[Hmm...This kid is probably a human. How much can Bradley say about magic?]
For someone with magic, it's not too hard to make 'em forget somethin'. Or he could be so far into whatever nonsense he's up to that he's forgotten that we're new here. This place is too set up for it to have only been us here ever.
[Previous groups, or they have been here longer than they know. Both are possible, and he's not sure which sounds worse.]
[ he sounds increasingly nervous, but what he’s thinking of now scares him. he can’t not say it. he doesn't want to be the only person thinking this. ]
[ at the end of the day, before yoru makes his way back to the villa he stops by the gallery. he tears off one of the their handmade posters. and then another. ripping them all up until all evidence of their little prank is gone. just like all evidence of the crime that had falsely sentenced siffrin to their own execution. gone, all gone.
the pieces of childish innocence fall to the ground like snow, like ash.
[ if this had been the first week, he would have pulled away. since then, it’s taken him less time to get used to touch. he seems faintly surprised that bradley would even bother with him.
but his hand is warm, just as siffrin’s was warm. ]
Bradley… do you think… if we broke all the clocks, time would stop. And we could save Siffrin?
Well. I wouldn't say that's all you're made for. You sure seem to enjoy your time with Cain. And don't think I didn't see everyone who jumped to your defense either.
'sides, there's nothing wrong with killing, so long as it's for a good reason.
[He actually has to think on that for a moment. DOES Cain have someone back home?]
I don't think so...I know he's devoted to Central's Prince, but that's knight-duty stuff. Not romantic. Being a Sage's Wizard doesn't give either of us much time to look for love anyway.
What's more, if he did have someone, he wouldn't be gettin' involved with you here. That's not how he is.
[The blue-haired boy...Brad glances down, trying to hide how much the reminder hurts him.]
I wanna be a dad. I could do it, I came from a big family and helped take care of countless nieces 'n nephews. But having kids comes with all new fears, like not bein' able to protect them. Wizards aren't exactly seen as good guys in my world, and that danger would be passed on to my kids.
[This doesn't not explain why the kid had blue hair though.]
… Will you be a good one? I hope you can. Promise you won’t drink in front of them? Promise you won’t let it turn you into a monster? Promise you won’t use them when you need something to hurt? Promise you won’t sell them off for pieces of paper that mean nothing?
[ money or paper, it all burns the same in the end. ]
...you know Cain, so you gotta know I can't make promises at all. But I'm not gonna half-ass bein' a dad. My mom was a great mom, and I helped take care of all of my nieces 'n nephews, so I know what a good parent takes. No drinking in front of 'em, no being an asshole to 'em, no using 'em for hurting nor selling.
[Basically, restating Yoru's worries without making promises.
He pauses, considering something.]
...might not have a dozen kids in 15 years like Mom did. That was a lot for her.
Yeah, two or three is a good number. My dad had so many because he wanted a wizard kid to live out the centuries with him, but then he went and died before I was even an adult. I don't care if my kids are human or wizard, I'll love 'em regardless.
Well...he was good to me, but ignored my human siblings. If I had grown up around him, I might've turned out the same way. Then I wouldn't have met Nero or anyone else.
So...I dunno. I do miss him, but I like the life I have now.
It depends. If both parents are wizards, then the kid'll be a wizard too. But my mom was a human, and most of the time a wizard and a human will have a human kid.
[As for the rest...Brad just rubs at the back of his neck.]
Mom 'n my brothers 'n sisters were all human, and they lived normal human lives. They all passed away before I was 100.
...I lived through burying my mom and my siblings. And their kids, and their grandkids, and great-grandkids. I know it's not the same as losing your own kid, but I think I'm better prepared than most are.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Week 1, Sunday
That guy turned into a fucking dragon.
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[ his chest still feels tender from worry, but it’s not as bad as when they were watching everyone. ]
I was so nervous, but Hwylryn… he did it.
[ oops sorry he sounds kinda proud. ]
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Not surprising, knowing he's a dragon. But I wonder how Ish knew he was one.
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He knows… a lot about us. I’m sure he knows things that we haven’t even told each other.
[ like, as a collective group. ]
And today he said, “another week,” but it’s only been one for us. Hasn’t… it…?
[ yoru’s memory is pretty bad, but. ]
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[Hmm...This kid is probably a human. How much can Bradley say about magic?]
For someone with magic, it's not too hard to make 'em forget somethin'. Or he could be so far into whatever nonsense he's up to that he's forgotten that we're new here. This place is too set up for it to have only been us here ever.
[Previous groups, or they have been here longer than they know. Both are possible, and he's not sure which sounds worse.]
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[ he sounds increasingly nervous, but what he’s thinking of now scares him. he can’t not say it. he doesn't want to be the only person thinking this. ]
What if… how do we know our memories are… real…
w2: saturday night's alright for fighting
the pieces of childish innocence fall to the ground like snow, like ash.
he swallows and just looks down at his feet. ]
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Brad walks over and gently covers Yoru's hand with his own. He won't say anything at first, letting Yoru get used to the gesture.
It's alright, he gets it.]
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but his hand is warm, just as siffrin’s was warm. ]
Bradley… do you think… if we broke all the clocks, time would stop. And we could save Siffrin?
Week 3, post-trial
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spins wheel!
bradley can find yoru at the pagoda in the garden, gazing contemplatively at the pond. when yoru sees him, he just smiles faintly and says: ]
You found me.
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[He is careful to avoid the word 'promise' there though.
Brad goes up to the pagoda to sit down by Yoru.]
Are you the same one from earlier today?
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[ jin doesn’t know anything after all. ]
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[He frowns. While he's older and more able to survive the horrors of this place, it's still not easy.]
So...if, hypothetically speaking, "Yoru" was to do a murder, that would be you and not him, right? Since he wouldn't be able to handle it at all.
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You don’t have to be hypothetical. I do kill for us. I’ve always. I was born from him to do just that because he can’t.
[ … ]
You could say that’s all I’m made for.
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'sides, there's nothing wrong with killing, so long as it's for a good reason.
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That’s just it. I only have selfish reasons for what I do.
[ but cain’s name brings that tight, conflicting feeling in his chest. it’s a helpless thing. what can he do about cain? ]
Cain… he has someone, doesn’t he? Back where you’re from.
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I don't think so...I know he's devoted to Central's Prince, but that's knight-duty stuff. Not romantic. Being a Sage's Wizard doesn't give either of us much time to look for love anyway.
What's more, if he did have someone, he wouldn't be gettin' involved with you here. That's not how he is.
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[ but he thinks about cain’s fears this week and he thinks about that stranger’s face wearing cain’s eyes. ]
He’s not - [ he picks at his nails. ugh, a bad habit from jin. he makes himself stop. ] He’s not in love with me or anything.
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Wait, is it just a sex thing then?!
[He sounds surprised. He didn't think Cain could do that.]
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yoru opens his mouth. snaps it shut. then tilts his head. ]
It was just a sex thing.
[ a game. a really fun game. ]
He does care, but that’s different from having feelings. Isn’t it?
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[He pauses, considering.]
I think he just always cares regardless. I've never seen him half-ass anything, that's just how he is. You might wanna ask him to clarify it.
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[ but he shakes his head about cain. ]
No. No, I don’t think I will.
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I wanna be a dad. I could do it, I came from a big family and helped take care of countless nieces 'n nephews. But having kids comes with all new fears, like not bein' able to protect them. Wizards aren't exactly seen as good guys in my world, and that danger would be passed on to my kids.
[This doesn't not explain why the kid had blue hair though.]
cw: dv and ca, child trafficking, alcoholism
… Will you be a good one? I hope you can. Promise you won’t drink in front of them? Promise you won’t let it turn you into a monster? Promise you won’t use them when you need something to hurt? Promise you won’t sell them off for pieces of paper that mean nothing?
[ money or paper, it all burns the same in the end. ]
You don’t want them to end up like me.
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[Basically, restating Yoru's worries without making promises.
He pauses, considering something.]
...might not have a dozen kids in 15 years like Mom did. That was a lot for her.
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[ some things are worth the risks. ]
… Two seems like a good number.
[ fifteen is… a lot. ]
A big one and a little one. They’ll never be lonely that way.
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Yeah, two or three is a good number. My dad had so many because he wanted a wizard kid to live out the centuries with him, but then he went and died before I was even an adult. I don't care if my kids are human or wizard, I'll love 'em regardless.
[He won't be like his shitty dad.]
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So...I dunno. I do miss him, but I like the life I have now.
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You say… human… so wizardry is by chance? Wait, do your human siblings live as long?
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[As for the rest...Brad just rubs at the back of his neck.]
Mom 'n my brothers 'n sisters were all human, and they lived normal human lives. They all passed away before I was 100.
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[ he’s lost his entire family. ]
But it sounds like they’re still in your heart. Even when you’re in your thousands, I hope you don’t forget.
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[Even hundreds of years after they passed, he still loves them dearly.]
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Bradley, will you… be able to live through the heartbreak of losing a human child?
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Mm… I think I underestimated you. Should I apologize?
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