Tch. That saying's not wrong, that's for damn sure. But... what the hell else can you do, right? Besides, we're in a whole different world now. That's got to mean something.
[Because it can't mean nothing. They... can't mean nothing.
A fighter with one hand. A visionary who's half blind. And the heart of their group had somehow lost hers along the way. Someone out there has a sick sense of humour.
He wonders at first if he's just imagining things, the subtle little tension in his neck and pause in his breathing every time he brushes over the spot. But soon enough he realizes there's something more to it, and when it dawns on him just what that something could be, he takes in a sharper breath of his own. What if he just pays a little extra attention to his nape? Brushing a knuckle over the soft flesh just to see what happens. What he can do.
He already feels his stomach tightening with self-loathing that he could think such a thing at a time like this. That even if he tries to force it out of his mind now the thought will inevitably push itself to the forefront of his mind the next time he needs to relieve a little personal tension whether he wants it to or not.
[He's unaware to whatever stopped Mallory from washing his back, though he isn't going to admit that it's fine to touch him there any time soon. That would certainly be awkward, and he's certain that as loyal and kind as Mallory is to him, there are limits to how much friendship allows you to do- much so just to null his loneliness, even for a brief second. If only he knew.
No, he needs to stop this, Luna's selfish as it is to even think an idea like that, using his friend's loyalty and almost unquestionable kindness. He needs to focus on the actual conversation.]
Something...
[Could it really mean anything at all? The Witch tempted here just so they can fulfil their debts- he isn't sure how long that would be considering his own is to repay for not ruining just one life but two. As far as he's concern, he'll be here for more than decades. As bad that is, he accepts his fate, because the old world is rebuilding itself without him. And Mallory... well, he isn't suppose to be alive.
They're both scrapped out of the old world and won't be seeing it regrow any time soon. Unless...]
Correct my memory, is Koriko specifically a resort island with mostly entertainments and venues?
[Working here, he'd call it more like a prison island, or some kind of human zoo. He pulls his attention away from Luna's neck, hating himself for daring to breach his trust once again, and resumes a much more straightforward rubdown of the rest of his back.
He too needs to focus on the actual conversation.]
What're you thinking...?
[He shouldn't even have to say that of course Luna can count him in on any plan he has in mind.]
[Of course someone as shady as The Witch would be exploiting child labour where she can. Besides, nobody's as full of ambitious dreams and wishes like someone too young to have them crushed yet.
He leans over to start refilling the wash bucket. He... might see where this is going? Time to test the waters, as it were.]
Most of them definitely look too young to have even graduated high school yet.
[He nods with a small 'hmph' sound, that's exactly it.]
The Witch mostly employs teenagers, most of them being around the age of high schoolers. We also both know at this point that, as workers, we're only provided with the barest minimum necessities. Anything else had to be purchased or organized by ourselves.
[And personally, considering it's by no means a post-apocalyptic environment, it doesn't sit entirely well for him. He fold his arms together, closing his eye as he thinks through the following.]
I dislike the idea of kids missing out they can do more beyond what's in front of them.
[Whether it had been Hope's Peak or the Witch, it's common to dismiss potential beyond the naked eye and the children themselves then are programmed to think the same due to their impressionable age.]
It's... easy to think the future is bleak, it's not just you, I would have become a different man if Tengan hadn't guided me on the way. But not just him, building the right enviroment and meeting both you and Chisa really what shaped my adulthood.
Having the right kind of mentors and environment really changes you. After all, youth can't be wasted by being rotten oranges.
[They'll have to turn everyone into youthful jam, is what she would have said.]
[So that spark really didn't die out in him after all. A proud smile spreads across Mal's face as he listens to it roar back to life in Luna's words. Despite his claims that he could have turned out entirely different, Mal just can't imagine him any other way. Those ideals have been a part of him as long as they've known each other, and his passion has always been contagious.
His heart thumps a little harder again, and he wants so badly to just embrace the man in front of him and welcome him back, but, uh. Better keep it to just casually rinsing the suds off his back instead.]
I think I know a guy who'd make a great mentor. Someone with enough conviction to follow through with his ideals and offer hope to even kids stuck with slave labour like this. I'd even say he's a bit of an inspiration to me.
[He stands and circles around to Luna's front, extending his hand out to him.]
I miiight also know a guy who somehow got stuck in HR who might be able to pull a few strings to make this work. You know. If you really want to make your dreams come true.
[It certainly won't be a smooth road ahead of him- them. But given the time and patience, they could pool enough resources to make this work. There's an odd timing when he feels hot water running down his back as he thinks in delight at the thought of planning ideas and trying to make them a reality. A brighter future.
He breaks out a small grin as his hand reach out to Mallory's.]
I hope you introduce these people to me, we could use all the help we could get, and they seem more than perfect for the job.
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Tch. That saying's not wrong, that's for damn sure. But... what the hell else can you do, right? Besides, we're in a whole different world now. That's got to mean something.
[Because it can't mean nothing. They... can't mean nothing.
A fighter with one hand. A visionary who's half blind. And the heart of their group had somehow lost hers along the way. Someone out there has a sick sense of humour.
He wonders at first if he's just imagining things, the subtle little tension in his neck and pause in his breathing every time he brushes over the spot. But soon enough he realizes there's something more to it, and when it dawns on him just what that something could be, he takes in a sharper breath of his own. What if he just pays a little extra attention to his nape? Brushing a knuckle over the soft flesh just to see what happens. What he can do.
He already feels his stomach tightening with self-loathing that he could think such a thing at a time like this. That even if he tries to force it out of his mind now the thought will inevitably push itself to the forefront of his mind the next time he needs to relieve a little personal tension whether he wants it to or not.
He really is... so wrong.]
no subject
If only he knew.No, he needs to stop this, Luna's selfish as it is to even think an idea like that, using his friend's loyalty and almost unquestionable kindness. He needs to focus on the actual conversation.]
Something...
[Could it really mean anything at all? The Witch tempted here just so they can fulfil their debts- he isn't sure how long that would be considering his own is to repay for not ruining just one life but two. As far as he's concern, he'll be here for more than decades. As bad that is, he accepts his fate, because the old world is rebuilding itself without him. And Mallory... well, he isn't suppose to be alive.
They're both scrapped out of the old world and won't be seeing it regrow any time soon. Unless...]
Correct my memory, is Koriko specifically a resort island with mostly entertainments and venues?
no subject
[Working here, he'd call it more like a prison island, or some kind of human zoo. He pulls his attention away from Luna's neck, hating himself for daring to breach his trust once again, and resumes a much more straightforward rubdown of the rest of his back.
He too needs to focus on the actual conversation.]
What're you thinking...?
[He shouldn't even have to say that of course Luna can count him in on any plan he has in mind.]
no subject
[You might be seeing where this is all going.]
no subject
The majority of them, I'd say.
[Of course someone as shady as The Witch would be exploiting child labour where she can. Besides, nobody's as full of ambitious dreams and wishes like someone too young to have them crushed yet.
He leans over to start refilling the wash bucket. He... might see where this is going? Time to test the waters, as it were.]
Most of them definitely look too young to have even graduated high school yet.
no subject
The Witch mostly employs teenagers, most of them being around the age of high schoolers. We also both know at this point that, as workers, we're only provided with the barest minimum necessities. Anything else had to be purchased or organized by ourselves.
[And personally, considering it's by no means a post-apocalyptic environment, it doesn't sit entirely well for him. He fold his arms together, closing his eye as he thinks through the following.]
I dislike the idea of kids missing out they can do more beyond what's in front of them.
[Whether it had been Hope's Peak or the Witch, it's common to dismiss potential beyond the naked eye and the children themselves then are programmed to think the same due to their impressionable age.]
It's... easy to think the future is bleak, it's not just you, I would have become a different man if Tengan hadn't guided me on the way. But not just him, building the right enviroment and meeting both you and Chisa really what shaped my adulthood.
Having the right kind of mentors and environment really changes you. After all, youth can't be wasted by being rotten oranges.
[They'll have to turn everyone into youthful jam, is what she would have said.]
no subject
His heart thumps a little harder again, and he wants so badly to just embrace the man in front of him and welcome him back, but, uh. Better keep it to just casually rinsing the suds off his back instead.]
I think I know a guy who'd make a great mentor. Someone with enough conviction to follow through with his ideals and offer hope to even kids stuck with slave labour like this. I'd even say he's a bit of an inspiration to me.
[He stands and circles around to Luna's front, extending his hand out to him.]
I miiight also know a guy who somehow got stuck in HR who might be able to pull a few strings to make this work. You know. If you really want to make your dreams come true.
no subject
He breaks out a small grin as his hand reach out to Mallory's.]
I hope you introduce these people to me, we could use all the help we could get, and they seem more than perfect for the job.
no subject