Living in hope

[replicatedcourage]

Who: Sola and anyone
Where: Plaza, in front of the coral
When: After his network post
Status: Open to all


[Sola isn't stupid. He's naive and gullible, yes, but he isn't plain stupid. Somewhere, deep down, he knows that sitting here in front of the coral and wishing or hoping or even praying won't bring Link back. It hadn't brought Ion back, or any of his other friends who'd been tossed back to their own worlds.

But what if, this time...?

He'd sat with Darkleer for a time before, watching the coral, and not too long after Signless had returned. He'd sat in front of the coral for days after waking up and finding Johnny had died and his matesprit had come back to him. There's just as much of a chance that Link could return.

Right?

He has to hope. Because without hope, what else is there? Maybe he's stubborn, maybe he even knows it's futile, but he has to hope.

So here he is, sitting on the ground in front of the massive edifice of undersea polyps. Waiting. Watching.

Hoping.]

Comments

[420]

[Feel that? That's a clowny hand coming down on top of Sola's hair, ruffling his hair a bit. Hey, when Gamzee had spotted one of his bros sitting there, staring at the coral, he just hadda head over.]

Hey man, what's the haps with you?

[replicatedcourage]

[Sola sputters a bit at the unexpected hair ruffle but calms down upon seeing who the enormous hand belongs to.]

Haps?

[He's never going to figure you out, Gamzee.]

I'm just, um...

[He shifts, a bit uneasy. A lot of others told him that praying to the coral might not work, but Gamzee's never been one to judge him for anything at all, so he feels safe telling the troll why he's here.]

I'm praying to the coral to bring Link and Ion back.

[420]

[Praying is and A+ activity everybody should do 100% of the days.

Upon hearing that, Gamzee tilts his head a little, but his expression is a bit more serious than before. He leaves his hand on top of Sola's head, but does drop down to sit on the ground besides him.]

Yeah? They bros of you what all went on home?

[replicatedcourage]

Yeah...

[He looks down at his feet, sticking out from under his crossed legs.]

They're like me, though. They were already dead when they came here. When they got sent back...

[He doesn't want to finish his sentence.]

So I'm asking the coral to let them come back so they can be alive again.

[420]

I see.

Want me to help?

[So, he never really knew Link or Ion but that doesn't matter. Sola is his bro and Gamzee knows that prayer can work. Offering to pray with him is the least he can do.]

[onlyasign]

[Having done a few vigils at the coral himself--including one where he was waiting for Sola to return--Sufferer recognizes what's going on here. He walks over and sits down on the bench beside Sola.]

Hey.

[replicatedcourage]

[Red eyes look up at his new company and upon seeing who it is, Sola immediately leans his head against his father's knee, automatically but silently seeing the comfort he's accustomed to getting from Sufferer.]

Hi Dad.

[onlyasign]

[Sufferer puts his hand on Sola's head, gently smoothing the hair back from his face. He's quiet for awhile, then asks, very quietly so no one passing by might hear by accident:]

Who are you waiting for?

[replicatedcourage]

I'm not really waiting.

[He closes his eyes for a moment as Sufferer moves his hand. He likes the feeling of his hair being threaded through gentle fingers. Sufferer and Johnny are the only ones to ever do it and he equates it with loving comfort, even if it's two different kinds of love.]

I'm praying to the coral to bring Link and Ion back.

[faiofmisfortune]

[Fai had seen Sola's post and how hurt he had been after talking with certain people. It wasn't too much to guess where his housemate might be. Normally he'd leave the replica alone, but this is one topic in which he can sympathize with Sola's feelings all too well. He's not sure how much of a difference his presence will make yet Fai feels the need to reach out to him. And so, a spot beside the Hylian will soon be occupied by the younger Fai.]

[replicatedcourage]

[He doesn't mind in company. In fact, considering they tend to keep to themselves at home, it's nice to see his housemate out and about. He smiles at little at bitty!Fai, turning his face from the coral to his companion.]

Hi.

[faiofmisfortune]

[That smile is returned, albeit weakly. He doesn't like faking smiles, it was something his brother and he had had a pretty important discussion about.]

Hi Sola. Are you going to be okay?

[replicatedcourage]

I think so.

[He looks back up at the coral, ears tipping back and betraying his sense of worry. Not that it's much of a betrayal; Sola's expression nearly always mimics exactly what he's thinking.]

Even if the coral won't bring Link or Ion back or can't because of the scientists controlling it, I know there's smart people working on how we can control it instead.

[He'd rather it just do as he asks though. It would be easier. Still, judging by what the head nurse had said during the recent curse, it's more likely they may have to wrest control of the coral from those in charge.]

It isn't fair to send them back just to be dead again.

[Or not exist, in Ion's case. But Sola will remember. As long as he's able, he'll keep the memory of his friend alive.]

[sylphauxiliatrix]

[Kanaya had not seen Sola's post, so she didn't figure out right away what he was doing there as she passed by. It wasn't till a few hours later, when she came by again and saw him in the same place that she figured it out. Someone sitting by the coral for that long, and with that sort of look on his face? Oh yes. It is not in her nature to just pass by someone like that.]

Hello. May I join you?

[replicatedcourage]

[At first Sola nearly mistakes Kanaya for Dolorosa but his grandmother is much taller and her horns are longer. He blinks at the newcomer, not sure why she'd want to join him, unless...?]

Umm... if you want to. How come?

[sylphauxiliatrix]

[A soon as he accepts she takes a seat next to him, taking care to avoid any of the many puddles in the plaza as she tucks her long skirt under her legs.]

You look like you might benefit from some company... and I've done my share of waiting here before. Meeting someone new can help keep your mind off of things.

[replicatedcourage]

I guess so. I'm not really waiting though, I'm praying. Which feels a lot like waiting. I don't know if I'm doing it right.

[He looks up at the coral again.]

Or maybe praying is just waiting with a wish.

[dashingloyalty]

[Rainbow Dash is surprised to see Sola by the coral, and immediately flies over to him.]

Hey, Sola. Something wrong?

[replicatedcourage]

Oh, Rainbow Dash, hello.

[Sola smiles a little at the pony. It's genuine at least, if troubled.]

Um... nothing really new, I'm just praying to the coral to try and fix it.

[His face falls, losing the smile.]

Some of my friends are gone, have been gone really, and I'm asking it to bring them back because if they're not here then they're...

[He doesn't want to say it, but the way he shifts uncomfortably and looks so sad may get it across for him.]

[dashingloyalty]

[She sits down next to him and tilts her head slightly.]

Yeah, I can understand that. They'll come back, though. Sometimes, they come back when we least expect 'em to come back. I'm still waiting for my friends to show back up, too.

[replicatedcourage]

Do you want to pray to the coral too? If it decides to help I'm sure it wouldn't be any trouble to bring your friends too. It must be a little lonely being the only pony here.

[It's pretty lonely being the only Hylian, even if Zelda's here just asleep. Well, there's the other Link too but he's so far removed... He can't imagine how it must be for Rainbow Dash.]

[shippingmath]

[Considering the time of month, after the newcomers stop arriving, it's pretty obvious when someone is sitting around the coral, rather than touching it because they need the energy. It's also pretty unusual, which is why Dirk notices it on his own trip to touch it.

Since it's Sola, and they've spoken a few times, Dirk decides to approach, rather than just noting it and going about his day. His hair is kind of blue-gray thanks to a April Fool's day prank from Rainbow Dash, but he's been doing his best to ignore that.]

'Sup, Brola?

[replicatedcourage]

[The Hylian looks up at Dirk and manages a small smile. He may be praying to the coral for some serious stuff but that doesn't mean he can't take a little time out for a friend. Even if said friend totally just pronounced his name wrong.]

Hi Dirk. How are you?

[shippingmath]

[At least said friend pronounced his name wrong on purpose. Dirk's got a fondness for 'bro' puns that will probably become obvious the longer they talk.]

Eh. Not bad. What about you?

[replicatedcourage]

[He'll figure it out eventually. Heck, he made at cat pun at Disciple the other day!]

I'm okay.

[He means it too. He's lucky enough to still be here in the bubble. It's Ion and Link that aren't.]

I'm praying to the coral to bring some people back.