[closed] Nothing's what it seems to be, I'm a replica, I'm a replica.

[amberdrake]

Who: Amberdrake, Genjo Sanzo
What: Stuff and things.
Where: Drake and Sanzo's current place in Ludmead.
When: Today.
Notes: --
Warnings: --

Braving the trains and then giving massage all day every day one right after the next like he's some kind of massage factory is taking its toll on Drake. He hasn't been sleeping well, despite his excellent company at night, and his reaction time has slowed down juuuust a hair.

Just enough for him to be home during the late afternoon, for once, sitting at the tiny dining table with his head in his hand and an ice pack held against his eye.

Comments

[sanzo]

Sanzo gazes calmly up at him.

The Sutra, upon his shoulders, is inert: cool, tough paper, the tibetan scrawled upon it jet black and unfading.

Its power is unmistakable, a dangerous, intense force, but it's completely controlled-- for now.

"The gods," and Sanzo speaks very softly and precisely, "Took the Sutra that created the world, and split it into five pieces. These, they placed in the hands of my brethren. We were created to be the protectors of the Sutras, but also to protect the world from them." He's repeating mostly what Amberdrake knows, but also to reinforce his assurances-- and his authority regarding it.

"Our gods are crazy, but not so crazy to leave them unsealed for anyone to use. They didn't need to lock them underground. As long as it rests on my shoulders, it won't be used like that. That's the understanding -- usually -- between a Sanzo and his successor."

[amberdrake]

"Why do you wear it like this?" Amberdrake asks, because it seems very deliberate. Like that breastplate that isn't actually legitimate armor. (And real armor is something Drake is familiar with.)

He doesn't try to move it or anything, just lifts one end in his fingers and eyes it intently. He's seen it go off before, albeit during a lot of chaos. And of course he knows it rolls up into a scroll when Sanzo isn't wearing it. So why doesn't it just stay in scroll form?

[sanzo]

"A Sanzo," replies Sanzo quietly, "Wears his burden upon his shoulders. Also, only a weak Sanzo would hide what he protects."

As always, showing weakness is simply unacceptable on his world.

[amberdrake]

"That's right," Drake muses aloud, rubbing the bit of sutra between his fingers thoughtfully, "your name's Genjo, isn't it?"

A Sanzo. It's a reminder that it's just a title, although Drake hasn't actually called Sanzo anything except various endearments since he arrived.

And now, that name.

[sanzo]

One sharp brow arches upwards. "Don't wear it out."

Sanzo doesn't make it sound disagreeable, just very, very dry.

And honestly, he's not really used to that name being used, either!

[amberdrake]

"Oh? You think I could wear it out?" Amberdrake smiles, because yes, he's totally distracting himself from the sutra while he's touching it. "Does it mean anything in particular?"