[ at the very least, it won't be... well, disappointing. kon is used to being one of the smartest people in the room, and it was through sheer bullheadedness that he was able to continue learning and reading once he'd started mage training. it wasn't that hard for people to agree to it, at least - a skald is an important thing to have and encourage to grow, and he had the makings for it.
("we think it'd be for the best that you go to live on one of the bigger islands," his parents said, smiles strained. "we just don't understand you, right?") ]
My mom said that she was angry with my greatgrandpa for ages over it, and that they got together in the end to have my grandpa was a miracle. [ he pulls his hand away from his hair, mushing his cheek into his palm and just looking at lalli. at least he's less green, now. ] There's some more people, I think, across Saimaa at least? I don't know outside of that. We had the highest numbers, though, probably. As much as those islands can have big populations.
It's amazing they survived at all. People are really mean about 'outsiders', especially if there's things like trolls and infections to worry about.
[Lalli's bluntness is rearing its ugly head now. He doesn't mean anything by it, he's not trying to say Kon doesn't belong in Finland, but he's also missing that his words are a bit insensitive. Especially to someone who is probably all too familiar with the feeling of being an 'outsider'.
But he continues on, unaware of that problem.]
Maybe they'll come looking for you when you're out of quarantine. It's better than going to an orphanage.
Kind of the reason why we all stayed in the same cluster of islands. [ his tone is a little testy, a little defensive, but he doesn't outright snap. he's heard worse. ] People are assholes. It's not going to be any better outside of the boat once they let us out.
[ it'll be worse, actually, and he knows it. there's some dark-haired scandinavians here and there, but in a place like finland? he's more than just a sore thumb. and the old man, the shop regulars, they all tried to prepare him for it. the suspicion, the possible hostilities. ]
... I doubt it. [ the spark fades into something somber. ] My parents abandoned me already, so I was basically an orphan raised on the island anyways. If they're alive and they find out what happened, they'll probably think I'm dead.
[Lalli hears that tone and wrinkles his nose. He doesn't understand why Kon is getting testy here. Maybe he's upset because of all the infections? That has to be it. Tuuri's been crying the whole time because of it, so Kon must be upset too and just better at hiding it. It can't possibly be because he's self-conscious about how he's different, Lalli thinks Kon being different is cool, so it must be cool.
That second part is more concerning anyway.]
Why did they do THAT? Parents aren't supposed to abandon kids.
[ that wasn't the reaction he was expecting. kon is still a little sore about the insensitivity, but he's too tired to linger on it much, especially when it's just some kid that doesn't know anything. so the question and the... concern? are enough of a distraction. ]
I wanted to become more than just some farmer that hid away from the rest of the world like they were. I'm a mage, and I can build things, and I was already learning how to be a skald. They thought it'd be better if I got my nose out of books and machines, look at the world around me.
Except they were the ones that never left the farming island. They never learned anything more than that, and they wanted me to do the same. We got in a fight, and they decided it would be "for the best" for me to go to one of the bigger neighboring islands on my own.
[It makes sense. Lalli is fortunate enough to have a mage for a grandmother, so she always spoke up for him. But he can imagine how frustrating it would be for someone who didn't have another family member to tell everyone "no, let him be a mage."]
It IS better for you to find ways to do what you want. But that doesn't mean they should push you away. Aren't parents supposed to help you figure stuff out?
Probably. And I guess they did, for a while. But I learned more from the folks on the island in the end.
[ slowly, he curls the loose strand on his sleeve around his fingers before snapping it off, giving it a good tug and then tossing it off somewhere in the cage he's stuck in for a couple more weeks. boss, roku-san, ken...
gone, snapped, just like that string. he hopes that the swan was able to bring them to tuonela. ]
... you're lucky you had your grandma, and your Onni. He your brother or your cousin? [ their voices aren't carrying enough for onni to hear them, through the walls between them all, but he does notice that onni glances over their way when he realizes that lalli is talking to someone. kon looks at him for a moment, acknowledging, before looking back at lalli. ]
[After saying that, Lalli turns to glance at Onni. The older Hotakainen looks exhausted, as he has for days now. Lalli would have thought all the sleep he gets would keep him rested, but maybe the worries are too heavy on his mind for sleep to recharge him.
He nods, to Onni, who nods in return, and then Lalli turns his attention back to Kon.]
Our dads are twins. That's why we look so much alike. I can tell dad and Uncle Juha apart, but some of the people in town have trouble with it.
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no subject
("we think it'd be for the best that you go to live on one of the bigger islands," his parents said, smiles strained. "we just don't understand you, right?") ]
My mom said that she was angry with my greatgrandpa for ages over it, and that they got together in the end to have my grandpa was a miracle. [ he pulls his hand away from his hair, mushing his cheek into his palm and just looking at lalli. at least he's less green, now. ] There's some more people, I think, across Saimaa at least? I don't know outside of that. We had the highest numbers, though, probably. As much as those islands can have big populations.
no subject
[Lalli's bluntness is rearing its ugly head now. He doesn't mean anything by it, he's not trying to say Kon doesn't belong in Finland, but he's also missing that his words are a bit insensitive. Especially to someone who is probably all too familiar with the feeling of being an 'outsider'.
But he continues on, unaware of that problem.]
Maybe they'll come looking for you when you're out of quarantine. It's better than going to an orphanage.
no subject
[ it'll be worse, actually, and he knows it. there's some dark-haired scandinavians here and there, but in a place like finland? he's more than just a sore thumb. and the old man, the shop regulars, they all tried to prepare him for it. the suspicion, the possible hostilities. ]
... I doubt it. [ the spark fades into something somber. ] My parents abandoned me already, so I was basically an orphan raised on the island anyways. If they're alive and they find out what happened, they'll probably think I'm dead.
no subject
That second part is more concerning anyway.]
Why did they do THAT? Parents aren't supposed to abandon kids.
no subject
I wanted to become more than just some farmer that hid away from the rest of the world like they were. I'm a mage, and I can build things, and I was already learning how to be a skald. They thought it'd be better if I got my nose out of books and machines, look at the world around me.
Except they were the ones that never left the farming island. They never learned anything more than that, and they wanted me to do the same. We got in a fight, and they decided it would be "for the best" for me to go to one of the bigger neighboring islands on my own.
no subject
[It makes sense. Lalli is fortunate enough to have a mage for a grandmother, so she always spoke up for him. But he can imagine how frustrating it would be for someone who didn't have another family member to tell everyone "no, let him be a mage."]
It IS better for you to find ways to do what you want. But that doesn't mean they should push you away. Aren't parents supposed to help you figure stuff out?
no subject
[ slowly, he curls the loose strand on his sleeve around his fingers before snapping it off, giving it a good tug and then tossing it off somewhere in the cage he's stuck in for a couple more weeks. boss, roku-san, ken...
gone, snapped, just like that string. he hopes that the swan was able to bring them to tuonela. ]
... you're lucky you had your grandma, and your Onni. He your brother or your cousin? [ their voices aren't carrying enough for onni to hear them, through the walls between them all, but he does notice that onni glances over their way when he realizes that lalli is talking to someone. kon looks at him for a moment, acknowledging, before looking back at lalli. ]
no subject
[After saying that, Lalli turns to glance at Onni. The older Hotakainen looks exhausted, as he has for days now. Lalli would have thought all the sleep he gets would keep him rested, but maybe the worries are too heavy on his mind for sleep to recharge him.
He nods, to Onni, who nods in return, and then Lalli turns his attention back to Kon.]
Our dads are twins. That's why we look so much alike. I can tell dad and Uncle Juha apart, but some of the people in town have trouble with it.