... if you're unhappy about it, you don't have to shoulder it alone.
[It's important for Jae-ha to say, he thinks. He's clearly hit a nerve, and he's thoughtful about it, trying to figure out what it means, even if Sanji doesn't care to actually discuss it.
But he has no intention of prying further and so he backtracks all the way around - ]
If you could keep an eye on Cardia when you could, I'd appreciate it.
[Well, that's a suitable distraction away from the awkward air that remained earlier. Jae-ha thinks that it's a little uncomfortable that he had to bare a part of his soul for it but - he supposes that it's fine. He wanted to tell Sanji this anyway. He shuts his eyes.]
The Dragon Warriors - a new one will be born in every village, so that there will always be someone available to serve the King when he returns. It's more of a curse, than a blessing... a least from my experience. But typically two to four years after the new dragon is born, the former dragon dies.
On average, dragons don't live to 30. [And he tilts his head.] I'm 25.
[He's exaggerating in some ways, but also - ] I'd spent most of my life running away from the other dragons, never wanting to find them, or agree to being a part of whatever prophecy had been laid out. It goes against everything that I love, everything that I wish for myself, to be part of someone else's plan.
And yet - when she came to find me, this reincarnation of the fallen King, my blood was set on fire, like it knew that she was the person I was meant to follow.
[ . . . and he just huffs a laugh.]
I chose to follow her of my own accord - but it was a reminder that hard as I try, there's something written in my blood for me to obey.
... are you trying to get me to hope for longer than I have? That's a dangerous game, Chef.
[When Jae-ha is someone who fights against fate in all things that he does - and yet this is the one thing that he wonders might be inevitable, after what he's seen, after what he's endured.
After the chills he gets when he has a dream about losing his legs.]
Of course my life has value. It's why I try to make every single moment count.
[It's why he doesn't fear death - and why he charges into things almost recklessly so long as it means that he can live with himself, should he be able to survive to the outcome.]
But you don't need to try to convince me to have hope. I'll fight until my dying breath, whenever that is.
For some reason it kept coming up and it was getting to be more of a hassle to hide it from you than I thought to just admit it.
[Jae-ha's a surprisingly open book as is - and in the case of Sanji, he's willing to talk about the other things that he feels like holding closer to the chest.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
The hell are you on about? Pudding-chan's perfect in every way! She even cooks like I do.
[...]
I love her. The only thing I can do is make her the happiest woman alive.
no subject
Anyway, what is it?
Blackmail? Convenience? Overbearing families? A childhood promise that you forgot?
no subject
Drop it.
no subject
Consider it dropped.
[Though.
He will just fall into silence for a moment, thoughtful.]
no subject
But when he does, his tone has quieted, neutral]
You wouldn't haven known, but it's not a shitty topic on the table for conversation.
no subject
[It's important for Jae-ha to say, he thinks. He's clearly hit a nerve, and he's thoughtful about it, trying to figure out what it means, even if Sanji doesn't care to actually discuss it.
But he has no intention of prying further and so he backtracks all the way around - ]
If you could keep an eye on Cardia when you could, I'd appreciate it.
no subject
[He's fond of her too, after all, his tone seems to say.
-- At no point does he bring up his fiance again]
no subject
[And Jae-ha is happy to move on, if that's what gets Sanji to chill out again.]
... I'm fond of her, but it's an unfortunate thing. I can't bring myself to let anyone agree to a romantic relationship with me.
[He'd mentioned this to Sanji before - when they were drinking, before Jae-ha deterred the subject with an excuse of the late hour.]
no subject
... But he supposes it'd look damning if he didn't. So.]
... You got shit going on back home, I take it?
no subject
[god sanji!!!]
Loosen up, I don't like this face of yours very much.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Shit, fine, just spit it out!
no subject
[sanji said to spit it out
so]
no subject
-- What do you mean "you know"? Are you sick?
no subject
[Well, that's a suitable distraction away from the awkward air that remained earlier. Jae-ha thinks that it's a little uncomfortable that he had to bare a part of his soul for it but - he supposes that it's fine. He wanted to tell Sanji this anyway. He shuts his eyes.]
The Dragon Warriors - a new one will be born in every village, so that there will always be someone available to serve the King when he returns. It's more of a curse, than a blessing... a least from my experience. But typically two to four years after the new dragon is born, the former dragon dies.
On average, dragons don't live to 30. [And he tilts his head.] I'm 25.
no subject
But it hurts less than it could. Sanji regards Jae-Ha quietly, eyes assessing.]
So you're in forced servitude for a guy who might not even show up...
no subject
It was the worst day of my life.
[He's exaggerating in some ways, but also - ] I'd spent most of my life running away from the other dragons, never wanting to find them, or agree to being a part of whatever prophecy had been laid out. It goes against everything that I love, everything that I wish for myself, to be part of someone else's plan.
And yet - when she came to find me, this reincarnation of the fallen King, my blood was set on fire, like it knew that she was the person I was meant to follow.
[ . . . and he just huffs a laugh.]
I chose to follow her of my own accord - but it was a reminder that hard as I try, there's something written in my blood for me to obey.
no subject
Sanji... looks a little apologetic, like he's aware the universe fucked up on this one.
What a cruel fate for a pirate]
... Is there a chance if you fulfill this prophecy, the curse will end?
no subject
... are you trying to get me to hope for longer than I have? That's a dangerous game, Chef.
[When Jae-ha is someone who fights against fate in all things that he does - and yet this is the one thing that he wonders might be inevitable, after what he's seen, after what he's endured.
After the chills he gets when he has a dream about losing his legs.]
no subject
Your life has value.
[Selfishly:]
So yeah, I guess I am.
[Sanji never claimed to be a good person, really. And right now? He feels it more than ever, that maybe he just wants too much.]
no subject
[It's why he doesn't fear death - and why he charges into things almost recklessly so long as it means that he can live with himself, should he be able to survive to the outcome.]
But you don't need to try to convince me to have hope. I'll fight until my dying breath, whenever that is.
... but I suppose I just wanted you to know.
no subject
He relaxes back in place with a nod]
Good to hear it.
[... He'll be rooting for that happy ending, then.]
I appreciate you telling me.
no subject
[Jae-ha's a surprisingly open book as is - and in the case of Sanji, he's willing to talk about the other things that he feels like holding closer to the chest.]
no subject
[Sanji is not particularly nosy! So long as Jae-Ha is taking care of himself.]
Well, consider that shit settled, at least.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)