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[ he may be known to be honest, but all four can think about is how he must be lying. it makes more sense to her that other terrible people are fine with her because they are equally terrible, but someone like lu bixing?
she wonders if there's something wrong with him, too, to miss her like that. she knows she wouldn't miss her. four is not unmoved even if she thinks he's being stupid. she does want his warmth, but she's not convinced she won't lose it. ]
I tried to kill you. I could and would kill any of you.
[ she doesn't want to lose her abilities or get stuck in jail for a day, but it's not a lie. ]
she wonders if there's something wrong with him, too, to miss her like that. she knows she wouldn't miss her. four is not unmoved even if she thinks he's being stupid. she does want his warmth, but she's not convinced she won't lose it. ]
I tried to kill you. I could and would kill any of you.
[ she doesn't want to lose her abilities or get stuck in jail for a day, but it's not a lie. ]
[ there probably is something wrong with him but that's okay. all of china knows that lu bixing has trash taste.
he listens to her, though - because of course he does. lets her spit the words sharp as she'd like, and responds back calmly, like waves washing up against a shore. ]
I did kill you.
[ it's quiet, too. point blank. whether he chose to or not is irrelevant.
there's a slight pause. ]
I miss you because there's nothing about you - not that I knew before, and not that I learned - that could change the fact that I care about you. And that's you as the Four that I've met, not as any act to be held up. Good and bad.
[ he still has nightmares, about the terrified way that four screamed on that stage. he tried so hard to pull her sister's shadow away from her with his own. tried to do anything, tried to help - because that's all he wanted to do. then, and now, that hasn't changed. ]
he listens to her, though - because of course he does. lets her spit the words sharp as she'd like, and responds back calmly, like waves washing up against a shore. ]
I did kill you.
[ it's quiet, too. point blank. whether he chose to or not is irrelevant.
there's a slight pause. ]
I miss you because there's nothing about you - not that I knew before, and not that I learned - that could change the fact that I care about you. And that's you as the Four that I've met, not as any act to be held up. Good and bad.
[ he still has nightmares, about the terrified way that four screamed on that stage. he tried so hard to pull her sister's shadow away from her with his own. tried to do anything, tried to help - because that's all he wanted to do. then, and now, that hasn't changed. ]
[ she is so easily swayed and she hates how easily she's swayed, but how can she resist someone when they say they'll accept for all the good and the bad? when she is mostly bad?
there is little to change that because she doesn't know how to, and she doesn't care to. if you don't want her at her worst, you can't get her at her slightly less than worst. ]
Why did it have to be you who killed me?
[ her voice grows softer, as it breaks on the word killed. she has no compunctions about killing others, but she hates thinking about people who she wants to care about her killing her. ]
I - did miss you. And I hated missing you. I wanted to hear your voice again, but at the same time, I never wanted to again.
I want to believe you, but I—
[ am too afraid to. don't know how to. wish i didn't want to. ]
there is little to change that because she doesn't know how to, and she doesn't care to. if you don't want her at her worst, you can't get her at her slightly less than worst. ]
Why did it have to be you who killed me?
[ her voice grows softer, as it breaks on the word killed. she has no compunctions about killing others, but she hates thinking about people who she wants to care about her killing her. ]
I - did miss you. And I hated missing you. I wanted to hear your voice again, but at the same time, I never wanted to again.
I want to believe you, but I—
[ am too afraid to. don't know how to. wish i didn't want to. ]
[ why did it have to be you who killed me?
that's the question lu bixing has been asking himself, too. it's been a long time since the execution, and he's had nothing but time to think about it. nothing but time to reflect, each week of their executions, on that stage and the shadows, on the cruelty of this place as a whole. and ultimately, it comes down to the same answer he came to the first night.
because he was the cruelest choice.
bixing hates it too. it breaks his heart into pieces when four's voice cracks, and instinctually, almost, he takes a step forward, a little closer to her, hands curling at his sides to keep himself from reaching out. he wouldn't have even hesitated, weeks ago, but the execution itself was like a wedge. even he's lost for words for a moment with the weight of emotions, and bixing bites the inside of his cheek before he starts. ]
...I know. [ it comes out a little rougher with that weight, not meanly so, but heavy. she doesn't have to finish. he knows her trauma - he knows what happened to her, knows why lu bixing of all people standing across the way was the most brutal choice. ]
I can't - I don't blame you. [ that first. not for the conflict of emotions, not for the more negative ones, either. his hands curl at his sides, again, just once. ] And I don't want to rush you, or force you, but I ...
[ and then, he eventually holds them out, palm up. open trust. ]
...as far as I'm concerned, I'll be here. When you're ready and when you're not, I'll still be here. It's okay, if you're scared, but... if you want to reach out to me, I promise you, I'll always reach back.
that's the question lu bixing has been asking himself, too. it's been a long time since the execution, and he's had nothing but time to think about it. nothing but time to reflect, each week of their executions, on that stage and the shadows, on the cruelty of this place as a whole. and ultimately, it comes down to the same answer he came to the first night.
because he was the cruelest choice.
bixing hates it too. it breaks his heart into pieces when four's voice cracks, and instinctually, almost, he takes a step forward, a little closer to her, hands curling at his sides to keep himself from reaching out. he wouldn't have even hesitated, weeks ago, but the execution itself was like a wedge. even he's lost for words for a moment with the weight of emotions, and bixing bites the inside of his cheek before he starts. ]
...I know. [ it comes out a little rougher with that weight, not meanly so, but heavy. she doesn't have to finish. he knows her trauma - he knows what happened to her, knows why lu bixing of all people standing across the way was the most brutal choice. ]
I can't - I don't blame you. [ that first. not for the conflict of emotions, not for the more negative ones, either. his hands curl at his sides, again, just once. ] And I don't want to rush you, or force you, but I ...
[ and then, he eventually holds them out, palm up. open trust. ]
...as far as I'm concerned, I'll be here. When you're ready and when you're not, I'll still be here. It's okay, if you're scared, but... if you want to reach out to me, I promise you, I'll always reach back.
[ it is simple for four to victimize herself, to think about how unfair any and every world is to her, to wonder what did she do to deserve such suffering. it doesn't stop her from craving what lu bixing offers. it doesn't stop her from wanting to believe, to think that even if it doesn't make sense to her, shouldn't she accept it?
(she wants to be loved. more than anything, she wants to be loved. she'll throw away almost anything to be loved.)
shouldn't she have someone who will be there for her?
(but he won't, will he? if satan's party isn't a sham, he'll be revived, and he will no longer be there. he will no longer be here.
he will no longer be—)
her eyes well with tears, and they spill over, ugly drop by ugly drop. ]
You promise? No matter what I'll say or do, you won't leave me? No matter what happens, you'll be there?
(she wants to be loved. more than anything, she wants to be loved. she'll throw away almost anything to be loved.)
shouldn't she have someone who will be there for her?
(but he won't, will he? if satan's party isn't a sham, he'll be revived, and he will no longer be there. he will no longer be here.
he will no longer be—)
her eyes well with tears, and they spill over, ugly drop by ugly drop. ]
You promise? No matter what I'll say or do, you won't leave me? No matter what happens, you'll be there?
[ even if this just means four is now going to end up bringing him a corpse like a cat brings you a mouse at some point in his life this is fine
at this point, he can't really stop himself. when four starts to cry, his heart just moves, and lu bixing takes the last step forward to reach into his bag and fidget around for a pack of tissues, pulling one out and - after just a brief hesitation - reaching out to see if she'll let him wipe her face. his expression's so, so soft and so sad, brows crinkled together, mouth a bow of a frown. ]
I promise. [ there's a little pause, as he composes himself together before he starts to cry. his remaining eye's a little misty, but he swallows it back. ] The first step's going to be getting everyone out of here - all of us. I don't like to say things I don't mean, and when I plan to do something, I plan to follow through with it. So... I'll have faith in you, if you'll have a little faith in me.
Okay?
at this point, he can't really stop himself. when four starts to cry, his heart just moves, and lu bixing takes the last step forward to reach into his bag and fidget around for a pack of tissues, pulling one out and - after just a brief hesitation - reaching out to see if she'll let him wipe her face. his expression's so, so soft and so sad, brows crinkled together, mouth a bow of a frown. ]
I promise. [ there's a little pause, as he composes himself together before he starts to cry. his remaining eye's a little misty, but he swallows it back. ] The first step's going to be getting everyone out of here - all of us. I don't like to say things I don't mean, and when I plan to do something, I plan to follow through with it. So... I'll have faith in you, if you'll have a little faith in me.
Okay?
[ it's going to so many corpses if he doesn't watch out.
she lets him because she only needs someone to take the first step once. she needs someone to make that first move despite how she might push them away, in spite of how murderous she can. unfairly, she needs to see if someone will cross the distance even knowing everything she is.
her shoulders tremble a little as he wipes at her face, and her gloved fingers reach out to grab onto any loose fabric of lu bixing's shirt. ]
Okay.
[ she doesn't care about getting everyone out, but she can put a little faith in him, here and now. ]
... I'll watch you.
she lets him because she only needs someone to take the first step once. she needs someone to make that first move despite how she might push them away, in spite of how murderous she can. unfairly, she needs to see if someone will cross the distance even knowing everything she is.
her shoulders tremble a little as he wipes at her face, and her gloved fingers reach out to grab onto any loose fabric of lu bixing's shirt. ]
Okay.
[ she doesn't care about getting everyone out, but she can put a little faith in him, here and now. ]
... I'll watch you.
[ swats her gently. no.
that small, gloved hand in his shirt is familiar. it's a flashback to the execution itself, how the very last thing four did as the lethal injection took hold was to curl her hand in his shirt and hold on. it's such a fragile, tentative thing that it makes his heart ache, and honestly, he can't help himself.
the fussy wiping away of tears turns into just holding her face very gently in his hands, thumbs stroking over her cheekbones. bixing looks soft and worried, brows knit together, but the warmth in his eyes is undeniable, the desperately honest attention and kindness that almost comes out of his pores, the want to try and fix this, to help her, as present and real as it was the day of the execution itself. ]
Okay. [ agreeing. and then, with a little smile: ] I'll do my best not to disappoint.
[ when he pulls back finally, it's with one last little fuss - quickly brushing any dirt off of her shoulders and checking her over like he can make sure, make absolutely sure she's okay. in an hour or so he's going to hear four's voicemail and about lose it in his baby emotions but for now, things are minimally embarrassing and decidedly better. ]
Do you think you could show me around the city a little? I'd like to spend some time with you.
that small, gloved hand in his shirt is familiar. it's a flashback to the execution itself, how the very last thing four did as the lethal injection took hold was to curl her hand in his shirt and hold on. it's such a fragile, tentative thing that it makes his heart ache, and honestly, he can't help himself.
the fussy wiping away of tears turns into just holding her face very gently in his hands, thumbs stroking over her cheekbones. bixing looks soft and worried, brows knit together, but the warmth in his eyes is undeniable, the desperately honest attention and kindness that almost comes out of his pores, the want to try and fix this, to help her, as present and real as it was the day of the execution itself. ]
Okay. [ agreeing. and then, with a little smile: ] I'll do my best not to disappoint.
[ when he pulls back finally, it's with one last little fuss - quickly brushing any dirt off of her shoulders and checking her over like he can make sure, make absolutely sure she's okay. in an hour or so he's going to hear four's voicemail and about lose it in his baby emotions but for now, things are minimally embarrassing and decidedly better. ]
Do you think you could show me around the city a little? I'd like to spend some time with you.
[ she looks up at him, as he fusses over her. it's almost odd for her to be one being taken care of when she's the one used to picking up after her sisters when she was alive. she doesn't hate it even it's a little foreign to her. her sisters did love her, but they were all absorbed with their own priorities.
lu bixing treats her so young and it makes her feel so young and maybe she is that young, but it's no less odd a feeling to act her age.
she smiles, almost like she wasn't crying a minute ago, the tears dried and wiped off her face. ]
All right. You can find almost anything in the city, even things you would never have considered. There was some vendor the other day, saying he'd sell you the bones of your enemy, but it's not like he'd know my enemies?
[ she gestures in a direction. ]
There are some freaks around even when you consider the people in our group, so watch out, okay?
[ she's saying, don't give into your terrible taste and be nice to any and every rando. ]
lu bixing treats her so young and it makes her feel so young and maybe she is that young, but it's no less odd a feeling to act her age.
she smiles, almost like she wasn't crying a minute ago, the tears dried and wiped off her face. ]
All right. You can find almost anything in the city, even things you would never have considered. There was some vendor the other day, saying he'd sell you the bones of your enemy, but it's not like he'd know my enemies?
[ she gestures in a direction. ]
There are some freaks around even when you consider the people in our group, so watch out, okay?
[ she's saying, don't give into your terrible taste and be nice to any and every rando. ]
[ let my sweet daughter be my sweet daughter!!!!
okay. the moment's not quite passed, but it feels a little better; lu bixing lets the thread of normalcy fill him up like a warm cup of tea as he takes the rest of his akira tissues back and tucks them into his breast pocket. he likes to see that smile - coupled with the talk about enemies bones and freaks in the crowd, it feels very, very real. less a fake personality. less playing pretend.
he holds out his arm like a gentleman once she's gestured - and then throws his head back and laughs at the comment about the freaks, just as bright as the sun. ] Ha! I'll do my best. Believe it or not, I grew up in a city just like this, Four. There weren't any demons, but there were definitely a lot of freaks.
[ bixing sounds so affectionate when he says that - his bizarre little galaxy, his home sweet home. every planet he's ever lived on has been a bustling metropolis, the slums of the interplanetary union system, and even his current home isn't too different. (though, the infrastructure and quality of living? that's much better, but that's neither here nor there.) ]
I'll count on you to steer me in the right direction. Maybe we could get something to eat. Or we could try and find some bubble tea! That might be fun.
okay. the moment's not quite passed, but it feels a little better; lu bixing lets the thread of normalcy fill him up like a warm cup of tea as he takes the rest of his akira tissues back and tucks them into his breast pocket. he likes to see that smile - coupled with the talk about enemies bones and freaks in the crowd, it feels very, very real. less a fake personality. less playing pretend.
he holds out his arm like a gentleman once she's gestured - and then throws his head back and laughs at the comment about the freaks, just as bright as the sun. ] Ha! I'll do my best. Believe it or not, I grew up in a city just like this, Four. There weren't any demons, but there were definitely a lot of freaks.
[ bixing sounds so affectionate when he says that - his bizarre little galaxy, his home sweet home. every planet he's ever lived on has been a bustling metropolis, the slums of the interplanetary union system, and even his current home isn't too different. (though, the infrastructure and quality of living? that's much better, but that's neither here nor there.) ]
I'll count on you to steer me in the right direction. Maybe we could get something to eat. Or we could try and find some bubble tea! That might be fun.
[ what a day
after the party's cleared out, lu bixing sort of disappears, but it's not really on purpose. it's because he's gone to work, and that becomes blatantly obvious if four happens to pass by the home biome at any time, mainly because it's a cute little house, today! with a white picket fence and a sign over the door that says the home of engineer 001 and commander lin and a bunch of other silly things, including two robots that quite literally do a little dance when she approaches.
the door's open, though, and it becomes obvious that bixing is there. there are like. fifteen computer screens projecting from his personal device, and he is working, fingers flying over a keyboard, occasionally mumbling to himself and switching to a stylus pen and drawing something out on schematics. there's an energy drink on the table.
Work Mode TM ]
after the party's cleared out, lu bixing sort of disappears, but it's not really on purpose. it's because he's gone to work, and that becomes blatantly obvious if four happens to pass by the home biome at any time, mainly because it's a cute little house, today! with a white picket fence and a sign over the door that says the home of engineer 001 and commander lin and a bunch of other silly things, including two robots that quite literally do a little dance when she approaches.
the door's open, though, and it becomes obvious that bixing is there. there are like. fifteen computer screens projecting from his personal device, and he is working, fingers flying over a keyboard, occasionally mumbling to himself and switching to a stylus pen and drawing something out on schematics. there's an energy drink on the table.
Work Mode TM ]
[ even as she's slowly become more modern and learned about so many modern things, this is almost a culture shock in more than one way. the robots, the picturesque home with too many screens.
she treads slowly. it's hard for her to take it in in some ways. how peaceful it looks, how peaceful he looks at work.
just how peaceful it seems in general. ]
.... Can you be interrupted?
[ it's asked so quietly, as if she doesn't belong. ]
she treads slowly. it's hard for her to take it in in some ways. how peaceful it looks, how peaceful he looks at work.
just how peaceful it seems in general. ]
.... Can you be interrupted?
[ it's asked so quietly, as if she doesn't belong. ]
[ the house itself when she comes in is much more modern than a fantasy house, but it's not as futuristic as you might expect. the home of engineer 001 and commander lin is best described as cozy - there's a couch, a slightly threadbare rug, comfy chairs with throw pillows and blankets, a kitchen with simple, clean appliances. there are pictures on the walls and on the side tables. it is, above all things, a home.
bixing himself fits right in here. when he hears the voice, though, it shakes him out of his thoughts, and he makes a soft noise, turning his head to the doorway - then his expression breaks into a smile. ]
By you? Always. Come on in, Four.
bixing himself fits right in here. when he hears the voice, though, it shakes him out of his thoughts, and he makes a soft noise, turning his head to the doorway - then his expression breaks into a smile. ]
By you? Always. Come on in, Four.
[ cozy is different enough from what four knows, but that's half her own fault.
she comes in with a small smile, as if to return the sentiment more than anything else. ]
Are you working on what you were talking about after the party?
[ or the party was still technically going, but after the main party. ]
she comes in with a small smile, as if to return the sentiment more than anything else. ]
Are you working on what you were talking about after the party?
[ or the party was still technically going, but after the main party. ]
[ he pats the spot next to him on the couch! pat pat. this couch is mad comfortable. it even adjusts exactly to four's comfort level when she sits down. ~*future*~
he nods, though, leaning back a little to survey rows on rows of complex mathematical equations on the slightly glowing screens. ]
It is. I'm still finalizing - I can't do a test run until I'm back in my lab, so I'm trying to make sure everything is absolutely flawless until then. But... I think I've got it, thanks to some of the scrutiny of the others checking my numbers, too.
he nods, though, leaning back a little to survey rows on rows of complex mathematical equations on the slightly glowing screens. ]
It is. I'm still finalizing - I can't do a test run until I'm back in my lab, so I'm trying to make sure everything is absolutely flawless until then. But... I think I've got it, thanks to some of the scrutiny of the others checking my numbers, too.
[ that's so high tech i'm jealous. four, however, is surprised when it does that when she sits where beckoned. she acts like she's being attacked for half a second before she realizes what's going on.
she settles in. she's book smart but not in the numbers kind of way, so she glances at his screens for a second before looking away. ]
You'll be able to avoid why or how you ended up here in the first place?
[ she thinks that's likely the first hurdle. ]
she settles in. she's book smart but not in the numbers kind of way, so she glances at his screens for a second before looking away. ]
You'll be able to avoid why or how you ended up here in the first place?
[ she thinks that's likely the first hurdle. ]
[ like a startled cat... it's kind of funny, actually, but he does not laugh, just bites his lip for a moment before he looks back at the screen one last time and hits save. ]
Mhm. I think so - it shouldn't be too hard. I'll be approaching the situation with a much clearer head, at least.
[ considering he won't be like slightly crazy with grief and hysteria and like, about to have a heart attack. this is a much better option! the question gives him pause, though, and he shifts a little to give four his proper attention, brow knitting together.
(he remembers their last conversation before the execution, after all.) ]
...What about you?
Mhm. I think so - it shouldn't be too hard. I'll be approaching the situation with a much clearer head, at least.
[ considering he won't be like slightly crazy with grief and hysteria and like, about to have a heart attack. this is a much better option! the question gives him pause, though, and he shifts a little to give four his proper attention, brow knitting together.
(he remembers their last conversation before the execution, after all.) ]
...What about you?
All right.
[ she seems... almost comforted by that, in a way. judgmental in another, if it shouldn't be too hard. she doesn't know how or why he died, but it's probably better if he's alive.
at his question, it's almost like she physically represses her emotions, the way her expression turns blank for a second. she's quiet for a long moment before she admits: ]
Given the choice, I wouldn't return. I've expended all my means. Even returning to an earlier time wouldn't change the outcome.
[ she seems... almost comforted by that, in a way. judgmental in another, if it shouldn't be too hard. she doesn't know how or why he died, but it's probably better if he's alive.
at his question, it's almost like she physically represses her emotions, the way her expression turns blank for a second. she's quiet for a long moment before she admits: ]
Given the choice, I wouldn't return. I've expended all my means. Even returning to an earlier time wouldn't change the outcome.
...Come back to the Eighth Galaxy with me.
[ with us, really, with this careful little family he's so gently cobbled together. the idea tumbled out of his mouth with barely a hesitation, and now it's picking up steam, as he turns away from his screens to look at her properly. ]
If you wanted to. You don't - you don't have to say yes, but you don't have to stay here either. I'm... I'm the leader of it, you know, the Prime Minister, and - even if I wasn't, I'd just hack into the system to make sure you were able to get all the proper paperwork and everything established so you could live there. Anywhere you wanted. On Qiming, in the Milky Way City where I live, or - even not, even another planet entirely, if that was what you wanted to do.
That's sort of the beauty of this, right? You don't... you don't have to go back. [ a pause. he made a promise, didn't he? ] ...And I'd love to have you near.
[ with us, really, with this careful little family he's so gently cobbled together. the idea tumbled out of his mouth with barely a hesitation, and now it's picking up steam, as he turns away from his screens to look at her properly. ]
If you wanted to. You don't - you don't have to say yes, but you don't have to stay here either. I'm... I'm the leader of it, you know, the Prime Minister, and - even if I wasn't, I'd just hack into the system to make sure you were able to get all the proper paperwork and everything established so you could live there. Anywhere you wanted. On Qiming, in the Milky Way City where I live, or - even not, even another planet entirely, if that was what you wanted to do.
That's sort of the beauty of this, right? You don't... you don't have to go back. [ a pause. he made a promise, didn't he? ] ...And I'd love to have you near.
[ oh.
oh, she doesn't know how to react. it's overwhelming, in ways she can only remember, in ways she doesn't know if she's experienced. he offers her a home, anywhere within his reach, even if it's not near him. does she know what he means by hacking? she knows enough now, and that touches her as much.
it breaks her heart as much as it warms it. she's moved to tears. she can't look away from lu bixing, but she wipes away at her face.
she really is so weak, isn't she? ]
Will you tell me a little more, about what your galaxy is like? You showed me a little about the failed paradise, but... what kind of world are you building?
[ it's not a no. it's not a yes. she is only finding it a little hard to believe at the moment. ]
oh, she doesn't know how to react. it's overwhelming, in ways she can only remember, in ways she doesn't know if she's experienced. he offers her a home, anywhere within his reach, even if it's not near him. does she know what he means by hacking? she knows enough now, and that touches her as much.
it breaks her heart as much as it warms it. she's moved to tears. she can't look away from lu bixing, but she wipes away at her face.
she really is so weak, isn't she? ]
Will you tell me a little more, about what your galaxy is like? You showed me a little about the failed paradise, but... what kind of world are you building?
[ it's not a no. it's not a yes. she is only finding it a little hard to believe at the moment. ]
[ NOOOO not the tears but at least she wipes her face. he looks a little emotional himself, and gives her a smile that's a little wobbly. ] I'd love to.
[ there's pride in his voice almost immediately, this arching warmth that colors his words as he saves his work and shifts his personal device's screens, moving one over so it displays an image. it's of a city - not as bustling as the one in hell, maybe, but one bursting with life all the same. there's a square immediately visible, a large marble statue in the center surrounded by flowering, pink trees and the soft hubbub of city life, and the image pans outwards to show more beyond it - a residential area with white picket fences and cute houses, children playing in the yards. a garden, beautiful and bright, a rainy day where water falls lush on hydrangeas and asphalt alike.
he talks as the images move, quietly. ]
The Eighth Galaxy was rejected by the Eden system. It is a place where people who couldn't connect to it were more or less held, sent away with little help of their own. For a long time, it was a lawless place, where the majority of the planets were held by gangsters or arms traders, and where things were broken down and despairing more often than they weren't. I was born on a planet called Cayley, and I grew up in what most people would consider a rough and tumble existence, but... the people who live in the Eighth are the best kind of people, Four. They're just people, people who life has not been so kind to, in one way or another, and I've done everything in my power to give them the kindnesses that they deserve. The Eighth, in the past ten years, has become a sovereign galaxy of its own; we no longer rely on the Interplanetary Union System for anything. We've spent time improving our infrastructure and protecting our borders, and since then, have mostly eliminated the black market and piracy that used to rule this place to make things better.
[ he moves through the images, fondness in his voice growing a little as he continues. a building with a flag outside of it. a shopping district and a market. ]
This is the planet I live on now, Qiming, in a place called the Milky Way City. It's our capitol. Qiming is warm, with a consistent rainy season each year. The city itself is flourishing - we developed a light rail system that connects all of the major points of the city so people can get around easily in the past few years, and the population rate is starting to grow. I don't know if I would say it's paradise, necessarily, because it's a place as much as any other place, but I wouldn't want a paradise, anyway. What it is is home.
[ there's pride in his voice almost immediately, this arching warmth that colors his words as he saves his work and shifts his personal device's screens, moving one over so it displays an image. it's of a city - not as bustling as the one in hell, maybe, but one bursting with life all the same. there's a square immediately visible, a large marble statue in the center surrounded by flowering, pink trees and the soft hubbub of city life, and the image pans outwards to show more beyond it - a residential area with white picket fences and cute houses, children playing in the yards. a garden, beautiful and bright, a rainy day where water falls lush on hydrangeas and asphalt alike.
he talks as the images move, quietly. ]
The Eighth Galaxy was rejected by the Eden system. It is a place where people who couldn't connect to it were more or less held, sent away with little help of their own. For a long time, it was a lawless place, where the majority of the planets were held by gangsters or arms traders, and where things were broken down and despairing more often than they weren't. I was born on a planet called Cayley, and I grew up in what most people would consider a rough and tumble existence, but... the people who live in the Eighth are the best kind of people, Four. They're just people, people who life has not been so kind to, in one way or another, and I've done everything in my power to give them the kindnesses that they deserve. The Eighth, in the past ten years, has become a sovereign galaxy of its own; we no longer rely on the Interplanetary Union System for anything. We've spent time improving our infrastructure and protecting our borders, and since then, have mostly eliminated the black market and piracy that used to rule this place to make things better.
[ he moves through the images, fondness in his voice growing a little as he continues. a building with a flag outside of it. a shopping district and a market. ]
This is the planet I live on now, Qiming, in a place called the Milky Way City. It's our capitol. Qiming is warm, with a consistent rainy season each year. The city itself is flourishing - we developed a light rail system that connects all of the major points of the city so people can get around easily in the past few years, and the population rate is starting to grow. I don't know if I would say it's paradise, necessarily, because it's a place as much as any other place, but I wouldn't want a paradise, anyway. What it is is home.
[ she should have known he would gush. she expected it a bit, but not quite to this extent. she focuses on the images, as he speaks. in every way, it'd be a culture shock for her, not simply in terms of technology or being in space.
it may not be paradise, but it seems idyllic enough in its own way. four knows what it's like to have a family, dysfunctional or not, but she's never known a home. it's a lot to think about and conceptualize.
ultimately, she's selfish and bitter, but she can never throw away her desire for affection. it makes this a hard choice to make. ]
It sounds very like you, to build this kind of place. To want to give people a chance. You would offer a home to almost anyone.
[ when he should be more discerning.
she doesn't want to say no, but she's also horrible at seeing other people be happy. ]
... Can I take some time to decide? If you're going to succeed in making that traveling contraption you were talking about....
[ that's four giving him a drop of faith. ]
it may not be paradise, but it seems idyllic enough in its own way. four knows what it's like to have a family, dysfunctional or not, but she's never known a home. it's a lot to think about and conceptualize.
ultimately, she's selfish and bitter, but she can never throw away her desire for affection. it makes this a hard choice to make. ]
It sounds very like you, to build this kind of place. To want to give people a chance. You would offer a home to almost anyone.
[ when he should be more discerning.
she doesn't want to say no, but she's also horrible at seeing other people be happy. ]
... Can I take some time to decide? If you're going to succeed in making that traveling contraption you were talking about....
[ that's four giving him a drop of faith. ]
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