[Perhaps that's why Daji had taken over Kiyomori's place as Sun Jian's chief tormentor. He could withstand a punch to the gut or a crack at his head, but his children are his everything, more precious than any treasure in the world. Knowing that he's lost one son and dangling the other's safety to shake his resistance...that requires a finer touch than Kiyomori's, but no less cruel. Daji is perfect for the job.
He hears Chen Gong scream and for a split second he wants to demand them to stop, because he's been in the strategist's shoes and he knows how much it hurts to have your humanity being ripped out from your body. But Daji holds up a slim finger and shakes her head.]
"I don't think you should be worried about him right now. We're in the middle of a discussion after all. "
[Sun Jian's eyes narrow, but all he can muster for his suffering comrade is a silent apology. Daji curls her hand near her cheek and grins. ]
"I'm so glad you're finally seeing things my way. So! Back to our deal... [She giggles and clasps her hands gleefully like a young, giddy girl, but her eyes can't conceal the sadistic pleasure she's experiencing right now at Sun Jian's internal anguish over the dilemma she's presented to him.] Do you agree to my terms then? I think I'm already being quite generous! I make sure that not a single hair on your little boy's head is touched, and in return...I want to test my own twist on Kiyomori's spell on you."
[It sounds too good to be true, that all she's asking for is his cooperation with her little experiment. She's not even asking for his allegiance. There has to be something more to this deal. He can't see it, not directly, but there has to be a trick here. Some fine line in the extremely fine print that's dodging his attention.]
"Of course, it might hurt just a teensy little bit more...but I'm sure a big, strong man like yourself can handle a tiny pinch or two. Or three."
[She sees him hesitating though, and her tone shifts to mock disappointment. She's still playing with him though even as she feigns exasperation.]
"Aren't I generous enough? You drive a hard bargain, Sun Jian."
[And then that sly, arrogant smile plays on her lips again as she finally pushes him to an ultimatum.]
"Ah well. I suppose I'll just have to look for another willing assistant then. Maybe one of the new..."volunteers" to Kiyomori's army. They don't object to much. In fact...they don't object at all. Let's see, there's the God of War, Tsao Tsao's supposedly unbreakable shield Tsao Ren, and Nobunaga's pretty boy toy...oh, who else am I missing-"
Enough.
[He knows who is going to be at the end of that list. And he will not let his children be Daji's playthings. If he can no longer protect them...then he will at least spare them the pain of losing their grip on humanity.
Abandoning caution and good sense to the wind, he steels himself and says out loud:]
I'll do it. But if I find out that you went back on your word...I promise you that will be your end.
[His ominous words don't scare her at all. As she beckons him forward to follow her into her portal, he feels himself grow increasingly numb despite knowing some relief that his son will be spared. He will always resist Orochi and the dark forces that threaten to snuff out humanity's flame, but he knows that from now on he has set himself on a path from which there is no return. No matter where he goes from this point on...he has a feeling that Daji's finally secured a victory for herself that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
The Demon may have failed, but the Fox has finally tamed the Tiger.]
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branchandroot
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Date: 2014-09-27 10:16 am (UTC)He hears Chen Gong scream and for a split second he wants to demand them to stop, because he's been in the strategist's shoes and he knows how much it hurts to have your humanity being ripped out from your body. But Daji holds up a slim finger and shakes her head.]
"I don't think you should be worried about him right now. We're in the middle of a discussion after all. "
[Sun Jian's eyes narrow, but all he can muster for his suffering comrade is a silent apology. Daji curls her hand near her cheek and grins. ]
"I'm so glad you're finally seeing things my way. So! Back to our deal... [She giggles and clasps her hands gleefully like a young, giddy girl, but her eyes can't conceal the sadistic pleasure she's experiencing right now at Sun Jian's internal anguish over the dilemma she's presented to him.] Do you agree to my terms then? I think I'm already being quite generous! I make sure that not a single hair on your little boy's head is touched, and in return...I want to test my own twist on Kiyomori's spell on you."
[It sounds too good to be true, that all she's asking for is his cooperation with her little experiment. She's not even asking for his allegiance. There has to be something more to this deal. He can't see it, not directly, but there has to be a trick here. Some fine line in the extremely fine print that's dodging his attention.]
"Of course, it might hurt just a teensy little bit more...but I'm sure a big, strong man like yourself can handle a tiny pinch or two. Or three."
[She sees him hesitating though, and her tone shifts to mock disappointment. She's still playing with him though even as she feigns exasperation.]
"Aren't I generous enough? You drive a hard bargain, Sun Jian."
[And then that sly, arrogant smile plays on her lips again as she finally pushes him to an ultimatum.]
"Ah well. I suppose I'll just have to look for another willing assistant then. Maybe one of the new..."volunteers" to Kiyomori's army. They don't object to much. In fact...they don't object at all. Let's see, there's the God of War, Tsao Tsao's supposedly unbreakable shield Tsao Ren, and Nobunaga's pretty boy toy...oh, who else am I missing-"
Enough.
[He knows who is going to be at the end of that list. And he will not let his children be Daji's playthings. If he can no longer protect them...then he will at least spare them the pain of losing their grip on humanity.
Abandoning caution and good sense to the wind, he steels himself and says out loud:]
I'll do it. But if I find out that you went back on your word...I promise you that will be your end.
[His ominous words don't scare her at all. As she beckons him forward to follow her into her portal, he feels himself grow increasingly numb despite knowing some relief that his son will be spared. He will always resist Orochi and the dark forces that threaten to snuff out humanity's flame, but he knows that from now on he has set himself on a path from which there is no return. No matter where he goes from this point on...he has a feeling that Daji's finally secured a victory for herself that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
The Demon may have failed, but the Fox has finally tamed the Tiger.]