[ as ever, yin yu is observant. he picks up on that tone, the way he moves his hands. the look on his face.
now that the first stone on his shoulder has been loosened, it's easier to let free others. how simple it had been, how nice this could have been, to have a friend who might have understood. ]
...I was not born into it, no. It was something I agreed to do.
[He'll give a nod. The difference between a servant in slavery and one indebted was a large one. While Yin Yu was easy to fall prostrate towards others, it wasn't in the way of someone who was used to being treated that way.]
Can't say I'm surprised. There's a refinement to how you talk that's hard to find in people who haven't known much else.
Was it a position you carried on from your previous life?
[ ... haha. he doesn't quite laugh, but yin yu's mouth twitches. ah... he supposes it makes sense that guy would notice. ]
I... came from a well off family. [ that's not all of it, but it's not wrong, either. ] That was a very long time ago, though: I have worked for Hua Chengzhu for centuries, and only for Hua Chengzhu.
I am no prince. [ well. he was 'his highness yin yu', at one point, but that didn't have much to do with his birth. ] But, my family was the most prominent martial sect in the west, so a bit of both.
[ he cannot emphasize how long ago this was, but. you know. ] Why do you ask?
[ yin yu watches him quietly, taking in the information as carefully as possible. a part of him aches with it: that they are so similar. ]
...How did you come to be where you are, then? [ there's a little tension of anxiety in his stomach. it can't be a good story. he knows - because his wasn't good, either. ]
[It's the answer to both questions that hang in the air.
A beat. His tone stays even, but takes on a serious edge, dancing the line of vulnerability in keeping this as simple as possible.]
My father was a count for Malkuth, a sovereign to the Isle of Hod under Emperor Peony. On my fifth birthday, we'd gathered all of our family and friends at the manor to celebrate.
War broke out that same day, and our island was invaded by Kimlascan troops. They came to the manor.
in the end, it is a story that has been repeated in many places, over many centuries. the history of the world and the wars within it are cruel. ]
I'm sorry for your loss. [ he says, softly, though it doesn't feel large enough. it's not the point of this story, but it is best to say so, anyway. yin yu has lost much, and his family is long dead, but by that point, he was so numb to everything that it just passed him by. ] You survived.
By luck. I was shielded by another and left for dead. I heard the general ordering his troops to kill everyone mercilessly, and laughing all while he did it.
So I vowed to make that general endure the same suffering he had given to me. I found out where he lived, what position he held in our enemy country. And with the help of other survivors... I crossed the border and entered his home in servitude, under an assumed name.
yin yu knows black water sinking ships well enough. he's the closest thing to a "friend" that hua chengzhu has, and he knows the tale of his miserable, terrible life. he was the one who led "ming yi" to the dungeon of paradise manor, who allowed "ming yi" to escape back to the heavens to his "safety", where he had been plotting vengeance against the god who wronged him for hundreds of years.
he doesn't know much of the details, but he knows that for some reason, black water had left the windmaster alive in the process, despite the wrongs done to him by their sibling.
it must not be so different. there's no judgement on yin yu's face, just quiet understanding as he processes the details. ] Was it the young master who made things change?
Edited (i can't speak english apparently) 2020-07-10 11:27 (UTC)
[That seriousness breaks, just enough for his lips to quirk up with a fond warmth.]
Yeah.
...
Originally, I hated him just as much as I hated his father. He had everything I couldn't, groomed to be the tertiary heir to the Kimlascan throne. He was headstrong and rude. Always a brat. Horrible temper. I used to dream about taking my father's sword off their trophy walls and running him through.
[It was both a mockery and a motivation, to have that sword hanging right where he could see it.
...]
When Luke was about ten, he just vanished from the manor. Everyone said it was a kidnapping. He was gone for a while. But when he was finally found... well, he'd forgotten everything. Not just memories, either... He didn't even know how to walk or talk.
[ how odd... in his own world, yin yu would check that up to a memory eating demon, maybe, or him being swapped with a ghost child, or even a possession. he's long since learned that everyone's homes are far different than his, though, so.
aside from a brief flicker at the thought of his father's sword hanging on the wall - truly, how cruel - he doesn't react much, beyond a furrow of his brow in curiosity. ] ...Did you ever discover what happened?
Yeah. Eventually. Not until he was almost eighteen, though. Before then, we all just assumed it was trauma from whatever happened that wiped out everything. It's not completely unheard of. At the time, I didn't care one way or another. I assumed it would all come back someday, and that he'd turn right back into that kid I hated.
But that never happened.
[Another pause. This is getting into complicated territory, verging on a boundary that he doesn't want to cross. But at least he can provide basics.]
You've been around for a while, Yin Yu. Have you ever heard of replication where you're from?
yin yu brings a hand to his mouth, expression thoughtful. ] ...as in, making a copy of something? [ there are demons that can perfectly replicate the appearance of others. ghosts that can, too. his master is an expert shapeshifter, and there are certainly demons or ghosts that will take the place of children and live that way, too.
Close. I'm no expert. But from what I understand, replication normally makes imitations down to a fonic level, but rarely matches the frequency of that object. A replica of a living thing, though, gets a lot more complicated--
[Ah. That's right, they never did explore that...
If Yin Yu starts looking a little lost, Guy's expression will fall sheepish, rubbing at his neck lightly.]
...Right, that's still new for you. I'm sorry. I never really give you that explaination you wanted on our date, did I?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
now that the first stone on his shoulder has been loosened, it's easier to let free others. how simple it had been, how nice this could have been, to have a friend who might have understood. ]
...I was not born into it, no. It was something I agreed to do.
no subject
Can't say I'm surprised. There's a refinement to how you talk that's hard to find in people who haven't known much else.
Was it a position you carried on from your previous life?
[Had Chengzhu been his only master?]
no subject
I... came from a well off family. [ that's not all of it, but it's not wrong, either. ] That was a very long time ago, though: I have worked for Hua Chengzhu for centuries, and only for Hua Chengzhu.
no subject
Damn. We really are more alike than we should be, aren't we...
[How unfair was this, of all times...]
Just a fortunate life? Or something closer to nobility?
no subject
[ he cannot emphasize how long ago this was, but. you know. ] Why do you ask?
no subject
Like I said. Similarities.
[He'll lean forward to rest his chin against his hands, debating visibly on continuing...
But it's fine. He's beyond the point of this information being ammunition. And maybe, just maybe, trusting Yin Yu with it wouldn't be entirely wrong.]
Call it an intuition of someone who was born into that class as well.
no subject
...How did you come to be where you are, then? [ there's a little tension of anxiety in his stomach. it can't be a good story. he knows - because his wasn't good, either. ]
no subject
[It's the answer to both questions that hang in the air.
A beat. His tone stays even, but takes on a serious edge, dancing the line of vulnerability in keeping this as simple as possible.]
My father was a count for Malkuth, a sovereign to the Isle of Hod under Emperor Peony. On my fifth birthday, we'd gathered all of our family and friends at the manor to celebrate.
War broke out that same day, and our island was invaded by Kimlascan troops. They came to the manor.
[An exhale, his fingers tightening reflexively.]
And they slaughtered everyone they found.
no subject
in the end, it is a story that has been repeated in many places, over many centuries. the history of the world and the wars within it are cruel. ]
I'm sorry for your loss. [ he says, softly, though it doesn't feel large enough. it's not the point of this story, but it is best to say so, anyway. yin yu has lost much, and his family is long dead, but by that point, he was so numb to everything that it just passed him by. ] You survived.
no subject
By luck. I was shielded by another and left for dead. I heard the general ordering his troops to kill everyone mercilessly, and laughing all while he did it.
So I vowed to make that general endure the same suffering he had given to me. I found out where he lived, what position he held in our enemy country. And with the help of other survivors... I crossed the border and entered his home in servitude, under an assumed name.
[All as a child. All for revenge.]
no subject
yin yu knows black water sinking ships well enough. he's the closest thing to a "friend" that hua chengzhu has, and he knows the tale of his miserable, terrible life. he was the one who led "ming yi" to the dungeon of paradise manor, who allowed "ming yi" to escape back to the heavens to his "safety", where he had been plotting vengeance against the god who wronged him for hundreds of years.
he doesn't know much of the details, but he knows that for some reason, black water had left the windmaster alive in the process, despite the wrongs done to him by their sibling.
it must not be so different. there's no judgement on yin yu's face, just quiet understanding as he processes the details. ] Was it the young master who made things change?
no subject
Yeah.
...
Originally, I hated him just as much as I hated his father. He had everything I couldn't, groomed to be the tertiary heir to the Kimlascan throne. He was headstrong and rude. Always a brat. Horrible temper. I used to dream about taking my father's sword off their trophy walls and running him through.
[It was both a mockery and a motivation, to have that sword hanging right where he could see it.
...]
When Luke was about ten, he just vanished from the manor. Everyone said it was a kidnapping. He was gone for a while. But when he was finally found... well, he'd forgotten everything. Not just memories, either... He didn't even know how to walk or talk.
no subject
aside from a brief flicker at the thought of his father's sword hanging on the wall - truly, how cruel - he doesn't react much, beyond a furrow of his brow in curiosity. ] ...Did you ever discover what happened?
no subject
But that never happened.
[Another pause. This is getting into complicated territory, verging on a boundary that he doesn't want to cross. But at least he can provide basics.]
You've been around for a while, Yin Yu. Have you ever heard of replication where you're from?
no subject
yin yu brings a hand to his mouth, expression thoughtful. ] ...as in, making a copy of something? [ there are demons that can perfectly replicate the appearance of others. ghosts that can, too. his master is an expert shapeshifter, and there are certainly demons or ghosts that will take the place of children and live that way, too.
but...? otherwise, that's all he knows.
no subject
[Ah. That's right, they never did explore that...
If Yin Yu starts looking a little lost, Guy's expression will fall sheepish, rubbing at his neck lightly.]
...Right, that's still new for you. I'm sorry. I never really give you that explaination you wanted on our date, did I?