[ every pc gets the sim room treatment today. it's like this inside; the sun is low, its dipping colors cast against all the water, which bubbles and flows like the sound of a constant, gentle creek.
sidon is there, looking over a charm. he'll give shoma wave when he sees him. ]
Shoma! —Make sure Roboji watches his step!
[ IT'S VERY WET ALMOST EVERYWHERE AND HE DOESN'T KNOW IF ROBOTS CAN SWIM. even if it's all fake, it feels real. ]
anyway this is extremely funny because he was just telling someone he kind of hoped they'd find an underwater planet since he wanted to see what it would look like. it's actually why he stops just inside the doorway as the sim door shuts, roboji gently bopping into his back as he simply stares. ]
...this...is incredible. [ hi, nice to see you, what the fuck. ] Where are we?
even if he's physically running on fumes thanks to this week, he does still grin at the reaction. he is always so happy when people react well to his home. ]
This is Zora's Domain! ...Or, a very good copy, at least!
[ he'll usher him in. ] I come here to think, when I tire of how cramped the ship is.
[ or like, after executions and trials. as one does. ]
[ in he goes! he's careful with his steps so he doesn't slip, but roboji actually probably has better balance than shoma himself. the robot easily wheels right along... ]
The simulation rooms are really amazing that way. If you're not careful, you can almost trick yourself into thinking it's all real. [ ... ] I don't blame you. This feels a lot nicer than being on a dumb ship none of us asked to join. [ and to be away from everyone's sad, confused feelings. ] Plus I think everybody needs a specific place to think sometimes when they want to be alone.
Almost right! [ the ship is interesting, but it comes with a lot of complicated emotions and sadness. a slice of home is good. it helps him clear his thoughts, however, ] I'm not here because I need time to myself. You're always welcome to seek me out.
[ even if he does have some times he needs to be alone, it's very rare. he is highkey an extrovert. ]
[ wild that the bot wasn't necessarily made for underwater, but he does seem weather-resistant enough to be okay for the simulation. there's a noise of agreement to that because...sure. same idea, just something familiar when you want to think and not be on a dumb, broken ship.
straight up cannot relate to being an extrovert. he's allergic. and yet he's finding himself hanging around more extroverted people than usual. ]
I'll keep that in mind. [ there's a little grin. ] I think this domain's a lot more interesting than the places I'd go to think, but we don't have anything like this on earth. I mean not anything real or anything. It's...calming.
[ being introverted but getting dragged along in a tide by all your friend extroverts is a mood.
he watches roboji wheel about smiles, not a broad-toothed grin but something made even more sincere in its softness and love. ]
It is—our domain is a healing place. I've always thought so. My role as a prince is to protect it and see it prosper.
If you want to explore, you can. If you need to rest, please do so. [ zora sleep in pools, but they have some. fuckin water beds for visitors. ] It has been a difficult week, and I am hoping to find some peace myself.
[ see the thing about it is, seeing sidon like this and in his element, and saying all these things and smiling this way, really does kind of fit into the image of what you'd expect a prince to be. it's kind of a wild to observe, but it's nice to see all the same. ]
A lot of people say that water's meant to be healing and I think I can agree with that. [ but he's stopping so he can just look around from his place for a moment. ] It looks like a place worth protecting.
[ but...it has been a difficult week, and it's why he ducks his head a little. ]
You're out here offering that kind of stuff, but people have been checking on you, too, right? [ WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FISH PRINCE'S SPIRITS UP. ] I'm sorry this week's been rough.
[ he nods, because water is supposed to be rejuvenating. back home, that's literal—they have a number of talented healers amongst the zora.
it'd be nice if any of those healers were here. instead, he smiles, a little worn from getting the shit beat out of him and also maybe everything else. ]
...Thank you, Shoma. They have been. [ which he seems apologetic for—it's embarrassing to think that people have had to worry after him. he pauses, considering. ] It's all right—if I'm being honest, this is also where I come to think and heal, but also to mourn.
[ they're basically in the main square of zora's domain, which is grand and beautiful and also has a memorial right in the middle, so. ]
[ do we have any healers left actually. god help us.
but he's kind of carefully monitoring the reactions, checking for little tells in his expression and words before there's a slow nod of understanding. ]
Good. [ like. good? people should be checking in on each other instead of leaving the bulk of it to one or two people and not checking on them, too. ] It's quiet here, so I imagine that's easier. [ but...he's definitely looking at this memorial. he wants to ask about that, but then sidon's asking about this week's lost crew members and he doesn't bother hiding the way he frowns. ]
I still think it's a little hard to know anybody well after two weeks, but...I used to talk about ideas and solutions with Eunhyuk. And Viktor...[ ... ] We talked a lot. About...a lot of different things from his home and the things he'd achieved and the things he still wanted to do. He told me before that he was dying and he wanted to find a way to live. I told him I'd try to help him find an answer, but...you saw how things turned out.
[ we really said that all our doctors can die actually.
shoma out here trying to read his poker face—no he doesn't have one. there's a clear moment of sadness in his expression. a plain sort of grief. they can sit by the memorial—it's partly a huge fountain, with a statue in the middle. beautiful, solemn, and respectful. ]
You remind me somewhat of Viktor. [ he closes his eyes a moment, absorbing this. viktor, already dying, desperately trying to live. ] I'm sure he enjoyed speaking with you. And... hearing that you would extend a hand to help him. Not everyone, even here, is so gracious.
[ he has a sit, and he's patiently listening even while he's fiddling with a sleeve. ]
...I think we had more in common than people would expect. Or at least I understood where he was coming from. [ ... ] I hate the idea that people wouldn't, I think. Especially after hearing about how things were for him while he was growing up.
[ they seem like they might be cut from the same sort of cloth to him. passionately intelligent, hard-working, caring in their own way. down on themselves, in ways they shouldn't be.
he listens to the water from the fountain, the constant, soothing rhythm of it, and takes a deep breath. ]
It sounds like his home was a difficult place to be—a place of hardship and pain. But he still wanted to help it.
That same compassion, that want to help people... he must have appreciated having it offered to him. I wish I could've done more of that as well. [ it'd have been nice, to have more time with them both. ]
Yeah...he told me about the city and everything. It made sense that he wanted to make it better for the future, even knowing he didn't have that much time.
[ but he looks up to watch sidon again, humming under his breath. ] You did what you could in the time we were granted, right? I think...even if you want to do more, choosing the option to treat him the way you did meant more than doing nothing at all.
[ it all really comes back to time. he grimaces, very briefly. ]
Yes, I—...I hope you're right.
[ this is a much tougher loss than his arm. he'll still be able to smile the next day, but it doesn't make it any less difficult, here or in the future. ]
...Losing our friends will never be easy, but at least we can look back fondly on our time together. It may sound trite, but it gets easier as the days go by.
[ me checking the date on this rq. but yeah. it really does come back to time, and he seems to contemplate how to reply as he looks around the domain. ]
Losing anyone important will never be easy. And even though it sometimes gets easier with time I don't think the feeling of loss ever really goes away. So...holding onto the better memories is probably more important than anything. That's what we have to do now.
there's a moment of melancholy, not just because of the loss of his two friends, but also speaking to someone about grief when shoma is also very young. he shouldn't know these things. of course it's better to love and lose, etc, but it's different to have someone taken away before their time. at their peak. before it. ]
Yes, you're right. Of course you're right. [ he offers a little smile. ] I will take my time to mourn today, and love my memory of them tomorrow, and every day after that. As should you. Though I hope your life is always more filled with happiness than grief.
[ he doesn't seem to mind just letting that topic sit for a second. loss and grief are such touchy subjects that shoma tends to dive around half the time while stewing in them repeatedly. but over time it's been easier to at least consider them.
it feels pretty bad to offer him a smile at the last piece, but he thinks it'd be worse to tell him he's pretty sure a life filled with more happiness than grief isn't possible for him. ]
It will be because the people we lose would likely want it that way. [ ... ] But I think they'd understand if every now and then we have to take another day. Being able to move forward is the important thing, but it looks differently for everyone. So...here's hoping for a better tomorrow for all of us.
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w1 ; sun
sidon is there, looking over a charm. he'll give shoma wave when he sees him. ]
Shoma! —Make sure Roboji watches his step!
[ IT'S VERY WET ALMOST EVERYWHERE AND HE DOESN'T KNOW IF ROBOTS CAN SWIM. even if it's all fake, it feels real. ]
no subject
anyway this is extremely funny because he was just telling someone he kind of hoped they'd find an underwater planet since he wanted to see what it would look like. it's actually why he stops just inside the doorway as the sim door shuts, roboji gently bopping into his back as he simply stares. ]
...this...is incredible. [ hi, nice to see you, what the fuck. ] Where are we?
no subject
even if he's physically running on fumes thanks to this week, he does still grin at the reaction. he is always so happy when people react well to his home. ]
This is Zora's Domain! ...Or, a very good copy, at least!
[ he'll usher him in. ] I come here to think, when I tire of how cramped the ship is.
[ or like, after executions and trials. as one does. ]
no subject
The simulation rooms are really amazing that way. If you're not careful, you can almost trick yourself into thinking it's all real. [ ... ] I don't blame you. This feels a lot nicer than being on a dumb ship none of us asked to join. [ and to be away from everyone's sad, confused feelings. ] Plus I think everybody needs a specific place to think sometimes when they want to be alone.
no subject
Almost right! [ the ship is interesting, but it comes with a lot of complicated emotions and sadness. a slice of home is good. it helps him clear his thoughts, however, ] I'm not here because I need time to myself. You're always welcome to seek me out.
[ even if he does have some times he needs to be alone, it's very rare. he is highkey an extrovert. ]
no subject
straight up cannot relate to being an extrovert. he's allergic. and yet he's finding himself hanging around more extroverted people than usual. ]
I'll keep that in mind. [ there's a little grin. ] I think this domain's a lot more interesting than the places I'd go to think, but we don't have anything like this on earth. I mean not anything real or anything. It's...calming.
no subject
he watches roboji wheel about smiles, not a broad-toothed grin but something made even more sincere in its softness and love. ]
It is—our domain is a healing place. I've always thought so. My role as a prince is to protect it and see it prosper.
If you want to explore, you can. If you need to rest, please do so. [ zora sleep in pools, but they have some. fuckin water beds for visitors. ] It has been a difficult week, and I am hoping to find some peace myself.
[ healing!! ]
no subject
A lot of people say that water's meant to be healing and I think I can agree with that. [ but he's stopping so he can just look around from his place for a moment. ] It looks like a place worth protecting.
[ but...it has been a difficult week, and it's why he ducks his head a little. ]
You're out here offering that kind of stuff, but people have been checking on you, too, right? [ WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FISH PRINCE'S SPIRITS UP. ] I'm sorry this week's been rough.
no subject
it'd be nice if any of those healers were here. instead, he smiles, a little worn from getting the shit beat out of him and also maybe everything else. ]
...Thank you, Shoma. They have been. [ which he seems apologetic for—it's embarrassing to think that people have had to worry after him. he pauses, considering. ] It's all right—if I'm being honest, this is also where I come to think and heal, but also to mourn.
[ they're basically in the main square of zora's domain, which is grand and beautiful and also has a memorial right in the middle, so. ]
Did you know either of them well?
no subject
but he's kind of carefully monitoring the reactions, checking for little tells in his expression and words before there's a slow nod of understanding. ]
Good. [ like. good? people should be checking in on each other instead of leaving the bulk of it to one or two people and not checking on them, too. ] It's quiet here, so I imagine that's easier. [ but...he's definitely looking at this memorial. he wants to ask about that, but then sidon's asking about this week's lost crew members and he doesn't bother hiding the way he frowns. ]
I still think it's a little hard to know anybody well after two weeks, but...I used to talk about ideas and solutions with Eunhyuk. And Viktor...[ ... ] We talked a lot. About...a lot of different things from his home and the things he'd achieved and the things he still wanted to do. He told me before that he was dying and he wanted to find a way to live. I told him I'd try to help him find an answer, but...you saw how things turned out.
no subject
shoma out here trying to read his poker face—no he doesn't have one. there's a clear moment of sadness in his expression. a plain sort of grief. they can sit by the memorial—it's partly a huge fountain, with a statue in the middle. beautiful, solemn, and respectful. ]
You remind me somewhat of Viktor. [ he closes his eyes a moment, absorbing this. viktor, already dying, desperately trying to live. ] I'm sure he enjoyed speaking with you. And... hearing that you would extend a hand to help him. Not everyone, even here, is so gracious.
no subject
...I think we had more in common than people would expect. Or at least I understood where he was coming from. [ ... ] I hate the idea that people wouldn't, I think. Especially after hearing about how things were for him while he was growing up.
no subject
he listens to the water from the fountain, the constant, soothing rhythm of it, and takes a deep breath. ]
It sounds like his home was a difficult place to be—a place of hardship and pain. But he still wanted to help it.
That same compassion, that want to help people... he must have appreciated having it offered to him. I wish I could've done more of that as well. [ it'd have been nice, to have more time with them both. ]
no subject
[ but he looks up to watch sidon again, humming under his breath. ] You did what you could in the time we were granted, right? I think...even if you want to do more, choosing the option to treat him the way you did meant more than doing nothing at all.
no subject
Yes, I—...I hope you're right.
[ this is a much tougher loss than his arm. he'll still be able to smile the next day, but it doesn't make it any less difficult, here or in the future. ]
...Losing our friends will never be easy, but at least we can look back fondly on our time together. It may sound trite, but it gets easier as the days go by.
no subject
Losing anyone important will never be easy. And even though it sometimes gets easier with time I don't think the feeling of loss ever really goes away. So...holding onto the better memories is probably more important than anything. That's what we have to do now.
no subject
there's a moment of melancholy, not just because of the loss of his two friends, but also speaking to someone about grief when shoma is also very young. he shouldn't know these things. of course it's better to love and lose, etc, but it's different to have someone taken away before their time. at their peak. before it. ]
Yes, you're right. Of course you're right. [ he offers a little smile. ] I will take my time to mourn today, and love my memory of them tomorrow, and every day after that. As should you. Though I hope your life is always more filled with happiness than grief.
no subject
it feels pretty bad to offer him a smile at the last piece, but he thinks it'd be worse to tell him he's pretty sure a life filled with more happiness than grief isn't possible for him. ]
It will be because the people we lose would likely want it that way. [ ... ] But I think they'd understand if every now and then we have to take another day. Being able to move forward is the important thing, but it looks differently for everyone. So...here's hoping for a better tomorrow for all of us.