[ Smitten... was he being smitten? Was he falling for the most obvious tricks in the book? Or was that just a seasoning, a surface level, and what he was really intrigued by, fascinated by, was the man quick-witted and sharp-edged underneath?
Blade, that's what in the end both of them are. ]
Yeah, yer thinking right. That's exactly where it led. Thought they'll just take my finger— Don't worry, I'm never going to consider a mistake something that I would definitely do it again.
I just wish I was smarter about doing it— [ How exactly smarter? He's still not sure. ] But appeasing enough Orbs is the first thing to worry about.
I sensed ya got a story, but shit— didn't expect that. I'm sorry things went south for you. Can't even imagine someone scorning yer kinship. Worse, taking advantage of your bond. Ya deserve so much better Zhao, I can only hope that ya know it. Not in yer cute teasing way where ya brush that away or make it pass through one ear to another. I mean, that can happen, all the way too, but before it goes into jokes and fun, I just hope the respect I got for ya sinks in.
[ . . . ]
——gonna say it does feel mad good to hear someone curse my own shadows on my behalf. Cannot officially endorse it, but I do appreciate it.
[After all he is still going back there, somehow. But that dark chuckle is going to be a secret between them. ]
Ya know, we're right here. I'd exchange sake cups with ya, if we make it through this shithole.
[ Isn't that how most of those sworn brothers are made? Especially spanning different families and clans. Bonded through fire in a shithole. Instead of prison, they got desert and a half-real town with no food. ]
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Blade, that's what in the end both of them are. ]
Yeah, yer thinking right. That's exactly where it led. Thought they'll just take my finger— Don't worry, I'm never going to consider a mistake something that I would definitely do it again.
I just wish I was smarter about doing it— [ How exactly smarter? He's still not sure. ] But appeasing enough Orbs is the first thing to worry about.
I sensed ya got a story, but shit— didn't expect that. I'm sorry things went south for you. Can't even imagine someone scorning yer kinship. Worse, taking advantage of your bond. Ya deserve so much better Zhao, I can only hope that ya know it. Not in yer cute teasing way where ya brush that away or make it pass through one ear to another. I mean, that can happen, all the way too, but before it goes into jokes and fun, I just hope the respect I got for ya sinks in.
[ . . . ]
——gonna say it does feel mad good to hear someone curse my own shadows on my behalf. Cannot officially endorse it, but I do appreciate it.
[After all he is still going back there, somehow. But that dark chuckle is going to be a secret between them. ]
Ya know, we're right here. I'd exchange sake cups with ya, if we make it through this shithole.
[ Isn't that how most of those sworn brothers are made? Especially spanning different families and clans. Bonded through fire in a shithole. Instead of prison, they got desert and a half-real town with no food. ]