#[Hui San-Gwong]

[sins-of-the-sea]

“-=Dream beautifully, Guy. Dream of the beautiful wedding you’d have with San-Gwong, as though the Razing never happened. Dream of us by your side, supporting you. Dream of lotus flowers decorating the ship. Dream of Arcelia and Sing-Lung joining us and happily cheering you on. Dream of a love that stood against the test of time…=-”

[goalhofer]

2020 Olympics South Korea Roster

Archery

Je-Deok Kim (Gyeongbuk)

Woojin Kim (Iwon)

Jin-Hyek Oh (Incheon)

San Ahn (Pyeongchang)

Min-Hee Jang (Seoul)

Chae-Young Kang (Gwangju)

Athletics

Wilson Erupe (Lodwar, Kenya)

Jong-Seop Sim (Seoul)

Byeong-Gwang Choi (Hwaseong)

Sang-Hyeok Woo (Seoul)

Min-Sub Jin (Busan)

Seulgi An (Seoul)

Kyung-Sun Choi (Seoul)

Badminton

Kwang-Hee Heo (Seoul)

Sol-Gyu Choi (Seoul)

Seung-Jae Seo (Buan)

Se-Young An (Gwangju)

Ga-Eun Kim (Gyeonggi-Do)

So-Yeong Kim (Incheon)

Hee-Yong Kong (Jincheon)

So-Hee Lee (Ulsan)

Seung-Chan Shin (Gochang-Gun)

Yoo-Jung Chae (Suwon)

Baseball

Won-Joon Choi (Seoul)

Woo-Suk Ko (Ganghwa-Gun)

Min-Woo Kim (Seoul)

Eui-Lee Lee (Gwangju)

Tae-In Won (Daegu)

Woo-Chan Cha (Gunsan)

Sang-Woo Cho (Uijeongbu)

Seung-Hwan Oh (Jeongeup)

Young-Pyo Ko (Gwangju)

Se-Woong Park (Daegu)

Jin-Uk Kim (Suwon)

Min-Ho Kang (Pohang)

Eui-Ji Yang (Gwangju)

Joo-Hwan Choi (Gwangju)

Kyoung-Min Hur (Gwangju)

Jae-Gyun Hwang (Seoul)

Baek-Ho Kang (Incheon)

Hye-Seong Kim (Seoul)

Jae-Il Oh (Guri)

Ji-Hwan Oh (Gunsan)

Hyun-Soo Kim (Seoul)

Jung-Hoo Lee (Gwangju)

Hae-Min Park (Seoul)

Kun-Woo Park (Seoul)

Basketball

Ji-Hyeon Sin (Seoul)

Lee-Seul Kang (Sacheon)

Ye-Bin Yoon (Boryeong)

Hye-Ji Ahn (Busan)

Hye-Jin Park (Busan)

Ji-Hyun Park (Seongnam)

Dan-Bi Kim (Bupyeong-Gu)

Hye-Yoon Bae (Seoul)

Jung-Eun Kim (Cheonan)

Min-Jeong Kim (Seoul)

Ji-Su Park (Seongnam)

Han-Byul Kim (Sacheon)

Boxing

Aeji Im (Hwasun-Gun)

Yeon-Ji Oh (Incheon)

Cycling

Ah-Reum Na (Naju)

Hye-Jin Lee (Geonggi)

Diving

Yeong-Nam Kim (Seoul)

Yeong-Taek Kim (Seoul)

Ha-Ram Woo (Busan)

Halim Kwon (Seoul)

Su-Ji Kim (Seoul)

Equestrian

Dong-Seon Kim (Seoul)

Fencing

Young-Jim Kweon (Iksan)

Segeon Ma (Seoul)

Sang-Young Park (Jinju)

Kwanghyun Lee (Seoul)

Bon-Gil Gu (Daegu)

Jung-Hwan Kim (Seoul)

Sang-Uk Oh (Daejeon)

Se-Ra Song (Seoul)

In-Jeong Choi (Geumsan)

Young-Mi Ko (Gwangju)

Hee-Sook Jeon (Seoul)

Soo-Yeon Choi (Ansan)

Ji-Yeon Kim (Busan)

Ji-Su Yoon (Busan)

Soccer

Bum-Keun Song (Seongnam)

You-Hyeon Lee (Gwangyang)

Jae-Woo Kim (Seoul)

Ji-Soo Park (Myungyeong)

Tae-Wook Jeong (Jeju)

Seung-Won Jeong (Jeonju)

Chang-Hoon Kwan (Seoul)

Kang-In Lee (Incheon)

Min-Kyu Song (Chungju)

Dong-Gyeong Lee (Seoul)

Dong-Jun Lee (Busan)

Young-Woo Seol (Ulsan)

Jin-Ya Kim (Daegun)

Dong-Hyun Kim (Seoul)

Du-Jae Won (Seoul)

Ui-Jo Hwang (Seongnam)

Won-Sang Um (Gwangju)

Joon-Soo Ahn (Uijeongbu)

Yoon-Sung Kang (Daegu)

Sang-Min Lee (Busan)

Changi An (Seoul)

Jin-Kyu Kim (Pohang)

Golf

Sung-Jae Im (Jeju Seom)

Si-Woo Kim (Seoul)

Jin-Young Ko (Seoul)

Park Inbee (Seoul)

Sei-Young Kim (Seoul)

Hyo-Joo Kim (Seoul)

Gymnastics

Jun-Ho Lee (Seoul)

Han-Sol Kim (Seoul)

Sung-Hyun Ryu (Seoul)

Hak-Seon Yang (Gwangju)

Jae-Hwan Shin (Jecheon)

Yun-Seo Lee (Seoul)

Seo-Jeong Yeo (Yongin-Si)

Handball

Yu-Ra Yung (Seoul)

Jun-Hui Jeong (Tongyeong)

Yun-Ji Kim (Seoul)

Kyun-Ming Kang (Seoul)

Hui Ju (Seoul)

Seon-Pil Won (Jeongseon)

Eun-Hee Ryu (Incheon)

Su-Min Choi (Seoul)

Hae-In Sim (Seoul)

Eun-Hye Kang (Seoul)

Ha-Rang Jo (Gwangju)

Mi-Gyeong Lee (Seoul)

Jin-Yi Kim (Taebaek)

Ji-In Jung (Busan)

Karate

Heejun Park (Busan)

Judo

Won-Jin Kim (Seoul)

Baul An (Anyang)

Shōrin An (Seoul)

Dong-Han Gwak (Pohang)

Gu-Ham Jo (Gangwon)

Min-Jong Kim (Seoul)

Yu-Jeong Kang (Yeosu)

Da-Sol Park (Seoul)

Ji-Su Kim (Seoul)

Hee-Ju Han (Seoul)

Seong-Yeon Kim (Gwangju)

Hyun-Ji Yoon (Seoul)

Mi-Jin Han (Seoul)

Pentathlon

Ung-Tae Jeon (Seoul)

Jin-Hwa Jun (Ulsan)

Se-Hee Kim (Seoul)

Sun-Woo Kim (Gyeonggi)

Rowing

Hye-Jung Jung (Seoul)

Rugby

Chang Yong (Seoul)

Jeong-Min Jang (Seoul)

Yon-Sik Jeong (Incheon)

Hyun Kim (Seoul)

Kun-Kyu Han (Seoul)

Nam Kim (Seoul)

Seong Lee (Seoul)

Won Park (Seoul)

Jin Lee (Seoul)

Andre Coquillard (Seoul)

Seong-Min Jang (Seoul)

Seong Choi (Seoul)

Gwong-Min Kim (Seoul)

Shooting

Dae-Yoon Han (Seoul)

Mo-Se Kim (Seoul)

Sang-Do Kim (Seoul)

Jong-Jun Lee (Seoul)

Jong-Oh Jin (Chuncheon)

Tae-Yun Nam (Seoul)

Jong-Ho Song (Seoul)

Eun-Young Cho (Seoul)

Ga-Eun Choo (Seoul)

Eun-Ji Kwon (Seoul)

Hee-Moon Park (Seoul)

Bo-Mi Kim (Seoul)

Min-Ji Kim (Ansan)

Min-Jung Kim (Seoul)

Climbing

Jongwon Chon (Seoul)

Chae-Hyun Seo (Seoul)

Swimming

Sungjae Cho (Seoul)

Seungwoo Moon (Seoul)

Yoo-Yeon Lee (Seoul)

Woo-Min Kim (Seoul)

Sun-Woo Hwang (Suwon)

Ju-Ho Lee (Asan)

Ho-Joon Lee (Gwangju)

Eunji Lee (Seoul)

Hyun-Young Jung (Seoul)

Da-Kyung Han (Gwangju)

Seo-Yeong Kim (Gyeonggi-Do)

Se-Hyeon An (Seoul)

Table Tennis

Woo-Jin Jang (Daejeon)

Young-Sik Jeoung (Seoul)

Sangsu Lee (Busan)

Ji-Hui Jeon (Seoul)

Yubin Shin (Seoul)

Hyo-Ju Choi (Busan)

Taekwondo

Jun Jang (Seoul)

Dae-Hoon Lee (Seoul)

Kyo-Don In (Incheon)

Jae-Young Sim (Seoul)

Ah-Reum Lee (Seoul)

Da-Bin Lee (Incheon)

Tennis

Soon-Woo Kwon (Sangju)

Volleyball

Eun-Jin Park (Seoul)

So-Young Lee (Asan)

Hye-Seon Yeom (Mokpo)

Hui-Jin Kim (Busan)

Hye-Jin An (Seoul)

Ji-Young Oh (Daegu)

Yeon-Gyeong Kim (Ansan)

Su-Ji Kim (Ansan)

Jeong-Ah Park (Seoul)

Hyo-Jin Yang (Busan)

Ji-Yun Jeong (Seoul)

Seung-Ju Pyo (Ulsan)

Weightlifting

Meong-Mok Han (Changwon)

Dong-Ju Yu (Jinan-Gun)

Yun-Seong Jin (Goyang)

Eunji Ham (Wonju)

Seon-Mi Lee (Gyeongsan)

Su-Hyeon Kim (Seoul)

Yeoun-Hee Kang (Seoul)

Wrestling

Han-Su Ryu (Busan)

Min-Seok Kim (Busan)

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

“What made you come back here, San-Gwong? Was our last time together so good, you wanted some more?~”

“W-Well…” San-Gwong begins as he lays his head against Guy’s bare chest, taking in the cool breeze of the warm night and the sound his beating heart.  “It’s more than that. I really hoped we could talk.”

“Heh. I didn’t think of you as the type for pillow talk.”

“Really? Why not?”

“Well, for one, usually my partners and I sleep right away–

“But more importantly… out of discretion or safety for them, they or I usually leave right away.”

Oh. He must be referring to his previous paramours. So Guy is not denying he is loose. San-Gwong can detect a tinge of sadness in Guy’s words… and remembers why he called for Guy in the first place.

“I don’t think it’s fair either of you leave right away. Or at all. Don’t you feel… lonely?”

Guy is surprised to be asked this question. And from the expression on his face, San-Gwong can tell he is not liking this direction. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Why do you say that?”

“People have places to go. And so do I. I cannot ask for anyone to stay.”

“People stay together all the time, Guy…”

“Not when it comes to me. Why are you talking like this, San?”

“I-I-…!!”

“San-Gwong. What we’re doing is very dangerous as is. Doing anything further than this, especially here in the Mission, can threaten your life. I really don’t want you to get hurt.”

San-Gwong sputters, “I don’t care about that! What about you? Don’t you care what happens to you?”

Guy looks down. That is a question he can’t answer. Nevermind he cannot freely and openly love another man in this environment. Guy is immortal. Ageless. And bound to a demon. San-Gwong doesn’t know this. He can’t know this.

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“But I do!”

Guy looks at San-Gwong in the eye. “….why?”

This is it. This is San-Gwong’s chance. He can’t blow it now. “I… I-I… I…”

“……………”

“I…. I….”

“…. Stop.” Guy sits up, readying himself to leave. “I know where this is going.”

“!!!”

“….You’re going to tell me you love me, aren’t you?”

“!!……Guy…”

“……… Don’t.”

[sins-of-the-sea]

1710, Guangzhou, China

On the night of the Razing of Guangzhou...

“So you remember the fruit stand lady? Miss Ju?”

“The big bosomed bird Father Fu-Lam and Mrs. Cheung kept trying to engage you with? How can I forget? No one would stop talking about you two being together, even though she has no interest in you either, I think.”

“Indeed, Father Fu-Lam was trying to get me and Miss Ju to marry. Though I got to know Miss Ju a bit more. Well, we got to talking, and this time around…

“We mutually agreed to marry! Want to know why?”

“W-What?!!? Wh-”

“Miss Ju is also homosexual! She has a girlfriend she’s been seeing for years! Foreign too! From Portugal! And they’re trying to keep this relationship a secret too!”

“You’re kidding me!!”

“Why would I? So while no one was looking and Miss Ju and I were alone, we talked about our secret relationships. We decided that, to get Father Fu-Lam and Mrs. Cheung and everyone else off our backs about marriage, Ju and I marry each other–but have you as our real lovers! That way I can still love you and Ju can still love Miss Ana! My marriage to Miss Ju will just be a front!”

“That’s brilliant, San-Gwong! So the gimmel rings are for you and Miss Ju?”

“Actually, no. Miss Ju and I will have a traditional Chinese wedding, and that won’t involve gimmel rings. These rings are specifically-....

“Well… specifically for you and me. For us.”

“Us?!?! How are we going to be married alongside you and Miss Ju?!”

“I hear men get married all the time in Europe, right? It’s just called something else besides actual marriage! And your Captain can marry us! Ship captains can officiate in marrying people too!”

“All right… First of all, you’re thinking of a matelotage. As in ‘seamanship’ in French. It functions similarly like marriage; except this is where two men can share incomes, and if one partner passes, his mate can inherit his passes. It doesn’t have to be romantic–in fact, more often than not it’s purely done for economic reasons. Or abused in other ways like with senior sailors taking advantage of significantly younger subordinates.”

“O-oh…”

“Secondly, San-Gwong… even if you stay true to me and Miss Ju stays true to Ana, you marrying me would have you commit bigamy. Which may be fine for your Chinese emperors and son-less homes, but not so much in a Christian mission.”

“O-oh.. so you- …. You are refusing… my proposal to you?”

“................”

“No, San-Gwong. I do want to marry you.”

“You do?!” San-Gwong looks like he could fly to the moon on the spot.

“Well, have a matelotage with you alongside your legal marriage. To be your matelot. It may not be seen as valid or celebrated as your marriage to Miss Ju, and I’m not even sure if a man can have a matelotage in addition to a traditional marriage. But-....

“...I do want to make something official with you. Something to be recognized out in the open. Though we won’t be needing gimmel rings for that. We would just sign papers and such.”

“Oh…. that is so-.... Simple…

“I-... guess I can sell these rings back…”

“...Maybe it can be a symbolic marriage. So even Europeans will stop harassing you too. And my Crew knows about me so I can tell strangers about having a wife that doesn’t exist. I can just say she died and I’m not marrying again so the ring is for sentimental reasons only.”

“That’s an idea!! So will your Captain marry us?”

“Well…. That will involve you actually being willing to share our secret…”

“I’m ready and willing to share it with them! Captain Josep and Madame Abena are so kind to me, I almost feel like I have a mother and father again! Ruixiong has been the greatest friend in the world! Phoebus and Mr. Rashid are great friends too! And I want to get to know your friend Giovanni more as well! I’m saddened how every time I try to talk to him he seems to walk away, and that’s a shame because he seems to be the only one in your Crew besides Ruixiong who can fluently speak Yue!”

“He… can be shy like that. Which is weird because he otherwise loves making friends. I don’t understand why he avoids everyone here in Guangzhou so much. It might have to do with an argument he had with Captain Josep about a week ago.

“Anyway! How do you want to do this? Do you want to discuss how we can set up a matelotage with Captain Josep? I’m not fully sure how they work either, as in I don’t know if you have to be a sailor too.”

“We can ask him tomorrow. Father Fu-Lam is actually expecting me tonight to discuss my wedding with Miss Ju. I haven’t told Sing-Lung yet, I was so excited to talk to you first…”

“Oh, don’t worry about that! I’ll just tell Sing-Lung that Father Fu-Lam called you first so you may have to eat your baozi at another time.”

“He’s going to get mad…”

“I’ll try it on your behalf. As long as it’s not pork, that is. I’ll see you later, San-Gwong.” Guy then gives San-Gwong a quick peck on the cheek.

San-Gwong returns the kiss. “I’ll see you later, Guy! I can’t wait until tomorrow!”

“I can’t either! Farewell!”

[sins-of-the-sea]

1710, Guangzhou, China.

“Wow, daai go!! You actually got me and Arcelia gimmel rings?!”

“I sure did, daai daai! You’ve been doing so well with your studies and working for Mr. Rashid these past few months, I decided to get you a pair for you two!”

“Wow!! Thank you so much, San-Gwong!! Let’s get married now, Sing-Lung!”

“Hold on, Arcelia! Sing-Lung still hasn’t beaten me to the death in battle.”

“Uncle Guy!! You and Papa made that up so I won’t get married right away!”

“Who said we made it up?”

“I do!”

“Well, Captain’s orders, you little booger! Remember that when you get married, we go sail the world and may not see you for a good while! So Sing-Lung has to prove he’s a good enough husband to beat up any bad guys who want to have their way with you!”

“Don’t worry, Arcelia! I’ve been practicing kung fu with the Shaolin monks who visit Father Fu-Lam in the Mission!”

“Sing-Lung!”

“Have at you, Monsieur Guy! I am ready!”

“Ready, little man??”

Sing-Lung throws a punch… and Guy just pulls his arm to trip him while tapping his butt with the scabbard of his smallsword. Sing-Lung goes down onto the dust in a flash. “AH!!”

San-Gwong laughs as he leans onto a wall while Guy swings the scabbard in a flashy manner. Just for kicks. “Got a long way to go still, little man!~”

“Drat!! Just you wait, Arcelia!! I’ll train some more and I’ll be a worthy husband for you!”

“You don’t have to do that! What if I train with you? Then maybe I can kick Uncle Guy’s butt myself and we can get married!”

“You two are so eager!”

“Can I keep the gimmel rings for now, daai go? Until then?”

“Ohh… why not. It’ll teach you responsibility. If you lose these rings, I am not getting you another. And then what are you going to do? Buy your own?”

“I’ll be responsible! I’ll hold onto these real tight and never lose them! I’ll fulfill my promise to you, Arcelia! I swear!”

“I can’t wait! I’ll get stronger too! And we’ll get married and Mama and Papa and all my Uncles won’t worry about me when they go back to the world!”

“All right, you two. Dinner is waiting at Rashid’s restaurant. You can’t keep Uncle Giovanni waiting or he’ll get upset.”

“You two go ahead. We’ll catch up.”

“Okay! See you later, Uncle Guy! Mr. San-Gwong!”

“Don’t be late! I learned how to make baozi today and I want you to taste it!”

“You made baozi?! How dare you learn that before me! We’ll meet with you in a moment!

“Save some for me! See you all later!”

Guy then waits for the children to be out of their sight. “So, what is it, San-Gwong? Do you want to hit the alley to snog or-

“...Wha-.... but didn’t you give Sing-Lung-...”

“I bought two pairs of gimmel rings! Hear me out on my idea!”

[sins-of-the-sea]

“It was you!! It was you all along, Giovanni!! After all this time!!”

“Guy!! Please, no! I didn’t mean for Guangzhou to happen!”

“You are the reason Guangzhou burned down! You are the reason the Master found us out!!”

“Please, Guy, please!! None of it all was supposed to happen!”

“You are the reason all those children are gone! The gang! Mrs. Cheung and her family! Father Fu-Lam! The Mission! You are the reason the Master took Arcelia away!!”

“Guy-!!”

“You are the reason-

“San-Gwong had to die!!

“Because of your Greed!”

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

“.... I love you, Guy. I will always love you.”

“I love you too, San-Gwong. I always have.”

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

“Please! Please don’t do this. I’m rubbish. I’m dirt. You’re a flower that is just starting to bloom. Please, San-Gwong. Don’t let me stunt your growth. Because I will. I’ll drag you down. I’ll choke you out.”

“….Guy. Come sit with me. I want to show you something.

“Do you see these lotus flowers in the pond? Do you know why they are so beloved in China? Or in all the East?

“Do you see how pure they are? So clean? So pristine and beautiful despite growing afloat of dirty waters?

“It’s murky down below. Full of worms, bugs, mud, and fish. Many plants down there tend to get eaten alive by the fish. The lotus flowers you see in full bloom are the ones that rise from the adversity of the dangerous depths, unwilling to drown and fighting to survive. And upon the surface, they finally breathe life and bloom like the sun. Like fire of different colors.

“.........

“That’s what I see, Guy. That's what I see in you. I know you’re more than a pretty face on the surface. I know you’re not a saint deep down in the depths of your heart. But you bloomed despite those depths. And I see your many different colors. You may fight for fun, but you fought for me and my brother. You may share your body freely, but you were good to mine. Those words you told me… that’s all just mud trying to choke you out. I don’t want the deepest depths to drag you down any further. I want you to keep on blooming. I want to stay by your side and keep on watching you bloom.”

“...............”

“.... I love you, Guy. I will always love you.”

“..............

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

“No… no….

“No! No, I refuse!”

“’Refuse’…?”

“…To stop loving you.”

Guy gets up. He takes his changshan and slips it on as he starts briskly walking away from their spot in the garden courtyard. “It was a mistake to invite you here in the first place.”

“No! Wait!” San-Gwong jumps to his feet to jog after Guy. He reaches for him to take his hand. “Please hear me out!”

“I don’t want to hear anything!”

“Please, Guy! I’m pouring out my heart to you! At least give me a chance!”

“There is no chance to give! You don’t know me!”

“I can know you!”

“No! You can’t! You shouldn’t!”

“Why not?!”

That’s it. Time to scare off San-Gwong. Perhaps by telling him about his unsavory side, he can discourage the Christian convert from staying away. “I do a lot of sinful things. Transgressions. I steal. I kill. I fight. I light houses on fire. I sleep with other men. A lot. Not just you. You are one of many. You’re nothing special, San-Gwong.”

“…………

“I’m… nothing special?”

Guy turns his face. That last part is a lie. But it’s a necessary lie. While he’s at it… he may as well twist the knife. “Yes. You are nothing special. I’m going to forget you will even exist in a week, less maybe. You’re not going to be my last lover. Far from it. You’re a notch on my bedpost. A risky thrill ride to see how far I can go without being caught. A story to tell of escapades and conquest. Someone to brag about when talking about numbers. I mean it when I say this. You’re nothing to me.”

“……………”

Silence from San-Gwong. It must have worked. Guy really didn’t want to do this... he didn’t want to break his heart. But better now than later when the truth comes. He’d rather live a lie then have someone hurt with the truth. Guy looks away, readying himself to leave the Mission altogether. “Goodbye, San-Gwong.”

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

“I don’t care about that.”

“…..”

“I don’t care about any of that. Because I love you all the same.”

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

San-Gwong wanders along the lotus pond in the Mission’s courtyard, bearing a single paper lantern in his hand as his means of light in the pitch black of night. Ruixiong is close, as he is sitting on the wall behind some bamboo, hidden from sight even if he is there in bright daylight.

“Ruixiong! Don’t stay here! I got this!”

“I just wanted to be sure you’ll make it okay!”

“Please, I want to keep this private! Also, what if Guy wants to make love?”

“Then I’ll leave! But don’t do that, not here! Get a room in an inn! But focus on my instructions and confess first! THEN you can consummate!”

“I can do this, Ruixiong. Now go! I hear someone!”

“Aiya! Right!” Ruixiong slips off from the wall to land on the street on the other side. Though being the cheating bandit he is, he discreetly levitates himself back over to the top of the wall to watch out for San-Gwong, opting to only leave for good if his meeting with Guy does end up becoming sexual.

And Ruixiong isn’t wrong. San-Gwong is greeted from behind with a second paper lantern held close to his and a hand amorously caressing his belly. San-Gwong takes in a sharp breath as he can feel Guy’s crooked nose brush against the base of his shaven head as kisses are peppered along the nape of his neck.

“O-oh…!~ Monsieur Guy…”

“Are you ready for round two, mon beau?~” he whispers in San-Gwong’s ear before he begins lowering his kisses along his partner’s back.

“A-Ah….~” San-Gwong just melts in Guy’s hands while his body is pressed against his. He lets out a breath as he holds his head back… and completely forgets about Ruixiong’s instructions.

“Oh, for fuck’s sakes, you two....” Ruixiong grumbles as he lowers himself from the wall and just heads off, opting to come back in maybe an hour or two. Or the next morning. It’ll probably take all night.

[sins-of-the-sea]

“I SWEAR TO GOD-” San-Gwong grabs his nangun and races out the Mission’s exit. “YOU TWO ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!!”

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

"How on Earth were you able to fuck that confession up?! Guy is fucking easy!!”

“I know he is easy! He’s patient and considerate and-”

“No. No. Easy as in loose. Remember what I said about him being a libertine?”

“I am fully aware of what you said! I still stand by being open and willing to fulfill his needs!”

“No no no no, you don’t get it! When I say he is loose, I mean he will have sex with any man upon first meeting and without much else! Not even to ask him out for dinner first or something!”

“Oh. Well. I am fully aware of that too.”

“No you are not! What I am saying is-”

“.............................”

“.....................................

“When, where, and how often, San-Gwong?”

“Just once so far! At the lotus pond several nights ago!”

“The lotus pond?! You mean at the Mission’s courtyard?! SAN-GWONG!!”

“Keep it down!! Some of the missionaries might be here!”

“Nevermind that!! How were you not caught to begin with?! Father Fu-Lam’s office is not far!”

“It was past midnight and we were really quiet! And there was this rock we hid behind and-”

“Please spare me the details, I don’t need the imagery. And this is all besides the point! You shared your body with him already, so confessing your love should come smoothly too!”

“I know that! W-well, I thought that could be the case! But-...

“Y-you said so yourself… he’s a libertine. I made him sad once. What if I offend him further?”

“You’re not going to offend him, San-Gwong! Scare him, maybe, but not offend.”

“I don’t want to scare him! That’ll be even worse! I don’t want him to avoid me!”

“Then just sleep with him and cuddle him up or something for now! Confess another time!”

“I don’t want him to think I only want his body! Or to just see me as a body! I want to share our hearts too!”

Ruixiong groans as he leans against the hay-bearing wagon. “So what is the problem? The worst he’ll do is say ‘no’ and you two remain friends. Friends with benefits, maybe, if you want to fuck here and there.”

“W-well… it’s just-....

“He was talking about the fact he sleeps around, doesn’t he? Or cause whatever trouble you say he does. I don’t understand how someone like him would be a bad person at all. I want to believe he is doing these things because he doesn’t know how to seek real love, so he’ll do bad things just to-... I don’t know. Feel alive, I guess? I won’t hold anything against him. But I am scared he’ll think I do, or- …. I don’t know. Not feel like he’ll deserve it?”

“.....................

“Dammit all, San-Gwong…

“???”

“You’re more spot on than you think. Now I really want you to two to be together. But you’re also right–you might scare him away.

“I need to think of how we can approach him. To at least get him to listen to you and think about your love for him. To at least give you a chance.”

“......................................”

“Hmm…..

“I got it!! Listen to my directions closely! First, you’re going to invite Guy to another night at the lotus pond. And then-”

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

All dialogue is spoken in Yue (Cantonese) unless indicated otherwise.

"You got this, man! You won’t believe how happy Guy will be once you declare your love for him!”

“Do you truly think so??”

“I know so! Go on now! He’s over there at the dock checking on La Demonia’s mooring!”

“Right, right.” San-Gwong takes in a deep breath before exhaling sharply. “Here goes!”

“I’m rooting for you, San!! Good luck!”

Guy indeed is checking on the cables keeping La Demonia Roja moored at the docks, spotting a few that have been chewed up by rats. As he grumbles, he turns to San-Gwong approaching him. As Guy cannot speak Yue, he has to rely on Portuguese to communicate with San-Gwong fluently. “Oh, hello, Mr. San-Gwong. I didn’t know you’d be here this morning. Don’t you have to study medicine at the Mission at this hour?”

“Not today! It’s a free day today! I-I actually came to you to-... to…. to…..

“To-.... to…. t-to….”

Guy straightens his back to face San-Gwong more fully. “To what?”

“To…. to…. t-to- to to to to to-...”

“.......to offer help with La Demonia Roja! Those ropes sure look heavily damaged, yes? R-Rats, am I right?”

Guy sighs. “Oh, definitely. Those nasty vermin can do a lot of work in one night.”

“I know a place where you can replace them!”

“There is no need, we have extras. But I thank you for the offer. Anything else about the ship, I need to report to my Captain.”

“Well, of course! I’ll leave you to that!”

“Thanks for your help, Mr. San-Gwong. I’ll see you at the Mission stables later today.” Guy then gets to the boarding plank, calling out to Giovanni as he too is making rounds around the ship.

As Guy is now out of earshot, San-Gwong lumbers over to Ruixiong…. And flops over onto a nearby bale of hay set inside a wagon parked by him. He screams into the hay. 

“HHHHHHHHHHHH-”

Ruixiong grumbles in Yue, “Good job, you colossal idiot.”

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

All dialogue is spoken in Yue (Cantonese).

“Ruixiong!”

San-Gwong is covered in sweat and dirt from the day’s work, but he wouldn’t let his exhaustion take his franticness down as he he calls for his friend the next day. “I need your advice! Please! More than ever in my life, I need your wisdom!”

“Really now! Well! My lessons are always open! Want to learn how to scale a wall? How to ruin an asshole official without being detected? We were just about learning how to eaves-”

“No, no, none of that! I don’t care about all that at all right now! Eventually, yes, but not now!”

“Not now?? I thought wanting to get back at the Manchus for what they did-.”

“It is, but that can wait! I’m not thinking about my parents right now! I’m thinking about-

“-....About…. A-about….”

“...That face….

“At last! You found a girl you like! So you’ve decided to get married! Is that it?!”

“WHAT?! NO! That’s not it at all!”

“Come on, pal, I know those stars in the eyes and flush of red on the face. And that smile! You like someone! And you’re finally giving Sing-Lung a big sister! Who set you up? Father Fu-Lam? Mrs. Cheung? Oohh! I’ll bet the lucky lady is that curvy one who runs the fruit stand! Ehh? Ehh? She always made eyes at you!”

“Give it a rest! That’s not-”

“I highly suggest getting your changsan pressed first, it always looks crumpled and dirty even when clean. Try to think of some things you’re really good at that can impress her and don’t admit you don’t know all there is to it. Straighten your back and keep your chin up. There’s also some tr-”

“Damn it all, Ruixiong! I’m thinking of a man! Not a woman!!”

“...Oh. Huh. So it’s not romantic at all?”

“.........................................”

“....Oh…. OHH!!”

“Please keep it down, Father Fu-Lam and everyone at the Mission won’t approve at all! No one will! Everyone is pressuring me to get married but I don’t want to be forever tied up to a stranger or anyone I won’t love! And besides….

“I-I…. I am in love with-.... With-.....”

“Ohh… San-Gwong….

“I’m sorry, but as much as we are really good, close friends, I can never think of you that-”

“I’m-… I am in love with Mr. Guy Duchamp!”

Record scratch. “...GUY???? WHAT???”

[sins-of-the-sea]

//San-Gwong why the FUCK you have so many icons for a single posthumous character with a single icon template, what the fuck-

[sins-of-the-sea]

1708, Guangzhou, China

“Wow! You two are really fast! You even included the sunset in the very background!”

“We have you for a great teacher, Mr. Guy!”

“Yeah! I want to show this to Mama and Papa!”

“What about you, Mr. San-Gwong? You barely even filled in the beach, and it’s the step where you can be loose with the colors as you want.”

“W-Well…”

“Can we take this time to paint anything we want now, Mr. Guy?”

“Yeah!!”

“Oh, sure! Feel free but don’t waste the paints! Then we can all go home when San is done.”

“I’m going to paint you, Sing-Lung!”

“Then I’ll paint you too!”

“Aiyaa. They’re perfect for each other. Do you think they’ll make a good husband and wife in the future, Mr. Guy?”

“Too soon to tell. Maybe they’re just really good friends today and Sing or Arcelia will end up liking someone else instead. Here. Where are you having a problem?”

“I think I’m applying the paint too thickly, and my horizon line is too high….”

“You can still fix that. Here. Your tan paint is a bit too thick, but not so thick that it can’t be corrected with reds and purples. And you can always add water to your paints. It’s always better to apply too thinly then add layers as you go along then when you apply too thick to begin with. Here. I’ll show you.”

“You’re really good, Mr. Guy! Have you had a teacher to teach you all this?”

“Hm? Uh-uh, I mean-

“No. I taught myself.”

“You taught yourself?! You’re really smart!! And talented!!”

“Er-... thanks….”

“And you know a lot of things too! You’re really good with the most stubborn horses at the Mission stables, can pick out mistakes people make in almost anything and help correct them, and can speak many languages! You’re really incredible!”

“I-I thank you, S-San, I-I do…. C-can we get back to the painting?”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“I’m… not used to being complimented like that.”

“Really? Don’t people see what you can do?”

“I-... look. People see me all the time. I don’t paint or help around with the horses every waking hour of the day. I do other things. Things people don’t usually like. Or want to see.”

“R-...Really??”

“I’m not a good person, Mr. San-Gwong. There is a reason I bury my face in books and scoop horse manure rather than be a doctor like Phoebus or a merchant like Rashid.”

San-Gwong stares in confusion. “...Why would you say that? Being a doctor or merchant or even a scholar or painter doesn’t mean if you’re a good person or not. I think you’re a good person. I think you’re an amazing person!”

Guy blanks out for a moment. “...T-Truly?”

“You’re kind, you’re considerate, you look out for me and my brother, you’re really patient, you always seem to light up the room, and you are very-”

“Stop. Please stop.”

“........”

“You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about me. That one time we had at the lotus pond–I invited you for a bit of fun. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

“....What we did at the lotus pond. Meant… nothing to you?”

Guy looks down at San-Gwong’s painting with deep, tangible melancholy in his eyes and movement. “I didn’t say that. Please. Can we stop? Either we focus on your painting or we stop altogether…”

“No!! Please! Tell me what I’m doing wrong with my painting! I’d like to finish this before Sing and I then go back to the Mission!”

“All right.

“Now see here, what you can do with this area, you can add a bit more red, now with this dab of paint here-”

San-Gwong listens deeply with the lesson, though he could not help but eye his teacher more than his canvas as the session continues.