one rid themselves of these strange visions? You could wait it out, if you're patient enough and not inclined to seek the answer, but those who've been here long enough can wager a guess: you must find the source of that memory and "send" it back to them through physical interaction of some kind. Some memories may take longer to transfer than others, and it may depend on the person, the memory itself, how clear the memory has become in the time you carried it… no two experiences are likely to be the same.

There are a few specifics about these memories that are worth noting:

• the memory should be of a single event, not a series of events that span a long period of time. For example, you could witness the stretch of someone's day at a wedding or long party (sped up to skip insignificant moments so it doesn't play in real time), but not a memory of an entire war that goes for months. How long the memory goes for is up to the player that the memory belongs to, as long as it falls within these guidelines.


• you are not limited to a single memory from a single person. Once you have solved one vision, after a certain amount of time, you may find yourself plagued with another.


• you will not necessarily end up having the same memory partner! You won't always have the memory of the person who has your memory. Characters are encouraged to pair up and try to piece together clues that might lead you to your intended partner. Help each other out and guide one another in the right direction if you can.


• those whose memory has been borrowed may find it difficult to recall it; it can seem fuzzy and indistinct, missing entirely or simply missing choice details. Through physical contact, that memory will fully return to them and both participants can experience it together.


• you can find your partner accidentally! If you're still searching for clues and happen to touch your partner through other circumstances - such as shake their hand at first meeting, or hug a friend - you may find both of you are suddenly experiencing a memory together as it is transferred! Aren't you lucky, to have found your partner so easily?

!!! IMPORTANT !!! The contents of the memory shared is up to you, but please be mindful of harmful subjects and tag/mark your comments and toplevels accordingly! Triggering memories should be noted with content warnings. Be kind to your fellow players! If someone asks you to tag something and you have not done so, please correct it as soon as possible. Untagged comments that aren't adjusted and are reported to us may be subject to mod screening until the issue is resolved.

❥ PROMPT III: I Shall Fight With My Bear Hands

Closer to the tail end of the month, one of the research facilities distributes a "Help Wanted" advertisement through the network, requesting the aid of offworlders. The advertisement reads:

"Calling all offworlders! Havenwell Research and Development is seeking volunteers for both physical prowess and supernatural ability testing. All are welcome! Even if you have no combat skills and feel only a desire to learn, we have a job for you. Those who already possess some form of self-defense or combative powers will be partnered and asked to "spar" in a partially digitized facility, or proceed with a simulation that will gauge destructive capabilities. And for those who possess neither, don't worry! Our program is specially designed to help you discover just where your talents lie.

No harm should come to any volunteers, as this is strictly simulation-based, similar to the virtual reality technology already widely used throughout the city. However, in case of any accidents, medical staff is on site to treat injuries as needed. Additionally, there is no need for you to wear any of the VR headgear typically required in our cafes, so if these devices cause you discomfort, this may be a simulation that better meets your needs.

Please contact us ASAP if you are willing and able to help. A monetary commission will be awarded upon completion of each session."

Any volunteers or inquiries will be provided with more information, and invited to one of the research towers located in town. They are guided to a floor that is abuzz with activity, partnered with whoever happens to be scheduled at the same time or a partner they themselves opted to bring with them, and taken to a room akin to Star Trek's holodeck. There, they can input "powers" or "no powers", and a simulation will be created for them based on their selected guidelines.

With Powers:
The console invites characters to select one of two options- their own abilities, or temporarily gain access to the elemental powers offered via AC Rewards (point levels 50, 100, and 200). They are able to choose a particular power level for the duration of the simulation, which can either dampen their natural abilities to a more fair level for the test you're undertaking, or remain normal. While in the simulation room, rather than actually using any real abilities, the room will materialize whatever ability you choose without causing true damage to either the room or your opponent. Science, or magic? It's probably both. Feel free to go wild and have fun, maybe try some powers you've never experienced before or vent your frustrations on being stuck here!

Without Powers:
The console invites characters to select a type of weapon and skill level, and said weapon will materialize in a basic form; while held inside the room it moves and feels real, but it cannot be removed from the facility. Those who are skilled in utilizing said weapon are free to wield it as if it were the genuine article in their chosen simulation. Those without much or any skill will be walked through a tutorial on basic techniques from a variety of styles, old or new, most unfamiliar but well suited to the body type of the person using the program. It's quite intuitive, though it is by no means perfect, so characters might end up being guided through a stranger workout than intended.

For versus mode, each participant has an HP bar displayed above their heads, and everyone has the same HP unless both players select an unbalanced mode, and the goal is to force your opponent to hit zero HP. Characters can also choose how realistic the simulated violence is and how the process feels: in low realism, it's similar to laser tag, where characters flash a colour when hit and take damage without feeling anything more than some uncomfortable vibration. In high realism, pain is genuine to a certain degree depending on how high a level they choose, though it is artificial and will fade as soon as the program ends. Hitting zero HP will not result in a knock-out, but characters will feel dizzy and be forced to sit down, unable to rise again until they surrender. All effects wear off as soon as the simulation ends.

For demonstration mode, participants are given a selection of virtual targets to practice on using whatever method of combat they've chosen. It could be moving targets, such as creatures that have invaded the barrier previously (via the Wild Wild prompt), or simulations of the more dangerous beasts in the museum/zoo areas of town. It could be simple targets built to take a beating without providing much challenge in return. It could be a collection of buildings that characters can break or explode as they please. This mode is designed to gauge just how strong a person's destructive potential is, either with their own powers or with powers granted to those who have been blessed by their patron god.

Characters are welcome to volunteer as many times as there are available partners and/or slots! So feel free to try a few times using different options.

❥ PROMPT IV: A Bonus Trip Down Memory Lane

Last year, some offworlders might remember the tradition of sharing stories in the temple of Ohma, to offer small tributes to the god on their first month of devotion. It is that time of the year again, and everyone is welcome to return and share more stories, or perhaps retell an old favourite to a new audience. Here is the event as described previously:

Ohma's temple is particularly lively during Ohnir and the priests are busy cleaning and sweeping, decorating it with rolls of parchment and digital inkwells and quills that write as if they were actually fountain pens. The natives, especially adherents of Ohma, start to make pilgrimages to the temple in little processions, some playing music, others flying banners.

Anyone who chooses to follow can observe the natives going up to the altar and sharing stories with one another. They talk about things they did over the past year or things that are far, far in their past. Some of the stories are happy and result in the procession laughing and some are...well, not everyone returns safely from certain disasters that befall the city throughout the year. The priests diligently write every story down on those parchment rolls and deposit them onto the waiting altar, where they're summarily lit on fire to the cheers of those present. The more emotional the story it seems, the brighter and bluer the flame that it emits and the louder the procession cheers.

As the file out, they notice you watching and urge you to go up with someone else in the temple to clear your heart and offer up your own stories. They can be stories of home, information about your worlds, or stories about your life.

---

This event will run from September 14th to 30th. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread.

Comments

[hedgehogsdilemma]

He regards that gesture with a short look of surprise. It's not like they've never gone the contact-route here, but for the purposes of a strictly comforting measure, it's been extra rare coming from Kyoko.

If she's reaching out for it, though, it wouldn't be such a bad move, right? Especially if she's initiating it. There's really no reason for her to be worrying, it's not like it would even be something to worry about here in Havenwell, so... why not give her that extra bit of reassurance.

"I guess... In your shoes, I'd feel the same way."

Here, he'll hold his hand out to her, for Kyoko to reach for as she pleases.

[daikonrose]

Her smile warms as she steps in closer, holding his hand up between them, gently wrapped in both of hers. It's a rare gesture from her here, true, but she does want that comfort. And there's a hope--just a hope!--that Shinji might feel a little better for it, too. It's just for a little, so... it's fine.

"Really... I'm grateful that you'd worry," she said fondly, before the flood of memories swept through her.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

What a warm and surprisingly comforting gesture on her part. For a moment, as she speaks, it does, in fact, provide some measure of solace. How kind she really is, to be worrying about him like this...

Right before those memories rush right out of her, and back into him.

And just like that, everything is laid out there nice and clearly for the both of them. Everything from that first step forward to it's failed followup, and all the distress and chaos that came afterward, all as sharp as Shinji's memory allows.

Ah, he manages to think in the middle of that sudden rush, this... is what she must have seen. He can't stop himself from gasping in the shock of it all as it comes racing through his mind, his hand squeezing tightly around hers and sending her own memories right back to where they belong.

[daikonrose]

His hand is so warm in hers, so reassuringly present and whole, so jarring against the cacophony that plays in her head all over again. Is it her imagination that it's all more vivid this time around?

--Shinji-kun, get it together!--Shinji-kun, dodge!--Shinji-kun!!--

With everything laid out for her again, it would have been hard enough to keep Shinji's assurances from a minute ago in mind, but the rush of that awful, familiar darkness and terror sweeps through her and she knows. Kyoko's eyes glaze over for a moment or two as the memory washes over her, before focusing on Shinji's face--oh no, that face--in dull horror. It doesn't matter what he said, it doesn't matter how wild and strange all those images were, she knows, she knows, she can't squash the certainty settling heavy in her chest.

For how tightly her hands are squeezing his by now, it's remarkable that they can still shake. Really, it's her arms that are shaking, all the way up to her shoulders.

"Shinji--" falls out of her mouth, tiny and wavering, but she stops herself before she can finish with '-kun.'

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Is there any way he can talk his way out of this one? If there is, it's nothing that he can think up fast enough, especially not with his mind already clouded over in the shock and residual fear both of those memories were steeped in.

He wants to run. That look of horror on her face makes him want to slip right out of this whole situation until it all blows over, however long that might take. He shouldn't, though, he knows he shouldn't. That would be really cruel and unfair to her after all of that. So, despite the buzzing tension building its way through his limbs, Shinji's feet stay frozen in place, and his hand remains anchored in between her's.

"Is..." he starts, then pauses to swallow hard, trying to urge something, anything from his throat. "Is that... what you saw?"

[daikonrose]

"I--" What is she supposed to say? How can there possibly be any words that would make things right when all she wants is to rip the horrible burden of that memory right back away from him--but that's not happening, no matter how bruisingly she squeezes his hand. There's nothing she can do about something of this magnitude, is there?

"Sorry," she rasps quietly after a moment, her throat thick. Is it an apology for seeing something he so clearly didn't want to share? Sympathy for his troubles? Maybe it's just so he'll forgive her for stepping in closer and releasing his hands only to wrap her arms around his shoulders. "Sorry."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

wh

what?

"N-no, no, it's..." You don't have to do this, Kyoko. Those arms pull him in for a hug and he honestly, genuinely has no clue what to do. She doesn't like doing this kind of thing, right? He thought the hand-holding was pushing it already, so to do something like this...

"Don't - don't feel bad," for... him, in whatever capacity this might be for. For seeing something she wasn't supposed to. For the fact that he went through it. Don't feel so bad that you feel like you need to do something like this. Please. "You shouldn't have had to see that, I'm...I'm sorry."

[daikonrose]

Shinji doesn't have to do anything. Kyoko doesn't want anything from him except the steady assurance of him there in her arms, for him not to vanish after something like that, maybe for him not to be disappointed in her for understanding so very little about him.

She certainly doesn't want to hear an apology. Tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, her arms constrict tighter around him.

"It's been this long since I've known you..." Her voice came out after another moment or two, small and thick. "... And you call me your friend, but I never thought... I never even imagined you might be carrying so much." Her head dipped over his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I am."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

The most he'd ever really wanted her to understand about the situation he came from was that he'd rather be here than his original world. He'd said as much once before, and she hadn't pried at it, and for that he was satisfied. Because none of that mattered. The only bits of it that followed him here were for him to know about, and whatever he brought up around others.

So he just. Didn't.

It's hardly her fault for not knowing about it, when she'd been so kind as to not snoop around for that information.

Even then, even then, she's still apologizing for it. He's not prepared for how much that stings, but it does soften some of that terror out of his muscles enough that he can set aside that broom and reach a pair of shaky hands up to bring to a careful rest at Kyoko's back. "It's okay," he offers, tiny and wavering, for as steady as he tries to keep his voice. "You don't have to apologize, you couldn't have known."

[daikonrose]

She couldn't have known, she couldn't have guessed--and she wasn't supposed to ever know or guess. This unfathomable burden is something Shinji intended to keep carrying on his own, or at least without Kyoko in particular to help him, and that's fine. What he shares is supposed to be his choice.

He doesn't need anything from her--Kyoko knows it even as she lets her arms stay snug around him, the closeness lingering longer than he could possibly want. This is all for her, she's making him comfort her again when he's the one who's suffered so much, and yet it's not even satisfying. Is she supposed to just shake this wish to do something for him and move on? Clearly, but how?

"Even so...." She's not crying, but her throat is still tight. "Even so, I wanted to say it. It's the only thing someone like me can do, so...."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

It's not her responsibility to do anything for him, and he doesn't want to put that kind of burden on her. It's a lot to cope with, even as someone who's more desensitized to how awful it really is, so of course it would be way too heavy to put on someone who wasn't expecting it. After all, if that wasn't the case, she definitely wouldn't sound so small and unsure right now, even though that had been only a small slice of the big picture.

But now she has seen it, and there's no way he can take that back, as sick as that makes him feel. She's using it as an opportunity to try and comfort him, rather than voice any questions something like that would have undoubtedly raised, or act particularly horrified. Either of those would make more sense, as far as he's concerned, and maybe she'd feel differently if she got more information about it, but, no. For now, she opts for this incredibly gentle approach, and Shinji's still pretty lost on how exactly to handle it.

"It's okay," he repeats, just as small but less unsteady as before. There's a brief moment where he hesitates with what to say, but relaxes his stance enough to slowly shift from simply resting his hands at her back to a more complete, more meaningful hug. "You're doing just fine, you've been doing just fine. I promise."

[daikonrose]

In fact, Kyoko is pretty horrified and there are a great many questions she'd like to know the answers to. Shinji's said before that he'd rather be in Havenwell than his home world, and now she has a pretty solid idea of why that might be--but then, does that mean he would just be looking forward to more fighting and pain and terrible monsters bearing down on him? Or could there be something even worse than what she's seen? Or did he--did he--did he... not make it out of that memory...?

Yes, she's horrified for sure.

But she falls quiet for a few moments when his arms wrap more warmly around her, pulling her back into the present, where Shinji is whole and warm, safe in her embrace, speaking so kindly in her ear. She's been doing fine? At what? What has she ever done for him?

"You can't go back there," is all she says in response, her voice still small but firm, as if it's something her will can determine. "Not ever."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

She's been kind to him, been his friend. She's been able to pull sincere moments of joy out of him, that says a lot. Obviously, she's been doing an awful lot by him, even without knowing what kind of hardships he might be carrying with him.

So, as much as she might want to comfort him, he'll do his best to carefully hold on to her feelings as well. Nice and warm and steady.

"I won't," he assures her, as if either of them have any say in whether or not that might happen. It's not like that world is any better with him in it, after all, but he's not about to worry her further by saying as much. "As long as I can be, I'll be right here."

[daikonrose]

In a more fiery mood, Kyoko probably would be promising to fight Rawna if he ever tried to send Shinji back to that fate. She would tear down this temple with her bare hands, just watch! But that's not where they're at right now, is it?

Instead, she quiets again, holding him until she's convinced herself that what he's said is true. It's a minute or two before she's ready to pull back, sheepish as she rubs the backs of her hands over her eyes--there, all clear, no tears.

"Sorry," she says, though there's a lighter tone to it than all those previous sorries. "I ended up making you comfort me again."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Even though he feels so awful for her having seen it, and even though he's still very much unprepared to handle this kind of sympathy being thrown his way, as the moments tick by, Shinji can't help but relax just a bit more and more into the hug. This... isn't bad, actually. He might not have expected it, but it's nice.

As Kyoko pulls away, Shinji lets his hands carefully slide down to her arms, not quite ready to leave behind what tiny bit of reassurance the touch might provide just yet.

"Are you sure it wasn't the other way around?" Obviously, it's not like what she's said is untrue, especially when he takes into account those tears (that definitely weren't there), but it also did not strike him as a wholly selfish action, either. Again, Kyoko, you're doing just fine. "If... I'd it made you feel any better too, though, that's a good thing."

[daikonrose]

Kyoko won't pull away if Shinji wants to let the touch linger, not this time. He's being so kind about all of this, it would just be cold of her to reject such a gentle gesture. And it is nice.

But she blinks at the suggestion he raises. The other way around? Would Shinji just say something like that? Ah, maybe. He's always so nice to her, after all.

"You being away from... all that, that's what makes me feel better," she mumbles, sheepish even though they've pretty much already established that. "But if you didn't mind it, I'm glad, for sure."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Being away from 'all that' is also a comforting thing on his part, so at least that's something they can agree on easily.

"I don't mind," not with her, not at this point. It's true that she's said she doesn't necessarily mind this kind of thing, but he still tries to go out of his way to avoid this kind of casual contact with her. There's such a fine line between it being comforting and awkward, but that hug had managed to land squarely on the safe side after those first few moments of uncertainty.

For a moment, he hesitates again, focus dropping off to the side and finding it a little harder to come up with the words for the next thing he has to say. Eventually, though, he settles on, "I don't... I don't think I mind you knowing, either. But, it's a lot, so... I really am sorry you had to see it."

[daikonrose]

It is a lot; it's easy to understand why Shinji never wanted to talk about his world now. But to have him apologize for--what, his experience? It's not even like he told her, the memory was just shoved into her brain by outside influences. If he'd had his way, Shinji surely would have kept it all to himself forever, wouldn't he?

"... I'm not sorry I saw it," she says quietly, but then frowns, and corrects herself, "--except that it's something you didn't want me to see. That part isn't right. But...." It's her turn to hesitate. Would he even understand what she's getting at? Would he close off again? "It's something that someone important to me had to endure, so... I'm glad I know a little bit about it now."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

He listens carefully as she lays out her feelings, nodding slightly in understanding. He gets it, he does, and he gets how saying as much would probably feel... risky.

Truly, he doesn't mind her knowing, so having her say as much makes him feel quite a bit better, even if he's still really rattled over it all. What a relief that if it had to be anyone he knew, it's someone he feels like he can trust with this information. With that thought, he lets his hands carefully drop from her arms, not wanting to subject her to the touch too much longer, even though she hadn't been putting up any kind of fuss over it. Still, though, he's not about to use that as an excuse to escape.

"Yeah." He gets it. Yeah. "I don't... really tell anyone about it," for what he hopes are obvious reasons. "Kaito knows some, and... I really do think it's okay, if you do too."

[daikonrose]

There's a small pang of regret when his hands finally leave her, but Kyoko doesn't move. She won't chase the touch, as much reassurance as it had lent to this delicate moment. They're both fine now anyway, right? They're fine. It's fine.

A small, hesitant smile even warms her face as she meets Shinji's eyes again. "Ah... thank goodness." That he's okay with her knowing, and that he hadn't been bearing this all totally alone until now. Kaito's a good person to lean on, isn't he? A bit of the weight on Kyoko's heart eases.

"I won't make you talk about things you don't want to," she promises easily, because it's true; it would have been fine if the shadows hanging over Shinji had remained a mystery to her forever--she wouldn't have pried. "But really... really, thank goodness."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Definitely fine. Nobody's being battered around by giant monsters, nor are they being drugged and dragged off. Even if those memories are going to be nice and fresh in their minds for a while, they are both, presently, Fine.

Nothing to worry about.

Seeing that bit of warmth break through into her expression is a relief on its own, even if he's not entirely sure how he's supposed to feel about that kind of relief being a result of him. It's... a lot. But also not entirely bad? He's glad that she's not completely distressed over this, at least.

"I mean... I don't think you'd ask anything that's too much," he says thoughtfully, picking his words with quite a bit of care, "and it's not like I won't answer any questions..."

If she wanted to know more, that door was open for her.

He exhales softly, not wanting to really leave that last thought hanging around on its own in case she wasn't particularly interested in the offer. "But, I really am glad that if it had to be anyone, it's someone I can trust." Thank goodness indeed.

[daikonrose]

The suggestion of more information is so unexpected that Kyoko can only pause, turning his words over in her head, for a moment. She hadn't known this door existed at all until today, let alone expected that it might open for her.

He didn't think she'd ask anything that was too much... was a bold assumption, Kyoko thought. Surely questions like why were you doing something like that and why was it just you out there on your own while they yelled at you would be a bit indelicate. Never mind the one pressing most insistently at her lips, trying to spill out--did you make it?

Kyoko hesitates another moment, before saying carefully but firmly, "I only want to hear the things you want to tell me yourself." He'd already had enough control taken from him today, hadn't he? If he's going to place precious things like trust on her shoulders, she'd better be good and live up to it. "When you feel like saying them."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Perhaps it was bold of him, but more importantly, she hadn't asked any of those questions that she thought would be too much. That's the kind of tact he's trusting her to use, and clearly he was right about it.

Shinji, on the other hand, is still pretty hesitant to be offering anything up of his own volition - what would be too much, after all? She'd been so distraught over just what she had seen, so figuring out what else would manage to hit a balance of not overwhelming, but simply informative might be... a little tricky. Something that would require a lot of careful thought on his part.

That door will remain unlocked, at any rate. Surely someone will open it up sooner or later.

"Thank you," he replies softly. "I really am glad that it was you, you know?"

[daikonrose]

'Simply informative' is probably not going to be an achievable goal, as long as Shinji is talking about situations where he was in danger or hardship. Eventually, he's probably going to have to find some level of comfort with Kyoko being distressed on his behalf, because that's not going to go away.

But as long as he's safe with her in the here and now, she can keep it together. She can even give him another gentle smile, as the weight of his trust settles warmly over her. "... Mm. We're friends, right? So, you don't have to worry when things like this happen."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Yeah, there's really no feasible way to swing 'here's some objectively terrible stuff that happened in my world' without it being taken as objectively terrible. It's a big part of the reason he kept it under a tight lock for so long, and he does want to keep the bits that he does let out as easy to swallow as possible. Whether that's something he can really succeed in doing or not is... unclear. We will see.

Right now, though, that extra bit of warmth from her smile is enough to help cleanse some of his worry that this whole incident may have somehow damaged their relationship.

"I don't think I'm going to be able to not worry," because there is some stuff that's buried pretty deep that would require a ridiculously high friendship stat to unearth - he wouldn't want anything particularly unsavory or gruesome getting to her by complete divine mistake. "But... we're friends." Definitely friends, so he should trust what she's saying. "That definitely makes it a lot less intimidating to think about."