audio

[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

un: drenched kitten of heated purrs

[jeoha]

I will come.

They have dismembered them? [ He can only guess based on the 'armless' comment from the child. ]

Re: un: drenched kitten of heated purrs

[downswing]

( Sounds of hard steps, shuffling, a crowd. He moves. )

An arm removed of each cadaver.

[jeoha]

An arm?

[ A pause, a frown. ]

Any idea of the meaning? That does not sound like thoughtless slaughter.

[downswing]

They profaned remains. ( Yet, past indignation: ) Too clinically for anger.

( This was no crime of simple passion. )

[jeoha]

A message, then.

[ A pause. ]

What rites do they usually perform for their dead, here?

[downswing]

None I have witnessed.

( To his shame, he has too little asked. A pitiful exorcist. )

These are Lan cautions.

[jeoha]

I know well how caution can turn from tradition.

I will ask.

If we are lucky, they burn their dead.

[downswing]

( He means to laugh — breathes sharply instead. Ice-bitten. )

You ever speak of slaughter.


( A theme, with this man. )

[jeoha]

[ There's no laughter in his reply. ]

I would love nothing more than to never hear or speak of it again, Master Lan.

But if any of us are here for a purpose, then I know mine.

[ Fight the Man zombies. ]

The ancestors will forgive, to save the legacy.

[downswing]

Start penance by bringing salt.

[jeoha]

[ Now there's a huff of a laugh, dry and rough.

As if he'd ever manage to complete penance for what he had done.

Instead: ]

Your rites and mine are not the same - do you require a certain grain? Coarse or fine?

[downswing]

( They sleep among whores and start the new day in the same silks as during the one before it. He is not particular. )

Beggars do not choose.

[jeoha]

[ ... Right. He can't just get stuff by appearing and asking for it, anymore. One day he'll get used to the concept of money. Maybe.

For now: ]

Very well. What salt I can manage. I will come to the marketplace as soon as I am able.

un: undaunted snake in lonely gardens

[descendency]

Must you be an incurable busybody?

[jeoha]

A man must find some purpose.

[ It's hard to tell if he is serious or joking. The tone is flat. ]

[descendency]

You're just going to find an early grave. Again.

[ At least Mingyu's mood is clear: bitchy. ]

Can't you take up knitting or something?

[jeoha]

[ Ah. Mingyu is in a bad mood. He doesn't respond to the comment of the grave. ]

If I was meant to be a tailor, I would already be one. This is what I am fit to do.

[ Dealing with the dead was all he had left. ]

[descendency]

I see. Fair enough, then.

I suppose we each can only keep to what it is we are fit to do.

[ And everyone knows by now just what it is Mingyu does. ]

[jeoha]

[ A little clipped, a little pointed: ]

Your aid would be useful.

[ Stop reminding him about the whoring, Mingyu. ]

[descendency]

Oh? Is there a funeral director you'd like me to spread my legs for? Please, point the way.

[ No. ]

[jeoha]

You may fool everyone else into thinking that is your only talent, but if you aren't careful I will reveal otherwise.

[ It's an empty threat. Mingyu's magics are his own. But he's being a little pissy. ]

[descendency]

[ A protracted sigh. ]

What do you want me to do, kitten? You don't have to threaten me. Though it's a little hot when you do.

[jeoha]

[ He also sighs, pausing as he rubs his brow. Why was he letting it get to him? ]

Help. Can you think of why they would display corpses like this? With one arm removed each?

[ He realizes what he's asking only after it's out of his mouth, and he grimaces. But it would be a deeper wound to Mingyu to apologize now, publicly, for something he shared privately. He will just have to ask for forgiveness later. ]

[descendency]

[ Voice flat, devoid of emotion: ]

Seeing as they were already dead, I imagine it wasn't as a warning to their loved ones so I'm afraid my expertise ends there.

Anything else?

[jeoha]

[ Yeah. That was deserved.

He hesitates. ]

Incense. Do you have any?

[ Is it an excuse to go see Mingyu in person? Maybe. ]