I'm not sure if a man like me can truly achieve a life like that.
[But, like Soo-Won is able to do sometimes, he does not look like he has so much weight on his shoulders when he smiles politely and opens the door for Soo-Won.]
Fufu, my generals still have a few years on you, I'm afraid. [but he didn't answer the question] Do you believe that repenting for what you've done in the past means not reaching for freedom you might desire?
[this is such a neat conversation to have in the kitchen! but soo-won will at least move to help if there's anything he can help with - he's gotten used to being a kitchen aide]
Mm... because it impacted your life once - there's no saying that you cannot be impacted in the same way again. [he tilts his head and offers a smile] Maybe your heart will still want the same thing, you just won't know what it is.
anyway soo-won is going to do as asked! he will fetch ground meat for blanca so he can keep cooking. for what it's worth he's a decent assistant okay, and he'll keep peering around to watch blanca cook so he can perfectly recreate the dish next time they meet]
If the question becomes too personal, I will drop the matter.
[easily! he doesn't mean to cause offense - he's just sincerely curious]
I would say... it would depends on the context of what you did, and why. Some crimes and guilt may be carried in your heart - and you decide for yourself that you may not deserve a life of happiness, or a peaceful end.
Even so, I believe it's more common that some hells are self-determined, and people deserve a chance to escape them.
[Soo-Won, taking one thing back to old fantasy Korea: LOOK AT THIS DOUGH.]
Perhaps a little. Most people your age where I'm from are off being teenagers. You know, making romantic mistakes, being immature, sneaking out against their parents' wishes.
he shows it to blanca to make sure he has the right one?]
Ah... that's too bad. I would hope in the future that all children would get to be children, regardless of rank or birthright. [everyone is a child in the eyes of soo-won]
In my time, I'm afraid it's fairly commonplace... My father began instructing me on military exercises when I was... 4? 5? [that's not commonplace even in soo-won's time but for sons he actually assumes it is]
[He pauses in his own adventure of getting some shallots to nod at the package. That's the ones. He motions toward the counter.]
Usually nobility are very prudent about passing things on to their children who will be next in line. There aren't a lot of ruling nobility in the time I'm from. Not in the same way.
Here. [He opens the packet of dough for Soo-Won, and gets him a little bowl of water.] I'll show you how to fold one, even if it won't be the best.
Blanca will give him a test run with an empty dumpling to show him the very basics of how it's folded while the meat cooks.]
A little maybe. The rich and the poor are still, unfortunately, not always in the same places together. Not having money closes a lot of doors, and makes it easy for others to keep you out. As sad as that is to say.
and then perfectly recreates the steps, picking it up easily after his observation. he offers up a smile and continues to watch blanca even as he responds]
Mm... it is a bit sad - though I suppose it depends on the leadership of those places, no? It's up to those living luxury to listen and help raise the standard for those on the streets.
While I believe there are other ways to accomplish such a thing... it's perhaps the most direct way.
[While Soo-Won practices with the dumpling, he puts a pot of water on to boil, and looks for... some kind of steamer, and some napa cabbage.]
I think your intentions are good, but... things don't work quite like that in my time. At least, less so in America.
[Thinkin' about Ash and New York hours.]
Americans have a culture which values individual freedoms, and so, it is often hard to have them agree on policies which take a small portion from everyone to help those without anything. Those who are rich especially find ways to dodge this since they would pay more because of their wealth.
Humans don't exactly barter much anymore, remember. So money is very important. Sounds silly, no? But money can buy you all kinds of things: small, like food, a place to live; big, like medical treatment; but also dirty, like forgeries, and even people.
So human trafficking persists even then... I suppose there's corruption that you cannot hope to fade out as people gain more technologies and capabilities.
[even then - he seems to be taking the problem seriously, examining it like a puzzle that's been brought before him. he continues to practice with the dumpling even as he hums in thought]
What a difficult system... even with the abolishment of the monarchy, a different set of issues persist. [he frowns] I never thought a perfect life would be able to be molded...
But it would be nice, if the luxury of others did not come at the expense of the downtrodden.
Hm... Well, it's steadily improving. Our borders were weak and the previous king had much of our land stolen from us, inviting invasions on multiple sides. However, we've managed to negotiate deals in order to have the areas to our South become vassal states, so we no longer need to worry about aggression.
The North border is the one that troubles me the most currently...
But I think it can be taken care of shortly. In the meantime it's eradicating traces of drug abuse in the Southwest, and alleviating the burden of poor climate and low crop yields in the Northeast.
The leadership of all areas has steadily improved, and I like going on the occasional trip to visit them for myself, just to see if I can help nudge them in better directions - that respond to the needs of the people.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[But, like Soo-Won is able to do sometimes, he does not look like he has so much weight on his shoulders when he smiles politely and opens the door for Soo-Won.]
Thank you. I would like to think we did.
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[he inclines his head in polite acknowledgement before he enters. off to the kitchen! he still can't cook.]
Mm, then I'm even more certain of it. Is there a way I could help remind you of her, should it come to that?
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[Ash. ALSO STOP THIS. Blanca is going to cook even if he cannot make any gourmet meals.]
What makes you believe I will care about such a thing once the memory has left me?
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[this is such a neat conversation to have in the kitchen! but soo-won will at least move to help if there's anything he can help with - he's gotten used to being a kitchen aide]
Mm... because it impacted your life once - there's no saying that you cannot be impacted in the same way again. [he tilts his head and offers a smile] Maybe your heart will still want the same thing, you just won't know what it is.
no subject
Yut-Lung. 😒]
It depends on whether or not you believe you can truly repent for things you made a deliberate choice in doing.
[Hm. Like murder? He will let Soo-Won assist only because he does not want to insult King Soo-Won by telling him to go sit down and wait.]
I can see you really want me to give you more details about myself. Hm. Will you hand me some ground meat?
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anyway soo-won is going to do as asked! he will fetch ground meat for blanca so he can keep cooking. for what it's worth he's a decent assistant okay, and he'll keep peering around to watch blanca cook so he can perfectly recreate the dish next time they meet]
If the question becomes too personal, I will drop the matter.
[easily! he doesn't mean to cause offense - he's just sincerely curious]
I would say... it would depends on the context of what you did, and why. Some crimes and guilt may be carried in your heart - and you decide for yourself that you may not deserve a life of happiness, or a peaceful end.
Even so, I believe it's more common that some hells are self-determined, and people deserve a chance to escape them.
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[Since, like, ready-made dough for Soo-Won is like huh? probably.]
Should I be concerned you are eighteen, a king, and are already willing to make philosophies like these to me?
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but he'll be laughing at the question even as he goes to look for it]
Is it concerning? Maybe I've just read too many books...
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Perhaps a little. Most people your age where I'm from are off being teenagers. You know, making romantic mistakes, being immature, sneaking out against their parents' wishes.
You remind me of someone I know, is all.
no subject
he shows it to blanca to make sure he has the right one?]
Ah... that's too bad. I would hope in the future that all children would get to be children, regardless of rank or birthright. [everyone is a child in the eyes of soo-won]
In my time, I'm afraid it's fairly commonplace... My father began instructing me on military exercises when I was... 4? 5? [that's not commonplace even in soo-won's time but for sons he actually assumes it is]
no subject
Usually nobility are very prudent about passing things on to their children who will be next in line. There aren't a lot of ruling nobility in the time I'm from. Not in the same way.
Here. [He opens the packet of dough for Soo-Won, and gets him a little bowl of water.] I'll show you how to fold one, even if it won't be the best.
You said you liked dumplings, right?
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You remembered? I'm honored!
[and he loves learning new things!! so he'll be sure to watch how blanca folds the dumplings carefully so that he can mimic it with gentle pinches]
Ah - and I'm pleased to hear that the nobility has faded in your world, then. Does that mean that classes blend together more?
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Blanca will give him a test run with an empty dumpling to show him the very basics of how it's folded while the meat cooks.]
A little maybe. The rich and the poor are still, unfortunately, not always in the same places together. Not having money closes a lot of doors, and makes it easy for others to keep you out. As sad as that is to say.
no subject
and then perfectly recreates the steps, picking it up easily after his observation. he offers up a smile and continues to watch blanca even as he responds]
Mm... it is a bit sad - though I suppose it depends on the leadership of those places, no? It's up to those living luxury to listen and help raise the standard for those on the streets.
While I believe there are other ways to accomplish such a thing... it's perhaps the most direct way.
no subject
I think your intentions are good, but... things don't work quite like that in my time. At least, less so in America.
[Thinkin' about Ash and New York hours.]
Americans have a culture which values individual freedoms, and so, it is often hard to have them agree on policies which take a small portion from everyone to help those without anything. Those who are rich especially find ways to dodge this since they would pay more because of their wealth.
Humans don't exactly barter much anymore, remember. So money is very important. Sounds silly, no? But money can buy you all kinds of things: small, like food, a place to live; big, like medical treatment; but also dirty, like forgeries, and even people.
no subject
So human trafficking persists even then... I suppose there's corruption that you cannot hope to fade out as people gain more technologies and capabilities.
[even then - he seems to be taking the problem seriously, examining it like a puzzle that's been brought before him. he continues to practice with the dumpling even as he hums in thought]
What a difficult system... even with the abolishment of the monarchy, a different set of issues persist. [he frowns] I never thought a perfect life would be able to be molded...
But it would be nice, if the luxury of others did not come at the expense of the downtrodden.
no subject
[This makes him frown considerably, but he keeps working regardless. He shows Soo-Won how to fill the pockets of dumplings.]
That would be nice, yes. It's difficult to obtain a society in perfect harmony. Yours isn't much different, is it? Right now, at least.
no subject
Hm... Well, it's steadily improving. Our borders were weak and the previous king had much of our land stolen from us, inviting invasions on multiple sides. However, we've managed to negotiate deals in order to have the areas to our South become vassal states, so we no longer need to worry about aggression.
The North border is the one that troubles me the most currently...
But I think it can be taken care of shortly. In the meantime it's eradicating traces of drug abuse in the Southwest, and alleviating the burden of poor climate and low crop yields in the Northeast.
The leadership of all areas has steadily improved, and I like going on the occasional trip to visit them for myself, just to see if I can help nudge them in better directions - that respond to the needs of the people.