IC INBOX; MoM

[pushtheboundaries]

"You've reached Robert Callaghan, Headmaster to the Heropa Organization for imPort Education. Please leave a message with your name, your phone number, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. As a reminder, my office hours are..."

Comments

text;

[maglevflash]

I was frustrated two weeks ago, but at the time it felt very reasonable.

We can test the theory when I get back.

text;

[pushtheboundaries]

I thought so too. I had assumed Krei's own reaction was because of the specific circumstances.

I've spoken with others, and they don't seem to automatically get mad around me. But I don't know, Gogo.

[after he sends that, he's surprised at the lump in his throat. he really doesn't know, does he? much of anything, anymore...]

text;

[maglevflash]

I've been told that powers are often triggered by emotional stress.

[Told? Try experienced. Traumatically.]

Maybe Hiro isn't the only one with unresolved issues. Which brings me back around to my earlier question.

What the HELL was that?

[Because great, the argument has been somewhat explained and while she's not cool with Hiro's involvement, she now understands it. Calaghan's words, on the other hand...sorry. You don't get off so easily for that.[

text;

[pushtheboundaries]

As I said. I can't always control it.

Not that it's any excuse. His actions were a result of my own.

text;

[maglevflash]

So it works in reverse as well? You don't just incite others, but incite yourself?

text;

[pushtheboundaries]

I haven't exactly shouted at myself in front of a mirror lately.

text;

[maglevflash]

Professor, I am so far from kidding right now. Give me a reason to believe that throwing Baymax at Hiro like that wasn't just retaliation against someone who you may be unconsciously manipulating.

text;

[pushtheboundaries]

I can't give you one because I don't know it myself.

[and he's actually- scared about it. this isn't how things are supposed to be. this is wrong, and if he's just- pulling Hiro down further-]

Keep hmi away from me. He's too good for this. Ive done enough.

[he doesn't notice the errors until he sends it, but he doesn't care. that wrongness is just too much.

i̷s͠ t̨his all hi͡s f́au̢l̢t?]

Audio

[maglevflash]

[She can't do this over text. She can't. This is just...this is too much.

When did her life get to be so many words? She would rather be DOING something. Point her in a direction and tell her to go. This is outside her comfort zone but goddammit, her family is fighting and she can't just do nothing.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[oh sorry were you trying to call him there
because guess who isn't picking up]

[maglevflash]

[That tells her a lot more than he was probably intending. She waits in frustration for a few moments, giving him the benefit of the doubt before getting fed up.]

Coward.

[pushtheboundaries]

[it takes a few minutes, but he does respond.]

you don't want to talk to me right now.

[maglevflash]

Yes I very much do.

Who do you think you even are right now?

[pushtheboundaries]

[someone toxic]

I don't know what you're asking.

[maglevflash]

What happened to holding ourselves accountable for our mistakes?

[maglevflash]

Instead you're going to run.

whups i didn't see all these. strikethrough are written/erased for flavor.

[pushtheboundaries]

[there's another pause before responses. god damn it, she's right, and he hates it.]

What do you want? An apology?

I'm sorry for losing my temper. I'm sorry for having the most worthless powers in place. I'm sorry for not realizing that Tadashi or anyone else would be stupid enough to come in to a fire for me. I can't promise it won't happen again, which is why until Hiro finds his own calm, I need to find mine. And that's not going to happen if I'm feeding off, or actually feeding his rage.

It's okay! 1/2

[maglevflash]

I don't want your apology.

What happened to the man who got me out of that hospital? Who told me my dreams were worth something? That I should never give up just because it's hard, or because people say I should.

When did you become someone so...

[She knows it all started with Krei, and the accident. She understands that. She's forgiving him for that. But he taught them all progress, and it hurts to see him stuck in the past.]

[maglevflash]

I just want my professor back.

[pushtheboundaries]

[oh, Gogo.

you're breaking his heart.]




Sometimes things get broken.

Sometimes you don't notice it for years, because they can limp along like nothing's wrong; it's only when there's a catastrophic failure that you realize this is something that's been building up over time. You can perform regular checks, you can perform as much maintenance as you'd like, but sometimes it's just not enough.

In those cases, it's all you can do to try and pick up the pieces. Even if you're not sure how to put them back together anymore. Sometimes you can put them back, even knowing that it'll never be the same- you can still get things in working order, again, and continue on.

But sometimes it's better to just throw it all away and start over, because you'll just be frustrating yourself while you're trying to fix something that can't be fixed, and because while you're hanging back the world is moving on around you - past you.

It's not always clear when a thing is one or the other. But you have to weigh it all against each other, and ask yourself if it's really worth all that effort, or if it's best to move past.

[maglevflash]

[That's cheating, speaking their language like that.]

The people who throw away a project and start over still have the intent, the heart. They will still put that into their work, even if it seems unrecognizable at first.

My whole life has been in building and repairing and upgrading machines. And every single one of them had a life. Even after they were done.

I remember every bike I've ever built. And what I've learned from each of them has only made what came after all the stronger for it. And most importantly?

People aren't machines. And the one thing we know how to do above all else if fight for the things that matter.

What really matters to you? This anger? The pain? The past? Having revenge? Or making a difference? A real one.

[pushtheboundaries]

[that kind of thing is his first language, before English; projects and production. creation, repairs, tinkering- and destruction. this is what he speaks at heart, in his very soul.]

You need more than heart. If they've got the brain, they'll focus their efforts on what can actually be accomplished. If not by them, then by setting the seeds for those who follow after them to accomplish it, and do what they couldn't.

That's what matters to me. Making it so that if I can't do something, then at least someone else can.

[maglevflash]

[She....she honestly doesn't know how to respond to that. People aren't machines. Unfortunately she speaks to machines better than people.]

...Hiro told me what happened. With the dragon.

[She can't help but give him chances, it seems. She should still be angry but she just...she can't. Not right now. Not when her family has fallen apart around her while she wasn't looking.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[subject change, huh? he'll accept it, though he's not sure what she's getting at]

Remind me to look in to better equipment next time something crazy like that happens. His armor designs are impressive, but could use some peer review.

[eg from someone like you, miss engineer.]

[maglevflash]

Already been working with him on mine.

[A pause between texts.]

Did you know what you were going to take, before you did it?