driftfleet | Mistletoe Mingle!

[He is very lost. What is wrong with cloning a friend who has died? Why are they discussing this?

Kogarasumaru steps forward.]

Might I have an explanation for why this matter is so important and startling? I feel as though something has slipped by me.

It's startling because he tried to resurrect the dead. Like that ship we came across where even after the dead were killed they got up and were going around biting other people! I get missin' your loved ones and wantin' them back more than anything. I really do, but that's not how the world works. What happened on that ship? That wasn't natural and those people should have stayed dead!

That's not quite what cloning is Manji. It wasn't reanimating his body. It was trying to recreate it from scratch.

You're talking zombies, or necromancy I suppose. That would be to reanimate a corpse.

Koga-san, it's important and startling because the idea of bringing people back from the dead is generally considered to be taboo and unnatural. It's generally believed that what you're bringing back won't be what was lost. That there might be a loss of soul or perhaps that something else will inhabit the body instead. Others may simply go insane from the process.

Either way, I shouldn't have done it. People on my world do and have come back from death before but it's not something I should have attempted and it never would have worked the way I was doing it. I just was not seeing clearly at the time.

[He looks first to Manji to listen to him. Somehow he has a feeling that's not what this is at all and that Manji has no idea what he's talking about. That seems to happen a great deal.

So he looks to Robin next to listen to him. What he has to say makes more sense. He can see why it would be taboo based on what he knows of ancient stories and such. Yet, cloning almost doesn't seem so terrible.

Then again, he knows that should he fall in battle one would need to only reforge him to bring him back again. Much like cloning.]

I think perhaps it can be harder for an object to understand the suffering of the mortal world sometimes. But your explanation helps, Robin. Thank you.

Humans don't do well with coming back to life. Trust me; it's not easy on us. [He at least is still himself when he comes back to life. It doesn't change how much it hurts or that awful feeling of getting a taste of that sweet final release only for it to be taken away.] I've met another immortal back home and after enough dying and coming back he had gone just a little more than a bit nuts if you ask me.

[He shakes his head.] At least you learned your lesson I suppose. And you got your gift. [He nods his head at the shirt.] I'm assuming that's pretty important to you. [He didn't miss the way Tim had quickly scooped it up.]

[Tim will simply nod, he feels like he's shared enough about himself today and he still holds Kon's shirt against his chest, hidden under the cape.]

Are you going to try again?

[Kogarasumaru comes over to rest a hand on Robin's arm. A gesture of comfort. Then he looks to Manji to wait for his answer.]

I dunno. I don't really have any regrets I could or would have done differently. [But he seems to be trying to think of something. Going through his life in his mind and it won't be hard to pinpoint the moment that what he regrets dawns on him. Expression finally softening a bit as he let's out a sigh.]

Alright. If this doesn't work then I doubt anything else will. [Manji moves to face the tree because if he's going to say it out loud he's going to do it right.] I regret being the cause of Machi losing her mind and her life.

[For a moment nothing happens, but it is enough and then the tree gives up a scarred left arm. Fully healed at the part near where the shoulder should be as Manji snatches it up as if he might be afraid the tree will change it's mind.]

[Tim doesn't understand the context of Manji's secret but he really did not expect to see an actual arm turn up at the bottom of the tree. I mean he encouraged him to try, though maybe he'd get some catharsis or something from it at the least. He turns to Koga a little surprised]

Did you see that coming?

[He smiles as he watches Manji put real effort in, to give an actual confession. It's a quiet smile, like he's known all along the man had it in him. And he's proud of him. He knows it's not easy for this child to be vulnerable like this.

The boy next to him asks if he saw it coming and he just gives him that same smile before delicately moving over the ice to go and take a look at the arm Manji has managed to get back.

Yes. He's been quite sure all along this would happen.]

[Manji is too busy looking over his newly returned arm to even notice what the other two are doing. Turing it in his hand as it flops a bit creepily with no one controlling the muscles in it. Finally, apparently satisfied he unceremoniously shoves it into the belt of his pants. Like some sort of horrific weapon or trophy.] Well, I got what I came for here.

[He seems rather pleased for a man with one of his arms dangling uselessly from his belt.]

[Manji is getting some very confused, concerned and vaguely grossed out looks from Tim]

Perhaps you should try and hide that when we get closer to the village?

We need not go to the village. We need only go to where we can return to the Fleet. Though, would you like to wait until then to reattach your arm, Manji? We can wait if you wish to now.

Not here, too cold. The worms won't be able to reattach it quick enough. [They'd get it done eventually but it would be a lot slower than normal and Manji wasn't willing to suffer through that when it wouldn't take too long to get back.

Then he suddenly grins wickedly as a further teasing idea comes into his head.] Besides, I would hate for the kid to lose his lunch over all the blood that will come from getting it reattached.

[Tim rolls his eyes] My stomach is stronger than that, it's been able to deal with your smell for this long. It will survive a little blood as well.

Shall we head off Kogarasumaru-san? Unless there's something you want to say to the tree as well?

It would be more than a little blood but that is fine. And I have already been given a gift by the tree.

[Turning, he leads the way out, easily traversing the area like it's nothing at all.]

[Manji laughs in honest amusement over the comment about smelling bad. He likes this kid!] Yeah! I bet I am pretty rank!

And Kogarasumaru is right; it will be a lot more than just a little blood. This will be messy. [But worth it to have both arms back.]

Perhaps we can make our way to a ships showers then. You can take care of two problems at once.

[Tim is quick to catch up with Koga although he doesn't make it look quite that easy.]

Kogarasumaru-san, you didn't look overly surprised back there, or at all really. How'd you know he'd get his arm back since it didn't work the first time.

I didn't know. I only knew that Manji was capable of opening his heart if given the chance to. Something he showed us that he can.

Again. I'm right here you two. [He grumbles as he follows behind them. Not at all in any graceful sort of manner.]

[Ignoring Manji is just part of the fun now]

You have a lot more faith than I did, but I suppose that's not surprising.

I wonder what he did to Machi.

[Don't worry, Manji. Dad won't ignore you.]

You are. I would never forget the presence of one of my precious children.

[Back to Robin.]

That is for Manji to carry. Should he ever be ready he will share with you.

And maybe I would if asked directly. I don't bother keeping secrets, remember?

[He just won't give the answer when Tim is acting like he wasn't even here.]

No, I suppose you haven't. I think I will ask another time, this trip has me tired and I'm not sure I could give the story the attention it probably deserves.

Let's just get back and see if you can reattach that arm.

You two have such a fascinating relationship.

[He's just going to say it now as he looks down at them from his perch above since he's ahead.]

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