Video | un: a jug of wine amidst the flowers

[wenderer]

[ A man with long dark hair, dressed in green silk robes, is lazily fanning himself and smiling, as he lounges by a campfire. He’s singing along with a group of children seated next to him:

Stitch by stitch,
The love of a witch
Will unravel

Dusk to dawn
Each morning to mourn
With blood and gravel

He lifts his hand, stopping them. ]

I think I’ve learned it now, I’ll teach you all a verse also, come listen.

[ He clears his throat, and in a formal style, speaks as if he were reciting before a large audience. As he does so, the man’s eyes drift away to something just out of view. ]

When mountain peaks wear away, when all the rivers run dry
When thunderstorms rumble in winter, and snow falls from the summer sky
When heaven and earth seal back together, only then will I dare to—

[ A hand abruptly darts out from off camera, obscuring the scene for a moment. When it draws away, the stone has been forcibly moved, revealing the face of another man. ]

That’s not why we’re here. We’ve found out a few things about Lord Arha. If the song these children have been singing is true, this ghost army isn’t trying to rescue anyone, it’s out for revenge.

[ The first man scoots back into the scene, sitting right next to and parking his chin on the second man’s shoulder. ]

Ah-Xu, the man was betrayed!

[ He clicks his tongue, shaking his head sadly.]

He went to rescue his lady, but she joined hands with her enemies instead. The whole army was slaughtered!

[ "Ah-Xu," with a slightly frozen smile, says through his teeth: ]

Keep it down.

[ The undead army is clearly changing its guard in the background. More softly, the first man says, leaning towards the stone: ]

I’ve met some people who say they know how to deal with ghosts. Kindly share your knowledge, I have a feeling we’re all going to need it.

[ Meanwhile, the children have started softly singing again:

Love, her love
Hatisse’s sweet dove
Arha fell last

Vowed to return
His lady to scorn
And spit on their past

With strike of sword
The love of a lord
Will unravel

Dawn to dusk
His memory a husk
Each year he will travel.


ooc: replies from Wen Kexing wenderer and/or Zhou Zishu fated_dance ]

Comments

[wenderer]

A cenotaph is easy enough to fake. If that fails, there's someone here saying that if his bones can be found, it's possible to destroy this ghost.

[wenderer]

Telling me to run away again?

[downswing]

You claim to know nothing of spirits?

[wenderer]

[ His pale cheeks flush. He lifts his fan and spreads it, hiding their faces. For a wild moment, he considers just going for it. If they're going to be fighting against a ghost army soon, shouldn't they take this opportunity to...

He stops.

This wouldn't end with a kiss. If this were just sex between strangers, that would be one thing; but over and over again, Zhou Zishu has treated him with kindness and sincerity. How can he deceive the man to that extent?

He drops the fan, reaches down, and hugs the man's waist instead, pressing his head against Zishu's waist, more like a child than a lover. ]

All I wanted to do is praise you, don't tease me for that!

1/2

[wenderer]

[ ............ ]

[wenderer]

Ha! Ha! Ha!

[ He waves his fan slowly and expansively. ]

My, what an imagination you have, truly I commend you. But I'm insulted also. I am a philanthropist, who spends my time wandering the world and doing good deeds. Until hell is empty, I can never be a Buddha.

[wenderer]

[ ....charms? What, the useless things sold by charlatans? ]

Do they work?

[wenderer]

[ ..................... ]

That's quite the name, Young Master Blushing Beads.

[softheartedshizun]

[ Got it in one. He could feel it. Was there no originality even in other worlds? Though, that was fine, classics were classics for a reason. ]

Oh, then this master gives apologies for needing to prevent this philanthropist from causing harm. Though, perhaps in the end this is a boon since such a mortal manifestation of Guanyin would be horrified by such a potential accident.

[ Though he still needed to procure a fan still, his expression somehow conveyed the essence of one who would have it raised and smiling from behind. ]

Since you are such a philanthropist, perhaps you could solve an issue of this immortal masters.

[paperbutterflies]

Is it? I don't know how beads are blushing, but I suppose they are rosy-colored or red. At first our crystals were all borrowed, and I know I should get one for myself but I keep getting distracted. And also I wonder if I should ask for a different crystal when I already have one...

[ Even though he spent weeks in the brothel they were first brought to, nope, he hasn't figured out what his display name refers to. ]

[paperbutterflies]

[ Sizhui and what guqin? ]

Will a statue be enough? And are we sure we know the questions to ask her?

But if it would suffice, I would do my best.

[thesuspense]

[There is silence for a while, because as accustomed as he is to hindsight, he has only now thought about that possible consequence of talking so freely.

Ah, well.]

Not everyone is as eager to meddle as your clan.

And you'd not want that end, would you?

[downswing]

We may make attempt.

[wenderer]

It goes on for ages, you've only heard a small part of it. There are twenty verses total. As for Lord Arha, was the whole thing entirely one-sided, do you think?

[ He laughs, about as theatrically as the man's yawn. ]

That would be hilarious.

[wenderer]

Are you taking the lady's part in this? It's true that women are more often betrayed than betrayers, but that doesn't mean the reverse can't happen also.

[wenderer]

[ With a name like that, this person must be totally shameless. More so than himself, and that's saying something! ]

I've heard others say this as well, that destroying Lord Arha will also vanquish the army; someone told me that the soldiers under him are tired of this repeated, pointless journey and wish to rest.

If it's as easy as destroying his ashes and bones, then we could start by setting fire to the tombs.

[wenderer]

[ amazing ]

Anyway, there are twenty verses total in the song. It's possible she couldn't leave, or didn't want to. Perhaps her feelings had cooled, but there's a line that goes:

Love, her love
Hatisse’s sweet dove
Arha fell last.

So perhaps she did have some feelings for him, but loved her people more.

[wenderer]

If you want to know how to attract a lover, please understand that there are some things in this world that, for you, are completely impossible.

[ He says this with an air of refined politeness and a bow. ]

To avoid despair, it's best that you accept your fate.

[wenderer]

[ Butting in: ]

What kind of art?

[ His demeanor has completely changed. All his sarcasm is gone, and he seems to be earnestly, if not desperately asking. ]

Immortal master, what's the method?

[wenderer]

It's difficult to run away when these spirits are so intent on keeping us close by.

[ There's staying especially close by his "wife," too, and himself by extension. While it's convenient to be treated well, he can't help finding it unnerving. ]

Someone told me that destroying Lord Arha's bones would vanquish him. Weren't you looking for his tomb? Did you find it?

[softheartedshizun]

As if this old man has such need of suitors, the one left behind was enough, this one is done and says no thank you to more.

But of course it's understandable that such a concept is foreign to you when you seem to require such a needed relationship to function.

[ Go die!! ]

But, since you seem incapable this master will see who else is out there that may have answers for this request. You probably wouldn't succeed anyway, perhaps... not quite refined enough

[ Was he trying to stab him with words? Yes. ]

[softheartedshizun]

[ Oh now you try and show respect! But like an aloof cat he glances away not replying for an uncomfortably long time. ]

Did I not just say martial and scholarly. Of course cultivation through the sword and the five arts. If you are interested I would say you're too late.

[ Though in all honestly he wondered if that was quite true. He would say Wen Kexing's foundation was quite good and simply needed more focused qi refining to bring him up to speed with new diciples. Of course he wouldn't expect going super far not having the proper training early enough, but it wasn't impossible like other adults with no back ground at all.

Of course he was not going to easily offer this. ]

[wenderer]

[ He's visibly impatient during the time it takes the old monster to decide to respond; once he does, Wen Kexing immediately responds: ]

For someone who already has this background, in scholarship and cultivation, what then must be done?

[ His expression is wide-eyed and earnest, a picture of innocence and dedication. ]

[fated_dance]

[ He can think of stranger things, now that this world is starting to open his mind.

But it does have him lower his gaze, thinking hard. Wu Xi isn't here, and so...what choices are open so his soulmate doesn't lose him? Kexing hops in and he listens for a few minutes. ]

If one's meridians are under threat, would these methods still work in reversing the damage?

[downswing]

Destruction never rests or heals. Only defiles.

I did not.