![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[ On the edges of the bubble, it's easy to hear a noise. The sound of shattering glass to be precise, made by one pissed off teen as he kicks the scattered glass bottles into whatever hard surface he can find.
Emotions are hard and words are harder. ]
Emotions are hard and words are harder. ]
[ Originally Dokja was out for some fresh 'air', he may have not been overly involved in the trial- he was too tired, it was as if everything was slowly catching up. However, it was impossible to ignore what had happened, what was going around the room.
So when he spies sight of the teen, he stops and watches as the glass shatters with each kick. After a moment, he finally calls out. ]
Akira Kijima. [ There's a brief pause, his arm crossing beneath the one in a sling. Hmm. He's not good at talking with teens. His interactions with Lee Jihye back home were an obvious sign enough. Still, he tries. ] You alright?
So when he spies sight of the teen, he stops and watches as the glass shatters with each kick. After a moment, he finally calls out. ]
Akira Kijima. [ There's a brief pause, his arm crossing beneath the one in a sling. Hmm. He's not good at talking with teens. His interactions with Lee Jihye back home were an obvious sign enough. Still, he tries. ] You alright?
[ At that, he chuckles. Jin, in her black hognose daemon form, peeks sluggishly from around his collar to peer at Akira. ]
"Could be better," then. [ Hmmm. ] The situation seems to be getting a lot worse. Especially with another killing at the same time as last week.
"Could be better," then. [ Hmmm. ] The situation seems to be getting a lot worse. Especially with another killing at the same time as last week.
Yeah. [ Nagako takes that opportunity to poke her snout out from where she had been nestled in Akira's hood in pit viper form, tongue flitting out once. ]
I figured it would keep happening. People vanishing is new, though. [ A pointed look because he's been reminded now of how Dokja just vanished and came back with a zombie head. ]
I figured it would keep happening. People vanishing is new, though. [ A pointed look because he's been reminded now of how Dokja just vanished and came back with a zombie head. ]
[ snake buddies!! Even if Jin reacts sleepily. Clearly, Dokja could use more rest, but he's up and going nevertheless. ]
I heard another group other than us were gone as well, but not nearly as long as we were. [ Though, the pointed look he gets makes him smile just a bit. Hey hey, let's get this right: Suigetsu came back with a zombie head. ] The Watchers were unaware of where we had gone as well, so it's likely the upper-management that swept us away.
I heard another group other than us were gone as well, but not nearly as long as we were. [ Though, the pointed look he gets makes him smile just a bit. Hey hey, let's get this right: Suigetsu came back with a zombie head. ] The Watchers were unaware of where we had gone as well, so it's likely the upper-management that swept us away.
Well, we were on the sunken ship before its eventual wreckage, so we found some interesting things. For one thing, inside the crates in the cargo hold, Alphinaud found the same set of items his group brought back days prior.
[ which in that group Sholmes brought back a dead arm? what's with the ship and bringing back body pieces?? ]
[ which in that group Sholmes brought back a dead arm? what's with the ship and bringing back body pieces?? ]
It seems that way. [ The corner of his eyes crinkle with that thought. ] Hmm, usually power like that comes at a great cost...
[ He seems to contemplate, observing Akira curiously and... when he opens his mouth again, it's with curious words. ] Do you mind if I ask you something?
..What do you believe in? What helps motivate you?
[ He seems to contemplate, observing Akira curiously and... when he opens his mouth again, it's with curious words. ] Do you mind if I ask you something?
..What do you believe in? What helps motivate you?
Huh?
[ He's taken aback for a second, a curious, surprised expression on his features before he schools it back to his normal aloofness. ]
I don't believe in God or justice, if that's what you're asking, or life being fair or crap like that. I do what I want and whatever I need to do to keep those I care about safe, I don't think life has to be more complicated than that.
[ He's taken aback for a second, a curious, surprised expression on his features before he schools it back to his normal aloofness. ]
I don't believe in God or justice, if that's what you're asking, or life being fair or crap like that. I do what I want and whatever I need to do to keep those I care about safe, I don't think life has to be more complicated than that.
[ (An immediate dive into memory share because I say so!!!) Not that Kim Dokja realizes, pays no mind to those shards, but his daemon is curious and pokes at it just as Akira is nearby. | some music to go with.
- - - -
[ It's hard to relax.
To take a break.
You feel as if you need to keep moving, to keep going- there's a sudden weight that collides into your body and for a moment you stagger. It's not enough to throw you completely off guard, but you catch yourself anyways as you look down to see two pairs of arms wrapped so tightly around you.
Looking down, you find your gaze meeting the eyes of two children.
Of course one is Shin Yoosung, with her short brown hair swaying as she peers up at you with her red eyes. The other, Lee Gilyoung, looks annoyed with the girl, dark eyes glaring at her beneath short brown hair.
They've always been like this.
Eager to gather your attention, fighting with each other when they feel like the other is hogging you. Despite being so young, eleven years old, you remind yourself, they're so strong. Surviving in this ruined world. Both have been taken away from their family after the destruction of this world left them alone and abandoned- you're their family now. You know this in the love they show for you, which is both a foreign feeling to understand but you keep it close anyways.
You put both your hands on their heads and pat them, meeting two bright smiles and you're filled with fond. Protectiveness. You want to give them whatever they ask for, nothing was too big or small. You have always stayed true to your goals- willing to sacrifice yourself just to give them the life they deserve, a life that doesn't keep them fighting to survive day by day.
Your thoughts start to travel.
It starts to drift.
After all, when you were a child... things weren't like that for you growing up. You didn't have someone to rely on after a certain moment in your life.
You grew up alone.
When you blink, you're peering up at your mother, hiding slightly behind her as you tremble... as you shake. You're afraid. Looking at her, you can see the ever daily bruises marking her skin, and yet she still protects you, especially when you sport the same kind of bruises. Across from you both is y̶̦̻̐͒̍͐̄̅o̸̧̯̥̊̂̿̓̄͊̑̾ṵ̴̧̪̹̱͕̖̘̠̳͓̥̿͌̇͐̇̂̂́̊̀̒̂̕͠r̷̡̧͔̮̳̹̪̫̓͆͋̒̀͌̕͝ ̷̨̖̻͈̜̓̍ͅf̸̧̢̫̪̭̟͈̲̃̋a̶̙͔͓̞͚̳̦̱͜͝ţ̷̫̝̩̬̮̼̬̻̺͛̆̌̐̓̾̓̀͋̕h̵̛̝̺̰͕̱͚͓̠̠̓͛̈́̒̀̎͊̕ȩ̵̧̝͎͙͍̯̲̖͆r̶͚̖̬̝͎͚͚̺̠̄̐̀͆͌͊̉̓̎̐̒̀̇͝.
It's hard to make out his face, you're afraid, you're afraid, it's another bad day. It's an endless cycle, even if she tries to take the brunt of it... you can feel yourself slipping away. You need to stop this. One day, you will. Someone like that doesn't deserve to live. You both can't keep living like this. You have to.... you have to-
you close your eyes, and darkness fills you. ]
- - - -
[ It's hard to relax.
To take a break.
You feel as if you need to keep moving, to keep going- there's a sudden weight that collides into your body and for a moment you stagger. It's not enough to throw you completely off guard, but you catch yourself anyways as you look down to see two pairs of arms wrapped so tightly around you.
Looking down, you find your gaze meeting the eyes of two children.
Of course one is Shin Yoosung, with her short brown hair swaying as she peers up at you with her red eyes. The other, Lee Gilyoung, looks annoyed with the girl, dark eyes glaring at her beneath short brown hair.
They've always been like this.
Eager to gather your attention, fighting with each other when they feel like the other is hogging you. Despite being so young, eleven years old, you remind yourself, they're so strong. Surviving in this ruined world. Both have been taken away from their family after the destruction of this world left them alone and abandoned- you're their family now. You know this in the love they show for you, which is both a foreign feeling to understand but you keep it close anyways.
You put both your hands on their heads and pat them, meeting two bright smiles and you're filled with fond. Protectiveness. You want to give them whatever they ask for, nothing was too big or small. You have always stayed true to your goals- willing to sacrifice yourself just to give them the life they deserve, a life that doesn't keep them fighting to survive day by day.
Your thoughts start to travel.
It starts to drift.
After all, when you were a child... things weren't like that for you growing up. You didn't have someone to rely on after a certain moment in your life.
You grew up alone.
When you blink, you're peering up at your mother, hiding slightly behind her as you tremble... as you shake. You're afraid. Looking at her, you can see the ever daily bruises marking her skin, and yet she still protects you, especially when you sport the same kind of bruises. Across from you both is y̶̦̻̐͒̍͐̄̅o̸̧̯̥̊̂̿̓̄͊̑̾ṵ̴̧̪̹̱͕̖̘̠̳͓̥̿͌̇͐̇̂̂́̊̀̒̂̕͠r̷̡̧͔̮̳̹̪̫̓͆͋̒̀͌̕͝ ̷̨̖̻͈̜̓̍ͅf̸̧̢̫̪̭̟͈̲̃̋a̶̙͔͓̞͚̳̦̱͜͝ţ̷̫̝̩̬̮̼̬̻̺͛̆̌̐̓̾̓̀͋̕h̵̛̝̺̰͕̱͚͓̠̠̓͛̈́̒̀̎͊̕ȩ̵̧̝͎͙͍̯̲̖͆r̶͚̖̬̝͎͚͚̺̠̄̐̀͆͌͊̉̓̎̐̒̀̇͝.
It's hard to make out his face, you're afraid, you're afraid, it's another bad day. It's an endless cycle, even if she tries to take the brunt of it... you can feel yourself slipping away. You need to stop this. One day, you will. Someone like that doesn't deserve to live. You both can't keep living like this. You have to.... you have to-
you close your eyes, and darkness fills you. ]
Edited (i forgot there's music) 2021-10-12 04:37 (UTC)
I'm not necessarily. But, thanks for giving me an answer anyways.
[ Dokja has a tendency of asking things that more often than not take someone by surprise. ] I feel like I understand you a bit more now.
I won't push to ask what happened with Bertolt during the trial, but if you need an ear to rant to I've been told I'm a good listener. [ It's said as if in passing, his daemon returning to coil back to her earlier position as if satisfied. ]
[ Dokja has a tendency of asking things that more often than not take someone by surprise. ] I feel like I understand you a bit more now.
I won't push to ask what happened with Bertolt during the trial, but if you need an ear to rant to I've been told I'm a good listener. [ It's said as if in passing, his daemon returning to coil back to her earlier position as if satisfied. ]
[ Akira nods and rolls his shoulders, he didn't really mind answering but it's food for thought later. ]
What I'd really like to do is punch the asshole who's in charge of all of this, but thanks. You don't charge, do you? [ This kinda sounds like a joke. ]
What I'd really like to do is punch the asshole who's in charge of all of this, but thanks. You don't charge, do you? [ This kinda sounds like a joke. ]
[ The way Akira is poised as the images fade projects confidence; his breathing isn't ragged and his gaze is focused, not panicked. It last about a second until he drops down, crouching on his knees, and punches the floor. ]
...fuck. [ His right hand is clenched, the leather taut. ]
...fuck. [ His right hand is clenched, the leather taut. ]
I think I'd prefer to do more than just punch them, but I agree.
[ You know. Maybe have them have a taste of what they're putting them through here. But, at the joke, whether actually or not, he still humors with a response. ] I don't charge much, I'd only ask for a story in return.
[ You know. Maybe have them have a taste of what they're putting them through here. But, at the joke, whether actually or not, he still humors with a response. ] I don't charge much, I'd only ask for a story in return.
[ Dokja steadies himself on his legs, it's a memory he remembers before. Something in passing. His mind shakes, steady, he recomposes even as he feels out of breath. The sight of the children he travels with is a fond thought. However, a memory of his childhood... it always has a way of having him shut down. This time, though, he pushes it away, shakes his head, and tells himself to focus on the here and now. However, his attention is brought to the teen when he drops down and he moves to him. ]
...You saw it. [ His voice is quiet, more of a statement than a question. Anything else he might say doesn't come out. It's not the kind of memory you go talking about to anything, and yet there it was on display for him to see. ]
...You saw it. [ His voice is quiet, more of a statement than a question. Anything else he might say doesn't come out. It's not the kind of memory you go talking about to anything, and yet there it was on display for him to see. ]
Better offer than the last time, so sure.
[ Akira probably wouldn't mind that either, but start small. ] <.small>
Just try not to vanish off to who knows where. [ He won't call out yjh directly cause he's not like that, but he does need to say this as the silent third party here. ]
[ Akira probably wouldn't mind that either, but start small. ] <.small>
Just try not to vanish off to who knows where. [ He won't call out yjh directly cause he's not like that, but he does need to say this as the silent third party here. ]
Yeah, I— [ It's hard for Akira to focus for many reasons, but he has to, even with his heart racing against his ribcage. ]
...seeing murders is easier than that. Sorry, I didn't mean to look but I always...
[ He shakes his head, almost in an effort to match the jumbled thoughts in his head. ]
...seeing murders is easier than that. Sorry, I didn't mean to look but I always...
[ He shakes his head, almost in an effort to match the jumbled thoughts in his head. ]
[ A quiet laugh escapes him at that, shakey as it sounds- empty, even. ]
It's alright. You don't have to apologize. This isn't the first memory I've unwillingly shared, so I know how impossible it is to not view it.
[ His hand trembles but he fights to recompose himself, steady steady. ]
It's alright. You don't have to apologize. This isn't the first memory I've unwillingly shared, so I know how impossible it is to not view it.
[ His hand trembles but he fights to recompose himself, steady steady. ]
Is that so... [ Huh. As for the question, he goes silent. When he finally talks- Dokja seems to be looking at his own hands. ]
He was killed. [ ... ] Domestic violence, gambling... my mother and I lived in fear every day. There wasn’t a single day without bruises. [ It's probably an obvious enough sign what led to the man's fate, but Dokja continues as though telling a tale. ] My mother went to jail, leaving her single child alone.
[ A pause. ] There was a book called the Underground Killer. It was previously on the Kyobo bestsellers list. It was an essay written by an abused woman in prison after she killed her husband. It was praised by critics at the time. ..My mother had wrote it. I still remember the time a bunch of reporters waited in front of my house. They kept asking me if the essay was real. I remember everything my classmates said. They told me that my mother made money by selling murder. My relatives also said this. "Your mother is a murderer. How dare she slip her face into the newspapers?"
..Not that my relatives cared, they didn't actually care for me. Any money they used on themselves. [ He had been neglected. Bullied. It was a bit hard because of this. No, it was hard for a long time. After a few moments, he laughs. It's empty, there's no real meaning to it. This is the exact conversation he had with Yoo Sangah and it's strange for it to be coming out like this. How fresh his answer was on his mind. However, by now, he knows better. ]
It's a lot to take in. Do you think he got what he deserved? [ Even if someone didn't approve, it won't change what happened. The man was dead and Dokja strongly believed someone like him was meant to die. ]
He was killed. [ ... ] Domestic violence, gambling... my mother and I lived in fear every day. There wasn’t a single day without bruises. [ It's probably an obvious enough sign what led to the man's fate, but Dokja continues as though telling a tale. ] My mother went to jail, leaving her single child alone.
[ A pause. ] There was a book called the Underground Killer. It was previously on the Kyobo bestsellers list. It was an essay written by an abused woman in prison after she killed her husband. It was praised by critics at the time. ..My mother had wrote it. I still remember the time a bunch of reporters waited in front of my house. They kept asking me if the essay was real. I remember everything my classmates said. They told me that my mother made money by selling murder. My relatives also said this. "Your mother is a murderer. How dare she slip her face into the newspapers?"
..Not that my relatives cared, they didn't actually care for me. Any money they used on themselves. [ He had been neglected. Bullied. It was a bit hard because of this. No, it was hard for a long time. After a few moments, he laughs. It's empty, there's no real meaning to it. This is the exact conversation he had with Yoo Sangah and it's strange for it to be coming out like this. How fresh his answer was on his mind. However, by now, he knows better. ]
It's a lot to take in. Do you think he got what he deserved? [ Even if someone didn't approve, it won't change what happened. The man was dead and Dokja strongly believed someone like him was meant to die. ]
Page 1 of 4