un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[somebadnews]

[ Five has, maybe predictably, not yet shared the information he overheard when he and a few others followed Sairen some days ago to his secret gambling arena. When he decides to in the middle of the night, it really sounds like he's just postulating out loud while he's pacing around a room, because... that's exactly what he's doing at two in the morning. ]

What do we know about the Beastmaster? The village has ties to him, and the Hok-Shinn's offering didn't satisfy him the last time he came. How often does he come, and what were they offering? I'd assume either bodies or weapons, but they seemed purposely vague about it.

Then there's that chemical that the clan controls to make the land fertile enough to grow on. Supposedly they withhold it from farmers who rebel against them, but where does it come from and where do they keep it? Without it they wouldn't have the same hold over their people. And who is the white wanderer that gave it to them the first time? Is that related to their deal with the warlord, or is it something we can exploit?

[ He just says these things like they're already public knowledge. Be useful and fill in the gaps for him, he'll appreciate it. — The next part comes out more direct, because he's really getting sick of spilling hot drinks on himself whenever a pair of gossiping ghosts wander through the wall. (He gets it, Klaus. They might have driven him to drugs too.) ]

Also, I need to borrow an exorcist. If one of you knows how to dispel ghosts, we've got two who don't know how to mind their own business.

[ He's absolutely looking directly at them when he says this. Take a hint, ladies. ]

Comments

[somebadnews]

[ He thought that was putting it extremely kindly. ]

I gave them a chance to leave on their own. They're being stubborn.

[downswing]

You ask them to perish.

[somebadnews]

[ He doesn't need to point out that they're already dead. ]

I'm asking you to help.

[downswing]

I have accepted your mission.

I need not accept your method.

[somebadnews]

[ He wants to say his 'method' is throwing books and yelling at them to go away because he's not a necromancer, but... Wangji is agreeing to do it and he wants those ghosts gone more. ]

Thank you.

1/2

[downswing]

For their sake.

[downswing]

What do they speak of?

[somebadnews]

They talk about us.

[ Which is definitely not the reason he wants them gone. Like he cares if they gossip about him. ]

[downswing]

A particular aspect?

It may betray their proclivities.

[somebadnews]

[ With so much patience... ]

Nothing but petty observations. Considering what this place used to be, they must have done the same thing when they were alive.

[downswing]

They may miss their flesh. Perhaps you entertain them.

[somebadnews]

[ He regrets giving a serious answer after his implication. ]

Is that supposed to make me feel sorry for them?

[downswing]

You entertain no sympathy?

[somebadnews]

Is that relevant to getting rid of them?

[downswing]

To your spirit.

[somebadnews]

My spirit is old enough that it shouldn't have to put up with haunted brothels, but that's where we are.

[downswing]

How old?


( No longer a demon-child, but the particulars elude. )

[somebadnews]

[ He thought they were over this. Does he need to wear it on a name tag to make it easier for everyone? ]

About a year older than when we first met. [ Close enough. ]

[downswing]

By how many springs my elder?

[somebadnews]

I don't know. How old are you?

[downswing]

Perhaps another winter gained since we first crossed paths.

[somebadnews]

Right. If you can't remember who the senior is by now, you can just call this a favor between old friends.

[downswing]

Neither our skins wears our years.

This is known.

[somebadnews]

[ Well that's one thing that can throw him off from ghosts. ]

You've never mentioned that.

[downswing]

You did not inquire.