un : deft hand of little deaths (voice)

[scrapgege]

--Ow! You don't need to kick me, I'm leaving!

[There's the sound of someone getting up and straightening their clothes and dusting themselves off before starting to walk at a good pace.]

Well, that wasn't very nice.

I know some people offered rooms up in the palace for those of us who were assigned to Macaluso, but I am more used to living in more modest accommodation, and there are a lot of empty houses in the Southern district and people who still need help down there, so I'll be heading there to settle down for now.

Maybe I'll get to hear what the people think of what is happening right now, too, but quite honestly they... don't feel as panicked as I would expect people to be given everything that happened. I wonder how much of that whole soul transfer thing they know about, if maybe this is like a story you tell people behind closed doors but don't speak of in the open...

If you need me, I won't be very far. And if anyone needs to lay low outside of the palace, you're welcome to join me.

... I promise I won't cook for you unless you really want me to.

Comments

un: daozhang | audio

[binghua]

I was under the impression what is happening within the palace walls is supposed to stay there, not that word doesn't get out from time to time. Maybe the people really just don't know. But if they don't seem as concerned, maybe they...

[Xingchen doesn't want to say this next bit, but they have to face facts. He lowers his voice, anyway.]

I wonder how much they actually care about the Doxe and his family.

...Take care, Daozhang. If you need anything, you need only ask.

[Audio]

[scrapgege]

Hm, I'm wondering about that. I've seen situations like that before where populations simply did not react because it was just the way things are, and finding their next meal is more important.

A palace is the worst place ever to keep a secret, to be honest, so I wouldn't be surprised if maybe some people know. We'll see.

I'll be fine, don't worry about me! I even found an empty house to settle down in, which is a lot more than I've had at certain points in time!

[binghua]

Let us hope their indifference does not give rise to anything drastic should the situation take a turn.

...Will you at least allow me to visit should I get the chance? No one should have to be alone.

[scrapgege]

Of course you can visit, if you want to, but be careful about the curfew. They're not being very nice about keeping people in line right now.

I'm not going to be alone, there's plenty of people to help, but it will be nice to see you if you come.

[binghua]

So I've heard. They didn't hurt you, did they?

[What with the kicking and all that. Xie Lian will probably deny it or say he can't really get hurt, but Xingchen still doesn't feel comfortable with anyone being put in that position, regardless of resilience.]

We can help people together, then. It's the least I can do.

[scrapgege]

I'm fine, I'm fine!

[In the grand scheme of things, a kick honestly barely registers.]

Hm. I don't know how many people will move back in, but we should at least make sure that if they do, the buildings are more or less livable.

[binghua]

As long as we can help even one person in some way, I will consider that a success.

[Maybe that means fixing up a house. Maybe it means ensuring they don't go to bed hungry one night. Something. Anything.]

[scrapgege]

That's my thought exactly.

I will try and find some incense too, but I'm not sure if they have any.

un: absterge

[downswing]

Return. Sizhui's quarters lack occupancy.

[Voice]

[scrapgege]

It's fine, Lan-gongzi. I'm not very at ease in palaces anyway, I haven't live in one in a very long time and I am not used to it anymore.

I'll be fine out there. The conditions are better than many I have had to face before.

[downswing]

Why ally stubbornness?

[scrapgege]

Is it really such a problem for me to be outside? There's not much for me to do in the palace anyway. At least out there, I can be useful to people.

[downswing]

You are prone to misfortune

[scrapgege]

.... You don't have to say it like that.

[downswing]

Will excess courtesy reshape truth?

[scrapgege]

I guess not, but still...

Anyway, it won't be anything I haven't seen before, rest assured.

[downswing]

And when you injure?

[scrapgege]

I can take care of injuries, Master Lan, and they won't kill me.

[downswing]

I do not always distrust.



( Just now. )

[scrapgege]

I thank you for your concern, but really I will be fine! This isn't much different from how I've lived for a good few hundred of years. And if I can find an empty house to settle in the accommodation will be even better.

[downswing]

You survived hundreds of years.

[scrapgege]

I did, yes. I'm pretty sure I mentioned it before? I told you I'm a Heavenly Official and I can't die.

[downswing]

I recall.

[scrapgege]

That story I told you, about my first ascension... That was a little over eight hundred years ago.

[downswing]

I see.

[scrapgege]

I guess I forgot to mention that, haha.

[downswing]

You have nourished today?



( Darling man, you have a fainting sickness. And have clearly hit your head. )

[scrapgege]

Hm? Yes, of course! Why do you ask?

[downswing]

I wonder.

[scrapgege]

....? I don't understand?

[downswing]

I ask to know.

[scrapgege]

But why do you need to know that?

... I mean, I am grateful for your concern, as always, but feeding myself has been relatively easy here, all things considered.

[downswing]

And you have not cooked.

[scrapgege]

No, not this time, the breakfast came from the palace kitchen, as far as I know.

un: moonage daydream (text)

[lancifolium]

Xie Lian please be careful.

Should you need a place to stay - it's in the necromantic district and in need of repair now, but I know a house you can use.

[scrapgege]

I was thinking of going to the southern district, first, but if I can't find a place, then why not?

[lancifolium]

It's there if you need it, my friend - though it's occupied by a few ghosts. They're alright to be around once you get used to the crankiness. They're just harmless cranky old men.

[scrapgege]

Oh, that's fine, ghosts don't bother me at all!

[lancifolium]

They're not happy about the state of the house, but if you tidy up their library they'll likely be amiable enough to chat with. I'll be in and out as I'm able, too, doing the same.

[scrapgege]

If that makes them feel better, I might go there just to clean for them, then.

[lancifolium]

Just be careful, it's not exactly the most peaceful part of town. I'll bring food by for you when I come to tidy too.

[scrapgege]

That's very kind, thank you.

[He was planning to just cook or eat floor food or whatever people would give him, really.]