[network] Day 045 Evening; Audio; @dreamsnhonor; Embrace Your Dreams!!

[heroproceeding]

[ It's curfew. He's shut in. And he's got a lot he's been turning over in his head since that fateful night. A lot that started off with frustration at himself. But sitting on feelings like that's never done anything for him in the past. It won't now. So, he takes a page from one of his old books. And perhaps a page from his late friend's.

It takes him a while to decide on how to approach this. It isn't the first time he's tried to bring up morale despite trying circumstances. But the difference here? He's no First Class well known SOLDIER. He's not talking to a batch of starry-eyed cadets. He's got a few friends here- both from home and from elsewhere -but so many people are still strangers to him.

But even so, they all have something in common. They all have suffered. And they all have a lot they could lose- if they haven't lost a lot already. So, when he finally starts, he tries to keep his tone solid. If there's a sense of authority ringing in his words, there's at least an equal amount of empathy, too. This isn't a demand but a beckoning of something more. Something understanding through the sorrow and the fear. And the frustrations that may come of that. ]

Hey... [ The first word lands softly and he clears his throat. ]

So, I know it hasn't been easy lately. There's been a lot going on. And I'm not going to pretend things are just going to suddenly be okay any time soon. [ There's a creak in the background as he shifts his posture. The next part's not so easy to address, but. It's true and he's not going to act like it isn't. ]

Some of us have lost friends. Even -family. And when that happens, well. It's... It's easy to blame yourself. Easy to lose hope. Or want to give up. And I wouldn't blame you if you did at some point. But as long as you're able to get back up on your feet, that's what I think really matters. [ Another pause. He stands there on the other side of the tablet closing his eyes. Opening them and leaving out a short hum. ]

I don't know what'll help you. Maybe it's some kind of dream. Maybe it's not. I'm not going to ask if you don't want to share. But whatever it is, if it's something that will get you back up, you hold onto that. Whatever reason you have, embrace it.

We're gonna make it out of this, you hear me?

( ooc: GROSS SHOUNEN POST. I'M NOT SORRY. Tell him your dreeeeams, guys. Or mock him. Or roll your eyes at him. Whatever your preference. /thrown off cliff )

Comments

audio; @haurchefant

[silverfuller]

[After having slept a couple nights and let the reality of his situation sink in, Haurchefant is thinking more clearly.

Strangely, that means the voice from his end has audible cheer and energy behind it.]

Hear, hear!

Difficult though circumstances may be, men were not meant to live in states of such constant strain. We must needs find a reason to keep fighting and I as well shall do mine utmust to help all who require help.

I shall offer my strength to the light and the land so long as it be needed. I shall fight for hope! We need hope, now more than ever!

Well said, my friend!

Just when you couldn't get anymore shounen... HAHAHA... oh my god...

[heroproceeding]

[ Well, that's definitely not anyone he's heard from before. And from the enthusiasm, he wouldn't be surprised if it's someone new either. But... they need this kind of fresh enthusiasm, really. Ifrit, do they ever...

The grin that spreads across his face from this end's slow going all the same... but it's there. It's definitely there. ] Heh... Thanks. We need all the strength and hope we can get. [ Understatement, really. There's some shuffling as Zack leans back on a wall, arms crossed awkwardly with his tablet still in hand. Almost a bit teasing, he prods: ] So, that your reason there then?

In which Norfinbury gets an elf cheerleader!

[silverfuller]

My reason to keep fighting? Aye, it is!

[A small laugh.]

When I took my vow of knighthood I vowed to serve! Protecting those who suffer is my calling and I could ask for none greater.

|D;;; he gonna make Norfinbury explode from his cheerfulness at this rate.

[heroproceeding]

Knighthood, huh... [ Well, it definitely explains the getup now. Without a doubt. ...Although the ears he's still going to be staring at for a while. Not gonna lie. Still, the way the elezen talks about his vow... It... Zack's tone falls a bit more subdued. Even a bit hesitant. ]

Protecting those who suffer... Sounds like something a friend of mine used to say back home. [ That totally doesn't hit close to home. ]

@guardian; video

[phaseshifter]

I'm seeing a lot of people talking about eventually making it out of this place.

[ And apparently that's not something Angel would have thought of independently, judging by the slight note of confusion in her voice there. And it's with a slightly pensive expression that she continues: ]

Where do you plan to go?

[heroproceeding]

[ Lots of new voices- and faces in this case, eh? Seems like it's about that time. Although that question... Well, he supposes he can't blame her for asking. It's one thing to talk about getting out of there. But as far as what to do once they're out... ]

Well- home, of course. If we can. [ There's a... vague shrug on this end that she can't see. He's not clueless enough to think that might not be a possibility. But... ] If there's a will, there's a way. Or so they say. [ If they want to go home anyway... ] Did you have somewhere else in mind?

[phaseshifter]

Mmmh, no. Not exactly. It's more that going home isn't an option for several people, myself included.

[ She offers a brittle smile that quickly falters. ]

Even if it is possible to send us all back. I'm willing to bet that it won't be so simple.

[heroproceeding]

[ Not an option, huh... Curiosity might get the best of him at times, but he reins it in for the time being. Mainly because of that look on her face. It gets a grim frown out of him although thankfully she won't be able to see it. His tone remains steady when he talks though. ]

I can't say it'll be easy. But if they got us here, right? If we could find out how they did it, that might clue us in. And from there, well. If you can't go back, you could always go somewhere else, right? Start fresh.

text; @newangle

[baymaxing]

[...Really, Zack? Really?]

you're really refusing to give up on us, huh? guess i never really thought of a dream,even after finishing school. i just wanted to keep inventing stuff with tadashi. that's why i eventually ended up applying for sfit with him.

[Perhaps a little selfish, in hindsight, but now, now he's more conscious on how his inventions can help others, at least. He's trying. Not that there's as much he can do on that front here. And Zack isn't wrong. Part of Hiro might still blame himself for not getting Tadashi out of these situations. Wanting to cling to his brother in spite of knowing this couldn't really last given things back home. That he couldn't stop Tadashi dying here any more than he could back home.]

[heroproceeding]

[ YEAH, REALLY. ARE YOU JUDGING HIM, KID? ARE YOU?

All the same, he pauses at that text. 'cause ouch. It's been days now, but it still hurts talking about Tadashi. And it's worse when it comes from Hiro. But still. Trying to move forward means trying to talk about these things casually. Text also helps avoid the awkward changes in tone. ]

I remember you mentioned that place before. what kind of stuff were you shooting for? [ Not giving up on him goes without saying... Especially after what just happened. ]

[baymaxing]

[MAYBE. A little. But not really, because it just reminds him of Tadashi and his encouragement. Even if Zack hasn't outright mentioned the other or quite imitated via hauling him over his shoulders upside down talking about finding new angles.]

robotics, mostly. as the major anyway. hadn't thought much yet beyond that so far. was just starting back to class when I woke up here and all.

[heroproceeding]

[ Yeah, no, he'll say the outright mentions for a time when the wound's less fresh. It's... just a little easier that way. As it is, he'll curiously tilt his head at that. ]

gotcha. so planning on going back to that when you get home. that's not a bad idea. besides sometimes it's easier to just go with it and figure it out on the way. at least that's how it was for me.

[ Just a lot more... awful and tragic than he had liked. ]

hey bb hey ;D | @zd; audio

[swatsflies]

[Whoa. It's an actual encouraging speech. That's pretty different from what he was used to. Squall was cool and only used the least amount of words possible, but it was nice hearing an actual speech.]

Booya, baby! Now that's a speech.

[He sounds ready to kick some butt.]

What dreams are you holding on to?

AH-HAHAHA INVADING ALL MY THREADS NOW ARE YOU. @dreamsnhonor; audio

[heroproceeding]

[ He can't hide the short chuckle at @zd's enthusiasm. Another newbie and yet another one not yet worn down by this place. On one hand, it's pretty awful to consider that they're stuck there now, too, and that more than likely snow hell's going to tear them down eventually, too. But fresh optimism wouldn't hurt. Silver lining and all.

So, he shakes his head with a smile as he admits: ] Well, being a hero was always on that list. [ What feels like ages ago, that's something he would say among old friends with a cocky, surefire grin. He even faintly teased Lazard about it the once. But here? It's a bit more subdued. ] Just want to try and get everyone home. Or, well. To where they want to go.

I DO LIKE WHAT YOU GOT GOING ON ;D

[swatsflies]

[Not yet, but this place will probably have to throw a lot of shit his way before he starts to wear down!] Did you accomplish it? Did you become a hero?

[He sounds like one already, so it wouldn't surprise Zell if he was.]

We all do. I'm sure we can do it! They brought us here some how, right? There has to be something to reverse it! We'll do it.

OH BB I KNOW IT LIKE LAST NIGHT RIGHT?

[heroproceeding]

[ Those questions... They just get his smile to fall thinner. Not that the guy on the other end would see either way. And it's probably better off that way. No, what they should be focusing on instead... ]

Heh... Yeah, that's what I'm thinking, too. Think I can count on you? [ He remembers this is the same young man he'd talked military with GFs and everything else with. Which means more than likely, he's got some good experience. And the more dependable people in on this, the better.

@Mnemosyne; voice

[bookofnope]

[Allow him the honour of being the first asshole in the crowd.]

Oh, splendid. Shall we all hold hands round the fire as we do our sharing? No? Would that happen to be because we are scattered and lost in a deadly, frozen wasteland?

@hotstud_xxx; audio threadjack

[rubikscomplex]

[Well, thank god there's a realist in amongst the idiots.]

I like the cut of your jib, guy. Next time I need someone else to dump ice water on the sparkly, hope-filled puppies, I'll call you.

[heroproceeding]

[ HE IS NOT A PUPPY, OKAY. 8| OH MY GOD.

If this guy ever finds out his nickname.... KUNSEL, YOU BETTER NOT RAT ON HIM. ]

[rubikscomplex]

[ Look at that face. He is absolutely a puppy. ]

What an excellent threadjack I salute you

[bookofnope]

How excellent for us that there is no shortage of ice water, hmm?

[He may just be really really bitter about the whole being able to feel cold again thing.]

[rubikscomplex]

Yeah, I mean, it's probably filled with drugs or whatever, but kids are into that sort of thing, I hear. Might as well get them high on the good stuff @admin's handing out while you're dashing their hopes and dreams.

@dreamsnhonor; audio

[heroproceeding]

[ THERE'S ALWAYS A CRITIC. So, really. He's not all that surprised. Gonna poke fun at him though? Two can play at that game. ]

Well, hey. If that's not your thing, we can always figure out something else for you to do. I wouldn't suggest ghost stories though. Think you might offend some of them around here. [ Admittedly, the humor in his voice falls kinda flat. It's not been a good day. ]

[bookofnope]

[Oh sure, if by poke you mean vaguely flail at the general vicinity. Don't try to be outsnarking Beckett, kid.]

No more than listening to some trespassers share their hopes and dreams, surely? Being dead does tend to disrupt all of that, after all.

[heroproceeding]

[ Hey, he can try! Just... doesn't mean he'll necessarily succeed.

...Seriously? Yeah, that gets his expression thinning. Gets him thinking of... No, stop. That's not what this is about. Take a breath and settle. ] Look. I know we can't do anything for those people who are already gone. But that doesn't mean we can't still live. And if thinking about things like that helps us out, then why shouldn't we?