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[downswing]

username: yiling patriarch

( Rise and shine, to coarse, near-dawn rasps from a gently borrowed quartz piece. Overheard in the background: meowling winds from the settling snow storms, the yawning bustle of early-morning trade, and the sharp gasps of a crowd. )

Bring salt, wine, water and joss sticks to the marketplace. ( Murmured: ) They've sullied their dead.

( A pause, stretching its legs, until a child cries over the 'armless men there.' )

We cannot be as animals, to leave them in indignity.

( ooc: ...response usernames will vary, depending on whether he's still at the marketplace or back at the House of Dew and hoarding Wei Wuxian's device, since he's too himself to get his own. )

Comments

[downswing]

( A long pause, then the sound of — rustling, before Wangji's voice returns: )

They perished in violence. Rites are required.

[bearshermark]

I understand.

[And he does, even if he doesn't quite understand how death works in this world]

I could- with a few fresh pine branches, I could try a rite I learned. Although, it's meant to send souls to Yggdrasil in my world. I'm not sure it would do the same here.

[downswing]

Whatever we may do to restore honour.

[bearshermark]

..It might help their souls move onto the afterlife, but wouldn't do much for their physical bodies.

[downswing]

We do as we can.

[bearshermark]

Then I'll bring you what I have for now. Perhaps someone else will have the rest of what you need. I'll search for branches.

[downswing]

( He is loathe to ask — until he is not. )

...the others may have coin. For incense.

[bearshermark]

[Incense. So his guess was right. A breath of hesitation, then-]

..How many sticks would you need?

[downswing]

( And another pause, along with murmured counting: )

I tally seven dead posted.


( There might yet be more, in other parts of the parade arena. )

[bearshermark]

I don't know how much they cost, but I'll see if I can afford any.

[downswing]

The dead may not thank you. I do.

[bearshermark]

[That makes him feel a little better about potentially giving up a decent meal for incense]

We'll do our best.

[downswing]

They profaned the dead. We cannot do worse.