eastbound | un: man's greatest treasure (video)

[The talisman starts transmitting almost out of spite, catching a few seconds of Hermione chopping herbs meticulously, in what looks like her room in the teahouse. The few days before departure are very clearly spent preparing supplies for the road, with her cauldrons bubbling happily away.

She brings her herbs over to one cauldron and drops them inside, picking up a spoon to stir, muttering under her breath:] Ten counter clock this time, maybe it will be stronger - no replacement for - [She flinches, her jaw twitching where she grits it.

Somewhere in her head, she is treated to a cacophony of Ke-Waihu's dead, the most recent ones outraged that they were not rescued sooner by all these strangers. You stir your potions and tell us to mind that face paints aren't poisoned, but do you do anything for us? Where were you when the beasts attacked?

A from Hermione in stirring, the sudden flash of anger in her face at having lost track of her counterclock-wise strokes, and to anyone unwise to what's happening, she snaps at thin air:] Will you shut up for ONE MINUTE - all of you --

[She freezes in place, and looks at the talisman, propped onto the worktable next to her.] Shit. [The feed stops.]

[ooc: SOMEONE signed up to absorb some volcano spirits and now SOMEONE can hear the dead and the dead have A LOT to say right now so now SOMEONE might be extremely angry. (Set before sea-travel, after Subaru's post announcing it.)]

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It's...hard to tell. [She's experimenting, and keeping busy (and awake) means she doesn't get the nightmares as well, so...there is that.]

It needs to simmer. I don't think I'll be testing it today, I'll need a more controlled environment...

[Tentative] Could I just persuade you into believing I'm alright?

[ Sizhui is quiet for a little bit, but definitely still there, before, softly, ] I think that makes me more worried.

[A little laugh at that, tired.] Oh no - well -

[A sigh; she's steeling herself for patience, and manages:]

I think that Wrathion's just about to pretend like he has an interest in seeing how my brewing is going in order to chaperone me, but I would not mind company tomorrow, if you still want to come by?

[ Oh. Sizhui considers for a moment, and then his voice is somewhat calmer. ]

Of course I do. Tomorrow morning it will be - and if you need something tonight, do not hesitate to let me know? I ... think the amulet will be able to wake me, even if it is late in the night.

[a little later, she does send one quick note via text; it's been nagging on her]

Do you judge me unfavourably for this?

[ ...oh, Hermione. ]

No, I do not. The way I grew up for some of the time, I know better than many that some things happen to people without being asked or invited, and it is always what one chooses to do with those things given that makes a difference.

[ ... it also takes a lot for Sizhui to judge anyone unfavorably. ]

[THAT MEANS A LOT OKAY ;_;]

Lan Wangji seems to think I court necromancy. I don't - I don't want to use them, I'd like them to just. Find rest and leave me alone. I can't help that I keep hearing them right now.

[ He means it, too. And he also knows his father seems to judge everyone harshly, and in some ways he truly does, but his choices and actions are tempered by kindness and mercy, which are harder to discern.

That said, he would have thought some lessons about blaming the one suffering rather than the one hurting might have lasted longer. ]

That... Hanguang-jun might be meaning to warn you lest you do - his brevity sometimes can give slightly different impression than what he means. In this place, we do not know much about the fundamentals of necromancy, so he might not be necessarily wrong in effect, despite your intentions or actions. Perhaps senior Wei can advise, he studied some in Taravast? But I would not think less of you unless you willingly choose a path to ruin for many, and even then, only if you would choose to never again look towards what is right.

[ And that 'never again' means that he's likely to give many chances before judging. ]

Then you won't think less of me.

[Because she won't choose those paths.]

And I have noticed that about him - I feel that we often clash with words unintentionally, because I misunderstand his intentions or he misunderstands mine.

I'll speak to senior Wei.

I don't think I will, either. Only Zewu-jun can discern what Hanguang-jun means without mistake. [ Although Sizhui comes close. Usually. ]

un: man's greatest treasure (video)

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