[Honestly, he could barely register what was happening around him. There was only a hint of a foul taste in his mouth, but it was easily ignored. Yoo Joonghyuk was distracted by the warmth that seeped in while they touched. It was a comforting feeling and it grounded him in ways that nothing else could.
He would like to lean into the feeling, but his body was completely immobilized. At least he could enjoy it and gain comfort while his body suffered.
Eyes fluttering open; he has his attention on the other.
If only they could afford idle chit chat and enjoying the company of each other.]
You need to go East immediately.
[What he wanted was unimportant.]
The 'Disaster of Questions' is about to awaken. Someone is trying to awaken them all.
[Kim Dokja doesn't want to admit to his disappointment when the first words Yoo Joonghyk says to him are an order to leave. He feels his stomach dropping, and he hates it, like he'd been hoping for something else. It makes sense for this bastard to be focused on the job in front of him anyway, even if they still have time to --
Oh.
Who would be stupid enough to awaken the disasters?]
How long will it take before you can walk?
[He'll get straight to business too. This is better, actually. He wouldn't know what to say otherwise. But he can't leave Yoo Joonghyk behind, so he'll have to wait for him to improve at least a little.]
It's better to just leave me behind. I'm deadweight. Around two days to gain functionality.
[There isn't anything he can do at this point other than slow the other down. It was his fault he had gotten himself in this situation anyways. He really could only blame himself for following a silly notion.]
I can't say for certain, but it isn't a lot. Their progress on awakening the 'Disaster of Questions' is faster than I would personally like.
[Which is why the other needed to move immediately before some irreversible happens.]
[The reply is instant. He surprises himself a little. But leaving him behind is too much of a risk anyway. He could get killed by anyone in this state, it's a miracle he's even survived this long, and if this regressor dies they won't stand a chance at making it through these scenarios. And just the thought feels like it might destroy him.
He turn to Han Sooyoong.]
We have to go. Something has come up.
[And then - looking this regressor straight in the eye, daring him to argue - he starts picking the man up, awkwardly hauling him onto his back. He's grateful for all the coin he's invested in strength now, otherwise there's no way he'd be able to carry him like this.
[He thinks this is really a waste of time. He would question why the other was bothering to carry around his deadweight body around when he wouldn't be able to move anytime soon, but he guesses that being soulmates has people do irrational things.
He can't say he could bring himself to leave the other behind if the situation was reversed.
It was comfortable. Well, no it wasn't. The warmth from the other though was what was comfortable. Being pressed against the man.]
Deciding to destroy the Throne was a good plan, but the aftermath of it has caused issues. Terraforming in the Gwangjin and Gangdong districts is advancing rapidly due to the Meteorites housing the Guides being scattered. Wanderers are using powers from the meteorites.
[He seems to mull over what he wants to say next. Well, it was why he was in this state.]
One of the Ten Evils had managed to obtain one of the Disaster meteorite.
[Kim Dokja offers a quick explanation to Han Sooyoong as well, just so she'll stop demanding one. That allows him to give his full attention to his conversation with Yoo Joonghyk.]
You have no objections to me destroying the Throne?
[He's a bit surprised. It's a relief, because that means Yoo Joonghyk won't waste time demanding explanations, but considering they'd fought over it he'd expected the man to be angry. Maybe he'd decided it was better to move forward. He could hope.
He takes in the rest of it, trying to piece together all the details and form a plan, but that last bit throws him off.]
The Poisoning Reveler Lee Seolhva?
[The intense jealousy that hits him out of nowhere is enough to make him stumble for a second, but he pushes forwards.]
If it's her, you would have known better than to face her head on and get yourself poisoned.
[Dokkaebi weren't to be trusted, after all, so why would they be given a tool of absolute power to help them with moving forward in the Scenarios.]
I won't agree with your way of handling things sometimes, but you have made it known that you're doing things with something in mind. You wanted to keep the 'Outer God' away.
[At least, that's what he's sure is the reason why.
Yoo Joonghyuk doesn't reply for a moment. He isn't exactly surprised that the other could guess who it was, but it still catches him off guard. It makes him think about what had happened before reuniting with with the other.]
...Yes
I tried to speak to her first. I thought that, perhaps, I could dissuade her of what she was trying to do and...
I had hoped that she would also join as a companion.
[He'd been suspicious this early in his regressions? Immediately he wanted to open up his copy of Ways of Survival to check, but he didn't have a hand free. Besides, it would look suspicious. Hearing Yoo Joonghyk add the pieces together is impressive, though. He's the protagonist not only because he's strong, he's really intelligent, too. It's almost annoying how cool he is.
And this cool person is his soulmate? His jealousy rises, because it still seems impossible. Lee Seolhwa is always described as beautiful and strong, the perfect companion and lover for someone like Yoo Joonghyk. He wonders if Yoo Joonghyk misses her, if that's why he sought her out.
It would make sense. He still hates the thought, and he's almost happy she wouldn't listen to him this time.]
Having her on your side would make the scenarios easier.
[At least there's not one transmitted over midday tryst. Yoo Joonghyk won't be able to tell that he's jealous.]
[He could only move forward and forge anew with each regression. The people whom he knew in the past were no longer the people he knew now. They might look the same and have the same names and mannerisms, but they weren't the same people.
Lee Seolhwa was his lover and wife and the mother of his child, but those type of things he had moved on from. Had to if he wanted to keep looking forward. Still. Could one easily forget all the people whom touched his heart?]
Of course, she wasn't the one that I remember.
Yet...
If for a moment, I wanted to believe. The woman in my memories... I wanted to believe that she was still alive.
[It was a foolish want and hope though.
He had already forsaken those people and moved to the next turn.]
[He hates writing it. His face is looking pained, but he hopes it can be passed off as the strain of running while carrying a man twice his weight on his back. At least Han Sooyoong is busy studying the effects of the terraforming, and isn't looking in his direction.
He wants her back, then. It makes sense. She really is the ideal woman for someone like Yoo Joonghyuk. It's not surprising, but the pain is still enough to overwhelm him. He feels like he can't breathe.]
She was your lover, a person like that deserves at least a chance.
You make it sound as though you've regressed before.
[It's confusing to him. How could the other possibly understand? He...He wants to believe the other understand though. The feeling of loneliness and being forgotten every turn-
Is it possible for anyone to understand him?]
What she was before doesn't matter. That turn is over for me and she's not that same person, Kim Dokja. I let my emotions get the better of me.
[His brows furrow a little. He doesn't know why her being his lover means anything.]
She wasn't amiable to conversation, so she's now an obstacle.
[It's important to say it, he thinks. He of all people knows how painful the scenarios and the endless regressions are for Yoo Joonghyk. Again and again, he's lost people he cares about, or he's betrayed by someone he'd been able to trust in the past. It's what causes him to lose his humanity.
Stronger than jealousy is the sudden desire to help, even if it's just in a small way. He doesn't like hearing the way Yoo Joonghyk gives up so easily. Sure, he also needs this man to keep fighting to reach his goals, but it's more than that.
He's not sure how to convey his sincerity, but he hopes it comes across.]
[He wants to trust and believe those words quite badly. Will it be alright?]
...
[Perhaps if it were anyone else, then he'd scoff at it. This was his soulmate though. Yoo Joonghyuk thinks that it might be alright this time. To let himself fall into those words.]
[The character 'Yoo Joonghyuk' feels a faint sense of comfort.]
I want to make it clear, by the way, I haven't forgotten about you kidnapping my sister.
[Because despite the warmth he was feeling; he was still mad about that. Of everyone that he ever traveled with, of course, the sister who was much too young to be experiencing these atrocities was who meant the most to him. He still doesn't know much about her whereabouts.]
[It's satisfying to receive that brief message, letting him know his words had effect. He hadn't been sure if Yoo Joonghyk would believe him. He's not exactly a trusting person.
And when he brings that up a second later, Kim Dokja can't even be surprised.]
I didn't kidnap her, I was protecting her! Just use Lie Detection to confirm it.
[He'd wondered if he was still mad. It was probably too much to hope for that he wouldn't be. At least he had two days before this bastard could get any sort of revenge, and he could try to get him to calm down by then.]
You better not have come to find me just to kill me over that.
Why do you think I'm going to kill you? Are you an idiot?
[This guy...]
Did you already forget the entire conversation we had in the station? Tch, I was looking for you because you seemed to be the best option to relaying information to in the first place.
[Considering the severity of the situation; that was a huge amount of trust.]
Is it a problem that I also just wished to seek you out?
[Kim Dokja was a frustrating man. He still can't really gauge just how much the other wants to be together. They said yes, but he still wonders if he might have pressured the other a little into the reply.
A thought for another time because the terraforming is getting worse and territory markings were more apparent on the ground.]
[Hearing those words sends a rush of relief through him. Having this guy wanting to kill him would have been a problem, but more than that, if Yoo Joonghyk just wanted to see him... Kim Dokja hadn't forgotten their conversation, but the whole situation still seemed so impossible. But of course once Yoo Joonghyk decides to take something seriously, he doesn't change his mind easily. He wouldn't have changed his mind just because they were apart for a few days.
He holds onto him a little tighter, and it's a moment before he replies. He feels good suddenly.]
It's good that you found me.
[He wants to say more. It's nice to be able to have an actual conversation with him. But just as he tries to think of another message, they're attacked.
He reacts quickly. He needs to fight, so no matter how much he wants to be the one to carry Yoo Joonghyk, he hands him off to Han Sooyoong. They can continue their conversation later.]
[It's really quite frustrating being incapacitated like this. Being conscious was at least a blessing because he'd probably be more frustrated to wake up during or after the events of all the Disasters. Or maybe if things went badly he'd just wake up back in the subway again. He rather be awake, but not being able to do anything other than interact with Kim Dokja.
He watches carefully though. From being attacked to Yoo Sangah's arrival and their retreat into a building to get a better view of the situation.
The room is tense though and Yoo Joonghyuk was wary and made sure the other was aware to also be. He could trust Kim Dokja, but was he to trust that woman? It's not something they can really focus on because a Sub-Scenario is given.]
Even if the 'Disaster of Questions' hatches early, it should be fine. It can still be neutralized and dealt with.
[It isn't exactly ideal if it does happen, but it isn't so bleak either. Still, he's sure the other will aim to prevent the early hatching first. It wasn't bad to aim for it, but good to have alternatives ready.]
[The message catches him off guard after he's been focused on preventing a fight between Han Sooyoong and Yoo Sangah. Once he's sure they're not about to kill each other, he glances at Yoo Joonghyuk.
And hesitates.]
What do you mean?
[He knows what he means. He'd like to pretend that he doesn't, and run off to prevent this disaster instead of actually facing this man's anger when he realizes. They only have two hours, so there's not much time. It's understandable if they can't have long conversations about strategy now.]
[He's pretty sure the other is playing stupid right now. There's no way that the other wouldn't know-]
You woke up the Guide. [Han Sooyoung mentioned leaving a wolf behind. He wasn't an idiot and knew exactly what that meant.] The skill he taught you will help with dealing with the 'Disaster of Questions' of course. I know that you must have been taught 'Way of the Wind' by him.
[A skill that he should have normally gotten, but Kim Dokja has gone through many lengths to upend his plans constantly.]
Even if we fail to stop the early hatching; you have the means to defeat it.
[He's about to die. Yoo Joonghyk is about to get up in spite of his currently weak state, through nothing but sheer force of will, so he can kill him. And he'll deserve it for dooming them all.]
I didn't learn it.
[He tries to avoid looking at him, not wanting to see the immense disappointment about to appear on his face, but he can't resist glancing back in his direction.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He would like to lean into the feeling, but his body was completely immobilized. At least he could enjoy it and gain comfort while his body suffered.
Eyes fluttering open; he has his attention on the other.
If only they could afford idle chit chat and enjoying the company of each other.]
You need to go East immediately.
[What he wanted was unimportant.]
The 'Disaster of Questions' is about to awaken. Someone is trying to awaken them all.
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Oh.
Who would be stupid enough to awaken the disasters?]
How long will it take before you can walk?
[He'll get straight to business too. This is better, actually. He wouldn't know what to say otherwise. But he can't leave Yoo Joonghyk behind, so he'll have to wait for him to improve at least a little.]
How much time do we have?
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[There isn't anything he can do at this point other than slow the other down. It was his fault he had gotten himself in this situation anyways. He really could only blame himself for following a silly notion.]
I can't say for certain, but it isn't a lot. Their progress on awakening the 'Disaster of Questions' is faster than I would personally like.
[Which is why the other needed to move immediately before some irreversible happens.]
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[The reply is instant. He surprises himself a little. But leaving him behind is too much of a risk anyway. He could get killed by anyone in this state, it's a miracle he's even survived this long, and if this regressor dies they won't stand a chance at making it through these scenarios. And just the thought feels like it might destroy him.
He turn to Han Sooyoong.]
We have to go. Something has come up.
[And then - looking this regressor straight in the eye, daring him to argue - he starts picking the man up, awkwardly hauling him onto his back. He's grateful for all the coin he's invested in strength now, otherwise there's no way he'd be able to carry him like this.
But he's not leaving him.]
You can fill me in while we move.
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He can't say he could bring himself to leave the other behind if the situation was reversed.
It was comfortable. Well, no it wasn't. The warmth from the other though was what was comfortable. Being pressed against the man.]
Deciding to destroy the Throne was a good plan, but the aftermath of it has caused issues. Terraforming in the Gwangjin and Gangdong districts is advancing rapidly due to the Meteorites housing the Guides being scattered. Wanderers are using powers from the meteorites.
[He seems to mull over what he wants to say next. Well, it was why he was in this state.]
One of the Ten Evils had managed to obtain one of the Disaster meteorite.
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You have no objections to me destroying the Throne?
[He's a bit surprised. It's a relief, because that means Yoo Joonghyk won't waste time demanding explanations, but considering they'd fought over it he'd expected the man to be angry. Maybe he'd decided it was better to move forward. He could hope.
He takes in the rest of it, trying to piece together all the details and form a plan, but that last bit throws him off.]
The Poisoning Reveler Lee Seolhva?
[The intense jealousy that hits him out of nowhere is enough to make him stumble for a second, but he pushes forwards.]
If it's her, you would have known better than to face her head on and get yourself poisoned.
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[Dokkaebi weren't to be trusted, after all, so why would they be given a tool of absolute power to help them with moving forward in the Scenarios.]
I won't agree with your way of handling things sometimes, but you have made it known that you're doing things with something in mind. You wanted to keep the 'Outer God' away.
[At least, that's what he's sure is the reason why.
Yoo Joonghyuk doesn't reply for a moment. He isn't exactly surprised that the other could guess who it was, but it still catches him off guard. It makes him think about what had happened before reuniting with with the other.]
...Yes
I tried to speak to her first. I thought that, perhaps, I could dissuade her of what she was trying to do and...
I had hoped that she would also join as a companion.
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And this cool person is his soulmate? His jealousy rises, because it still seems impossible. Lee Seolhwa is always described as beautiful and strong, the perfect companion and lover for someone like Yoo Joonghyk. He wonders if Yoo Joonghyk misses her, if that's why he sought her out.
It would make sense. He still hates the thought, and he's almost happy she wouldn't listen to him this time.]
Having her on your side would make the scenarios easier.
[At least there's not one transmitted over midday tryst. Yoo Joonghyk won't be able to tell that he's jealous.]
She was your companion before.
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[He could only move forward and forge anew with each regression. The people whom he knew in the past were no longer the people he knew now. They might look the same and have the same names and mannerisms, but they weren't the same people.
Lee Seolhwa was his lover and wife and the mother of his child, but those type of things he had moved on from. Had to if he wanted to keep looking forward. Still. Could one easily forget all the people whom touched his heart?]
Of course, she wasn't the one that I remember.
Yet...
If for a moment, I wanted to believe. The woman in my memories... I wanted to believe that she was still alive.
[It was a foolish want and hope though.
He had already forsaken those people and moved to the next turn.]
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[He hates writing it. His face is looking pained, but he hopes it can be passed off as the strain of running while carrying a man twice his weight on his back. At least Han Sooyoong is busy studying the effects of the terraforming, and isn't looking in his direction.
He wants her back, then. It makes sense. She really is the ideal woman for someone like Yoo Joonghyuk. It's not surprising, but the pain is still enough to overwhelm him. He feels like he can't breathe.]
She was your lover, a person like that deserves at least a chance.
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[It's confusing to him. How could the other possibly understand? He...He wants to believe the other understand though. The feeling of loneliness and being forgotten every turn-
Is it possible for anyone to understand him?]
What she was before doesn't matter. That turn is over for me and she's not that same person, Kim Dokja. I let my emotions get the better of me.
[His brows furrow a little. He doesn't know why her being his lover means anything.]
She wasn't amiable to conversation, so she's now an obstacle.
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[It's important to say it, he thinks. He of all people knows how painful the scenarios and the endless regressions are for Yoo Joonghyk. Again and again, he's lost people he cares about, or he's betrayed by someone he'd been able to trust in the past. It's what causes him to lose his humanity.
Stronger than jealousy is the sudden desire to help, even if it's just in a small way. He doesn't like hearing the way Yoo Joonghyk gives up so easily. Sure, he also needs this man to keep fighting to reach his goals, but it's more than that.
He's not sure how to convey his sincerity, but he hopes it comes across.]
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...
[Perhaps if it were anyone else, then he'd scoff at it. This was his soulmate though. Yoo Joonghyuk thinks that it might be alright this time. To let himself fall into those words.]
[The character 'Yoo Joonghyuk' feels a faint sense of comfort.]
I want to make it clear, by the way, I haven't forgotten about you kidnapping my sister.
[Because despite the warmth he was feeling; he was still mad about that. Of everyone that he ever traveled with, of course, the sister who was much too young to be experiencing these atrocities was who meant the most to him. He still doesn't know much about her whereabouts.]
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And when he brings that up a second later, Kim Dokja can't even be surprised.]
I didn't kidnap her, I was protecting her! Just use Lie Detection to confirm it.
[He'd wondered if he was still mad. It was probably too much to hope for that he wouldn't be. At least he had two days before this bastard could get any sort of revenge, and he could try to get him to calm down by then.]
You better not have come to find me just to kill me over that.
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[This guy...]
Did you already forget the entire conversation we had in the station? Tch, I was looking for you because you seemed to be the best option to relaying information to in the first place.
[Considering the severity of the situation; that was a huge amount of trust.]
Is it a problem that I also just wished to seek you out?
[Kim Dokja was a frustrating man. He still can't really gauge just how much the other wants to be together. They said yes, but he still wonders if he might have pressured the other a little into the reply.
A thought for another time because the terraforming is getting worse and territory markings were more apparent on the ground.]
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He holds onto him a little tighter, and it's a moment before he replies. He feels good suddenly.]
It's good that you found me.
[He wants to say more. It's nice to be able to have an actual conversation with him. But just as he tries to think of another message, they're attacked.
He reacts quickly. He needs to fight, so no matter how much he wants to be the one to carry Yoo Joonghyk, he hands him off to Han Sooyoong. They can continue their conversation later.]
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He watches carefully though. From being attacked to Yoo Sangah's arrival and their retreat into a building to get a better view of the situation.
The room is tense though and Yoo Joonghyuk was wary and made sure the other was aware to also be. He could trust Kim Dokja, but was he to trust that woman? It's not something they can really focus on because a Sub-Scenario is given.]
Even if the 'Disaster of Questions' hatches early, it should be fine. It can still be neutralized and dealt with.
[It isn't exactly ideal if it does happen, but it isn't so bleak either. Still, he's sure the other will aim to prevent the early hatching first. It wasn't bad to aim for it, but good to have alternatives ready.]
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And hesitates.]
What do you mean?
[He knows what he means. He'd like to pretend that he doesn't, and run off to prevent this disaster instead of actually facing this man's anger when he realizes. They only have two hours, so there's not much time. It's understandable if they can't have long conversations about strategy now.]
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You woke up the Guide. [Han Sooyoung mentioned leaving a wolf behind. He wasn't an idiot and knew exactly what that meant.] The skill he taught you will help with dealing with the 'Disaster of Questions' of course. I know that you must have been taught 'Way of the Wind' by him.
[A skill that he should have normally gotten, but Kim Dokja has gone through many lengths to upend his plans constantly.]
Even if we fail to stop the early hatching; you have the means to defeat it.
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I didn't learn it.
[He tries to avoid looking at him, not wanting to see the immense disappointment about to appear on his face, but he can't resist glancing back in his direction.]
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What do you mean you didn't learn it? Is it a matter of the principles?
[EXPLAIN. NOW.]
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... It's because I have no talent.
[There, feel free to be as disappointed as you like.]
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But there's nothing we can do about that, so I should go prevent this disaster from hatching.
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