A request (Sharaku)

The android had called up his friend once more, he had hoped that his friend would be able to meet him in one of the smaller parks. There was something he wanted to discuss with his friend, something important. He had discussed a similair topic with Naomi, but while he felt that Naomi would do an excellent job...it might not be bad to have a back up plan. He knew that Sharaku was very level-headed, and he is able to offer sage advice. His personality and Maria's however...would clash greatly since Maria is very happy and cheerful, while Sharaku is calmer and not nearly as enthusiastic. He figured if Sharaku had to be near someone with as much energy, however he was hopeful that his friend would be willing to help in another way. A way that would not require him to be directly involved with the ball of energy that Maria was all the time.

The android looked at his friend and offered a friendly wave, "I just had a request that I would like you to hear out, if you would." The android said gesturing for Sharaku to take a seat. "As you are well aware, I am the guardian of Maria, and as such I have the responsibility to ensure her care should something happen to me." The android stated, before realizing how it was starting to sound. "Now let me say that I don't intend on sticking her with you, should I somehow manage to meet an unfortunate end. Naomi has agreed to handle that since they get along, and I think Maria sees her as the fun big sister." The android said smiling softly.

However, the sentinel thought that Naomi was prone to rash action and times, and he didn't want to burden her with the more difficult and technical parts. "I just wanted to request that you be willing to offer, technical advise on some of the more complicated parts of life that Maria will face. For example, I speak of mostly when she moves out to live on her own, or needs help with some contracts or simply needs wise advise." The android said, he knew he was asking a lot, but it was clear that Sharaku had lived on his own for a long time. He was well versed in how the world worked and how to survive and the idea of budgeting one's own resources.

Maria wasn't a little girl anymore...Sharaku had that right for sure. She was growing up to be a teenager, and she was growing wiser and more intelligent. She was starting to see the life that she wanted to purse, the friends she wanted to make, and where she wanted to go. Sentinel would have to accept this with time, and he did! He knew she was growing up, but Sharaku did make a good point. Perhaps the android needs to clarify just a little bit. "That's what I am setting this up for...this is if something happens to me before she has grown." The android said, "I do not want for this to happen, and I do not want people to be burdened with my gift, but if a sacrifice is necessary..then I would like to know that Maria has someone to watch over her or guide her if she gets lost or worried." The android shook his head, he didn't like thinking of such things. He didn't want to leave her behind, no one wants to leave a loved one behind.

"I know I am asking a lot for you, but I am not asking you to watch over her all the time. Naomi is much closer and Maria kinda sees her as a bigger sister." Sentinel explained, that was his reasoning for choosing Naomi, and Maria always wanted pets, he recalls the mention of two pets in Naomi's awakening. Not to mention Naomi had a mother who could help out at times as well. "This is all until she is old enough to live on her own, and understand how to take care of herself. I've taught her a lot of the important stuff, but...the world can be a dangerous place. You and I know that quite well given what we've seen and experienced. I just want someone to help her make the right decisions." It was true given the danger that they've faced together and the things they've seen. He just wanted someone to help give advice to Maria in case she needed it or needed some sort of help.

The android listened carefully, he had to admit that Sharaku had raised quite a few good points. He was perhaps the most durable member of the group, and here he was worried about dying. He was also one of the more level-headed members of the group too. It seems likely that he was just over reacting like some over protective parent. The android heard the reason that Sharaku was using as a core of his argument. “I suppose you have a point, I suppose I was just being selfish and seeking out assurance that if something were to happen she would be covered.” The android said shaking his head, “I apologize, I did not mean to come off with such little confidence and dragging you into this. I suppose I needed a little assurance about my own concerns…Part of me isn’t fully convinced, yet I need to remind myself that I’ve gotten this far. I’ve come a long way since I began, and I just need to keep in mind that I am further than I was when I started.” He said before looking away for a moment, “We all are, we’ve all had to grow in some way because of the things that we’ve seen.”

When Sharaku asked what kind of person, the android thought he was. Sentinel looked at the man carefully, examining him for several moments before answering. “I think you are a person who has been through many difficulties. One who has looked into a much darker side of humanity, and face it head on or die. I think that’s why you don’t see a point in looking at the past, you can’t change it, and so what if you saw the dark side of humanity, and it’s not something you can easily forget. Though I am not sure if you do not look back because you want to forget, or simply because you have accepted it.” There was a pause as the android did more thinking, “I also think that you have been rash in the past, and it got you into a lot of trouble. So much so that it changed your thinking into being a cool and level-headed person. Though I’m not so sure on that aspect, but I do get the feeling you don’t feel the need to share much unless you deem it relevant or simply want to. It feels like to me you wear a mask that you do not like to take off often.” The android finished before pausing and leaning back against the bench, “How wrong was I?” he asks, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

There was a point that he had chosen Sharaku and Naomi, he felt as though he knew them the best. He knew their habits, their thoughts, and ideas...well Sharaku was harder to read than Naomi. Though Sharaku had a point, Sentinel had not considered the fact that the future was uncertain, it was unpredictable. Placing Maria in the care of the people who were risking their lives made little sense, didn't it? The android needed to be more aware of the risks that other people were taking in this fight to. "You raise a good point, I will see to it to transfer Maria's care to someone else who is not risking their lives with me in the battle we are waging. Thank you for the advice, I was...being selfish." The android said shaking his head a bit, before the topic shifted.

Sharaku gave him the explanation of what he felt about the past again, how to learn from it, and then not really bring it up again unless it is needed. That's what he thought, but would that mean that it is easy to hide something? He kept that in mind as Sharaku explained how he was either motivated in not backing down or simply didn't care enough about it. That made sense and lined up perfectly with what he had seen, but then Sharaku made a comment about how the mask is part of the person who made it. "That's interesting, I've never thought about it like that. What you say makes a lot of sense, because it does have their intent behind it. I've always thought about it like it is something false, therefore it cannot be something that is a part of you. Though if it is a part of you, isn't that admitting that you have something to hide? Getting caught with a mask isn't exactly a good thing." The android said, asking Sharaku that question, he was trying to pick his friend's brain just a little bit more if possible.

So everyone is a little selfish, well the android could not deny that fact. It was hard to turn away one's own self-interest. Even moreso when it was something you deeply cared about. That is fair enough, he could forgive himself for that much to say the least. "I understand as much, but I see a certain line of reasoning in your words, you have made a very good point. I'm acknowledging that and taking it into further consideration." The android said, admitting what he saw to be a fault in his logic.

Sharaku then explained how everyone has a mask, even if they didn't mean to create one. Even the android had created a mask when he was dealing with Maria. So whenever you try to hide something, you create a mask that is a part of you because it pertains to you. Therefore, so long as something pertains to you, then it is in fact related to you. Even if it is something fake, you made it, and it is a part of you despite the fact that it is a lie. It is your lie and you have the responsibility for it. This means that whether you like it or, you have to commit to it. Though he had to admit that Sharaku seemed relatively unphased by this entire discussion. However, it was then that his friend asked a question.

Did Sentinel really think that Sharaku is not himself because it is supposedly false? Following his logic, the answer is no...that mask was still part of Sharaku, despite it not being the truth all the time. The android took several moments to sit and ponder the answer that he wanted to give. "No it's a part of you, as you have claimed responsability for it. Though I want you to know something. You don't have to wear it around me, if you ever do, you're my friend. You're a trusted comrade and someone I know I can ask if there is something bothering me. I hope you think the same of me."

The android blinked, had he said something wrong...that didn't seem likely. However, evidently the way he responded, it was clear that he was not the first person who had approached him about the issue. "I think why people approach you about this is because you don't seem to share much about yourself. You keep to yourself, or at least that is how it appears to me. People wonder if you don't want to share something for a dark reason. That's the reason why people seem to think you have a mask." The android said, that was the only thing he could think of. Though Sharaku did have a point, when it is so natural to have a mask, how long till you realize that you can't take it off? It just covers your face so naturally that you don't even realize it.

"I think that people are just worried about you, and don't want you to be going through some stress. I think they want to help, which is why they always say that you can come to them if you need something. That's what friends do after all, they make sure that they don't go through anything too difficult alone." At least, that is what the android had observed in his interactions with his friends and interactions of others.

So Sharaku felt like it was an invasion of privacy to ask him or expect him to divulge information about him. In many situations people would regard such behavior as cold, or an introvert. It didn't bother Sentinel that much now that he knew. Furthermore, Sharaku seemed to have an impatience, for his friend it seemed to be rather simple. If you need help, then ask, but don't go into a super long monologue. He is not required or even obligated to divulge information about himself, it is an idea that society has created. He is a kind gesture, of course, but it is not required at all.

"I see, it is always interesting to see what you think, mostly because it is so different than my expectations for others. Sorry, that's off-topic, but I am always impressed and intrigured by the way you act and your opinions." The android said, "You will ask for help if you need, but you have proven that you are a more than capable of working out your own problems." The android said, Like every other adult, you have your will and would like that to be respected. That is completely understandable, but many people have an ideal of what friendship is about. Your position on keeping to yourself may not mesh well with ours. They come in with the ideal in their mind, but you dislike that ideal. You will share when you feel like the time is right." The android said paraphrasing what his friend said a bit.

"Do you prefer to be alone? It seems like you prefer doing your own thing and being a sovereign individual. I feel as though you don't mind company, but you would prefer them to at least be entertaining to you or there to be something fun involved." Life is short after all, humans can have their lives taken at a moment's notice, that is how incredibly fragile beings they can be. He didn't think Sharaku was that fragile, rather he felt that Sharaku was an example of a strong human being capable of going above and beyond his potential.