video; un: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

[When Luca comes onto the screen, it looks like he's been crying.]

So...um...I just wanted to let everyone know that Varian and Fern are gone. They...probably turned back into squids. Which...I mean, they're still together, so it's fine. They're fine. They're happy out there in the ocean, doing squid things, and really it's not like it's the first time I've realized I'm going to be separated from the people I care about, so...

[After all, when he went to school he was separated from Alberto and his family, expecting to not see them until the summer. Then he ended up here and realized he might very well never see them again. Still, having a feeling of loss strike him like this even in his new life when he's still longing for the people he loves from his previous one to show up...it hits him hard, and he looks like he might start crying again.]

So I'm fine, too.

[This is obviously a lie.]

That's all. I just thought everyone should know.

[He ends the recording right there.]

Comments

private video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Well, this sure is awkward, given that the first time they spoke Ange was looking a whole lot younger than she is looking right now, and then the next time he had been so heavily corrupted that Ange doesn't assume he remembers her from either of those encounters in the first place.

.. still, it feels bad to just ignore this when Luca is so obviously lying here. Ange has the good grace to make this message private, since she's sure the other has a reason for not telling the truth on the network, but still.. ]

You don't have to say you're fine when you're not, you know.

[ Yes, this is the pot calling the kettle black!! But look, she's trying to get better about it herself as well, okay. So that clearly makes this valid. ]

Private

[schoolingfish]

Yeah, that's what everyone's saying. I guess it's really obvious what I'm feeling, huh?

[Well, aside from his words, it's not like he did much to hide it. He, of course, doesn't recognize her, but figures she's just one of the many people offering condolences because he's an upset kid even if they don't know him.]

[entreats]

It is pretty obvious.

[ Sorry to be so direct about it, Luca. But that's just.. the way Ange is. Even though she's trying her best to be tactful here, she can still often be a little too blunt for her own good. ]

I mean, people here are pretty perceptive to that in the first place. Especially since it seems that suppressing your emotions too much tends to be what drives people towards corruption. [ And no one wants that. ]

[schoolingfish]

Yeah. I...guess I shouldn't try to avoid it, it just hurts so much and I...I'm honestly not sure if even admitting what I'm feeling will be enough to avoid corruption. It just hurts so much.

[entreats]

[ .. Ange goes quiet for a moment at that admission.

Because she gets it. That's the hard part about this. She has missed people so dearly that it hurt so much as well, so she can entirely understand what it must be like for him in this situation. Nothing she can say here will make it better, or make the pain go away.

That's just how it is. She knows from experience. It turns her tone gentle around the edges, considering how delicate this subject is. ]

I think.. as painful as it is, it's normal. When we know that we might not be able to see people we really care for ever again, that does hurt. I don't think there's a single person out there who wouldn't hurt like that when they lose someone important.

[schoolingfish]

Yeah. I know it's normal. I don't think there's anything wrong with hurting, it's just...I hate the feeling and want it gone because it hurts.

[Hurting hurts. That was a really obvious thing to say, but at the same time it summarizes his feelings the best way he knows how.]

[entreats]

Well..

[ Her voice trails off, thinking. Ange can't exactly give great advice here, since she's not exactly good with losing people herself.

But she wants to try all the same. A kid like Luca doesn't deserve to just be miserable. ]

One thing I've found that often helps during times like those is instead spending time with other people. With the people who are still around you. It might not make the feeling go away entirely, but it can dull it a lot, at least for a while.

[ And that's certainly better than nothing. ]

[schoolingfish]

Okay...yeah, I'll try that.

Thanks.

[And he really does fully intend to try that. After all, it could help and it couldn't hurt, right?]

[entreats]

No problem.

[ Ange might be presenting a tough front all the time, sure, but deep down she genuinely thinks that helping out people like this is only natural for anyone who isn't a crappy person.

Especially since they're all here together. ]

Take care.

[ Because if you don't, things can often go south really quick here in this place. Not even with physical danger, but even with the corruption that can come from messy emotions. ]

[schoolingfish]

Thanks. I will.