001 || VIDEO

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ The video begins as terribly shaky, half of it covered by a curious shape that will, upon closer inspection, turn out to be somebody’s finger, followed by some clicking noises. Of course, what Hashirama is trying to do right now is use his NV – conveniently shaped like a pen – to write. ]

Tch. What good is a pen if it doesn’t write…

[ A few more clicks and the device rolls off, a view of the table taking over for a few moments, switching to a view of the ceiling, then the wall, back to the table, and this continues for a few moments. This is then followed by a loud crash, the feed still shaky as it finally focuses on a man, standing with his legs slightly apart, expression set in a slight frown, hands positioned like he is just about to pull a karate move of sorts. ]

I didn’t think you were the ordinary sort of pen. Then again, why would I be handed a pen in the afterlife...?

[ He is still inspecting that NV, gaze sweeping carefully over the device, unfamiliar with it because during his time there had been nothing so advanced in technology as what he was staring at right now. ]

…Or are you an exploding device?

[ He takes a step back, his hands forming a seal of sorts as he waits for the device to explode. He will be standing there in that position, suspicious as ever, until something happens. Or until someone decides to communicate. Whichever happens first. ]

Comments

[doeswhathewants]

That's a strange sort of magic you have.

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ That NV's got a hologram, and when Loki starts to speak, Hashirama almost poofs out of there. Almost. He just confirmed that the pen is not going to explode... yet. Maybe. ]

...Magic?

[doeswhathewants]

Those hand gestures. Some sort of magic form your world?

Or are you a only mad?

[pillars_of_konoha]

I wouldn't call it magic, it is more akin to science.

And I was sane the last time I checked. But that was when I was alive.

[doeswhathewants]

Alive?

Then you are dead? Any cravings for brains? Human flesh?

Science. How does it work?

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ ...Brains? Flesh? The HELL?! ]

I was. Dead, that is.

...No.. [ That no is very slow and pronounced, like he isn't sure what you're on about |: ] I prefer a vegetarian diet, if you were curious.

Just a means of channeling the natural energy within and without to create, manipulate, or destroy. It requires a significant amount of concentration.

[doeswhathewants]

You did say back when you were alive, which one could take to assume that you are dead now. And typically the dead come back with a hunger for flesh, if the movies are to be relied on as a reliable font of truths.

[And he's narrowing eyes and considering.] How does one do that? What is it typically used for?

Video

[calm_tempest]

[She's going with video mostly so you're less likely to think it's the pen talking. Most of the amusement is gone from her -- because she did giggle a bit before replying -- but there's still the hint of a smile in her eyes.]

You may be surprised what can be of use in the afterlife. Though that is not where you are.

Video

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ That's very considerate of you, Unohana, but he's still going to tense up a bit at the hologram popping up from the end of that 'pen'. He has an idea of what a hologram is, never really seen it at work in his time, but that was just unexpected. He's also rather embarrassed about the whole thing, and he can see that she's amused. Or at least, he thinks she is. ]

This is not-- Where am I, then?

I distinctly remember dying...

Video

[calm_tempest]

[Just a little amused. Just a bit.]

Mm. Such is not entirely uncommon here; the force that drew you to this place has also been known to revive the dead at times.

This is a city known as Siren's Port, in the realm of the living, though I would wager not the same realm of the living that you've come from.

Video

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ He's terribly embarrassed, but he's doing a good job hiding it. At least, he hopes so. All that 'a shinobi should not show emotion' training probably paying off. ]

Siren's Port. I had seen the signs when I first arrived here.

So this is a city, in the realm of the living... [ He brings his hands down and relaxes enough to walk closer to the NV ] It isn't Konoha, that much is certain.

Is Siren's Port just a city, or is my presence here part of a larger plan I am unaware of?

Video

[calm_tempest]

[Sorry, Hashi. She totally caught it. But she won't say anything. Isn't she nice?]

There is no plan, as far as anyone is aware, I am afraid. [And . . . just a city? That depends on what you're used to.]

Video (erg late >.<)

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ He gets that sinking feeling that she did. Good first impressions fail right there ;; ]

Then one must just... survive? [ He is going to look at you rather curiously now. Same question: Is it...just a city at all? ]

[ voice ]

[underachiever]

[Oh. A shinobi. From his village? But not one he recognizes, as his mind doesn't immediately go fifty years into the past. He's curious.]

It won't explode.

[ voice ]

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ Hashirama probably wouldn't recognize him either, it's all cool. ]

...Who is this?

[ He doesn't believe a talking 'pen', he'll still be cautious about a possible explosion. ]

[underachiever]

You first.

[pillars_of_konoha]

You would not hesitate to speak to a stranger, yet not take the initiative to introduce yourself first, mm?

[underachiever]

Well, I do have the advantage here.

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ He totally knew he was being recorded, shhh.

...Which is when he walks up to the device and fiddles with that brand spanking new technology, using a little bit of common sense to figure out how to turn off the video and change it to voice. ]

Now we're even.

vidya

[encourage]

[ Screw you Shika she sees you up there 8| ]

Explosive for words, liable to flood with information, potentially able to give away more than you wish, but no, unlikely to be explosive this early on.

Hashirama-sama.

[ Fuck.

This.

Noise. ]

vidja

[pillars_of_konoha]

[ He was cool absorbing all that information at first, but then she went and called him by name, and he's looking at you now with all sorts of suspicion and confusion. She also has pink hair. Mito's relative? He's not sure, but if she was, then he was in big trouble for forgetting the name and face of an in-law. Yikes D: ]

[ He will dip his head in a sort of half-bow, though. ]

Forgive me, but... [ Squint ] I don't recall...

[ Also, that noise. His ears. Have a frown and a sideways glance to where his window is. ]

[encourage]

You wouldn't know me. I'm several generations after your own, sir. Haruno Sakura.

[ Not at his service. She doesn't offer that, finding it hard and cold within her to think this is the man -- this is the person who could have stopped Madara.

But he hadn't been here.

And so it is, as with many things, useless in the end. A relic of the past, long dead, who has already been what he needs to for his home. This? Was a stop in his existence. He should be thankful to know he lived well, only frozen for this moment in this place.

Outside his window, a dove flits by, walking in jerky movements. It coos. ]

html fail >.>

[pillars_of_konoha]

Haruno... [ He remembered that name. There wasn't a face or clan in Konohagakure no Sato that he didn't know when he was alive. ] Then perhaps I knew your ancestors.

[ Hashirama was long dead. He doesn't expect it, either. This is not Konoha and he is not Hokage.

He was but merely the foundation for everything he helped build, fleshed out an ideal and a dream for the good of many, believed in his people enough to know that they will go on as strong as they would allow their hearts and conscience to believe it. That was his legacy. To give those he loved a reason to fight for, a reason to protect, a reason to be strong and stronger yet.

Had he known, it would have saddened him to think that they would still have wished for him to have been there, still have wanted a savior when all his life he had been trying to prove otherwise: that they were greater than just the one man.

He drew his strength from those around him, those with him. He would have been nothing without them.

Although he would have still done everything in his power to have stopped Madara a second time. But even that first time, there had been secrets... It was a chapter they had closed. Supposed to be closed...

He glances at the bird then, a smile on his lips. Somehow, he is glad that it is a dove and not a crow... ]

<3 it happens to us all

[encourage]

It's possible. A Haruno had to come to Konoha at some point. I'm not sure when, but it was likely during your time as Hokage.

[ When long enough away from home -- when potentially never born there -- home isn't what gives you strength. Beaten down again and again by those with far greater power than you, all that remains is the spirit, and the will. Don't let them win. At any cost, retain yourself.

The dove coos again, pecking at crumbs that may exist on the sill.

At any cost, don't give in to what they want you to be. ]

[pillars_of_konoha]

Perhaps earlier. There were other clans besides the Senju and the Uchiha when we first began.

[ Home... Home could be many things, and yet nothing at all. A memory, a person, a feeling, a place, a fleeting moment, or a dream yet to be realized. A place in your heart, in your soul, in your spirit and all that becomes you; a splinter embedded so deep inside that to take it out would mean death. And there are many kinds of death. There is death in every breath you take, in every moment you live-- We are all slowly dying.

Even so, once the song has ended, the melody lingers on.

And for as long as you live, you know it's there. It's barely there, but it is. That invisible splinter, the roots that bind you, your purpose, your reason... You.

And speaking of home, her hair reminds him of the cherry blossoms that fells like pink snow every year in Konoha. It tugs the smile on his lips just a little more, and he carefully opens that window. The bird flies away obviously, but he hopes it would be back. For the crumbs at least.

He turns to face her again. ]

What is the last thing you remember about Konoha, Sakura?