// I'd take the fall—I got you covered when there's no one at all //
Ronin’s reassurance earns a quiet glance from Kaisel. He doesn’t know the man well—just some of his labels: Flora’s dad, Dragoon, White Knight. He’s heard some of the stories, though. Knows he’s sitting beside someone who’s stood against the world more than once. But is one legend—or even two—really enough to turn the tide? If so, what a weight to carry around—and all the guilt for the time they didn't. As much as Kaisel has dreamed of his name etched in stone, his figure molded in bronze, the reality of being a hero doesn’t seem half as glamorous. He doesn't envy Ronin right now, can barely believe him even.
"Maybe that's for the best," Kaisel says with the ignorance of one who has never truly fought. His lack of practice in such conflict though is replaced with the lived experience of being directly under the enemy's thumb, coming of age in a city locked in stiff violence that paraded as smiles amid whispers about gardens. "I think I’d rather die trying than keep abiding their reign. We keep pretending that if we listen, they’ll play along... but they’ve got the power to break us. They’re just deciding when it’s worth it." When it'll give them the most satisfaction, when it'll do the most harm.
It's not so simple, of course. No point in dashing yourself against rocks just to prove you bleed. They’ve been fighting—quietly, in whatever ways they can—but this latest attack just reveals how little headway they’ve made. That truth sits like gasoline in his mouth.
Kaisel presses a thumb against his knuckles, trying to quiet the restlessness with pressure. He rubs the anxious energy into the joints until it fades to a dull ache. "Thanks," he says softly, doing his best to trust the warrior's input on this matter. Kaisel glances up at the back and forth of wagons and people, at the full harbor of skyships, and can't help but feel like he'll just be right back here, ushering out more people into a different city with all the strength he has. Maybe that's not nothing, but it's not the job he'd prefer, not the job he'd want for anyone. He exhales steadily though, because he can only do his best, and each day try to move that forward to something better.
He cracks a faint grin, crooked but genuine as he glances at Ronin, a touch lighter. "I feel like that's the truth for most gods, and women."
"Maybe that's for the best," Kaisel says with the ignorance of one who has never truly fought. His lack of practice in such conflict though is replaced with the lived experience of being directly under the enemy's thumb, coming of age in a city locked in stiff violence that paraded as smiles amid whispers about gardens. "I think I’d rather die trying than keep abiding their reign. We keep pretending that if we listen, they’ll play along... but they’ve got the power to break us. They’re just deciding when it’s worth it." When it'll give them the most satisfaction, when it'll do the most harm.
It's not so simple, of course. No point in dashing yourself against rocks just to prove you bleed. They’ve been fighting—quietly, in whatever ways they can—but this latest attack just reveals how little headway they’ve made. That truth sits like gasoline in his mouth.
Kaisel presses a thumb against his knuckles, trying to quiet the restlessness with pressure. He rubs the anxious energy into the joints until it fades to a dull ache. "Thanks," he says softly, doing his best to trust the warrior's input on this matter. Kaisel glances up at the back and forth of wagons and people, at the full harbor of skyships, and can't help but feel like he'll just be right back here, ushering out more people into a different city with all the strength he has. Maybe that's not nothing, but it's not the job he'd prefer, not the job he'd want for anyone. He exhales steadily though, because he can only do his best, and each day try to move that forward to something better.
He cracks a faint grin, crooked but genuine as he glances at Ronin, a touch lighter. "I feel like that's the truth for most gods, and women."
Kaisel
// When you need somebody to turn to—Nobody got you the way I do //
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
