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[yeshou]

[ Wen Kexing looks thoughtfully through the projection cast by the coin, as if he's trying to see the people on the other side of the network. He can't yet, but he's judging anyway. ]

Who is a leader here?

[ That's not very helpful. He considers and tries again. ]

It looks like a lot of the people brought here belong to groups or sects of some kind. Isn't that weird?

Anyway, the most important question is which of you is the strongest?

[ He folds his arms across his chest. ]

We're all from different places, so how can we tell?

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[galling]

That me!

[ and humble about it apparently. ]

Strongest back home, but I ain't no prime minister to answer the first question.

I'd sign myself up for the battle royale you're probably about to instigate with an inquisition like that, but I'll pass. Why do you wanna know?

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[yeshou]

You're the strongest of your world?

[ A battle royale would definitely liven things up. It would also make everything far easier to deal with in his opinion. Just force authority and tackle his problems with violence. ]

How do we know you're the strongest here? Other people us magic.

[ Who is the toughest of them all, really? How can they rate that? ]

[galling]

Magic? Nah. Can't say I'm much of a wizard either, but I get by with what I've got.

[ which is a low whistle and a cock of the head apparently. not exactly incensed, but definitely not holding back on trying to measure his angle either. ]

But I guess you didn't like my last question.

What good's strength to you right now? Got somethin' to fight?

[yeshou]

Why can't I want to know?

[ Totally answering with all the energy of a haughty twelve-year-old. ]

There are a lot of people here, so I'm asking who's strong! Maybe later I could end up fighting you.

[ He makes a dramatic show of opening his fan to cool himself, as if he wouldn't end up doing that at all. ]

A bunch of us were brought here and given some shit about crimes, so aren't you wondering what kind of neighbors you have? It saves time if we all compare strengths now.

[galling]

[ there's a puff of laughter, obvious, and probably meant to incite some more miffed fanning or maybe another defensive show of pride. but surely wen kexing will not fall for such poorly laden bait; he seems like he's above all of that.

... meanwhile, gojo satoru is absolutely not above petty, mocking gestures, like the way he's waving himself with the palm of his large hand in unison to all of wen kexing's flustered fanning. ]

Sounds to me like some bored deities snatched us criminals up and dumped us here. Pretty lax of a jail if you ask me.

But the way you phrase it, it makes it sound like you expect all of us to be at each other's throats like a bunch of wild animals. Which is fair if we're really all that awful! If I were weak, I'd be shaking like a leaf too.

[ figh...ting... words... ]

Trying to find the strongest guy to avoid 'im or something?

[yeshou]

[He sees the mimicry and smirks back, the Valley Master rising in him to respond to the insubordinate attitude. A bunch of wild animals is exactly what they are, and he's the king of beasts, right? He snaps the fan closed, tapping it against a nearby surface impatiently.]

Are you trying to say you're the strongest? Why don't you come tear out this throat? If you are able, you'll eliminate one more challenger. If you lose, then you give yourself to me. It's a simple exchange, right?

[galling]

Ooh, scary! Easy there, Tiger. I'm not trying to rile you up.

[ liar. but he shakes his head all the same. there's a kind of loose-limbed shrug to punctuate the incredibly rude gesture of not rising to the bait, but at least his tone's modulated enough if not lilting. ]

Told you earlier that I wasn't looking for a fight. Besides, no one's killed anyone yet. You'd think if we were that bad from the get-go, we'd be getting into turf wars left and right.

Sounds to me that you're the only one who's itching to get dirty.

[yeshou]

[ Being rejected is annoying, but he can't be completely surprised. If Gojo wants to fight, it doesn't make sense to approach him fairly. Trying to nip at Wen Kexing's patience like a jackal is a smart move, and Wen Kexing acknowledges that.

He'd still break his legs if he could. ]

Of course no one is going to fight over petty things. It's not that fun. But that doesn't mean everyone here is avoiding it. They just fight when they want to--and I'm giving them a good invitation. It's easier for all of us. If you're afraid, then you don't have to do anything either way.

[galling]

... oh come on, you can do better than that. If we're both afraid, we'd probably not be talking at all!

I'd even go so far to say that we're fostering friendship here.

[ said in the kind of tone that probably implies that he knows wen kexing is absolutely going to try to break his legs the moment the opportunity presents itself.

with the knowledge that gojo knows he would deserve it. ]

So, you rile a bunch of people up, knock them out of commission, until you're standing alone on top of the hill.

The hill's not that big is all I'm saying. If you're going to host a fight, you should at least offer a prize.

[ by all accounts, he's against the idea, but look: sometimes you meet a hot temper and you want to see how hard it seethes. ]

[yeshou]

Is that right?

[ The taunt is admittedly exciting. It reminds him of arguing with the Ten Devils in Ghost Valley, ready for them to attempt to assassinate him. He doesn't necessarily want to be lord of hell, he never did, but does he want to crush everyone else that threatens him? Sure. Gojo says he'll be alone at the top of a hill that isn't worth much, but survival is always worth the most. ]

If that's your complaint, what prize do you want? I think the challenge is its own reward, but since you aren't satisfied, make a suggestion. I want to hear what you fight for.