un: absterge | video

[downswing]

( Dark and damp and Lan Wangji's pallor strained under moonlight. Behind him, flickers of broad, long temple columns — and the smoke smears of... ghosts, gathered. He seems short of breath, the silvered sheen of his sword half drawn from her scabbard, a spate of parchment papers littering the walls: active talismans. )

They have crowded their halls of the dead, to excess.

Here, the key withholds itself. Who hunts the other locations?

( And a pause, hesitant — whether to find his words or, absently, slap another talisman on the spirit that looms with a gaping maw behind him. ) Ke-Waihu stands safe?

( ooc: forwarded dated to the group's incursions in Ke-Waicai. Feel free to run into him in person, if you're also chasing the haunted temple key! )

Comments

un: man's greatest treasure (audio)

[reparo]

Do you need help? I can find my way to you, somehow. [A pause.]

After due dillegence in the library, of course. [Here, Moran, she's going to apply that advice of not showing her feelings and giving Lan Wangji what he wants, complete with a small smile.]

We must make haste with the key, evidently.

[downswing]

We must. Claim the key.


( WILL ONE OF YOU, JUST ONE OF YOU. )

[reparo]

You don't need to repeat what I just said back to me.

[Gonna teach sect leader the concept of MANSPLAINING.]

[downswing]

I trust in you.

( IN THE TONE OF A MAN WHO DECISIVELY DOES NOT TRUST IN ANYONE. )

[reparo]

Good. [The tone of a girl who is decisively tucking another book into her bag as she sends that audio message.]

I won't let you down.

[downswing]

( Already let down. )

We prize human sacrifice above books.

[reparo]

We absolutely prize human sacrifice - although let's not call it prize, because it isn't - which isn't the point.

We need the keys, yes, and we need more facts about this place, this world, its history. An opportunity to have both presented itself.

[downswing]

You endanger yourselves. Infiltrate, depart. One heartbeat.

[reparo]

You've seen me Apparate - I can get out of a pickle if I have to. I can take others with me, too. But yes, yes, we'll be careful.

[downswing]

And efficient.



( WITH GETTING THE KEY. )

[reparo]

We will get the key. Focus on yours.

[downswing]

The dead do not favour us.

[reparo]

Some of the living are quite rude, too.

[side burn @ jiang cheng]

[downswing]

He is a brother.

[reparo]

Family can be taught better manners.

[downswing]

The Yunmeng speak in quarrel.

He... ( The deepest sigh. ) Expresses familiarity.

( This is possibly like explaining a foreign species. )

[reparo]

I wish I didn't know families who speak like that to each other, but it makes sense.

[SIGH.]

[downswing]

He is a blade, knowing violence.

[reparo]

Bah - everyone's either a blade or a knob here.

[leaving that one to the device translators to handle, bye]

[downswing]

Sizhui names the exception.



( He doesn't need to know what this means, to know Sizhui is too pure. )

[reparo]

[somber] That's true.

[downswing]

The library. You require assistance?

[reparo]

No, we're good.

[please don't send the rude purple man]

[downswing]

Jiang Cheng is able.

[reparo]

No, thank you. We are fine.