[Just say the word, Diaochan. He's already putty in your hands, especially now when he's actually so relieved to see that you're well and alive here.]
It is a peaceful land.
[He'll agree with her on that. He can't complain, really, about the land and all its simple pleasures. No battles, no famine, no plague or death...it's a taste of what's to come back home, because eventually someone will have to end all that fighting and restore the peace to the Empire. Now whether a Han Empire will still exist at the end of that road...that's up to Tsao Tsao and Liu Bei.]
There is enough. Monsters still lurk around the perimeter of the village, so I have made it my duty to protect the border.
[He also need something to keep his skills sharp. The easy life in Empatheias could easily cause one to slack, and Zhang Liao is strict on himself to ensure that he keeps himself at the top of his game.
This peace though...it bothers him, that he would find it boring. That he just can't seem to adjust to life after war worries him, because why pursue war when it sows the seeds of chaos and further bloodshed? But he finds that he has so little purpose in life when there are no great battles to fight. His mind had become aimless, wandering about even as he slaughtered a herd of monsters because there was no challenge, no thrill. Honestly speaking he could admit to being worried that he is actually getting worse from the lack of good opponents to do battle with.
...his thoughts are getting careless again. Gathering them up quickly before he lets slip any indication of what's going on in his mind (he can't bother Diaochan about these matters, that's for certain!), he brings himself back to the conversation.]
So long as I know that the people are safe, then I am satisfied.
[...that's a partial lie. But it's a half truth that sounds a whole lot better than what he truly thinks.
Too bad Empatheias doesn't seem to agree. Zhang Liao's brooding and the admittedly dark thoughts about peace and war and his place within them causes the clouds to grey a little above them.]
no subject
It is a peaceful land.
[He'll agree with her on that. He can't complain, really, about the land and all its simple pleasures. No battles, no famine, no plague or death...it's a taste of what's to come back home, because eventually someone will have to end all that fighting and restore the peace to the Empire. Now whether a Han Empire will still exist at the end of that road...that's up to Tsao Tsao and Liu Bei.]
There is enough. Monsters still lurk around the perimeter of the village, so I have made it my duty to protect the border.
[He also need something to keep his skills sharp. The easy life in Empatheias could easily cause one to slack, and Zhang Liao is strict on himself to ensure that he keeps himself at the top of his game.
This peace though...it bothers him, that he would find it boring. That he just can't seem to adjust to life after war worries him, because why pursue war when it sows the seeds of chaos and further bloodshed? But he finds that he has so little purpose in life when there are no great battles to fight. His mind had become aimless, wandering about even as he slaughtered a herd of monsters because there was no challenge, no thrill. Honestly speaking he could admit to being worried that he is actually getting worse from the lack of good opponents to do battle with.
...his thoughts are getting careless again. Gathering them up quickly before he lets slip any indication of what's going on in his mind (he can't bother Diaochan about these matters, that's for certain!), he brings himself back to the conversation.]
So long as I know that the people are safe, then I am satisfied.
[...that's a partial lie. But it's a half truth that sounds a whole lot better than what he truly thinks.
Too bad Empatheias doesn't seem to agree. Zhang Liao's brooding and the admittedly dark thoughts about peace and war and his place within them causes the clouds to grey a little above them.]