{Tantai Jin manages to slip out, his head down and his steps quick - if a little unstable. It wasn't so long ago that he had been beaten and he is still suffering the effects of having been in the ice cold for a week. Rubbing his hands together, he goes to the location on the map and looks around warily.}
[ Zishu is waiting, sitting quietly beside a lake, under a flowering tree - one of many here. Not all that far away is a waterfall, but it's far enough speech won't be an issue. He has a warm fire going. Hearing someone approach, he looks over before standing. ]
Tantai Jin?
[ He frowns a little then, noticing something about that gait that concerns him, and he takes a step forward before stopping and gesturing to the log. ]
{He has the demeanor of one who has been frequently abused; though he meets Zishu's gaze at first, he drops the contact quickly and glances around as if he expects an attack. The fire draws him more than anything. He is usually cold and the frostbite on his hands hasn't healed yet.}
...yes.
{He lowers himself, cautiously onto the log, perplexed by the offer.}
[ Yet Zishu is alone. He's armed, of course, if Tantai Jin notices the flexible sword wrapped around his waist. Leashed fury lashes at him as he watches the telling signs of one sorely used. He kneels before the other, but doesn't immediately start tending those wounds. ]
There is torture for a means, then there is needless, senseless torture. From what you have said, I suspect more of the latter than the former. I dislike senseless torment, and am able to do something about the effects.
{Senseless...? He has been made to feel he deserves his punishments, but he knows he doesn't. Tantai Jin is much smarter than those around him, though he hides it behind his blood and bruises.}
They say I was born without emotions. So it doesn't matter if they hit me or yell at me.
{He swallows and rests his sore hands on his knees.}
[ That makes him chuckle, oddly enough, and he shakes his head a little. ]
I've been called that too. Does it bother you?
[ He tilts his head, studying the other, curious. ]
Yet you said they have done nothing to free you. Another option is to do as you said you wanted to. I could help you, if you ask it of me. The number of opponents has never stopped me from acting as I see fit. That way the Jing would stay free, and you could be too.
They haven't been taking care of you. Instead, they starve and abuse you. Threaten your people if you act out, I'm sure.
[ Zishu does nothing to restrain this 'devil', but is clearly not afraid of him. He watches the exchange between devil and bird with interest, then smirks at those words. ]
I can teach you how to disguise yourself, to the point where even if someone does realize you wear a mask, they can't tell the difference. Only water will remove it, so be mindful of taking a swim around others.
They let me marry one of their daughters. {Now he laughs, the sound harsh.} No, actually, she drugged herself and wanted to sleep with me. When they found us the following morning, they assumed the worst.
{But he hadn't touched her. Just...protected her.}
Can you? If I didn't look like myself, would someone actually care about me?
That doesn't sound like something you wanted. So it's just another freedom they've stolen.
[ His expression softens and he nods. ]
It's a skill my master taught me, and I learned it well. As for could anyone care about you, whoever you look like, yes. It might take you time to find them, but it is possible.
{He shakes his head to indicate that he hadn't wanted the marriage. His wife is horrible to him and the reason he is beaten so frequently.}
...even as a devil? {He finally holds out his frostbitten hands to Zishu.} My nurse said I killed my mother coming into the world. That's why my father hates me. Seeing me just reminded him of how he lost her.
I was born with teeth too. {Tantai Jin hesitates and adds:} I needed blood to live. My nurse gave me hers.
{Tantai Jin watches as if detached, not registering any discomfort or pain.}
My birth was different.
{He waits for Zishu to withdraw in disgust, his heart is beating uncomfortably fast against his ribs.}
...no. I have enough of my own. {That's...supposed to be a joke. Maybe.} I do need food. I don't get enough of that and I lose a lot of blood when I'm beaten. But my body heals quickly.
{Getting even a hint of a smile from Zishu pleases him. Tantai Jin isn't blind or stupid; he knows the other man is beautiful. Someone like Zhou Zishu shouldn't pay him a second glance!}
I don't care. {Food is food.} Ah...thank you.
{He takes the roll and sniffs it, cautious in the way an abused dog might be. But he eventually takes a bite and then another one.}
[ Tantai Jin isn't exactly ugly either! He feels his smile widen, though also goes a bit soft, and he lowers his gaze as he sits back. For the moment he's content with what he's done. He recognizes the way the other eats, and it makes him angry. Instead of eating a roll himself, he takes a sip from a drinking flask. ]
{He has no reason to think he has any attractive features, though, in truth, he takes after his mother. She had been his father's true love, which is why, when she died giving birth to Tantai Jin, he couldn't bear to even look at his son. As if it was somehow a baby's fault.
Glancing up, eyes wild, he finishes the roll.}
Later. {If he eats too much too quickly, he knows it won't stay down.} You're not lying to me, are you?
[ The wild eyes aren't enough to make him back away. He meets them calmly. Then raises a brow and opens the small bag at his side, where he'd pulled out the roll, and reveals a few more rolls.
Oh, he's well aware this isn't what he's being accused of lying about! Still, he's curious to see how Tantai Jin will respond to this simple gesture. ]
[ The reaction delights him into grinning, shoulders shaking a little in silent laughter. He lets the bag fall shut as the seriousness returns, and he leans back against the tree, stretching out a leg casually. ]
I have no reason to lie to you. But, you have no reason to trust me either. It's up to you. I don't care how much danger I'm in, I've lived through plenty.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
chiming
For devilgod
Date: 2023-09-27 04:15 am (UTC)From:Only one way to find out.
<3
Date: 2023-09-27 08:50 am (UTC)From::3
Date: 2023-09-27 06:24 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2023-09-27 11:32 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2023-09-27 11:46 pm (UTC)From:Tantai Jin?
[ He frowns a little then, noticing something about that gait that concerns him, and he takes a step forward before stopping and gesturing to the log. ]
Come, sit. Will you let me look at your wounds?
no subject
Date: 2023-09-27 11:52 pm (UTC)From:...yes.
{He lowers himself, cautiously onto the log, perplexed by the offer.}
Why would you?
no subject
Date: 2023-09-27 11:58 pm (UTC)From:There is torture for a means, then there is needless, senseless torture. From what you have said, I suspect more of the latter than the former. I dislike senseless torment, and am able to do something about the effects.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 12:43 am (UTC)From:They say I was born without emotions. So it doesn't matter if they hit me or yell at me.
{He swallows and rests his sore hands on his knees.}
I don't want to waste your time.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 01:01 am (UTC)From:They're wrong.
[ He gentles his tone as he slowly reaches out to rest a hand on the other's forearm. ]
Even if you decide to return to them, I would not consider helping you to be a waste of time.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 01:05 am (UTC)From:They call me a devil.
{Which isn't incorrect, but he doesn't know his full identity yet.}
I don't have a choice. I am a Prince and as long as I stay their captive, the Jing are free.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 01:09 am (UTC)From:I've been called that too. Does it bother you?
[ He tilts his head, studying the other, curious. ]
Yet you said they have done nothing to free you. Another option is to do as you said you wanted to. I could help you, if you ask it of me. The number of opponents has never stopped me from acting as I see fit. That way the Jing would stay free, and you could be too.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 01:13 am (UTC)From:I don't really care. They can call me whatever they want if they feed me.
{Tantai Jin shifts a little, closer to the fire, letting it warm him. A raven lands at his feet and clearly says something and he nods slowly.}
I would need a new identity. Everyone would recognize my name.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 01:44 am (UTC)From:[ Zishu does nothing to restrain this 'devil', but is clearly not afraid of him. He watches the exchange between devil and bird with interest, then smirks at those words. ]
I can teach you how to disguise yourself, to the point where even if someone does realize you wear a mask, they can't tell the difference. Only water will remove it, so be mindful of taking a swim around others.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 04:11 am (UTC)From:{But he hadn't touched her. Just...protected her.}
Can you? If I didn't look like myself, would someone actually care about me?
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 04:20 am (UTC)From:That doesn't sound like something you wanted. So it's just another freedom they've stolen.
[ His expression softens and he nods. ]
It's a skill my master taught me, and I learned it well. As for could anyone care about you, whoever you look like, yes. It might take you time to find them, but it is possible.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 04:26 am (UTC)From:...even as a devil? {He finally holds out his frostbitten hands to Zishu.} My nurse said I killed my mother coming into the world. That's why my father hates me. Seeing me just reminded him of how he lost her.
I was born with teeth too. {Tantai Jin hesitates and adds:} I needed blood to live. My nurse gave me hers.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 12:43 pm (UTC)From:Sometimes women die during childbirth. It is no fault of the child, or the mother.
[ Needed blood to live? That has him glance up at Tantai Jin, but then he shrugs and returns his attention to fixing up what he's able. ]
That does not mean you're inherently evil. I'm glad your nurse was willing to give you some of her blood. Do you still need it to survive?
no subject
Date: 2023-09-28 01:08 pm (UTC)From:My birth was different.
{He waits for Zishu to withdraw in disgust, his heart is beating uncomfortably fast against his ribs.}
...no. I have enough of my own. {That's...supposed to be a joke. Maybe.} I do need food. I don't get enough of that and I lose a lot of blood when I'm beaten. But my body heals quickly.
{His childhood was just...sad.}
no subject
Date: 2023-10-05 10:48 pm (UTC)From:The attempt at a joke has him roll his eyes, but there's a faint curl to his lips as he glances up. ]
Then let's get you disguised so I can feed you. I've been told my cooking is inedible and bitter.
[ In the meantime though, he holds out a roll. ]
A friend made this. It's safe, if not the most tasty of bread.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-05 11:12 pm (UTC)From:I don't care. {Food is food.} Ah...thank you.
{He takes the roll and sniffs it, cautious in the way an abused dog might be. But he eventually takes a bite and then another one.}
no subject
Date: 2023-10-05 11:36 pm (UTC)From:There's more, if you want it.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-06 12:20 am (UTC)From:Glancing up, eyes wild, he finishes the roll.}
Later. {If he eats too much too quickly, he knows it won't stay down.} You're not lying to me, are you?
no subject
Date: 2023-10-06 12:38 am (UTC)From:Oh, he's well aware this isn't what he's being accused of lying about! Still, he's curious to see how Tantai Jin will respond to this simple gesture. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-10-06 12:43 am (UTC)From:I'm not talking about rolls. I'm talking about everything else you've said. You could be putting yourself in terrible danger.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-06 12:47 am (UTC)From:I have no reason to lie to you. But, you have no reason to trust me either. It's up to you. I don't care how much danger I'm in, I've lived through plenty.
(no subject)
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