[and he rushes to her side then, worried over her tears. he reaches out before he can think better of them, as if to try to wipe them away from her cheeks if she'll let him.]
No, Dorothy, you needn't... You don't have to cry for me...
[not when that was a choice that he made - when everything that followed were simply more choices that he made.]
[ It's embarrassing, honestly, to cry like this and to let Soo-won just reach out and try to wipe them from her while the rest of her is catching up with what just happened. And still, Dorothy makes a sound of protest, because she knows she doesn't have to cry for him, but she knows now that he refuses to cry for himself, just like he refuses to get upset on his own behalf and--
The bubble behind her, she doesn't notice. She moves just enough that her elbow knocks back into it and before she can reply... ]
[ A little girl, likely no older than nine, has her arms raised above her head. Not out of jubilation, but sheltering. Defensive. Her long sleeves are ripped, tears streaking down her face, her little fingers bruised, bloody and broken as new injuries accumulate with each blow that rains down upon her.
The man that towers over her is shouting near-incoherently, his words slurred, and the stench of alcohol washes over her as a metal claw that seems to have replaced his hand comes down on her. Again. Again. Again and again and again.
Snippets can be heard through the girl's faint sobs, about how "you'll leave me, just like she did" and "you're laughin' at your old man behind his back, aint'cha".
And it continues until the girl stops protecting herself, lies limply on the floor with her clothes torn and her face swollen from the force of his ire, and the man lets out a loud wail and scoops her to his chest. She stares blankly over his shoulder and he cradles the back of her head, apologies falling on deaf ears.
"Daisy, my sweet Daisy, I didn't mean it, darlin', I didn't mean it--"
[it's not as though he's unfamiliar with the idea of it - of men whose hearts become corrupted and black under the influence of alcohol and power. but to see it happen in front of him, so suddenly and violently - to feel it from her side, it very nearly takes the breath out of his lungs. his eyes go wide with the memory, with the realization that this happened to the strong, intelligent, capable young woman in front of him.
and he can only think to wipe away her tears, similarly stunned beyond words for a moment.]
Dorothy...
[his voice is soft, in case she might still feel the whiplash of being in such a traumatic place in one moment - and then here now]
You're - safe now. We're in the saloon - and I won't let anyone harm you.
[ It helps-- because part of her is in a tomb, another part of her aches with phantom blows that she still remembers (small scars her body still bears) and then she's back in the saloon and there are no bodies, no furiously raging fathers, just Soo-won.
Dorothy takes a breath, something clearing in her eyes as she properly looks at him-- and she nods, slowly. ]
I-- I know. [ Though she doesn't sound as though she does. ]
I'm sorry - that you had to experience that, even second-hand.
[nine years old and examining a corpse of someone dear to you isn't great and - while he subjectively chooses to push down his emotions, he's aware that objectively?
No, please don't. There's no power or land under my name here so - really, it's why I told everyone that I'm a merchant. I'm not interested in sudden odd perceptions of me based on a title that means nothing.
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[and he rushes to her side then, worried over her tears. he reaches out before he can think better of them, as if to try to wipe them away from her cheeks if she'll let him.]
No, Dorothy, you needn't... You don't have to cry for me...
[not when that was a choice that he made - when everything that followed were simply more choices that he made.]
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The bubble behind her, she doesn't notice. She moves just enough that her elbow knocks back into it and before she can reply... ]
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The man that towers over her is shouting near-incoherently, his words slurred, and the stench of alcohol washes over her as a metal claw that seems to have replaced his hand comes down on her. Again. Again. Again and again and again.
Snippets can be heard through the girl's faint sobs, about how "you'll leave me, just like she did" and "you're laughin' at your old man behind his back, aint'cha".
And it continues until the girl stops protecting herself, lies limply on the floor with her clothes torn and her face swollen from the force of his ire, and the man lets out a loud wail and scoops her to his chest. She stares blankly over his shoulder and he cradles the back of her head, apologies falling on deaf ears.
"Daisy, my sweet Daisy, I didn't mean it, darlin', I didn't mean it--"
And it ends, with Dorothy sitting frozen. ]
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and he can only think to wipe away her tears, similarly stunned beyond words for a moment.]
Dorothy...
[his voice is soft, in case she might still feel the whiplash of being in such a traumatic place in one moment - and then here now]
You're - safe now. We're in the saloon - and I won't let anyone harm you.
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Dorothy takes a breath, something clearing in her eyes as she properly looks at him-- and she nods, slowly. ]
I-- I know. [ Though she doesn't sound as though she does. ]
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.... I'm right here.
You can take my hand, and hold onto it - I won't be going anywhere. I'll stay with you, until you no longer need me.
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I'm fine... that just startled me.
[ Badly. ]
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It startled me as well.
[he'll hold onto her hand then, a gentle but firm touch if only to help establish that he really is right here with her.]
I'm sorry - that was a private matter that you didn't wish to trust me with. But even so...
I won't repeat it to anyone.
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And likewise. I'll keep what I saw to myself.
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I'm sorry - that you had to experience that, even second-hand.
[nine years old and examining a corpse of someone dear to you isn't great and - while he subjectively chooses to push down his emotions, he's aware that objectively?
that shit is haunting.]
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... You were very mature for your age, weren't you?
[ That's not something any kid should have to go through. ]
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he sighs a little bit at that even as he pulls his seat up next to her. so much for drinks.]
.... you could say that I had to grow up fast, maybe.
But I only did what had to be done.
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[ she's not sure if that's a question she should ask. But still, she's doing it. ]
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well.
is there a point in hiding it anymore?]
... it's mine to watch over now, as king.
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Your Majesty?
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[he raises a hand at that]
No, please don't. There's no power or land under my name here so - really, it's why I told everyone that I'm a merchant. I'm not interested in sudden odd perceptions of me based on a title that means nothing.
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Except when I flirted with you, of course.
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a little embarrassed already]
Erm - well.
It's not as though I put off any airs on purpose...!
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[ And she leans in a little closer. ]
Have I ever told you that dignified men are just my type...?
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[HE'S YEETING HIMSELF OUT OF THIS SITUATION]
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There he goes.
Dorothy just doing her best not to burst out laughing. ]
Well, aren't you a darling? I feel rather like royalty myself now.
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he'll go get drinks for both of them.... you decide what they are, i hope they just manifested randomly]
W-Well, you should....!
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No, no, I'm a commoner at best. No nobility for me.
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[oh god whiskey
well! he comes back with it!]
.... and in truth, nobility can be tiring. I'm not to shirk my duties but....
I think the common people are more fun.
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But I also can't deny that common people do have a good time.
[ And they do love their whiskey. ]
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