voice; [un: sprite bulb]

[bearshermark]

Ah... I just want to assure anyone who might be concerned that I'm not missing.

[Hendrik, mostly, but other people who might have noticed that he doesn't appear to be with the caravan today]

I know where I am, and I'm uninjured. I've gotten one of Fox's tattoos, so if that changes, it'll become apparent.

[Because that's not at all worrying. He definitely doesn't sound nervous and a little stressed.

Metal rattles, like shifting chains. Another sound, akin to burbling liquid. Oh look, a distraction]

This is also going to sound strange, but I think the tar I've been working to collect has been following me? It doesn't seem like anyone else has noticed, but it's now taken the form of- of.. well, a tree.

..I've touched it, so I don't think it's an illusion, but I don't know what else to make of it.


[ooc: alluding to these shenanigans though El will be reticent about his (temporary) captivity to avoid stirring potential conflict]

Comments

[somebadnews]

So your plan is just to let them... go about their business?

[bearshermark]

For now, unless something changes. [A sigh] There are those that won't wait longer than tomorrow, so we'll see how that turns out if it comes to it.

[somebadnews]

[ Does he need to point this out? He can literally blink him out of there in one second.

He’s only bringing this up because of the whole… situation at the farm. ]

You know you don’t have to wait on them.

[bearshermark]

I want to avoid conflict, if I can. Hendrik and Archeval are hardly subtle.

[Sorry Five, the idea that you're offering to rescue him is sailing straight over his worries about other people trying to rescue him]

[somebadnews]

[ So he's just going to have to say it then, at the risk of being overheard. If he refuses, fine, but he'll know his options. ]

Uh-huh. Look, I can teleport you out, if you want. I do owe you one.

[bearshermark]

Oh.

[Glances down at himself, trying to imagine how that would work]

I'm.. I can't move.. It might not be so simple as that.

[somebadnews]

[ He can't move, but doesn't want to trouble anyone... ]

Are you paralyzed?

[bearshermark]

[This circling, vague talk is starting to annoy even himself]

..Not as such, no.

[somebadnews]

[ If his captors can hear him, he has an excuse to be vague. If he's doing it because he doesn't think Five can handle blinking in a few tents to find him, that's another story. ]

They'll keep doing whatever they can get away with.

[bearshermark]

[Just has no idea how to vaguely convey that he's shackled in place. Lan Wangji would know]

I just.. don't think it's that simple, right now. I'll let you know if that changes.

[somebadnews]

[ You dumb naive kid. It is absolutely that simple. He sighs, but relents. ]

Fine. Tell me if you learn anything.