crabbysaint:

Did he want actually want to get along with Shiryu to some degree, or was it just his better judgement speaking? As little as he cared for being forgiven, he honestly would prefer to avoid getting into any conflicts with the Dragon Saint. With Dohko around as well, things would only spiral into disaster from there. 

“C’mon, you really think I’m dumb enough to challenge him right now? I might not be the most admirable of Gold Saints in your eyes, but I know how to pick my battles.”

He picked his Cloth back up from the ground, shouldering it onto his back. It felt heavy – it always did. The weight was a reminder that it wasn’t quite back to being his just yet. 

“Heh. You talk as though I’m easy to forgive,” Deathmask laughed. “If Roshi is wise as we all make him out to be, he wouldn’t think to overlook my past. I’m surprised he even agreed to this little arrangement in the first place.” 

               ❖││✘ＲＩＳＩＮＧ ＤＲＡＧＯＮ✘││❖

                                                                                      ^{❛ I don’t know your} EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. ^{Who am I to question your scope of} KNOWLEDGE ^{or what you deem to be IDIOCY? You don’t need to be INTELLIGENT to know how to} RAISE YOUR FISTS. ^❜

                                                                                      RUTHLESS. APATHETIC. CONDESCENDING. ROBOTIC. ^{Terms that were all used towards him or about him at least ONCE in his life. Of course, such comments didn’t come from those he knew within} EARSHOT ^{(who knows what they TRULY say about him behind closed doors) but the saint cared} VERY LITTLE ^{(he cared alot) for the} DISTASTEFUL ^{words spoken (they managed to slice him deep in truth). There was a sharp inhale of breath when Deathmask} DARED ^{to question the motives of Dohko. He had trained underneath the man for} YEARS. ^{He always knew what he was doing & always knew it was for a PURPOSE. Quite the fool to question the intentions of a man who had seen} TWO CENTURIES ^{go by.}

                                                                               ^{❛ He won’t} OVERLOOK ^{your past but Roshi will not allow that to} CLOUD ^{his eyes. Whatever you are attempting to achieve; whatever} REDEMPTION ^{you are trying to gain from this he will take into account but I do not know his mind. He MIGHT let you come or he} MIGHT ^{strike you down. Only} ROSHI ^{can decide that. ❜}