un: drenched kitten of heated purrs, audio

[jeoha]

[ There's a pause, as he remembers how to use the magic, and then his voice comes through - crisp, low, commanding. He has his Prince voice on and he doesn't even notice. ]

You must go for the head. Decapitation is best, if you can manage it. Caving in the skull second best. Slice open the throat, third. No fancy footwork, no finesse. Your first priority is to keep yourself from harm, so only go for the kill that you know you can take. If you can't take it, escape.

[ He pauses, breathes. ]

We have been told to kill them, if we can. If you cannot, come to me. I will teach you how to fight.

We do not have the luxury of being ignorant.

Comments

[somebadnews]

[ He mulls it over for a while, completely ignoring the flow of conversation as he decides where the pieces line up. (It's a mess, if you're wondering. And beyond frustrating that he can't find enough wall space to draw this out somewhere he can see all at once.) ]

Yeah, well. [ He comes back abruptly, with a vague memory of the last thing he said. ] Most people are happier with what they don't know.

[jeoha]

I am not one of them.

[ Ignorance just got you killed. ]

I cannot help with tech, but I can teach you to make use of what is available here, if you need it.

[somebadnews]

[ Hm. Even if Five is alone in grasping the big picture, at least he's got the right attitude. ]

I can honestly say I don't have a lot of experience in dealing with the undead. [ Admitting he doesn't know something... he must have made some impression. ] I'll remember who to come to.

[jeoha]

It is not an experience I would wish on anyone, but I am willing to share mine.

[somebadnews]

[ Just another complication. ]

It seems like we'll all have it soon enough. [ In so far as he's seeing this out with them. Right now they just happen to be going in the same direction. ]

Have you killed any of them lately?

[jeoha]

[ Unfortunately the undead seem to be in every direction, these days. ]

Mm. In the jailhouse, during our escape. The guards were very similar to those I had come to know, if slightly more passive.

... The red-tattooed ones, on the other hand... They may be far more difficult.

[somebadnews]

[ Not that he's going to run out to test that, but while they're talking about the jail -- ]

What about... spirits. Possession. Is that something you've seen?

[jeoha]

No.

[ There's another pause, and he huffs out a breath. ]

Even the intervention of gods seemed like a distant concept, back home. A plea seldom answered. But there are others here that have spoken of possession. Do you know Master Lan?

[somebadnews]

[ That response gets a considering pause. Hm. ]

Was he familiar with it before coming here?

[ He doesn't confirm or deny who he knows, since apparently this isn't a give and take conversation to him. ]

[jeoha]

[ He just assumes it's a confirmation. ]

Mm. I believe so, yes. He spoke of 'Lan Rites' when dealing with the dead.

He did not say much, but if you are seeking information on such a thing, he may be a worthy contact.

[somebadnews]

[ It's notable, in the sense that his brother is the only one he knew who could conjure the dead. He's also the only one he'd ever seen possessed before coming here. ]

We're lucky that they kidnapped a group with such a specific type of knowledge. [ Or maybe it's common here. He doesn't know. ] I suppose he'll be just as forthcoming if I ask.

[jeoha]

[ He makes a low sound. He isn't sure if Wangji could exactly be forthcoming so much as... concise. But. Who knows.

However -- ]

Forgive me, I have forgotten my manners. How should I address you?

[somebadnews]

[ That's kind of what he's expecting. But still, he's been more helpful than most, so he earns his name. ]

Number Five. [ He says it in full just to avoid the follow up question. Yes, like the number. ]

No need to introduce yourself, I've been paying attention. Lee Chang, right?

[ He wrote it down. ]

[jeoha]

[ Number five. He assumes it must be a title, rather than a name, but that doesn't seem strange to him. Until this place, almost no one called him by his name. Nor would he have ever introduced himself by it.

If Number Five has retained his title, then Lee Chang will honour it. ]

Yes. I am honored to make your acquaintance, Number Five.

[somebadnews]

[ Five has to think if he's ever heard his name used so... respectfully. Not without some hint of mocking or manipulation involved. He doesn't mind it. ]

Same to you. [ And people tell him he's not pleasant. He clears his throat. ] And thank you, this was informative.

[jeoha]

Information is our first and best line of defense, so no thanks are required.

If I can provide anything else, do not hesitate to ask.

[somebadnews]

[ He's pretty sure he would, too. Something to remember when he feels like interrogating him as he tries to untangle his timeline theories. Multitasking between that and the looming threat of the undead is kind of a headache. ]

I'll keep that in mind.