[Day 162] Open. Power, responsibility, etc.

[dragonform]

Who: Ryu, and anyone else who finds him.
Open: Open
When: Day 162
Where: Walking around the Bastion.  Later on, the training building.
What: Ryu sorting himself out, and preparing for Colin's strike team.
Format: I'll match.
Warnings: Possible serious discussions, talks of violence, loss, sadness.

 

 

The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity for him.  Losing everything, meeting all of these people who were hurting the same as he is.  Grieving did eventually come to Ryu.  In the quiet of his room, he felt the tears come.  The memories.  The possibility that no matter how much he hopes, his friends may be well and truly gone for good.  However, he doesn't want to let this thought keep him from doing what he needs to do.  There's far too much at stake for him to keep grieving.  Beneath the usually cheerful exterior the teen had managed to build over time, there is still a lot that weighs him down.

He wants a way to preserve the memory of his friends, and his people.  It is only a short time he had been given to know the remnants of the Brood, but those were one of the few times he felt he completely understood everything about himself, and his place in the world.  Though the title given to him as Prince of Dragons would mean nothing to the other residents of the Bastion, it's the memory he wants to keep alive.  His daily rituals have slowly begun to include visiting the Memorial and Shrine.  Something to ensure he never forgets the people lost, and a quiet prayer to Ladon, the Dragon God.  The spirit who watched over his people since before Myria's purge, and the one who gave him strength to carry on and gain mastery over the power of Infinity.

He had no idea if Ladon would ever know these prayers, but it felt like the right thing to do.  With his business finished there, Ryu felt it best to take a walk.  Hopefully trying to find a way to clear his mind, and prepare himself for accompanying Colin on his mission.  To that end, he would seek the training building once he truly finds his resolve.  Anyone who comes to find him in the training hall would see Ryu drilling himself through what appears to be slightly unconventional swordsmanship.

But in the middle of all of his thoughts and musings, he'll be found walking around the Bastion.  Thinking things over and trying to clear his head.

 

Comments

[dragonform]

"I don't think I've met everyone yet." He mentions. The Bastion wasn't that big, but it was still impressive as to just how many people it housed. "They probably can, but... When you've seen enough of the world, it can still make you worry a little."

[daughterofursa]

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zuko wonders with a quirk of her eyebrow. It's not like she hadn't seen plenty of her own world. "At least everyone here is on the same side."

[dragonform]

"I've just seen a lot of awful things happen to kids, that's all." He remarks with a tone of sadness in his voice that might let on a bit more than he's implying. "And it's rough enough on an adult to lose everything you've known. Let alone if you're that young and lose your parents."

It's kind of a touchy subject to him, but one he cares about quite a bit.

[daughterofursa]

"There are worse things that can happen to a kid than just 'losing' their parents."

It might be a bit touchy for Zuko as well, seeing as she walks around with proof of that on her face. Realizing that Ozai is probably dead with the rest of her world didn't have much of an impact, considering she'd already accepted his death as necessary when she'd switched sides. It's the lingering question of her mother that nags at her.

[dragonform]

"I know." He answers, perhaps a bit more sharply than he meant to. "Believe me, I know."

If Ryu knew Ozai, he might tell Zuko she'd be better off.

[daughterofursa]

Zuko sighs. "...I guess you just want to be sure the worst is behind them."

[dragonform]

He nods. Sorry Zuko, this is a kid who is definitely better acting than speaking sometimes. "Nobody wants to see someone else suffer the same thing. Not if they can do something about it." He says, at least hoping someone might be that altruistic.

[daughterofursa]

It's okay. Zuko is not very good at either one a lot of the time.

"There are people who'd do nothing. But I'd like to think I'm not one of them, anymore."

[dragonform]

"Changing can be hard, but I for one am glad." He offers Zuko a smile. "Though I don't think you could have been that bad of a person."

[daughterofursa]

"You didn't know me before." She's done some pretty awful things, in her opinion. Helping the Avatar to save the world was supposed to redeem her, but now that that world is gone, it doesn't feel like it counted for much in the end.

[dragonform]

"No, but I wouldn't mind getting to know you." He answers with a slight shrug. "We're all in this together, right?"

[daughterofursa]

"Yeah. I guess we are."

...but how do you do that getting to know people thing?

[dragonform]

"Well, is there anything you like doing aside from training?" May as well start at the beginning, right?

[daughterofursa]

There's a long pause as Zuko tries to think of an answer to this question.

"...not really."

I'm not sorry.

[dragonform]

"Really? Nothing?" He asks with a slightly surprised tone. "Well... Have you ever tried fishing?"

Yeah, that's how he's gonna reel Zuko in.

[daughterofursa]

At that, she grimaces slightly. "Once. I barely caught anything."

[dragonform]

"You just need a good enough teacher." He answers with a playful grin. "Fortunately, you're looking at probably one of the best fishermen the Bastion has ever known. Give me the right bait and lure, I can pull up anything. Even a whale."

It's still just a hobby to him, but it's a hobby he's damn good at.

[daughterofursa]

"Really." Zuko doesn't believe the whale claim, nor does she look all that excited about learning to fish. Still...

"It might be a useful skill to learn."

[dragonform]

"Really! I just need the right gear and a big enough body of water." He's certainly confident enough in it. He does recognize she doesn't seem all that eager, but Ryu is just chalking that up to being shy.

"You know what they say. Teach a person to fish, feed them for life!"

[daughterofursa]

He actually sounds serious about that. What would you do with an entire whale? Feed it to Paarthurnax?

"Sounds like something my uncle would say," she mutters. No, she isn't familiar with the saying, but she can see how it might become one. "All right. After we get back, you can try showing me."

[dragonform]

Medicine. Lots and lots of medicine.

"I look forward to it! But don't forget, having fun is just as important. And you strike me as a really serious sort of person." He answers with a cheerful grin. He's kind of a dork when it comes to fishing. And by kind of, I mean is a huge dork.

[daughterofursa]

"I don't really do things for fun." It's just a statement of fact. She's not making any promises to try to change it.

[dragonform]

"It's gotta be hard living like that. If I didn't at least try to have a little fun sometimes, I couldn't have made the journey I did." He answers. Even with all the seriousness of their quest, he knew he could count on Rei, Nina, and Momo to keep things lively and keep him smiling.

[daughterofursa]

It has been hard, but Zuko would say it's been necessary. Living a hard life is what made her who she is, and being hard on herself is the only way she knows to keep from slipping.

But she doesn't say anything like that. Instead she just asks, "What sort of journey was that?"

[dragonform]

"Learning history that might have otherwise been erased." He answers, trying to figure out how to explain everything else. "I wanted to know the truth about a lot of things."