thebastion | Day 151

Who: Ryu and anyone who will humor him with questions.
Open: Open
When: Day 151
Where: All around the Bastion.
What: Ryu has some difficult questions for people.
Format: Either
Warnings: Possible mention of death/war/other upsetting topics. His questions today are running on the existential side.

After all the excitement of the day, Ryu is still left with questions. He just doesn't understand why people hurt each other, or go to war. He doesn't understand why people have to fight. None of this makes sense. And his heart hurts at thinking about all of these things, so there's really only one thing to do.

In the evening, Ryu approaches people, gently clearing his throat or tugging their sleeve if it doesn't look like that will provoke violence. It doesn't really matter the age - he knows he's one of the youngest in the Bastion anyway, even if he doesn't look it. Still, the worry in his eyes is evident as he speaks softly.

"... Do you mind answering some questions?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, no... but only humans have wars.

...Yeah.

[She allows herself a moment to think about that, a finger on her chin and her eyes fixated on the ground.]

The only time I ever saw people hurt each other...like, really hurt each other... [Her voice drops; calling up the memories makes her chest ache.]

I think it was because they were afraid.

But... they... if they're afraid wouldn't they just run away?

Oh, I learned about this one before! It's called "fight or flight." It's when your brain knows there's danger, so it gets you all pumped up with adrenaline to either get away or stay and defend yourself from it. The same kinda brain stuff happens no matter which one you choose to do, though. Even animals do that.

[She sounds a little proud of herself for remembering all that!]

... But what if they just didn't put each other in danger?

[Then they wouldn't have to run or fight!]

Then...I guess it wouldn't really be necessary? But...sometimes they do anyway. Or sometimes they're scared for other reasons.

Like what?

Like...

...

You have a real important secret...and if you don't hurt someone, everyone's gonna find out.

Or...you think something bad's gonna happen to someone important to you...and you feel like there's no way to keep that from happening unless you hurt someone else.

Or you're in a scary place...and you want to get out really badly, and you get desperate...

[She stares very intently at her shoes as she speaks. Tiny tears bubble up at the corners of her eyes as she speaks and she tries, without success, to blink them away. It's been so long since she's thought so much about what happened; things are happy here, things are safe here...]

People...would get really scared in those kinds of situations, right? And so...

[Trying to refer to her previous words, Aoi makes a sort of shrugging motion without looking away from the ground.]

... Why do people put each other in those situat... ions...

[He trails off, realizing Aoi is getting upset. He reaches over to put a hand on her shoulder.]

[She sniffs and wipes away tears with her knuckles. There's a shaky smile on her face when she looks up.]

Thanks. I'm oka.y Really. [Another sniffle, and she itches at the corner of one eye.] I don't know, Ryu.

...I think...a lot of the time it's an accident, though. Because people really are good. I don't know who'd ever want to do something like that on purpose, but... most people never, ever would... [Despite that she's starting to tear up again, Aoi tries, with debatable success, to keep smiling.]

[He takes a step closer, and puts an arm around her shoulder.]

... You won't have to worry about stuff like that here. I promise.

[It takes her a moment—the words need to process as real, because for as long as she has been thinking it and wondering if it's true, there is something so certain and real about having someone else affirm it—and Aoi bursts into tears.

For a few moments her whole body shakes with each wailing sob, and she manages to breathe only in gulps and gasps. Before she drives herself to collapsing, though, she quiets down and it isn't long before she starts to giggle in little hiccups while she wipes her face with her sleeve.]

Sorry. Sorry. I just—I'm real happy to be safe again.

[He pulls her close - that's what Nina did when he was upset. He doesn't have a problem being leaned on. He smiles at her a little sheepishly.]

It's okay. I know... I know sometimes it's scary, being here... but it's safe. And we're all in this together. And... and I might not mean the same for this world as I did in mine, but I'm still part of the Yorae Dragon... the Dragon of the Future. And we'll have a safe future, even if it's sometimes hard to get there.

[Aoi does not have nearly as much protag cred as Ryu, and as such, isn't nearly as good at inspirational speeches. Instead, she drags him into the tightest hug she can muster. Sorry about all that bone-crushing enthusiasm.]

I was never anything special like that where I came from...but that doesn't mean I can't do my best, too! So I will, for all of us!

[It's okay, he's pretty durable. He hugs her back gently.]

Even people who don't have special powers can do amazing things, just by being themselves.

[She pulls away a little, grabs his shoulders, and beams.]

You're just one of those types who always has the right thing to say, huh? Hehe, thanks, Ryu.

[... Hurf.]

Well, I try at least?

[He grins back at her.]

Hehe, well, you succeed!

So...I think I ought to follow your lead and see what some of the others are doing. After everything that happened today...there must be something even I can do to be supportive! Um, I hope you find someone who can answer your question better, Ryu.

It's okay. Trying's what matters, right?

Hehe, definitely one of those well-spoken types! I'll talk to you later and hopefully someone'll have given it a better shot than that, though. Bye-bye!

[And she's off, waving as she goes.]

Day 151 | Open

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dr motive spoilers

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