[ On the upside, were he to truly meet his demise, all Rodion would need to do is alert Dante to Yi Sang's condition. But it's for the best that he's still alive and well, as Yi Sang would feel even worse about troubling their Manager.
Yi Sang attempts to return Rodion's warm expression, though it comes across as sheepish due to the more severe pallor of his face and darker circles under each eye. He studies the glass jar for a moment before canting his head a bit to the side. They'd been at sea for a little while without any opportunities to procure anything extraneous like ginger candies. ]
I see. I welcome any remedy that would lessen the burden my condition places upon you and the others.
[ It seems he hasn't learned how to thank others properly just yet. Nevertheless, he carefully takes the small jar into his hands as though he were handling something terribly fragile. It's a gift from one of his colleagues; it deserves to be held carefully. He tucks it into his pocket for now before surveying his own room.
It's mostly bare, save for a few items like a bed and a wooden work bench, complete with a matching chair. Upon the work bench is a vase with a single spicebush branch, yellow petals cheerful against the muted colors of the room. Beside the vase is a black notebook with a pen, and next to that is what appears to be a single steamed potato half wrapped in brown paper.
There's a large rectangular object standing in the corner covered in a white sheet. A small pile of reflective shards are gathered nearby like an unfinished puzzle. Nine empty photo frames are mounted on one wall, and on the wall facing it are another twelve frames.
The wood paneling of the floor gives it a cozy feel, but the air smells unnaturally sterile while the walls are a stark white, a lingering trait from that square within a square, within a square, within a square. The temperature is neither too warm nor too cool, as though perfectly controlled to remain at the same degree.
It's silent, save for the very faint pitter-patter of falling rain.
Yi Sang wanders to the workbench, dragging the chair across the room towards his bed. It makes a terrible sound as it scrapes against the floor. There's nowhere else to sit, as he rarely anticipates guests, but he can offer her this much. And with that invitation, he returns to sit on his bed, withdrawing the jar of ginger candies from his pocket.
He'd left his door open though just in case Rodion had no intention to stay awhile. ]
It's fine! It's not your fault that your body is acting up. Don't stress too much or you might make it worse.
[Their bus certainly works in mysterious ways. Rodya only pokes her nose in the allowed spots when curiosity, boredom, or a craving for a snack happens. Sometimes all three at once. They do have rations for when they are on the road and there will be no rest stop for a long period of time. Faust did mentioned something along the lines that ginger is good for stomach issues so maybe it will help Yi Sang out during their sea travels.
This is the first time she has seen or been in Yi Sang's room so she couldn't help herself as she enters his room and starts to take in her surroundings. The bare white walls along with the empty photo frames makes it a little eerie, but not enough to make her uncomfortable. Thanks to the faint rain and controlled temperature, she can see herself getting comfortable in here. She holds herself back, stopping herself from investigating the sheet-covered object since she is a guest in another's room after all. Yi Sang has his own things and he may not appreciate others sticking their noses into them unless he's willing to share. After a few minutes of looking, she will walk over and takes a seat in the chair that he has offered for her.]
Hey, that potato hasn't gone bad or anything right? Are you going to finish that?
[Classic Rodion Moment.]
I'm kidding~! You are gonna need it more than I do. You need to keep eating even if your stomach rebels.
[ Ginger candy's an odd thing to have in store for rations, but Yi Sang's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He unscrews the lid from the jar, shaking one of the pieces out into his palm. He pops it into his mouth, allowing it to rest on his tongue. In truth, he's a bit skeptical about the remedy's effectiveness, but Yi Sang's nevertheless grateful that Rodion thought of him.
He doesn't mind his colleague looking around his room. It's expected, given the fact that he'd invited her in.
Yi Sang shakes his head. ]
No, it appears to possess some properties preventing it from rotting or blooming new life. Whether I eat it or dispose of it, the item returns to its place unfailingly upon reentering the room.
[ Even if Rodion's intent had simply been making light conversation to fill the silence, he finds himself answering anyways. ]
...perhaps it is not a potato at all, merely an item which resembles one. A Sinner's room is a reflection of one's mind. I have discovered that item seems to be prepared similarly to a treat I often shared with my associates in our youth. ...food was occasionally scarce in the Backstreets of S. Corp.
[ And thus, the humble steamed potato was revered as a treat. He pauses for a moment to glance at the work bench where it lies wrapped in its brown paper. ]
You may have it if you are hungry. I find that I lack an appetite in my current condition.
[ He's almost certainly lost most of the contents of his stomach, but he's not so sure he can keep anything down right now.
And though he'd offered that steamed potato to Rodion, Yi Sang also tilts the jar of ginger candies at her to tacitly ask whether she'd like one too. ]
[Most of the time, Yi Sang's words tend to go over Rodion's head unless it's simple enough to understand. She still listens to his words and right on cue, she quickly goes to grab the potato and returns to her seat like a rat grabbing it's first meal in a long time. No Backstreets-raised person would ever turn down an offer on food.
Out of habit, she does unwrap and look over the potato even if Yi Sang reassured that it does not rot. She can endure eating a lot of things, but choices are more open to her now that she is older. It's still a bit warm too.]
Getting a free, hot snack every time you enter your room... That's pretty lucky in my book.
[She knows very well how limited food can be in the Backstreets, but having a memory of enjoying a simple snack and even sharing it with close friends... That experience is a precious thing to her so Yi Sang talking about it does make her smile fondly. Even if there is some sadness behind it.
She looks up towards Yi Sang, also reaching to take a piece of candy since he's offering before taking a bite of the potato. It's good. Very good. Enough that she sighs in relief once she swallows her bite down.]
Mm! It still tastes like a potato to me, even if it's not one. I'm always going to be hungry one way or another, so I appreciate the sharing~
[If it ends up killing her somehow, at least it's delicious so it's worth it... She takes another bite of the potato to consider what else to ask, what to say to keep the conversation going. A few minutes later, she clears her throat.]
Did you room change a lot after what happened back there? If I can ask- [Back at K Corp. Her own room hasn't changed much or not enough to be noticeable, but K Corp was a whole different story.]
[ He's not offended by the second glance Rodion gives the potato. One should do their own due diligence and double check what they're putting in their mouth. It's good practice. ]
The properties of our rooms remain unclear to me. Miss Faust has not given me a thorough explanation. Nor did I assist her in designing these rooms when we built Mephistopheles, so I am not familiar with those details.
[ Yi Sang pauses for a moment, realizing he's getting carried away in his explanation. Rodion probably doesn't need to know that information, nor is she likely to be interested in it. So he shakes his head, as if to clear his mind of those thoughts. ]
Then again, as one has noted in the past... if an item resembles a potato and tastes like a potato, then, surely, it must be a potato. Perhaps that is all which ultimately matters.
[ Either way, he's pleased that he can offer Rodion something in return for the ginger candies, even if neither his expression nor demeanor shifts one bit. The corner of his mouth does turn downward in a pensive expression at her question, and he glances around the room while considering her inquiry.
He doesn't actually mind the questions. There's nothing to hide, especially not after the Sinners had taken a walk through his memories. ]
...there are some differences, yes. In particular --
[ He points at the twelve frames on one of the walls. ]
-- that wall was bare, just like my work bench used to be. The potato you hold and the vase holding a spicebush branch, neither of those existed within these walls.
[ There's another pause as he screws the jar of ginger candies shut, turning it in his hands. ]
...I suppose the room was quite sparse. There was no need for possessions while I considered my life futile.
Mhm. Sometimes you don't need to overthink it and toss the details to the side. If this is a potato, then it's a potato. Still gonna eat it.
[He's right in his mind that she is not too interested in every little detail on their company vehicle, but maybe something about it will grab her attention one of these days. If she hears classified information, she usually keeps it to herself while pretending she didn't hear a word. Yeah, gossiping can be fun, but let's not piss off the company more since someone in this room tends to ruin the meal budget and it's not Yi Sang.
She turns her head to follow his pointing, nodding as he explains his newest additions. She continues to eat the potato in peace until there is no more and she is left with the wrapper, in which she balls it up into a small sphere and keeps it in her hand for now.]
The empty picture frames are a little creepy, especially since you got white walls and all.... Oh, oh, oh! Maybe we can get a camera and you can fill them in yourself. Pictures of anything you want! It can be pictures of any of us or stuff that you find interesting.
[The idea is pretty fun and even if there is a chance that Yi Sang's room won't keep them, it could be a suggestion to try something new and harmless while on the road.]
No clue if the company will honor that request or your room will fill them in on it's own later, but hey, it's something to consider if you want something to do in our downtime. Think about it!
[Talking about fun ideas for other people's rooms while avoiding talking about her own room. Avoiding people looking at the negatives about her.]
[ Indeed, it's true. Though Yi Sang isn't particularly picky about his food, he's never had a particularly big appetite, which probably shows in his thin fingers and fragile-looking wrists.
He glances over at the empty picture frames again. Were they truly so unnerving? Perhaps he'd never noticed because, to Yi Sang, the room simply was. Rodion's proposal is intriguing though. Based on the pensive expression on his face, it's clear he's giving it serious consideration. ]
Photos of anything I may find interesting... I see, you are suggesting that I fill these frames with new memories.
[ That little workshop in T Corp.'s Nest contained filled picture frames as well. Some commemorated members of the League's first debuts at their conferences. Others were more mundane, like the photo of the yellow sepia calf kept on Dongrang's desk.
His gaze shifts from the picture frames, to Rodion, to his work bench, and then back to Rodion. He rises, a bit unsteady on his feet, but manages to catch his balance before making his way over to the work bench. As he moves, a portion of the work bench's surface bends, and a polaroid camera rises from the wood. Yi Sang clutches it carefully in his hands, returning to his spot near Rodion. ]
Then... if it is agreeable to you, I would request a photo of you, Rodion, to commemorate this idea.
[Maybe it's just how Yi Sang is, but she doesn't see why would an empty frame or multiple hang on the wall. It feels off in a way for her. Maybe it's some artistic choice for some people? Who knows- She doesn't have much of an eye for art.]
Yeah! Not that you have to discard any old memories, but... I think it's important to remember the good moments that happen while we are doing this job.
[It's a heavy road for them so giving herself and the others those little moments of warmth is important to her-
Well. That's one way to make a camera appear as she watched Yi Sang move towards his desk and it manifested out of the wooden desk. It honestly shouldn't surprise her since her own mind did let her have a few things in her room. Yi Sang's request did surprise her a little bit, but it also created a larger smile on her face. She quickly brushes her hair a bit with her hands as she crosses her legs in attempts to look worthy for a photograph or two.]
You can take as many pictures as you want of me as long as I look good in them, okay?
scrapbook time... except the scrapbook is his wall
[ Yi Sang glances down at the polaroid camera in his hands. ]
We shall be able to confirm the quality of each photograph immediately.
[ He lifts his head to observe Rodion fixing her hair and posing a bit for the camera. ]
But if I may be frank -- I believe any photograph of you would be sufficient.
[ After all, Rodion is an attractive woman. As a person with eyes, Yi Sang is aware of this. There is no "bad" photograph that one could take of her. So he lifts the camera up to his face, aiming its viewfinder at his colleague. He holds the device steady, pressing down on its trigger. There's a brief flash from the camera and a whirring noise as it develops the photograph, printing it immediately. Yi Sang retrieves the photograph, carefully clutching it by a white corner.
He shuffles over to Rodion and holds the photograph out to her for her evaluation. Slowly, the portrait takes shape within the frame, revealing the woman sitting cross-legged in full color. ]
Is this photograph to your tastes...?
[ Perhaps the next one should be a bust, one that focuses on capturing Rodion's face. ]
it's going to be a lovely wall of colors to decorate his room up
[Yi Sang, you are so good to her and it helps warm her heart a little bit.]
Ooh~! [She claps her hands together as the photograph forms and her own image appears on the surface. After careful study on the photo without taking it out of Yi Sang's hand, she nods in agreement that she is satisfied with the result.] It look's great. You really do got an eye for this~
[A bust picture does sound like a great idea, but another one pops in her head-]
Do you want to try to take a picture of both of us together?
[Maybe eventually they will get a whole picture of the Sinners together for Yi Sang to add to his collection, but this is a start on getting pictures with multiple subjects.]
My arms are pretty long so I think I can get both of us in the shot!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Yi Sang attempts to return Rodion's warm expression, though it comes across as sheepish due to the more severe pallor of his face and darker circles under each eye. He studies the glass jar for a moment before canting his head a bit to the side. They'd been at sea for a little while without any opportunities to procure anything extraneous like ginger candies. ]
I see. I welcome any remedy that would lessen the burden my condition places upon you and the others.
[ It seems he hasn't learned how to thank others properly just yet. Nevertheless, he carefully takes the small jar into his hands as though he were handling something terribly fragile. It's a gift from one of his colleagues; it deserves to be held carefully. He tucks it into his pocket for now before surveying his own room.
It's mostly bare, save for a few items like a bed and a wooden work bench, complete with a matching chair. Upon the work bench is a vase with a single spicebush branch, yellow petals cheerful against the muted colors of the room. Beside the vase is a black notebook with a pen, and next to that is what appears to be a single steamed potato half wrapped in brown paper.
There's a large rectangular object standing in the corner covered in a white sheet. A small pile of reflective shards are gathered nearby like an unfinished puzzle. Nine empty photo frames are mounted on one wall, and on the wall facing it are another twelve frames.
The wood paneling of the floor gives it a cozy feel, but the air smells unnaturally sterile while the walls are a stark white, a lingering trait from that square within a square, within a square, within a square. The temperature is neither too warm nor too cool, as though perfectly controlled to remain at the same degree.
It's silent, save for the very faint pitter-patter of falling rain.
Yi Sang wanders to the workbench, dragging the chair across the room towards his bed. It makes a terrible sound as it scrapes against the floor. There's nowhere else to sit, as he rarely anticipates guests, but he can offer her this much. And with that invitation, he returns to sit on his bed, withdrawing the jar of ginger candies from his pocket.
He'd left his door open though just in case Rodion had no intention to stay awhile. ]
no subject
[Their bus certainly works in mysterious ways. Rodya only pokes her nose in the allowed spots when curiosity, boredom, or a craving for a snack happens. Sometimes all three at once. They do have rations for when they are on the road and there will be no rest stop for a long period of time. Faust did mentioned something along the lines that ginger is good for stomach issues so maybe it will help Yi Sang out during their sea travels.
This is the first time she has seen or been in Yi Sang's room so she couldn't help herself as she enters his room and starts to take in her surroundings. The bare white walls along with the empty photo frames makes it a little eerie, but not enough to make her uncomfortable. Thanks to the faint rain and controlled temperature, she can see herself getting comfortable in here. She holds herself back, stopping herself from investigating the sheet-covered object since she is a guest in another's room after all. Yi Sang has his own things and he may not appreciate others sticking their noses into them unless he's willing to share. After a few minutes of looking, she will walk over and takes a seat in the chair that he has offered for her.]
Hey, that potato hasn't gone bad or anything right? Are you going to finish that?
[Classic Rodion Moment.]
I'm kidding~! You are gonna need it more than I do. You need to keep eating even if your stomach rebels.
no subject
He doesn't mind his colleague looking around his room. It's expected, given the fact that he'd invited her in.
Yi Sang shakes his head. ]
No, it appears to possess some properties preventing it from rotting or blooming new life. Whether I eat it or dispose of it, the item returns to its place unfailingly upon reentering the room.
[ Even if Rodion's intent had simply been making light conversation to fill the silence, he finds himself answering anyways. ]
...perhaps it is not a potato at all, merely an item which resembles one. A Sinner's room is a reflection of one's mind. I have discovered that item seems to be prepared similarly to a treat I often shared with my associates in our youth. ...food was occasionally scarce in the Backstreets of S. Corp.
[ And thus, the humble steamed potato was revered as a treat. He pauses for a moment to glance at the work bench where it lies wrapped in its brown paper. ]
You may have it if you are hungry. I find that I lack an appetite in my current condition.
[ He's almost certainly lost most of the contents of his stomach, but he's not so sure he can keep anything down right now.
And though he'd offered that steamed potato to Rodion, Yi Sang also tilts the jar of ginger candies at her to tacitly ask whether she'd like one too. ]
no subject
Out of habit, she does unwrap and look over the potato even if Yi Sang reassured that it does not rot. She can endure eating a lot of things, but choices are more open to her now that she is older. It's still a bit warm too.]
Getting a free, hot snack every time you enter your room... That's pretty lucky in my book.
[She knows very well how limited food can be in the Backstreets, but having a memory of enjoying a simple snack and even sharing it with close friends... That experience is a precious thing to her so Yi Sang talking about it does make her smile fondly. Even if there is some sadness behind it.
She looks up towards Yi Sang, also reaching to take a piece of candy since he's offering before taking a bite of the potato. It's good. Very good. Enough that she sighs in relief once she swallows her bite down.]
Mm! It still tastes like a potato to me, even if it's not one. I'm always going to be hungry one way or another, so I appreciate the sharing~
[If it ends up killing her somehow, at least it's delicious so it's worth it... She takes another bite of the potato to consider what else to ask, what to say to keep the conversation going. A few minutes later, she clears her throat.]
Did you room change a lot after what happened back there? If I can ask- [Back at K Corp. Her own room hasn't changed much or not enough to be noticeable, but K Corp was a whole different story.]
no subject
The properties of our rooms remain unclear to me. Miss Faust has not given me a thorough explanation. Nor did I assist her in designing these rooms when we built Mephistopheles, so I am not familiar with those details.
[ Yi Sang pauses for a moment, realizing he's getting carried away in his explanation. Rodion probably doesn't need to know that information, nor is she likely to be interested in it. So he shakes his head, as if to clear his mind of those thoughts. ]
Then again, as one has noted in the past... if an item resembles a potato and tastes like a potato, then, surely, it must be a potato. Perhaps that is all which ultimately matters.
[ Either way, he's pleased that he can offer Rodion something in return for the ginger candies, even if neither his expression nor demeanor shifts one bit. The corner of his mouth does turn downward in a pensive expression at her question, and he glances around the room while considering her inquiry.
He doesn't actually mind the questions. There's nothing to hide, especially not after the Sinners had taken a walk through his memories. ]
...there are some differences, yes. In particular --
[ He points at the twelve frames on one of the walls. ]
-- that wall was bare, just like my work bench used to be. The potato you hold and the vase holding a spicebush branch, neither of those existed within these walls.
[ There's another pause as he screws the jar of ginger candies shut, turning it in his hands. ]
...I suppose the room was quite sparse. There was no need for possessions while I considered my life futile.
no subject
[He's right in his mind that she is not too interested in every little detail on their company vehicle, but maybe something about it will grab her attention one of these days. If she hears classified information, she usually keeps it to herself while pretending she didn't hear a word. Yeah, gossiping can be fun, but let's not piss off the company more since someone in this room tends to ruin the meal budget and it's not Yi Sang.
She turns her head to follow his pointing, nodding as he explains his newest additions. She continues to eat the potato in peace until there is no more and she is left with the wrapper, in which she balls it up into a small sphere and keeps it in her hand for now.]
The empty picture frames are a little creepy, especially since you got white walls and all.... Oh, oh, oh! Maybe we can get a camera and you can fill them in yourself. Pictures of anything you want! It can be pictures of any of us or stuff that you find interesting.
[The idea is pretty fun and even if there is a chance that Yi Sang's room won't keep them, it could be a suggestion to try something new and harmless while on the road.]
No clue if the company will honor that request or your room will fill them in on it's own later, but hey, it's something to consider if you want something to do in our downtime. Think about it!
[Talking about fun ideas for other people's rooms while avoiding talking about her own room. Avoiding people looking at the negatives about her.]
im back baby
He glances over at the empty picture frames again. Were they truly so unnerving? Perhaps he'd never noticed because, to Yi Sang, the room simply was. Rodion's proposal is intriguing though. Based on the pensive expression on his face, it's clear he's giving it serious consideration. ]
Photos of anything I may find interesting... I see, you are suggesting that I fill these frames with new memories.
[ That little workshop in T Corp.'s Nest contained filled picture frames as well. Some commemorated members of the League's first debuts at their conferences. Others were more mundane, like the photo of the
yellowsepia calf kept on Dongrang's desk.His gaze shifts from the picture frames, to Rodion, to his work bench, and then back to Rodion. He rises, a bit unsteady on his feet, but manages to catch his balance before making his way over to the work bench. As he moves, a portion of the work bench's surface bends, and a polaroid camera rises from the wood. Yi Sang clutches it carefully in his hands, returning to his spot near Rodion. ]
Then... if it is agreeable to you, I would request a photo of you, Rodion, to commemorate this idea.
wb my sweetest
Yeah! Not that you have to discard any old memories, but... I think it's important to remember the good moments that happen while we are doing this job.
[It's a heavy road for them so giving herself and the others those little moments of warmth is important to her-
Well. That's one way to make a camera appear as she watched Yi Sang move towards his desk and it manifested out of the wooden desk. It honestly shouldn't surprise her since her own mind did let her have a few things in her room. Yi Sang's request did surprise her a little bit, but it also created a larger smile on her face. She quickly brushes her hair a bit with her hands as she crosses her legs in attempts to look worthy for a photograph or two.]
You can take as many pictures as you want of me as long as I look good in them, okay?
scrapbook time... except the scrapbook is his wall
We shall be able to confirm the quality of each photograph immediately.
[ He lifts his head to observe Rodion fixing her hair and posing a bit for the camera. ]
But if I may be frank -- I believe any photograph of you would be sufficient.
[ After all, Rodion is an attractive woman. As a person with eyes, Yi Sang is aware of this. There is no "bad" photograph that one could take of her. So he lifts the camera up to his face, aiming its viewfinder at his colleague. He holds the device steady, pressing down on its trigger. There's a brief flash from the camera and a whirring noise as it develops the photograph, printing it immediately. Yi Sang retrieves the photograph, carefully clutching it by a white corner.
He shuffles over to Rodion and holds the photograph out to her for her evaluation. Slowly, the portrait takes shape within the frame, revealing the woman sitting cross-legged in full color. ]
Is this photograph to your tastes...?
[ Perhaps the next one should be a bust, one that focuses on capturing Rodion's face. ]
it's going to be a lovely wall of colors to decorate his room up
Ooh~! [She claps her hands together as the photograph forms and her own image appears on the surface. After careful study on the photo without taking it out of Yi Sang's hand, she nods in agreement that she is satisfied with the result.] It look's great. You really do got an eye for this~
[A bust picture does sound like a great idea, but another one pops in her head-]
Do you want to try to take a picture of both of us together?
[Maybe eventually they will get a whole picture of the Sinners together for Yi Sang to add to his collection, but this is a start on getting pictures with multiple subjects.]
My arms are pretty long so I think I can get both of us in the shot!