un: daozhang | audio

[binghua]

I have been thinking lately, perhaps too much, about forgiveness. Or, rather, resentment, especially with regards to these curses we've been gifted. I don't know what everyone else has to break, but mine involves jealousy and, thus, its own kind of resentment. I think most lingering cases such as these stem from unhappiness along a similar vein.

As a cultivator, it is my duty to cleanse such resentment from the dead so as not to affect the living in their wake. I am willing to help anyone else who may need it, though I fear I may not be as much help as others. I'm not sure I'm the best at forgiveness, either, even for myself...

[Xingchen's voice trails off, almost as if he forgets he's talking to anyone else, but he quickly recovers and clears his throat.]

I'm rambling. What I mean to say is I would like your cooperation if it's not too much to ask. As I said before my curse involves jealousy and words spoken in anger and dissatisfaction. I would like for as many of us to instead spread words of affirmation around the village. It might sound silly, and maybe it is, but I believe even something so small can make a difference. For example, last night I told one of the bartenders he had a pleasing voice. It doesn't have to be anything complicated, just kind.

Don't feel as if I'm forcing you, either. No one has to help if they don't want to.

Comments

audio;

[reparo]

...that's a creative spin to atonement. Doing the opposite of what your adopted ancestor was guilty of doing?

[There's a soft huh.] Hadn't thought of it that way. But at the core, I think mine has to do with jealousy as well, so - I can try.

[And what he won't notice: a nod. She can try - and start here.]

I appreciate that when we first met, you were trying to feed the less fortunate at your own risk.

[binghua]

This particular ancestor sowed discord among his peers with cruel words and ruined their careers. I cannot go back and reinstate them as they should have been, but I believe I can at least leave this place and any of their descendents more uplifted.

If you would like to share more details of your own curse, I can offer my opinion, for what it's worth.

[When next he speaks, Hermione should be able to hear the smile in his voice.]

And I appreciate you having helped me at risk of your own wellbeing.

[reparo]

[She does - actually, and you can tell that's the case because of how fast she readily offers up the facts:]

Mine was more physical with her actions. A young wife, whose husband died days after their wedding, channelled her grief into making other young brides in the village disfigured with poisoned face paints.

[A pause.] What I have thought of so far is that this is proof make-up is evil.

[binghua]

That does sound like a form of jealousy, as well as understandable grief.

[That last bit earns Hermione a little laugh.]

Perhaps, perhaps. Maybe, if it weren't too complicated or took too long, you could look at any makeup being sold here and make sure it is safe. Or, maybe this is more within our means, suggest the village have some sort of group of people ready to comfort grieving widows and widowers. Lovers in general, even. Does that make sense?

this begged an edit

[reparo]

[She allows a small laugh under her breath.] You're enjoying this, aren't you? Solving people's curses like they're puzzles?

[+1 appreciation.]

I've been thinking of maybe a different approach. The elders might not be keen on me to interfere, being new and all - but there's no stopping paper. I could make leaflets - about how to tell if face paints have spoiled. And also that you don't need them.

[And from somewhere behind her, at this point, SOMEONE yells something about big breasts.]

Hold that thought, please. [She'll brb, time to go snap at someone.]

2/2 apparently? im sorry

[reparo]

[And eventually - back.]

Anyway. Thank you, for helping me bounce ideas. [Instead of tits.]

never apologize bb

[binghua]

I do like it, yes. It reminds me of what I used to be before...before I became blind.

[Not that losing his sight means he still can't be a good cultivator, but it wasn't the only thing he lost back them, not really.

Hermione's idea is also one worth exploring. He wants to tell her as much, but as soon as he hears a very familiar voice in the background, Xingchen tenses up. What is he doing now?]

...Is he bothering you?

[reparo]

[He wasn't born blind? She wants to ask, absolutely, but it's a nosey invasion of his privacy, so instead -]

He is irrelevant, don't worry.

[binghua]

[Well. He would like to agree with her assessment of Xue Yang, but he knows better by this point.]

He likes to get a rise out of people. I know it's difficult, but try not to let him get under your skin.

[reparo]

[But he went One Direction right to her face :(]

At great sacrifice, I will try. [Look, at least she's trying to take it lightly.] But - really, enough about that. What kind of puzzles did you enjoy?

[binghua]

It really is just trying to help people with their problems. Of course, they mostly involved ghosts or other hauntings...

[Such is the cultivator life.]

I tried to play weiqi a few times before, but I never really had the patience for it.

[reparo]

[!!!]

Would you be able to help with a haunting here?

[binghua]

Theoretically, yes, but this world seems to have different rules when it comes to death and how to deal with it. I don't know how effective my methods would be or if they would agitate the dead more.

[reparo]

If there was a way to know that your methods would not agitate them, I have teahouse ghosts that could do with some afterlife rest.

[binghua]

[He perks up at this information.]

Have you been able to communicate with them?

[reparo]

[Snort.] It's getting them to shut up that's hard.

[downswing]

( JUST DOING WHAT DAOZHANG WANTS. )



You are pleasing, silent.

[reparo]

[You're pleasing, silent?!?!?!?!]




Your chicken were nice.

[downswing]

Plump?

[reparo]

Buoyant.

[downswing]

Memorable.

[reparo]

What happened to them?