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[The beach!! Luke is also coming here, hilariously, so it's not even much of a stretch for them to run into each other. He approaches, though he stands a little bit away.]
Are you doing okay? That must've been rough to watch.
[It was rough for all of them, but, y'know.]
Are you doing okay? That must've been rough to watch.
[It was rough for all of them, but, y'know.]
[ yeah, it'd be nice if anyone had answers. there's an extra set of fins on him today, spiny and wide and pressed in close to his body, tense. ]
Me neither. I worried about what might happen if someone wasn't caught... would they just continue, lost and in pain as they are?
...Now I can't help but hope they survive. It does not feel fair either way.
Me neither. I worried about what might happen if someone wasn't caught... would they just continue, lost and in pain as they are?
...Now I can't help but hope they survive. It does not feel fair either way.
[SIDON YOUR FINS...
Luke doesn't say what he's actually thinking--that he suspects, as awful as it is, that death might be a mercy once things have progressed to the point of forced violence. He knows he, at least, would've been exactly like Eunhyuk--he would've immediately tried to take his own life, if he knew that he was inevitably going to lose control. He wouldn't blame Sheba or Shouxue for clinging to desperate hope, for thinking they could hold on and fight it off--but losing to those impulses might be even more painful.
It's not worth pointing it out and depressing the both of them. But beyond that... there's a tiny part of Luke, the part that clings to the hero's tales he used to love, that continues to hope someone will defy the odds. He's too realistic to acknowledge it, but too sentimental to quash it entirely.]
It isn't. [Gently.] None of this is. They can't be excused from the harm they caused, but we can't forget that they're victims too.
Luke doesn't say what he's actually thinking--that he suspects, as awful as it is, that death might be a mercy once things have progressed to the point of forced violence. He knows he, at least, would've been exactly like Eunhyuk--he would've immediately tried to take his own life, if he knew that he was inevitably going to lose control. He wouldn't blame Sheba or Shouxue for clinging to desperate hope, for thinking they could hold on and fight it off--but losing to those impulses might be even more painful.
It's not worth pointing it out and depressing the both of them. But beyond that... there's a tiny part of Luke, the part that clings to the hero's tales he used to love, that continues to hope someone will defy the odds. He's too realistic to acknowledge it, but too sentimental to quash it entirely.]
It isn't. [Gently.] None of this is. They can't be excused from the harm they caused, but we can't forget that they're victims too.
[ oh, sentiment. maybe it would be easier to get through this with a purely rational heart—he wonders if some of the people here view this through an entirely different lens than him.
sidon is moved by his heart and by duty, and neither is ever satisfied here. ]
I can't speak for Sheba, but Shouxue—can I not absolve her?
[ he sighs, frustrated. ]
If I had a choice, she would be excused.
sidon is moved by his heart and by duty, and neither is ever satisfied here. ]
I can't speak for Sheba, but Shouxue—can I not absolve her?
[ he sighs, frustrated. ]
If I had a choice, she would be excused.
[Luke smiles, understanding but a little sad.]
Is that what she'd want?
[He'd only had the chance to speak to her properly once, but seeing her in the trial, he doesn't think she tried very hard to avoid getting caught. It wouldn't surprise him to hear that Shouxue might want justice turned upon her--or, perhaps, that she'd want to be certain she couldn't hurt anyone else.]
Is that what she'd want?
[He'd only had the chance to speak to her properly once, but seeing her in the trial, he doesn't think she tried very hard to avoid getting caught. It wouldn't surprise him to hear that Shouxue might want justice turned upon her--or, perhaps, that she'd want to be certain she couldn't hurt anyone else.]
[I'm sorry but the second Luke realizes what this week is he's going to bolt SO FOR NOW SWEET SIDON JUST GETS TO BE LOST AND CONFUSED. One minute he's wandering around this horrible maze of labs, the next, he's in a void--and then, very abruptly, he's experiencing the memories of a little boy.
((ooc; THIS GOT LONG so I divided it into parts, you can just do the bit before the dashes if you don't want to slog through both!!))]
((ooc; THIS GOT LONG so I divided it into parts, you can just do the bit before the dashes if you don't want to slog through both!!))]
Edited 2024-03-19 01:29 (UTC)
[ he doesn't love barging in on people's privacy, but the helly belly isn't exactly an infinite sprawl and the rifts are conveniently everywhere.
and then he gets to experience life as a sad, human boy for a moment.
though... while there is an unspoken tragedy, a tremendous loss that clearly preceded this, it isn't all loneliness. There is something—someone—very wonderful present, too. ]
...Luke? Are you there?
and then he gets to experience life as a sad, human boy for a moment.
though... while there is an unspoken tragedy, a tremendous loss that clearly preceded this, it isn't all loneliness. There is something—someone—very wonderful present, too. ]
...Luke? Are you there?
[No this thread is over now
Just kidding. Sidon calls out, and the void shimmers slightly, until Luke appears, too. Don't ask me what I'm doing with this mechanic it's my city now.
ANYWAY THIS IS SO... AWKWARD AND EMBARRASSING... HE HATES BEING PERCEIVED!!! HE HATES IT SO BAD. But the only thing he can do now is pretend like it's a minor inconvenience, so he just grimaces, sticking his hands in his pockets.]
Sorry, sorry! These things really get in the way, huh?
Just kidding. Sidon calls out, and the void shimmers slightly, until Luke appears, too. Don't ask me what I'm doing with this mechanic it's my city now.
ANYWAY THIS IS SO... AWKWARD AND EMBARRASSING... HE HATES BEING PERCEIVED!!! HE HATES IT SO BAD. But the only thing he can do now is pretend like it's a minor inconvenience, so he just grimaces, sticking his hands in his pockets.]
Sorry, sorry! These things really get in the way, huh?
No.
[ he knows that better than anyone. ]
But that makes it all the more important that I offer absolution to her. ...You say they can't be excused for the damage they'd wrought. That's what I disagree with. I don't see any justice in it at all.
[ he knows that better than anyone. ]
But that makes it all the more important that I offer absolution to her. ...You say they can't be excused for the damage they'd wrought. That's what I disagree with. I don't see any justice in it at all.
Edited 2024-03-19 06:28 (UTC)
[ me not even questioning it. our mechanic now.
the way this works less well because the memory also included luke's stepford smiling lore. this is truly so unfortunate for him i'm sorry luke. sidon doesn't seem fazed though, offering a short laugh. watching other people's lives unfold and their traumas unleashed! only a big deal if you act awkward about it. ]
It's no trouble! Though I'm sorry to intrude.
[ such... an invasion of privacy..... ]
...Are you all right? I know the past can be difficult to revisit. [ even when there's cute childhood friends there. ]
the way this works less well because the memory also included luke's stepford smiling lore. this is truly so unfortunate for him i'm sorry luke. sidon doesn't seem fazed though, offering a short laugh. watching other people's lives unfold and their traumas unleashed! only a big deal if you act awkward about it. ]
It's no trouble! Though I'm sorry to intrude.
[ such... an invasion of privacy..... ]
...Are you all right? I know the past can be difficult to revisit. [ even when there's cute childhood friends there. ]
[WHAT IF... HEAR HIM OUT... SIDON CONVENIENTLY FORGETS EVERYTHING HE JUST SAW.......]
Yeah, I'm fine. [His answer seems genuine enough, though he has had many more years of practice at faking it, so who knows.] That was so long ago, I completely forgot it even happened.
Yeah, I'm fine. [His answer seems genuine enough, though he has had many more years of practice at faking it, so who knows.] That was so long ago, I completely forgot it even happened.
[Luke nods, ]
I don't mean it in terms of punishment. [There are definitely people that applies to, and his own view of justice can be pretty harsh depending on the circumstances. But Luke has seen a lot of the world, and that includes the desperate actions of the trapped and the helpless.] Though, even if the rest of us understand it was a tragedy, she might need to find her own peace.
[And how that looks for her... he doesn't know her well enough to say.
What he does know--]
But I think if anyone could ease that burden, it would be you.
[Because he is the victim, yes--but also because of his kindness. Luke knows he himself is a friendly person by default, and he tries to be kind when he can, but it's not the same as Sidon's genuine, unshakeable warmth.]
I don't mean it in terms of punishment. [There are definitely people that applies to, and his own view of justice can be pretty harsh depending on the circumstances. But Luke has seen a lot of the world, and that includes the desperate actions of the trapped and the helpless.] Though, even if the rest of us understand it was a tragedy, she might need to find her own peace.
[And how that looks for her... he doesn't know her well enough to say.
What he does know--]
But I think if anyone could ease that burden, it would be you.
[Because he is the victim, yes--but also because of his kindness. Luke knows he himself is a friendly person by default, and he tries to be kind when he can, but it's not the same as Sidon's genuine, unshakeable warmth.]
It's okay. That was the girl I told you about before--we have a lot of other happy memories together.
[That, at least, is very true. He's more inclined to keep Rosa secret than not for her own safety, but he already mentioned her to Sidon, so it's okay.]
[That, at least, is very true. He's more inclined to keep Rosa secret than not for her own safety, but he already mentioned her to Sidon, so it's okay.]
—Your best friend! [ FINALLY HE GETS A NAME. HE ONLY HAD TO HIJACK LUKE'S BRAIN FOR IT. ] So that's her!
How wonderful, that you can call each other family.
[ genuinely there are huge swathes of sadness in this memory, but he doesn't have any problem spotting the bright lining either. ]
How wonderful, that you can call each other family.
[ genuinely there are huge swathes of sadness in this memory, but he doesn't have any problem spotting the bright lining either. ]
[Well about that
His smile tightens a little, but he covers it up with a laugh.]
Yeah, it's great.
[(canon Luke voice) Always a part of your family, huh... guess that's better than nothing...
But it's fine it's fine dying has convinced him to not take chances so he will just focus on. The positives here.]
I had to move away for a while, but since I got back, we've been able to spend a lot of time together again. Just like old times.
[The fondness there really is genuine; the whole situation is complicated, but he never enjoyed being apart from her.]
His smile tightens a little, but he covers it up with a laugh.]
Yeah, it's great.
[(canon Luke voice) Always a part of your family, huh... guess that's better than nothing...
But it's fine it's fine dying has convinced him to not take chances so he will just focus on. The positives here.]
I had to move away for a while, but since I got back, we've been able to spend a lot of time together again. Just like old times.
[The fondness there really is genuine; the whole situation is complicated, but he never enjoyed being apart from her.]
[ listen... a husband is also family... also glad that luke died and went i will double down on my bad habits instead ]
I'm glad you could be reunited!
[ sidon is used to not seeing someone like link, who doesn't live in zora's domain, for a long while, and also his entire concept of time itself is whack, but he understands missing someone. ]
She seems like a good match for you. The sort of person who lets you show a bit of weakness, sometimes. [ forcibly. ]
I'm glad you could be reunited!
[ sidon is used to not seeing someone like link, who doesn't live in zora's domain, for a long while, and also his entire concept of time itself is whack, but he understands missing someone. ]
She seems like a good match for you. The sort of person who lets you show a bit of weakness, sometimes. [ forcibly. ]
[Yeah that's exactly what he did and now he has to run from Margaret]
A good-- [HELP HELP he looks embarrassed, scratching the back of his neck.] Um. Yeah, I guess so. I trust her more than anyone.
[Never mind that it is his life's goal to never show weakness to her IT'S FINE]
A good-- [HELP HELP he looks embarrassed, scratching the back of his neck.] Um. Yeah, I guess so. I trust her more than anyone.
[Never mind that it is his life's goal to never show weakness to her IT'S FINE]
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