[Blanket sharing... it's not even necessary, but Sousei doesn't shrug it off this time.]
Though they are cagey and reluctant to share any information that may be of actual use if I do not produce results--which I am obviously loathe to do.
[Gross.]
It strikes me that there must be hidden conditions to ending this game. I want to find them and put an end to this myself. I believe this entire construct can be overthrown by the very people they are expecting to assist in keeping it running.
They would like me to believe that my world hangs in the balance of me participating properly in a game in which they have brought random people to murder each other.
[ . . . well. Jae-ha sighs and seems to consider their options.]
So the plan is to disobey? Voting for yourself during trials will appear to get you locked up in stocks, but in general not voting also means that someone might get away with murder. And so you won't kill anyone even though they claim that's the entire point of the game, and won't encourage any objectives that promote killing.
Ultimately to dismantle the game, it requires understanding a bit more of the magic here - even as it backfires on us via the Wishing Well.
Perhaps you have a benefit to having a role that allows you to contact our Captors, but you might also just be receiving lies.
And if you're making a mistake, all of our friends and family may disappear.
You know, the cards are really stacked against us.
[It's in moments like these that Sousei realizes that in truth?
He's grateful to have Jae-ha as his partner. In truth, he likes Jae-ha, he likes his fire and his sense of rebellion and his refusal to take things lying down. Sousei knows the situation is practically hopeless; he remembers experiencing a game like this before, after all.
But he has to do something.
And Jae-ha is much the same way.
So Sousei lifts his chin, meets Jae-ha's eyes, and says very sincerely:]
... Thank you.
[Honestly... there's a lot of sincerity in those two words, and Sousei lifts his hand again, quietly holding it above his heart. He hasn't saluted again since his promise with Gi-gan... but he thinks that right now, when Jae-ha is betting not only his life but also his world on this as well, he owes him that much respect.
[In the end, his options are simple: duck his head, pray he doesn't get picked to murder anyone, and otherwise go along with the injustices that he sees - or otherwise actively work to dismantle exactly what he has a problem with.
When he thinks of Gi-gan, and when he thinks of Yona, who would both demand that they ruin the very thing that hurt the people they care about, with their own two hands.... If their lives are in his hands, wouldn't they want him to do this? Wouldn't it be against every he learned from them to stay back?
And Sousei - he already came to that conclusion, long before Jae-ha.
He'd told Sousei that he didn't think his place in this game was simple. How funny.
So he watches the salute quietly, even if he doesn't quite understand its weight. He's never been a soldier. He's only ever been a pirate, a bandit, a person who has no regard for rules in the first place.
If Sousei salutes to demonstrate his gratitude, then Jae-ha has his own measure of affection, of respect, and maybe just a little bit because he wants to. If he's about to be a dead man anyway - he turns his head to the side just slightly, closing the space between them so he can press a kiss to the corner of Sousei's mouth.
When he pulls away, he laughs and as if he did nothing at all - ]
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.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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But otherwise he listens - of course there's more pieces to the puzzle than that.]
... so were you given these instructions by the Crafters? One of the people they've met with in secret, away from the group?
[He remembers that being put into question during another trial.]
What exactly do you have in mind then?
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[Blanket sharing... it's not even necessary, but Sousei doesn't shrug it off this time.]
Though they are cagey and reluctant to share any information that may be of actual use if I do not produce results--which I am obviously loathe to do.
[Gross.]
It strikes me that there must be hidden conditions to ending this game. I want to find them and put an end to this myself. I believe this entire construct can be overthrown by the very people they are expecting to assist in keeping it running.
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What results are you supposed to provide? You're not actually getting your hands dirty, are you?
[considering how unbelievably angry sousei is about it!!!!]
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[A beat, and he adds:]
Nor do I intend to, even if I am called upon to do so. They wish for people of my role to kill those who are not "participating" properly in the game.
It's laughable to think I would go along with such a thing.
[Bullshit!! He hates authority as it is!!]
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[rip natsuo]
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[He does not like it.]
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I was hoping that objectives wouldn't be that hard, but the way that you're making it sound....
[did he
luck out?]
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Yeah.]
They are all over the place, and they are a mess.
[Honestly:]
As I do not ever intend on accomplishing mine, you may know that it is. I am to, apparently, pin someone down and allow them to be murdered.
[Utterly disgusting.]
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[Sousei would do the murdering himself.
Anyway.
Jae-ha just pauses for a moment, and then manages a bit of a laugh, though it sounds... painfully bitter..]
I'm to find a family.
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[...Ha.
That's almost mocking, isn't it?]
And how is something like that to be judged?
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I have a little brother now.
[ . . . ]
But seeing as nothing's changed, I presume I need - more than that?
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[They're some of the oldest??? It's just not valid?]
That is infuriatingly vague.
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When I'd arrived, I thought the mother part was quite easy.
[Ahah.]
But you aren't wrong. I'm lucky that it's not something against my principles, it's just... a bit more inconvenient than my ideals.
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Did they tell you what happens if they aren't fulfilled?
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[THANKS SOUSEI]
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You should curse more often.
[It's attractive.
Also:]
So you don't buy into any of it.
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[Anyway.]
They would like me to believe that my world hangs in the balance of me participating properly in a game in which they have brought random people to murder each other.
It's ludicrous.
[No.
He does not believe it at all.]
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He does.
... but if that's the threat, and Jae-ha is now the last person left standing from his own world:]
And what if it's true?
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[On the other hand--]
But obeying nonsensical orders because a threat is being held over my head... to kill others and encourage such a thing?
That is something I cannot do.
[1/2]
So the plan is to disobey? Voting for yourself during trials will appear to get you locked up in stocks, but in general not voting also means that someone might get away with murder. And so you won't kill anyone even though they claim that's the entire point of the game, and won't encourage any objectives that promote killing.
Ultimately to dismantle the game, it requires understanding a bit more of the magic here - even as it backfires on us via the Wishing Well.
Perhaps you have a benefit to having a role that allows you to contact our Captors, but you might also just be receiving lies.
And if you're making a mistake, all of our friends and family may disappear.
You know, the cards are really stacked against us.
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He turns to face Sousei directly.]
How shall we start?
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He's grateful to have Jae-ha as his partner. In truth, he likes Jae-ha, he likes his fire and his sense of rebellion and his refusal to take things lying down. Sousei knows the situation is practically hopeless; he remembers experiencing a game like this before, after all.
But he has to do something.
And Jae-ha is much the same way.
So Sousei lifts his chin, meets Jae-ha's eyes, and says very sincerely:]
... Thank you.
[Honestly... there's a lot of sincerity in those two words, and Sousei lifts his hand again, quietly holding it above his heart. He hasn't saluted again since his promise with Gi-gan... but he thinks that right now, when Jae-ha is betting not only his life but also his world on this as well, he owes him that much respect.
That first, before he shares his plans.]
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When he thinks of Gi-gan, and when he thinks of Yona, who would both demand that they ruin the very thing that hurt the people they care about, with their own two hands.... If their lives are in his hands, wouldn't they want him to do this? Wouldn't it be against every he learned from them to stay back?
And Sousei - he already came to that conclusion, long before Jae-ha.
He'd told Sousei that he didn't think his place in this game was simple. How funny.
So he watches the salute quietly, even if he doesn't quite understand its weight. He's never been a soldier. He's only ever been a pirate, a bandit, a person who has no regard for rules in the first place.
If Sousei salutes to demonstrate his gratitude, then Jae-ha has his own measure of affection, of respect, and maybe just a little bit because he wants to. If he's about to be a dead man anyway - he turns his head to the side just slightly, closing the space between them so he can press a kiss to the corner of Sousei's mouth.
When he pulls away, he laughs and as if he did nothing at all - ]
Don't give me a chance to regret it.
I've made my choice now.
[I'll choose to follow you.]
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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.
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