After they part ways and their numbers dwindle, Asuka finds herself feeling more alone than at any time since her arrival. Almost everyone she's come to rely on or to think of as anything more than one of the ignorant, stupid adults who always ignore her has gone. Either returning to the station or simply sucked under by the strange sleep that claims them. Or dead. It feels like they're getting ready for a funeral - maybe their own - and she doesn't quite know how to deal with it.
So she has all of the equipment they've been provided laid out in front of her and she's organizing her own personal stash, going over it piece by piece, brow furrowed in concentration as she counts and re-counts and adjusts spikes on her shoes. She's going to be ready for this. She's going to prove herself (to herself) and nothing is going to slow her down. Not the mountain. Not the doubts in her own head.
And yet she still feels alone and isolated and the crushing weight of it bears down on her and permeates the air around her.
B. Belay On.
The hike has been an adventure all on its own and the physical training she's been doing since her arrival is paying off. That and her own youthful energy. Up and up and up, it feels like there's no end to it and despite her determination, her legs are still feeling the burn of having to carry herself onward and upward, over and over. When they reach their first obstacle, she helps set up camp, but afterward she can be found examining the cliff-face from below, hands on her hips, legs spread, head tilted back as she stares up at the next obstacle in the darkening gloom.
There's something else now. That determination is back.
"We can do this. Easy."
It's more a comment for herself, but maybe it's meant to make anyone standing nearby think she actually has that much confidence.
"Especially if it's light out. How hard can it be?"
no subject
After they part ways and their numbers dwindle, Asuka finds herself feeling more alone than at any time since her arrival. Almost everyone she's come to rely on or to think of as anything more than one of the ignorant, stupid adults who always ignore her has gone. Either returning to the station or simply sucked under by the strange sleep that claims them. Or dead. It feels like they're getting ready for a funeral - maybe their own - and she doesn't quite know how to deal with it.
So she has all of the equipment they've been provided laid out in front of her and she's organizing her own personal stash, going over it piece by piece, brow furrowed in concentration as she counts and re-counts and adjusts spikes on her shoes. She's going to be ready for this. She's going to prove herself (to herself) and nothing is going to slow her down. Not the mountain. Not the doubts in her own head.
And yet she still feels alone and isolated and the crushing weight of it bears down on her and permeates the air around her.
B. Belay On.
The hike has been an adventure all on its own and the physical training she's been doing since her arrival is paying off. That and her own youthful energy. Up and up and up, it feels like there's no end to it and despite her determination, her legs are still feeling the burn of having to carry herself onward and upward, over and over. When they reach their first obstacle, she helps set up camp, but afterward she can be found examining the cliff-face from below, hands on her hips, legs spread, head tilted back as she stares up at the next obstacle in the darkening gloom.
There's something else now. That determination is back.
"We can do this. Easy."
It's more a comment for herself, but maybe it's meant to make anyone standing nearby think she actually has that much confidence.
"Especially if it's light out. How hard can it be?"
C. Wildcard