Do you remember the calm (Sharaku)

How had she never seen it before? How beautiful Lunapa really was? It was almost a pity that she spent so much of her life hating this little island because she thought it was trapped in the past. It was such a wonderful and calm spot. Right now, it felt at peace. Even with the world falling into ruin, this place felt calm. Except for the portals still leering at her. That reminder she could do without. It didn’t ruin the mood though. She pulled out her cell phone, looking at the screen and realizing she was just barely getting a signal. Maybe… maybe it would be nice to share this moment with someone. She liked the calm and peace, but being alone with her thoughts was scary. Seriously. No one was passing by. Not even a stray dog or cat. It was eerie. She hit one of the numbers on her phone. She wasn’t sure why she choose his number. Her finger just stopped there and pressed the button before her brain could stop her or agree to the action. ‘Ever seen Lunapa’s beaches when it’s snowy? It’s amazing. You should come check it out… if you want, I mean.’ Would that be enough? She thought so. She was just worried. Maybe it was too passive. Still, she thought her intent was clear. ‘Come look at the vast empty ocean with me’, or something like that. They couldn’t swim, unless Sharaku didn’t mind a polar bear swim. It wasn’t that cold though. It was an ocean. It didn’t freeze. It just sat there, still and calm, and it reminded her of the days before this. How long ago they seemed.

She would look back at him with a smile and a shrug, “Talking is what I do best, remember?” People may have wished she came with a mute button, but she didn’t, “I thought we could just look at the scenery while we did it. Can’t beat the natural wonder of Lunapa. Mostly because it’s the only place that’s still completely natural on any of the islands. Still though, look at that view. It’s beautiful.” How did she ever hate it? Or, maybe she still did. Maybe it only seemed beautiful now because they were losing everything else, “But, heck, we don’t have to go along with my idea. Maybe I just wanted to talk with you.” Because for some reason, she was the closest to him out of the entire group. She never would have guessed that would be the case when they first met. In fact, it seemed like impossibility back then. Back before all this. Suddenly, she both missed it and yet she didn’t. Funny how things like that worked, “I think most people start with a how do you do. But that’s boring.” She stepped, putting most of her weight on her other foot, “Still though, how are you doing?” It was the standard greeting for a reason.

She would give him an over exaggerated deadpan face, “Thanks. It’s good to know what you actually think of me.” She’d return his chuckle with one of her own, “At least you’re honest and don’t try to sugarcoat it.” It let her know exactly what he was thinking. She’d rather that than blind guessing, “I still like the city. I grew up there, so maybe I have a bias. Actually, I can’t think of a time when I liked nature until recently…” She would say with wonder in her eyes, “I wish I’d seen how nice it looks sooner. Maybe I’d appreciate it more.” Or maybe she would appreciate it less, since she’d be used to it. She didn’t know. Theoretical were not her thing. She raised an eyebrow when he said he should be thankful that he was still alive, “Okay, when that’s the first thing you jump to, little red flags go up in my brain. That is not normal.” She was usually one for normal being overrated, but this was an exceptional, “Based on that little line you just gave, I’d say I’ve been better. Went into a creepy door calling my name, fought myself who was trying to kill me, along with my mother and the guy I like. You know, the usual. But that’s not new. That happened last time we talked.” So, she had been pretty good until recently, “Too bad there isn’t a better greeting. Maybe I should invent one…” It would be something to do at least, “First though, an explanation about what the heck happened with you.” She wasn’t going to let that go. That was… not okay.

She nodded in understanding, “As long as you have somewhere to live, maybe it doesn’t matter. I’m sure people with houses are always thinking how they want to be somewhere else, but everyone without is thinking how they’d like to be somewhere. It’s one of those situations where you don’t realize how grateful you should be unless you don’t have the thing you should be grateful for.” Was that too philosophy for her normal demeanor? She was actually just saying whatever she thought. It was another habit of hers, “Or maybe that’s just what I’m thinking, since I used to live in a house that may as well not have existed. Have you ever seen Standasen? It’s a mess. Falling apart everywhere, but… It was home. For a while, I actually felt more at ease there than anywhere else… Even if I did try to get out of there as much as possible.” She muttered the last part to herself. She would move her eyes to the top of her head in thought, “I’m ranting again, aren’t I? I really need to stop that.” It was going to be the end of her some day.

She laughed at the image forming in her head of him with red flags sticking out of his hair, “I’m pretty sure your boyfriend would have some big objections to that. You should totally do it.” She would follow up. She really was a brat when she wanted to be, “Hello? Classic and simple. I guess it has been around so long for a reason.” Problem solved. Sharaku was good at this. Or, he was the person that didn’t over think like she did. She would listen to his story, trying to hide behind a neutral face as he spoke, “My red flag sensor is satisfied knowing why it was going off. Now I’m just wondering when things like that came to be considered normal.” That was the real question, “Still, good to see you made it out alive and well. You are well, right?” For once, she wasn’t freaking out. She was trying to remain calm. After all, what would freaking out do? It was done. At most, she could be on the lookout for things like that in the future. Didn’t change the sincerity in her voice though.

She shrugged, “More is nice in theory, at least. In practice, it’s unobtainable. You’d always be aiming for more, but you can never have more because you will always have less than the more you want.” She stopped and had to think about that. She had just fried her own brain. She really did talk a lot. She made a mental note to start cutting down on that, “Well, my ranting is more of a quirk. I don’t know how to say what I mean, so I use more words, hoping at some point the person listening will understand. I’ve found that it has mixed results.” Sometimes they got it, other times they didn’t.

She would look him over before making another comment, “Just don’t wear your pants on your head and make sure to keep covered up decently well in public and I will agree.” She didn’t want to think about that other situation. That would be terrifying, “It’s not Christmas anyway, so you’re good. Also, I can’t see you being a fat, jolly man that breaks into my house once a year.” Not that that sentence was well structured. That, and she loved Santa, “If that’s the case, I must learn to speak backwards and greet people like I’m possessed by some kind of demon. I’m sure that would freak a few out.” She had no idea where that statement came from, “See? I’m getting the hang of it already.” She tilted her head in confusion, “You plan on seeing her again?” What the heck happened, “Maybe it’s just me, but I usually try to stay away from the things that nearly killed me. Then again, that seems to be the best way to not get anything done as of late, so that may be a bad idea.” Did good ideas even exist anymore? Not from what she could tell.

“Well, that’s assuming people know what their goal is. If they want more, because more is supposed to be better, but they don’t know what more is they end up in this cycle of questioning if they have more or if they only have enough.” It made sense to her, if only because she may have been one of those people at some point, “Of course, I think people way more attention to the end than how they get there.” She would shrug with s slightly lopsided smirk, “If I just gave up trying to say what I meant, then there was no point in trying to say it in the first place.” She had to follow through with her nonsensical thoughts, “I think this is a better solution in the end. At least, I hope it is.” She could never really be certain of anything, let alone how people say her.

She would lift an eyebrow at his smart remark, “No less than a pair of boxers. I think that’s a good starting point. Then again, unless it’s for a swim, I can’t see you running around with that little clothing on.” He was normally dressed like a normal person. She looked him over once more, “Yeah, maybe you should try a fat suit instead; much easier and less permanent. Unless you want to get that in character?” That was something else she couldn’t see happening. She puffed up her cheek in frustration, “You’re the only person who would. I’m sure I could freak out other people as long as they weren’t you.” Her pride was almost wounded. Almost. Naomi would roll her eyes to the top of her head as she thought, “The police, huh? I can’t say I know much about any of them, but I remember one of them. I didn’t talk to her much. It was mostly just a simple hello and then I went to talk to Rinna. She seemed to know me, at least that I was the person reported as being with the girls when they were found. She’s the only one though. I remember a few things about her, but no guarantee she’s your officer. Then again, maybe she is.” She remembered that officer, but knew very little to start with. Still, if Sharaku felt like he could use the information, she would be willing to help, “I think the real question, however, is that if that is true, then where did she get that idea? She must have heard that from somewhere or someone. I’m just wondering from where or who.” There was always a source. That was what the real problem was going to be.

She chuckled, “The way that fits me best? That’s some dangerous territory. I may just have to resort to more hasty methods.” She was a hasty person, “Besides, if someone isn’t following me, I will just drag them along for the ride. You know, put the sack over their head and push them into the car, carrying them away until we reach our final destination, only to realize we never left their house in the first place.” Her colorful metaphor had gotten away from her somewhere in there, but that was the point, “See? That’s what my thoughts look like in my brain. I’m not sure if that’s healthy or something I want to imitate all the time.” It was rather hit or miss.

She gave him a knowing stare, “Save that for when you’re alone in the comfort of your own home. I mean, I like you and all, but I don’t need an image of you half naked seared into my retinas for all of eternity.” She was exaggerating, obviously. Still, she really didn’t need that image. Of course, that time she saw him in a bathing suit was completely different… somehow. She was sure of it, “And I’m glad to know you see my point of view. If you didn’t, I was going to have to teach you how to look completely ridiculous, but flaunt it like you own the insanity you wear.” Half her wardrobe was insane clothing, so she was used to it. In fact, she loved it. It made her feel special, “How to scare off Sharaku? Well, demons don’t work, so maybe I should try spiders… or maybe I should just stick to making you anticipate when I will get you.” She smiled wickedly as she thought. Oh, it would come. The time would arrive.

She shrugged, “Like I said, no guarantee. Honestly, I don’t really know a lot about her in the first place. Only that she was there guarding the door when Rinna was in the hospital. But, if you know her name and you have her number, I guess it isn’t so bad. Unless she is avoiding you. In that case, I guess you won’t be getting anywhere wither any time soon. Although, maybe she’d like to have someone to talk to that went through the same thing.” Or maybe she was crazy. Naomi didn’t know anymore. Nothing made sense and she barely understood what happened. She just knew there were experiments and they did horrible things to people. It was a mess. It could just be that everyone needed someone to help them out and give them something else to lean on… right? Maybe, “What could they even promise her?” She didn’t know.

She would give him an almost shy, but cocky smirk, “Yeah. Only the real crazies would stick around after that.” She was, of course, referring to him. He must have been one of the elite crazies to hang out with her when she called, “I’m glad to have you though. And don’t say a word on how sappy that sounds.” She would stop any stray comments before he could start them, “It’s true though. Also, the same goes for me.” She was willing to hang out with the real him too. Even if it had taken her a while to get there. He was a pretty cool guy, even if he seemed standoffish at first.

She would stare at him almost blankly, “No matter what I say, I am going to be in deep water for responding to that, so I am going to go with saying nothing on that matter.” She knew where this was heading already. It wouldn’t conceal her blush of embarrassment, however, “A dress? That reminds me, weren’t Rita and I supposed to dress you up? I’m starting to think we can get adventurous and really find you something nice.” He offered, and she was going to have fun doing it. What good were friends if they didn’t mock and embarrass you, “You’re lucky I like you the way you are, or I’d find a way to curse you and make you normal.” She would never figure out what he was afraid of. Of course, snakes were the thing for her, but he was anything but predictable. She would be lucky to get a hint of what it was.

An angry pout crossed her face as she thought, “Whatever he reasoning is, it’s not good enough to justify murder. Although, I guess I understand he thinking. I don’t agree with it, but I understand it.” She was trying to be reasonable here, “If you’re going to talk to her though, doing it in public may be the best idea. She wouldn’t be foolish enough to do anything then. Unless she was desperate, in which case you would just have a lot of civilians in the way. I’m honestly not sure how that’d work out for you.” She would rock back and forth on her feet while she thought, “Getting out is a good option for her though. I’m sure she’d listen to reason. Plus, she wouldn’t be the only one. I hate to say it, but if they don’t want you guys walking around, working for them isn’t going to keep her safe. They are just as likely to use her as they are to turn on her and take her out.” She was trying to speak logically, but this was also a sensitive topic. Someone was trying to kill them both, “She may be safer running. I think you’d all be safer together, too. I mean, not as an easily locatable community, but as allies.” She wasn’t one of them though, so she couldn’t speak.