❀ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ

[aojona]

[ The feed on the screen today displays both a strange sight and from a strange angle; it appears to be a view from the top of a building in Heropa (from what other scenery suggests), angled in such a way to capture an alleyway -- and the walls that frame it -- below.

On the ground there's a yellow spray-painted silhouette of a woman, her hair a wild, spiraling cloud that also spreads over part of the walls; in the shapes of her hair appear numerous eyes, painted in green, an there are red poppies growing from the ground precisely where her face would be.

Also, the camera is being held upside down.

Pablo himself doesn't speak immediately, although the view on the screen shifts a little as he moves the arm holding the communicator, giving a glimpse of the fire escape that he's lying on. ]

I found that here this morning. [ Almost definitely his doing, but he doesn't remember doing it. ] It reminds me of my sister, actually -- it's her birthday today.

[ His twin sister, if he's mentioned her. ]

We haven't seen each other in a few years, but I uh, I always try to do something anyway... I think it's nice to have rituals like that, you know? Um, or in general. But I think it can help, like, keep people close to you even when they're not. Does anyone else have those?

Comments

video

[dumbfound]

[ His face appears on video before he says anything, because he's taking a good few seconds to stare at the painting before the camera shifts. ]

Mmm.... not really....

[ But he probably should... ]

How come you haven't seen your sister though?

[aojona]

Really?

[ Pablo considers that for a moment, because true that a lot of people he's met just find his habits and rituals kind of weird. Could it be just him? ]

It's probably different for everyone, I guess. Some people might not need to do anything to feel like that. Uh, which is a good thing too. [ Then he pauses for a moment, and says simply: ] Well, I haven't seen any of my family since I left home. So, um... it's just been a while.

[inmyothertights]

Every year on my boyfriend's birthday I make sure to get out of the house.

[aojona]

Do you think it helps?

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[sunbathed]

I've made up many rituals to remember those I can no longer see. I had one very important one I did to better remember my father back home.

[ which meant frequently going to Japan to pray which hasn't slowed down here. ]

[aojona]

[ Pablo nods, though it's not totally visible given the angle of his communicator -- he understands, though. ]

Yeah, um... I think it's really important to have ways to remember the people who aren't here. [ For whatever reason. ] Whatever those are. How did you, uh... you made them up? How did you decide how they should be done?

video;

[shutterbugged]

You'd think I would, after six years, but... honestly, I had more rituals back home. Places I'd go on certain days, stuff like that. Here I live in an entirely different part of the country, and it wouldn't be the same anyway even if I was back in New York. [ So, yeah, Peter's shrug seems to say. ] I take a moment here and there to remember people--not just the people I miss from home, but the ones who've come and gone in my time here.

video;

[aojona]

How do you usually do that? Um, remember people. Do the places have something to do with it?

[exceptfebruary]

February 19th. Pisces. Or, Aquarius-Pisces cusp.

Rituals are important. They reinforce memory. Anniversaries. Birthdays. These remind of us of what was. And who was there.

[aojona]

Right, and um... I think they reinforce a lot of other things, too. Not just memory, I mean. They're like, uh-- you know, like a form of communication, too.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

I have a little necklace in memory of a friend who passed on a few years ago. I usually go out to the park and feed the squirrels in his memory.

[aojona]

Is that something you two used to do together?

Voice

[caduceusvalkyrie]

Back home I would visit their graves sometimes.

[aojona]

What about now? Uh... is there anything different you do here?

[acclimatized]

I bought my wife some flowers for Valentine's Day. A huge bouquet of her favourites. She's not here and, well... I have few rituals.

[aojona]

That sounds nice. I always think flowers are a good way to, um... you know, connect with someone, even when you're apart. Or uh, if you can't see them.

What flowers does she like?

Text

[voicelessresistance]

It's certainly a very vivid piece of art.

Did your sister create things like that also?

[Why no, Red didn't actually answer his question. Whoops.]

[aojona]

Oh, no, my sister's really talented. She doesn't paint or anything, she likes to sing.

text

[pushtheboundaries]

I've taken to renting a movie that I think she'd like.

[aojona]

Is it always the same movie, or do you pick out different ones sometimes? [ He pauses, then adds: ] Who?

video

[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail tilts her head as she looks at the painting, studying it curiously.]

I have ways of keeping the people, that I've lost, close to me. I didn't always do that. I used to just want to forgot and move on. But now I find ways to keep the memories of them with me.

[Her memory palace, as Hannibal called it.]

Did you lose your sister?

[aojona]

Uh-- can I ask what sort of ways? Or maybe just an example. It's okay if you don't want to say, though, I'm just curious.

[ Then he pauses, considering her question. ]

We just haven't spoken in a long time.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[But he doesn't elaborate, so really, how helpful was that answer, Alfie?]

You haven't seen here because you've been stuck here for several years, or for other reasons?

[aojona]

[ Still totally helpful! Just knowing it's not just him, really. ]

I haven't really been here all that long, actually -- definitely not a year, I don't think. But I haven't seen her since I moved away from home. Um, a while ago.

Do you still do them here?

[glowsferatu]

Rituals we keep up for ourselves in observance of those we've lost? [ She chuckles. ] I've got about a million. When you've been around as long as I have, and have to get used to the idea that you may never see most of the people you meet again, you find the sanest way to cope that you can.

[ She wonders a bit about the painting, it seems a little too abstract for any direct resemblance. It might be interesting to hear Pablo's take. ]

So, why does it remind you of your sister?

[aojona]

Yeah, rituals like that, or-- you know, for anything else, too. There's really a lot of things they can be good for. What kind of things do you usually do?

[ A pause, then he adds: ]

Uh-- [ He's not great at explaining this kind of thing. ] I get the same feeling when I look at it that I do when I think of her. If that makes sense.