[He shrugs a little, quirking an eyebrow at Jae-ha.]
I was assigned one, anyway.
[Sousei glances at the folded coat, humming an ever-so-mildly distasteful note.]
The black does not leave much to be imagined, does it?
[It's not a color that's meant to be taken as anything but Very Serious. Even for Sousei it's like "whoa there". Or maybe he just misses his Yamainu blues sometimes.]
[He actually pauses, tilting his head even as he lightly presses his fingertips at the back of Sousei's forearm, encouraging him to raise his arms so Jae-ha can get a measurement of his waist.
But he can't help but think - 'Ah, you're actually making conversation with me?'
Not that he says it out loud:]
I think it's the trim that makes it more starkly commanding. Black and white are quite plain, but clean. Which - it doesn't surprise me that's the type of image you aim for.
[And obediently he lifts his arms for Jae-ha too... look at this, they're behaving like civilized people.]
Perhaps.
[Sousei looks at it blankly for a moment before he managed a very small shrug.]
It was the image necessary to accomplish my goals, anyway.
[Gotta look put together and commanding to get his fingers into all of those little pies he was sticking them in.]
The image you go for, however...
[A beat, and he's looking at Jae-ha rather curiously.]
"Green Dragon", you said. Is it intended to all be thematic? [Aesthetic? The blue and gold do look nice with the green hair but Jae-ha's undoubtedly got an image he's going for.]
Also yeah that's... pretty much what he was thinking. Jae-ha doesn't look like a dragon, but if it's just something that's not easy to have out in the open, then....]
But I believe I understand better. [A beat, and:] I doubt your claims less, now. Though it is strange, you being a dragon is not the strangest thing here.
I think my being a dragon makes quite a bit of sense, actually.
There are four Dragon Warriors - Green, Yellow, White, Blue - and there are typically children born in the hidden villages that possess the qualities of the dragon to show that they've been chosen. The White Dragon's hand, the Blue Dragon's eyes...
[he leaves off what he has even if it's on his tapestry smh]
This is exactly who I was meant to be - and my sense of beauty evolved from the moment that I got to choose for myself, instead of follow stupid prophecies and outdated expectations.
Because prophecies are prisons, and expectations are cages.
[just to make us both unhappy it's worth noting that jae-ha does need to get on his knees in order to get the measurement for the in-seam of sousei's pants
[yeah well his pants will fit funky if jae-ha doesn't have some of these measurements ok]
Well, some being tied up and held down is fun every now and then [stop] but when you were chained to a wall for over a decade, the idea of losing your freedom gets old fast.
[he'll rise then, having gotten all the measurements he needed - his memory is good, it's fine - and then letting the measuring tape hang around his neck as he laughs]
Well, not just that.
Someone told me that a former green dragon had ruined it for the rest of us - he escaped and his powers were discovered. The village was attacked as a result. Following that, the villagers believe us to only be burdens, locked away to protect the whole.
[Thank god. Sousei reaches for his uniform coat, but just to hang it over his arm. Look at how casual he's being. He's sticking with just the button up shirt underneath. Amazing.]
... That is...
[Just like people, he can't help but think. Cruel, in fearing what they don't understand.]
... Cruel. It is cruel, to lock someone away for something that they have not done wrong.
[A beat, and a bit softer:]
For simply being born, as if that were some sort of crime. [He Understands that, at least, very well.]
[jae-ha doesn't move for the door just yet, he instead moves to check out the rest of the clothes present, hand reaching out to examine some white, black, and blue fabrics. what can he salvage?]
It's one of the ugliest things imaginable - to take away someone's freedom, but leave them alive to suffer and wait.
But being bait - it's a similar type of thing, isn't it?
...Yes, I believe those to be very similar situations. Perhaps that is why...
[It feels so disgusting to him.
Because he's been there himself.
A brief pause, and he shakes his head.]
No. It was nothing so glorious as that. Rather--I was rescued. [But Jae-ha, escaping... Sousei snorts.] I believe I understand your longing for freedom more, now.
It's remarkable what happens when you ask questions.
[just saying.
but also he's going to find his gaze wandering over to the closest window. the sky's darker now, because it's still out there. waiting for him. he sighs.]
For the moment, I don't have to endure chains or restraints... there's even food here. But it really does feel like a prison nonetheless.
Whether it's escape or rescue - I'd rather not stay here long.
[FRANKLY. But yeah... he tracks Jae-ha's gaze, and frowns as well.]
It is a prison. We have been kidnapped here against our will to participate in a ridiculous disaster... there is nothing about this that is not a prison.
[And he hates it.]
Though this time, I would prefer escape to rescue.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Two separate uniforms is a lot for most people, Sousei.
Almost three tbh. Navy uniform when
(and at least he's good at standing still with perfect posture. Asshole.)]
This is simply my most recent.
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One for each treason?
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That is--
[...]
That is not why, though I suppose it is not inaccurate. [SIGH]
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[stop him]
Did you have to play an especially commanding role for the second one?
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I suppose.
[He shrugs a little, quirking an eyebrow at Jae-ha.]
I was assigned one, anyway.
[Sousei glances at the folded coat, humming an ever-so-mildly distasteful note.]
The black does not leave much to be imagined, does it?
[It's not a color that's meant to be taken as anything but Very Serious. Even for Sousei it's like "whoa there". Or maybe he just misses his Yamainu blues sometimes.]
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But he can't help but think - 'Ah, you're actually making conversation with me?'
Not that he says it out loud:]
I think it's the trim that makes it more starkly commanding. Black and white are quite plain, but clean. Which - it doesn't surprise me that's the type of image you aim for.
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Perhaps.
[Sousei looks at it blankly for a moment before he managed a very small shrug.]
It was the image necessary to accomplish my goals, anyway.
[Gotta look put together and commanding to get his fingers into all of those little pies he was sticking them in.]
The image you go for, however...
[A beat, and he's looking at Jae-ha rather curiously.]
"Green Dragon", you said. Is it intended to all be thematic? [Aesthetic? The blue and gold do look nice with the green hair but Jae-ha's undoubtedly got an image he's going for.]
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[he's obviously pleased even if sousei's about to deny it smh. his words come with a smile and a hum.]
It's not all talk, if that's what you mean. Being the Green Dragon, one of four Dragon Warriors... that was decided for me from the moment I was born.
[and he laughs faintly - ] People have told me that I don't look anything like a dragon since those tapestries unfurled.
It's a difficult thing to explain that even as proud as I am - it's not an easy thing to have out in the open either.
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[DON'T LOOK AT HIM LIKE THAT.
Ugh.
Also yeah that's... pretty much what he was thinking. Jae-ha doesn't look like a dragon, but if it's just something that's not easy to have out in the open, then....]
But I believe I understand better. [A beat, and:] I doubt your claims less, now. Though it is strange, you being a dragon is not the strangest thing here.
[That said...]
Decided for you the moment you were born, though?
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There are four Dragon Warriors - Green, Yellow, White, Blue - and there are typically children born in the hidden villages that possess the qualities of the dragon to show that they've been chosen. The White Dragon's hand, the Blue Dragon's eyes...
[he leaves off what he has even if it's on his tapestry smh]
This is exactly who I was meant to be - and my sense of beauty evolved from the moment that I got to choose for myself, instead of follow stupid prophecies and outdated expectations.
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"The moment that you got to choose for yourself"...? You discarded all of that for your own purpose instead, then?
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Because prophecies are prisons, and expectations are cages.
[just to make us both unhappy it's worth noting that jae-ha does need to get on his knees in order to get the measurement for the in-seam of sousei's pants
he's pretty okay with it]
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Sousei is studiously not looking at him because he doesn't want to see Jae-ha's face right now.
HE JUST WANTS
SOME PANTS.
THAT'S ALL.]
...I can understand that. You do not seem like the sort of person who enjoys being caged by any means.
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Well, some being tied up and held down is fun every now and then [stop] but when you were chained to a wall for over a decade, the idea of losing your freedom gets old fast.
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He's ignoring all of that in favor of:]
All of that because...of your status as the green dragon?
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Well, not just that.
Someone told me that a former green dragon had ruined it for the rest of us - he escaped and his powers were discovered. The village was attacked as a result. Following that, the villagers believe us to only be burdens, locked away to protect the whole.
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... That is...
[Just like people, he can't help but think. Cruel, in fearing what they don't understand.]
... Cruel. It is cruel, to lock someone away for something that they have not done wrong.
[A beat, and a bit softer:]
For simply being born, as if that were some sort of crime. [He Understands that, at least, very well.]
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It's one of the ugliest things imaginable - to take away someone's freedom, but leave them alive to suffer and wait.
But being bait - it's a similar type of thing, isn't it?
Did you escape too?
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[It feels so disgusting to him.
Because he's been there himself.
A brief pause, and he shakes his head.]
No. It was nothing so glorious as that. Rather--I was rescued. [But Jae-ha, escaping... Sousei snorts.] I believe I understand your longing for freedom more, now.
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[just saying.
but also he's going to find his gaze wandering over to the closest window. the sky's darker now, because it's still out there. waiting for him. he sighs.]
For the moment, I don't have to endure chains or restraints... there's even food here. But it really does feel like a prison nonetheless.
Whether it's escape or rescue - I'd rather not stay here long.
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[FRANKLY. But yeah... he tracks Jae-ha's gaze, and frowns as well.]
It is a prison. We have been kidnapped here against our will to participate in a ridiculous disaster... there is nothing about this that is not a prison.
[And he hates it.]
Though this time, I would prefer escape to rescue.
[He was only six but still.
He wants to be mighty.]
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[he says, with a remarkable amount of confidence? does jae-ha even believe anything to be impossible here.]
We gather bits and pieces of more information each day, after all.
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[Much, much too slowly.]
At this pace, someone will truly be killed before we find a way out.
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distantly, he hears the drip of gi-gan's tapestry]
... someone will be lured into their trap, is it....
Then have you found anything new?
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Curfew strikes tomorrow evening.
Tomorrow evening...]
Nothing. [Aggravated frustration on Sousei's end, his gloved hands folding into fists.]
Only more dead ends, over and over.
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