wizardmanor | Floor 2, Room 3

[ For a moment, Day is alarmed by Yamato's initial reaction, wondering what on earth happened, and then he notices everything else going on. There's a flare of knee-jerk panic, the kind where someone's going "oh, shit", then everything else hits him, and...

Day relaxes, somewhat. Because yeah, he gets it, too. ]

...Havin' a hard time, huh?

...Haha. Wonder what could've given that away.

[ Embarrassed. He's embarrassed. This is a very deep part of him that he doesn't want others to see, but he actually likes Day, so there will be no lashing out on his end. ]

It's alright, though. Things've always been this way.

[ "Things've always been this way.", and Day finds himself worrying again. It's the sympathy of someone who thinks people ought to be able to be happy. ]

...Do you wanna talk about it? We can take off the rings. [ He's pretty sure it's the rings' fault. ]

...

[ Does he want to talk about it? Not particularly, to be honest, but he's already told a few about his history. And, again, he likes Day. Maybe opening up won't be as bad as he thinks.

He removes his ring quietly, looks down at his hands. ]

I had a hard time with something before I wound up here. I told you that I'm an idol, right? ... I got into a fight with one of the group members. He was frustrated that I didn't open up to him about issues that were clearly bothering me.

[ Day also removes his, filing away a mental note that these rings aren't to be used lightly. The things that show up in his room... ]

What were you keepin' from him? [ He figures it has to be something big for Yamato to be cagey about. ]

...My personal history. All of it. I joined that group to get revenge because of it, and...my motives were impure. I was ashamed to say anything to him about it.

[ And now, he's ashamed of how he acted. So there's that, too. ]

I'm the lovechild of a famous actor and his mistress. He's not my legal father, either. He hid that from me while he was off spearheading a secret group of actors, covering up for each other's dirty secrets. I found out everything on my own.

He never spoke to me about it himself.

[ Day won't claim to totally understand the idol thing—he thinks gets the gist of it, mostly—but he understands scandal and dirty secrets. In that regard, it's not so different from any of the nobility and their politics that he's encountered no matter where he was in Creation. ]

...And I'm guessin' you also didn't want to say anything because of how it might affect the group's reputation? [ It's a bit of a stab in the dark, but he knows how it goes: even if there were ulterior motives, people can't help forming real connections and attachments. And as far as Day could see, Yamato is someone kind enough to feel guilt for both that and potentially putting other people at risk. ]

Yeah. Exactly that.

[ Is he that easy to read, he wonders? He doesn't know how he feels about it, but if Day gets it, if Day understands...talking about it wouldn't have been so bad, after all. ]

If they go down because of me and my history, I -- I don't think I'd ever forgive myself for it. It's been on my mind, since I got here. It's been rough.

[ It might be less that Yamato is easy to read and more Day has somehow gotten a good enough read on him—but who knows?

Day doesn't say anything at first. His fingers lightly tap on the table while he thinks, because while doesn't want to speak recklessly, he doesn't want to seem insincere either. ]

I ain't gonna claim I know them well, but from what I can tell you have people who love you enough to come runnin' after you. I think anyone who'd want to grab hold of you like that ain't gonna be so concerned 'bout things like "liability" so much as they'd be worried 'bout your happiness. It ain't like you can find love like that on the ground every day, yeah? [ He should know a thing or two about that. ]

And, well... [ There's a very wry, dry smile. ] A lot of things survive scandal more often than you'd think. But a love that is severed usually can't be fixed, and I think you already know what's more important.

Edited 2024-05-07 07:59 (UTC)

...Day...

[ The words he's saying -- even if he doesn't know IDOLiSH7, even if he doesn't know the truth, his words are at least comforting. And somehow, they seem right. Does he love IDOLiSH7? Do they love him, too?

Yes. And...yes, is his hope. Maybe one day he'll be able to believe it fully. For now, though, this will do.

His lips curl upward into a smile. ]

Thank you. I mean it.

[ He's a good guy, Yamato thinks, and if they were still wearing their rings, Day'd have felt that gratefulness radiating from him. ]

I needed someone to tell me that, I think.

[ Day returns the smile, warm and gentle. He rests an elbow on the table, so he can prop his head up with a hand. ]

You're welcome. Everyone needs a little push now and then.

And I guess it's already obvious, but you don't gotta worry about the whole hidden lovechild thing with me. Technically I'd count as a bastard myself?

I kind of got that, yeah.

[ Another one, huh. Geez. He, Malice, and Day should form a club at this point. ]

Do you feel like talking about that? Might be nice to commiserate or something, but it's up to you. I know it's a sensitive subject for a lot of people. It is for me.

[ But he opened up anyway. That, to him, says more about Day than it does himself. ]

[ And Day is going to be grateful every day that Yamato decided to share it with him. These days, his own background doesn't bother him much (in part because there are other, more important things to concern himself with). ]

Haha, it ain't anything excitin'. I'm a shrine foundlin'. Left on the steps outside the local shrine as a babe. The monk there was pretty unimpressed with whoever my parents were, but she took me in and raised me along with another kid.

It's just that in a small town out in the countryside, lookin' like this—[ He gestures at his hair. ] —stands out a lot, 'cause you don't see this with the locals. And I was a really rowdy kid.

You, rowdy? Somehow, I can see it.

[ He says this with a little laugh. Day seems a little more soft-spoken now, so the image is kind of adorable. ]

That's nice, though, that someone took you in. It's good you had a family. ... Do you still talk to any of them?

[ He doesn't know how to feel about the fact that everyone who's commented on it has said they can see him as a rowdy kid, especially because he knows that sometimes meant he was a pretty delinquent one. Look, he knows he has an arm tattoo that doesn't help that impression, but still.

...But at that question: ]

Been years since I last saw them. [ And in contrast to what he's saying, Day is smiling. It's almost reflexive because Day takes one principle from the Scripture of the Hunted Maiden to heart: "smiling at your troubles".

It probably seems lonely, how easily this all just happens. ]

Years, huh?

[ Hmm. Yamato wonders if there's more to it than just that. He thinks of his own situation and ponders that it might be so. Does he ask?

...Yes. Yes, he does. ]

Is that good or a bad thing?

Haha, well... [ Something complicated crosses his face, like he doesn't know what his answer is. ] Some of it's 'cause I haven't had time. [ Which is true, on some level. ] The other bit is...

You mind if I tell you a bit of a story? See whether you think it's a good or bad thing. [ They may as well, why they're here with drinks and a ton of feelings already as is. ]

Not at all. I've got time for it.

[ He says like he has anything else to do right now, but he'll hear Day out. Day gave him the time of day (haha), after all, so he ought to do the same. ]

[ Hope you're ready then, Yamato. ]

There's this story back home, 'bout how a long time ago the Five Elemental Dragons gave their blood to a group of mortals and blessed them with the power to control the elements. I dunno how true that is, but it’s true there're people who can do that, and the ability is passed down through the blood. We call them Dragon-Blooded, or Princes of the Earth, and bein' one's a big deal. People think it's a sign of...[ There's a moment where Day makes a face. ] Spiritual enlightenment. That in exchange for innate power, they have a duty to their spiritual lessers.

On the isle where I grew up, most of them are from the nobility, but it's the kinda thing that can skip generations, and it ain't like Dynasts don't have their illicit trysts. So sometimes a lowborn commoner awakens that power, 'cause somewhere in their family tree there was someone with the blood of dragons in 'em. And when that happens, by law you gotta report them to one of the ministries. The arbiters come to take custody and bring them to get "properly educated" as a Prince of the Earth, 'cause by decree they're now an adopted child of the Empress. [ Does he sound a little bitter here? Maybe. ]

It happened to my sister when we were 'bout sixteen. Second time I ever managed to convince her to ditch lessons. We went to the woods right outside of town to hide and just hang out for a while 'fore I was supposed to leave for the city. And...I dunno, somethin' must have happened there, 'cause by the time we went back she was sproutin' flowers in her hair. Everyone in town was so excited. [ He says this, but even now when he's just recalling it, he sounds distinctly unexcited. ] Kept congratulatin' her and couldn't wait to report it to the arbiters.

Edited (I keep forgetting his accent,) 2024-05-09 19:11 (UTC)

[ Yamato is quiet as Day speaks, as he tells the story of a legend and about how his sister had gotten her powers awakened. This truly sounds like a fairytale to him, but he's aware it's very, very real.

There's more to it, though. The story just doesn't end there, does it? ]

What happened after that? Did they take her in?

Well, yeah. It ain't like she could hide from the authorities forever even if she wanted to. Took 'em a few days to come since we're a little out of the way, but they came, and she went without makin' any fuss once they were at our door. We said our goodbyes the night before.

[ (And it had hurt, because at that moment when they hugged each other tight, they both knew come morning their paths would diverge and likely never cross again. She wasn't just leaving, she was moving to a different station in life out of his reach, in service to a greater destiny that didn't have room for anything before it.) ]

But, you know... [ A dry laugh. ] After she left, I went to the city to look for an apprenticeship, and the funny thing is I found out the place she got taken to was just a day out from the city. So of course I got it in my head to try seein' her there. It's called the Obsidian Mirror, can't miss somethin' that dark and imposin' out in the open.

But ain't no way they're gonna let a peasant approach where they're trainin' new Princes of the Earth. Got caught by the patrollin' Black-Helms, and they caned me for tresspassin' on the spot. [ For emphasis, and maybe a bit of black humor, he makes a light chopping motion in one hand onto his other palm. ] Getting whacked 'cross the back hurts like hell, who knew? I tried twice after, got caught and whacked some more each time.

After the third time, one of them told me if they caught me again, I'd be goin' to jail. Maybe even just executed for repeat offences, though he mighta said that only to scare me outta it. [ If Day wants to be charitable about it, anyway. ]

...And that was it. Didn't try again. Haven't seen her since. [ And there is that smile again; reflexive, bitter, and cynical all at once. ]

...That's...

[ That's kind of heartbreaking, actually. Forbidden to see someone you care about because of something beyond your control. All this talk about people missing their families is making Yamato really reflect on his own situation.

He can sense that Day is far from happy about this, even if that smile is practiced.

He's familiar with doing it himself, after all. ]

There's no way they'll let you see her, even though they're the ones who took her from you, huh. And they had to be violent about it, too.

[ That's how powerful people work, he guesses. Even if he's in no position to criticize them, given his current standing in society, but. ]

I'm sorry, Day.

To be fair, I think...even if this hadn't happened, we prob'ly still wouldn't be seein' each other much. She wanted to become a monk and I doubt that's changed. Prob'ly one by now. Usually joinin' the order means you put yourself pretty far away from your secular life. And when I wanted to head for the stage, that's even further away from where she was goin'.

[ It's just that rather than bidding farewell when they were ready, it had to happen the way it did instead. ]

...But thanks for listenin' to this, even if it ain't a happy story.

Edited 2024-05-10 07:43 (UTC)

Yeah. I get that.

[ He doesn't have much more to say, but his expression is one of understanding and sympathy. He wishes he had a family member he'd like to see again, but alas. Still, Day's pain is valid and real, and he gives him a soft smile. ]

Of course. It's fine if it's not a happy story. Not like what I told you was one, either, anyway.

Floor 2, Room 3

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