[ There are some things that the Galra brainwashing can't break him of. He won't kill people indiscriminately, has hard boundaries that he won't cross no matter what. Thankfully, Sendak doesn't seem to care either way, and it's rare that he actually has to answer to him in great detail. He knows that that bothers Sendak but it's not something he necessarily cares about.
There are little power-plays back and forth but he doesn't keep track of them; it serves him better not to play in to them, mostly because it infuriates Sendak.
The match happens and he pays no attention; it doesn't really matter because whatever the outcome, he doesn't think this is really going to make an effect on anything. Whatever the Galran empire wants, they'll get, he's seen that first hand. Resistance is not quite futile, but it does only delay them, not stop them.
He's heard of others who fought and were successful - can remember flickers, someone telling him that he looked an awful lot like one of them and he'd almost laughed. Yeah, he supposed that the humans didn't look a whole lot like anyone else. Of course there was someone else out there who looked like him. He never paid much mind to it.
Now, after the match is over and the other humans -- other humans like him have won, he finds himself relocated with Sendak to the receiving chamber, prompted to kneel again and waits until they're brought in. There's a special kind of smugness to Sendak's tone this whole time and he's far more aggressive with his touches, but he hasn't figured out the why, yet, which is frustrating.
Patience yields focus. He remembers saying that to someone, someone important but can't recall who. It's something else to think on later.
By the time the two winners- though he uses that term dubiously - are brought out, his knees are starting to ache and he's bored. The gaudy jewels and chains they're paraded out in aren't really worthy of note; he's seen this before, though usually the presentation wasn't directed at him, exactly. There are introductions - they're Paladins, of some sort, or were which he doesn't give much thought to. Instead, he pulls away from Sendak and some small part of him relishes that Sendak looks pissed before he recovers, that smugness seeping into place. He can play nice for the Empire, for his Commanders when it makes sense, but if this is just another situation where they're going to make an example of humans in front of him, he doesn't want to see it. ]
You said they're mine?
[ There's no interest in his tone because he knows better. Any interest and there's danger - no comment, and they take it away, or worse, do something to make him show interest. He's learned, by now. Instead, he ambles closer and hates, hates this, but he knows how to play the game. He comes closer and stares a long moment when he sees the way the one grabs the other. They're friends, then. Maybe lovers, he's not sure. It doesn't matter. ]
omg i forgot to hit submit BUT IM HOME NOW or well at linds' house
There are little power-plays back and forth but he doesn't keep track of them; it serves him better not to play in to them, mostly because it infuriates Sendak.
The match happens and he pays no attention; it doesn't really matter because whatever the outcome, he doesn't think this is really going to make an effect on anything. Whatever the Galran empire wants, they'll get, he's seen that first hand. Resistance is not quite futile, but it does only delay them, not stop them.
He's heard of others who fought and were successful - can remember flickers, someone telling him that he looked an awful lot like one of them and he'd almost laughed. Yeah, he supposed that the humans didn't look a whole lot like anyone else. Of course there was someone else out there who looked like him. He never paid much mind to it.
Now, after the match is over and the other humans -- other humans like him have won, he finds himself relocated with Sendak to the receiving chamber, prompted to kneel again and waits until they're brought in. There's a special kind of smugness to Sendak's tone this whole time and he's far more aggressive with his touches, but he hasn't figured out the why, yet, which is frustrating.
Patience yields focus. He remembers saying that to someone, someone important but can't recall who. It's something else to think on later.
By the time the two winners- though he uses that term dubiously - are brought out, his knees are starting to ache and he's bored. The gaudy jewels and chains they're paraded out in aren't really worthy of note; he's seen this before, though usually the presentation wasn't directed at him, exactly. There are introductions - they're Paladins, of some sort, or were which he doesn't give much thought to. Instead, he pulls away from Sendak and some small part of him relishes that Sendak looks pissed before he recovers, that smugness seeping into place. He can play nice for the Empire, for his Commanders when it makes sense, but if this is just another situation where they're going to make an example of humans in front of him, he doesn't want to see it. ]
You said they're mine?
[ There's no interest in his tone because he knows better. Any interest and there's danger - no comment, and they take it away, or worse, do something to make him show interest. He's learned, by now. Instead, he ambles closer and hates, hates this, but he knows how to play the game. He comes closer and stares a long moment when he sees the way the one grabs the other. They're friends, then. Maybe lovers, he's not sure. It doesn't matter. ]
How many fights have you won?
[ This, directed at the two of them. ]