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

The question catches her off-guard. There are a lot of things Rosethorn expects to be asked about. Medicine, disease, plants, caring for birds... very few people other than her foster children would ever consider asking about human motivation. She's a good observer, but she is far from the approachable type.

After a pause, she puts off answering for a moment, softness slipping into her voice past whatever attempts she makes at sounding brisk and logical. "That sounds like a sitting down conversation. Do you want to come with me? I'll make us tea and we can talk about your question." With no idea where the question's coming from, it wouldn't hurt to have calming tea on hand.

She came from the beginnings of a war zone just before arriving in the Bastion. Rosethorn wouldn't mind tea herself.

"Okay."

Ryu will follow her around as she heads for tea things, but he doesn't really look too hurried. He's a little impatient, but he also knows how to wait.

In the apartment kitchens with water set to heat, Rosethorn spoons out measures of tea, gesturing for Ryu to take a seat.

She sits across from him. "There are various reasons, but I don't agree with any of them." She fights defensive battles, not offensive ones. A short pause, and then Rosethorn asks, "Why are you wondering?"

He sits down, staring into his teacup as if he could read his answer at the bottom of it. He tries to put words to what he's feeling, but it comes out a little hesitant and stuttered.

"I... I want to know because people were fighting about things earlier. And... and I'm not human, so I don't really know all the things that humans think. I know humans are different, but they all seem to have wars and fighting. And I don't... I don't understand why."

"I didn't realize you weren't human." It's hard enough to understand the motivations behind things like that as someone who is human.

"Some people's greed or ambition is greater than their kindness or respect for others. People also have tempers. They get angry and forget to consider the consequences to anyone else, or they don't care because they're selfish. People get carried away by their own emotions."

Her voice is firm as she continues. "Reasons are different from justification, though. People may have reasons for their actions, but that doesn't mean those reasons are valid excuses for hurting anyone." Hearing the water start to boil, Rosethorn rises to get it. She pours it over the tea leaves to steep.

"It's okay. Most people don't." He listens carefully to what she has to say, thinking over the words.

"Why can't they talk it over? They don't have to drag the whole world into it. If they just talked about it, couldn't they work out a lot of things?"

"It depends on what they want. Some things are impossible to resolve because the instigator wants something that is too important to part with." Rosethorn frowns, rubbing at her forehead with thumb and index finger. "I won't lie to you and say I've never fought or killed. I do consider every battle I've participated in a necessary one, though."

"I only fight to save lives. I am never on the side of the aggressor, and I would support negotiation if the other party were willing." Part of her does cringe away from considering the Yanjingyi soldiers she killed on her way back to Gyongxe. They weren't actively attacking, not yet. They were blocking the border in preparation, and Rosethorn approached their post. She needed to, to warn Gyongxe of the impending attack, but it's the closest she's come to instigating battle and she hates it.

"I try not to kill people if I can help it... or fight them in the first place. The only times I've ever fought people were when we were escaping from the castle and when... I. I lost control."

He looks down, remembering the anger and hatred that he had felt. Even the memories of the emotions makes him feel sick.

Day 151 | Open

/continues being late (<3)

/late but adorbs?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject