eastbound | un: fox rain [voice]

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un: fox rain [voice]

Hey, um, everyone. So, I uh - I know we have a lot going on right now, but uh - we may have more? Going on? Soon? Though I really want to talk about the implications of body switching sorcery but that's not the point --

Anyway, so, uh, for those of you from Earth - and from a vaguely similar time line to ours - you might remember something called the French Revolution. Yeah? Where the upper class got in some deep shit and a lot of unrest went down and a lot of killing happened.

Anyway, um, so our charge - Tamaiu's niece, Eydis - she's uh, the belle of the ball. Basically. I can barely show my face at court anymore but she's got like a billion suitors, which is all great -- if you like that sort of attention -- but one of them gave her a pretty dire warning.

He told her to flee Taravast and go back home to Sa-Hareth - you know, place being run by our friendly neighbourhood undead guy with a bear for a pet, super safe place - because unrest is starting to 'mount in the streets' and the gentry are going to be a target.

I know this sounds like no big deal compared to literal undead invasions, but we do not want to ignore something like this. Not when we, thanks to our patronage, are not only gentry but foreign gentry. They may not be zombies but when people decide that enough is enough they can overthrow anything.

Anyway, um. Just. Uh. Food for thought.

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[ They've probably already been over the pertinent points in private, so publicly we'll just address the more important issue— ]

I've always been a big fan of the guillotine. [ What's that, wasn't he modern day aristocracy even back on Planet Canada? Maybe. ]

I understand it's proving to be the opposite of a problem given our current predicament, but why is it that you don't have at least half as many suitors as our child?

Um, because I have to pretend to be an idiot. All the time. Do you know how hard it is to pretend to be an idiot?

I mean I am an idiot, but what the hell am I supposed to talk about if not magic?

Also no guillotines.

...Huli. I would like you to recall the circumstances under which we met.

[ You know, where he made a full time and fairly lucrative career out of feigning to be a vapid socialite. ]

Okay, difference being, you know how to talk about things other than magic, but alright I take your point.

Plus you know you being a literal angel of beauty deal kind of steals the spotlight sometimes. How am I supposed to compete? [ He sounds amused, though. ]

You could've come to me for pointers. I'm a little hurt, you know. I could've taught you all about alphabetizing your pantry in your head while smiling prettily, thus leading to being realistically confused whenever anyone tries to drag you back into an active conversation.

[ Mingyu is being as contrary as always, but there's a warmth in his voice that doesn't manifest for anyone else. ]

Flattery can't distract me. I'm immune.

I can't believe you think I would know what goes in a pantry, let alone how to alphabetize it.

And I'm sure that isn't true.

But uh.

We might want to talk about what to do about Eydis. [ In public, he means. ] Because the last thing we want is her getting hurt.

I considered the matter settled. [ As in Mingyu upped his paranoid fathering, vaguely toyed with the idea of putting a protection spell directly on Eydis's body, then decided a bracelet would be a fair, sane compromise. What seems to be the problem here, Fox? ]

Do you think she's safer without us than with?

No. But I'm not sure the palace is going to stay a safe place for any of us.

We might want to look into other accommodation for a while.

[ Fox has already been kicked out, having been on the wrong side of the whole family feud, but with Mingyu still in good graces has been able to spend his time there. Now, though... ]

[ But Mingyu loves to live recklessly in danger. ]

Ah, fair point. You should take her, then. Teach her your ghostly ways.

You will note I said any of us, Mingyu. Including you.

Why would it benefit us for me to go?

I'm thinking decreased risk rather than increased benefit.

Palace.

Guillotines.

Would like to avoid Guillotines.

Someone should remain to keep an eye on things. I'll evacuate when necessary.

[ He makes a frustrated sound, and then: ]

Why not let the guy with the sword do it.

There are a lot of 'guys with swords' around here, but I'll presume you're specifically referring to the one I'm fucking.

That would be because he's literally just some guy whose primary life skill is swinging around a sword pretty good and also, I guess, not getting bitten by things. That's it. He can't, say, blast his way out of a jail cell with some cellar mold, a tooth I stole from a fellow prisoner, and a little creativity. He'd just get marched to the headsman as handsome as he is furious, fuming at the irony.

Did I address all aspects of your concern?

I mean, I’m pretty sure the fire sword would help, but um, point taken.

But you know they don’t have to take us captive, right? And magic isn’t - as much as I love it - a path to immortality.

[ There is a pause, then nearly an audible wince, before he continues briskly: ]

My point is that I don’t really give a shit about what happens to some random nobles but I give a lot of shits about what happens to you so I don’t see the point of putting you in danger when you don’t have to be. That’s all.

Are you counting Lee Chang as a 'random noble'? [ Mingyu's voice warms again, gently teasing. ]

We can draft some exit plans. Someone with a brain has to keep on top of the political situation, and I can think of few more qualified than me.

[ There's a brief rustle, Mingyu pressing his lips to his communication charm just briefly. Stupid Fox. Always out and about and doing things when Mingyu is here in dire need of hand holding. ]

I give a lot of shits about what happens to you, too, Huli. So to my great disappointment and regret, I find I must take care of myself so that you can remain happy and healthy.

No, he's not random, he's tried to tell me that he isn't a noble like a million times.

And yeah, that's - [ He pauses, sighs. ] Yeah. Okay. Exit plans. I'll get on it.

[ There's another small pause, and then a slight smile in his voice when he adds: ]

Ah, what a great burden I have laid upon you. Taking care of yourself. How dare I.

...it's strange, now that you mention it. [ Mingyu's voice quiets, briefly forgetting where they are, how they're speaking. ]

My own survival used to be all I tended. Then I met you, and my world expanded. I cared about everything, all of it. How could I not love what you love, which is everything...?

Then I lost you, and I cared for nothing. There is no value in a world where you are not.

How strange to be back here again, looking after myself first and foremost.

[ ...well, not quite first and foremost but close enough that he's going to take credit. ]

Says the man who was harping at me for not considering a not-noble's well fair like a minute ago.

You care, Mingyu. I know you do. You just haven't figured it out again yet.

It's just safer to pretend that you don't, I think.

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[ In an amused drawl: ]

I have slightly more experience in surviving a deadly palace than you.

[ At least he's admitting he's ever been in a palace these days. ]

Having lived it for a short stint now, let me reassure you that this is easy mode compared to modern day social media.

[ A brief pause, then— ]

Did I wound your manly pride, my king?

Mm. Merely pointing out that I am not the delicate flower you have made me out to be.

Having lived with magic for a 'short stint' now, I have gathered that it is as dangerous as it is useful to the user. I doubt I have more or less of a defense than you.

I would prefer to stay at your side.

[ Mingyu is quiet, as proof as anything that this has caught him off-guard. ]

...I would not call you delicate. Beautiful, perhaps. Handsome in equal measure. But not delicate.

Merely... reasonably unaware of your own mortality. It is not you that is fragile, Lee Chang. It's life. It's your body's ability to endure.

It does not matter how strong you feel. It seldom even matters how strong you are.

We are all simply here one moment, then gone the next.

That applies to us both, Mingyu. The risk does not differ between us.

I am very, very aware of how fragile one's hold on life can be.

[ He is living on borrowed time, after all. ]

But we are the ones who live with our decisions, should we survive. I would prefer to face the risk of death, than the assurance of regret, or a duty abandoned.