shí èr ; 十 二

[getsomesleep]

My condolences to the friends of the disappeared. Cissus is gone as well, and her absence dims the sunlight over these fields, faint already in this cold and dark season. Parting is worst when it is sudden; but all the bonds we make are ultimately contingencies against a mute and chaotic world. Storms pass. We build again.


The restoration of the fields continues to be a challenging project; I consider myself responsible, and am attempting to devise an alternative solution. I must beg your patience.


[There is a pause, and then a sketch appears, quickly and with Huo's usual neat precision. Looks like gears of a pocket watch. Beneath it, fainter writing.]

And still. I am grateful.


-- 火

Comments

[lingeringlegacy]

So her disappearance is confirmed?

As for the field, I suppose there is some relief that the onslaught had taken place in the first half of winter.

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

It appears so. She will be missed.

Yes; we will not be planting for a few months yet, and time is the best healer. Still, I worry. Who knows if this substance obeys natural laws.

[lingeringlegacy]

We could only pick and shovel the viscera while ice trapped them and hope for the best, do we.

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

As much as we can, indeed.

[A pause.]

But I do not like to hope. I like to act.

[mythgravenblade.livejournal.com]

Might there be a way to make use of the current happenings in the restorations?

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

If you mean the alterations to our wardrobes, I've considered the option, but all the new technology imparted appears to be on a fairly small scale. I have not seen anything I can use, or adapt to use.

[mythgravenblade.livejournal.com]

I see. I am sorry--I am nothing of a farmer, but if you need a strong back, I can try to provide what I can.

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

Your thoughtfulness is appreciated. It seems that strong backs are all we can rely on for.

[spandexisyouth]

Oh. So she is indeed gone. Thank you for saying.

[He's very curious as to how Huo knows, if he's been able to probe a bit into the Sphere, but he's trying to be careful on the journals.]

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

I am sorry to be the bearer of sad news.

[spandexisyouth]

You saw her leave?

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

Not in person; I was informed by our supervisor.

[Also his mun is an idiot and only realized the problem after posting, derp... X_X]

[spandexisyouth]

I see. Thank you.

[remember_cephiro]

Allow others to get too close and it will undoubtedly prove to be a liability later. Yet what choice do we have?

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

A tragedy, perhaps. Never a liability.

[hanakioku.livejournal.com]

Cleaning fields. Pieces gone. Blood left.

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

I fear that the blood may poison the earth.

[hanakioku.livejournal.com]

Yes. Try to wash?

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

As much as possible. The cold helps, too: perhaps nature will heal what we cannot.

[hanakioku.livejournal.com]

Hope so.

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. She always seemed like a sweet person.

And I'll help cleaning up the farm too, with Paladin. But don't be too sorry. That combine harvester really saved us out there.

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

She was a pleasure to have known. Wherever she is, I wish her well.

With so many lending a hand, how can one's mind not be eased? Still, it was thoughtless of me to rely on a supposedly-natural disappearance of the remains. I will not make this mistake again.