Berettaflies: "Haruko's Messages"
Nov. 1st, 2015 04:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThese comprise one bundle of Haruko's messages from the care package described in "Delivery Road Show" Part 2 of 3 by dialecticdreamer. This installment was inspired by that story, and it also fills the "reunion" square in my 10-1-15 card for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
trope_bingo fest. It belongs to the Berettaflies thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
Warning: This entry contains mentions of the berettaflies along with subsequent death and other mayhem. Minor emotional angst. Mostly upbeat, though.
"Haruko's Messages"
Dear Haruko,
OMG please be okay! I saw the news and I am totally freaking out here. Evil mutant butterflies, just what the world does NOT need! Call me when you get this so I know you're not dead and can cry on you.
Khloe
Westbord, CA
* * *
Dear Haruko,
We just heard about the berettaflies. Please let us know if you are okay. If you are not okay, please let us know that too. If there is anything we can do to help, just ask.
Hugs,
Auntie Kate & Auntie Liv
Eastbord, MA
* * *
Dear Haruko,
I just checked the Voodoo Message Board but you haven't logged in yet. I hope you're all right. Ping me back as soon as you can. I'll keep checking.
All my best,
Deanna
Wiggins, MS
* * *
Dear Haruko,
The news is going nuts with pictures of psycho butterflies and SPAZMAT tearing up flower gardens. I hope that you and your friend Abraham's roses are both safe.
Sincerely,
Gerald
Ann Arbor, MI
* * *
Dear Haruko,
When you feel that all the world is chaos, breathe. Breathe out. Breathe in. All things pass in time.
Yours in peace,
Sensei Kou Aikawa
Rain City, WA
* * *
Dear Haruko,
This is the fifth time I've searched the Voodoo Message Board, and you're still not listed. For God's sake check your messages! You're scaring me to death. I'm calling everyone I know to see if anyone's heard from you.
All my best,
Deanna
Wiggins, MS
* * *
Hei there, harUko
Everything is shit there, i know, but don't tune out dude. You got peeps who love u yet.
<3 Ocean
Key Largo, FL
* * *
Dear Haruko,
I felt that you could use this right now.
"Our mission is to plant ourselves at the gates of Hope — not the prudent gates of Optimism, which are somewhat narrower; nor the stalwart, boring gates of Common Sense; nor the strident gates of Self-Righteousness, which creak on shrill and angry hinges... ; nor the cheerful, flimsy garden gate of 'Everything is gonna be all right.'"
— Victoria Safford, Unitarian Universalist minister
We will light a candle for you at our next service. Please let us know if you need anything we can provide.
Sincerely,
Alan Westerfield
for Harmony, a Unitarian Universalist Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
* * *
Dear Haruko,
Lucieann told me what happened to Abraham. God, no wonder you haven't logged in. I am so sorry. I'm putting a gift card for Wholesome Joe's in your box here, figuring you'll check in eventually. Buy yourself something comforting.
All my best,
Deanna
Wiggins, MS
* * *
Dear Haruko,
Seriously, that Spectrum, what the actual FUCK? And Stylet, what was he even thinking, get all mixed up in that shit? They keep going on that way, somebody's like to stab them. Haruko, you stay safe, stay away from the crazies. Play the blues if you need a good excuse to cry, that's what they're made for.
Luck bro,
Daejoe
On the road again
* * *
Dear Haruko,
If I know you, then you're right in the middle of that berettafly mess and too busy to check your messages. If I know everyone else, they're nagging you to bits for replies. Here's one message you don't have to answer. I just wanted to tell you that our R. acicularis ssp. Haruko is blooming for the first time, and the kids are going nuts over it. Check out the picture.
Hugs from everyone,
Ames & the Davidsons
Huntsville, AL
* * *
In the kitchen, Haruko leaned against the counter and shuffled through the little bundle of messages one more time, then sighed. He would have to call Deanna; she was not only the biggest worrier, she'd also sent him the biggest gift. It would be inexcusably rude to ignore her, now that he knew she was fretting over him. He just really, really did not want to deal with her flavor of mother-henning right now.
"The quickest way out is through," he reminded himself, and made the call.
"Haruko! Oh, thank God you're safe," Deanna gushed.
"Yeah, I'm not injured or anything. I just ... the berettaflies attacked, Abraham passed away, and I'm exhausted from dealing with all the details. I got so caught up in handling his final affairs, I forgot to take care of my own responsibilities. I'm sorry for scaring you," said Haruko, bracing himself for the onslaught.
"I'm just glad to hear from you now. It's such a relief! Lucieann told me not to pester you about it, so I won't. You really should log into the Voodoo Message Board, though -- that's got to be quicker than calling everyone while you're so busy," said Deanna.
Haruko made a mental note to thank Lucieann, considered his current state of consciousness, and scribbled it on the side of his paper bag instead. Then he added Log in VMB above it. "I'll make sure to do that, after I finish this call," Haruko promised.
"Then I'll let you go," Deanna said. "Love you, bye."
That had to be a record for getting through a conversation with Deanna. Haruko took a few more moments to log his status as "Other" at the Voodoo Message Board. He noted Abraham's death and explained his own absence due to bereavement and the subsequent flurry of urgent tasks, along with a general thank-you to everyone who contributed to his care package. Then he crossed off the VMB note on his bag.
Finally, Haruko gathered up the coffee and went back to Lionel.
**************
Notes:
Terramagne disaster boards typically operate across a wide range of formats and services, offering people a chance to log the current status for themselves and family. Safe & Well, Displaced, Sick/Injured, Deceased, and Other are common options. Individuals may be listed as Safe & Well or Other generally, but only Displaced, Sick/Injured, or Deceased if their family or other contacts have already been notified. Voodoo Message Board is a common nickname for this and similar communication services in the Easy City area. Here is a local-American example of a disaster board. Understand how to handle disasters, how to get back to normal after one, and how to talk with someone affected by a disaster.
UU Hope Quotes and the reference to Harmony come from Unitarian-Universalist resources. As you can guess from the diversity of Haruko's friends, he has explored various traditions, although he has not yet found anything that feels like a good match for him.
dialecticdreamer. This installment was inspired by that story, and it also fills the "reunion" square in my 10-1-15 card for the trope_bingo fest. It belongs to the Berettaflies thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.Warning: This entry contains mentions of the berettaflies along with subsequent death and other mayhem. Minor emotional angst. Mostly upbeat, though.
"Haruko's Messages"
Dear Haruko,
OMG please be okay! I saw the news and I am totally freaking out here. Evil mutant butterflies, just what the world does NOT need! Call me when you get this so I know you're not dead and can cry on you.
Khloe
Westbord, CA
* * *
Dear Haruko,
We just heard about the berettaflies. Please let us know if you are okay. If you are not okay, please let us know that too. If there is anything we can do to help, just ask.
Hugs,
Auntie Kate & Auntie Liv
Eastbord, MA
* * *
Dear Haruko,
I just checked the Voodoo Message Board but you haven't logged in yet. I hope you're all right. Ping me back as soon as you can. I'll keep checking.
All my best,
Deanna
Wiggins, MS
* * *
Dear Haruko,
The news is going nuts with pictures of psycho butterflies and SPAZMAT tearing up flower gardens. I hope that you and your friend Abraham's roses are both safe.
Sincerely,
Gerald
Ann Arbor, MI
* * *
Dear Haruko,
When you feel that all the world is chaos, breathe. Breathe out. Breathe in. All things pass in time.
Yours in peace,
Sensei Kou Aikawa
Rain City, WA
* * *
Dear Haruko,
This is the fifth time I've searched the Voodoo Message Board, and you're still not listed. For God's sake check your messages! You're scaring me to death. I'm calling everyone I know to see if anyone's heard from you.
All my best,
Deanna
Wiggins, MS
* * *
Hei there, harUko
Everything is shit there, i know, but don't tune out dude. You got peeps who love u yet.
<3 Ocean
Key Largo, FL
* * *
Dear Haruko,
I felt that you could use this right now.
"Our mission is to plant ourselves at the gates of Hope — not the prudent gates of Optimism, which are somewhat narrower; nor the stalwart, boring gates of Common Sense; nor the strident gates of Self-Righteousness, which creak on shrill and angry hinges... ; nor the cheerful, flimsy garden gate of 'Everything is gonna be all right.'"
— Victoria Safford, Unitarian Universalist minister
We will light a candle for you at our next service. Please let us know if you need anything we can provide.
Sincerely,
Alan Westerfield
for Harmony, a Unitarian Universalist Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
* * *
Dear Haruko,
Lucieann told me what happened to Abraham. God, no wonder you haven't logged in. I am so sorry. I'm putting a gift card for Wholesome Joe's in your box here, figuring you'll check in eventually. Buy yourself something comforting.
All my best,
Deanna
Wiggins, MS
* * *
Dear Haruko,
Seriously, that Spectrum, what the actual FUCK? And Stylet, what was he even thinking, get all mixed up in that shit? They keep going on that way, somebody's like to stab them. Haruko, you stay safe, stay away from the crazies. Play the blues if you need a good excuse to cry, that's what they're made for.
Luck bro,
Daejoe
On the road again
* * *
Dear Haruko,
If I know you, then you're right in the middle of that berettafly mess and too busy to check your messages. If I know everyone else, they're nagging you to bits for replies. Here's one message you don't have to answer. I just wanted to tell you that our R. acicularis ssp. Haruko is blooming for the first time, and the kids are going nuts over it. Check out the picture.
Hugs from everyone,
Ames & the Davidsons
Huntsville, AL
* * *
In the kitchen, Haruko leaned against the counter and shuffled through the little bundle of messages one more time, then sighed. He would have to call Deanna; she was not only the biggest worrier, she'd also sent him the biggest gift. It would be inexcusably rude to ignore her, now that he knew she was fretting over him. He just really, really did not want to deal with her flavor of mother-henning right now.
"The quickest way out is through," he reminded himself, and made the call.
"Haruko! Oh, thank God you're safe," Deanna gushed.
"Yeah, I'm not injured or anything. I just ... the berettaflies attacked, Abraham passed away, and I'm exhausted from dealing with all the details. I got so caught up in handling his final affairs, I forgot to take care of my own responsibilities. I'm sorry for scaring you," said Haruko, bracing himself for the onslaught.
"I'm just glad to hear from you now. It's such a relief! Lucieann told me not to pester you about it, so I won't. You really should log into the Voodoo Message Board, though -- that's got to be quicker than calling everyone while you're so busy," said Deanna.
Haruko made a mental note to thank Lucieann, considered his current state of consciousness, and scribbled it on the side of his paper bag instead. Then he added Log in VMB above it. "I'll make sure to do that, after I finish this call," Haruko promised.
"Then I'll let you go," Deanna said. "Love you, bye."
That had to be a record for getting through a conversation with Deanna. Haruko took a few more moments to log his status as "Other" at the Voodoo Message Board. He noted Abraham's death and explained his own absence due to bereavement and the subsequent flurry of urgent tasks, along with a general thank-you to everyone who contributed to his care package. Then he crossed off the VMB note on his bag.
Finally, Haruko gathered up the coffee and went back to Lionel.
**************
Notes:
Terramagne disaster boards typically operate across a wide range of formats and services, offering people a chance to log the current status for themselves and family. Safe & Well, Displaced, Sick/Injured, Deceased, and Other are common options. Individuals may be listed as Safe & Well or Other generally, but only Displaced, Sick/Injured, or Deceased if their family or other contacts have already been notified. Voodoo Message Board is a common nickname for this and similar communication services in the Easy City area. Here is a local-American example of a disaster board. Understand how to handle disasters, how to get back to normal after one, and how to talk with someone affected by a disaster.
UU Hope Quotes and the reference to Harmony come from Unitarian-Universalist resources. As you can guess from the diversity of Haruko's friends, he has explored various traditions, although he has not yet found anything that feels like a good match for him.
Still perfect!
Date: 2015-11-02 01:40 am (UTC)You captured that brilliantly!
Thank you!
Re: Still perfect!
Date: 2015-11-02 04:06 am (UTC)Re: Still perfect!
Date: 2015-11-02 04:11 am (UTC)Re: Still perfect!
Date: 2015-11-02 04:14 am (UTC)It's such a stressful situation for him, trying to deal with the attack on the city, losing Abraham, settling all the mundane details ... and then oh yeah here's another stack of stuff he forgot to do.
Poor Haruko. But at least Deanna's silent apology will spare him grocery shopping for a while, he can just have stuff delivered.
(no subject)
Date: 2015-11-02 04:56 am (UTC)Well...
Date: 2015-11-02 05:18 am (UTC)For the backstory, see her entries "Man Hospitalized -- Insects at Large" and "Twilight" in the Berettaflies thread.
(no subject)
Date: 2015-11-02 04:44 pm (UTC)Aww!
Disaster board: sheer brilliance.
Thank you!
Date: 2015-11-02 07:06 pm (UTC):D
>> Disaster board: sheer brilliance. <<
That is replicable with extant equipment in our world too. Mostly what we're missing is the social cohesion. Here we have smaller, simpler, less reliable antecedents. But anyone could take Easy City's model and build it locally for a company or small town. Since I actually have readers who work or know people in various official capacities, this may prove useful.