Shang Qinghua follows Claudius' lead in chugging the sake and pours himself another cup. It's definitely hitting harder on top of the three glasses of baijiu he's already had, putting him in a warm, pleased mood while he listens to this.
"Astonishing insight," he says first, because Claudius deserves some praise for this speech. Truly worthy of Shakespeare! The booze is loosening his tongue—he can feel a monologue coming on himself, just like when he and Cucumber-bro get drunk and fight over PIDW. And it's been decades since he's spoken to someone about his writing process who won't get mad at him for not considering Binghe's feelings.
"Luo Binghe should be flattered to be the subject of such keen analysis. But you're coming from your own context—you see it as commentary on how power corrupts, because maybe that's your experience with power. I see the story more as a cautionary tale about the limits of power. Luo Binghe spent his childhood dreaming of a better life, and then found out he had the power to take it, and anything else he wanted. That led to wealth, companionship, political sway, and the destruction of his enemies, but it can't and won't make him happy. So the parasitic blood is part of the illusion of total power—he can control others' bodies, but not their hearts and minds. There is nothing he cannot do, but none of it matters. Everything given to Luo Binghe only serves to throw what he doesn't have into sharper relief. Oh, also, it's porn," he adds, gesturing with his sake. "I forgot that you wouldn't know the genre. The book is erotica."
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Date: 2023-12-29 10:07 pm (UTC)"Astonishing insight," he says first, because Claudius deserves some praise for this speech. Truly worthy of Shakespeare! The booze is loosening his tongue—he can feel a monologue coming on himself, just like when he and Cucumber-bro get drunk and fight over PIDW. And it's been decades since he's spoken to someone about his writing process who won't get mad at him for not considering Binghe's feelings.
"Luo Binghe should be flattered to be the subject of such keen analysis. But you're coming from your own context—you see it as commentary on how power corrupts, because maybe that's your experience with power. I see the story more as a cautionary tale about the limits of power. Luo Binghe spent his childhood dreaming of a better life, and then found out he had the power to take it, and anything else he wanted. That led to wealth, companionship, political sway, and the destruction of his enemies, but it can't and won't make him happy. So the parasitic blood is part of the illusion of total power—he can control others' bodies, but not their hearts and minds. There is nothing he cannot do, but none of it matters. Everything given to Luo Binghe only serves to throw what he doesn't have into sharper relief. Oh, also, it's porn," he adds, gesturing with his sake. "I forgot that you wouldn't know the genre. The book is erotica."