Goodbye LJ...
Feb. 20th, 2006 06:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
windandwaterThis is just to make it official for those who don't know, but I'm leaving LJ completely. For the rest of this week at least. Tomorrow is the Bar Exam and it runs for three days, so don't expect to see me about at all until Thursday night. Or even until the weekend since I plan on spending Thursday after the Bar drunk and crying. No online time for me at all. *whines* It will be hard, but I know I can do it.
So, because I'm a total h0r like that, I am declaring this to be a spam post. Go ahead. Run wild! Give me fics, give me links, give me pics, just babble to your heart's content and rape my inbox so I have something to see when I finally DO come back to the wonderful world of LJ. I don't even care if you write me a drabble and post it one word at a time. XD;
Though, I've tried to make a spam post before and it failed a bit miserably, so I don't have very high expectations this time around. Feel free to prove me wrong though!
♥
So, because I'm a total h0r like that, I am declaring this to be a spam post. Go ahead. Run wild! Give me fics, give me links, give me pics, just babble to your heart's content and rape my inbox so I have something to see when I finally DO come back to the wonderful world of LJ. I don't even care if you write me a drabble and post it one word at a time. XD;
Though, I've tried to make a spam post before and it failed a bit miserably, so I don't have very high expectations this time around. Feel free to prove me wrong though!
♥
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:08 am (UTC)"Sheesh, you are full of demands, aren't you?" the unseen speaker sighed. Another scraping against bark reached Wufei's ears, and then the bounty hunter dropped out of the tree and landed lightly on his feet before Wufei. Brushing off his clothes, he looked Wufei over appraisingly.
Somewhat shocked, Wufei did the same. This was the first time he'd gotten a clear look at his captor, and this certainly wasn't what he'd expected a bounty hunter to look like. For starters, the man was young -- no older than himself, surely! -- and definitely on the small side. He was covered head to foot in black, which accounted at least in part for his uncanny stealth, and moved with a deadly grace that suggested he could move like the wind if given the inclination. But a cheerful grin sat easily on an open, disarming face that looked made for smiles, and his wide blue eyes glinted with good humor. Most startling was the distinctly unprofessional braid of light brown hair that snaked well past his waist.
"Now here's the thing," this strange vision told him. "Admittedly, when the authorities put a price on someone's head, they aren't too concerned about the person's long-term survival. So a lot of people figure it isn't worth the trouble of carting a prisoner back to the police alive. On the other hand, if all they want is you dead, then they can take care of that easily once they get your hands on you -- but if they want you alive, and you get there dead, then..." He trailed off, and then shrugged. "Well, it's a little it harder to bring someone back to life."
"It makes no difference in the end," Wufei snarled. "You said yourself, it would be easier to have me dead."
The bounty hunter looked affronted. "Easy! Any two-bit bloodhound can do easy. But I don't care about easy -- I do things right. That's why I --" he jerked a thumb towards his chest with another disarming grin, "-- am a *professional.*"
"A professional killer," Wufei said scornfully. "Merchant in blood."
He only smiled at this attempted insult. "You killed Lord Khushrenada," he said simply. "I really don't think you're in any position to be calling names."
Wufei opened his mouth to speak, but then flushed and looked away. After a moment, the bounty hunter continued.
"You are going back to Romafeller to stand trial." The man crouched down until his braid trailed onto the ground, eyes nearly level with Wufei's. "That's a fact. The question, then, is up to you: do you go the easy way, or the hard way?"
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:08 am (UTC)"It's really quite simple," he went on. From somewhere on his clothing he produced a small metal key, and held it up for Wufei to see. "We can break out all the accessories, with the hobbles, and the locks, and the chains, and drag you back into Romafeller like an animal to the slaughter. That's the way the game is usually played. Or you can give me your word -- on your honor -- that you will accompany me peacefully back to the city and walk there unencumbered, under your own power."
Wufei inhaled a sharp breath. It was a completely unexpected offer. "And what's to stop me from escaping?" he had to ask.
The key vanished to the same place it had come from, and a not-so-nice smile appeared on the man's face. "I found you once, didn't I?"
He had a point.
Still, another question followed logically. "You have to sleep sometime," he pointed out. "I could easily kill you in your sleep to keep you from following me."
"Yes," the bounty hunter agreed amiably. "You could try that."
Try, Wufei noticed the word, not succeed.
"But consider," he pointed out in a reasonable tone. "The price on your head is pretty damn high. This countryside will be crawling with bloodhounds thirsty for it, and they won't stop until you're dead. If not me, then another. Even if you were to somehow make it past the border, they'd follow you, and sooner or later you'll find yourself in the exact same position. And I can promise you, the next one won't offer you this choice."
Wufei fell silent for a long moment, working his jaw as he battled with himself. Put himself under a bloodhound's control, willingly march himself to a farce of a trial and then certain death to follow, as a despised criminal? It reeked of dishonor, and Wufei balked at defiling his word by submitting to such a thing. Still, he had to admit to himself bleakly, his fate was set; there was no feasible escape open to him. And what honor could be found in resisting, in being dragged back to Romafeller like a dog in chains? That way would strip him of his honor, his pride, and his dignity. There was really no choice.
"All right," he agreed at last, reluctantly. "I swear on my honor that I will go with you willingly."
The bounty hunter grinned again, and immediately reproduced the key and bent down to unfasten the lock on the chains. "Great!" he said with a boyish enthusiasm out-of-place in the situation. "That saves us both a lot of grief."
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:08 am (UTC)"Sure thing." The bounty hunter reached up and pulled a traveling pack down from his perch on the branch, and stowed the folded chains away in it. That done, he straightened up and smirked at Wufei, holding out his hand for his prisoner to grasp. "I'm the Shinigami -- but you can call me Duo."
On the first day of their trek back to Romafeller, Wufei’s gut churned with dread every time he though of his future. The same was true of the second day. By the third day, however, he was looking forward to the end of the journey -- even incarceration and execution had to be better than putting up with Duo. Periodically, Wufei found himself asking whatever deities might be up there why, why, if he had to be captured, had they made Duo be the one to capture to him? It was cruel. It was unfair. It was... unjust.
The braided man never stopped talking, never! That was bad enough, but he seemed to be under the firm impression that Wufei wanted to hold conversations with him, and he simply would not give up until he’d gotten a response from his captive. It was... demeaning somehow, that Duo neglected to treat him like a prisoner. He acted like they were two friends out on a spring hike, not a bounty hunter and his prey. Wufei found himself wishing that Duo would let him alone, leave him his dignity and stony silence, without acting like he... consented to this journey.
And, Wufei thought in a burst of pique, nobody had the right to be that cheerful in the morning and live.
The skies matched Wufei’s dark thoughts; as they started walking on the second day ominous inky clouds began to drift together in the sky, and by evening it was raining. A light but steady rain fell all through the night, and the next day the water poured down from the sky. They reached the ford that marked the unofficial borders of the inhabited lands and the woods, the one Wufei had crossed when he first sensed someone on his trail. But the water had already risen too high to cross, and they were forced to camp out in an abandoned missive post for three days while the rain drenched through the trees and the creek roared impassibly high.
Wufei’s mood was foul enough at the start of their weather-induced incarceration, and three days spent huddled underneath a plank wooden roof
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:08 am (UTC)"Sure thing." The bounty hunter reached up and pulled a traveling pack down from his perch on the branch, and stowed the folded chains away in it. That done, he straightened up and smirked at Wufei, holding out his hand for his prisoner to grasp. "I'm the Shinigami -- but you can call me Duo."
On the first day of their trek back to Romafeller, Wufei’s gut churned with dread every time he though of his future. The same was true of the second day. By the third day, however, he was looking forward to the end of the journey -- even incarceration and execution had to be better than putting up with Duo. Periodically, Wufei found himself asking whatever deities might be up there why, why, if he had to be captured, had they made Duo be the one to capture to him? It was cruel. It was unfair. It was... unjust.
The braided man never stopped talking, never! That was bad enough, but he seemed to be under the firm impression that Wufei wanted to hold conversations with him, and he simply would not give up until he’d gotten a response from his captive. It was... demeaning somehow, that Duo neglected to treat him like a prisoner. He acted like they were two friends out on a spring hike, not a bounty hunter and his prey. Wufei found himself wishing that Duo would let him alone, leave him his dignity and stony silence, without acting like he... consented to this journey.
And, Wufei thought in a burst of pique, nobody had the right to be that cheerful in the morning and live.
The skies matched Wufei’s dark thoughts; as they started walking on the second day ominous inky clouds began to drift together in the sky, and by evening it was raining. A light but steady rain fell all through the night, and the next day the water poured down from the sky. They reached the ford that marked the unofficial borders of the inhabited lands and the woods, the one Wufei had crossed when he first sensed someone on his trail. But the water had already risen too high to cross, and they were forced to camp out in an abandoned missive post for three days while the rain drenched through the trees and the creek roared impassibly high.
Wufei’s mood was foul enough at the start of their weather-induced incarceration, and three days spent huddled underneath a plank wooden roof
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:08 am (UTC)Huddled into his damp clothes on the damp ground, Wufei glared out past the edge of the shelter. The bounty hunter was, insanely enough, standing out in the rain in clearest space the trees could offer, watching the roaring flood. Water inundated his ridiculously impractical braid, turning his hair almost as dark as Wufei’s own, and soaked his clothes, causing them to cling most indecently to his figure. Wufei found his eyes almost mesmerized by the way the droplets sluiced off his limbs every time he moved even the slightest bit. He had to force his eyes away, and growled low in his throat at that realization.
The sound of footsteps, marked by the squelching sound as boots lifted free of the mud, marked Duo’s return to the little shelter. He was grinning, insufferable as ever, and laughing softly to himself at some joke that nobody else would get. Wufei ignored him, as he always did, as Duo stood just out of the rain and wrung water from his braid.
A splatter of cold hit Wufei’s cheek, and he switched a glare onto the bounty hunter. “You’re dripping,” he growled icily.
Duo shrugged, swinging the braid back over his shoulder. “So are the trees,” he replied easily, and shook his head, sending droplets flying everywhere.
More of the wetness splattered against Wufei’s face, and he wiped it away with a scowl. Duo stopped to appraise Wufei, hands on his hips, head cocked to one side. “What, don’t tell me you’ve never been out in the rain before,” he mocked.
“Why would I?” Wufei countered. “I was a scholar, not a farmer, and anyway, most people know to come in out of the cold and the mud.”
“It’s only water, you know. A little cold and wet won’t kill you,” Duo teased him.
“No,” Wufei found himself saying almost despite himself. “Hanging in Romafeller while the so-called Count Merquise and his thugs look on, that will kill me.”
Duo’s smile faded from his face, and he looked away. “You always dwell on such gloomy things, Dragon,” he said quietly.
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:08 am (UTC)Duo slid to a seat on the opposite wall of the shelter, looking at Wufei with all smiles gone. “I’d expect you to make better use of the life you have now than spending it sulking,” he said seriously.
“Sulking?” Wufei demanded, outraged. “I think I have a right to sulk -- I’m going to die in two weeks!”
“Everybody dies, Dragon,” Duo replied somberly. “You have two weeks’ notice -- that’s more than most people get. Most people have no warning at all, and no time to make peace with their lives when death comes.”
“Death is the enemy of all things! How can you make peace with it?”
Duo leaned forward, catching Wufei’s eyes. “Do you know what my name is, Dragon?” he asked softly.
Uneasily, Wufei shifted his position against the wall, looking away from Duo’s suddenly intense glance. “It means Killer. An appropriate name for one who takes money for the death of others.”
“I’d think a scholar would know better,” Duo corrected him. “It means God of Death. It means knowing that death is just as important a part of life as birth is.”
Exasperated, Wufei retorted before thinking. “That’s patent nonsense. You sound just like M --”
He stopped himself, not quite in time.
Duo leaned forward, almost eagerly. “Who?” he asked. “I sound like who?”
“Nobody,” Wufei said roughly. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his torso for warmth. “No-one who exists any more.”
“Somehow I don’t believe you,” Duo said quietly. “I think --”
“Let it go,” Wufei interrupted him, appalled by the pleading note that crept into his voice. “I am asking you... let it drop. It doesn’t matter to you.”
There was a little sigh, and the sound of a body shifting position; after a moment Duo started talking again, changing the subject. “The rain looks like it will stop before tomorrow morning. We should be able to cross the ford by the next day.”
He did not press Wufei further about his slip, and in spite of himself, Wufei found himself grateful.
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:08 am (UTC)They crossed the ford, at last, the next day. The water was shocking cold, but by that time Wufei would have gladly walked through fire just to get away from the dismally familiar surroundings of their shelter. A few hours before dusk, when the ground at last began to thump instead of squelch beneath their feet, Duo called a halt.
Some woodscraft knowledge alien to Wufei allowed Duo to collect some miraculously dry wood, and start a fire; much to Wufei’s chagrin, the young bounty hunter immediately began to strip out of his clothes.
“What are you waiting for, Dragon?” Duo called impatiently, as he arranged his clothes carefully beside the fire. “If you want your clothes to dry by nightfall...”
“I prefer to keep my clothes in place,” Wufei snapped, scowling fiercely to keep the persistent blush out of his cheeks.
When Duo stood and turned to face him, Wufei tried to avert his eyes; he knew it was wrong to stare, but as good as the man looked with cloth clinging to his skin, he looked even better without it. At least he had kept on a pair of thin, cut-off breeches that he wore under his normal outfit, but the tight material left nothing to the imagination. The skin revealed on his body was unblemished, and lightly tanned, his arms darker than his chest, but for the darker brown skin of his nipples. He was slender, but not thin; the outline of his ribcage was barely visible under the flat but clearly defined muscles highlighted by a lingering sheen of water.
The tantalizing outline shifted under his skin as Duo shrugged, oblivious to Wufei’s fascinated scrutiny. “If you spend a night in the open in wet clothes, you’ll catch a chill,” he said casually. Dragging a slightly damp log near to the fire, he seated himself on it and leaned slightly to the side, fingers starting to work at the end of his long, damp braid.
The sight made Wufei’s breath catch embarrassingly in his chest, and he turned halfway away from the bounty hunter so that less of his expression would be visible, without being so conspicuous. “So what if I do catch a chill?” he grumbled. “What can it do, kill me?”
“I guess, if you want to spend the last days of your life with a cough and a runny nose -- that’s your choice, Dragon.”
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:08 am (UTC)They crossed the ford, at last, the next day. The water was shocking cold, but by that time Wufei would have gladly walked through fire just to get away from the dismally familiar surroundings of their shelter. A few hours before dusk, when the ground at last began to thump instead of squelch beneath their feet, Duo called a halt.
Some woodscraft knowledge alien to Wufei allowed Duo to collect some miraculously dry wood, and start a fire; much to Wufei’s chagrin, the young bounty hunter immediately began to strip out of his clothes.
“What are you waiting for, Dragon?” Duo called impatiently, as he arranged his clothes carefully beside the fire. “If you want your clothes to dry by nightfall...”
“I prefer to keep my clothes in place,” Wufei snapped, scowling fiercely to keep the persistent blush out of his cheeks.
When Duo stood and turned to face him, Wufei tried to avert his eyes; he knew it was wrong to stare, but as good as the man looked with cloth clinging to his skin, he looked even better without it. At least he had kept on a pair of thin, cut-off breeches that he wore under his normal outfit, but the tight material left nothing to the imagination. The skin revealed on his body was unblemished, and lightly tanned, his arms darker than his chest, but for the darker brown skin of his nipples. He was slender, but not thin; the outline of his ribcage was barely visible under the flat but clearly defined muscles highlighted by a lingering sheen of water.
The tantalizing outline shifted under his skin as Duo shrugged, oblivious to Wufei’s fascinated scrutiny. “If you spend a night in the open in wet clothes, you’ll catch a chill,” he said casually. Dragging a slightly damp log near to the fire, he seated himself on it and leaned slightly to the side, fingers starting to work at the end of his long, damp braid.
The sight made Wufei’s breath catch embarrassingly in his chest, and he turned halfway away from the bounty hunter so that less of his expression would be visible, without being so conspicuous. “So what if I do catch a chill?” he grumbled. “What can it do, kill me?”
“I guess, if you want to spend the last days of your life with a cough and a runny nose -- that’s your choice, Dragon.”
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)The lack of conversation suddenly seemed stifling. Wufei could hear his own breathing, and feel his cheeks flame as he peeled the sodden shirt off his back. Uneasily, he glanced over at Duo, but the bounty hunter was totally engrossed in rearranging the fire to some standard. He seemed quite unfairly comfortable with his own state of undress, as though he wandered around near-naked all the time. His easy confidence put Wufei on the defensive, he didn’t like that feeling...
“What made you decide to become a bloodhound, anyway?” he said suddenly. “Do you feel some perverse thrill in hunting men down?”
Duo didn’t even look up. “Needed the money,” he replied calmly, unfazed by Wufei’s returning hostile tone. “You have quite a price on your head, Dragon. If I hadn’t nabbed you, someone else would have.”
“Money. I should have known,” Wufei said bitterly. “Trading lives for gold.”
At this jibe, Duo finally glanced up, but his lips were oddly quirked. “It’s not like I get a new job every week, you know. I bring in about four, five marks a year.” He tilted his head slightly, regarding Wufei.
“So few?” Wufei was actually startled, though he quickly tried to push it down. “Pays that well, does it, Shinigami?”
“You get what you pay for.” Duo finally abandoned the fire, and turned his full attention on Wufei. A sudden grin covered his face. “I am the best, after all.”
“The best?” Wufei repeated, incredulous.
“Uh huh.” Duo was unperturbed by Wufei’s doubt. “Eh... some bounty hunters will take any job. The easier, the better, and when the jobs are easy, they’re also cheap. So they take as many as they can, as fast as they can. Why do you think they bother with chains, with brands and crops? It’s not for control, it’s for convenience. Get your target as fast as you can, drive them to the point of exhaustion and you’ll get your reward sooner. Don’t waste any more supplies on them than necessary to keep them going. Those are the rules.”
Wufei paused, taken aback. Those were all the stories he had heard, all that he knew of bounty hunters and their craft. And yet --
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)The lack of conversation suddenly seemed stifling. Wufei could hear his own breathing, and feel his cheeks flame as he peeled the sodden shirt off his back. Uneasily, he glanced over at Duo, but the bounty hunter was totally engrossed in rearranging the fire to some standard. He seemed quite unfairly comfortable with his own state of undress, as though he wandered around near-naked all the time. His easy confidence put Wufei on the defensive, he didn’t like that feeling...
“What made you decide to become a bloodhound, anyway?” he said suddenly. “Do you feel some perverse thrill in hunting men down?”
Duo didn’t even look up. “Needed the money,” he replied calmly, unfazed by Wufei’s returning hostile tone. “You have quite a price on your head, Dragon. If I hadn’t nabbed you, someone else would have.”
“Money. I should have known,” Wufei said bitterly. “Trading lives for gold.”
At this jibe, Duo finally glanced up, but his lips were oddly quirked. “It’s not like I get a new job every week, you know. I bring in about four, five marks a year.” He tilted his head slightly, regarding Wufei.
“So few?” Wufei was actually startled, though he quickly tried to push it down. “Pays that well, does it, Shinigami?”
“You get what you pay for.” Duo finally abandoned the fire, and turned his full attention on Wufei. A sudden grin covered his face. “I am the best, after all.”
“The best?” Wufei repeated, incredulous.
“Uh huh.” Duo was unperturbed by Wufei’s doubt. “Eh... some bounty hunters will take any job. The easier, the better, and when the jobs are easy, they’re also cheap. So they take as many as they can, as fast as they can. Why do you think they bother with chains, with brands and crops? It’s not for control, it’s for convenience. Get your target as fast as you can, drive them to the point of exhaustion and you’ll get your reward sooner. Don’t waste any more supplies on them than necessary to keep them going. Those are the rules.”
Wufei paused, taken aback. Those were all the stories he had heard, all that he knew of bounty hunters and their craft. And yet --
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)“But what about me?” Duo finished for him, amused. “I told you, I’m the best. I only need to bring in three or four prizes a year, because take the hardest jobs, the biggest jobs, the strangest jobs. Like you, Dragon.”
He didn’t have an answer, so all he could come back with was, “I have a name, you know, and it isn’t Dragon!”
“I know.” The infuriating smirk was back. Duo returned his attention to dealing with his disheveled hair.
The fire was burning low.
The bounty hunter had been right; the clear night brought with it colder air, and Wufei was grateful for the protection the dry clothes provided. Duo was asleep and snoring lightly; after several hours of lying awake fruitlessly seeking slumber, Wufei sat up and watched the fire burn to embers. His thoughts ran to darkness.
What had he come to, Chang Wufei, scion of the proud Clan of the Dragon? What must his family think of him now; fugitive, outlaw, more base and worthless than the lowest peasant. What had become of the trace of fierce, proud, blood that ran in his veins, as the descendant of the legendary dragon? Here he was, lost and stranded in the wilderness with a mercenary who dealt in the flesh of human beings -- prostituting his word to such a creature, following the bloodhound back to Romafeller as willing and docile as a whore.
For the murder of Treize Khushrenada -- his village’s lord.
Lord and master? The name was bitter in his mind as it had ever been. His was the rule of the conqueror; Wufei’s village, his family, their traditions, their way of life and all their proud dragon blood had been overwhelmed by the might of the westerners. But they owed him no true allegiance, and hated him dully even as they submitted, called him lord, and accepted their barbarian traditions.
Was he truly the first one to compromise his family’s honor? Or had they not done the same, when they surrendered, those generations ago? That they labored for their white devils, made the necessary obeisances to appease their conquerer’s childish egos, and sacrificed their maidens to the hunger of the foreigners?
Prodigal son of a prodigal family. Wufei could almost weep.
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)“But what about me?” Duo finished for him, amused. “I told you, I’m the best. I only need to bring in three or four prizes a year, because take the hardest jobs, the biggest jobs, the strangest jobs. Like you, Dragon.”
He didn’t have an answer, so all he could come back with was, “I have a name, you know, and it isn’t Dragon!”
“I know.” The infuriating smirk was back. Duo returned his attention to dealing with his disheveled hair.
The fire was burning low.
The bounty hunter had been right; the clear night brought with it colder air, and Wufei was grateful for the protection the dry clothes provided. Duo was asleep and snoring lightly; after several hours of lying awake fruitlessly seeking slumber, Wufei sat up and watched the fire burn to embers. His thoughts ran to darkness.
What had he come to, Chang Wufei, scion of the proud Clan of the Dragon? What must his family think of him now; fugitive, outlaw, more base and worthless than the lowest peasant. What had become of the trace of fierce, proud, blood that ran in his veins, as the descendant of the legendary dragon? Here he was, lost and stranded in the wilderness with a mercenary who dealt in the flesh of human beings -- prostituting his word to such a creature, following the bloodhound back to Romafeller as willing and docile as a whore.
For the murder of Treize Khushrenada -- his village’s lord.
Lord and master? The name was bitter in his mind as it had ever been. His was the rule of the conqueror; Wufei’s village, his family, their traditions, their way of life and all their proud dragon blood had been overwhelmed by the might of the westerners. But they owed him no true allegiance, and hated him dully even as they submitted, called him lord, and accepted their barbarian traditions.
Was he truly the first one to compromise his family’s honor? Or had they not done the same, when they surrendered, those generations ago? That they labored for their white devils, made the necessary obeisances to appease their conquerer’s childish egos, and sacrificed their maidens to the hunger of the foreigners?
Prodigal son of a prodigal family. Wufei could almost weep.
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)Not like Meiran.
Wufei turned his gaze from the flickering coals, over to where the bounty hunter slept. It would be so easy, he suddenly realized, to overpower Duo now.
The thought hit him so blindingly, that for a moment it blocked out all else. Shakily, taking care to be silent, he rose to his feet and stared down at Duo. He was carelessly sleeping, off his guard. All it would take would be one quick strike in the darkness, and then he would be free again. They were still far enough away from Romafeller, he could make it to the border, out of Oz and out of the reach of Treize’s vengeful cousin. He could evade the bounty hunters. Duo had found him, that was true, but then even Wufei had heard stories about the fearful prowess of the bounty hunger Shinigami. If he could take Duo, why, he could take any of them. The realization dizzied him.
Except for the one problem -- he had given his word that he would not try to escape.
What does that matter? argued a voice in his head. No doubt he has dragged dozens of men to their deaths, for money. Honor means nothing to a mercenary like him; he would break his word in an instant, so why should you hold to yours?
Duo slumbered on, his breathing slow and shallow. One hand curled delicately under his head, pillowing his cheek against the rough blanket. Firelight flickered off his smooth skin, lending him an almost ethereal tint. His lips were slightly parted, and his audible breaths dropped from his lips one by one.
There is no dishonor in betraying the dishonorable...
He looked so innocent, in his sleep; features relaxed from their studied carelessness into true peace. Surely he could be no older than Wufei himself.
One quick strike, and then freedom.
Wufei drew in a deep breath, and shut his eyes. It was a temptation that was almost painful. But he could not do it. Not if he wanted to have any part of himself left. Justice must be for everyone, even the lawbreakers, or else it is not justice. Honor is no different. It must be the same for everyone, or else it is not honor...
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)Not like Meiran.
Wufei turned his gaze from the flickering coals, over to where the bounty hunter slept. It would be so easy, he suddenly realized, to overpower Duo now.
The thought hit him so blindingly, that for a moment it blocked out all else. Shakily, taking care to be silent, he rose to his feet and stared down at Duo. He was carelessly sleeping, off his guard. All it would take would be one quick strike in the darkness, and then he would be free again. They were still far enough away from Romafeller, he could make it to the border, out of Oz and out of the reach of Treize’s vengeful cousin. He could evade the bounty hunters. Duo had found him, that was true, but then even Wufei had heard stories about the fearful prowess of the bounty hunger Shinigami. If he could take Duo, why, he could take any of them. The realization dizzied him.
Except for the one problem -- he had given his word that he would not try to escape.
What does that matter? argued a voice in his head. No doubt he has dragged dozens of men to their deaths, for money. Honor means nothing to a mercenary like him; he would break his word in an instant, so why should you hold to yours?
Duo slumbered on, his breathing slow and shallow. One hand curled delicately under his head, pillowing his cheek against the rough blanket. Firelight flickered off his smooth skin, lending him an almost ethereal tint. His lips were slightly parted, and his audible breaths dropped from his lips one by one.
There is no dishonor in betraying the dishonorable...
He looked so innocent, in his sleep; features relaxed from their studied carelessness into true peace. Surely he could be no older than Wufei himself.
One quick strike, and then freedom.
Wufei drew in a deep breath, and shut his eyes. It was a temptation that was almost painful. But he could not do it. Not if he wanted to have any part of himself left. Justice must be for everyone, even the lawbreakers, or else it is not justice. Honor is no different. It must be the same for everyone, or else it is not honor...
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)“Well, that’s a load off my mind,” Duo’s muffled voice floated up to him. As Wufei gaped in shock, Duo opened his eyes, turned his face up to Wufei, and smiled. His other hand came out from beneath the blanket, where it had held a dagger ready.
Duo stuck with his original promise, despite Wufei’s near willingness to break his parole. Wufei burned with shame at the memory, at the realization of what he had almost prepared himself to do. Even if Duo had truly been awake and aware the whole time, Wufei hadn’t known that. He had come very close to murdering an sleeping, defenseless man, after swearing on his name and his honor that he would go peacefully. If there was a more debase and foul crime to darken a man’s soul, Wufei could not imagine it. And to a man who had kept all his promises, had allowed Wufei to keep more of his dignity and honor than any hunted criminal could expect. Miserably, Wufei realized that he had let all his frustration at Khushrenada, at Merquise, at the world, build up in him until he took it out on the nearest available target -- Duo. And yes, Duo was playing a part in this tragic farce, but the bounty hunter had been more reasonable than he had any right to expect. The only one in his life right now who was being kind, and he had nearly repaid him with murder in the dark. He was nothing more than a disgraceful criminal, and he was more than ready to accept whatever punishment Duo had wanted to exact.
But Duo hadn’t. He simply declared that Wufei hadn’t actually done anything, so what need for punishment? And he left it at that.
Even so, Wufei couldn’t pretend that nothing had changed between them. His initial fierce hostility towards Duo, already worn thin by the young man’s relentless good nature, had faded altogether. Wufei had passionate standards of justice, even before... Meiran.... and he had found the concept of a bounty hunter, a trader in flesh, to be utterly repugnant. But Duo made him doubt his own fierce morals, made him doubt himself, everything. His sullen, stoic silence had transformed into something more like brooding, even if he did occasionally quirk a smile at something Duo would say.
Halfway through the second week of their trek, Duo called a side trip.
“We need supplies,” he said. “We’re not going to make it back to Romafeller with the way you eat. This is a nice little village -- I know some of the people there, they can get me a good price...” Chattering on about the personal details of the town’s inhabitants -- apparently, he was quite familiar with some of them -- he took Wufei by the arm and pulled him off the main road onto the little side path that led to the village.
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)When Duo stopped, Wufei nearly stumbled into him. “Here,” Duo announced, pointing upwards to a fading sign hung over a doorway. “Bella’s place, we can stop here for a bite.”
Wufei glanced up at the looming and sinister-looking front uneasily, but bit his tongue as Duo led the way inside. In fact, it was rather clean and airy inside, if a much more cluttered room than Wufei would feel comfortable with. Despite the relative warmth of the day, a fire burned merrily in the stone hearth. There were a few other patrons; two old men playing chess by a window, a young girl and her mother eating at another table. Calling cheerfully for a waitress, Duo settled at one of the tables, and Wufei did likewise.
A rather plump redhead, on the aging side, appeared from behind a curtain at the sound of Duo’s voice. She smiled cheerfully on seeing the young man, and bustled over to their table. “So, Duo m’dear, back again to make trouble?” she said in a mock-disapproving tone.
“Trouble?” Duo sounded miffed by the very idea. “Why, Bella darling, what makes you think I didn’t come here just for the pleasure of your company?”
She clucked over him, shaking her head. “My company, you scamp, more like my food. I must be going soft in the head in my old age, not to charge you full price.”
“There’s no better food in the country, and I should know,” Duo assured her. “Someday I’ll give up the wandering life, and settle down here with you, just so I can eat it every day...”
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)“Yes, well.” The bantering tone dropped out of Duo’s voice, and a flush rose in his cheeks. He glanced over at Wufei, then down at the table.
This had the effect of drawing Bella’s attention to Wufei, and she pursed her lips as she looked him thoroughly over. “Speaking of which, Duo, is this your latest prize? And what a prize -- in more ways than one. Why --”
“Bella,” Duo interrupted her, the flush rising higher in his face. “Could you be a love, and get some lunch for two? I... uh... have to go out for a little, but I should be back by the time it’s ready.”
“Why, of course, dearie,” she replied, sounding surprised. With a slight shrug, she turned and left the two of them alone.
Duo pushed back his own chair and stood, clearing his throat, keeping his eyes on the table. “Wufei... uh... I’m gonna go get supplies now. Stay here, all right?”
“Certainly,” Wufei replied, a bit puzzled by Duo’s behavior.
“And -- uh --” Duo darted a glance up into Wufei’s eyes. “I’m... well, sorry.” With those confusing actions, Duo fled.
Wufei blinked after him, as the inn door swung shut on the daylight outside. What change had come over Duo? He was acting like something had embarrassed him, but what was it? Wufei replayed the conversation in his head, and Bella’s comment about being female came to mind. One of Wufei’s more distant uncles, in his home village, had loved men, not women. Had she meant to imply that Duo also preferred men? And if so, what exactly had she meant by calling him a prize?
In delayed reaction, a matching blush appeared in Wufei’s cheeks. He knew, objectively, at least, that he was considered an attractive man. Surely Duo hadn’t -- didn’t make a habit of molesting his prisoners? Impossible, surely! Duo would never stoop so low! The vehemence of his own thoughts surprised him; what did he really know about Duo, after all? Only what the bounty hunter chose to tell him -- and, it seemed, he had not told him everything. Wufei felt anger begin to grow inside him, as this revelation cast an unsettling light on everything that had passed in the time he had spent with Duo. Countless casual touches suddenly took on a new and sinister meaning; he suddenly recalled a dozen instances when Duo had the opportunity to observe his body. Did Duo find him -- desirable? Arousing, even?
The thought did not disgust him as much as it should have.
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)Wufei paid them little attention, his thoughts quickly returning to this new and disturbing dilemma. It had never occurred to him to doubt his own preferences, although he had never really had an opportunity to explore. His studies had always occupied his time, before his marriage -- he swallowed against the lump in his throat, and blinked back a threatening stinging in his eyes. His six-hour marriage. No, he had never had a chance to discover Meiran...
That memory was too painful, and he forced his thoughts away from it. It was true that he had found Meiran attractive, and in fact had admired the virtues of many of the village girls. But it was always a purely aesthetic attraction, and he had never been excited by any of them. He had always assumed himself merely to be a late bloomer, and that such desires would show themselves in time.
This was a hell of a time for it, though... He forced himself to consider the problem objectively. Did he, Chang Wufei of the Clan of Dragons, actually find another man... Duo... desirable?
He had a bad feeling he already knew the answer to that question...
He was abruptly jarred out of his musings as his ears caught a change in the surrounding atmosphere, a sudden increase in excitement. He glanced over to the table in the corner, only to find the two travelers staring intently back at him, talking excitedly to each other. Studying them more carefully, Wufei realized that the sturdy leathers they were dressed in were black and tan; from the belt of one hung a coiled whip, and as the other shifted, he caught a glimpse of metallic links. Wufei’s mouth went dry as he realized what, exactly, they were.
Bounty hunters.
This could be very, very, bad...
As if in answer to Wufei’s thoughts, the two got up from their table and sauntered over to him. He looked up at them as they approached, feeling suddenly small.
“Look at this, Alex,” rumbled the dark-haired one. “In’t this the Dragon mark what killed His Lordship Khushrenada?”
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:09 am (UTC)Wufei paid them little attention, his thoughts quickly returning to this new and disturbing dilemma. It had never occurred to him to doubt his own preferences, although he had never really had an opportunity to explore. His studies had always occupied his time, before his marriage -- he swallowed against the lump in his throat, and blinked back a threatening stinging in his eyes. His six-hour marriage. No, he had never had a chance to discover Meiran...
That memory was too painful, and he forced his thoughts away from it. It was true that he had found Meiran attractive, and in fact had admired the virtues of many of the village girls. But it was always a purely aesthetic attraction, and he had never been excited by any of them. He had always assumed himself merely to be a late bloomer, and that such desires would show themselves in time.
This was a hell of a time for it, though... He forced himself to consider the problem objectively. Did he, Chang Wufei of the Clan of Dragons, actually find another man... Duo... desirable?
He had a bad feeling he already knew the answer to that question...
He was abruptly jarred out of his musings as his ears caught a change in the surrounding atmosphere, a sudden increase in excitement. He glanced over to the table in the corner, only to find the two travelers staring intently back at him, talking excitedly to each other. Studying them more carefully, Wufei realized that the sturdy leathers they were dressed in were black and tan; from the belt of one hung a coiled whip, and as the other shifted, he caught a glimpse of metallic links. Wufei’s mouth went dry as he realized what, exactly, they were.
Bounty hunters.
This could be very, very, bad...
As if in answer to Wufei’s thoughts, the two got up from their table and sauntered over to him. He looked up at them as they approached, feeling suddenly small.
“Look at this, Alex,” rumbled the dark-haired one. “In’t this the Dragon mark what killed His Lordship Khushrenada?”
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:10 am (UTC)“His loss, our gain,” the other grunted. “His price ‘as doubled, in the last week. This’ll make us rich men.”
The situation seemed, for a moment, absolutely ludicrous. Wufei tried to think of some way to convince these men, No, you can’t take me back to Romafeller, I’m already heading that way myself...
“I’m afraid my price is not yours to take, gentlemen,” Wufei said coolly, sliding his chair back and standing, every muscle tense as a wire. It’s already claimed, you see --
They grinned at each other, amused by his seeming defiance, and started forwards towards him. Wufei dodged their first grab, ducking behind the table -- one of the chairs clattered to its side, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. From behind the kitchen curtain, Bella’s worried face peeked out, and widened as she took in the situation.
Hell with it, Wufei decided. He had given his word of co-operation to Duo, not to these thugs. Narrowing his eyes, he slipped into a defensive stance, though his focus wavered back and forth between the two men.
The blond one -- Alex -- grabbed hold of his wrist, and Wufei quickly twisted his arm around, throwing the bigger man off balance, and then followed this up with a blow to his neck. Alex staggered, but before Wufei could press his advantage, his partner charged in from the other side and forced Wufei to duck his swing.
The three men soon devolved into an unorganized struggle. Wufei had more discipline, more knowledge of the art and power that went into combat, but his opponents were much larger than him and surprisingly fast for their size. Their punches and kicks, even those that he blocked, hit him with bruising strength; he gave as good as he got, but they had more mass with which to absorb his own blows.
An opening -- at last! Concentrating entirely on Alex for a moment, ignoring his partner, Wufei delivered an expert kick to the man’s knee, and snarled in satisfaction as he toppled with a surprised howl. This time he did not give him any time to recover, following his opponent down to the ground and punching at him with all his strength. Alex was dazed, groggy, and Wufei felt a thrill of impending victory. One down -- one to --
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:10 am (UTC)Dazed, he tried to fight through the blinding pain to get to his feet, but the lash descended mercilessly, driving all thoughts of fight from his mind. Distantly, he heard Alex, sounding furious and out of breath. The whip entangled his left arm, and then strong hands gripped him and hoisted him into the air, slamming him down on the table. He felt the wood start to buckle with the force.
“Hold’im, Mueller... just a minute...”
His hands were yanked behind him, and he felt something cold and rigid bite around his wrists. Chains! After all this? He had to concentrate on getting air back into his lungs, as the rattling of metal links filled his ears. Manacles fastened around his legs, too -- he remembered a similar setup the first time he had woken up, after Duo had run him down. But unlike Duo, these bloodhounds had no intentions of letting him go.
“ -- son of a bitch! Nearly broke my leg!” came Alex’s outraged voice. “I wanna teach this little bastard a lesson --”
“Later,” growled his partner. “First we gotta get th’ brand on him. Don’t wanta have to chase him down gain.”
A snarling agreement, and the sounds of footsteps limping away. With difficulty, Wufei refocused his eyes. Dark-haired Mueller still held him pinned unforgivingly against the wooden table, as his partner, muttering curses, hulked over the fireplace. He pulled out a long metal rod with a wooden handle, and began to scrape coals out of the firebed. Wufei tried to twist his head to see the rest of the room; the other patrons appeared to have fled. Behind the kitchen curtain, there was no sign of Bella. Damn it! They can’t just -- let them --
“All right,” Alex said hoarsely, limping back over to the table. He tightly clutched the wooden handle of the glowing iron brand. His face was twisted in vengeful glee as he instructed his partner, “Open up his shirt -- and for the luvva God hold’im still...”
Wufei twisted and bucked frantically against his bonds as Mueller shifted his grip to yank Wufei’s shirt open. It was no good, Mueller pinned him easily -- Alex bent over him with the brand --
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:10 am (UTC)Standing in the doorway, black clothes silhouetted against the bright sun outside, stood Duo, full back dangling from one hand. His face twisted by a cold fury the likes of which Wufei had never seen. Behind him, Wufei just caught a glimpse of an anxiously hovering Bella.
“Just what exactly,” Duo growled, in a voice that chilled Wufei to the bone, “do you think you’re doing with my prisoner?”
Mueller eyed the newcomer uneasily; Alex glared daggers. “Clear off,” he snarled, attempting to look imposing. “This is our piece of meat.”
“Correction,” Duo drawled almost lazily, stepping slowly into the inn room. “That is my piece of meat, and I was the one who ran him down, and I will be the one to collect on his reward.”
Mueller’s glance flickered uneasily from Wufei to Duo. “He ain’t got your brand on him.”
“That’s right.” Duo smiled dangerously. His hand hovered over a suspicious lump in his black trousers; Wufei wondered desperately if there was actually a weapon there, or if Duo was just bluffing. “Shinigami doesn’t need a brand to claim what’s his.”
Alex stiffened, then barked a laugh. “You think you can impress us by pretending to be Shinigami? Like hell!”
“Alex,” Mueller muttered uneasily. “I don’t think he’s pretending.”
“No way.” Alex stared down at the much shorter, slighter man with contemptuous disbelief. “You’re trying to tell us that this skinny little wimp is the guy who brought down the bandit Hoskin and his men? That’s crap!”
“Care to test it?” Duo bared his teeth in what could very generously be considered a smile. It looked morbidly like a skull’s grin. “I’ve come much too far to lose my investment in the Dragon.”
Something in his aura of menace unsettled the two older men; Alex drew back slightly. Wufei breathed a sigh of relief; the tip of the iron poker had been wavering perilously close to his face.
Mueller’s voice was defensive. “It don’t matter who you are,” he retorted. “If your mark ain’t on him, he ain’t yours...”
Re: THE DRAGON AS AN OBJECT OF PREY
Date: 2006-02-21 10:10 am (UTC)Dazed, he tried to fight through the blinding pain to get to his feet, but the lash descended mercilessly, driving all thoughts of fight from his mind. Distantly, he heard Alex, sounding furious and out of breath. The whip entangled his left arm, and then strong hands gripped him and hoisted him into the air, slamming him down on the table. He felt the wood start to buckle with the force.
“Hold’im, Mueller... just a minute...”
His hands were yanked behind him, and he felt something cold and rigid bite around his wrists. Chains! After all this? He had to concentrate on getting air back into his lungs, as the rattling of metal links filled his ears. Manacles fastened around his legs, too -- he remembered a similar setup the first time he had woken up, after Duo had run him down. But unlike Duo, these bloodhounds had no intentions of letting him go.
“ -- son of a bitch! Nearly broke my leg!” came Alex’s outraged voice. “I wanna teach this little bastard a lesson --”
“Later,” growled his partner. “First we gotta get th’ brand on him. Don’t wanta have to chase him down gain.”
A snarling agreement, and the sounds of footsteps limping away. With difficulty, Wufei refocused his eyes. Dark-haired Mueller still held him pinned unforgivingly against the wooden table, as his partner, muttering curses, hulked over the fireplace. He pulled out a long metal rod with a wooden handle, and began to scrape coals out of the firebed. Wufei tried to twist his head to see the rest of the room; the other patrons appeared to have fled. Behind the kitchen curtain, there was no sign of Bella. Damn it! They can’t just -- let them --
“All right,” Alex said hoarsely, limping back over to the table. He tightly clutched the wooden handle of the glowing iron brand. His face was twisted in vengeful glee as he instructed his partner, “Open up his shirt -- and for the luvva God hold’im still...”
Wufei twisted and bucked frantically against his bonds as Mueller shifted his grip to yank Wufei’s shirt open. It was no good, Mueller pinned him easily -- Alex bent over him with the brand --