[ you ever start your day venturing to go get coffee from the galley, see a whole mess of people and decide to dip to not be in the way? that's how shoma started his day.
but he does go off to seek out sidon, checking pretty consistently until he finds the man. at least he's no longer flesh colored, but the lack of an arm is highkey concerning actually.
[ shoma already developing a caffeine addiction. real, i say, sipping my coffee
he's resting in the medbay, the grievous wound of his arm no longer so grievous by several hours later. instead, he's considering a silvery prosthetic arm that he's not wearing, but. it's there. ]
Oh—hello, Shoma! [ the tone is energetic, but his actual voice is a little tired. ] I hope you missed all the... tomfoolery today.
anyway yes he is looking at this prosthetic first, eyeing this curiously before looking at sidon's arm and then at him himself. he can hear the tiredness, but he settles for a half smile. ]
I didn't stick around once everyone started crowding you guys. Figured I'd just come find you myself later. [ hum. ] But it didn't look so great.
[ he offers a smile back, though it turns more into a thoughtful line. ]
It was... less than ideal? Besides my arm—ah, the arm. You're welcome to take a look, if you like. [ he'll gesture to the prosthetic before he continues, in case shoma is a heckin nerd. ] Besides my arm, my injuries were not excessive. [ the arm was pretty gross but it's fine now. ] But it was not a great experience, no.
he is a heckin nerd, he's just going to approach and immediately pick up this prosthetic to start looking it over. but he at least, like, has the grace and some social skills left to actually hold a conversation. ]
I would still call a detached arm excessive, Sidon. Even if it's only one. [ lightly. ] ...can I ask what actually happened?
[ really thought that top image was a robohand flipping the bird. but anyway. ]
I'll give it a shot. [ at understanding. please assume he is truly just examining every inch of this arm while they're talking, checking joints and bending fingies. ] But okay. Prison. Not the best start, but go on.
he's definitely watching shoma work because he thinks it's very endearing. as a born and bred jock, he loves his lil nerd guys when they're in their natural elements. ]
We were there for—quite a while! Ahah. [ lol ] Then, we were extracted by the "United States" government and offered "green cards" for our service. It was also that they would kill us otherwise? So we went about dealing with the living dead, per instruction... Along with a wealthy socialite? He was a troubled man. Kept a number of odd costumes and was torturing some poor creature.
[ he's looking off now, thinking. ]
It was very violent, and it didn't make much sense at the time. Now that we're free of it, I don't know what I was thinking.
Why can't the US just mind their own business...? [ this is, like, muttered to himself a little because that sounds like people sticking their nose where it doesn't belong. ]
So what I'm hearing is you guys actually didn't really get a choice before cleaning up someone else's mess in a situation you weren't prepared for and having to pay a price for someone else's negligence. That right so far?
[ sometimes you are really just a jaded lil guy...bending the prosthetic fingers to see their range of motion. ]
Sure. Most decent people would say stopping violence is a good cause. But...being coerced into it no longer really makes it for the greater good. [ he shakes his head. ] Wait a minute, you were dealing with zombies? What was the socialite doing while you guys were busy with that?
[ shoma who hurt you!!! the prosthetics are flexible enough, moving as human joints actually do. there's no bits of metal for his skin to get caught on, or other poor shows of manufacturing. ]
They thought of us as criminals—"villains." I think once one draws terms like that, certain people become... disposable. [ a villain is an expendable person. it's not really that simple, but that was the scenario logic. ] As for the socialite—it turned out he was the one behind it. Had people he wanted to bring back to life. Not... malicious, perhaps. But twisted by grief. Every time he made a move, he thought he could fix the consequences, and therefore no longer feared them at all.
Don't say hell yeah again. [ help. but hm. interesting prosthetics.
but he also frowns pretty heavily at that, along with the rest of what's said. ]
A word like that carries a pretty heavy connotation whether the person in question really is a "villain" or not. It makes it easier to pretend you're doing something good by going after that person, but what about if that person is acting for the greater good in ways that aren't so good? I don't think that totally makes them a villain.
[ though... ]
...grief makes people do really strange things that they normally wouldn't consider, but the desperation changes their mind. [ succinctly put. ] But sure. If a person plays god enough times, they lose their sense of what's humane.
How did you guys finally escape and get back here?
I think true evil and malice do exist. But ordinary people are rarely so cut and dry—to dismiss someone's life as a "villain" is to ignore the goodness inherent in anyone.
[ there are irredeemable people out there, and even sidon has limits to what he's willing to forgive, but... ]
In any case, we just as suddenly appeared back here as we were thrown into that world. No explanations either way. Just... there and back again.
It all feels a little pointless, but if it was real, I can hope we did some good while we were there.
Yeah. You get it. It's easy to say that things are black and white but in practice that's not actually true, even if I agree true evil and malice exists. Some people commit crimes they should never be forgiven for, even with an excuse that might absolve them.
...that sounds pretty disorienting to be here, go somewhere else and get used to that, and then get thrown back here. I wonder if there's a way back? Not that I want you guys to go back but it's weird that it happened this way.
[ it's weird!!!!! cyoas can be traumatizing or just deeply fucking weird or both. ]
There are already people in that world that can save it—I hope that none of us should ever find ourselves back there. [ a pause, then he reaches out with his remaining hand to ruffle shoma's hair. ] Mostly, I hope it doesn't happen to any of you. But if it does—steel yourself, Shoma.
[ he is an optimist through and through, but he just experienced this mess for himself, and sometimes optimism means putting faith in the right places: not just hoping that nothing bad happens, but believing that they can survive if it does. ] You are brave and bright, and if you listen to our experiences then I hope they will shelter you in the future, even somewhat.
[ okay i'm going to say this at least, a lot of people have been ruffling his hair lately and he is a classic tsundere, so he tends to duck away after like .5 seconds, but sidon is allowed. it is possibly because he only has one arm, but more likely because he does like the guy. but it's still a short amount of time before he ducks away. ]
...we knew there were other missions that Nut & Bolt took care of besides package delivery, but nobody ever said it would be like this. Or that we'd go so far from this place and maybe not even make it back in one piece. I don't understand why you guys were sent if there were already people there who could fix those problems, but...I hope it doesn't happen like this to anyone either.
[ sidon is an optimist and shoma is not, so he's viewing this more pragmatically than anything. ] You'd think they'd at least pick the right people for the right missions. [ he is...hoping that perhaps he can slip right past the mission system entirely. there's no way he's qualified for this. ] But...thank you. If something does happen I'll keep this stuff inmind.
[ he has no idea if the four of them were really the right people for this job, but they did survive, at least. he so does not want shoma anywhere near these kinds of situations, but it's not like death dodges the young. he'd certainly gotten into Situations in his youth.
he pauses a moment. ]
If something does happen—can I offer you a word of advice?
[ he nods, starting with a story rather than a lecture. ]
When I was young, and defending our realm for the first time, I nearly died. The king had to step in and save me.
[ sidon does not lack for confidence these days, but he's certainly been humbled from time to time. ]
Maybe it's obvious, but he told me that I lost because my heart faltered. I was afraid and... resigned. I gave up because I forgot for a moment how much my father relies on me.
So believe me when I say you are needed here. I know that you can face down an enemy and win! And I hope you will keep your spirit strong, no matter what.
this isn't exactly what he's thinking, but the look on his face does sort of slide into something a little more complicated as he listens. that...makes sense, doesn't it? if something happens where you can't stand on your own two feet, you have to hope someone else can save you.
but at the same time, you can't believe everyone will be there to save you forever. you have to learn how to fight for yourself to protect the things you care about, even if that thing is just yourself in that one moment. what are your options when something happens and you're afraid? you either lay down and take it, or you fight back.
so. this makes sense. he isn't entirely sure he believes he's needed here in the same way other people are, but there are too many things he still has to fix at home to just not try. it's a little funny though, and it's why there's a light huff of a laugh to that. ]
For what it's worth, I am glad you were able to remember that for yourself. But...that is good advice, Sidon. Thanks. I...[ he falters for a second, like he's going to elaborate, but he soon chooses not to. ] I'll remember that if anything ever happens.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w1 thursday
but he does go off to seek out sidon, checking pretty consistently until he finds the man. at least he's no longer flesh colored, but the lack of an arm is highkey concerning actually.
where are you, sir? ]
no subject
he's resting in the medbay, the grievous wound of his arm no longer so grievous by several hours later. instead, he's considering a silvery prosthetic arm that he's not wearing, but. it's there. ]
Oh—hello, Shoma! [ the tone is energetic, but his actual voice is a little tired. ] I hope you missed all the... tomfoolery today.
no subject
anyway yes he is looking at this prosthetic first, eyeing this curiously before looking at sidon's arm and then at him himself. he can hear the tiredness, but he settles for a half smile. ]
I didn't stick around once everyone started crowding you guys. Figured I'd just come find you myself later. [ hum. ] But it didn't look so great.
no subject
It was... less than ideal? Besides my arm—ah, the arm. You're welcome to take a look, if you like. [ he'll gesture to the prosthetic before he continues, in case shoma is a heckin nerd. ] Besides my arm, my injuries were not excessive. [ the arm was pretty gross but it's fine now. ] But it was not a great experience, no.
no subject
he is a heckin nerd, he's just going to approach and immediately pick up this prosthetic to start looking it over. but he at least, like, has the grace and some social skills left to actually hold a conversation. ]
I would still call a detached arm excessive, Sidon. Even if it's only one. [ lightly. ] ...can I ask what actually happened?
no subject
he laughs, only stopping with a wince. ]
I suppose it is! [ excessive. hell yeah. ] And of course—though I admit, people have had trouble understanding it? It started with a prison.
no subject
I'll give it a shot. [ at understanding. please assume he is truly just examining every inch of this arm while they're talking, checking joints and bending fingies. ] But okay. Prison. Not the best start, but go on.
no subject
he's definitely watching shoma work because he thinks it's very endearing. as a born and bred jock, he loves his lil nerd guys when they're in their natural elements. ]
We were there for—quite a while! Ahah. [ lol ] Then, we were extracted by the "United States" government and offered "green cards" for our service. It was also that they would kill us otherwise? So we went about dealing with the living dead, per instruction... Along with a wealthy socialite? He was a troubled man. Kept a number of odd costumes and was torturing some poor creature.
[ he's looking off now, thinking. ]
It was very violent, and it didn't make much sense at the time. Now that we're free of it, I don't know what I was thinking.
no subject
So what I'm hearing is you guys actually didn't really get a choice before cleaning up someone else's mess in a situation you weren't prepared for and having to pay a price for someone else's negligence. That right so far?
no subject
he looks amused at shoma's harsh review. ]
That does about sum it up.
[ very on the nose. ]
I didn't mind the work. Stopping the violence was a good cause, ultimately. But the manipulation was overt and unavoidable.
no subject
Sure. Most decent people would say stopping violence is a good cause. But...being coerced into it no longer really makes it for the greater good. [ he shakes his head. ] Wait a minute, you were dealing with zombies? What was the socialite doing while you guys were busy with that?
no subject
They thought of us as criminals—"villains." I think once one draws terms like that, certain people become... disposable. [ a villain is an expendable person. it's not really that simple, but that was the scenario logic. ] As for the socialite—it turned out he was the one behind it. Had people he wanted to bring back to life. Not... malicious, perhaps. But twisted by grief. Every time he made a move, he thought he could fix the consequences, and therefore no longer feared them at all.
—Oh! And Jonker burned his house down. Hell yeah.
no subject
but he also frowns pretty heavily at that, along with the rest of what's said. ]
A word like that carries a pretty heavy connotation whether the person in question really is a "villain" or not. It makes it easier to pretend you're doing something good by going after that person, but what about if that person is acting for the greater good in ways that aren't so good? I don't think that totally makes them a villain.
[ though... ]
...grief makes people do really strange things that they normally wouldn't consider, but the desperation changes their mind. [ succinctly put. ] But sure. If a person plays god enough times, they lose their sense of what's humane.
How did you guys finally escape and get back here?
no subject
Hell yeah!
[ anyway. ]
I think true evil and malice do exist. But ordinary people are rarely so cut and dry—to dismiss someone's life as a "villain" is to ignore the goodness inherent in anyone.
[ there are irredeemable people out there, and even sidon has limits to what he's willing to forgive, but... ]
In any case, we just as suddenly appeared back here as we were thrown into that world. No explanations either way. Just... there and back again.
It all feels a little pointless, but if it was real, I can hope we did some good while we were there.
no subject
...that sounds pretty disorienting to be here, go somewhere else and get used to that, and then get thrown back here. I wonder if there's a way back? Not that I want you guys to go back but it's weird that it happened this way.
no subject
[ it's weird!!!!! cyoas can be traumatizing or just deeply fucking weird or both. ]
There are already people in that world that can save it—I hope that none of us should ever find ourselves back there. [ a pause, then he reaches out with his remaining hand to ruffle shoma's hair. ] Mostly, I hope it doesn't happen to any of you. But if it does—steel yourself, Shoma.
[ he is an optimist through and through, but he just experienced this mess for himself, and sometimes optimism means putting faith in the right places: not just hoping that nothing bad happens, but believing that they can survive if it does. ] You are brave and bright, and if you listen to our experiences then I hope they will shelter you in the future, even somewhat.
no subject
...we knew there were other missions that Nut & Bolt took care of besides package delivery, but nobody ever said it would be like this. Or that we'd go so far from this place and maybe not even make it back in one piece. I don't understand why you guys were sent if there were already people there who could fix those problems, but...I hope it doesn't happen like this to anyone either.
[ sidon is an optimist and shoma is not, so he's viewing this more pragmatically than anything. ] You'd think they'd at least pick the right people for the right missions. [ he is...hoping that perhaps he can slip right past the mission system entirely. there's no way he's qualified for this. ] But...thank you. If something does happen I'll keep this stuff inmind.
no subject
Yes—I hope that much is true.
[ he has no idea if the four of them were really the right people for this job, but they did survive, at least. he so does not want shoma anywhere near these kinds of situations, but it's not like death dodges the young. he'd certainly gotten into Situations in his youth.
he pauses a moment. ]
If something does happen—can I offer you a word of advice?
no subject
Sure. [ there's no guarantee he can or will take it, but he respects him enough to at least listen. ]
no subject
When I was young, and defending our realm for the first time, I nearly died. The king had to step in and save me.
[ sidon does not lack for confidence these days, but he's certainly been humbled from time to time. ]
Maybe it's obvious, but he told me that I lost because my heart faltered. I was afraid and... resigned. I gave up because I forgot for a moment how much my father relies on me.
So believe me when I say you are needed here. I know that you can face down an enemy and win! And I hope you will keep your spirit strong, no matter what.
no subject
this isn't exactly what he's thinking, but the look on his face does sort of slide into something a little more complicated as he listens. that...makes sense, doesn't it? if something happens where you can't stand on your own two feet, you have to hope someone else can save you.
but at the same time, you can't believe everyone will be there to save you forever. you have to learn how to fight for yourself to protect the things you care about, even if that thing is just yourself in that one moment. what are your options when something happens and you're afraid? you either lay down and take it, or you fight back.
so. this makes sense. he isn't entirely sure he believes he's needed here in the same way other people are, but there are too many things he still has to fix at home to just not try. it's a little funny though, and it's why there's a light huff of a laugh to that. ]
For what it's worth, I am glad you were able to remember that for yourself. But...that is good advice, Sidon. Thanks. I...[ he falters for a second, like he's going to elaborate, but he soon chooses not to. ] I'll remember that if anything ever happens.