[either they plucked her out of a fire or this is some kind of afterlife and soo-won is also dead, which, (laughs in late canon).
anyway, she falls silent for a moment to sip at the water. she doesn't look away from his gaze when he meets her eyes, but she doesn't exactly look happy about being face-to-face with him, either. ...if there's anyone here who can understand just how complicated this is, it's probably him, though.]
Did they take you from the palace, or were you somewhere else?
[what kind of a question is that... okay, no. she kind of gets it, because she's had some interesting conversations with people involving "ancient-time cities" and modern plumbing.]
The Tully tribe from Northern Kai attacked at the Fire Tribe's border.
[ . . . . he nods, though his expression doesn't budge from 'contemplative'.]
Mm.
We're from different times, even from within the same world.
And so the theory is that we have been pulled from different manners of time and space, different worlds with different power structures entirely. Thus far, it hasn't been disproven.
[even if it sounds a little far-fetched - but soo-won has encountered too many things that he can't quite deny, and so even he who opts not to believe in gods has to acknowledge... this.]
as strange as it might sound, it's definitely an explanation that accounts for every bit of weirdness they've seen so far: people who don't know what kouka is, people who hail from lands they've never heard of, and also people who are part horse, or ghosts, or gods.]
[to his credit, there is only half a beat of hesitation.
and then:]
The resolution of the conflict with Xing. The princesses agreed to my terms, and war was avoided.
[with yona's involvement, and after that she became a protected person with princess tao's request.
distantly, with the reminder, he wonders if that's why he wanted to look after her. it would be more difficult if she were to become ill or succumb to a problem here. mm, maybe that was it.
[so, like, he should maybe send troops to the fire tribe border once they get out of here. if he does, will it be enough to head off the conflict before her friends can get captured in his time? she hopes so.]
Mm. So from what I understand, Yang Kuel-bo of the Tully Tribe invaded the Fire Tribe's border - shortly after the Fire Tribe lit the incorrect torch at your request. Then, there was suddenly a true invasion. [he wonders what that means about Li Hazara, but that's more politics he'll have to consider later]
Somehow, you became involved in the struggle - and were in an area that was on fire before being brought here.
[that sucks]
There are some familiar with medicine here. They should see to your burns to determine their severity.
If you want to know how I got involved, take that up with Kye-sook.
[is she bitter? she might be a little bitter. just the teeniest, tiniest bit. although, granted, the kye-sook of soo-won's timeline hasn't done anything yet, so maybe she shouldn't be...
nah. she's still bitter. he got jae-ha shot. get in trouble with your boss, kye-sook.]
I can travel even before I'm fully recovered. The sooner we get back, the better.
.... time has probably stopped, or otherwise paused so as to accommodate this alternate reality.
[IF HE COULD HAZARD A GUESS BUT - ] Otherwise, you would've heard of an uproar where His Majesty Soo-won suddenly disappeared shortly after the Xing peace talks, and the country would have been further fragmented when trying to answer the conflict with the Kai Empire.
[His Majesty Soo-won, because clearly this person in front of her is - ]
... you're not under any obligation to keep a secret for my sake, but I am introducing myself as a merchant.
[he'll.
deal with the kye-sook shit later. kye-sook is always doing things soo-won doesn't want but it's not like he doesn't understand the reasoning,,]
but she also doesn't know what good telling people who he is will do, either. so - maybe she can keep his secret, even if doing him a favor doesn't quite sit right with her.
...but on the other hand, he hadn't been under any obligation to hide her from the soldiers in awa, and he hadn't been under any obligation not to call for her and hak's capture at any of the other points where their paths have crossed.]
I won't be introducing myself as anything other than "Yona," [since "lena" is no longer an option] so it's not like anyone would have any reason to believe me even if I said you weren't a merchant.
As long as it doesn't seem relevant, I won't say anything.
[ . . . . the expression on her face is so familiar it makes his heart ache, and he makes sure to keep his own even. he remembers when her conflicted choices were often over what she would like to eat that day, or what robes she would like to wear.
he stole those easy choices from her.
he knows that he did.]
... if you choose to [say something], I will live with the consequences.
[he's not interested in stealing her freedom.]
For now, I have no other information on how to return, or why we've been brought here. If the two of us have been brought here, it could be a hostage situation - but the existence of the others present makes that less likely.
[aka they're not likely to be hostages, based on their own answers. they could be lying, but oh well.]
...everyone so far seems just as confused about how we got here as us, but I'm going to keep talking to people just in case.
[if someone does know something, she's going to try and talk to them often enough that she'll be there if they accidentally let something slip. and if no one does know anything - well, better to get to know them so they— so she can know who to trust.
(there's no "they". there hasn't been a "they" since the night he killed her father.)]
But what the message on that... thing said, about us not being kidnapped. That's obviously a lie, so why even bother trying to convince us?
There were a few voices talking over each other in the message - it's possibly only one of them sought to write that, to try to ease us. Either into a false sense of security, or into being more amiable so we will cooperate.
Others in the message seemed to acknowledge that regardless of what was said, those of us here would be displeased with the situation.
[so it's honestly a wash]
We could take advantage of the disharmony, once we gather more information.
Face to face, one on one, depending on how many of them there are. It was hard to discern even with the contradicting voices. I'd estimate at least four.
[just based on tone??]
They said we would meet them soon, so that means we have to take what preparations we can. Though I've been saying as much to everyone here.
...I guess we'll see what happens when they show their faces.
[though if it takes too long, yona is going to try to break into places she's not supposed to be (again) to drag them out.]
But with as many of us as there are, there's bound to be at least one of us who can make some kind of a connection with them and get some answers. We'll just have to try our best.
Our best depending on their demands and what they want from us.
[because if the demands do not favor kouka, then soo-won is absolutely not going to do his best for their hosts - for everyone else?
sure, he'll probably be able to act in everyone's best interests for the time being.
even yona's.
that said, he has nothing else to say to her, and can only imagine his presence makes her uncomfortable, and so he'll move to take his leave.]
The man with the horse body is familiar with medicine, and he's a teacher, so he should be happy to share his knowledge with you for your burns. At least until we get more answers on what else can be done.
[she nods once at that - they won't really be able to determine what their best is until they actually know why they were brought here. but it's probably a good idea to try to prepare themselves to act.
if nothing else, yona doesn't want to get complacent. there are enough strange things in this shop alone that they could easily get distracted and keep themselves occupied for a while, but...
getting distracted isn't going to help them, either.]
Right. He was a little insistent about it, before. [...but of course, soo-won doesn't have any way of knowing that. they haven't talked about who they have and haven't met yet, which means -
he told her that to help her?
her heart clenches uncomfortably, and she shuts that thought down immediately. even if it was to help her, there's probably more reasons behind it, too. because it would be inconvenient for her to be injured, if they're going to have to cooperate to get back to kouka, for one.
still, if she hadn't known before, it would be incredibly helpful. she ought to thank him. she could thank him for the water, so why is it so hard to get the words out now?]
...thank you.
[she manages it, but the words aren't accompanied by the same bright smile she'd always thanked him with in the past.]
because there are too many options really. were the words poison in her mouth, and difficult to spit out? did she dislike the fact that he offered the advice to her, because it conflicts with the acts that he'd taken in the past, when he stole all her happiness from her? stubbornness? frustration? disdain?
and knowing all of this, he cannot blame her. even now, after all the times that they've encountered one another, he imagines that she would like to kill him.
but she would never hear the words that he doesn't want the reverse - not when his actions conflict as much as they have.
so instead all he can offer are cautions and advice, the same as he would to anyone else. and he can pretend that he can treat her the same as anyone else.
and he can make play that he abandoned his heart nearly a year ago.]
... you needn't force yourself.
[to thank him. his expression doesn't soften so much as it relaxes.]
Take care.
[he'll leave, before the encounter tears at either of them any worse]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dawnblushed) wrote2020-09-25 09:42 pm
no subject
[either they plucked her out of a fire or this is some kind of afterlife and soo-won is also dead, which, (laughs in late canon).
anyway, she falls silent for a moment to sip at the water. she doesn't look away from his gaze when he meets her eyes, but she doesn't exactly look happy about being face-to-face with him, either. ...if there's anyone here who can understand just how complicated this is, it's probably him, though.]
Did they take you from the palace, or were you somewhere else?
no subject
[ . . . . though - ]
I have a theory I would like to test. I'll share the results with you in exchange for your cooperation.
Could you tell me the last major political event that you remember?
[because she didn't have those burns last they met - there wouldn't be any way. and perhaps they had healed by then, but no scars?]
no subject
[what kind of a question is that... okay, no. she kind of gets it, because she's had some interesting conversations with people involving "ancient-time cities" and modern plumbing.]
The Tully tribe from Northern Kai attacked at the Fire Tribe's border.
no subject
Mm.
We're from different times, even from within the same world.
And so the theory is that we have been pulled from different manners of time and space, different worlds with different power structures entirely. Thus far, it hasn't been disproven.
[even if it sounds a little far-fetched - but soo-won has encountered too many things that he can't quite deny, and so even he who opts not to believe in gods has to acknowledge... this.]
no subject
as strange as it might sound, it's definitely an explanation that accounts for every bit of weirdness they've seen so far: people who don't know what kouka is, people who hail from lands they've never heard of, and also people who are part horse, or ghosts, or gods.]
...what's the last thing you remember, then?
no subject
and then:]
The resolution of the conflict with Xing. The princesses agreed to my terms, and war was avoided.
[with yona's involvement, and after that she became a protected person with princess tao's request.
distantly, with the reminder, he wonders if that's why he wanted to look after her. it would be more difficult if she were to become ill or succumb to a problem here. mm, maybe that was it.
(he wants that to be it.)]
no subject
[so, like, he should maybe send troops to the fire tribe border once they get out of here. if he does, will it be enough to head off the conflict before her friends can get captured in his time? she hopes so.]
We need to get back to Kouka.
no subject
Somehow, you became involved in the struggle - and were in an area that was on fire before being brought here.
[that sucks]
There are some familiar with medicine here. They should see to your burns to determine their severity.
Following your recovery, we will return to Kouka.
no subject
If you want to know how I got involved, take that up with Kye-sook.
[is she bitter? she might be a little bitter. just the teeniest, tiniest bit. although, granted, the kye-sook of soo-won's timeline hasn't done anything yet, so maybe she shouldn't be...
nah. she's still bitter. he got jae-ha shot. get in trouble with your boss, kye-sook.]
I can travel even before I'm fully recovered. The sooner we get back, the better.
no subject
[IF HE COULD HAZARD A GUESS BUT - ] Otherwise, you would've heard of an uproar where His Majesty Soo-won suddenly disappeared shortly after the Xing peace talks, and the country would have been further fragmented when trying to answer the conflict with the Kai Empire.
[His Majesty Soo-won, because clearly this person in front of her is - ]
... you're not under any obligation to keep a secret for my sake, but I am introducing myself as a merchant.
[he'll.
deal with the kye-sook shit later. kye-sook is always doing things soo-won doesn't want but it's not like he doesn't understand the reasoning,,]
no subject
but she also doesn't know what good telling people who he is will do, either. so - maybe she can keep his secret, even if doing him a favor doesn't quite sit right with her.
...but on the other hand, he hadn't been under any obligation to hide her from the soldiers in awa, and he hadn't been under any obligation not to call for her and hak's capture at any of the other points where their paths have crossed.]
I won't be introducing myself as anything other than "Yona," [since "lena" is no longer an option] so it's not like anyone would have any reason to believe me even if I said you weren't a merchant.
As long as it doesn't seem relevant, I won't say anything.
no subject
he stole those easy choices from her.
he knows that he did.]
... if you choose to [say something], I will live with the consequences.
[he's not interested in stealing her freedom.]
For now, I have no other information on how to return, or why we've been brought here. If the two of us have been brought here, it could be a hostage situation - but the existence of the others present makes that less likely.
[aka they're not likely to be hostages, based on their own answers. they could be lying, but oh well.]
no subject
[if someone does know something, she's going to try and talk to them often enough that she'll be there if they accidentally let something slip. and if no one does know anything - well, better to get to know them so they— so she can know who to trust.
(there's no "they". there hasn't been a "they" since the night he killed her father.)]
But what the message on that... thing said, about us not being kidnapped. That's obviously a lie, so why even bother trying to convince us?
no subject
Others in the message seemed to acknowledge that regardless of what was said, those of us here would be displeased with the situation.
[so it's honestly a wash]
We could take advantage of the disharmony, once we gather more information.
no subject
[yona hums, considering it.]
We could probably confuse them into saying something they didn't mean to if we could talk to them face-to-face.
no subject
[just based on tone??]
They said we would meet them soon, so that means we have to take what preparations we can. Though I've been saying as much to everyone here.
no subject
[though if it takes too long, yona is going to try to break into places she's not supposed to be (again) to drag them out.]
But with as many of us as there are, there's bound to be at least one of us who can make some kind of a connection with them and get some answers. We'll just have to try our best.
no subject
[because if the demands do not favor kouka, then soo-won is absolutely not going to do his best for their hosts - for everyone else?
sure, he'll probably be able to act in everyone's best interests for the time being.
even yona's.
that said, he has nothing else to say to her, and can only imagine his presence makes her uncomfortable, and so he'll move to take his leave.]
The man with the horse body is familiar with medicine, and he's a teacher, so he should be happy to share his knowledge with you for your burns. At least until we get more answers on what else can be done.
no subject
if nothing else, yona doesn't want to get complacent. there are enough strange things in this shop alone that they could easily get distracted and keep themselves occupied for a while, but...
getting distracted isn't going to help them, either.]
Right. He was a little insistent about it, before. [...but of course, soo-won doesn't have any way of knowing that. they haven't talked about who they have and haven't met yet, which means -
he told her that to help her?
her heart clenches uncomfortably, and she shuts that thought down immediately. even if it was to help her, there's probably more reasons behind it, too. because it would be inconvenient for her to be injured, if they're going to have to cooperate to get back to kouka, for one.
still, if she hadn't known before, it would be incredibly helpful. she ought to thank him. she could thank him for the water, so why is it so hard to get the words out now?]
...thank you.
[she manages it, but the words aren't accompanied by the same bright smile she'd always thanked him with in the past.]
no subject
and he can't fathom why.
because there are too many options really. were the words poison in her mouth, and difficult to spit out? did she dislike the fact that he offered the advice to her, because it conflicts with the acts that he'd taken in the past, when he stole all her happiness from her? stubbornness? frustration? disdain?
and knowing all of this, he cannot blame her. even now, after all the times that they've encountered one another, he imagines that she would like to kill him.
but she would never hear the words that he doesn't want the reverse - not when his actions conflict as much as they have.
so instead all he can offer are cautions and advice, the same as he would to anyone else. and he can pretend that he can treat her the same as anyone else.
and he can make play that he abandoned his heart nearly a year ago.]
... you needn't force yourself.
[to thank him. his expression doesn't soften so much as it relaxes.]
Take care.
[he'll leave, before the encounter tears at either of them any worse]