{Video}

[heavensdragon]

{He is fastidious about his appearance, brushing off imagined pieces of dust and grime with delicate hands. Runyu is not a tall man nor does he look particularly strong, yet jumping to conclusions about his abilities would be a mistake. Before you stands the Emperor of Heaven, though he earned the title through underhanded means.}

I am not practiced at welcome speeches. However I will do my best. {He clears his throat and stands with all the pride he can scrape together in this moment.} I am Runyu, son of Emperor Tai Wei and Princess Su Li. You need not fear me if you have done nothing wrong.

{His gaze sharpens as if he can detect wrongdoers through the device.}

Yet if you have committed this crime against me, I will not be merciful. You have removed the Emperor of Heaven from his duties and now hold him prisoner. Kidnap on this scale can only result in your death.

{Those are big words for someone who doesn't have an army to back him up, but Runyu is, perhaps understandably, mad. Furious, actually.}

Furthermore, if you have harmed my wife... {A chill climbs his spine. Soon, she could be his wife. He must return to her!} I will kill you myself.

{His hands curl into white fists as if he imagines snapping necks with his bare fingers. He could.}

Comments

[heavensdragon]

{She's young. She's allowed to be spacey and cute. Runyu bows his head in answer, genuinely grateful.

Her opinion of him is good for his ego, too! But he is cautious. So cautious. People have betrayed him right and left - or so it seems.}

It is. I will support her while she learns. {He has been waiting for Jin Mi for millennia. The least he can do is help her become stronger...if she stops trying to escape him.}

Are you having difficulties, my lady? I'm always happy to listen if I can't help.

{She has been so friendly; it's the least he can do.}

Then I hope you meet her in a better place. She has visited Earth before.

{Please. His self-confidence is lower than low. It's in a tank.

Also...titles. He can see this being a sore point if he pushes too hard and it's easier, somehow, to tell her:}

Runyu is fine.

[wishupona]

[Don't call her cute to her face, she'll never forget and will be entirely too pleased about it for the next forever. Not an actual forever, mr immortal, but a while.

Luckily, Rinoa isn't in the betrayal business. It's not her nature.]

I'm sure she appreciates the support. It's not easy having to learn about yourself like that.

[Definitely speaking from experience.]

Oh no! [She startles, laughing slightly, embarrassed.] I just went through something similar myself not that long ago. Not that I'm a goddess or anything, but...I know exactly what it's like being more than you realize.

[And had almost been locked away for an eternity because of it. Whoops~]

I mean this place isn't that bad yet, but I can't really say it's good either. You know?

[Hard to tell. Nothing bad has happened, but those papers as well as how they arrived? Very Suspect.]

Runyu?[A smile, eyes crinkling. First name basis with someone that important and cool? That's fine by her.] Alright. Runyu it is, but that means you have to call me just Rinoa too.

[Though the occasional Lady and the like is fine. Feels special.]

[heavensdragon]

{It might happen. Prepare yourself, Rinoa. Runyu has a soft spot for cute girls - especially ones that are innocent and helpful.}

Of course not. She has been treated unfairly, though I understand why her caregivers protected her.

{He just wishes he could have known her sooner. He perks up at that little glimpse into Rinoa's life.}

If you need help, I am available. I can support you if nothing else.

{And he can make sure she doesn't hurt herself.}

The unknown is what concerns me. I feel like this world could turn on us.

{Or maybe that's how he feels about everyone and everything. He has caused enough strife and fear that anyone could stab him in the back.

Her offer surprises him - pleasantly - and he smiles.}

Very well. I'm glad our paths crossed, Rinoa.

[wishupona]

[And Rinoa appreciates good looking guys. What a combo they make.]

But sometimes that protection hurts a lot more than it helps.

[She would know what that's like too. This goddess sounds like someone she'd potentially really get along with if their experiences are this similar.]

It's a deal! But at the same time? I can help you too! Support goes both ways.

[Don't worry, she's tougher than she looks.]

Well, yeah. You're not really wrong. There's so much we don't know. But I'm not about to let that scare me.

[It's the fear of the unknown that almost got her trapped in an eternal tomb in space, cut off from everyone and everything after all.]

I'm really glad too Runyu! Maybe this situation isn't ideal, but I'm determined to make the best of this.

[heavensdragon]

How can protection be harmful? {That part catches his attention and he thinks of Jin Mi and how hard she has tried to escape him. Is he hurting her? But how can he stop? He needs her. Surely she will understand that...eventually...}

You are already helping me. {He smiles reluctantly.} Then I too will try not to be frightened.

{Fear is what has trapped Runyu and Jin Mi in their current predicament too.}

Your optimism gives me hope.

[wishupona]

It's like my Dad. [Honestly, she's a little surprised she's willing to talk about this and it probably shows just for a brief moment, before she continues anyway.] The General's always making my choices for me. What's best for me, what I can and can't do. One of the last times I saw him? He locked me in my room! When I know I can make a difference.

[The fact that she's helping is another surprise.]

But... I haven't even done anything yet?

[Ah, yes. Fear. She's heard of that. But they're not very well acquainted.]

I... you're welcome I guess?

[That's not the reaction she's used to getting, but it's kind of nice.]

[heavensdragon]

{Her story hits...home. Runyu has let his fear rule him; he has locked Jin Mi away and made decisions for her. He tells himself she will be safe and loved this way, but is it really for her? Even when he does those awful things, he isn't sure.}

Do you hate him? {He thinks he can live with his actions if she doesn't hate him.} You have listened to me. I appreciate that much.

[wishupona]

I thought I did, once.

[After all, it's not like she knows what she's saying hits far too close to home. How could she? Instead, she's just sharing her own lived experiences.]

I ran away, took my mother's name, and did everything I could to distance myself from him. And when I finally saw him again? He just tried the same old things all over again, he locked me away!

[She sighs, the subject one of the ones she's honestly the most wistful about when it comes to back home.]

But the things I've experienced and everything I've seen? I've learned a lot. I wish I could have had a chance to talk to him again, maybe make things right, but...instead I'm here now. So I guess that's just going to have to wait even longer.

[Rinoa smiles, sheepishly. Realizing she's basically dumping her problems on someone who's barely more than a stranger to her still.]

I mean... you've done a lot of listening too Runyu. So really it's the least I can do. So thanks aren't needed, not for something like this. Not between friends?

[Testing the word out, mostly to see if he'll agree or not.]