text;

[the_fourteenth]

If anyone has received a green beetle they would like to sell, please let me know. I'm not sure I can offer as much as you could elsewhere, but these creatures would be a big benefit to all of us. I would like to set them up in the greenhouse and gardens in Okinawa to help facilitate plant growth, and harvest the groves. They would be a huge help in growing food for us all.

Think of it this way: the more food we can grow, the less ration bars we need to eat.

Do contact me if you're interested. Thanks for your time.

[There's a pause before the post is edited, and more is added.]

I hope everyone has been recovering well. If you were someone who became corrupted in the Underworld and suspect that not all of it has been purged from your system, please come see me. I can help. My room is Everlight 012.

[OOC: feel free to use this post for beetle trading and selling in general, too.]

Comments

[egraegis]

Yes, me. I can't claim to be familiar with any symptoms in myself personally, but after everything that happened, I'd rather not take any chances.

Still, if it's a drain on you to check, I'd consider it not at all urgent.

[the_fourteenth]

It's okay. I would be glad to check. Better safe than sorry. Letting a corruption go untreated could make it worse later.

If you want, stop by my room and I'll check. If we need to, I can cast a purification spell for you. I'm in Everlight 012.

[egraegis]

I agree... and we don't need a repeat of what just happened. You have my thanks. I'm Athrun, with Redemption. I'm nearby, so I can be there shortly.

[He's not gonna say he's staying with Cagalli on the public network in case LILITH gives him shit, but. He is.]

[the_fourteenth]

See you soon.

[The door will be open in anticipation of Athrun coming by. Raidou's still in the process of making his room home again, with what items he could salvage still in boxes being sorted. He's sorting through some printed photographs when Athrun gets to the door.]

Ah. Welcome. Come in, have a seat.

[He gets up and offers the desk chair, since it's the only one he has right now besides his bed.]

[egraegis]

Ah- you don't have to give up your chair, especially if you're already tired and working. I can stand...

[He does come inside, though, venturing over.]

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou shakes his head with a polite smile, and wheels the chair closer.]

I insist. This is easier if you relax.

[Normally Raidou would be able to pick up on any corruption the moment Athrun walked in, but he's low on energy at the moment, so he can't trust his senses to be as sharp as they should be.

He walks over to the corner and pick us up his katana from its stand, but he doesn't remove it from the sheath. He sets it across his lap as he takes a seat on the edge of his bad.]

Have a seat, close your eyes. Focus on your breathing, okay?

[egraegis]

[Hey, you know what's not relaxing? When the stranger you literally just met whips out a big sword.]

Um. Sorry? Why do you have that?

[the_fourteenth]

[He smiles just a little, amused.]

It's okay. No need to use it on you. Think of it as-- like a battery. This sword has a lot of spiritual power. I can use all the help I can get right now.

[Raidou gives the sword a gentle pat, as if to show it's harmless. The sheath is black, and the guard has an odd design.]

I won't even be taking it out, or even holding it.

[To prove so, he holds up his hands in front of his fast, hands clasped together except for the index fingers extended high. a pose as if to pray.]

[egraegis]

Ah... alright.

[Well, he hasn't spoken with Raidou before, but he's seen him around publicly enough. He seems alright. It's easy to be extra cautious in light of the forced heel turn so many of their comrades fell under recently, but things seem back to normal now... most of all, Athrun really wants to be confident in the idea of him not being corrupted. Primarily for Cagalli's sake.

He sits down, taking a slow, steadying breath, and tries to relax.]

[the_fourteenth]

[Quietly, Raidou begins to chant, a droning norito prayer only barely audible. Comforting, in its own strange way. It doesn't last long, though. After only about a minute, Raidou stops, placing a light hand on Athrun's shoulder.]

Good news. You're already all clear. No cleansing necessary.

[egraegis]

[Impossible to hide the completely unsubtle way Athrun's shoulders slump in relief.]

Good... that's good. We've had enough trouble with that already.

[the_fourteenth]

We sure have. I hope at this point, we've taken care most of it. Better safe than sorry, yeah?

[He personally has been doing a lot of it. Some goes well, some not so much. The new scar on his face is a remnant of one particularly bad exorcism, but in the end, Raidou still succeeded.]

If you know anyone else who feels as if they might be still in need of it, though, please send them my way.

[egraegis]

I'll keep that in mind. I... appreciate you doing this. I'm sorry if I wore you out in the process. Can I do anything for you? I can't do what you do, but I'd like to help if I'm able.

[He'll run errands, grab you a snack, whatever. He's got four functional limbs, he's not exhausted in the aftermath.]

[the_fourteenth]

Not to worry. I didn't have to use up too much energy since you were okay.

[Still, someone offering such a thing when he's so bone tired is very tempting. Raidou thinks on it for a moment.]

Ah... no need to rush out right now. But if happen to be out and happen to pass a coffee shop...?

[egraegis]

[It's such a simple request, Athrun can't help but smile.]

I can get you coffee, sure. Got a preference? My to-do list for right now isn't very long.

[Honestly he'd cleared some space because he didn't know how long this would actually take. For it to be finished so quick means he has an hour to do whatever he likes. (He'll get coffee and go back to work, though, let's be real.)]