un: drenched kitten of heated purrs, audio

[jeoha]

[ There's a pause, as he remembers how to use the magic, and then his voice comes through - crisp, low, commanding. He has his Prince voice on and he doesn't even notice. ]

You must go for the head. Decapitation is best, if you can manage it. Caving in the skull second best. Slice open the throat, third. No fancy footwork, no finesse. Your first priority is to keep yourself from harm, so only go for the kill that you know you can take. If you can't take it, escape.

[ He pauses, breathes. ]

We have been told to kill them, if we can. If you cannot, come to me. I will teach you how to fight.

We do not have the luxury of being ignorant.

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[jeoha]

[ There is a sustained pause, as he hadn't realised just how much he had given himself away. How much he had let the last few months leak into his words, into his judgement.

Is that what he did? Could it be summarized thusly?


He wasn't sure. And he felt too conflicted upon the point to make up his mind. Eventually: ]

My- [ He almost said father. He did not. ] - My king was one of the first infected. Raised from his death to secure power for the corrupt.

[downswing]

What came of him?

[jeoha]

[ The pause is longer, rougher. It is too pointed a question, too soon. He can still feel the resistance of his father's throat against his blade. Can still hear it hit the floor, can still feel the putrid blood on his face and see the twisted form of his father's.

He sucks in a breath, trying to still himself, to find that dead space within him once more where none of the death mattered.

He wasn't sure if it was better or worse that he had managed to avoid it so well until now. ]

Slain. And put to rest. [ His voice is rougher than it was before. ] His infant son was saved from the outbreak to take his throne.

[ Not his eldest son. Not his bastard. That man was dead. ]

[downswing]

May he compensate the wrongdoings of the father.

[jeoha]

The only wrongdoing the King had committed was being blind to the corruption of those closest to him. [ This comes out much quicker, almost defensively. It is true he had planned insurrection against his father. But he had thought his father dead. Thought he was being used as a puppet. ]

His only fault being unable to protect himself from the Haewon Cho.

His son need compensate for nothing. What he needs is to help heal a war-torn and plague-ravaged country, now that the corruption has been purged.

[downswing]

Assist him on return.

[jeoha]

I have given him all I have. [ Literally. ]

But yes. I will do anything to see him grow a good and righteous king.

[downswing]

Luck to you.

[jeoha]

Mm. [ It is a small sound, not quite a thank you, but an acknowledgement of the sentiment offered. ]

But if it heralds what may happen here - I would prefer to stave off the slaughter than to help a child mend the remains.