I was hoping to chat with you about something rather important.
[ a beat, and he holds up said bandage roll, with a sheepish smile. ] - And, also, to see if perhaps you needed some help changing your bandages. I know that touch is a bit complicated right now, but Ruoye hasn't had any issues with shocking anyone, so I thought, if I could help, I should...
[ with a cheerful smile!!! he's glad to be helpful. xie lian will step into the room proper to let her get situated so they can get on this bandaging mess, quietly instructing ruoye, who slips out of his sleeve and takes the bandage roll as if it was a snake holding it in its mouth. it surely looks a little odd, a bandage holding a bandage, but... you know it's fine. ]
[ she loves a magic noodle. carefully, she will help with removing the old bandages, revealing a pretty gnarly gunshot wound on her upper arm. ouch.
to xl's question, she nods, but keeps a smile on her face. ]
Yeah, a little. The painkillers from the first aid station helps, but it's pretty close to the wound from those monsters last week, so it's been difficult to work around it today.
[ oof. he winces, a little sympathetically, as ruoye hands him the end of the bandage and he's able to unroll it without touching her. that looks terrible...
he makes a soft tsk noise. ] These gun weapons are awful. I much prefer ours.
[ considering they heal people! but honestly. there is nothing personal about a gun, and they can cause such a terrible amount of damage... he digs around in his sleeve for a moment to produce a small bottle of antiseptic, and taps a torn off piece of a bandage to it so ruoye can take it over to gently clean the wound. ]
This may sting some. [ but!
once the initial press of contact is done, ruoye sets to cleaning up any dried blood or anything of the like, and xie lian gives it quiet guidance, watching carefully. ] ...Miss Ochako, have you had a chance to talk with your leader about that odd note we found?
They're pretty hard to fight against, aren't they?
[ it's sympathetic, even though she's the one with the bullet wound. but there really isn't a way to fight back against a gun, if you don't have one yourself. must be pretty alarming for someone who isn't used to them, huh?
the touch does make ochako wince, but she doesn't make a sound. after last week, she's learning how to tolerate the pain. ]
...Yeah, and another one. They told me it might be Fox's, but I haven't gotten to ask them yet.
En. I don't mind fighting - but there's not much honor to this, is there? [ really though!!! he's not a fan. guns suck, actually.
anyway. xie lian's quiet and doesn't bring attention to her flinch - he can't see her face at the moment, and xie lian will let her have her quiet strength, again, proud but a little sad that she has had to learn to cope with such things. ruoye continues to clean carefully, at one point coming up to nuzzle briefly against her cheek. ]
Mm... Fox's. [ ok. ] It is strange, what our leaders are privy to, and what they are not.
...Miss Ochako, I spent some time with my own Leader this week, as well, and had some theories about this place, and all of us, mostly confirmed. It feels as though I'm only even beginning to understand, but...
...More than anything, it is important that we try to solve as many mysteries of this place as we can, and work together, to do so. [ that is what heroes do, after all. ] Whether we are on the same team or not, I'd like to keep working with you to try and help the Realm, and by proxy, help all of the worlds that we come from.
I think that you are someone trustworthy, and someone I have been glad to fight alongside with. So, if it's alright, I'd like to share our team affiliations; we are permitted to do so up to three times a week, should we so choose.
[ she leans into the touch! ruoye may just be a magic bandage, but she's missing being able to touch people :(
she listens quietly and carefully as xie lian speaks, though. that's... hm. it's not what she was expecting at all, to be asked for some kind of alliance. but it's like when ryukyuu's agency agreed to work night eye's, right? even heroes need to work together to accomplish some things.
so after a moment, she nods. ]
I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help. [ starting with a shy admission, because ochako is well aware that she'll never be the smartest person around, and that one of her biggest faults is going with the flow a little too often. ] But if there's a chance that I can, I want to try. So... I don't mind sharing with you.
My leader is Rabbit-san. Kageyama-kun is the only other person I've told.
[ this close, she will feel the warmth of encouragement from xie lian - he's smiling, a little fondly, though she can't see his face. ]
And mine is Goat. [ it is a bit freeing, to share a little information like that back and forth. xie lian is a firm believer in collaboration, and... after the events of last week, he has no question as to ochako's strength and value as a person. she wants to be a hero, and xie lian wants to support that, as much as he can.
there's a moment where ruoye pulls away, and she'll feel the soft touch of bandage starting to be wrapped, instead. ]
I learned this week that the leaders saw the highest burst of nova growth on Wednesday, and on Saturday. As far as I have understood it, strong emotion does draw in nova, and we certainly experienced a rush of it last week, didn't we? By that logic, the rise in rankings of Brother Goat and Brother Rabbit certainly make sense.
I just don't want them to be punished somehow if we share too much, you know? They don't deserve that.
[ the leaders are innocent, as far as ochako knows? and they're trying to protect everyone here. they can all stand to do whatever possible to help these people. ]
That's what Rabbit-san told me... strong emotions are the key. But if that's the case, shouldn't there be a way to make use of something that... that isn't so upsetting? Something good? If it just has to be a strong feeling, then...
I agree. [ with a nod. ] If you do choose to share your team with anyone else, make sure it's never more than three people in a week, alright? That can cause the Realm to destabilize, which I believe will be problematic for all of us.
[ considering. gestures at wednesday.
anyway. as he's pulling the bandage around to make sure it's snug, xie lian makes an affirmative noise, thoughtful. ] I thought so, too.
...When Won and I were taken into those strange machines, the last thing I remembered before I lost consciousness was the phrase "Your heart is your only defense." I keep coming back to that, even now. I have to wonder, if the true reason that the burst in nova comes not from death, but from our experiences on Wednesdays is not that we experienced something traumatic, but that we survived it.
I would like to think that overcoming our misery is our strength. Perhaps that's a bit optimistic of me, but... like you, I don't have any interest in causing a rebuild in nova in ways that only create suffering. [ xie lian huffs, quietly. ] Everything in life has to have a balance - where there is pain, there is healing, and where there is suffering, there must also be joy.
[ it’s still weirding her out how everything was so easily fixed? it’s like nothing ever happened… except that they have the injuries to prove it did. ]
That’s what I was thinking! It’s just… going to be really hard to remember that, if people keep getting hurt or killed. Because even if we do survive, what if the ones that don’t are the ones that brought us joy?
But I wonder if there’s a way to… I don’t know, to celebrate them, maybe? The ones we’ve lost, I mean. Moving on without acknowledging them won’t help anyone, especially the people who cared for them, but if we’re still here, then there has to be a way to remember them without it just hurting us, right?
[ she just. doesn't know what is. most funerals are terrible, somber affairs, and ochako can't fault them for it, but isn't there something? ]
[ at this distance, ochako will feel a burst of fondness radiate from xie lian's emotions, as warm and soothing as a blanket. looking at her back, xie lian can't help but think it would be nice if there were more young people in the world like miss ochako. ]
...I was thinking much of the same thing. Memories in this place are quite fickle - I have heard that it is becoming difficult for some to remember parts of what happened our first week here. I'd like to begin collecting good memories of the people that we have lost.
Where I am from, death is merely a part of life. Though we perform rituals to protect the spirit of the departed, it is always to honor them, and to remind them that they move on safely into the next life, unforgotten in this one by those who yet remain. The rituals often conclude with a feast that starts with dessert, so as to set the tone as celebratory, instead of full of sorrow.
[ he pulls away from her bandaged wound, finally - ruoye gives her a little tap on the cheek to let her know it's all finished. ] ...There.
I think you're onto something, Miss Ochako. [ as he pulls his hands back and tucks them in his sleeve, he gives her that genuine smile. ] And I don't think we're the only ones who are thinking the same way, either.
[ ...so it isn’t just her, huh. not sure if that’s a relief or not. ]
That sounds… really nice. I’ve never seen something like that. I’ve only been to one funeral, and it was the quiet kind.
[ the somber kind. it’s honestly a little hard to imagine anything different, but she wants to try. ]
Thank you. [ quietly, with the gentle warmth of gratitude. ]</small Then… if someone is killed again this week. Can we start again on Monday by trying to celebrate their memory? The least we could do would be to make a memorial of some kind for them.
I agree. I know someone had set up something like a shrine, last week - and I had talked with Miss Hikaru about perhaps creating a simple sign or something of the like for people to write their memories of the deceased upon. It might be nice, to do so again.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ a beat, and he holds up said bandage roll, with a sheepish smile. ] - And, also, to see if perhaps you needed some help changing your bandages. I know that touch is a bit complicated right now, but Ruoye hasn't had any issues with shocking anyone, so I thought, if I could help, I should...
[ your gently doting grandpa has arrived. ]
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[ she considers the bandages for a moment, then nods. ]
If you don't mind. It's a little hard wrapping my shoulder by myself, and after yesterday...
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[ with a cheerful smile!!! he's glad to be helpful. xie lian will step into the room proper to let her get situated so they can get on this bandaging mess, quietly instructing ruoye, who slips out of his sleeve and takes the bandage roll as if it was a snake holding it in its mouth. it surely looks a little odd, a bandage holding a bandage, but... you know it's fine. ]
How are you feeling? Is it still painful?
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[ she loves a magic noodle. carefully, she will help with removing the old bandages, revealing a pretty gnarly gunshot wound on her upper arm. ouch.
to xl's question, she nods, but keeps a smile on her face. ]
Yeah, a little. The painkillers from the first aid station helps, but it's pretty close to the wound from those monsters last week, so it's been difficult to work around it today.
no subject
he makes a soft tsk noise. ] These gun weapons are awful. I much prefer ours.
[ considering they heal people! but honestly. there is nothing personal about a gun, and they can cause such a terrible amount of damage... he digs around in his sleeve for a moment to produce a small bottle of antiseptic, and taps a torn off piece of a bandage to it so ruoye can take it over to gently clean the wound. ]
This may sting some. [ but!
once the initial press of contact is done, ruoye sets to cleaning up any dried blood or anything of the like, and xie lian gives it quiet guidance, watching carefully. ] ...Miss Ochako, have you had a chance to talk with your leader about that odd note we found?
no subject
[ it's sympathetic, even though she's the one with the bullet wound. but there really isn't a way to fight back against a gun, if you don't have one yourself. must be pretty alarming for someone who isn't used to them, huh?
the touch does make ochako wince, but she doesn't make a sound. after last week, she's learning how to tolerate the pain. ]
...Yeah, and another one. They told me it might be Fox's, but I haven't gotten to ask them yet.
[ skeleton pirates happened ]
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anyway. xie lian's quiet and doesn't bring attention to her flinch - he can't see her face at the moment, and xie lian will let her have her quiet strength, again, proud but a little sad that she has had to learn to cope with such things. ruoye continues to clean carefully, at one point coming up to nuzzle briefly against her cheek. ]
Mm... Fox's. [ ok. ] It is strange, what our leaders are privy to, and what they are not.
...Miss Ochako, I spent some time with my own Leader this week, as well, and had some theories about this place, and all of us, mostly confirmed. It feels as though I'm only even beginning to understand, but...
...More than anything, it is important that we try to solve as many mysteries of this place as we can, and work together, to do so. [ that is what heroes do, after all. ] Whether we are on the same team or not, I'd like to keep working with you to try and help the Realm, and by proxy, help all of the worlds that we come from.
I think that you are someone trustworthy, and someone I have been glad to fight alongside with. So, if it's alright, I'd like to share our team affiliations; we are permitted to do so up to three times a week, should we so choose.
no subject
[ she leans into the touch! ruoye may just be a magic bandage, but she's missing being able to touch people :(
she listens quietly and carefully as xie lian speaks, though. that's... hm. it's not what she was expecting at all, to be asked for some kind of alliance. but it's like when ryukyuu's agency agreed to work night eye's, right? even heroes need to work together to accomplish some things.
so after a moment, she nods. ]
I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help. [ starting with a shy admission, because ochako is well aware that she'll never be the smartest person around, and that one of her biggest faults is going with the flow a little too often. ] But if there's a chance that I can, I want to try. So... I don't mind sharing with you.
My leader is Rabbit-san. Kageyama-kun is the only other person I've told.
no subject
And mine is Goat. [ it is a bit freeing, to share a little information like that back and forth. xie lian is a firm believer in collaboration, and... after the events of last week, he has no question as to ochako's strength and value as a person. she wants to be a hero, and xie lian wants to support that, as much as he can.
there's a moment where ruoye pulls away, and she'll feel the soft touch of bandage starting to be wrapped, instead. ]
I learned this week that the leaders saw the highest burst of nova growth on Wednesday, and on Saturday. As far as I have understood it, strong emotion does draw in nova, and we certainly experienced a rush of it last week, didn't we? By that logic, the rise in rankings of Brother Goat and Brother Rabbit certainly make sense.
no subject
[ the leaders are innocent, as far as ochako knows? and they're trying to protect everyone here. they can all stand to do whatever possible to help these people. ]
That's what Rabbit-san told me... strong emotions are the key. But if that's the case, shouldn't there be a way to make use of something that... that isn't so upsetting? Something good? If it just has to be a strong feeling, then...
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[ considering. gestures at wednesday.
anyway. as he's pulling the bandage around to make sure it's snug, xie lian makes an affirmative noise, thoughtful. ] I thought so, too.
...When Won and I were taken into those strange machines, the last thing I remembered before I lost consciousness was the phrase "Your heart is your only defense." I keep coming back to that, even now. I have to wonder, if the true reason that the burst in nova comes not from death, but from our experiences on Wednesdays is not that we experienced something traumatic, but that we survived it.
I would like to think that overcoming our misery is our strength. Perhaps that's a bit optimistic of me, but... like you, I don't have any interest in causing a rebuild in nova in ways that only create suffering. [ xie lian huffs, quietly. ] Everything in life has to have a balance - where there is pain, there is healing, and where there is suffering, there must also be joy.
no subject
[ it’s still weirding her out how everything was so easily fixed? it’s like nothing ever happened… except that they have the injuries to prove it did. ]
That’s what I was thinking! It’s just… going to be really hard to remember that, if people keep getting hurt or killed. Because even if we do survive, what if the ones that don’t are the ones that brought us joy?
But I wonder if there’s a way to… I don’t know, to celebrate them, maybe? The ones we’ve lost, I mean. Moving on without acknowledging them won’t help anyone, especially the people who cared for them, but if we’re still here, then there has to be a way to remember them without it just hurting us, right?
[ she just. doesn't know what is. most funerals are terrible, somber affairs, and ochako can't fault them for it, but isn't there something? ]
no subject
...I was thinking much of the same thing. Memories in this place are quite fickle - I have heard that it is becoming difficult for some to remember parts of what happened our first week here. I'd like to begin collecting good memories of the people that we have lost.
Where I am from, death is merely a part of life. Though we perform rituals to protect the spirit of the departed, it is always to honor them, and to remind them that they move on safely into the next life, unforgotten in this one by those who yet remain. The rituals often conclude with a feast that starts with dessert, so as to set the tone as celebratory, instead of full of sorrow.
[ he pulls away from her bandaged wound, finally - ruoye gives her a little tap on the cheek to let her know it's all finished. ] ...There.
I think you're onto something, Miss Ochako. [ as he pulls his hands back and tucks them in his sleeve, he gives her that genuine smile. ] And I don't think we're the only ones who are thinking the same way, either.
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That sounds… really nice. I’ve never seen something like that. I’ve only been to one funeral, and it was the quiet kind.
[ the somber kind. it’s honestly a little hard to imagine anything different, but she wants to try. ]
Thank you. [ quietly, with the gentle warmth of gratitude. ]</small Then… if someone is killed again this week. Can we start again on Monday by trying to celebrate their memory? The least we could do would be to make a memorial of some kind for them.
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I agree. I know someone had set up something like a shrine, last week - and I had talked with Miss Hikaru about perhaps creating a simple sign or something of the like for people to write their memories of the deceased upon. It might be nice, to do so again.
no subject
Mm... That sounds like a good idea. And we could leave offerings for them at the shrine, too.