[Sousei just shrugs, crossing his arms quietly. As he thinks about it... well, what Jae-ha says is entirely reasonable, and he experienced it for himself.]
... It was a promise made, I suppose, with someone who was important to me. ["Was", Sousei please, he's still alive.] I've come to see the worth in it for myself as I have grown.
... Dancing in circles around it will not help either of us, I suppose, when your curiosity is this persistent. I will be plain. No, I was not a soldier. I was bait.
Intended to be used and discarded. With his dream, he showed me that I could be more than what my purpose had been. That is all.
Somewhere along the way it became a conversation, rather than remaining an exchange. At the very least, I'm not talking to you solely because I need to size up your character.
Most are soldiers for shit reasons - as much as I can understand that they follow orders, that they need to put food in their bellies like anyone else, the fact that they're in a more comfortable position than others is what corrupts them. They think they can treat women however they want, raise hands against children, bully the citizens that they're meant to protect.
[And he'll offer up - ]
I mentioned earlier that my government is hardly shining. It's... changing now, but hardly because of morally upstanding generals making any difference.
[it's all through the efforts of one brave little girl]
I am not certain there is such a thing as s morally upstanding general.
[OUCH SOUSEI.]
And any who believe otherwise of themselves would be cause to doubt. I believe I understand full well the sort of government you are talking about, however.
[Which is a pretty fair reason to dislike soldiers, but Jae-ha and Gi-gan both don't seem like the sort of people to just sit back and let things happen.]
I make trouble where I please. Does that sound familiar?
[AT LEAST HE'S HONEST ABOUT IT]
The path that I've chosen is one that's allowed me that, at least. Making change in the areas that the government has obviously forgotten or been careless about.
To answer your previous question - the Captain worked for the better part of thirty years to dismantle the disgusting hold that some scum held on a port town, trading the women as part of human trafficking.
I rather enjoy thinking that I can do anything - but she can do even more than me.
She's good at taking people under her wing, testing them to determine their real strength and what they have to offer the world. I give it just a few weeks before she finds a way to rebel against this game.
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You are correct.
[Sousei just shrugs, crossing his arms quietly. As he thinks about it... well, what Jae-ha says is entirely reasonable, and he experienced it for himself.]
... It was a promise made, I suppose, with someone who was important to me. ["Was", Sousei please, he's still alive.] I've come to see the worth in it for myself as I have grown.
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Like yeah, he knew he was right. Apparently both of them can be arrogant here!]
Ah, childhood promises.
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Wipe that look off of your face. A lucky guess is hardly reason to be so smug.
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[he didn't actually expect to be right. even if his mouth doesn't say it, his face does: 'a little cliche?']
Well, I'd heard that children are a bit more impressionable that way....
[he didn't exactly get a chance to experience it for himself]
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I was not an impressionable child.
[Does he look like he was impressionable at any point?
A beat, and he adds, glancing away contemplatively:]
But... it was a concept I had never heard before. Something that had never crossed my mind. And I found that... it caught my attention in that way.
[And his entire heart and soul at that.]
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[jaded from the beginning.
but regardless jae-ha hums faintly at the explanation, tilting his head]
A purpose you didn't know you could have?
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... Dancing in circles around it will not help either of us, I suppose, when your curiosity is this persistent. I will be plain. No, I was not a soldier. I was bait.
Intended to be used and discarded. With his dream, he showed me that I could be more than what my purpose had been. That is all.
[That is why he's so attached to it.]
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.... "That is all"?
[considering how life-changing it sounds
jae-ha finds the way that it's described a bit surprising]
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Yes.
Now you know where my motivations stem from. You do not need any more information than that.
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Do I look like that kind of person?
[shady droopy eyes]
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... We were having this walk as an exchange of information. I do not know why you seem so surprised that I would take it as such.
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Captain could have done that all on her own.
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You have a great deal of faith in her. Not simply because she's taken you in.
[Right?]
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[A pause.]
Was that enough information for you?
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No. Will it make you feel better if I explicitly ask?
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If you have questions, ask them. You're not my Captain - I don't have to read and obey your needling prompts if I don't want to.
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... But very well then. If we are having a conversation, then I will ask.
[Off the rails, really:]
If not for the sake of deriving my character, why were you asking about my motivations?
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[he could leave it there, answering a question with a question, but no, he'll be nicer now that sousei's admitted they're having a conversation - ]
I don't like most soldiers, but you carry yourself like one, uniform and all.
I was curious what drives you if it's not greed, lust or money.
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Sousei looks contemplative at that, considering it. He's seen plenty of soldiers who are real shitty people, but honestly--]
And why is it you do not like most soldiers?
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[And he'll offer up - ]
I mentioned earlier that my government is hardly shining. It's... changing now, but hardly because of morally upstanding generals making any difference.
[it's all through the efforts of one brave little girl]
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[OUCH SOUSEI.]
And any who believe otherwise of themselves would be cause to doubt. I believe I understand full well the sort of government you are talking about, however.
[Which is a pretty fair reason to dislike soldiers, but Jae-ha and Gi-gan both don't seem like the sort of people to just sit back and let things happen.]
So what are you doing about it?
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[AT LEAST HE'S HONEST ABOUT IT]
The path that I've chosen is one that's allowed me that, at least. Making change in the areas that the government has obviously forgotten or been careless about.
To answer your previous question - the Captain worked for the better part of thirty years to dismantle the disgusting hold that some scum held on a port town, trading the women as part of human trafficking.
I rather enjoy thinking that I can do anything - but she can do even more than me.
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So you are vigilantes....? I suppose that suits both of you just fine.
[...A beat, and he adds with faint amusement:]
It is fitting that she is the most successful and accomplished as well.
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[this sap so obviously loves his mom!!!!]
She's good at taking people under her wing, testing them to determine their real strength and what they have to offer the world. I give it just a few weeks before she finds a way to rebel against this game.
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[Hm!!]
I would bet on that, yes.
[She seems incredibly competent, after all.]
It is reassuring that there are competent people here.
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