004 | Voice

[codeoracle]

It's been almost two months. I-I forgot because of--[Because of the mess with Heaven Scent. Because she nearly died and was hospitalized. Because it's hard to remember here, removed from anywhere with her memory.]

Mom...[It's a whisper, broken and sad. Honestly, she feels like she shouldn't post this, but...the date caught up with her. August was a long time ago, it seemed, even if it was only a few months. She missed remembering her own mother. She needs advice.]

Do any of you still...remember your loved ones? U-Um...those lost I mean? How do you do it--there's no grave for them, no memorial.

I want to do something for her. I have to. To make up for forgetting.




[Locked to Akira, Yusuke, and Goro: There's a pause in the feed before a secondary message comes up, directed to her friends. To those that would have known. Even Goro--who might have had a hand in it, but is family nonetheless.]

You'll...help me, right?

Comments

Locked; text;

[cognitivism]

What do you need?

Locked; text;

[codeoracle]

I don't...I don't know.

I want to do something for her. Something to remember her but--It's not like I can go to a marker or anything. She's not here.

Sorry.

Locked; text;

[cognitivism]

Have you considered a... simply shrine to her? I'm afraid I don't know what you would include.

I'm sorry. I not sure I should be giving you advice.

private; voice

[lempereur]

[ His thoughts trail to his adventures with Abigail and memory manipulation months ago, on Mother's Day. It was Yusuke's first one, since finding out what really happened to her. Before Futaba and Akira showed up. Before he was close enough with Yuri to share those feelings with. It was hard. Lonely. As upset as she's feeling right now, he's glad she knows she has people she can turn to. ]

Of course. Are you home? I could come over.

private; voice

[codeoracle]

When am I not home? [She's trying, so hard, to lighten the mood she's created. But posts like this don't allow you to hide the slight catch in your voice, the way it wavers--it's not hard to imagine her curled up in some corner, upset as ever.]

Front door's open. I don't think the roommates are around but they might be...

[lempereur]

I'm on my way. Give me a couple of minutes.

[ It's quicker than that, because he's supernaturally fast, and he knows she's curled up tight somewhere, just like that day over a year ago that he somehow convinced her to ride the train with him. Yusuke figures she'll be in her room, so he scales the side of the house and taps on her window. ]

Locked; text

[crimeboy]

Of course I'll help you. Anything you need, you can always ask me.

Did you have an idea of what you wanted to do? Maybe we could do a paper lantern or something?

Locked; text

[codeoracle]

...Could you help me make her curry? It was her favorite and we always made it special back home on...On the anniversary.

But I like the idea of the paper lantern. She'd like that, I think.

Locked; text

[crimeboy]

Of course! [At the least, he had brought her curry in the hospital that had been made to the best of his ability. But she'd also given him a hint too. A little more spice this time, then.]

I'm ready to do whatever it is you'd like. Just give me the word and I'll make time for it.

[Private Text]

[versusseeker]

ur mom?

[Private Text]

[codeoracle]

She died. A few years ago back home.

I...the date passed me by here...

[versusseeker]

[He'd had a feeling, but the confirmation puts a pit in his stomach. Poor Futaba...He can't even imagine.]

im so srry

[voice]

[glassfall]

I never knew my mother, but I remember my father fondly. He was such a good man. My parents don't have a grave here, but I like to put fresh flowers in a vase every now and again.

[voice]

[codeoracle]

[She's hesitant to pull up the voice app, afraid of how much more upset she could manage to sound. But she does it anyway, her voice quiet once it comes through.]

What kinds of flowers? Mom never kept a lot around the house but...it might be nice.

[voice]

[glassfall]

Lilies, mostly. Orange or red ones. Roses, too, I suppose.

voice;

[notyourfathersosborn]

I lost my mom too. Never really goes away, does it?

I find that whenever there's a birthday, or an anniversary, or even just days where I really miss her, I try to do something she liked to do, or something that we used to do together. It helps to keep her memory alive, you know?

voice;

[codeoracle]

No, it doesn't. [And for her, it's only been a few years. Her awakening had her reliving the tragedy in ways too. It's a fresh wound, if the pain in her voice is anything to go by.]

I could try and do something like that. A friend might help me make one of her favorite meals...I guess that's something.

Voice

[beautiful_monster]

Shit, Futaba... I don't—I mean... [He trails off, uncertainty clear even just through an audio feed.]

It's... It's different for everyone, I think. Was there anything you and your mom liked to do a lot? Maybe...doing something like that could help.

Voice

[codeoracle]

I-It's...She worked a lot when I was younger. Before she died. We were going to go somewhere after her research was done but--[But then she walked in front of a car and Futaba was getting shuffled around from family member to family member.]

Maybe I should...take a trip like we planned.

voice

[am_i_a_monster]

I remember a couple of people. My mom and my best friend. I keep them in my memory palace. And I try to live the life they couldn't - but sometimes that makes me feel guilty for being here when they didn't get a second chance.

voice

[codeoracle]

I felt guilty for a long time after her death. Some men in suits...read me a letter, made me feel like it was all my fault. But it's not.

Now I feel guilty for forgetting her.

voice

[cannotrest]

[Gently:] When I can't make it home for Dad's anniversary, I pull up some old photos, recite his favorite poem, and pray for him.

voice

[codeoracle]

I don't have photos here...but back home we'd pray. I guess it could help...

[Voice]

[caduceusvalkyrie]

[Hearing the girls voice and the emotion in it hit Angela hard. She knew this feeling and she knew loss far more than she would like. She takes a breath before replying.]

I remember them every single day. I lost my parents when I was very young and people who had become my family as well. It...It's hard.

There's certain dates that'll come about where I'll remember them more strongly. I try to do something fun that we did together, or visit somewhere I think they'd have liked or even watch a movie.

Try not to feel too bad about forgetting a specific date. The important thing is that you remember her.

[Voice]

[codeoracle]

...It's hard not to feel bad--I was there when she...

It's hard...but everyone is really understanding and helpful.