[ hei. dokja's arm is still in a sling, he's struggling enough as is trying to strike these balls i'm realizing this now. if he somehow got lucky even like this? a god, truly. ]
If we've met someone naturally born with them, then maybe I'd assume not, but with what we know... it's at least a possibility.
[ that's fair. with the balls settled, he strikes again! ]
Settled? Hmmm... [ Just a glance at their daemons, who are still lounging close to another. Jin completely relaxed with her tail wagging, leaning against the other with soft playful growls and kicking her back paws in the air. Wiggle wiggle.
.. Huh. ] If they were settled, they would be with us, no? Not in the form of daemons? Or is this what's regarded as settled?
[ Niah is... Just himself. He is merely lounging, though he switches to a black jaguar as he stretches a bit. ]
If that was how the world of daemons worked, yes. However, it is said that the Dust settles. I haven't read any texts that mentioned people being made of Dust, just Angels and daemons.
[ Jin seems to mimic him in stretching, minus her right paw that's still held close to her to avoid any serious movement. ]
That passage you showed me in the first week did mention, "angels are typically formed from heavy concentrations of Dust, they need not always have been spirit alone. Given the right circumstances, a human may ascend." Wouldn't that count?
I'm not sure if that means settled as much as it means ascending. I had actually asked the Watchers if they're going through some kind of ceremony where they'll be like those that brought them here—to grant their own miracles.
[ But back to settling. ]
The information concerns common people is what they emphasized.
That would be a tempting offer to some of them I'm sure. Though... probably not some.
[ Suriel is a bit different from what he's learned. He'll need to learn the other two Celestial Watcher's stories to see. Dokja moves to lean on the cue stick, looking over at him with a raise of his brow. ]
If that's the case... Well, currently our daemons have different forms to shift into, which you can consider as a "flux" to a sense. So, if it settles, then it could reference just one form. Maybe. [ Assuming it really doesn't mean merging the souls as one- where daemons settle within their person. So far, it can be either-or. But none of them seem to have lost their daemon, unless... they fall, as seen with the executions. ]
[ when will you audience the other npcs. Joonghyuk hangs around as Dokja readies his cue stick. ]
... That is one theory I considered as well. It would be good to keep note of this and why any of us might settle.
[ The implications are there for Dokja to figure out if he wanted to. And now that it's wrapped up (for now), Joonghyuk. Has... Something else he wants to ask. It's oddly hopeful because he is actually hopeful. Despite his attitude and ways of doing things, he is idealistic. ]
Yomiel accepted the deal because they're trying to find someone.
[ Randomly, brings up a Watcher's story. Don't @ him. ]
[ soon. stop. anyways, it's your turn on the billiards, Yoo Joonghyuk. have at it. ]
We'll have to keep a close eye on not just the person but their daemon as well then.
[ Why would anyone settle? Other than simply reaching a point in time where they have no need to flux. If it's until they reach a certain age or as they explore themselves and learn who they are as a person... They're both adults here, should be more than old enough, so is it they haven't explored themselves enough? Learn who they are as a person? Dokja feels as if he's got a much better understanding of himself now compared to before, so why was his soul not settled?
Curiosity is felt when Dokja registers that hopefulness. ...Hm? ]
...I thought you didn't care to learn about their stories.
He feels that smug emotion from dokja and he goes quiet. The feeling is that he doesn't want to talk about it anymore, like he's shy, but it's more that he doesn't want to be mocked by Dokja. This smarmy asshole that would never let him live anything down. Ever. ]
[ ..Oh? Oh? Come on, he can't just leave it at that. The amusement is still there, but it at least simmers and he seems to be trying to encourage him to talk. Why are you so shy suddenly... ]
I want to hear it.
[ Does he need to share first? ]
Suriel shared with me that their world lost someone very important, and how everyone had been struggling to recover ever since. [ A light hum. ] They want to ensure no other world suffers likes theirs did. And once they're done here, they're going right back to trying to fix what they can at home.
[ NO HE JUST DOESN"T WANT DOKJA TO BE LIKE OOOOOHH WHAT HAPPENED TO NOT CARING ABOUT THE WATCHERS??? But he sees that Dokja has dropped the thought of bullying him just to get him to talk. Hateful. He knows. It's easy to tell even without emotion share, but even more so with it.
Suriel sounds very bright sunshine. Though that's a heavy burden, he thinks. That emotion is also translated. ]
... Yomiel doesn't seem hopeful to find them, if this doesn't work out. They feel powerless.
[ ... ]
When we reach our conclusion, we should visit their world and help them find their important person.
[ Suriel is a good bean, it's kinda hard not to care about them by now. He does agree with that heavy burden. They have a lot on their small shoulders. ]
... [ Dokja seems taken aback by that. He... did not expect something like that from him. Not that it's not in character of him or anything. It's just he hadn't expected Joonghyuk to care that much about the Watchers.
Even Jin seems to have fixated looking at Joonghyuk as well, head tilting. ]
Is that what you want to do? [ There's no disbelief, doubt, just curiosity. ] I'm curious as to what kind of world they're from. So yeah, we can.
[ As if to respond to those annoying questions that come from emotionshare. He usually doesn't feel the need to justify himself or explain, but it's difficult with their connection. Stupid, insistent needling. It makes him take an impatient shot at the billiards, a small mistake. Niah, as a jaguar, grumbles a little. ]
I don't know exactly what kind of world it is, but they come from a modern world like ours. Something about attacks and things going back to normal once it was handled, except that person is missing.
[ Which overall doesn't sound like a lot for them to handle? They've battled against Surya and Vedas, Rah and Papyrus, Metatron and Eden, China's Emperor, Korea's Hongik, Asgard, the famous Olympus, and the eldritch outer gods of forgotten worlds. ]
We would have time, after doing all the things everyone wants to do first. [ A picnic by the Han River. ] I will fry the chicken.
[ Since he remembers Yoosung telling Dokja she wanted fried chicken.
It's just another promise on top of the many they've made for when they reach the end of scenarios—their conclusion. Their ending. And there's that light feeling that slowly sinks; the sentiment that conveys maybe another promise will keep Dokja grounded. Another obligation and chain.
The ultimate sentiment is that Dokja should stay. ]
[ To feel helpless. If there was something he was going to say, it stops short. Lips press together, watching him despite feeling exactly what goes through his companion. The impatient shot makes the balls go flying but likely not in the direction he had meant. Jin perks her ears before plopping her chin on one of Niah's big paws, gaze still directed at the two of them. ]
Doesn't seem like it'd demand much then. Just a means to find someone.
[ And Yomiel really believes they won't be able to find that person even after this? It's something to be curious about. How their hopes for it is already low to begin with. What kind of situation were they in, he wonders... ]
..Right, the fried chicken.
[ It sounds like he's come to the realization but he couldn't have forgotten. The promises he's made to the children. To the wishes and goals that the other members had. He starts to aim, carefully, much as he's able with his sling. ]
There will be more than enough time to do everything.
[ ... There is a sense of relief to those words, but it is short. Again, there's doubt. There's unease. The smallest inkling of fear. This is the kind of curse Kim Dokja has sewn onto anyone that cared for him back home. ]
[ That Dokja does not like. And, any feelings that may bleed out into the connection, are directed at himself. Frustration, doubt, and self-deprecation. ]
No.
[ Of course, he could learn why to figure out a way to avoid something like that happening. Assuming it's because it means he failed somehow. But also... spoilers ]
[ His lips part, then closes, and he stares off pointedly away from his companion. Brows knit, and there's still that sense of distant curiosity but also a little bit of doubt. However, as he starts to move away, it seems someone didn't do a good amount of cleaning and he ends up kicking a piece of glass shard. And soon, music starts to sound.
Shit.
Before your eyes, the child's shoulder trembled pitifully as if he was having a nightmare.
⸢This was a weak lifeform that could be killed off in an instant.⸥
Heaven Shaking Sword screeched out viciously once more. No star in existence could survive after daring to oppose him. Here was the opportunity for his revenge, reached after experiencing 1864 lifetimes. The [Heaven Shaking Sword] slowly moved. Neither Han Sooyoung nor you could stop it. This event, it simply had to happen. Shin Yoosung tightly holding your hand was crying. Unable to close her mouth, and gasping uncontrollably.
Everything would end with this. You would no longer need to consume someone else's story. Yoo Joonghyuk would be freed from his long journey of regression.
⸢However, why wasn’t that sword moving even now?⸥
The Secretive Plotter's Heaven Shaking Sword continued to wander in the air. The blade that threatened to cut the boy down at any moment was now simply brushing aside the protective barrier around the child, instead. The boy's figure trembled uncontrollably. Ominous-feeling Fables were now circling around him.
⸢”Hey, this guy’s drawing something in his notebook again!”⸥
⸢”Tsk, tsk. He’s so much like his mother...”⸥
⸢”Are you Kim Dokja? By any chance, do you know where your mother is right now? Mm... I see. Don’t you resent your mother? What was your mother like in the past?”⸥
⸢”For how long are you going to keep quiet? If you don’t say anything, the whole world will misunderstand you.”⸥
Slice. The [Heave Shaking Sword] wandering in the air accurately cut down the sentences of those memories. The boy’s trembling shoulders shook a little less than before.
⸢But, why?⸥
Your mind was thrown into disarray.
⸢How come?⸥
The 999th turn’s Lee Hyunsung approached to join the other man. The Plotter nodded his head. Even the 999th turn’s Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye were here, too. They were the Outer Gods that endured the 999th turn. It wasn’t only Yoo Joonghyuk who wanted to destroy , and end the ‘Most Ancient Dream’. The discussion between them is drowned out, the ‘Secretive Plotter’ looking around at his vicinity instead of replying. The clamor of people flooding in and out just to catch the subway could be heard coming from the platform in the distance. He looked back, and the train we rode on was already gone. Instead, there was a Daehwa Station-bound train that would ferry passengers to their unknown destination in this normal world. And then, the crowd of people brushing past us as if they couldn’t see us at all.
People climbing aboard the subway even before the passengers could disembark first; people pushing and shoving each other, or hurling insults in other’s directions. A granny was pushed aside by the disembarking wave of people and fell down. No one tried to aid her. The very first person to witness her plight was an old man sitting on the seats reserved for pregnant mothers. He stared at the granny for a little while, before unfurling a newspaper he pulled out to cover up his vision. And above that newspaper, a headline of an article could be seen.
– The criminal’s essay will be published.
It was an article that you knew quite intimately. Many people read that, chatted about, and then, forgot about that article.
⸢A tragedy with nothing special about it. At most, it was a tragedy that occurred to just one life.⸥
The ‘Secretive Plotter’ and the Outer Gods were now looking at your Fable. Their sorrowful eyes were looking at this tragedy that only went on for a little over a dozen or so years.
[[...Oh, you sad, pitiful child.]]
You shuddered almost out of pure shock from those words. Your own tragedy couldn’t even compare to their pain. The sin of creating an even bigger tragedy because of your own should not be forgiven. You staggered unsteadily back to your feet. Something was wrong. A blade... you, you needed to find a blade.
They must not get devoured by that ‘story’. You don’t need their sympathy.
What you really truly want isn’t a tale like this.
When the memory finishes, Dokja is gasping for breath, the cue stick having since been forgotten and instead his only available hand is gripping Unbreakable Faith almost desperately. ]
[ Oh... He remembers this. He was there for this, but he pushes that memory away because that's what it is to him. Quickly, he helps supporting him. He doesn't try to pry Dokja's hand away from his sword.
There's no reason to. There's no one to cut down here, at least right now. ]
[ His body tenses, chest tight as he tries to understand. It's the very same memory he saw before arriving in this realm. It's definitely the most recent of things he's witnessed so far.
The support helps with his unsteadiness, knuckles white as he keeps a strong hold on his blade. But there is nothing before him. There's no longer sight of that child. Jin, however, is trembling quite visibly from where she was lounging with audible puffs of breath. ]
I.... I'm fine. [ He's not. Nothing that they feel is anything remotely close to being fine. ]
[ Niah gives Jin a lick as if that would help? But overall stays still, aware of his size.
Joonghyuk’s concern hasn't wavered in the slightest yet no words come out of his mouth. What do you even say to that? How do you persuade someone to not blame themselves? Dokja is so convinced, so ready to damn himself. Pensive, he tries to figure something out as he keeps supporting him.
When Dokja can stand on his own, he will let him. ]
So that was how you truly felt.
[ Joonghyuk was always curious because Dokja can be such a an enigma, purposely. ]
[ Jin's trembling seems to quell just a bit at the lick, the fox preferring to bury into the other daemon's fur to stifle a whimper.
The silence doesn't necessarily bother him. He's filled with his own thoughts, the very same that happened at that moment. He didn't want their sympathy, or anyone's for that matter. If because he didn't deserve it. After everything he put them through? And they were sympathetic for him?
His suffering was hardly comparable to theirs. Not when Yoo Joonghyuk went through so much more than him. So many lifelines compared to his own meager short years. When he laughs, it sounds empty. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
If we've met someone naturally born with them, then maybe I'd assume not, but with what we know... it's at least a possibility.
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Do our souls seem settled?
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Settled? Hmmm... [ Just a glance at their daemons, who are still lounging close to another. Jin completely relaxed with her tail wagging, leaning against the other with soft playful growls and kicking her back paws in the air. Wiggle wiggle.
.. Huh. ] If they were settled, they would be with us, no? Not in the form of daemons? Or is this what's regarded as settled?
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If that was how the world of daemons worked, yes. However, it is said that the Dust settles. I haven't read any texts that mentioned people being made of Dust, just Angels and daemons.
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That passage you showed me in the first week did mention, "angels are typically formed from heavy concentrations of Dust, they need not always have been spirit alone. Given the right circumstances, a human may ascend." Wouldn't that count?
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[ But back to settling. ]
The information concerns common people is what they emphasized.
no subject
[ Suriel is a bit different from what he's learned. He'll need to learn the other two Celestial Watcher's stories to see. Dokja moves to lean on the cue stick, looking over at him with a raise of his brow. ]
If that's the case... Well, currently our daemons have different forms to shift into, which you can consider as a "flux" to a sense. So, if it settles, then it could reference just one form. Maybe. [ Assuming it really doesn't mean merging the souls as one- where daemons settle within their person. So far, it can be either-or. But none of them seem to have lost their daemon, unless... they fall, as seen with the executions. ]
no subject
... That is one theory I considered as well. It would be good to keep note of this and why any of us might settle.
[ The implications are there for Dokja to figure out if he wanted to. And now that it's wrapped up (for now), Joonghyuk. Has... Something else he wants to ask. It's oddly hopeful because he is actually hopeful. Despite his attitude and ways of doing things, he is idealistic. ]
Yomiel accepted the deal because they're trying to find someone.
[ Randomly, brings up a Watcher's story. Don't @ him. ]
no subject
We'll have to keep a close eye on not just the person but their daemon as well then.
[ Why would anyone settle? Other than simply reaching a point in time where they have no need to flux. If it's until they reach a certain age or as they explore themselves and learn who they are as a person... They're both adults here, should be more than old enough, so is it they haven't explored themselves enough? Learn who they are as a person? Dokja feels as if he's got a much better understanding of himself now compared to before, so why was his soul not settled?
Curiosity is felt when Dokja registers that hopefulness. ...Hm? ]
...I thought you didn't care to learn about their stories.
[ Yeah, he's amused by it. ]
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He feels that smug emotion from dokja and he goes quiet. The feeling is that he doesn't want to talk about it anymore, like he's shy, but it's more that he doesn't want to be mocked by Dokja. This smarmy asshole that would never let him live anything down. Ever. ]
no subject
I want to hear it.
[ Does he need to share first? ]
Suriel shared with me that their world lost someone very important, and how everyone had been struggling to recover ever since. [ A light hum. ] They want to ensure no other world suffers likes theirs did. And once they're done here, they're going right back to trying to fix what they can at home.
no subject
Suriel sounds very bright sunshine. Though that's a heavy burden, he thinks. That emotion is also translated. ]
... Yomiel doesn't seem hopeful to find them, if this doesn't work out. They feel powerless.
[ ... ]
When we reach our conclusion, we should visit their world and help them find their important person.
no subject
... [ Dokja seems taken aback by that. He... did not expect something like that from him. Not that it's not in character of him or anything. It's just he hadn't expected Joonghyuk to care that much about the Watchers.
Even Jin seems to have fixated looking at Joonghyuk as well, head tilting. ]
Is that what you want to do? [ There's no disbelief, doubt, just curiosity. ] I'm curious as to what kind of world they're from. So yeah, we can.
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[ As if to respond to those annoying questions that come from emotionshare. He usually doesn't feel the need to justify himself or explain, but it's difficult with their connection. Stupid, insistent needling. It makes him take an impatient shot at the billiards, a small mistake. Niah, as a jaguar, grumbles a little. ]
I don't know exactly what kind of world it is, but they come from a modern world like ours. Something about attacks and things going back to normal once it was handled, except that person is missing.
[ Which overall doesn't sound like a lot for them to handle? They've battled against Surya and Vedas, Rah and Papyrus, Metatron and Eden, China's Emperor, Korea's Hongik, Asgard, the famous Olympus, and the eldritch outer gods of forgotten worlds. ]
We would have time, after doing all the things everyone wants to do first. [ A picnic by the Han River. ] I will fry the chicken.
[ Since he remembers Yoosung telling Dokja she wanted fried chicken.
It's just another promise on top of the many they've made for when they reach the end of scenarios—their conclusion. Their ending. And there's that light feeling that slowly sinks; the sentiment that conveys maybe another promise will keep Dokja grounded. Another obligation and chain.
The ultimate sentiment is that Dokja should stay. ]
no subject
Doesn't seem like it'd demand much then. Just a means to find someone.
[ And Yomiel really believes they won't be able to find that person even after this? It's something to be curious about. How their hopes for it is already low to begin with. What kind of situation were they in, he wonders... ]
..Right, the fried chicken.
[ It sounds like he's come to the realization but he couldn't have forgotten. The promises he's made to the children. To the wishes and goals that the other members had. He starts to aim, carefully, much as he's able with his sling. ]
There will be more than enough time to do everything.
[ That much he does agree with. ]
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You must have already figured it out.
[ That he regressed. ]
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I've figured some things out, yes.
[ Could be anything, depending. He tries to play it cooly but there's a distant feeling of anxiousness. ]
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... Have you figured out why?
no subject
No.
[ Of course, he could learn why to figure out a way to avoid something like that happening. Assuming it's because it means he failed somehow. But also...
spoilers]no subject
... You didn't fail.
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Shit.
Before your eyes, the child's shoulder trembled pitifully as if he was having a nightmare.
⸢This was a weak lifeform that could be killed off in an instant.⸥
Heaven Shaking Sword screeched out viciously once more. No star in existence could survive after daring to oppose him. Here was the opportunity for his revenge, reached after experiencing 1864 lifetimes. The [Heaven Shaking Sword] slowly moved. Neither Han Sooyoung nor you could stop it. This event, it simply had to happen. Shin Yoosung tightly holding your hand was crying. Unable to close her mouth, and gasping uncontrollably.
Everything would end with this. You would no longer need to consume someone else's story. Yoo Joonghyuk would be freed from his long journey of regression.
⸢However, why wasn’t that sword moving even now?⸥
The Secretive Plotter's Heaven Shaking Sword continued to wander in the air. The blade that threatened to cut the boy down at any moment was now simply brushing aside the protective barrier around the child, instead. The boy's figure trembled uncontrollably. Ominous-feeling Fables were now circling around him.
⸢”Tsk, tsk. He’s so much like his mother...”⸥
⸢”Are you Kim Dokja? By any chance, do you know where your mother is right now? Mm... I see. Don’t you resent your mother? What was your mother like in the past?”⸥
⸢”For how long are you going to keep quiet? If you don’t say anything, the whole world will misunderstand you.”⸥
Slice. The [Heave Shaking Sword] wandering in the air accurately cut down the sentences of those memories. The boy’s trembling shoulders shook a little less than before.
⸢But, why?⸥
Your mind was thrown into disarray.
⸢How come?⸥
The 999th turn’s Lee Hyunsung approached to join the other man. The Plotter nodded his head. Even the 999th turn’s Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye were here, too. They were the Outer Gods that endured the 999th turn. It wasn’t only Yoo Joonghyuk who wanted to destroy , and end the ‘Most Ancient Dream’. The discussion between them is drowned out, the ‘Secretive Plotter’ looking around at his vicinity instead of replying. The clamor of people flooding in and out just to catch the subway could be heard coming from the platform in the distance. He looked back, and the train we rode on was already gone. Instead, there was a Daehwa Station-bound train that would ferry passengers to their unknown destination in this normal world. And then, the crowd of people brushing past us as if they couldn’t see us at all.
People climbing aboard the subway even before the passengers could disembark first; people pushing and shoving each other, or hurling insults in other’s directions. A granny was pushed aside by the disembarking wave of people and fell down. No one tried to aid her. The very first person to witness her plight was an old man sitting on the seats reserved for pregnant mothers. He stared at the granny for a little while, before unfurling a newspaper he pulled out to cover up his vision. And above that newspaper, a headline of an article could be seen.
– The criminal’s essay will be published.
It was an article that you knew quite intimately. Many people read that, chatted about, and then, forgot about that article.
The ‘Secretive Plotter’ and the Outer Gods were now looking at your Fable. Their sorrowful eyes were looking at this tragedy that only went on for a little over a dozen or so years.
[[...Oh, you sad, pitiful child.]]
You shuddered almost out of pure shock from those words. Your own tragedy couldn’t even compare to their pain. The sin of creating an even bigger tragedy because of your own should not be forgiven. You staggered unsteadily back to your feet. Something was wrong. A blade... you, you needed to find a blade.
They must not get devoured by that ‘story’. You don’t need their sympathy.
What you really truly want isn’t a tale like this.
When the memory finishes, Dokja is gasping for breath, the cue stick having since been forgotten and instead his only available hand is gripping Unbreakable Faith almost desperately. ]
no subject
There's no reason to. There's no one to cut down here, at least right now. ]
Kim Dokja.
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The support helps with his unsteadiness, knuckles white as he keeps a strong hold on his blade. But there is nothing before him. There's no longer sight of that child. Jin, however, is trembling quite visibly from where she was lounging with audible puffs of breath. ]
I.... I'm fine. [ He's not. Nothing that they feel is anything remotely close to being fine. ]
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Joonghyuk’s concern hasn't wavered in the slightest yet no words come out of his mouth. What do you even say to that? How do you persuade someone to not blame themselves? Dokja is so convinced, so ready to damn himself. Pensive, he tries to figure something out as he keeps supporting him.
When Dokja can stand on his own, he will let him. ]
So that was how you truly felt.
[ Joonghyuk was always curious because Dokja can be such a an enigma, purposely. ]
no subject
The silence doesn't necessarily bother him. He's filled with his own thoughts, the very same that happened at that moment. He didn't want their sympathy, or anyone's for that matter. If because he didn't deserve it. After everything he put them through? And they were sympathetic for him?
His suffering was hardly comparable to theirs. Not when Yoo Joonghyuk went through so much more than him. So many lifelines compared to his own meager short years. When he laughs, it sounds empty. ]
Of course it is.
[ Why would he feel any different? ]
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