[What a question. Is that okay? In one way, that's exactly how Obi now lives his life: guided by the single, simple duty of attending to Shirayuki. How that duty plays out in reality, though--how the very act of carrying it out saddles him with new concerns, secondary obligations, other people and things to care about--is anything but simple.
He tilts his head slightly to one side, gathering his thoughts.]
I don't think it's wrong to be clear about that. To know what's gonna be more important than everything else.
[A different man might give Hodaka a different answer, but whatever else Obi has been, he is a knight. In the singular dedication Hodaka's professing (or confessing), he recognizes a compelling purity of purpose, and it resonates.]
Still, other things will be important to you. That's just how life works. [He nods towards the woman he's been watching, who now sits with her knees pulled to her chest, worriedly chewing a thumbnail as she in turn watches her fellow prisoners.] Even if my only concern was My Lady's well-being, as time went on, I'd end up caring about what she cares about. Wanting to protect everything she wants to protect. And the truth is, I do care about other stuff on my own. Friends I make on the job. Kids working hard to be all grown-up.
[He gives Hodaka a little nudge at that. A little smile.]
Maybe the biggest difference between kids and adults is that adults have just had more time to collect things that matter to us. You know how we manage it?
no subject
He tilts his head slightly to one side, gathering his thoughts.]
I don't think it's wrong to be clear about that. To know what's gonna be more important than everything else.
[A different man might give Hodaka a different answer, but whatever else Obi has been, he is a knight. In the singular dedication Hodaka's professing (or confessing), he recognizes a compelling purity of purpose, and it resonates.]
Still, other things will be important to you. That's just how life works. [He nods towards the woman he's been watching, who now sits with her knees pulled to her chest, worriedly chewing a thumbnail as she in turn watches her fellow prisoners.] Even if my only concern was My Lady's well-being, as time went on, I'd end up caring about what she cares about. Wanting to protect everything she wants to protect. And the truth is, I do care about other stuff on my own. Friends I make on the job. Kids working hard to be all grown-up.
[He gives Hodaka a little nudge at that. A little smile.]
Maybe the biggest difference between kids and adults is that adults have just had more time to collect things that matter to us. You know how we manage it?