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[That one he answers easily:] It's in the Green Dragon's nature to pursue freedom, and to never stay in the same place.
[It's what happens, when he has a leg that gives him such power. Never remaining in one spot, forever traveling, seeking more - until he finds something that catches his attention (and more accurately, his heart).]
... but there will always be a new dragon born, meant to serve King Hiryuu. Normally after the new Green Dragon is born, the former one dies within three or four years. I don't know how Garou managed to make it to twelve - stubbornness, maybe.
[He wanted to live.
Jae-ha knew that.
Unconsciously, his hand moves to cover his own heart, where he remembers his blood screaming in pain. In anguish. In fear.]
Dragons never make it to 30.
[ - it's why he offered to take Sousei's spot, that first week. Even if he wants to live, to defy everything that tells him he's going to die - he will, in the end. And likely far sooner than any human here.]
[It's what happens, when he has a leg that gives him such power. Never remaining in one spot, forever traveling, seeking more - until he finds something that catches his attention (and more accurately, his heart).]
... but there will always be a new dragon born, meant to serve King Hiryuu. Normally after the new Green Dragon is born, the former one dies within three or four years. I don't know how Garou managed to make it to twelve - stubbornness, maybe.
[He wanted to live.
Jae-ha knew that.
Unconsciously, his hand moves to cover his own heart, where he remembers his blood screaming in pain. In anguish. In fear.]
Dragons never make it to 30.
[ - it's why he offered to take Sousei's spot, that first week. Even if he wants to live, to defy everything that tells him he's going to die - he will, in the end. And likely far sooner than any human here.]
[...Well then.
There are a lot of gestures Sousei's come to expect from Jae-ha. Pokes at his composure with irritatingly flippant displays of affection, and flirting to try to get a rise out of him, and this is...
This is none of those things.
This is a demonstration of earnest feelings, and while Sousei can't exactly pick apart each and every one of those feelings, can't entirely understand what Jae-ha is thinking at this very moment, he can nonetheless tell that it's sincere. There's something to respect in that, too.
Jae-ha's life in Sousei's hands isn't something he'd ever wanted, and it's not something he wants now... but he can recognize that it doesn't matter what he wants. They've made their decisions. To dismantle this game no matter what it takes...they have to work together, and they both have to risk everything they have.
So Sousei doesn't pull away, doesn't flinch back, and when Jae-ha laughs and offers up those words, Sousei smiles in response, cocky and assured because there is no room for them to doubt.]
I do not dabble in regrets.
[Not anymore.
Not now that he has grown as a person, and made his decisions.]
Together, we will absolutely succeed. I have no doubts.
There are a lot of gestures Sousei's come to expect from Jae-ha. Pokes at his composure with irritatingly flippant displays of affection, and flirting to try to get a rise out of him, and this is...
This is none of those things.
This is a demonstration of earnest feelings, and while Sousei can't exactly pick apart each and every one of those feelings, can't entirely understand what Jae-ha is thinking at this very moment, he can nonetheless tell that it's sincere. There's something to respect in that, too.
Jae-ha's life in Sousei's hands isn't something he'd ever wanted, and it's not something he wants now... but he can recognize that it doesn't matter what he wants. They've made their decisions. To dismantle this game no matter what it takes...they have to work together, and they both have to risk everything they have.
So Sousei doesn't pull away, doesn't flinch back, and when Jae-ha laughs and offers up those words, Sousei smiles in response, cocky and assured because there is no room for them to doubt.]
I do not dabble in regrets.
[Not anymore.
Not now that he has grown as a person, and made his decisions.]
Together, we will absolutely succeed. I have no doubts.
... I did not need to know that much.
[Thanks.
That said...]
If that is how you feel, then fine. You may lean on me if you are so insistent on it. [Oh...........]
[Thanks.
That said...]
If that is how you feel, then fine. You may lean on me if you are so insistent on it. [Oh...........]
... So that's how it is.
[It explains more than it doesn't. A new dragon is born, and the old one dies. What a pitiful cycle. There's no reason for it to be that way, nothing but "that is simply how it is", and he loathes that sort of thing most of all.
He frowns to himself.]
For what it is worth, even now knowing that, I still would not have agreed to you taking my place.
[It doesn't matter how many years Jae-ha has left.
He deserves to live all of them.]
[It explains more than it doesn't. A new dragon is born, and the old one dies. What a pitiful cycle. There's no reason for it to be that way, nothing but "that is simply how it is", and he loathes that sort of thing most of all.
He frowns to himself.]
For what it is worth, even now knowing that, I still would not have agreed to you taking my place.
[It doesn't matter how many years Jae-ha has left.
He deserves to live all of them.]
[Traitorously, Jae-ha thinks it wouldn't be that bad of an idea to kiss Sousei again.
... but he listens, and he knows this is more important than any immediate urge he might have, any curiosity he wants to settle. He snorts faintly at Sousei's cockiness and raises a brow.]
Failure isn't exactly an option, you know.
[Not with everything that's resting on their shoulders - not with everything that they might be gambling.]
Then I'll ask again - where shall we start? There are a few others who want to battle against the game so at the very least we're not entirely alone, even if I'm not sure if their determination is quite the same. Or are you waiting to see how much more information you can pull from our captors before we make waves?
[It's Sunday, after all - technically, they have at least until Thursday to do anything. Jae-ha falls into the easy position of second-in-command again, offering what he knows, but ultimately ready to serve and follow orders.
Sousei will probably never be his new captain.
But whatever this is - that's fine too.]
... but he listens, and he knows this is more important than any immediate urge he might have, any curiosity he wants to settle. He snorts faintly at Sousei's cockiness and raises a brow.]
Failure isn't exactly an option, you know.
[Not with everything that's resting on their shoulders - not with everything that they might be gambling.]
Then I'll ask again - where shall we start? There are a few others who want to battle against the game so at the very least we're not entirely alone, even if I'm not sure if their determination is quite the same. Or are you waiting to see how much more information you can pull from our captors before we make waves?
[It's Sunday, after all - technically, they have at least until Thursday to do anything. Jae-ha falls into the easy position of second-in-command again, offering what he knows, but ultimately ready to serve and follow orders.
Sousei will probably never be his new captain.
But whatever this is - that's fine too.]
.... I know you wouldn't have. Or - well, now I do.
[Some part of him knew it back then - realizing that there would've been no point in arguing with Sousei about trading places, about whether or not one of them deserved to live more than the other. Jae-ha doesn't particularly regret offering, and is of course mostly glad that for now, they're both still alive.]
... my life has been good. Whenever I do go, I don't intend for it to be with regrets. What I want, I chase.
And anything... is better than where I used to be.
[Some part of him knew it back then - realizing that there would've been no point in arguing with Sousei about trading places, about whether or not one of them deserved to live more than the other. Jae-ha doesn't particularly regret offering, and is of course mostly glad that for now, they're both still alive.]
... my life has been good. Whenever I do go, I don't intend for it to be with regrets. What I want, I chase.
And anything... is better than where I used to be.
[It's Thursday of the week that Sousei's tapestry is up - and while they've agreed in deciphering the meaning and it isn't quite as damning as it was the week of Gi-gan's.... Jae-ha's still on edge.
He left their room rather early in the morning to go to the kitchen in the first place. While he's there, he prepares a plate of karashi renkon, neatly following the instructions of a recipe book that he'd found in the library, and looks it over. Did he do it correctly...?
But he thinks he remembers vaguely, so very vaguely Sousei eating a plate of this before.
So he goes off to find him, wherever he is in the castle, bringing this plate and two cups of tea along with him.]
He left their room rather early in the morning to go to the kitchen in the first place. While he's there, he prepares a plate of karashi renkon, neatly following the instructions of a recipe book that he'd found in the library, and looks it over. Did he do it correctly...?
But he thinks he remembers vaguely, so very vaguely Sousei eating a plate of this before.
So he goes off to find him, wherever he is in the castle, bringing this plate and two cups of tea along with him.]
[Sousei's a little restless as well, probably unsurprisingly. He's ultimately in one of their little corners where nobody tends to go, hip resting against a side table against the wall as he thinks.
It likely won't go so poorly as that very first week did.
But they really have no way of knowing with all of those illusions around, do they...?
Either way, he's not hard to find, even if he is shadowed. He's probably lifting his head before Jae-ha even gets there, honestly, because the mustard is a pretty distinct smell.]
It likely won't go so poorly as that very first week did.
But they really have no way of knowing with all of those illusions around, do they...?
Either way, he's not hard to find, even if he is shadowed. He's probably lifting his head before Jae-ha even gets there, honestly, because the mustard is a pretty distinct smell.]
[It sure is a distinct smell and to be honest, Jae-ha kind of hates it.
Maybe it's good that Sousei doesn't know how to cook? If he tried, would everything have this... poignant of a smell?
Regardless Jae-ha smiles easily when he catches sight of Sousei and the table, immediately moving to place the food and tea down, and then taking a seat.]
Oh? Did I catch you at a good time for a break?
Maybe it's good that Sousei doesn't know how to cook? If he tried, would everything have this... poignant of a smell?
Regardless Jae-ha smiles easily when he catches sight of Sousei and the table, immediately moving to place the food and tea down, and then taking a seat.]
Oh? Did I catch you at a good time for a break?
[Thanks for making it anyway, Jae-ha.
But.
Yeah. Sousei quirks an eyebrow at that, but simply:]
I suppose so. [He won't deny it! Also quietly...peering at the dish...] ... Did you make that?
But.
Yeah. Sousei quirks an eyebrow at that, but simply:]
I suppose so. [He won't deny it! Also quietly...peering at the dish...] ... Did you make that?
[Failure definitely isn't an option, which means they need to buckle down and focus on what needs to be done. And so:]
We must find a way to not necessarily force this game into a premature end, but rather to keep it from persisting in the way that it is. A death or more a week is simply unacceptable, and like this we are dancing on their strings.
But if we can find a way to derail this entire situation, what will happen? I am very curious to know.
[He thinks the whole thing will come crashing down.]
Obviously, we cannot simply attack the two Crafters. That does not work, and is too expected. I wonder if the more harmless objectives are completed, if we could find a different end. What I know for certain is the objectives involving death and killing must not be done.
Currently, I believe everything has to do with the ink. That is loathsome, but it is more than we had to go off of before. It is a weighing of the scales, in a way.
So one side beating the other would naturally end this, but that is not the ending I seek. Rather, I feel as though picking one over the other is a cowardly way out.
[A sigh.]
We still need more information, in the end, though I believe I may now start to ask others in earnest about their situations.
[No point in holding back anymore.]
We must find a way to not necessarily force this game into a premature end, but rather to keep it from persisting in the way that it is. A death or more a week is simply unacceptable, and like this we are dancing on their strings.
But if we can find a way to derail this entire situation, what will happen? I am very curious to know.
[He thinks the whole thing will come crashing down.]
Obviously, we cannot simply attack the two Crafters. That does not work, and is too expected. I wonder if the more harmless objectives are completed, if we could find a different end. What I know for certain is the objectives involving death and killing must not be done.
Currently, I believe everything has to do with the ink. That is loathsome, but it is more than we had to go off of before. It is a weighing of the scales, in a way.
So one side beating the other would naturally end this, but that is not the ending I seek. Rather, I feel as though picking one over the other is a cowardly way out.
[A sigh.]
We still need more information, in the end, though I believe I may now start to ask others in earnest about their situations.
[No point in holding back anymore.]
Do not make me repeat myself.
[He'll!! Take it back!!]
[He'll!! Take it back!!]
Hm...
[... It's impressive. Impressive and something that resonates with him. Take what you want while you're living. Follow your heart, and do what needs to be done. Don't shirk back from what truly matters.
...]
You are very impressive, sometimes.
[These are words he Will Not Repeat, but there you have it.]
[... It's impressive. Impressive and something that resonates with him. Take what you want while you're living. Follow your heart, and do what needs to be done. Don't shirk back from what truly matters.
...]
You are very impressive, sometimes.
[These are words he Will Not Repeat, but there you have it.]
[ . . . ]
You know, I'd like to say no, I didn't.
[translation: he wants to tsun!!!]
But I don't think you'd actually eat it if I said someone else magically guessed your preferred food, or if the castle gave it to me.
So.
Yes.
We don't have to talk about it.
You know, I'd like to say no, I didn't.
[translation: he wants to tsun!!!]
But I don't think you'd actually eat it if I said someone else magically guessed your preferred food, or if the castle gave it to me.
So.
Yes.
We don't have to talk about it.
[well bullshit like he's actually going to get anywhere with that because he's about to get hit with one of sousei's memories too
and the suddenness of it manages to throw him off entirely, including off balance as he's going to just
tip out the window]
Ah?
and the suddenness of it manages to throw him off entirely, including off balance as he's going to just
tip out the window]
Ah?
[... Jae-ha, you're not good at tsunning.]
... Well. That is fine, then.
[If you don't...want to talk about it? Sure. Okay.
AWKWARD...PAUSE.]
... Well. That is fine, then.
[If you don't...want to talk about it? Sure. Okay.
AWKWARD...PAUSE.]
[Sousei just.
Looks away.
But he's not shoving Jae-ha off?
So like. There u go.]
Looks away.
But he's not shoving Jae-ha off?
So like. There u go.]
[Bye, Jae-ha.
Murder by memory. Naturally, Jae-ha's getting that memory of Sousei as a child, Tenka telling him they could be heroes, that they could protect the country from the shadows--
You know the one, I'm not pulling up the pages for you.
Sousei just kind of... peers out the window. Hm.]
Are you alive?
Murder by memory. Naturally, Jae-ha's getting that memory of Sousei as a child, Tenka telling him they could be heroes, that they could protect the country from the shadows--
You know the one, I'm not pulling up the pages for you.
Sousei just kind of... peers out the window. Hm.]
Are you alive?
[... Well.
Okay. Politely:]
Thank you for the meal.
[He just reaches out and takes a piece to take a bite.
Chews. Swallows.]
... It's very good.
Okay. Politely:]
Thank you for the meal.
[He just reaches out and takes a piece to take a bite.
Chews. Swallows.]
... It's very good.
Don't touch me.
[Oh.
Sousei is still Sousei.
But that aside.]
Something beautiful... I suppose to me, beautiful things are what work in proper order, as they are supposed to.
[Oh.
Sousei is still Sousei.
But that aside.]
Something beautiful... I suppose to me, beautiful things are what work in proper order, as they are supposed to.
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