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]

[ ...before he forcibly puts on a smile and snaps his fan shut. ]

Refined? Ha ha ha! What, are you looking for someone to rate pottery for you? Discuss classic literature? Advise you on the particulars of playing the xiao? Recite poems or teach you to paint?

[softheartedshizun]

[ As if his lover had died! He doesn't have or want one! ]

This master is already one learned in poems and is content with the guqin, calligraphy and painting are also a given. Discussing the classics might be amusing, recitation perhaps will pass the time.

But no.

This master needs a fan.

[wenderer]

Having witnessed your skills earlier, you surely don’t need my help.

[ On purpose he spreads his fan again and waves it, tilting his head to one side. ]

You can just steal one.

[softheartedshizun]

A righteous master is not going to steal!

[ Ignore that he totally did that not that long ago before arriving here. ]

It's doubtful any around here would be the right aesthetic.

Though perhaps there is one.

[wenderer]

How true, how true! A righteous master would never engage in lying or theft, much less harassment and murder.

[softheartedshizun]

Of course not.

[ Was there a point being made? He had definitely not done any of those things. ]

This master has not lied, or committed theft, or harassed or murdered. This one is helps those in need as one should.

[wenderer]

I see.

[ A long pause. ]

And has that ever been put to the test? Ever stretched out your hand to help, when it didn't also benefit yourself?

[softheartedshizun]

[ Too many times!!!! ]

This master has stretched out his hand to another in aid and got nothing back but penalties for it. Many times over, each time making sure those in need are spared an ill fate.

[wenderer]

Then... you're an idiot.

[softheartedshizun]

[ Definitely. But don't call him out on it! ]

There is nothing foolish in being upstanding.

[wenderer]

There is, if you're the only one suffering! It means others are taking advantage of you.

[softheartedshizun]

Selflessness! To suffer for the greater good of all!

[ Or something! Shut up brat! ]

To not think of personal gain. Who says this one only knows suffering?

[wenderer]

That selflessness, is it truly for the greater good? Is that suffering truly because you only think of others? The people who depend on you, do you think it makes them happy to see you suffer?

Or is this so-called selflessness mainly just for vanity?

[softheartedshizun]

Who said they see me suffer? They're fine! What matters is they are safe, and this master has things under control.

What vanity? Only a lone wanderer would think like that.

[wenderer]

[ ... ]

Pfff! An idiot through and through.

[ The "lone wanderer" bit stings, but he honestly can't argue with it. ]

[softheartedshizun]

Hmph.

[ He would rather be a righteous 'idiot' than a genius monster. ]