Things are about to get confusing.

[tensjournal]

Oh, hey, this person looks familiar. They're clutching a brochure, looking over it, talking to himself.

...Actually, talking to himself is a little too accurate, as two voices are coming out of his mouth. One is familiar- the echo-y soprano that is Dix. The other one seems to be the young man's actual voice, a gentle tenor filled with melancholy.

"I don't understand, Dix. You came here and somehow I was knocked out?" he asked out loud.

His mouth twisted into a grin. "I thought the Nexus would keep you asleep," Dix pointed out. "So when I heard you wake up, I knew I had to show you this place! ...Because I have no clue when we'll go back home like nothing happened."

The young man's eyes widen. "You know about this place?!"

"I've heard of a place like this before. But since you're out, why not ask a question to the people here?"

"A question..." Tiz Arrior looked down to his feet, then looked up again. "...Nexus, what's your favorite comfort food? I could go for something like that right now..."

Comments

[onemorebounty]

There's no alcohol in Gavan brandy. It has other charms.

*A brow ticks upward slightly at the second voice.*

It sounds like your companion in there isn't entirely considerate.

1/2

[celestial_dix]

"Well, you'll have to excuse me- as his Celestial, I need to make sure he's at tip-top physical health at the very least so he can recover from his ordeal."

Re: 1/2

[onemorebounty]

That would be easier to believe if you hadn't just said you had some while he wasn't conscious to enjoy it. You get treats, and he has to suffer without because of it?

*She gives a sniff of disdain.*

1/2

[tensjournal]

"You heard her, Dix."

2/2

[celestial_dix]

"...I seriously thought you weren't going to wake up here in the Nexus, Tiz. That's why I splurged a bit on ice cream. Besides, your body needed the sugar."

Re: 2/2

[onemorebounty]

That sounds more like an excuse than an apology.

[tensjournal]

"That's how I feel, too, believe me. I know my lack of sleep affects you too, Dix, but that's not exactly a reason to do random stuff behind my back."

This time, there seemed to not have an answer. Except Tiz suddenly frown. "Dix, why are you giving me the answer in the back of my head?" He paused. "What, going to sleep? That's just-" running away, Tiz wanted to say, but he quickly, and violently, shivered. "I'll never get used to this..."

[onemorebounty]

*Samus tsks quietly*

Runs from a losing argument? You're not in a great relationship. Mind if I ask how it happened?

[tensjournal]

He pauses. "To be honest, this is the first time she's acting like this. I've only known her for a week or so, but she's been helpful, respectful and just..." He sighs. "She DID mentioned before she doesn't know the last time she was in a body, so I think she just wanted to enjoy being in one after taking care of mine for a whole week while I was unconscious."

[onemorebounty]

That's fair, I suppose.

*She considers that, and takes up the pronouns he's using.*

You knew her for a week, and then you were unconscious for another week while she kept you alive?

[tensjournal]

Tiz's face fell. "The opposite. I guess you can say she saved my life from my ordeal."

[onemorebounty]

Your ordeal?

[tensjournal]

He sighs deeply. "My entire village was engulfed by a great chasm, and I... I'm the only survivor." One didn't need to listen closely to hear the pain in his voice.

[onemorebounty]

Oh. Oh, her expression swiftly softens into something more than sympathy: empathy. She knows what it is, to be the sole survivor of tragedy, to lose one's family and home. Her tone, when she speaks, is much gentler now.

How are you feeling?

[tensjournal]

"I'm... not sure how to put it in words." Tiz rubbed his shoulder. "...Guilt is one word I can definitely feel."

[onemorebounty]

Samus nods in understanding.

I went through that. You need to know that it didn't happen because of you, or anything you did, and there isn't anything you could have done to prevent it. It was not. On. You.

She emphasizes that last by placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, crouching down a little so her piercing blue eyes can be level with his.

[tensjournal]

"...There could've been another survivor," he laments. "I couldn't hold on to his hand long enough to save him..."

[onemorebounty]

Did he weigh less than you can lift?

[tensjournal]

"It wasn't so much I couldn't lift him than..." He pauses for a bit. "A tremor hit and he..." He took a shaky breath. "He told me to let go. He told me to let go, else we would both fall..."

[onemorebounty]

You didn't control the tremors. You didn't make them, or ask for them, or deserve them. It's not your fault that they happened, or that someone else fell. You did what you could--sometimes everything we have isn't enough to save anyone. Sometimes, all we can do is survive.

[tensjournal]

It took Tiz about half a minute before he can answer. "It was my little brother."

[onemorebounty]

I'm sorry.

*And she is. She truly is. She knows what it is to lose family.*

But that doesn't make it your fault. You did all you could to save him, and he did all he could to save you. Poisoning yourself with guilt won't bring him back, or honor his sacrifice. He wanted you to live, so live. Make the life he gave you a full one.

*She pauses, considering.*

If you can't do that... then learn all you can, here, because there are ways to bring back the dead, right ways and wrong ways, and you're going to want the right kind.

[tensjournal]

He shook his head. "I doubt reviving him would be possible..." He took another shaky breath. "But... thank you. Thank you for listening. I'll... keep your advice at heart."

[onemorebounty]

*Samus gives a slight nod; painful as it is, accepting the death and moving in is the healthier course.*

You're welcome. If you ever need to talk again, I'm around.

2/2

[tensjournal]

"That's wonderful for you to be concern over me, Dix. I'm sure, however, that a little bit of junk food would be fine."

Re: 2/2

[onemorebounty]

You look to be in your adolescence, human or human-like? A bit of sweet will do you good--growing bones is high-energy work, and the sugar is easy energy.

[tensjournal]

"Is that so..." He sighed. "I guess ice cream wouldn't hurt at the end. I just... I need to stop focusing for a moment."

[onemorebounty]

Why do you think children enjoy sweets so much, and adults less? Evolutionary dopamine trigger, a reward in your brain for giving your body what it needs to build you up.

[tensjournal]

"Dopamine...?" He frowns. "I'm sorry, science is not really my forté. I'm just a shepherd back home. ...Or was."

[onemorebounty]

Ah. It's a chemical in your brain that makes you happy. If your body chemistry is anything like the humans where I'm from, anyway.

*In the Nexus, that's a fair caveat to make.*

[tensjournal]

"Ah, I think I understand. ...I think." Like he said, he was a shepherd. In a world that's not that technologically advance.