01 And I think it's saying something like, "don't be so impatient or lash out because things aren't doing exactly what you want. How would you feel if a
02 higher being decided you weren't doing things according to plan and destroyed you?"
03 When I was young I wasn't allowed outside much, so I spent a lot of it in studies and reading poetry. It was a wonderful way to escape without actually escaping.
01 So long as they don't abuse that power, I suppose you're right. But the people lower down should be able to trust those in power to not take advantage.
01 Right, right! That's why the perfect guy's gotta be picked, or else people won't follow properly, and it'll all go wrong.
Anyway, the one I've got goes something like this.
02 I turn the carriage, yoke and set off, far far, over never-ending roads. In the four directions, broad plain on plain; east wind shakes the hundred grasses.
03 Among all I meet, nothing of the past; what can save us from sudden old age? Fullness and decay, each has its season; success -- I hate it, so late in coming!
04 Man is not made of metal or stone; how can he hope to live for long? Swiftly he follows in the wake of change; a shining name -- let that be the prize!
01 Me? Nah, there's no way. Poetry's not really my thing. Mei or Kougyoku would probably be more likely...
02 It means to do everything you can while you've got the chance to make a name for yourself, I thiiink. It's not specific about what kinda glory you get.
01 If she ever shows up here, I'll point her your way, then. You can take her out on loan, since you never got to have any, and I've got six others, anyway!
[Familial love is so kind, isn't it?]
02 En's my eldest brother, but he's not just that. He's my king, too, and the best thing our country's ever seen in ages. Nobody's like him, and he's the best.
Edited (i miscounted, oops) 2014-06-22 05:01 (UTC)
01 I don't think she'd enjoy knowing you're giving her out on a loan! But I appreciate it nonetheless. Six though, truly? Your mother must be very strong and healthy.
[She's impressed, at least, at the thought of one woman having 10+ kids. She's heard of--seen-- lower class families who have more and more children because of how rare it was for children to survive those first few years. It wasn't like the upper class, who had the souls now to clear away most anything that could be a threat.
For a moment her heart aches just thinking about it]
02 The king! I forgot for a moment that you were a prince. He must be a wonderful man if you can speak so highly of him. I hope to meet him one day! in better circumstances than this, of course.
01 Oh, you've got that part waaay wrong, Winnie. My mom and most of theirs are different people, you know? Our dad had lots of concubines.
[She's right about Kougyoku getting huffy about being loaned, though, so he'll just make sure not to tell her that part, if she ever shows up.]
02 Hey, how could you forget!? Don't I look princely enough for you? But if you did meet him, it'd have to be back home. He's too important to lend out like Kougyoku.
03 You'd like him, though. He's strong and tough, but he's not cruel or nothing like that, if he doesn't have to be. He'd probably like your poetry, too.
[She has no idea how to handle that, except to blush and look around as if afraid someone might see the text she jut got. 'Concubine' is like a titillating word--not dirty, exactly, but not to be said in polite company. It's enough to make her flustered and feel a little excited, like she's talking about something she shouldn't know about. It's like straight out of the romance novels of the far-off mystical Arabia with the Shahs and the harems of beautiful women she wasn't supposed to know (or think) exist.]
02 My father never got remarried or... dallied. Is keeping... those women common? Are you married or have those women? [She can't quite bring herself to even type the word.]
03 Perhaps you should start wearing a crown! :)
04 I'll think of some more poems and find a way to write them down. Maybe you can send them to him somehow!
[A dashingly handsome king reading her poems... It's like something from a novel!]
01 Why do you keep doing that? They're called concubines. It's not like they're prostitutes or anything.
[There is totally a major difference, Winnie, and it's Important.]
02 Nah, En's not married yet, and me, either. I don't need concubines much, 'cause I get along fine on my own, you know? But we're supposed to try having kids soon, to keep the line going!
03 My hat's good enough to make it obvious, so I'll stick to that, instead. Crowns are heavy... But if you want me to send some of your stuff to En, I can try.
That's even worse! I suppose you could call them 'ladies of the night' but you said they weren't like the girls that sell themselves. Why are we discussing this anyway??!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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02. Didn't peg you for the poetry kind, either.
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And I think it's saying something like, "don't be so impatient or lash out because things aren't doing exactly what you want. How would you feel if a
02
higher being decided you weren't doing things according to plan and destroyed you?"
03
When I was young I wasn't allowed outside much, so I spent a lot of it in studies and reading poetry. It was a wonderful way to escape without actually escaping.
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Huh. I guess so. You'd know better than me, anyway.
02
Isn't that the job of the powerful, though? Keep everything in line, even if the guys down low can't tell why they're doing it.
03
Hey, you wanna hear one from my country? Think you might like it.
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So long as they don't abuse that power, I suppose you're right. But the people lower down should be able to trust those in power to not take advantage.
02
I would, if you don't mind!
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Right, right! That's why the perfect guy's gotta be picked, or else people won't follow properly, and it'll all go wrong.
Anyway, the one I've got goes something like this.
02
I turn the carriage, yoke and set off,
far far, over never-ending roads.
In the four directions, broad plain on plain;
east wind shakes the hundred grasses.
03
Among all I meet, nothing of the past;
what can save us from sudden old age?
Fullness and decay, each has its season;
success -- I hate it, so late in coming!
04
Man is not made of metal or stone;
how can he hope to live for long?
Swiftly he follows in the wake of change;
a shining name -- let that be the prize!
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Me? Nah, there's no way. Poetry's not really my thing. Mei or Kougyoku would probably be more likely...
02
It means to do everything you can while you've got the chance to make a name for yourself, I thiiink. It's not specific about what kinda glory you get.
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[Much more interested in talking about Kouha's friends and/or family than poem meanings right this second.]
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[Can you hear that familial pride, Kougyoku? Because it's just about leaking out of him.]
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You don't have any at all? Unlucky~. Mine are great! Mei's real smart, so he's En's right hand man and does a lot of the strategizing.
[He pities you, Winnie. He truly does. What's life without family?]
02
Kougyoku's a crybaby and bad at lots of things, but she's pretty strong. You'd probably get along with her, if you don't mind playing dress-up.
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I don't mind dress-up at all! They all sound very nice, it's lovely.
02
I never had the chance to have siblings. I suppose the closest is Agnes, my maid. She was raised with me.
03
Is En one of your brothers too?
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If she ever shows up here, I'll point her your way, then. You can take her out on loan, since you never got to have any, and I've got six others, anyway!
[Familial love is so kind, isn't it?]
02
En's my eldest brother, but he's not just that. He's my king, too, and the best thing our country's ever seen in ages. Nobody's like him, and he's the best.
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I don't think she'd enjoy knowing you're giving her out on a loan! But I appreciate it nonetheless. Six though, truly? Your mother must be very strong and healthy.
[She's impressed, at least, at the thought of one woman having 10+ kids. She's heard of--seen-- lower class families who have more and more children because of how rare it was for children to survive those first few years. It wasn't like the upper class, who had the souls now to clear away most anything that could be a threat.
For a moment her heart aches just thinking about it]
02
The king! I forgot for a moment that you were a prince. He must be a wonderful man if you can speak so highly of him. I hope to meet him one day! in better circumstances than this, of course.
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Oh, you've got that part waaay wrong, Winnie. My mom and most of theirs are different people, you know? Our dad had lots of concubines.
[She's right about Kougyoku getting huffy about being loaned, though, so he'll just make sure not to tell her that part, if she ever shows up.]
02
Hey, how could you forget!? Don't I look princely enough for you? But if you did meet him, it'd have to be back home. He's too important to lend out like Kougyoku.
03
You'd like him, though. He's strong and tough, but he's not cruel or nothing like that, if he doesn't have to be. He'd probably like your poetry, too.
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Oh.
[She has no idea how to handle that, except to blush and look around as if afraid someone might see the text she jut got. 'Concubine' is like a titillating word--not dirty, exactly, but not to be said in polite company. It's enough to make her flustered and feel a little excited, like she's talking about something she shouldn't know about. It's like straight out of the romance novels of the far-off mystical Arabia with the Shahs and the harems of beautiful women she wasn't supposed to know (or think) exist.]
02
My father never got remarried or... dallied. Is keeping... those women common? Are you married or have those women? [She can't quite bring herself to even type the word.]
03
Perhaps you should start wearing a crown! :)
04
I'll think of some more poems and find a way to write them down. Maybe you can send them to him somehow!
[A dashingly handsome king reading her poems... It's like something from a novel!]
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Why do you keep doing that? They're called concubines. It's not like they're prostitutes or anything.
[There is totally a major difference, Winnie, and it's Important.]
02
Nah, En's not married yet, and me, either. I don't need concubines much, 'cause I get along fine on my own, you know? But we're supposed to try having kids soon, to keep the line going!
03
My hat's good enough to make it obvious, so I'll stick to that, instead. Crowns are heavy... But if you want me to send some of your stuff to En, I can try.
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Kouha!
[Can you hear the shock in her text. She even gasps out loud.]
02
it's simply not a word a lady should use in polite company. It feels like I'm doing something naughty if I even write it out.
03
Anyway, I'd like that. And I'll write poems for you too, of course! :)
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Do you want me to use "whores" instead? Don't be so uptight! It's not like I'm gonna tell on you. ;)
[He is smirking like a jerk, and it practically drips off every word, even in text.]
02
But the poetry might be fun, so you can keep doing that for me, too.
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[He doesn't protest the cheeky bit, though, because he knows it's true.]