[ in kaiser's world, he'll always be the dancing queen, sweet and young, only seventeen. also, he plans to follow in toni kroos's footsteps and retire after winning everything he wants to win at at 34... at least, this is the plan in his head. those generally don't go well for him. ]
Hmm... imagine uplifting and mentoring a youth prodigy fast-tracked to the first time. That'd be crazy. [ kaiser's just saying... ] Also, to the contrary, you're no monster, and I don't think of you as one. Monsters defy human understanding and capability, so...
[ not that kaiser would deny that there aren't monsters out there. of course there are: there are monsters who'll hit their children for no reason other than to fortify their own ego, who'll prey upon the weak to make themselves stronger, and who will hurt others who've done nothing to merit it. but from kaiser's perspective, noa is different — because unfortunately, everything that he does makes sense once you realize that everything he does is for the sake of continuing to climb ever higher.
of course, that kaiser thinks that one can always find reason in what noa says or does also says something about kaiser's mindset. ]
You're the worst kind of egoist to deal with as both a teammate and a competitor. That's a compliment, by the way. [ well, yes, but also no. it is also an insult. ]
[ the comment on monsters gets a dry "hah" out of him, quiet and gentle, before he crunches his bread to a finish. there is a duality to being the world's great striker. millions think of him as the goal machine cyborg, a man larger than life, and he embraces that role because it suits him. however, as kaiser correctly observes, he is a man who prides himself on living with a rational thread to all his actions. in that sense, he is very easy to comprehend to those that understand who he is. only few do, and kaiser can count himself among them. ]
Thank you. [ compliment or insult, he will take both. the line is so thin among their ranks anyway. ] I know you wouldn't have it any other way. You enjoy getting thrashed too much - what will you do when I retire?
[ kaiser has at least another decade to look forward to, if not more. he will one day look at his stats, count the seasons, and realize he has spent more time on pitch without noel noa being on the other side. ]
[ there's one of those awkward dining situations where there's an odd number of the appetizer but only two people. kaiser will relieve the awkwardness by taking the extra slice of bread before answering, applaud his thoughtfulness! ]
Oh, you know. Lament, make up ghosts to chase in my mind, have an aimless season that's certainly not bad yet not remarkable... please, do you really think I'd do any of that?
[ they aren't quite cut from the same cloth, but the fabrics are similar enough that kaiser can joke around about this because the thought of it is simply absurd: kaiser is unstable emotionally, but he's not sentimental, and fundamentally more capable of letting go of the unnecessary than most. he'd find a new goal to chase, or a new rival to torment, or something else on the pursuit of ever asserting himself as the best/worst thing in any pro league worth talking about. ]
Others can take the convenient role you hold for me now, but don't worry. You're the only one I'll visit in his retirement home. Doesn't that put you in a good mood?
[ that is to say - he likes kaiser's answer. noa would be disappointed if sentimentality was brought into whatever label their dynamic has after these past few years. if everyone has to go at some point, if they all share the same fate at different intervals in time, then there's no reason to feel either joy or misery. time is cruel and fair in equal measure. an athlete's career has an expiration date in a way many other paths don't, but the only thing to mourn are the ones who quit too soon to ever leave a mark.
(he's made people quit though. it doesn't bother him to acknowledge it - it's also not his fault.) ]
Though if you act like a nuisance, I'll ban you from visitation. [ and what entails being a nuisance? well, kaiser should know. ] What do you think about your teammates' mentality? Do you think you're the hardest worker on pitch?
[ a bit of a swerve because he's not going to be the only one giving gossip today! ]
[ but it should put him in a great mood? and noa should be grateful, it's only a matter of time before kaiser gets to text him "they're cheering for you in this sports bar" when noa gets subbed off early, and then, "they're telling me i should bring you to the glue factory". it could get so much worse than the retirement home! ]
... What a loaded question. If I didn't know you as well as I do, I'd think you were out to start something.
[ because kaiser will be honest about this... he has probably been in the sports media more than once for yelling at his teammates for being lazy asses. like jude does on occasion.
but of course, what is said between the two of them has always been in confidence, and this will not change. since kaiser can't be fully honest with almost anybody, he may as well take the opportunity. but he'll have a sip of wine first, for plausible deniability(?) or something. ]
I'm not sure that I'd say I've got the highest work rate on the average day, but I'd say I should be in contention for the most efficient worker almost every match.
[ kaiser will acknowledge he has rather stiff competition for this, though. it's the most decorated club in the world — he should have stiff competition in the first place. ]
As for mentality in general... Do you know this saying? "We rarely think of what we have, but always of what we lack."
[ this could be going in several different directions... kaiser wants to see what noa makes of this set-up first. ]
[ he's right to be mad! but don't yell, because then you look like an emotional clown. hit them with a glare instead, the kind that makes you look like a murderer. that's what noa does at least. the kids call it a menacing aura? ]
I have. It's only natural for people to think of what they lack, because it typically corresponds with what they want. 'Power' at the highest level and something as simple as 'food' at the lowest. It's only when we step back and reflect on the world around us can we observe the fortune we have that so many lack.
[ another symptom of growing up in poverty - as a child, noa thought a lot about how he would put food in his stomach. now he's eating at an expensive restaurant like it's nothing. he's been more fortunate than most and even the same can be said of kaiser. not everyone gets picked up by the president of pifa and given the opportunities that have landed him in this present moment. ]
[ kaiser thinks that he's been tortured enough that he doesn't need to thank ray dark for bailing him out of jail on some kind of faustian bargain, he's paid back his dues. he does, however, say thank you very nicely whenever he gets invited to ray dark's holiday parties... so there's that. but were these sentiments spoken aloud, kaiser would simply agree — he tries to not make the mistake of forgetting that a part of him will always be a downtrodden child whose idea of a great life was being able to eat delicious food whenever he feels like it, because the last time he forgot, he crashed out live on the telly for everybody to see. ]
Well, then, keep in the back of your mind that I'm fully aware that I'm about to lodge a complaint about one of the most ideal competitive environments in the world. [ never let it be said that kaiser isn't self-aware... ] Everybody is talented, of course, but some lack the capacity to truly aspire for greatness. That annoys me sometimes.
[ some who are just happy to have been wanted by the most decorated team in the world, some who want to avoid losing more than they want to win, some who are concerned more with personal status than the noble pursuit of kicking the ball better... also, leonardo luna is there.
but, well, kaiser is clearly not starting any fistfights over it. nor are there any rumors that he plans to leave, so it can't be that bad. ]
Not enough to play too many mindgames over it, though. [ emphasis on "too many". and yes, even if kaiser is grateful in retrospect for all the mental tortures noa put him through, he is allowed to call him out for them, he thinks. ] People are hard to fundamentally change, after all.
Mhm. I think I told you this before, but training someone to play the game better is easier than instilling in them a sense of 'hunger'. Re Al is a fantastic club for vicious and destructive players, but what does that matter if your players revel in the hunt more than the spoils?
They aren't hungry - they just want to lord their supremacy. It can backfire on them easily, and has.
[ luna is a shining example of re al's philosophy, in the same way noa was for bastard. the scion of madrid takes a sadistic pleasure in destroying others no matter the skill level of their opponent. however, that can lead to the sort of arrogant pride that makes them draw what should be an easy game or just barely inch out a win. it's why he would never take an offer from them. barcha is easy going in comparison, but they have a scrappy ambition in them. ]
I agree that people are hard to change. Luckily, you don't need to. You just have to draw out what's already inside them. [ i.e. what he did with kaiser, and even isagi in an accidental fashion. ] Once you understand who someone is, you can understand how to push them in the direction you want. To some degree or another, everyone really just wants to be told what to do to succeed.
I had delusions that people who are tapped to play for Re Al already had that drawn out of them, that's all.
[ and for once, those aren't even delusions that kaiser cooked up in his own mind. he actually had a teeny, tiny bit of idealism left in him and that, too, was broken by reality — alas. ]
Also... no, never mind.
[ kaiser was about to point out the utter absurdity in him, of all people, being in a place to tell people what to do to succeed? him, who pushed back against authority even when authority was correct? him, who is still just barely making it out of toddler years of soccer experience compared to the average player? the fact of the matter is that noa's observation is correct and logical, and anything kaiser has to say against it is driven by his underlying frustration with the situation. there are, objectively, better uses of his energy than screaming "backtrack for the ball, [colorful german expletive here]" while on the pitch.
he feels his increased maturity should be applauded. he tops off both of their glasses with wine instead. ]
Your team has more to prove in the current era, but that's not so bad. It suits you better, I guess. And they've got that factory, so it can't be all that bad.
[ what rma fans picture when la masia is brought up (insert ai generated image of a soccer baby factory)... ]
[ a clipped sigh- ] La Masia is quite efficient as of late. Maybe they want to be the Spanish version of Blue Lock?
[ nearly half the first team are just la masia grown recruits, so can he really argue with the grotesque AI images of women popping babies out on the pitch? but rest assured, no AI could ever create that image of messi cradling a baby lamine yamal in his arms like god and his baby jesus. ]
Don't hold back on my account. Or your own. [ he reaches for the glass, bringing it up to his face and taking in the scent. ] What were you going to say?
[ well, it's hard to argue with the results, that's for sure. what are they putting in the catalan water that's making their youth academy so effective... those are questions not for kaiser to wonder about when, from his perspective, they could always get scouts to snatch up kids off the streets? it seems to work equally well! ]
I was going to say that such a position doesn't really suit me... for a lot of reasons, but I suppose that doesn't matter. If something needs to be done, then it's not as if I can count on somebody else to do it so that I don't have to.
[ who else is going to do it? leonardo luna, who delights in crushing others' ambitions? sae itoshi, ever the people's person? kaiser might giggle over the thought, were he a more jovial sort. he may sooner see a pig fly, or a kid being born in the totally real soccer baby factories. ]
It's not as if you have the personality of a natural-born leader... [ no offense. kaiser's tone is more observational than aggressive when he notes this. ] If you managed, then there's no reason I can't rise to the occasion either.
...No, I suppose I don't have that quality about me.
[ back during the NEL there was a poll watchers could take that asked them to rank the best coaches of the league. snuffy of course won without much contest, but more interesting to noa was how low he ranked. the most generous ranking was in third, but he was largely thrown into fourth and fifth despite the fact that his club won every match. it didn't offend him - on the contrary, it made him reflect a lot on leadership as a whole. ]
But you're right - you can't rely on others to enact the change you want to see. You have to be the one to push for it. And if you're smart about it, you'll see them change without them even realizing you had any part in it at all.
[ and then he takes a sip of his wine like he didn't say something insane just now. ]
I think you overestimate how subtle your influence is, actually. [ though kaiser is certainly biased on that... ] Not that I'd consider subtlety very important when it comes to influencing others, to be honest. And, at least for me, it's probably something of a lost cause.
[ the last subtle thing he did was gaslight a kid into becoming his slave puppy and that was fairly obvious to most people around him over time, so that ship has probably already sailed, ahem. copping a fake extrovert personality has once again come back to bite kaiser in this aspect, but he doesn't mind too much either way. there's advantages to leaving his fingerprints on his handiwork, he feels. also, once again he has to reflect upon how he's made all of this harder on himself by leaving bastard munchen, where all of this would've been much more straightforward than the minefield that is re al. oops! ]
... I'm not saying this to complain, but I feel that this all shouldn't be necessary in the first place. [ everybody needs to just... get on the grindset!! ]
[ he will not point out that he was subtle enough that kaiser did not realize what he was doing for well over a couple months at blue lock! that it did not occur to him to wonder why noa is taking so much interest in a random japanese kid versus the star youth striker of their shared team. he won't say it... he will think it... he also enjoys watching kaiser trip into his own problems too much to call it a passing amusement. his favorite clown prince of football indeed. ]
It is necessary. That's what it means to be human - conflict, strife, these are all in our nature. Those craving stability are also craving a life free of change, and the capacity for it. And more players than not hit a ceiling where they no longer want to challenge themselves, yet desire the acknowledgment of the world that they are flawless.
[ he's not going to say the name 'julien loki' here but, again, he is thinking it. it's at the center of their conflict - loki wants to be a god and noa will never treat him as such. he is gifted and defines himself by those gifts. that's a losing mentality in the long stretch of time (see mbappe having to seriously compete with lewandoski this season when he should realistically be running circles around a striker ten years older than him) ]
[ when a washed lewy wins the pichichi again and rma is forced to boycott another trophy... that is what an ideal society looks like.
but to that point, kaiser makes what can only be described as a german sound of vague discontent before adding, more coherently: ] So neither their home lives nor their youth academies damaged them sufficiently. Alright. I guess I have no choice but to provide that experience for them.
[ although kaiser isn't entirely serious about that; kaiser is aware that some people simply have It and some people never will, no matter how hard they try. also, unfortunately, kaiser is realizing that he can personally understand and relate to all the men who have severely rattled his psyche — it's not just about wanting a rival with sufficient talent, but also a certain kind of hunger. kaiser will keep this in mind when he chooses somebody to damage at a deep and systematic level himself...
he glances aside, a brief and subtle motion, the same way kaiser might quickly look over his shoulder before making a run down the pitch. he's checking to see if there's anything suggesting their entrees might be coming so that he can plan his next conversational topic, like a normal person does. ]
One more coin flip before our food comes out? You have to tell me what question you want answered first, though.
[ pxg isn't as bad as what he hears about re al's youth academy, but then again they weren't as flush with cash back when he was still under twenty. noa outgrew them quickly - he needed more challenge, a tougher environment that would make or break him. maybe that's why when figured out that kaiser was aiming to get an offer from madrid, all he could do was shrug and let it be. he at least had enough faith that even if kaiser put himself into trouble, he would find a way out. a bear will gnaw its leg off to survive and so would god's favorite german.
noa notices the glance and flicks his wrist to check the time. it should be out soon, but they can spare time for a flip. he's already been thinking about what he wants to ask. ]
I want to know what made you start playing football. Not professionally -- in recreation, before you were discovered.
[ for a split second, kaiser's expression goes agog at that, clearly surprised at what he just heard. his reflex is to insist that this is a pointless question — from his perspective, he didn't actually play football for fun at any point in his life. whatever it was he was doing before he got scouted, in the loosest meaning of the word "scouted", was more like a childish outlet than anything that resembled sport or a game.
he supposes there's no point in insisting, and maybe his micro-expressions have already given a little too much away. maybe it's actually an advantage to him, so he'll leave his thoughts unspoken and reach for the coin again, letting it rest on his hand for a moment before flipping it — he doesn't quite feel relieved when it lands tails, but he is certainly pleased to have caught up in wins. ]
Well, go ahead. A detailed explanation that leaves nothing unanswered, if you please.
[ kaiser says this as if he's the one who's straightforward and noa is the one who can use about a dozen words to mean nothing. ]
[ noa interest in the past is only in understanding it as a backdrop for the present and future. the reason kaiser began kicking the ball around could well inform why he continues to do so now. or maybe it won't? his curiosity is genuine, though he understands kaiser may just see it as a way to leverage more information against him. a true stray is never comfortable in domesticity until the day they realize they don't need to hunt for food anymore. kaiser is still hunting, still hungry, and that's why noa likes him.
but oh well. you can only flip a coin so many times before it hits the wrong side. ]
Mhm. The question was -- why 10, correct? [ noa takes a sip of his wine, letting the taste settle on his tongue where the answer has been patiently waiting since the initial ask. ] There's a part of this answer you may appreciate and another part you won't...
Obviously you know that the first eleven numbers have positional meanings relevant to one's role on the field. "10" is the playmaker and those who wear it are the center of their team. However, there's also numerology involved. 1 and 0 -- the flow of creation and destruction. You have to continuously balance the game through your actions, and spur your team to follow your lead.
When management asked me to watch your games and provide my assessment, I recommended that number for you because I could see how you commanded the field. They told me that you weren't well liked by most of your peers, but that only made me more certain in my appraisal. If you could make yourself the center piece of the team despite your bad reputation, then that meant you had a value to them on pitch they couldn't ignore. When you can make people set aside their egos to support yours -- that's part of being 10.
[ kaiser listens quietly and doesn't interrupt, waiting for noa to finish his explanations, and then immediately shows his priorities with: ]
Wait, what part did you think I wouldn't like? The part where my peers didn't like me? If so, then if anything, it bothers me that you think that would bother me...
[ kaiser thinks he's popular, but not particularly well-liked. he has never particularly had any delusion that people enjoy him for his personality, and has always been content to rule the pack by making it clear that he can rule by a combination of might and skill diff; therefore, the packlings should be happy that he chooses to use a lighter touch when he feels like it.
as for the rest, unfortunately, it does remind him of something he heard isagi say at some point, about the ability to turn zero into one — which, coming from isagi, kaiser had thought was probably at least somewhat derogatory, because kaiser will shoot the messenger if he doesn't like the messenger, actually, and why shouldn't he, etc. ]
... And, well, I humbly apologize for letting go of number ten so easily when you put so much thought into it. It's a popular number, I didn't feel like fighting over it.
[ kaneshiro when he gives every other important character #10: eheh ]
[ > gives long winded explanation of his choices and reasoning behind a concept > "but it's whatever"
anyway, the more pressing information noa must give that will hit kaiser like a nail hammered into the wall-- ]
The part you won't like is this -- 10 was my number when I played in the U20 category. I only changed it to 9 after signing my first professional contract. This didn't influence my decision to assign it to you, however you did ask for an explanation that left nothing unanswered.
[ and without missing a beat: ] Yeah, that's gross. Because if it didn't influence your decision, then you didn't have to say it. The fact that you did implies that subconsciously, it did matter to you... wouldn't you say?
[ kaiser would like to call HR and report a case of harassment (he got an answer to the question he asked). since this metaphorical HR department doesn't exist, he'll content himself by instead taking a drink of wine and sighing over it. ]
I wouldn't know. Subconscious influences aren't controllable. Maybe I saw myself in you? Something feral and undisciplined, but full of potential?
[ of course that would only apply if he consciously made the choice to give kaiser the number 10 based off that. he didn't, so it doesn't matter. so why bring it up? well -- just for a little amusement in watching kaiser cringe.
but with great mercy from above, the waiter strides toward their table with two platters in either hand. the presentation is simple but effective. the cut of sea bass is presented on a large tear-drop shaped plate, dark blues fading into the center white where the meal awaits. noa's fried veal brain is even simpler, on a small white plate with a floral decoration at the top and a prawn curled against the cut of meat. the meat is dark enough to be mistaken for a typical cut of beef, such that no one could guess what it was unless they knew. only on closer observation could the lines be perceived.
the waiter wishes them a good meal and departs, noa's attention now squarely on his food. the tiny pink petal on top is delicately removed and set on the edge of the plate. ]
Would you like me to elaborate any further, or have I answered the question to your liking?
[ well, noa will get the cringe he wanted, along with kaiser wrinkling his nose as if he just bit into something extremely acrid. before he can start pretending like he's retching and gagging, though, he's successfully distracted by the display of food that shows up, leaning in slightly to stare in particular at noa's meal — he isn't any more interested in eating brains than before, but his creature instincts seem to have activated, stimulated by a new experience. ]
No, that'll do. [ he even sounds distracted, ready to move onto the next topic already, apparently. ] If I want to ask more, then we can bet on it again. It smells fairly different from a beef steak, doesn't it?
[ which he supposes makes sense, after he blurts that out. would brains even count as meat, kaiser briefly wonders, before settling that question aside. he's eyeing noa's food like a man in the early 2000s at hooter's, because kaiser wants to see noa cut into those brains for totally normal, understandable reasons. ]
... Well? Go ahead. If it's your treat, then you should have the first bite. [ never mind that they already had an appetizer. ]
It isn't as thick. The size of the cut, that it's fried - there's a hint of iron to it.
[ he is very aware kaiser is watching him and would be even if his favorite german wasn't making it extremely obvious. noa won't bother trying to discern the interest behind those blue eyes because that reason would only make sense inside kaiser's warped imagination. if he were to ask, and if he were to receive an answer, then he thinks the only response he would have to it were "ah, alright then."
the first slice is purposefully thin, so that he may savor the meal over a longer period. animal brains, or rather the ones permissible by polite society to eat, are small. a calf's brain is about as big as a small cut of raw tuna though not necessarily as thick. a faint steam visibly airs out as he pulls back the knife and skewers the piece onto the fork. with no ceremony or fanfare for the act, he takes his bite and chews thoughtfully to take the taste in full. ]
Hm. It's good. [ a strong snapping crisp on the outer layer, meat with a firm squishy texture within the inner layer. noa sets his utensils to the side and gives the plate a small push forward. ] You can try a piece if you'd like.
[ no challenge or dare in his offering. whether kaiser takes it or leaves it is enough of an insight for noa's curiosity. ]
[ kaiser is vaguely aware that noa probably makes a few judgments in his mind about how people eat — he'd noticed the subtle changes in expression when people start talking before finishing chewing at team dinners in the past. it is, perhaps, behavior that kaiser subconsciously looks for because he's rather sensitive to it himself, always slightly paranoid that people can tell he wasn't raised right (wasn't raised in general) by a lack of refinement in his table manners. on the flipside, this is also why kaiser tends to pay attention to how other people in turn, and he observes quietly as noa cuts through the dish. it's clean and efficient, as kaiser expected.
noa tastes and swallows; kaiser looks back up in sync with the sound of the silverware being placed back down. he has an answer to this already in mind, so the response comes right on the next beat, like a metaphorical one-two drill. ]
I'll pass. Don't you think the soul is most likely to be in the brain?
[ kaiser will eat whatever parts of an animal, if he has to. but for some reason, he is moderately perturbed by the idea that the body might be a bit more than that. ]
Well... if animals have souls, that is. [ kaiser is counting humans in that, although he hasn't exactly made it clear. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Hmm... imagine uplifting and mentoring a youth prodigy fast-tracked to the first time. That'd be crazy. [ kaiser's just saying... ] Also, to the contrary, you're no monster, and I don't think of you as one. Monsters defy human understanding and capability, so...
[ not that kaiser would deny that there aren't monsters out there. of course there are: there are monsters who'll hit their children for no reason other than to fortify their own ego, who'll prey upon the weak to make themselves stronger, and who will hurt others who've done nothing to merit it. but from kaiser's perspective, noa is different — because unfortunately, everything that he does makes sense once you realize that everything he does is for the sake of continuing to climb ever higher.
of course, that kaiser thinks that one can always find reason in what noa says or does also says something about kaiser's mindset. ]
You're the worst kind of egoist to deal with as both a teammate and a competitor. That's a compliment, by the way. [ well, yes, but also no. it is also an insult. ]
no subject
Thank you. [ compliment or insult, he will take both. the line is so thin among their ranks anyway. ] I know you wouldn't have it any other way. You enjoy getting thrashed too much - what will you do when I retire?
[ kaiser has at least another decade to look forward to, if not more. he will one day look at his stats, count the seasons, and realize he has spent more time on pitch without noel noa being on the other side. ]
no subject
Oh, you know. Lament, make up ghosts to chase in my mind, have an aimless season that's certainly not bad yet not remarkable... please, do you really think I'd do any of that?
[ they aren't quite cut from the same cloth, but the fabrics are similar enough that kaiser can joke around about this because the thought of it is simply absurd: kaiser is unstable emotionally, but he's not sentimental, and fundamentally more capable of letting go of the unnecessary than most. he'd find a new goal to chase, or a new rival to torment, or something else on the pursuit of ever asserting himself as the best/worst thing in any pro league worth talking about. ]
Others can take the convenient role you hold for me now, but don't worry. You're the only one I'll visit in his retirement home. Doesn't that put you in a good mood?
no subject
[ that is to say - he likes kaiser's answer. noa would be disappointed if sentimentality was brought into whatever label their dynamic has after these past few years. if everyone has to go at some point, if they all share the same fate at different intervals in time, then there's no reason to feel either joy or misery. time is cruel and fair in equal measure. an athlete's career has an expiration date in a way many other paths don't, but the only thing to mourn are the ones who quit too soon to ever leave a mark.
(he's made people quit though. it doesn't bother him to acknowledge it - it's also not his fault.) ]
Though if you act like a nuisance, I'll ban you from visitation. [ and what entails being a nuisance? well, kaiser should know. ] What do you think about your teammates' mentality? Do you think you're the hardest worker on pitch?
[ a bit of a swerve because he's not going to be the only one giving gossip today! ]
no subject
... What a loaded question. If I didn't know you as well as I do, I'd think you were out to start something.
[ because kaiser will be honest about this... he has probably been in the sports media more than once for yelling at his teammates for being lazy asses. like jude does on occasion.
but of course, what is said between the two of them has always been in confidence, and this will not change. since kaiser can't be fully honest with almost anybody, he may as well take the opportunity. but he'll have a sip of wine first, for plausible deniability(?) or something. ]
I'm not sure that I'd say I've got the highest work rate on the average day, but I'd say I should be in contention for the most efficient worker almost every match.
[ kaiser will acknowledge he has rather stiff competition for this, though. it's the most decorated club in the world — he should have stiff competition in the first place. ]
As for mentality in general... Do you know this saying? "We rarely think of what we have, but always of what we lack."
[ this could be going in several different directions... kaiser wants to see what noa makes of this set-up first. ]
no subject
I have. It's only natural for people to think of what they lack, because it typically corresponds with what they want. 'Power' at the highest level and something as simple as 'food' at the lowest. It's only when we step back and reflect on the world around us can we observe the fortune we have that so many lack.
[ another symptom of growing up in poverty - as a child, noa thought a lot about how he would put food in his stomach. now he's eating at an expensive restaurant like it's nothing. he's been more fortunate than most and even the same can be said of kaiser. not everyone gets picked up by the president of pifa and given the opportunities that have landed him in this present moment. ]
no subject
Well, then, keep in the back of your mind that I'm fully aware that I'm about to lodge a complaint about one of the most ideal competitive environments in the world. [ never let it be said that kaiser isn't self-aware... ] Everybody is talented, of course, but some lack the capacity to truly aspire for greatness. That annoys me sometimes.
[ some who are just happy to have been wanted by the most decorated team in the world, some who want to avoid losing more than they want to win, some who are concerned more with personal status than the noble pursuit of kicking the ball better... also, leonardo luna is there.
but, well, kaiser is clearly not starting any fistfights over it. nor are there any rumors that he plans to leave, so it can't be that bad. ]
Not enough to play too many mindgames over it, though. [ emphasis on "too many". and yes, even if kaiser is grateful in retrospect for all the mental tortures noa put him through, he is allowed to call him out for them, he thinks. ] People are hard to fundamentally change, after all.
no subject
They aren't hungry - they just want to lord their supremacy. It can backfire on them easily, and has.
[ luna is a shining example of re al's philosophy, in the same way noa was for bastard. the scion of madrid takes a sadistic pleasure in destroying others no matter the skill level of their opponent. however, that can lead to the sort of arrogant pride that makes them draw what should be an easy game or just barely inch out a win. it's why he would never take an offer from them. barcha is easy going in comparison, but they have a scrappy ambition in them. ]
I agree that people are hard to change. Luckily, you don't need to. You just have to draw out what's already inside them. [ i.e. what he did with kaiser, and even isagi in an accidental fashion. ] Once you understand who someone is, you can understand how to push them in the direction you want. To some degree or another, everyone really just wants to be told what to do to succeed.
no subject
[ and for once, those aren't even delusions that kaiser cooked up in his own mind. he actually had a teeny, tiny bit of idealism left in him and that, too, was broken by reality — alas. ]
Also... no, never mind.
[ kaiser was about to point out the utter absurdity in him, of all people, being in a place to tell people what to do to succeed? him, who pushed back against authority even when authority was correct? him, who is still just barely making it out of toddler years of soccer experience compared to the average player? the fact of the matter is that noa's observation is correct and logical, and anything kaiser has to say against it is driven by his underlying frustration with the situation. there are, objectively, better uses of his energy than screaming "backtrack for the ball, [colorful german expletive here]" while on the pitch.
he feels his increased maturity should be applauded. he tops off both of their glasses with wine instead. ]
Your team has more to prove in the current era, but that's not so bad. It suits you better, I guess. And they've got that factory, so it can't be all that bad.
[ what rma fans picture when la masia is brought up (insert ai generated image of a soccer baby factory)... ]
no subject
[ nearly half the first team are just la masia grown recruits, so can he really argue with the grotesque AI images of women popping babies out on the pitch? but rest assured, no AI could ever create that image of messi cradling a baby lamine yamal in his arms like god and his baby jesus. ]
Don't hold back on my account. Or your own. [ he reaches for the glass, bringing it up to his face and taking in the scent. ] What were you going to say?
no subject
I was going to say that such a position doesn't really suit me... for a lot of reasons, but I suppose that doesn't matter. If something needs to be done, then it's not as if I can count on somebody else to do it so that I don't have to.
[ who else is going to do it? leonardo luna, who delights in crushing others' ambitions? sae itoshi, ever the people's person? kaiser might giggle over the thought, were he a more jovial sort. he may sooner see a pig fly, or a kid being born in the totally real soccer baby factories. ]
It's not as if you have the personality of a natural-born leader... [ no offense. kaiser's tone is more observational than aggressive when he notes this. ] If you managed, then there's no reason I can't rise to the occasion either.
no subject
[ back during the NEL there was a poll watchers could take that asked them to rank the best coaches of the league. snuffy of course won without much contest, but more interesting to noa was how low he ranked. the most generous ranking was in third, but he was largely thrown into fourth and fifth despite the fact that his club won every match. it didn't offend him - on the contrary, it made him reflect a lot on leadership as a whole. ]
But you're right - you can't rely on others to enact the change you want to see. You have to be the one to push for it. And if you're smart about it, you'll see them change without them even realizing you had any part in it at all.
[ and then he takes a sip of his wine like he didn't say something insane just now. ]
no subject
[ the last subtle thing he did was gaslight a kid into becoming his slave puppy and that was fairly obvious to most people around him over time, so that ship has probably already sailed, ahem. copping a fake extrovert personality has once again come back to bite kaiser in this aspect, but he doesn't mind too much either way. there's advantages to leaving his fingerprints on his handiwork, he feels. also, once again he has to reflect upon how he's made all of this harder on himself by leaving bastard munchen, where all of this would've been much more straightforward than the minefield that is re al. oops! ]
... I'm not saying this to complain, but I feel that this all shouldn't be necessary in the first place. [ everybody needs to just... get on the grindset!! ]
no subject
It is necessary. That's what it means to be human - conflict, strife, these are all in our nature. Those craving stability are also craving a life free of change, and the capacity for it. And more players than not hit a ceiling where they no longer want to challenge themselves, yet desire the acknowledgment of the world that they are flawless.
[ he's not going to say the name 'julien loki' here but, again, he is thinking it. it's at the center of their conflict - loki wants to be a god and noa will never treat him as such. he is gifted and defines himself by those gifts. that's a losing mentality in the long stretch of time (see mbappe having to seriously compete with lewandoski this season when he should realistically be running circles around a striker ten years older than him) ]
no subject
but to that point, kaiser makes what can only be described as a german sound of vague discontent before adding, more coherently: ] So neither their home lives nor their youth academies damaged them sufficiently. Alright. I guess I have no choice but to provide that experience for them.
[ although kaiser isn't entirely serious about that; kaiser is aware that some people simply have It and some people never will, no matter how hard they try. also, unfortunately, kaiser is realizing that he can personally understand and relate to all the men who have severely rattled his psyche — it's not just about wanting a rival with sufficient talent, but also a certain kind of hunger. kaiser will keep this in mind when he chooses somebody to damage at a deep and systematic level himself...
he glances aside, a brief and subtle motion, the same way kaiser might quickly look over his shoulder before making a run down the pitch. he's checking to see if there's anything suggesting their entrees might be coming so that he can plan his next conversational topic, like a normal person does. ]
One more coin flip before our food comes out? You have to tell me what question you want answered first, though.
no subject
[ pxg isn't as bad as what he hears about re al's youth academy, but then again they weren't as flush with cash back when he was still under twenty. noa outgrew them quickly - he needed more challenge, a tougher environment that would make or break him. maybe that's why when figured out that kaiser was aiming to get an offer from madrid, all he could do was shrug and let it be. he at least had enough faith that even if kaiser put himself into trouble, he would find a way out. a bear will gnaw its leg off to survive and so would god's favorite german.
noa notices the glance and flicks his wrist to check the time. it should be out soon, but they can spare time for a flip. he's already been thinking about what he wants to ask. ]
I want to know what made you start playing football. Not professionally -- in recreation, before you were discovered.
no subject
he supposes there's no point in insisting, and maybe his micro-expressions have already given a little too much away. maybe it's actually an advantage to him, so he'll leave his thoughts unspoken and reach for the coin again, letting it rest on his hand for a moment before flipping it — he doesn't quite feel relieved when it lands tails, but he is certainly pleased to have caught up in wins. ]
Well, go ahead. A detailed explanation that leaves nothing unanswered, if you please.
[ kaiser says this as if he's the one who's straightforward and noa is the one who can use about a dozen words to mean nothing. ]
no subject
but oh well. you can only flip a coin so many times before it hits the wrong side. ]
Mhm. The question was -- why 10, correct? [ noa takes a sip of his wine, letting the taste settle on his tongue where the answer has been patiently waiting since the initial ask. ] There's a part of this answer you may appreciate and another part you won't...
Obviously you know that the first eleven numbers have positional meanings relevant to one's role on the field. "10" is the playmaker and those who wear it are the center of their team. However, there's also numerology involved. 1 and 0 -- the flow of creation and destruction. You have to continuously balance the game through your actions, and spur your team to follow your lead.
When management asked me to watch your games and provide my assessment, I recommended that number for you because I could see how you commanded the field. They told me that you weren't well liked by most of your peers, but that only made me more certain in my appraisal. If you could make yourself the center piece of the team despite your bad reputation, then that meant you had a value to them on pitch they couldn't ignore. When you can make people set aside their egos to support yours -- that's part of being 10.
no subject
Wait, what part did you think I wouldn't like? The part where my peers didn't like me? If so, then if anything, it bothers me that you think that would bother me...
[ kaiser thinks he's popular, but not particularly well-liked. he has never particularly had any delusion that people enjoy him for his personality, and has always been content to rule the pack by making it clear that he can rule by a combination of might and skill diff; therefore, the packlings should be happy that he chooses to use a lighter touch when he feels like it.
as for the rest, unfortunately, it does remind him of something he heard isagi say at some point, about the ability to turn zero into one — which, coming from isagi, kaiser had thought was probably at least somewhat derogatory, because kaiser will shoot the messenger if he doesn't like the messenger, actually, and why shouldn't he, etc. ]
... And, well, I humbly apologize for letting go of number ten so easily when you put so much thought into it. It's a popular number, I didn't feel like fighting over it.
[ kaneshiro when he gives every other important character #10: eheh ]
no subject
[ > gives long winded explanation of his choices and reasoning behind a concept
> "but it's whatever"
anyway, the more pressing information noa must give that will hit kaiser like a nail hammered into the wall-- ]
The part you won't like is this -- 10 was my number when I played in the U20 category. I only changed it to 9 after signing my first professional contract. This didn't influence my decision to assign it to you, however you did ask for an explanation that left nothing unanswered.
no subject
[ kaiser would like to call HR and report a case of harassment (he got an answer to the question he asked). since this metaphorical HR department doesn't exist, he'll content himself by instead taking a drink of wine and sighing over it. ]
no subject
[ of course that would only apply if he consciously made the choice to give kaiser the number 10 based off that. he didn't, so it doesn't matter. so why bring it up? well -- just for a little amusement in watching kaiser cringe.
but with great mercy from above, the waiter strides toward their table with two platters in either hand. the presentation is simple but effective. the cut of sea bass is presented on a large tear-drop shaped plate, dark blues fading into the center white where the meal awaits. noa's fried veal brain is even simpler, on a small white plate with a floral decoration at the top and a prawn curled against the cut of meat. the meat is dark enough to be mistaken for a typical cut of beef, such that no one could guess what it was unless they knew. only on closer observation could the lines be perceived.
the waiter wishes them a good meal and departs, noa's attention now squarely on his food. the tiny pink petal on top is delicately removed and set on the edge of the plate. ]
Would you like me to elaborate any further, or have I answered the question to your liking?
no subject
No, that'll do. [ he even sounds distracted, ready to move onto the next topic already, apparently. ] If I want to ask more, then we can bet on it again. It smells fairly different from a beef steak, doesn't it?
[ which he supposes makes sense, after he blurts that out. would brains even count as meat, kaiser briefly wonders, before settling that question aside. he's eyeing noa's food like a man in the early 2000s at hooter's, because kaiser wants to see noa cut into those brains for totally normal, understandable reasons. ]
... Well? Go ahead. If it's your treat, then you should have the first bite. [ never mind that they already had an appetizer. ]
no subject
[ he is very aware kaiser is watching him and would be even if his favorite german wasn't making it extremely obvious. noa won't bother trying to discern the interest behind those blue eyes because that reason would only make sense inside kaiser's warped imagination. if he were to ask, and if he were to receive an answer, then he thinks the only response he would have to it were "ah, alright then."
the first slice is purposefully thin, so that he may savor the meal over a longer period. animal brains, or rather the ones permissible by polite society to eat, are small. a calf's brain is about as big as a small cut of raw tuna though not necessarily as thick. a faint steam visibly airs out as he pulls back the knife and skewers the piece onto the fork. with no ceremony or fanfare for the act, he takes his bite and chews thoughtfully to take the taste in full. ]
Hm. It's good. [ a strong snapping crisp on the outer layer, meat with a firm squishy texture within the inner layer. noa sets his utensils to the side and gives the plate a small push forward. ] You can try a piece if you'd like.
[ no challenge or dare in his offering. whether kaiser takes it or leaves it is enough of an insight for noa's curiosity. ]
no subject
noa tastes and swallows; kaiser looks back up in sync with the sound of the silverware being placed back down. he has an answer to this already in mind, so the response comes right on the next beat, like a metaphorical one-two drill. ]
I'll pass. Don't you think the soul is most likely to be in the brain?
[ kaiser will eat whatever parts of an animal, if he has to. but for some reason, he is moderately perturbed by the idea that the body might be a bit more than that. ]
Well... if animals have souls, that is. [ kaiser is counting humans in that, although he hasn't exactly made it clear. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)