[ 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

[scrapgege]

I can keep my ears open. I am pretty inconspicuous here, and people talk a lot when they think no one important is nearby.

[wooden_one]

[He frowns because that's something he isn't very good at...]

...if you hear anything that warrants further investigation, let me know.

[scrapgege]

I will, daozhang.

Now do you need bandages for your hands?

[wooden_one]

I don't need anything like that. I'm fine.

[scrapgege]

.... But you said you're bleeding?

[wooden_one]

Yes. [He says it like he's not even sure what that has to do with anything???

But then he realizes and frowns]

I don't need them bandaged. I just don't want to get blood on these talismans.

[scrapgege]

.......... wouldn't a bandage.... help with that.

[wooden_one]

[...it would. But it would also be too much like asking for help. Also...]

It would bleed through eventually. Avoiding bleeding on the talisman is more practical.

[IS IT??????]

[scrapgege]

But soaking up the blood will avoid that. And you can change the bandages if they get too soaked.

I'll bring you some.

[wooden_one]

I can find my own bandages.

[scrapgege]

Well, you've found me, who has bandages, so that counts as finding your own.

[wooden_one]

That doesn't even make sense!

[scrapgege]

Why not? it's logical and doesn't hurt your pride, does it?