Day 287 [Open]

[daughterofursa]

Who: Zuko and anyone
Open: Open!
When: Day 287
Where: Training building, donut tree
What: Sleep deprivation
Format: I'll match
Warnings: Honor

Between Zulf's revelation and Azula's arrival, Zuko hasn't been sleeping all that well the past few days. If she isn't up mulling over their situation, then she's startled awake by any sound as she approaches sleep, thinking of lightning.

She hasn't been at the pool lately either, though she's been sure to show up for her morning training regimen. Whichever of her students might show up have probably noticed the lack of sleep, and certainly by today. Her reaction time is slower and she loses focus at times. Still, she's determined to keep up with it.

It catches up with her by sometime in the afternoon. She just meant to sit down for a minute, and that donut tree is pleasantly shady and fragrant, in a way that doesn't remind her of home. And then, at some point, she drifted off, with Kizuna the baby dragon lying curled up on her stomach.

((Feel free to run into her either by the training building or while she's asleep!))

Comments

[daughterofursa]

Device?

[gianthobo]

[He sighs and pulls his hands into his lap, silent for a moment.]

... Floette was taken away from me by people fighting a war in my kingdom. I was the king, you see... and they thought that I should feel the same loss as them. Maybe they were right, but...

But Floette was killed in the war. She... they brought her back in... in a coffin and I... I couldn't accept it. So I... I captured Yveltal... the legendary Pokemon that revives itself by draining the lives of those around it. I... I revived her using the machine I used to channel Yveltal's energy, but she... she was afraid of me, I think. Of how desperate I was... so she left.

I... I didn't take it well. The war was still going on, so I decided to stop it. The explosion... killed a lot of people and a lot of Pokemon. Kalos still doesn't - didn't - have as many unique varieties of Pokemon as other regions... partly because of that, I think. But the war stopped... and I fled, because I... realized what I'd done.

[daughterofursa]

[Well, that's sobering.]

I can't really judge. I've made plenty of mistakes myself. Not like yours, but... they were still pretty bad.

I think the important thing is to recognize them, and learn from them.

[gianthobo]

... Yes. It took me a few thousand years, but I think I'm getting there.

[daughterofursa]

A few thousand...

You're that old?

[What is it with these really old people??]

[gianthobo]

... Floette and I both are. It was an... unexpected side effect from coming into contact with that energy. That incident was about three thousand years ago.

[daughterofursa]

I can't imagine... That's almost as old as Paarthurnax.

[Well. Not quite but still it's THOUSANDS of years. It was easier to wrap her head around with a dragon. Humans aren't supposed to live that long.]

[gianthobo]

I think he's still older, yes. ... But it's hard for most people to imagine.

[daughterofursa]

Living that long is for spirits, not people.

[gianthobo]

... It wasn't intentional. Some days... I still think about the Pokemon and people I killed and wonder if... living this long is so that I can make up for the years that were taken from them.

[daughterofursa]

You mean so you can do enough to atone?

[gianthobo]

Something like that, yes.

[daughterofursa]

...and you still don't think you've done it?

[gianthobo]

... I think that it depends. I'm... I've reached a turning point recently... where I can start living for myself again. It took Calem to see it... a different Calem than the one here.

[They're all aware of alternate worlds and such by now...]

But I don't know. I think I might not be able to tell on my own.

[daughterofursa]

I've been having that problem myself.

Other people are.. more forgiving than I am.

[gianthobo]

... It's hard. I wish I had something better or wiser to tell you, but... I don't.

[daughterofursa]

It's okay. Most people don't even get it.

[gianthobo]

It's... difficult to understand if you haven't lived it.

[daughterofursa]

Yeah.

But I wouldn't wish it on anyone, so- it's fine.

[gianthobo]

... No, it's not. But you're dealing with it.

[daughterofursa]

I guess I am.