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[ that moment when you don't know if your general is proposing regicide or an unexpected nighttime dalliance. ]
are the little creatures we're meant to wrangle tomorrow so dangerous? they look like things burgos would cook and serve to us at sea. i'm sure they're delicious with the right amount of butter.
are the little creatures we're meant to wrangle tomorrow so dangerous? they look like things burgos would cook and serve to us at sea. i'm sure they're delicious with the right amount of butter.
[ Zoya is smart, and it's not as if this is entirely unprecedented. Alina isn't running around with white hair. The Darkling no longer shares corporeal quarters with a monk. Why would Nikolai have any reason to have walked the same journey with her?
She is alone with herself. A fresh start to avoid mistakes, another hidden regret to untangle herself from. It is better this way.
Her reply is delayed. Perhaps it won't happen. Her own abilities are muted. Maybe for as long as they are on the ship, the demon will also sleep. Maybe she can give parts of the truth. The pieces that are needed. In reality a softening of the blow for herself, but don't expect her to admit that. ]
Caution.
Monsters are not always so easily contained.
Especially when their masters are nearby.
She is alone with herself. A fresh start to avoid mistakes, another hidden regret to untangle herself from. It is better this way.
Her reply is delayed. Perhaps it won't happen. Her own abilities are muted. Maybe for as long as they are on the ship, the demon will also sleep. Maybe she can give parts of the truth. The pieces that are needed. In reality a softening of the blow for herself, but don't expect her to admit that. ]
Caution.
Monsters are not always so easily contained.
Especially when their masters are nearby.
It was not a secret you could have kept for long from me. I was the one who saw to his wounds after your first encounter. If I met you in that form, there is a possibility I would have brought you unknowingly to harm — he would not forgive himself for such a thing.
（ and not because wei ying understands, with a keen awareness that lives beneath his skin like the slip of a knife, that itachi prefers not to harm others whenever it is an option. the man knows better than to consider his feelings in such a thing. it is because wei ying would bear the weight of nikolai's injuries like his own, if such a thing came to pass and if he had not taken the opportunity to speak to avert it.
his words are a contrast to the young man nikolai may eventually connect him to aboard the silent plunder. his role upon the ship has been that of a meek, subservient creature creeping about in the shadows with little talent in combat — a role jake decided for him, and spoke to before itachi could ever interject. the circus child with skills of petty thievery and acrobatics. now it is something he has been locked into playing and he has done so unflinchingly — but his cover identity would never speak so bluntly or boldly as this. ）
The reason for my reaching out is that it is possible I can help you, if that is something you wish to consider. However, I understand that is a bold statement to posit as a stranger, and wish to stress it is only an offer — one you need not take now or ever.
（ and not because wei ying understands, with a keen awareness that lives beneath his skin like the slip of a knife, that itachi prefers not to harm others whenever it is an option. the man knows better than to consider his feelings in such a thing. it is because wei ying would bear the weight of nikolai's injuries like his own, if such a thing came to pass and if he had not taken the opportunity to speak to avert it.
his words are a contrast to the young man nikolai may eventually connect him to aboard the silent plunder. his role upon the ship has been that of a meek, subservient creature creeping about in the shadows with little talent in combat — a role jake decided for him, and spoke to before itachi could ever interject. the circus child with skills of petty thievery and acrobatics. now it is something he has been locked into playing and he has done so unflinchingly — but his cover identity would never speak so bluntly or boldly as this. ）
The reason for my reaching out is that it is possible I can help you, if that is something you wish to consider. However, I understand that is a bold statement to posit as a stranger, and wish to stress it is only an offer — one you need not take now or ever.
then i owe you a debt as well.
[ for taking care of wei wuxian. for cleaning up a mess that should have never been. the circle of his damage grows wider with each passing day, and at this rate containment feels more and more like an impossible dream.
he has been woefully distracted aboard the silent plunder, spending his time pilfering expensive wines from the captain's quarters and making friends with the cook so that he might have an unlimited supply of strong coffee at all hours of the night. he hasn't slept for more than an hour at a time for days. every time he sees the darkling prowling the ship, he starts telling jokes to the person nearest to him to temper his desire to put a knife in him and throw him over the railing.
overall, one might say he's seen better days. ]
trust me, i'm very good at saying no. i don't need the encouragement.
your bold statement lacks the finer details. i require a more personal touch.
[ for taking care of wei wuxian. for cleaning up a mess that should have never been. the circle of his damage grows wider with each passing day, and at this rate containment feels more and more like an impossible dream.
he has been woefully distracted aboard the silent plunder, spending his time pilfering expensive wines from the captain's quarters and making friends with the cook so that he might have an unlimited supply of strong coffee at all hours of the night. he hasn't slept for more than an hour at a time for days. every time he sees the darkling prowling the ship, he starts telling jokes to the person nearest to him to temper his desire to put a knife in him and throw him over the railing.
overall, one might say he's seen better days. ]
trust me, i'm very good at saying no. i don't need the encouragement.
your bold statement lacks the finer details. i require a more personal touch.
There is no debt I would accept of you. He is alive and has recovered. I have done much worse to him than what you managed, and somehow our acquaintance has survived — it would be hypocritical of me to act otherwise.
（ to the last — ）
As you say. I will not raise the matter again.
（ to the last — ）
As you say. I will not raise the matter again.
the fact that you've done worse doesn't really negate my actions, but it might make one concerned about your general acquaintance. luckily for you, most of my acquaintances are well suited for violence.
i didn't say no. but you can hardly expect a man to make an informed decision without being informed of anything.
you're not much for small talk.
i didn't say no. but you can hardly expect a man to make an informed decision without being informed of anything.
you're not much for small talk.
（ good thing this is text, otherwise his wry tone might come across — ）
It was intended as a reflection upon his character rather than my own.
（ local dumpster fire well aware of his deficiencies, thank you. ）
Then I misunderstood your statement.
You may ask me whatever you wish. I will answer.
It was intended as a reflection upon his character rather than my own.
（ local dumpster fire well aware of his deficiencies, thank you. ）
Then I misunderstood your statement.
You may ask me whatever you wish. I will answer.
your character is duly noted.
[ lack thereof???? ]
you said you could possibly help me. now that we've helpfully established that you can hardly be trusted, i'm dying to hear how.
i've armed myself with snacks for this explanation. do you like herring? i'm drinking fantastic wine.
[ lack thereof???? ]
you said you could possibly help me. now that we've helpfully established that you can hardly be trusted, i'm dying to hear how.
i've armed myself with snacks for this explanation. do you like herring? i'm drinking fantastic wine.
（ he snorts, faint amusement threading through the sound. lucky he's alone in the crow's nest. ）
I'm indifferent to herring.
（ and we aren't even going to touch on the wine. instead — ）
I am shinobi. You may understand the term as 'ninja' also.
I have an inborn energy called 'chakra' that can be utilized to underpin a variety of abilities, often but not always elemental in nature, called 'jutsu', or techniques.
One of my specialties is sealing techniques. These can be done without harm to the recipient. It is not uncommon in my world for individuals to share a body with a being or entity that requires it.
（ and, you know, he hunted a few and participated in the death of more — but he's politely not going to mention that. ）
I'm indifferent to herring.
（ and we aren't even going to touch on the wine. instead — ）
I am shinobi. You may understand the term as 'ninja' also.
I have an inborn energy called 'chakra' that can be utilized to underpin a variety of abilities, often but not always elemental in nature, called 'jutsu', or techniques.
One of my specialties is sealing techniques. These can be done without harm to the recipient. It is not uncommon in my world for individuals to share a body with a being or entity that requires it.
（ and, you know, he hunted a few and participated in the death of more — but he's politely not going to mention that. ）
[ being indifferent to herring, he supposes, should not set an additional strike of distrust against him. but even considering his words with his most innovative and reckless side sends alarm bells ringing through his fatigued head. ]
harm to the recipient is the least of my concerns. pain isn't an issue.
what you're proposing sounds like i would become a permanent host to my shadow. i'll have you know i don't like sharing.
[ a beat. ]
i don't wish to bore you with the politics of a foreign nation, but i need to expel the beast. a king can't be a cage to a monster. it's a secret that would ruin me.
you might think it's my reputation i care about, but my name has been dragged through the mud so much that i don't care how sullied it gets. i only care what sort of damage that truth could do to my country.
she has trouble weathering storms. ravka, i mean.
but really, i don't like sharing.
harm to the recipient is the least of my concerns. pain isn't an issue.
what you're proposing sounds like i would become a permanent host to my shadow. i'll have you know i don't like sharing.
[ a beat. ]
i don't wish to bore you with the politics of a foreign nation, but i need to expel the beast. a king can't be a cage to a monster. it's a secret that would ruin me.
you might think it's my reputation i care about, but my name has been dragged through the mud so much that i don't care how sullied it gets. i only care what sort of damage that truth could do to my country.
she has trouble weathering storms. ravka, i mean.
but really, i don't like sharing.
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