Chapter 215: Seasoned Partings I
At some point on the 1st of June 1985.
Eventually, the disastrous weather of the outside world did simmer down and gave the unfortunates a chance to pick themselves up.
If it were to continue any further, who knows how much devastation and loss it would bring about.
Of course, Alexander's messy Mind Mansion eventually simmered down as well with the embedded chaos program hiding its existence clean.
The red-green engravings and the dark miasma were gone and the mind construct was mansion-y and pristinely high class again.
There was a lot to process about what had happened and what could potentially happen again in the future but Alexander was quick to recompose himself and figure some stuff out.
The visualization perk was still there and he was more or less satisfied with holding on to that information. That information alone was enough along with the fact that the chaos program was still hiding inside him.
He need not concern or trouble himself with diving into more answers and enlightenments any further.
There were still many things about the chaos inside his mind and its connection to the Greater System. It meant that there were many things he didn't comprehend and understand but maybe it was best to keep it that way.
What is the best way to deal with something one can't understand? Of course, it is to ignore it!
If he couldn't figure it out, he might as well not think about it.
Ignore it and hope that it would be more or less understandable the next time one would encounter it again.
This was Alexander's safest solution and the one he would undoubtedly go for in a long while.
His re-life had much more progressive prospects to look forward to than be bogged down by scrutinizing natural forces and breaking them down.
Alexander was obsessed and super focused on some stuff but he didn't want to go into some 'breaking down the universe' rabbit hole that scientists and philosophers have devoted their whole life to find.
That scholarly craziness would be a waste of his re-life opportunities.
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Of course, while Alexander's future seemed bright, the rest of society seemed to have been enveloped with gloom.
The news of the tornados and the storm have eventually been disseminated and everyone had some reelings from it.
The inhabitants of unaffected states and faraway countries could only be shocked at the fact that such a big thing seems to have been brewed right under their noses.
It was much grimmer for the survivors and victims though. They had just survived a terrifying rampage of nature and would have nightmares of it since then.
Destruction and chaos were apparent around them. The loss and damage of some infrastructure were quite hard to process for a lot of people.
The tornadoes may have some varying levels of infliction at some points of the disaster but their overall effect could still be accounted for by some factors.
At some point, the injured, the lost, and the deaths were being tallied up. No doubt that the statistics were all preliminary and bound to change.
Of course, for those that knew the clear loss of their loved one, mournings and regrets were already assaulting them.
They had never thought that by the end of the beautiful and lively season of spring, death and loss would come.
From the summer season onwards, they would have to truly part ways from their departed loved ones and acquaintances then.
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Partings and farewells did always come with the seasons, it was just a natural event that would eventually come.
It just so happens that Creed had its fair share of seasoned partings as well with Seasoned Hayao's flight already being booked.
It wasn't quite as tragic and unfortunate as what was happening to the tornado outbroken places but it was still notable to the Creeds.
Hayao Miyazaki or Seasoned Hayao had been quite integral in making Creed Animations into what it was today after all.
There were still a lot of kinks to work out but the animation man had already hammered all the animation knowledge that he possibly could in a short amount of time.
It was too bad that his animation drive wasn't fated to remain with Creed Animations at all as it just so happens that his true 'magnum opus' was the reason for this June return.
Like history, Studio Ghibli was established in June 15, 1985. Not much variation this time around and it is also in Japan, so the urgency to leave at the first sign of June can be noted.
Seasoned Hayao was ready to build Studio Ghibli with his friends in Japan now and all that the Creeds could do was keep their end of the bargain.
The Studio Ghibli founders wanted a stake-free funding for their first project and Old Sullivan had already given the related account transfer a greenlight. In fact, the account had been processed by the legal and accounting team since Seasoned Hayao was hard at work here in America.
Seasoned Hayao had also kept his end of the bargain since February and in all honesty, he may have even done more than he should.
Everyone was satisfied with this partnership and extending it any further might just grow some unwanted animosity.
Of course, appropriate farewells and gratitudes were in order at the end of it.
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"It is quite a shame that this may be our final goodbyes, Mr. Miyazaki." Alexander gave his parting regards.
"I feel the same way as you, Alex-san." Seasoned Hayao responded in the same sincerity. "The experience I had during my stay here has been quite refreshing that I find myself a bit reluctant to leave."
Alexander gave his rare and natural smile to someone he respected and was quite grateful for. Of course, he employed a rare socializing jest as well. "Surely, you're just sugarcoating things, Mr. Miyazaki. I'm sure myself and the entire Creed Animations team had been quite the nightmare to deal with."
"It is alright, Alex-san." Seasoned Hayao grinned and joked. "Haha! That is exactly the thing I would miss. Being a strict and over-criticizing mentor is quite the rush."
"In all seriousness though, shaping animators up to great standard and exchanging views about animation with you had been quite an experience." Seasoned Hayao added on. "You, Alex-san, are quite a mysterious and intriguing person to meet and get to know."
"From your adult temperament, creative ability, current attainments, and even the surprising discovery of your acting talent." Seasoned Hayao listed out and reminisced. "I always scoffed at such improbable characters and the thought of including them in my projects. Now, I know a real person to base such characters on."
"Oh... Now I'm quite looking forward to what project of yours would have some traces of me." Alexander indulged.
"It wouldn't be that much of a problem for you to know from my projects, Alex-san. Ehem... after all... our Ghibli may have to depend on Creed Pictures for North American help in the film theaters." Seasoned Hayao was quite crafty here but his awkwardness is a sign that he was quite embarrassed with extra transactions.
"It's no trouble at all." Seasoned Hayao's North American awkward favoring aside, Alexander was more than happy to be an aide to Ghibli's American introduction. "Speaking of film theaters, I have to apologize for my grandpa not being here to see you off, Mr. Miyazaki. He had his regrets but a lot of Back to the Future stuff has got him much busier."
"I understand. I just hope you pass my goodbye and gratitude to Mr. Creed." For someone who has been involved in film releases as well, Seasoned Hayao knew of the complication and could somehow relate to Old Mr. Creed's plight.
"It just so happens that he tasked me to do the same passing of goodbyes and gratitudes to you as well." Alexander gave a bow for everything and Seasoned Hayao responded in kind as well.
Respect was given to each other and this was how Alexander and legendary Seasoned Hayao Miyazaki parted ways... for now...
Of course, Mr. Translator was there to oversee and translate the farewells. Still, he had tears from being somewhat part of the journey as well.