[ sousei & jae-ha make mistakes ]

[alttitude]

Comments

[disilluded]

I could very quickly change my mind.

[BLUNTLY.]

...But you have been competent enough in this situation, inappropriate comments aside.

[alttitude]

Oh. That.

[yeah he normally doesn't like to be. his competence shines through in actions, not words normally, but - ]

Well it seems increasingly like others aren't used to 'kill or be killed' scenarios. There's too many children here, though some are apparently more capable than I thought.... [mini assassins] The current circumstances are manufactured, so it's not exactly the same as I'm used to...

But while it's nice that other might not have to worry about things like starvation or drug trafficking or abhorrent crime rates, it also makes them less prepared for situations like these.

[disilluded]

Indeed.

[Sousei agrees with all of that, of course. He's just even more concerned with everyone now that they know what they are here for.

Because Sousei knows it's only a matter of time before someone breaks.]

Naturally it is the responsibility of those of us who are familiar with these sorts of things to protect those who aren't.

[alttitude]

That's very neat and heroic of you.

[jae-ha agrees

but he didn't like. say it like that.]

My captain will likely agree with you.

[jae-ha does too he's just not saying it, the fucker]

[disilluded]

[...Yeah, Sousei snorts at that, expression flat.]

No, that is not the right word. It is not heroism.

[alttitude]

But "basic human decency" doesn't have nearly as nice of a ring to it.

[disilluded]

...You are ridiculous.

[A shake of his head.]

It doesn't matter what it is. All that matters is that it is what must be done.

[alttitude]

Ridiculous maybe, but not wrong.

[if sousei doesn't want to call it heroism, then it's naturally just what they're mutually agreeing is Correct

aka the very bare things to be done to still be considered a human (or dragon)]

Protect the weak from anyone who might see them as prey - but what do you mean of their game as a whole? Besides the fact that it's painfully ugly.

[disilluded]

[Yeah, the game as a whole... He makes an expression of disaste.]

I can't find any sense to it.

Tragedies occur. Corruption exists. But usually someone benefits.

This...there is no purpose.

[alttitude]

A war without reason, where it's uncertain exactly when it is that they'll decide enough is enough. It's not even about resources, money, vendettas....

[At least - as far as from what Jae-ha can tell.]

Though they might always just be hiding things from us.

[disilluded]

I rather expect that to be the case.

[He admits that with a sigh.]

There is undeniably a great deal we don't know about our situation. That is what makes this so dangerous.

[alttitude]

We know at least a bit more sense our last conversation - not enough, but still... more.

I wouldn't surprise you have any espionage in your background? Super hearing as your neat new skill?

[disilluded]

[... Jae-ha.]

No.

[Why]

Not espionage, and nothing like that. I was a soldier. [More or less. Very "was", though.]

[alttitude]

And then treason?

[look, he read the tapestries]

How exciting!

[disilluded]

[Sousei quirks an eyebrow at Jae-ha.

And then, dryly, because it's already out in the open anyway:]

It was on the tapestry twice, presumably, because I committed treason twice.

[So there u go]

[alttitude]

Is your government absolutely horrendous too?

[CAN HE FEEL VINDICATED]

[disilluded]

[???]

I certainly did not do so for sport.

[So.

Yes, Jae-ha.

His government sucked.]

[alttitude]

You never know. Some people might. Petty riots where the would-be king is no better than the person he's dethroning.

[it happens!]

But why then? Is it truly worth twice the treason? How did you even get away with it the first time?

[disilluded]

... Nosy, aren't you?

[And then, with a touch of confidence that quite honestly borders on arrogant, but in that really annoying Sousei way:]

I got away with it the first time because I was in the right. They could hardly punish me for doing my duty and protecting my country.

[1/2]

[alttitude]

[and without hesitation:]

I see no reason to hide who or what I'm interested in.

[AS PER ALWAYS!!!]

[alttitude]

[but ah - that answer makes him laugh.]

Ah? So you went rogue and they rolled over because you were on the moral high ground? Maybe it's not as corrupt as I expected.

[disilluded]

You are still disgusting.

[For the record.

As for that...]

Not the entirety of the government was corrupt, naturally. And what is, I will uncover and reveal to the world, so that it may be removed, and the country recover.

That is, after all, my proper duty.

[alttitude]

Oh?

[how grand. jae-ha hums faintly, considering that. he's not the type of person to follow the idea of duty, instead calling it his own taste in aesthetics and what he finds beautiful.]

Sounds burdensome.

Who left such a thing on your shoulders? They must have meant quite a lot to you.

[WHO WOULD CHOOSE THAT PATH IN THEIR OWN]

[disilluded]

[... Hm. Sousei's not denying it, but...he does quirk an eyebrow at that, and:]

Why are you so certain that it was a duty left upon my shoulders by someone else?

[alttitude]

It's unlikely that anyone is born a patriot.

Even princes, queens, those who are expected to have a loyalty to their country and its best interests in mind - it's a matter of lineage and learning from a young age that they're meant to care... well, most of the time.

[lmao bratty princess yona]

Moreso if your government was corrupt. Unless you grew up specifically to cut those parts out purely out of spite -

But the simpler guess is that someone who inspired you told you that it was something worth doing.