[he's about to say "I do, too" and "I want to get to know people better" but then soo-won says that and he looks briefly flustered.]
Welllll...[haha. hm.] This is kind of harder than a lot of the other stuff I've done before. Usually we at least know who's responsible for stuff, even if it takes a little while.
But...I think there are people who are taking this even harder. And I want to help change things to help them feel less hopeless. If I can't stop this, then the least I can do is try to find a way to make some things better.
... I don't intend to treat you like a child - there's plenty of old men here who are particularly fond of doing that.
I know that you make choices here that weigh just as heavily as anyone else, and we're all equal.
But it's alright if you need to slow down and cry, too. Even those who have lived thousands of years are clearly being tested here. To be upset is another part of being human.
[...he's not wrong. he understands why people treat him the way they do, but he doesn't bother to correct them. instead he seems to be listening closely.]
...I know. [he kind of deflates like a balloon for a moment.] I am upset. What Virid did caused a lot of pain for everyone here. But I have to keep going like I always have.
[and yet.] Can we really afford to slow down, you think?
Hm... on evenings such as tonight, I think we can.
[and he seems to mean this sincerely, giving it genuine thought before offering sora a smile - sad and wistful]
For there are no more answers that we can seek tonight, or any Leaders we can bother. I admire your desire to look ahead, and I intend on collaborating with you as much as I'm able.
... but you remind me of Yona in the way that you do not give yourself room to breathe.
I don't mind. I'll try. [but it's debatable if he'll let himself relax enough to do that. instead, he seems more curious about this new bit of information.]
Yona told me she knew someone here the first time we met, but I didn't know it was you.
Yeah, yeah...I will. [given it's lightly said on its own, he's not really annoyed and will Consider It. but something in his expression softens when soo-won says that and there's a smile instead.]
It must be nice having each other here then, huh? You're kind of lucky that way.
Though in truth, I would ask her to be as far from this place as possible, in interest of her own safety.
But I also recognize that she carries a light with her wherever she goes, and she's very inspiring to the people here. So as long as she is here... I know that she'll be amazing.
Yeah...she's pretty great. [he likes yona a lot, really.] I'm worried about how this place is treating her, especially after last weekend. But I think she's strong enough to keep going.
I don't blame you though. I wouldn't want my friends here either just because of how dangerous it is. They've gone through enough.
[he nods to that if only because he can't fathom someone not being kind to yona. and then his expression turns into something a little more wistful, because even if he has a harder time talking about himself he's more than willing to talk about his friends.]
I miss them every day. But that's how our journey's always been. Even when we're worlds apart, we're still connected and we'll still find each other again. It's why I want to fix everything here as best as we can. They're waiting for me.
[maybe someday he'll go back to them, but there are still things making it difficult. he doesn't think of those though, and instead he looks a little embarrassed when soo-won says that.]
Well...I miss all of my friends, but my best friends are the ones I want to go back to. Riku and Kairi. We've been friends since we were really little and we all grew up together. Riku's a little older than us, but he's one of the strongest and bravest people I know. Even when--[...hm. okay, um...there's something there, something that he knows riku did to prove his strength, but for whatever reason it escapes him.
funny. but he continues to talk as if he didn't fumble for a bit.] We used to spar together a lot as kids, even if he was always the better fighter.
And Kairi's...really, really important to me. She was the whole reason I started my journey after our world was destroyed. It's always been about trying to find one or the other and bringing all of us home because we work best together. I don't think I would have ever made it this far without them. It's like we talked about yesterday, about balance. I think they're mine.
[...normally he would not have enough foresight to say so, but the topic's still fresh.]
[ . . . huh. soo-won notes the fumble, but he doesn't press it for now at least. rather, he listens and -
in all honesty it sounds so distantly familiar. to have someone who's the strongest and bravest person, to have a girl who pushes you to want to do better. it rings familiarly to soo-won, and there's a sort of understanding on his face as his mouth curves into a smile]
.... mm.
To have people who know you so well, who inspire you and carry you through the darkest moments.... I think that's a wonderful thing. You're lucky to have them.
[after it's all said and done, the only thing that can be said for sora is his expression is almost bittersweet in the way he looks happy to be able to remember them and saddened they're still far away. it's why he nods in agreement when soo-won speaks.]
I think so, too. They're the ones who give me strength. [he pauses then to reach into his pocket, procuring both a charm and a small doll that looks like some asshole.] Maybe it's stupid to keep carrying them around like this, but it's all I have right now. At least until I can figure out how to get back to them.
Tell that to some of the others. [but it's said with a kind of ease that indicates he truly doesn't mind.] But it's true. Kairi made me promise to bring her charm back to her anyway, so...it just means I have to keep going. And I'll help everyone I can along the way.
Everybody should have people like that, you know? [people to inspire them and give them strength.]
Yeah. That's exactly how I feel, too. Ochako and I were talking about this...about how everybody here has to have people they miss and how we can help make them feel a little less alone. I want to try to do that for people as best as I can.
[and so it's nice to think that soo-won feels similarly.]
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Yeah? That's kind of promising, isn't it? It means we're finding other ways to generate it. [sure would love that.]
It could be. Why else would they make it a rule with everything else? You followed it, didn't you?
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[and he offers up a smile at that]
I like sharing with people - and I like getting to know them.
[ . . . ]
Which is why I'm afraid that I must ask - how are you? You jumped immediately into plans for the future, which I understand and welcome.
But you take this all rather heavily, don't you?
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Welllll...[haha. hm.] This is kind of harder than a lot of the other stuff I've done before. Usually we at least know who's responsible for stuff, even if it takes a little while.
But...I think there are people who are taking this even harder. And I want to help change things to help them feel less hopeless. If I can't stop this, then the least I can do is try to find a way to make some things better.
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... I don't intend to treat you like a child - there's plenty of old men here who are particularly fond of doing that.
I know that you make choices here that weigh just as heavily as anyone else, and we're all equal.
But it's alright if you need to slow down and cry, too. Even those who have lived thousands of years are clearly being tested here. To be upset is another part of being human.
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...I know. [he kind of deflates like a balloon for a moment.] I am upset. What Virid did caused a lot of pain for everyone here. But I have to keep going like I always have.
[and yet.] Can we really afford to slow down, you think?
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[and he seems to mean this sincerely, giving it genuine thought before offering sora a smile - sad and wistful]
For there are no more answers that we can seek tonight, or any Leaders we can bother. I admire your desire to look ahead, and I intend on collaborating with you as much as I'm able.
... but you remind me of Yona in the way that you do not give yourself room to breathe.
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[...except wait a fucking minute.] Do you know her well?
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Then I hope you don't mind if I remind you - I think it'd be nice if you got a chance to slow down here, if only just for an evening.
[to be honest!]
Ah, Yona? Yes - we come from the same kingdom.
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Yona told me she knew someone here the first time we met, but I didn't know it was you.
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[but it's like
teasing
he doesn't expect habits to be broken all that fast and he just looks amused]
Mm. We've known each other since we were children.
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It must be nice having each other here then, huh? You're kind of lucky that way.
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.... in a way.
Though in truth, I would ask her to be as far from this place as possible, in interest of her own safety.
But I also recognize that she carries a light with her wherever she goes, and she's very inspiring to the people here. So as long as she is here... I know that she'll be amazing.
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Yeah...she's pretty great. [he likes yona a lot, really.] I'm worried about how this place is treating her, especially after last weekend. But I think she's strong enough to keep going.
I don't blame you though. I wouldn't want my friends here either just because of how dangerous it is. They've gone through enough.
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Do you miss your friends though? I'm sure they wouldn't be pleased knowing you're in this situation.
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I miss them every day. But that's how our journey's always been. Even when we're worlds apart, we're still connected and we'll still find each other again. It's why I want to fix everything here as best as we can. They're waiting for me.
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Then we'll have to return you to them.
Could you tell me about them? There's something sweet about the way that your face lights up when you talk about the people you love.
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Well...I miss all of my friends, but my best friends are the ones I want to go back to. Riku and Kairi. We've been friends since we were really little and we all grew up together. Riku's a little older than us, but he's one of the strongest and bravest people I know. Even when--[...hm. okay, um...there's something there, something that he knows riku did to prove his strength, but for whatever reason it escapes him.
funny. but he continues to talk as if he didn't fumble for a bit.] We used to spar together a lot as kids, even if he was always the better fighter.
And Kairi's...really, really important to me. She was the whole reason I started my journey after our world was destroyed. It's always been about trying to find one or the other and bringing all of us home because we work best together. I don't think I would have ever made it this far without them. It's like we talked about yesterday, about balance. I think they're mine.
[...normally he would not have enough foresight to say so, but the topic's still fresh.]
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in all honesty it sounds so distantly familiar. to have someone who's the strongest and bravest person, to have a girl who pushes you to want to do better. it rings familiarly to soo-won, and there's a sort of understanding on his face as his mouth curves into a smile]
.... mm.
To have people who know you so well, who inspire you and carry you through the darkest moments.... I think that's a wonderful thing. You're lucky to have them.
And they're lucky to have you.
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I think so, too. They're the ones who give me strength. [he pauses then to reach into his pocket, procuring both a charm and a small doll that looks like some asshole.] Maybe it's stupid to keep carrying them around like this, but it's all I have right now. At least until I can figure out how to get back to them.
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As long as it matters to your heart, nothing like that could be stupid.
I think it's very sweet. If they give you strength, then it's only natural that you'd want to carry them with you, no?
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Tell that to some of the others. [but it's said with a kind of ease that indicates he truly doesn't mind.] But it's true. Kairi made me promise to bring her charm back to her anyway, so...it just means I have to keep going. And I'll help everyone I can along the way.
Everybody should have people like that, you know? [people to inspire them and give them strength.]
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It's a nice thought - at the very least, if people didn't have any friends like that before they came here, we can try to give them some, right?
[because at the end of the day, soo-won truly enjoys people]
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[and so it's nice to think that soo-won feels similarly.]