Post by Jie Shan Lan Dian on May 23, 2016 18:58:28 GMT -5
The Lan Dian compound was quiet that evening. Save for the chatter of guards and the occasional electronic beep, the world around it was still. And Jie Shan appreciated the silence. He was getting ready to leave for Earth, take his vacation, getting ready to see something beyond Natto for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. Jie Shan stood over his bed, over his suitcase, looking down on the scant amount of possessions that he was taking with him. A few sets of clothes, some money, and the things he needed to maintain his blade. Among the clothing was a set of Earthling clothes. A hoodie, he believed they called it, and jeans, both grey in color. Best if he looked the part while he was there, or at least tried to look the part. He thought he could pass for human well enough, if he tried and actually took effort to hide his tail.
And, he thought, if he avoided going Super Saiyan. Yes, that would be a dead give away, suddenly bursting into golden radiance. Though he did not expect trouble simply for the sake of being a Saiyan, he thought it prudent to try and blend in. He never quite liked playing the part of a tourist. Years of soldiering and mercanary work had taught him that much. A tourist would stick out like a sore thumb, as would a Saiyan. He was doing this to relax, not to draw attention to himself.
There was a knock at his door. With a sigh, Jie Shan set his suitcase aside and turned to face the door. "Come in," he said, "It's open." And so it was, for the door slid open a moment later. And, to his surprise, in stepped Gai Lan Dian. Jie Shan's eyes widened. "Father," he said suddenly, "It's not like you to come to me. Usually you have one of our men relay your messages to me."
"Well," began Gai Lan Dian, "I was passing by and I thought I would see if the reports of my son planning to leave are true."
"Now who told you that?" Asked Jie Shan.
"A little bird," answered Gai, "One of a very large flock."
"You and your spies," mumbled Jie Shan, "So, what's this about? Come to stop me? Tell me that I can't leave?"
"No," growled Gai, "Quite the opposite, actually. I came to give you my blessing in this matter."
"Thanks," said Jie Shan, his voice sharp with sarcasm, "But I don't really need it. I outrank you, of course. And father, you do know that I am twenty years old, yes? I don't need your permission to do anything."
No, thought Jie Shan, the only reason he'd ever listened to his father in the first place is because of the chain of military command. There had been a time, a very recent time, that Jie Shan had been outranked by his father, leaving him little choice in the matter. Luckily for the halfblood, Overseer Natto had unknowingly rectified that situation for him upon his return. Now, his father only held power over him in a few regards. Unluckily for the halfblood, those ways were perhaps the most chaining of all.
"No, you don't, Jie Shan," said his father, his voice low, "But come now, I'm your father. Have a little respect for that and indulge me."
Jie Shan laughed, a short bark of harsh laughter. "Respect?" He repeated incredulously, "You are the last person who should be talking to me about respect! No, Father, I don't respect you at all."
"I suspected you didn't," sighed Gai, "And I suppose I have only myself to blame for that."
"Finally admitting your mistakes, Father?" Asked Jie Shan, laughter still in his words.
"Yes," admitted Gai, "I admit I made a mistake in raising you. I realize now that I was not nearly hard enough on you. Look at you now. Wild, untamed, rebellious by nature. If I'd had you a few more years, I might have been able to avert such a disaster. But the best laid plans often go awry."
Gai Lan Dian sighed and stepped closer to his son. "If only," continued the older Lan Dian, "I'd not let that bitch take you away from me-"
Gai Lan Dian did not get much farther, as Jie Shan rose a shaking hand to stop him. Lightning crackled around Jie Shan as his temper rose, and sparks fell from his raised hand. "Do not," he said harshly, "Say another bad word about my mother, or I will break you." And Jie Shan meant it. As much as he might fear and hate his father, he would not let the man say a thing against his mother, his only true parent, the first person to ever truly care for Jie Shan, his savior, the one who had truly given him the strength to face the world. If only he'd been born a full Elemi, he thought, and not a halfblood, he might have gone down a different path.
Gai only shook his head. "There you go again," he said with a sigh, "Letting your emotions get in your way. Heh, that's how you were born. I know you might find it hard to believe, Jie Shan, but I loved your mother once. And she had loved me right back. I loved her even more when she gave me a son, but I suppose for her, the spark was gone."
"I wonder why," muttered Jie Shan. However, the hybrid had his own theories why. Chief among them was the idea that his mother had finally realized how much of a monster his father was. Gai Lan Dian was good at hiding it, but occasionally it broken on through. Jie Shan knew that well enough.
"I wonder why too, son," said Gai, a touch of sadness in his voice. And Jie Shan wondered if it was real or fake.
"Well, Father," said Jie Shan briskly, "If that's all, I'd ask you to leave. I'm quite busy, and I do not need any more distractions before my trip."
"Very well, then," agreed his father, "But Jie Shan, let me leave you with a word of advice. You might think that I am bad, but I assure you that there are worse people out there. They'll see you brought low for no other reason than simply existing. Compared to me, who wants to raise you up high, I think I'm the better of the two. I just hope you learn that while you're out there. Because it is a lesson you need to learn, son. And once you learn it, remember, I will welcome you back with open arms. Because you're my son, my legacy."
And with that, Gai Lan Dian left the room. It felt as if warmth came back to it as the old Saiyan left, and Jie Shan was glad for it. Stupid man, he thought, he'd learned that lesson long ago. He knew the monsters of the world. His mother had taught him all about them, and why he should be careful, lest he become one. And how to strike back. Perhaps it was time that he put that to good use...
A solo! I would like zeni for this, please!
And, he thought, if he avoided going Super Saiyan. Yes, that would be a dead give away, suddenly bursting into golden radiance. Though he did not expect trouble simply for the sake of being a Saiyan, he thought it prudent to try and blend in. He never quite liked playing the part of a tourist. Years of soldiering and mercanary work had taught him that much. A tourist would stick out like a sore thumb, as would a Saiyan. He was doing this to relax, not to draw attention to himself.
There was a knock at his door. With a sigh, Jie Shan set his suitcase aside and turned to face the door. "Come in," he said, "It's open." And so it was, for the door slid open a moment later. And, to his surprise, in stepped Gai Lan Dian. Jie Shan's eyes widened. "Father," he said suddenly, "It's not like you to come to me. Usually you have one of our men relay your messages to me."
"Well," began Gai Lan Dian, "I was passing by and I thought I would see if the reports of my son planning to leave are true."
"Now who told you that?" Asked Jie Shan.
"A little bird," answered Gai, "One of a very large flock."
"You and your spies," mumbled Jie Shan, "So, what's this about? Come to stop me? Tell me that I can't leave?"
"No," growled Gai, "Quite the opposite, actually. I came to give you my blessing in this matter."
"Thanks," said Jie Shan, his voice sharp with sarcasm, "But I don't really need it. I outrank you, of course. And father, you do know that I am twenty years old, yes? I don't need your permission to do anything."
No, thought Jie Shan, the only reason he'd ever listened to his father in the first place is because of the chain of military command. There had been a time, a very recent time, that Jie Shan had been outranked by his father, leaving him little choice in the matter. Luckily for the halfblood, Overseer Natto had unknowingly rectified that situation for him upon his return. Now, his father only held power over him in a few regards. Unluckily for the halfblood, those ways were perhaps the most chaining of all.
"No, you don't, Jie Shan," said his father, his voice low, "But come now, I'm your father. Have a little respect for that and indulge me."
Jie Shan laughed, a short bark of harsh laughter. "Respect?" He repeated incredulously, "You are the last person who should be talking to me about respect! No, Father, I don't respect you at all."
"I suspected you didn't," sighed Gai, "And I suppose I have only myself to blame for that."
"Finally admitting your mistakes, Father?" Asked Jie Shan, laughter still in his words.
"Yes," admitted Gai, "I admit I made a mistake in raising you. I realize now that I was not nearly hard enough on you. Look at you now. Wild, untamed, rebellious by nature. If I'd had you a few more years, I might have been able to avert such a disaster. But the best laid plans often go awry."
Gai Lan Dian sighed and stepped closer to his son. "If only," continued the older Lan Dian, "I'd not let that bitch take you away from me-"
Gai Lan Dian did not get much farther, as Jie Shan rose a shaking hand to stop him. Lightning crackled around Jie Shan as his temper rose, and sparks fell from his raised hand. "Do not," he said harshly, "Say another bad word about my mother, or I will break you." And Jie Shan meant it. As much as he might fear and hate his father, he would not let the man say a thing against his mother, his only true parent, the first person to ever truly care for Jie Shan, his savior, the one who had truly given him the strength to face the world. If only he'd been born a full Elemi, he thought, and not a halfblood, he might have gone down a different path.
Gai only shook his head. "There you go again," he said with a sigh, "Letting your emotions get in your way. Heh, that's how you were born. I know you might find it hard to believe, Jie Shan, but I loved your mother once. And she had loved me right back. I loved her even more when she gave me a son, but I suppose for her, the spark was gone."
"I wonder why," muttered Jie Shan. However, the hybrid had his own theories why. Chief among them was the idea that his mother had finally realized how much of a monster his father was. Gai Lan Dian was good at hiding it, but occasionally it broken on through. Jie Shan knew that well enough.
"I wonder why too, son," said Gai, a touch of sadness in his voice. And Jie Shan wondered if it was real or fake.
"Well, Father," said Jie Shan briskly, "If that's all, I'd ask you to leave. I'm quite busy, and I do not need any more distractions before my trip."
"Very well, then," agreed his father, "But Jie Shan, let me leave you with a word of advice. You might think that I am bad, but I assure you that there are worse people out there. They'll see you brought low for no other reason than simply existing. Compared to me, who wants to raise you up high, I think I'm the better of the two. I just hope you learn that while you're out there. Because it is a lesson you need to learn, son. And once you learn it, remember, I will welcome you back with open arms. Because you're my son, my legacy."
And with that, Gai Lan Dian left the room. It felt as if warmth came back to it as the old Saiyan left, and Jie Shan was glad for it. Stupid man, he thought, he'd learned that lesson long ago. He knew the monsters of the world. His mother had taught him all about them, and why he should be careful, lest he become one. And how to strike back. Perhaps it was time that he put that to good use...
A solo! I would like zeni for this, please!
