That makes two of us. [He's probably been able to figure that out already, as well. They may be alike in more than just their tendency to tell unpleasant jokes at inappropriate times.]
In the end, I don't really care about what happens to the world back home. So that's one advantage I've got on you, at least.
You very nearly did. [Not to bring the mood down, but sometimes one can do with the reminder that the coldness of reality doesn't really care about the people in your care.]
You must have one of those close-knit cohorts... a gaggle of misfits who do their jobs remarkably well regardless and see one another as family.
[ Ah. Well, she’s right about that, and he can’t deny it.
But he glances away at the mention of close cohorts. ]
Most people under my charge are afraid of me, with good reason. I’ve never mistreated them, but the circumstances in which I gathered them were not… ideal. [ He half-shrugs. ] I do have one or two people I’m close to, though, so you’re right about that.
Is that so? [She had actually taken him for a leader more prone to adopting his charges, taking in those with no other place to go so that they felt welcomed and useful.] That's very imperialist of you.
Though my former unit knew nothing about my particular talents when I first joined them, even our time spent together didn't make them that much more understanding. Is it the same for you?
I rescued them by killing a lot of people. Given that most of them aren't particularly strong, I believe they were afraid I would come after them at some point.
[ But... hmm. He thinks for a moment. ]
I think that they've come to accept what I do because it protects them from further harm. They've begun doing small things for me out of kindness rather than fear, so I hope that they'll get past that hurdle one day.
[Waltaquin thinks about this for a moment, but in the end it turns out she doesn't really need that much time to ponder it.]
They should be grateful to you rather than afraid. It's just easier to be afraid of things that are stronger than you. It sounds like they're learning the lesson, though.
[...Maybe that's what they're all doing here, too. Humiliating.]
[ He laughs softly, that same thought crossing his mind. ]
Mm, I think they’re learning it. Though if I were to be completely honest with you, I wouldn’t care if they hated me. In the end, I got them out of a terrible situation and did what I thought was right. The rest doesn’t matter.
[ It actually does matter, but Wei Wuxian just has a lot of issues. ]
[ He picks up on that and wonders… does she mean those words positively or not? Regardless, he waves his hand. ]
What I think is right is not what everyone else thinks is right, so I’m no hero. I have no qualms torturing someone that has personally wronged me, whether or not they’re otherwise a good person.
[The similarity hits between them just keep coming...]
That kind of hero is everywhere in war. They give some of them medals.
[She draws her hands close to her and begins fidgeting them together, but whatever mood was there has probably already passed, because she smiles again.]
As far as I'm concerned, you should be well-decorated. What would you call yourself?
[ Hmm. The moment may have passed, but he wonders if she’ll still be bothered by it later on. ]
Nothing. I never saved anyone without killing many others in their place. I think that hardly deserves any medals.
[ He smiles a little, figuring he can just turn the question around on her instead. It doesn’t matter if she’s never been in a war, she can use this as a hypothetical. ]
Oh, this is an easy question: I'd call myself Waltaquin.
[The Blue Foxes had been tight-knight, as mercenary and military groups often are, but she'd never been able to buy into the camaraderie, not completely. She had joined when they were interesting, left when she could no longer abide by what they wanted.]
I earned my share of decorations and demerits, too. We were well equipped to do the Kingdom's dirty work.
[ He sits up a little bit straighter in bed. Every little bit he finds out about Waltaquin just makes him more and more interested in finding out whatever he can about her. ]
You know precisely what constitutes dirty work, Wei Wuxian, and the breadth of what it encompasses. You sound like a noble, playing coy.
[Making political enemies disappear is only a part of it... One of those most interesting parts, of course. She doesn't mind her spot of gossip now and then, though.]
The group started as mercenaries, but garnered reputation over time in service to the crown.
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[ Something it seems they have in common! ]
So, yes. I’m frustrated. I have a lot of things I need to do back home, and instead I’m hoping that I or someone I care for doesn’t die.
[ It isn’t great. ]
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In the end, I don't really care about what happens to the world back home. So that's one advantage I've got on you, at least.
[The second part notably doesn't get a comment.]
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At least he has enough tact to not bring it up. ]
It is. [ He smiles a little. ] I’d consider leaving my world for good if I didn’t have people under my watch.
[ But he's very much tied to his duty and the people he loves. ]
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You must have one of those close-knit cohorts... a gaggle of misfits who do their jobs remarkably well regardless and see one another as family.
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But he glances away at the mention of close cohorts. ]
Most people under my charge are afraid of me, with good reason. I’ve never mistreated them, but the circumstances in which I gathered them were not… ideal. [ He half-shrugs. ] I do have one or two people I’m close to, though, so you’re right about that.
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Though my former unit knew nothing about my particular talents when I first joined them, even our time spent together didn't make them that much more understanding. Is it the same for you?
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[ But... hmm. He thinks for a moment. ]
I think that they've come to accept what I do because it protects them from further harm. They've begun doing small things for me out of kindness rather than fear, so I hope that they'll get past that hurdle one day.
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They should be grateful to you rather than afraid. It's just easier to be afraid of things that are stronger than you. It sounds like they're learning the lesson, though.
[...Maybe that's what they're all doing here, too. Humiliating.]
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Mm, I think they’re learning it. Though if I were to be completely honest with you, I wouldn’t care if they hated me. In the end, I got them out of a terrible situation and did what I thought was right. The rest doesn’t matter.
[ It actually does matter, but Wei Wuxian just has a lot of issues. ]
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She turns her head a little too far to the side when he says that doing what was right had been the only thing that matters to him.]
Hahaha, you're actually quite a hero, despite being one who handles the dead. It must actually be excruciating.
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What I think is right is not what everyone else thinks is right, so I’m no hero. I have no qualms torturing someone that has personally wronged me, whether or not they’re otherwise a good person.
I think “hero” is better-suited for someone else.
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That kind of hero is everywhere in war. They give some of them medals.
[She draws her hands close to her and begins fidgeting them together, but whatever mood was there has probably already passed, because she smiles again.]
As far as I'm concerned, you should be well-decorated. What would you call yourself?
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Nothing. I never saved anyone without killing many others in their place. I think that hardly deserves any medals.
[ He smiles a little, figuring he can just turn the question around on her instead. It doesn’t matter if she’s never been in a war, she can use this as a hypothetical. ]
What would you call yourself, Waltaquin?
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[The Blue Foxes had been tight-knight, as mercenary and military groups often are, but she'd never been able to buy into the camaraderie, not completely. She had joined when they were interesting, left when she could no longer abide by what they wanted.]
I earned my share of decorations and demerits, too. We were well equipped to do the Kingdom's dirty work.
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[ He sits up a little bit straighter in bed. Every little bit he finds out about Waltaquin just makes him more and more interested in finding out whatever he can about her. ]
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[Making political enemies disappear is only a part of it... One of those most interesting parts, of course. She doesn't mind her spot of gossip now and then, though.]
The group started as mercenaries, but garnered reputation over time in service to the crown.
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So, you excelled in your work. [ Hm. ] What is your team like?
[ With the way Waltaquin is, he can't help but wonder who she works best with. ]