audio | un: wei laozu

[weifinder]

Master Zenobius was recovered from where he'd collapsed in a dry well. We have him resting and sleeping safely now, to those who may be concerned.

Ah, and for those of a mind for it, several... memories of his were shared in not entirely useful ways with me. I'll run through them for those wishing to hear about them, if there are any of you. After answering initial questions, ah?

( ooc: first comment will be wei wuxian's sharing of what he learned via Empathy, please go "..." and yell at him, Jiang Cheng or Lan Sizhui, or Wen Qing on principle. )

Comments

[weifinder]

I have the feeling his ladder broke close to the well's bottom, because no, he's not dead, but the ladder he used was collapsed along with him.

As for that, well, take a man to tea first, ah?

[inferus]

He was travelling into the well. ( but why. more questions with likely unsatisfying answers. )

Alison has introduced me to the enjoyment of drinking tea, and I believe I have some remaining from our time in Taravast if that is your price. It is an easy one to give. ( as far as prices go. )

[weifinder]

Mm, based on timing, following the murder of those he tended to, which... bears in mind a question of what he specifically was tangled up in, or what he wished to see done.

( wished... hm. )

By all means! Tea's a much missed staple from my home, the most civilized thing we can do short of likewise sharing alcohol. Right now, my hands crave warmth more than my mind craves quieting.

[inferus]

It seemed unlikely he fully knew any longer. The Lighthouse appeared to affect people's minds. ( and he's clearly been tending to the sleeping people and the lighthouse for some time, especially given what memories were picked up from them. ) I will be there shortly.

( and true to his words, wrath arrives with tea likely picked out by allison hargreeves at some point in taravast. he has learned how to make brew it - simpler than potions and rituals, and as always, it is not difficult to track the only other individual with such a connection to death. though once again, he finds himself lucky no one from hell is here to see this as he steps in to wherever Wei Wuxian is (handwaves timey-wimey-ness) with a freshly brewed pot of tea and two cups. )

[weifinder]

( welcome to: a table next to a man, who is zenobius, verily asleep. wei wuxian hadn't seen the sleepers personally, too leery of a door asking for wishes and attentive to anything shared in the interim, but zenobius now is indistinguishable from the sleepers, now murdered, and presumably laid to rest in rites at sea because we are made of timey wimey here.

the pot of tea and cups, however, has him visibly brightening in his eyes, for all his expression remains more solemn before his lips twist up into a ghost of a smile. )

Thank you, it's been an interesting day.

( an exhaustive day, he means. he gestures to the table, on which nothing resides, and the sad but empty chair that he'd dragged over for wrath, having ascertained that nothing truly was impacting zenobius in the slightest. )

What sort of wish do you think he made?

( he does end up asking, gesturing to zenobius, not sure the man made any wish, but... this whole tower started with a wish, didn't it? so again, perhaps he did. )

[inferus]

( wrath drinks in the sight in front of him. zenobius, appears to not be dead, but in a deep sleep of sorts. one that goes beyond the understanding of magic that wrath has, because that is the way of this world. he sets down the pot of tea and cups and then sits within the chair across from wei wuxian.

he will pour each of their cups full before he says anything at all. he finds actions far more important than words, and he gave his word that he would provide wei wuxian with tea. he intends to see his word through before speaking. )

I dislike making guesses without enough evidence.

However, if I were to guess, I would imagine it had something to do with life, with death, with the sleepers.

( They know more now like how they are related to the world destroyed, how they slept and remained sleeping for so very long. )

What do you believe? You are the one who saw the pieces of this man's mind.

[weifinder]

Thank you.

( said for the tea, and he cups it in his hands, grateful for its heat, sinking into his palms, warming his bones, keeping his hands steady where exhaustion and cold has started to steal their better functions. then he listens, head cocked to the side, zenobius little more than a quiet patient convalescing, unwaking, an unwitting party to their conversations, and an uncaring one as well. )

To an end, either achieve their initial means, or to unmake them all. We're in no situation of correct answers. Not for the dead, nor the living. All that to say I do think it dealt with the sleepers. The timing with his state, I can't believe it's a coincidence, but the nature of this particular curse isn't one I know right now.

( the implication heavy between them: but i will. )

[inferus]

( wrath's gaze rests upon the unconscious man at present. when it's called a 'curse', it draws his attention further toward him. is that what is occurring now? a curse? wrath has been cursed for a very long time, and so he takes interest in breaking curses in hopes his own might be broken one day too. )

But you intend to find out.

( he speaks the implication out loud and then takes a sip of the tea. apparently, the sleepers have some connection to the merchant, to the city he is from. it might be valuable if they could break the curse and bring some consciousness back to him. )

It is likely the only way to solve what afflicts him - by understanding it. However, finding answers far from the Lighthouse is likely going to be difficult. Granted, the Lighthouse was far too dangerous to remain at. ( its compulsion of people, its promise of wishes which always have costs- their group would not have survived its stay much longer. )

[weifinder]

Curses are curses, one way or another. They take time to make, and time to understand. Right now, in movement as we are, we still mostly have time on our hands, because of what our Master Scorpion has allowed us, and what we've bought since Sa-Hareth in our own efforts.

( he sips at the tea, allowing himself a moment to frown before his features relax into a more neutral line again. )

We must do what we cannot. Bit of a motto I've lived by.

( a thing being impossible does not define itself by the lack of attempt to handle it anyway; or to address what one shouldn't, to be more than what one's limitations or pleasant situations, if they have any, are. )

[inferus]

They do not always take time to make, but curses are quite complicated nonetheless, binding as words can be when used with magic and fate itself.

( Wrath will admit that much. He made his own curse against the witch who cursed him in a moment. He does not regret it after what she took from him, but he certainly would have appreciated needing more time and strategy to it, thinking it through a little more. )

I would like to assist you if I am able.

( He has his own reasons for wanting to know how curses may be broken. He is afraid his own, afraid Emilia's will not be able to be broken until they are returned to their world, but if there are chances- if there is a way... )

[weifinder]

I welcome the cooperation.

( He smiles, small and tired, looking to their sleeping companion. )

Though I don't think he'll thank us for it. Still. I prefer seeing curses broken myself, if any have been created in the first place.

[inferus]

If his curse is broken, he might have enough freedom to realize how much he preferred this. ( Perhaps. Wrath's own curse has stolen memories from him- so many memories, which warped how he viewed the world around him for a time. Now that the curse is beginning to come apart at the seams, he is able to see the reality of the situation. )

...so how is it you were able to see his memories? ( He has brought the tea now. )

[weifinder]

( and, given this isn't talking to everyone, Wei Wuxian lifts his shoulders in a shrug. he didn't contest the point on having to be awake to determine what one can tolerate best. )

A technique taught to me by the sect I belonged to in my youth. Dangerous things, putting yourself into another's mind. We call it Empathy.

[inferus]

A powerful technique if you can enter the mind of another like that- to see what they are able to see, to feel what they feel. ( Wrath is curious about it, quiet about it. There were memories stolen from him, stolen from Emilia by their curses- Emilia more so. ) And it allows you to see full memories, or only disjointed flashes of those memories as was the case with Master Zenobius?

( It's highly possible Zenobius' own curse prevented more from being seen. )