eastbound | un: xunxian, video, perhaps an hour before the curfew for the night

Good evening, all.

I have a little more information to share about what seems to be happening in the doxe's quarters, though after what has already been spoken off on the network is perhaps going to overshadow it... or, perhaps, not.

This, [ Su Xunxian holds a little a small bird in his palm. It is fairly comfortable there, but also, it is singing, and it sounds somewhat strange, too, ] is a skylark. He should stop singing a little after dusk, normally.

Instead, he is acting like a nightingale. And he is not the only one who seems to be... in the wrong little body. And some of them remained behind.

[ He looks up from the bird to his device. ]

From what I gather, this only happened to birds... while the birds were there. Whether or not it may have happened to people, I do not know.

[ A beat, his finger gently stroking the singing bird. He shouldn't be singing in this season, anyway, but his little everything is too confused not to. ]

Ah, and, my lord, may I attend you later?

[ He would be staying in the palace, so curfew shouldn't be a problem. ]

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Interesting... Did you happen to be in the Doxe's quarters yourself? Did you notice any sort of strange devices?

Ah... no, I was not there, myself. And the way my information comes, I could not say if there was.

That does make it harder to imagine what could possibly be going on. He is supposedly sick, correct - hence the power grabbing schemes?

Of course. My door is always open to you, you know that.

[ The smile is easy to hear in his voice now. ]

Thank you. I will be there shortly.

[ With easy food for Moran to eat because of course he'll stop by the kitchen first. ]

I lack details, but should something that attempts to put someone in somebody else's body is tried, and there is someone at his deathbed, it does suggest that some might be trying to prolong his life in such a manner.

That did happen to be my assumption too.

[Probably a good idea since there's a good chance he forgot to eat to day, as he'll be found pouring over numerous notes and charts.]

It is, of course, only conjecture. But it does suggest that someone is getting desperate. Whether it is him, or someone who would see his grandchildren kept from power, I do not know.

Desperate people make mistakes.

Maybe the birds here just sound different than the birds at home?

[he can see how this might be a problem, if he's right, for all that it means that maybe the Doxe is working up towards bodysnatching a person, but -- he's not sure what proof he has that the birds got bodyswapped in the first place. he has no idea that he's a Bird Whisperer]

[ Soup it is, as well as plain rice. And, of course, tea.

He shows up a little shaken from his conversations with the birds, but as soon as he sees Moran, his face softens. He's seen far less of him than he is used to, and over the weeks in Taravast, it's accumulated. So even with just this, he is happy.

He sets down the food he has brought, and smiles. ]

Moran.

Come dine with me?

[ They need to talk but also Moran needs to not starve more. ]

Hmmm, in a minute.

[You might need to - gently - coax him away from all this Knowledge he's absorbing, Xunxian. Thankfully, Xunxian is an expert at that.

Although Moran's stomach does help a bit by growling, which makes him grimace.]

[ There is a slight smile to Su Xunxian's voice, but not of mocking, he is simply amused at the statement, but only with the context he has not given. ]

Slightly, but you can hear distress anywhere, if you listen.

[ Proof that is to be placed before officials? Not much. Xunxian is merely bringing information to those who might have to deal with the aftermath of it. ]

They do... then again, some mistakes cost lives, and others can lead to better things.

Until we know who is desperate and what exactly is the goal, we will not know what is a mistake at all.

[there's a moment of pause on Wrench's end. is he trying to listen to the birds? is he aware he's missing something, based on his tone, and trying to figure out what? a little of both? who knows?]

[either way, after a beat, he ventures:] We only really have, like, pigeons, where I'm from. [a beat] Ooh, and seagulls! Fucking seagulls.

[they're evil]

Edited 2021-11-14 19:16 (UTC)

Thank you for sharing the information.

[ A minute, but yes, when the growling happens, Xunxian comes over, placing a hand on Moran's shoulder. ]

Come now, you will be able to focus better, after.

What is your focus right now, anyway?

[ You can talk to him about your research while not doing the research. ]

Of course. Apologies that I bring more questions than anything else.

Oh, no, please - no apologies needed. You are sharing information - it is important. It's also everything we have at this point, so even if it leaves us with more questions, it's better than in the dark.

I'm sorry... You say you found this unusual bird in the Doxe's quarters and that he isn't the only one? How many have you found?

Fine, fine...

[He has to look put upon, but he will follow to the other table and settle inf ont of the food.]

... You presume the birds are being experimented on, right?

[ Oh, Wrench. ]

If you take a stroll in the garden, it probably will be easier to actually hear it right now.

A maid who had gone missing before had come to me. She had been turned into an old man. She had been one of those who had word in the doxe's quarters.

Thank you. [ Polite, but he means it.

Then, after a moment. ]

This might be something to try to find out - who does, or did, the doxe trust in. Of course, strangers like us would not be among those. But it does not seem like he trusts his grandchildren - yet there probably are people in his confidence. Or formerly so.

Such people at least could give insight, one way or another, if what is happening in his quarters is something he chooses or... not.

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