It was taking a few minutes for him to respond. Distracted, maybe? But the glint of the knife as she adjusted it and the phone in her hand caught her eye again. She glanced at the time on her screen.
Midnight was closer. Not by much, but it was coming closer.
Howling with you? Now that’s an interesting proposal.
I’m not entirely convinced getting escorted out of the aquarium for unsettling the aquatic life would be a great way to end the evening, though.
That said—there is some psychological merit to it. Vocal expression as an emotional release is actually quite common. Yelling into the void, primal screaming therapy... Even crying functions similarly.
So, theoretically, howling could be beneficial.
But I do wonder—would it be more effective in solitude, or do you think it’s the shared experience that makes it therapeutic?
Okay, THAT has her laughing out loud. This guy - was he a councilor or something? A therapist? Or has he just been in the weeds with research so long he can't help himself?
The way he kind of info dumps about anything he knows is cute.
THE SHARED EXPERIENCE FOR SURE!!!!
Like yes sometimes you have to cry and scream and confront the thing you're running from and that is important for healing
But it IS better with other people. Because then you aren't alone, then you both are singing out your hearts and harmonizing even with different voices.
People—broken people—cling to pain as much as they seek to escape it. Trauma binds them together, but it doesn’t always heal them. If anything, it deepens the wounds, makes them sharper, more inescapable.
There’s a reason why shared suffering often feels like understanding. People are drawn to those who echo their pain, but that doesn’t mean they’ve found true harmony. More often than not, they’re just feeding into the cycle—mistaking the resonance of their wounds for something restorative.
...Poor Shibusawa... left behind like she was, in this strange world.
"Do you wish you could forget too? It's lonely..." and who knows how much longer she would've been able to survive that loneliness, herself. Not much longer.
It could be dangerous and toxic if you have the crabs-in-a-bucket mentality, right? But you could say the same about relentless positivity... that it invalidates the feelings of the people you love.
People are complicated, people make mistakes even without realizing they're being hurtful.
But people are capable of incredible compassion and kindness... and I think it's something very special when someone sees you at your most vulnerable and raw and still cares for you.
Kindness, compassion—those things are beautiful in theory, but reality doesn’t always reward them. People are complicated, yes. But people are also cruel. Hateful.
I used to think like you. That kindness and understanding could create something better. But...those kind people have always met sad ends somehow. Due to other people's ill wishes.
And now? Look at them. Flourishing. Smiling. Living better than they ever did before. Than us. There’s no senseless cruelty here. No one is left behind. Hate doesn’t fester. Crime is barely more than a whisper, and it never goes unpunished.
Isn’t that proof enough?
[a beat]
Ah—maybe that was a little too grim. Apologies, I get carried away. An old occupational hazard, I guess?
Anyway, we can shelve the philosophical debate for later. For now, I should probably ask—any movies in mind? If you have one I can see what times are available and align with the aquarium as well.
Glance at the clock... under fifteen minutes, now.
Hamuko swiped away from messages and check what movies are out. She doesn't bother thinking too hard about it, skimming plots. They all seem pretty typical ones...
How about Yellow Line? That racing action-thriller! I bet that one will be a lot of crazy fun.
"Stop saying that," he says out loud. Annoyed. Irritated. Bristling with tension underneath as he held himself back from snapping out a reply. When he looks up from his phone, the monitor screen before him flickers to a small review page of Yellow line and it makes him pause for a moment- considering his chances. Then he scrolls to look at the ticket timings for that particular day.
Looks like we will finish up nicely for the aquarium right after too. Though if you could leverage period from 3 pm to 4 pm by any chance I wouldn't have to book us one of the morning tickets. Unless you are a morning bird.
For whatever reason I could easily imagine you liking action-related movies. I love the mindless fun too!
Till our treatment we will simply have to wait it out :D
10? That's a really healthy time to go to sleep- I admire that.
He doesn't remember the last time he's slept anywhere before midnight. He never exactly found any solace in bed beyond sleeping a few couple of hours and these past six months have went by in a fashion of standing between a crashing train and the walking of a sloth that his sleep schedule really is all over the place.
Behind the screen he does wonder why did she stay up tonight? Was it because of meeting him? Or was it something related to the nightmares that she had grown all too awarr from.
Sure! I will let you know by tomorrow morning or this night itself- depending on how much sleep I get. Get some good rest and take care of yourself! Talk to you soon.
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no subject
Midnight was closer. Not by much, but it was coming closer.
Ah, there's his reply.
Howl with me!! It's therapeutic.
no subject
I’m not entirely convinced getting escorted out of the aquarium for unsettling the aquatic life would be a great way to end the evening, though.
That said—there is some psychological merit to it. Vocal expression as an emotional release is actually quite common. Yelling into the void, primal screaming therapy... Even crying functions similarly.
So, theoretically, howling could be beneficial.
But I do wonder—would it be more effective in solitude, or do you think it’s the shared experience that makes it therapeutic?
no subject
The way he kind of info dumps about anything he knows is cute.
THE SHARED EXPERIENCE FOR SURE!!!!
Like yes sometimes you have to cry and scream and confront the thing you're running from and that is important for healing
But it IS better with other people. Because then you aren't alone, then you both are singing out your hearts and harmonizing even with different voices.
no subject
People—broken people—cling to pain as much as they seek to escape it. Trauma binds them together, but it doesn’t always heal them. If anything, it deepens the wounds, makes them sharper, more inescapable.
There’s a reason why shared suffering often feels like understanding. People are drawn to those who echo their pain, but that doesn’t mean they’ve found true harmony. More often than not, they’re just feeding into the cycle—mistaking the resonance of their wounds for something restorative.
no subject
"Do you wish you could forget too? It's lonely..." and who knows how much longer she would've been able to survive that loneliness, herself. Not much longer.
It could be dangerous and toxic if you have the crabs-in-a-bucket mentality, right? But you could say the same about relentless positivity... that it invalidates the feelings of the people you love.
People are complicated, people make mistakes even without realizing they're being hurtful.
But people are capable of incredible compassion and kindness... and I think it's something very special when someone sees you at your most vulnerable and raw and still cares for you.
no subject
Kindness, compassion—those things are beautiful in theory, but reality doesn’t always reward them. People are complicated, yes. But people are also cruel. Hateful.
I used to think like you. That kindness and understanding could create something better. But...those kind people have always met sad ends somehow. Due to other people's ill wishes.
And now? Look at them. Flourishing. Smiling. Living better than they ever did before. Than us. There’s no senseless cruelty here. No one is left behind. Hate doesn’t fester. Crime is barely more than a whisper, and it never goes unpunished.
Isn’t that proof enough?
[a beat]
Ah—maybe that was a little too grim. Apologies, I get carried away. An old occupational hazard, I guess?
Anyway, we can shelve the philosophical debate for later. For now, I should probably ask—any movies in mind? If you have one I can see what times are available and align with the aquarium as well.
no subject
Glance at the clock... under fifteen minutes, now.
Hamuko swiped away from messages and check what movies are out. She doesn't bother thinking too hard about it, skimming plots. They all seem pretty typical ones...
How about Yellow Line? That racing action-thriller! I bet that one will be a lot of crazy fun.
no subject
"Stop saying that," he says out loud. Annoyed. Irritated. Bristling with tension underneath as he held himself back from snapping out a reply.
When he looks up from his phone, the monitor screen before him flickers to a small review page of Yellow line and it makes him pause for a moment- considering his chances. Then he scrolls to look at the ticket timings for that particular day.
Looks like we will finish up nicely for the aquarium right after too. Though if you could leverage period from 3 pm to 4 pm by any chance I wouldn't have to book us one of the morning tickets. Unless you are a morning bird.
For whatever reason I could easily imagine you liking action-related movies. I love the mindless fun too!
Till our treatment we will simply have to wait it out :D
no subject
Just a few more minutes to midnight...
I'll probably hit the hay soon. LMK when the movie is and where and I'll meet you there on the day!
no subject
He doesn't remember the last time he's slept anywhere before midnight. He never exactly found any solace in bed beyond sleeping a few couple of hours and these past six months have went by in a fashion of standing between a crashing train and the walking of a sloth that his sleep schedule really is all over the place.
Behind the screen he does wonder why did she stay up tonight? Was it because of meeting him? Or was it something related to the nightmares that she had grown all too awarr from.
Sure! I will let you know by tomorrow morning or this night itself- depending on how much sleep I get.
Get some good rest and take care of yourself! Talk to you soon.
no subject
Sleep well when you do, Shibusawa-san. Chat with you tomorrow!
Now for the last countdown. Hamuko closed the messages, focusing instead on her phone's clock - waiting patiently, for the turn...