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! )

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[weifinder]

( a gesture of his hand, the softening, momentarily, of his eyes. he continues his whistling, largely out of the driving necessity of letting tattered spirits aligned to a singular cause.

these are the skills he's learned, and they've effective means particularly in this world. curious ones, too, so much more learned and in the learning, awareness of what little is known, but for now this remains enough.

the key, and fleeing, always before the worst of the storm swallows them whole.

in this, the spirits eddie, they swirl around and lift high, pointing toward an alcove high, high, higher. or no, he can see now, a ledge to some upper room? )

[downswing]

( ...of course, of course. A fine line, a stellar indication. Where the spirits lead, Lan Wangji is only thrilled to follow, until, half of a shi later, between various intersections with Moiraine and Kanesada — )

We have it.

[weifinder]

( the whistling shifts pitch, something dismissing, and respectful, but firm. discouraging any malignant lingering.

tiring, this, especially now, whistling. he rubs at his mouth, eyes wry, sigh long. )

Good. Time for our fast exit, ah?

[downswing]

I shall send the key.

Allow me cleansing rites.

( Fool's attempt, but he will make it. These walls strain. )

[weifinder]

( in answer, he holds up chenqing, the barest hint of a lopsided grin. he understands, fools errand or not. )

Let them retreat. You have my flute, to aid your song.

( he knows them, as surely as anything he does, though it's been years since phoenix mountain, months here. )

[downswing]

The Patriarch fights at distance?

( C o w a r d l y. )

[weifinder]

Hanguang-jun prefers a hands on demonstration?

[downswing]

His wants, irrelevant.

The Beastmaster. You keep safe?

[weifinder]

I avoid the, ah, wolves. Here, we hunt cures. Apply them. I listen, as he moves in particular concerns.

( safe enough, since he's capable of speaking. )

[downswing]

Lies. You seek spirits in the fields.

[weifinder]

Is that not healing, hm?

[downswing]

Crafty.

[weifinder]

Yiling was a generous proving ground.

[downswing]

See you are not followed home.

[weifinder]

My husband, that, that's easily enough promised, and easily enough done.

[downswing]

You lure ghosts.

[weifinder]

I keep them out.

( his proving grounds, alas, taught him that necessity immediately. )

[downswing]

You speak to infant disciples, unknowing?

[weifinder]

( he raises his brows. )

Have faith.

[downswing]

Wei Ying is able.

[weifinder]

Nothing unliving will haunt our resting places.

... The grandfathers of Taravast nonewithstanding.

[downswing]

And the sleeper you ferried.

[weifinder]

( he snorts, lips quirking up again, in spite of his whole face being tired. )

He's not a haunt, Lan Zhan, or at least not presently.

Though Asgeirr is, so that's true, I suppose.

[downswing]

Wei Ying.

How many dead elders crowd beneath your roof?

[weifinder]

All of them.