(SE) when the nighttime comes, say yes

SUNJATA

i'm drowning in all these voices in the sea
and meeting all my vices in the ring

She frowns at the response that he gives, offering her own that causes a slight frown to cross his own at it. Why would anyone think it? Because they had, time and time again. Had painted him as this destructive creature, aimed to set the world on fire. And he had lived up to it, in Korofi, had slayed his way through the pit of mud at seventeen in order to survive, had done it to get away from the leash his father held around his neck.

“You don’t know me well enough to find out why they might.” He offers, giving her a small smile, but the honesty is there as a glimmer in his gaze. That he wasn’t, really, that he was only trying to survive and become something and move on from the horrors of his previous life, if it were ever possible. But it seemed impossible to get away from them now, after so long of his attempts to.

He lets her take one of his hands to inspect the claw, and she tells him that she doesn’t think of him as a monster, that he doesn’t frighten her. But he snorts a bit at her assessment, shivering slightly as goosebumps raise on his skin. “I have no intention of becoming one.” He admits quietly, finding her gaze when he asks about her magic.

And he finds that slight frown, slight confusion crossing over him again as he searches her pale gaze. “Why try to avoid it?” Because he’s curious to know, had he had any of the things like the people had here back in Korofi, how much of a different world it would have been.

so step inside, i ain't afraid to bleed
there ain't a casket strong enough for me