[ voice; un: yuheng of the evening sky

[wooden_one]

[There's silence at first. One that stretches long enough to make people think maybe whoever this is posted by mistake (but no, he's just bad at this whole asking for help thing). If this were just for himself he wouldn't be doing this but this is for the sake of a spirit who had passed on after being betrayed. He could lower his head to ask for help for that.]

I don't need help.

[Which is a lie but he wants to get that out of the way first.]

But I can't seem to grind this ink stone without it rotting away.

[The paper and brush he had brought with him from Taravast but the ink stone he'd managed to get here so they're, sadly, affected by the curse.

He said this all rather curtly and stiffly, because he really....really didn't know how to ask for help. There's another short pause before he adds.]

I also keep bleeding from my hands. I need a way to keep the blood off the talismans I'm trying to write. [Why is his first question not to stop the bleeding? Because his priorities are weird.]

Comments

voice; un: sizhui

[paperbutterflies]

Senior, I could come wrap your hands carefully so you could still write and not bleed on any work you wish to do. I do not know why the ink behaves so.

[wooden_one]

I've wrapped my hands.

[Yes, he bandaged his own hands. Since you saw how stubborn he was about his frostbite you no doubt have an idea of how much care he put into that.]

It hasn't helped.

[paperbutterflies]

[ That gives Sizhui pause for a moment, then he barges on. ]

Then I will see if a salve will help, too. And with the way this place can be, I wonder if whether it might not make a difference, that you would do it alone or someone else does it.

[ It wouldn't hurt to try, right? ]

[wooden_one]

[...well. That does make a little sense.]

You can try.

[But also...] But I don't need salve. It will heal or it won't. If it becomes infected I can just cut off the affected parts.

[That's horrifying, Chu Wanning.]

[paperbutterflies]

[ Blithely. ]

Senior Chu, it would probably be rather inconvenient if that would impair your ability to write talismans.

If you tell me where, I will find you shortly.

[wooden_one]

[Is that a challenge?]

As long as my fingers are still attached I can still write.

[He answers just as blithely. Because it was the truth.]

Do what you want.

[He says in the tone of voice someone who thinks you're being ridiculous and over-reacting. He still gives out the address though.]

[paperbutterflies]

[ Why are adults like this... ]

Yes, Senior Chu.

[ He will come find him, to see what he can help with, almost immediately, with whatever medical supplies he has managed to put together since beginning to learn in a more focused manner.

When he arrives, his nose does detect the smell of blood, and he thinks perhaps some of the more antiseptic-smelling salves might be of use. ]

Whether it bothers you or not, could you tell me if there is pain along with the bleeding?

[ He is aware that pain can be endured, and even ignored - even though it probably should not be - but he hopes at least there will be awareness. ]

un: absterge

[downswing]

Perhaps... seek cure for your wounding.

[wooden_one]

I'm busy.

[Hello did you think the lack of care for himself last time was only because of the poison? Because it wasn't. This is his way of living.]

[downswing]

By choice.

[wooden_one]

Of course.

[Few are the people who have ever successfully forced him to do something he didn't want to.]

These talismans aren't going to write themselves.

[downswing]

To what aim?

[wooden_one]

To write talismans.

[That's his aim and, yes, that was the sassy answer. But then he also adds.]

The sin I am to atone for is that of a woman who betrayed her lover and caused his death. Since they are both dead she cannot make things right. I am writing talismans that will help calm spirits and help them pass on.

[In other words, he seeks to atone this sin not by revenge or getting even but by helping the spirit move on. There are other things as well, he wanted to fold paper money but getting the correct colour of paper is a challenge. So he wanted to make some paper things to burn. Things the person would have liked and would enjoy to have...if such things even worked here. The fact that the ink stone is crumbling in his hands is a worrying sign that this idea may not pan out.]

[scrapgege]

.... Daozhang, why are your hands bleeding?

Also, is that part of those curses they talked to us about? the curses from their ancestors? Why are these people so cursed? It's like every person has to deal with at least two or three...

[wooden_one]

As if I'd know!

[Also why is this place so cursed!? Ugh...]

This whole place...if they would make the perpetrators atone while they were alive wouldn't all this be simpler?

[scrapgege]

It probably would be... I wonder if this happened because of the undead, or if this came before.

[wooden_one]

[...now that you mention it...he's a little curious.]

I wonder if this is something that would be written somewhere...? [Is there a library of some sort they can have access to?]

[scrapgege]

People are a bit tight-lipped about the curses. Some of them seem proud of the traditions, but it's like they revel in suffering.

[wooden_one]

But if they are proud then why be tight-lipped about it?

[softheartedshizun]

You clearly need help! Say the last thing first!

[wooden_one]

I can still write. It's just the blood that's a problem.

[He says that with the genuine annoyed-confusion of someone who really doesn't understand what the big deal is and why he had to start with that. He can still write so it's fine, clearly!]

[softheartedshizun]

Write or not constantly bleeding is a problem. How much blood do you want to lose? You'll die eventually!

[ He was appalled, even though if it were him he would do exactly the same thing. ]

If you need talismans let me help you so yiu can tend to your hands. I can make hundreds in snap.

[wooden_one]

I'm not bleeding that much.

[He says even though he would probably say the same no matter how much blood he lost.]

I already said I don't need help.

[softheartedshizun]

Whether you need it or not this Shen is offering it. Take this gift graciously.

[wooden_one]

I don't need any gifts either.

[But, it's true that if they're both writing talismans this could go faster and the man's spirit can be laid to rest sooner...

So he hesitates, his expression complicated, then he adds,]

I'll repay this favour in the future.

[That's acceptable. Don't point out him helping with Without A Cure or anything else. Those clearly do not count.]