un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[somebadnews]

[ When you hear Five, it's not immediately clear if he's expecting actual input or if he just needed to vent, but he's done suffering in silence. Their demise is being plotted right in front of them, so obviously the time for making peace is over. ]

I'm starting to think no one has ever actually reached Taravast. Between the shapeshifting tar, the harpies, and the tyrannical ghosts, it's a goddamn circus. I didn't think it could turn into a bigger mess than what we left, but here we are. Being held hostage and everyone would still rather ignore it, or empathize with the dead. [ You want to join them? Be his guest. It's that kind of mood. ]

It's time to get your priorities in order. Aren't some of you supposed to be necromancers? What's the hold up, exactly?

[ That bear better not have eaten them, because that would be just his luck. Whatever they've been plotting, they haven't told him about it. They tried going into temple, and as far as he knows, they managed to put all of one soul to rest. It's maddening. ]

So here's what's happening. If you don't do something about them, I will. Either exorcise them now, or whatever it is you do, or I jump to the backup plan. We can't keep waiting around.

Comments

[downswing]

Whom?

[somebadnews]

Do you want me to change my mind?

[downswing]

( He wants to know his ally. Hisses, instead: )

Who are you? Why do you wear the boy's skins?

( Demon. )

[somebadnews]

[ Even with all of Wangji's weird behavior around him, he didn't expect that to come out, and it throws him completely. He's going to confront him now, after he accepted his offer to help? ]

It's complicated. [ Nobody can blame Five for feeling spiteful. ] Should I guess who I am to you?

[downswing]

Endeavour.

[somebadnews]

I'm not. You've never met anyone like me, and if you think you can stand in my way or threaten my family, I'll show you why.

[downswing]

( A pause. Words. Word defy him, deny themselves to him. )

Who are you?

[somebadnews]

You know my name. I'm a messenger from the apocalypse, here to tell you to stop wasting time.

[downswing]

I have asked who you are.

[somebadnews]

[ He tried to get him back on task, but of course not. ]

I heard you the first two times. Which part are you struggling with?

[downswing]

You are no boy. ( A pause. ) But a demon unnamed.

[somebadnews]

[ Finally said it. ]

Good effort, but you're wrong again.

[downswing]

Correct me.

[somebadnews]

You've already figured out that I'm older than I look. The rest is beyond your comprehension, so why don't we leave it at that?

[downswing]

Do you hurt the boy?

[somebadnews]

I am the boy.

[downswing]

( And the first hint of his well-buried temper, steely: )

You speak in tongues. In circles.

[somebadnews]

Why does this matter so much to you?

[downswing]

A child's body, misused. We stand against that injustice.

[somebadnews]

[ Ordinarily he might prefer to be mistaken for a demon over a child, but he's weirdly defensive about the whole thing. ]

It's my body. I just got the equations wrong.

[downswing]

The... equations.

[somebadnews]

[ Really ruins the effect of threatening someone when he has to admit to a mistake. Should have just stuck with the demon theory. ]

Yes, the equations. [ Frustrated. ] It's part of my ability. The math involved is incredibly complex, and when I projected my consciousness forward I occupied the wrong version of myself.

[downswing]

( Mathematics. Projected conscience. Returning to one's body —

Wei Ying's paper men. A technique not dissimilar. Then... )

How old is your spirit?

[somebadnews]

[ He sighs. There's a reason this is a sore spot. ]

Fifty-eight. Give or take.

[downswing]

( A heaved slip, mortification: )

I gifted you a toy.