The latter, unfortunately. A continuation of some of the events that I had told you about before, and an elaboration, perhaps. At this rate I need someone else to vent to that isn't directly involved just so I don't feel like I'm going insane.
I will say I am remarkably well connected, and the distance does little to hinder that. For example I have a very fine fae wine here aged oh, long enough for our purpose.
[ One would think seeing your protege and essentially adopted son would be something to celebrate, but knowing who else was here alongside him was ... a bit of a mood-killer. Not that Jae didn't think that Young-ho could hold his own should Kangdae decide to try hurting him, far from it. Especially after he was told what his heir had done to the clan that had called for his assassination.
He shivers - it was unfortunately necessary, he knew that - but it was also something he knew that was only done as both a last resort and a power play to show the council that he was worthy of taking over.
Regardless -
Jae slips the key card in and takes a deep breath once he shuts the door behind him. ]
Thank you for indulging this old man's request, Easal.
Are you that old? For that matter, in comparison to myself, are you sure that is old? I am not looking for an answer to the second for the record, but if you prefer to think you outrank me, I'll not argue.
Sit, I have glasses. Drink before you delve into it. I know that look.
[ It's to relax, he's not interested in that sort of thing with Easal, and honestly he hasn't really been dabbling in the ho ways all that much.
Jae takes a longer sip before letting out a huff of air. ]
It ... does. More will probably help, but this is a good start.
Apparently there have been some visitors that have arrived lately, related to those of us that were pulled here from Seoul. Among them, my heir and essentially adopted son from my previous life.
Well, that I had heard of. I believe I am an honorary uncle to one such visitor. And so far, I see no problem with this. Unless your adopted son is quick to temper and eager for his inheritance.
Not at all, he already had proven himself worthy of taking over for me, that isn't the problem. It's who may be trying to go after him. That one is the one who is quick to temper and wants to go for his inheritance.
He also happens to be my actual long-lost son that I hadn't heard about up until a few months ago.
[and everyone always says kdramas aren't real. Easal was right and everyone else was wrong SUCK IT MOR]
An actual long-lost son! Did he bring a note? A tear-stained letter from a lover you remember saying farewell to? No, that might be too much... Well, no. Allow me to correct myself before you need to; that's quite a lot already. So your quick to anger eager for his share son, he's causing some trouble?
Hardly, more like an angry string of text messages of how I was never there.
[ siiiiiip. ]
Yes, he wants to take the clan leadership from my adopted son purely out of spite. I very much doubt it's because he feels he can actually lead the clan better.
Considering who apparently is his source, unfortunately, we can't take the chance that it could be wrong.
[ Especially now that he has confirmation for sure that Amon is backing him. Better for them to be warned ahead of time and it be a fluke than brush it off and end up utterly decimated. He taught Young-ho better than that, and his gut feeling is telling him to not brush this off either. ]
Too fine of a motivator. If I could get in a word edgewise before he curses me out and apparently blocks me out of sheer irritation, I would at least try to get his side of things. Find out who his mother is, try and figure out where exactly this much rage comes from.
Even being what I am and what he is, it's not just the anger that comes along with being under the domain of Wrath that fuels him. There's more to it.
I do not want you to think I doubt you. No, quite the opposite! I believe you and your son troubles are quite real and quite difficult. But it is still a question to ask, why he would come for you over text and not face to face.
[forewarning aside, there is not a lot of upside]
It is a hard thing to temper such rage. Harder, to get at its roots.
Perhaps he's afraid of a direct confrontation? I can't say for sure. But one would think that as angry as he seems, that he would be itching for an opportunity to face me directly.
[ His panic about the situation originally wasn't exactly pretty either, but at the very least, Jae was talked down from that fairly quickly to focus on the important part: making sure that everything he had worked for wouldn't be destroyed by this family feud. ]
But in order for me to get a greater understanding of my own son, it's unfortunately necessary. As difficult as it will probably be.
Perhaps. It is a curious detail. Perhaps he wishes to antagonize until he gains the strength he needs to try something more direct? Or perhaps it is all a grandiose plan to bait you into losing your own temper in return. I've not met him, I couldn't say what's what.
[he nods along, eyeing his own wine glass]
Family troubles. They never do cease. What will you try, to calm his ire?
The former seems more likely. Especially now that I know who's been backing him in this little endeavor.
... jog my memory, friend - but did I ever discuss with you my particular circumstances? Or more specifically, who exactly I am bound to work under because of what I am now?
Yes, you had said he had a source! I was trying not to pry terribly, seeing as I've done plenty of that already. But that seems to be a larger factor than you let on before.
I do not know the who, I confess. Someone important in your line, I am sure.
Being under the Cardinal of Wrath, the one I report to is one of Hell's Princes - Amon herself.
[ Granted, it's in this particular incarnation of her that she apparently took a female form - according to rumor, it was more because enemies wouldn't see it coming, apparently. ]
And I have reason to believe that she is the one manipulating my son into trying to ruin all I had worked for in my past life.
She has her reasons to - I'm not very good at causing trouble like she wants, and what better way to get back at me for being a failure of a demon than to tear apart everything I know using someone I would love under normal circumstances against me?
[ ... he needs a longer drink after that confession. ]
A Prince of Hell. That is quite the title, isn't it. And the influence that must go with that ...
[he has died and gone to gossip rag heaven. it is fortunate that decades of being a good son and being in the limelight have taught him to keep his surprise (and delight) more muted than they would otherwise be in this moment. look, that's juicy and delicious, and he wants another]
That's a powerful motive. That, and the spite together, have woven a terrible mess, haven't they!
[but even he must pause, because the severity is not lost to him]
But what can be done to undo it?
[a pause, a drink.]
If he is truly being used as you believe, she is not likely to stop until she forces some change out of you. And doing that will come at a high cost, of morality and life. Is that it? So getting to him ...
Then again, if he holds that much resentment, he isn't about to shy away from the chance to wreck all you care about in this world for anything!
I have never been my own father's favorite son in any capacity, but I could not imagine nursing such a resentment into so powerful a weapon. What can be done, to stop this son you would otherwise love and this prince of hell who would gladly cause more trouble?
[ Jae downs the rest of the wine, letting out a hum. ]
I'm afraid that the "changes" she wants to force upon me involve either total subservience or death at this rate. And as you can imagine, I'm not terribly fond of either of those choices.
And I'm sure she'd take pleasure in seeing my own son tear me to pieces. It certainly doesn't help that her backing also includes giving him not only a means to gain power, but a means for her to control him.
I can see things ending one of two ways.
[ He holds up a finger. ]
One, they kill me and everything I worked for - allies, friends, my old clan.
Or two, I somehow cut off that source of power, hopefully freeing him from her control and allowing him to be rational enough to actually sit down and listen to reason.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
HEY ROOMIE (probably during the week of visitors bc he needs more reason to be drunk)
👈👈 he got your back roomie
This is highly relevant to what stock I check.
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I will say I am remarkably well connected, and the distance does little to hinder that. For example I have a very fine fae wine here aged oh, long enough for our purpose.
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[ One would think seeing your protege and essentially adopted son would be something to celebrate, but knowing who else was here alongside him was ... a bit of a mood-killer. Not that Jae didn't think that Young-ho could hold his own should Kangdae decide to try hurting him, far from it. Especially after he was told what his heir had done to the clan that had called for his assassination.
He shivers - it was unfortunately necessary, he knew that - but it was also something he knew that was only done as both a last resort and a power play to show the council that he was worthy of taking over.
Regardless -
Jae slips the key card in and takes a deep breath once he shuts the door behind him. ]
Thank you for indulging this old man's request, Easal.
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Sit, I have glasses. Drink before you delve into it. I know that look.
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[ He sighs, unbuttoning his shirt and sitting down on the edge of his bed to hold his hand out for the glass. ]
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[why was the shirt necessary... but he has the promised wine. never doubt a man who has near unfettered access to fae wine]
I do hope this helps
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Jae takes a longer sip before letting out a huff of air. ]
It ... does. More will probably help, but this is a good start.
Apparently there have been some visitors that have arrived lately, related to those of us that were pulled here from Seoul. Among them, my heir and essentially adopted son from my previous life.
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Well, that I had heard of. I believe I am an honorary uncle to one such visitor. And so far, I see no problem with this. Unless your adopted son is quick to temper and eager for his inheritance.
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He also happens to be my actual long-lost son that I hadn't heard about up until a few months ago.
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An actual long-lost son! Did he bring a note? A tear-stained letter from a lover you remember saying farewell to? No, that might be too much... Well, no. Allow me to correct myself before you need to; that's quite a lot already. So your quick to anger eager for his share son, he's causing some trouble?
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[ siiiiiip. ]
Yes, he wants to take the clan leadership from my adopted son purely out of spite. I very much doubt it's because he feels he can actually lead the clan better.
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[he has to shake his head]
Oh, I shouldn't doubt it. Spite is a fine motivator. It has been known to lead armies many a mile, and for worse reasons.
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[ Especially now that he has confirmation for sure that Amon is backing him. Better for them to be warned ahead of time and it be a fluke than brush it off and end up utterly decimated. He taught Young-ho better than that, and his gut feeling is telling him to not brush this off either. ]
Too fine of a motivator. If I could get in a word edgewise before he curses me out and apparently blocks me out of sheer irritation, I would at least try to get his side of things. Find out who his mother is, try and figure out where exactly this much rage comes from.
Even being what I am and what he is, it's not just the anger that comes along with being under the domain of Wrath that fuels him. There's more to it.
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[forewarning aside, there is not a lot of upside]
It is a hard thing to temper such rage. Harder, to get at its roots.
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[ His panic about the situation originally wasn't exactly pretty either, but at the very least, Jae was talked down from that fairly quickly to focus on the important part: making sure that everything he had worked for wouldn't be destroyed by this family feud. ]
But in order for me to get a greater understanding of my own son, it's unfortunately necessary. As difficult as it will probably be.
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[he nods along, eyeing his own wine glass]
Family troubles. They never do cease. What will you try, to calm his ire?
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... jog my memory, friend - but did I ever discuss with you my particular circumstances? Or more specifically, who exactly I am bound to work under because of what I am now?
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I do not know the who, I confess. Someone important in your line, I am sure.
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[ Granted, it's in this particular incarnation of her that she apparently took a female form - according to rumor, it was more because enemies wouldn't see it coming, apparently. ]
And I have reason to believe that she is the one manipulating my son into trying to ruin all I had worked for in my past life.
She has her reasons to - I'm not very good at causing trouble like she wants, and what better way to get back at me for being a failure of a demon than to tear apart everything I know using someone I would love under normal circumstances against me?
[ ... he needs a longer drink after that confession. ]
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[he has died and gone to gossip rag heaven. it is fortunate that decades of being a good son and being in the limelight have taught him to keep his surprise (and delight) more muted than they would otherwise be in this moment. look, that's juicy and delicious, and he wants another]
That's a powerful motive. That, and the spite together, have woven a terrible mess, haven't they!
[but even he must pause, because the severity is not lost to him]
But what can be done to undo it?
[a pause, a drink.]
If he is truly being used as you believe, she is not likely to stop until she forces some change out of you. And doing that will come at a high cost, of morality and life. Is that it? So getting to him ...
Then again, if he holds that much resentment, he isn't about to shy away from the chance to wreck all you care about in this world for anything!
I have never been my own father's favorite son in any capacity, but I could not imagine nursing such a resentment into so powerful a weapon. What can be done, to stop this son you would otherwise love and this prince of hell who would gladly cause more trouble?
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[ Jae downs the rest of the wine, letting out a hum. ]
I'm afraid that the "changes" she wants to force upon me involve either total subservience or death at this rate. And as you can imagine, I'm not terribly fond of either of those choices.
And I'm sure she'd take pleasure in seeing my own son tear me to pieces. It certainly doesn't help that her backing also includes giving him not only a means to gain power, but a means for her to control him.
I can see things ending one of two ways.
[ He holds up a finger. ]
One, they kill me and everything I worked for - allies, friends, my old clan.
Or two, I somehow cut off that source of power, hopefully freeing him from her control and allowing him to be rational enough to actually sit down and listen to reason.
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