audio | un: yiling patriarch

[weifinder]

We've just heard from our friend Haltham about the fighting between Unhalad and Anurr forces nearby, so here's a question for everyone, brought up originally by our companions who got themselves drugged and fight-happy against the second living: what actions do you think we should or shouldn't take?

In Haltham's encouraging words, think wisely. Whatever we're doing or not doing has an effect by merit of choice. Also, a reminder that we still need to not end up in either's hands or revealing our location, given the reason we were summoned here has not changed, and our deaths can be a benefit to either side. Our lives benefit ourselves and our rescuers and the peoples here, by keeping us out of warlord hands.

( He's not opening up with his thoughts because he doesn't want it as a discussion against his take, but as people offering their thoughts after he asks the question. )

Comments

text ; un: knelt lady of swallow and song

[sankta]

why are we not talking about the captives more?

[weifinder]

Depends which conversation we're following, but to that point: your thoughts on how to get them free and also not paint a target on us? I'd prefer to get them out and leave the Anurr and Unhalad to fight each other, but that needs quick planning and quicker action and more finesse than how we helped with the rescue from everyone on that ship.

[sankta]

Isn't there already a target on us? Isn't that why we're here? Because we were targeted?

What good are we if we sit around trying not to get caught while good people are caught and forced into a life we wouldn't even endure ourselves.

A better plan would be great, but barring one just letting them go?

I don't know about you, but I can't sleep knowing I let this happen when I could stop it.

[weifinder]

Who sleeps anyway?

We aren't any good in this place. That would be the point our rescuers have made repeatedly, and I understand why, and don't even disagree with most of it. So I've been asking, what plans can we come up with? Lend an ear as most are speaking over writing, you'll hear a few. We're not just in danger, we are a danger. We need to manage that while offering assistance, or all we're doing is putting an arrow through our foot and the feet of the people helping us, who are the ones who have to continue living here long after we're gone, in whatever form.

There's one person who can create a confusion array, when lent energy. If you know of anyone who has that to lend, spiritual or whatever else might be an internal energy, talk with him. If we can get the captives and their captors in an array we have control of, we can use that to free them, keep everyone else confused, and work to mislead who helped while getting those captives out and pointed back home.

[sankta]

We can be good. Just because someone says something doesn't make it true.

What sort of energy do they need? I'll do it if that's what it takes.

Who do I need to talk to. ( yes, there's a lot there, so she bypasses as much as she can. for now. because there's a lifeline there of something she can do to help. and she's not letting go of that. not if she can pull that tether to the very end. )

[weifinder]

No, it doesn't. But when someone says something and they have the backing and finances you don't have to match, they can make people believe it's true anyway. Fighting that head on doesn't work out alone, you find other ways.

Regardless, his username is "deft hand of little deaths."

[sankta]

( she knows there is some truth there. after all, Grisha aren't always so well off when they're not backed by a king. )

I hate these usernames.

[weifinder]

( He's speaking from personal experience, and what he's had to learn the hard and not so survivable way. But at the same time, he understands what she's saying, and conversely what Lan Wangji is saying, because he feels that too. Time's simply tempered him into a man who doesn't want to let any of his important people go, and those kinds of actions have done exactly that beyond the point of recovery in the past. )

Find me after all this, I can get you one of the thralled gems you can change names on.

[sankta]

( ... he doesn't have to be so nice about it. it takes the wind out of her sails a bit. )

... Thank you. Again. For saving me and for this.

[weifinder]

You're welcome. I'd do so again in a heartbeat. For you, or any of the rest.

[sankta]

Don't worry. I'd do the same for you.

voice ; un: knelt lady of swallow and song

[sankta]

( the message is abrupt and it is loud- ) YOU COULD HAVE SAID KISSING WAS INVOLVED.

[weifinder]

Wait, wait, wait, what?! When did, how, why is kissing, huh!?

[sankta]

The guy you sent me to! Apparently we have to kiss to lend energy?

I can do it, just a warning would have been appreciated!

[weifinder]

He, what?! Oh, no, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I would never send someone along without telling them about something like, wait, kissing to lend energy?! I've never even heard of that before! Let me talk to him, there's got to be another way too, that just—kissing?!

[sankta]

( oh good, he seems to be just as embarrassed as she is. ) Thankfully it doesn't have to be... deep. Or involve.... tongue.

This is ridiculous. Like I said, I can do it, still. It's just really weird.

[weifinder]

( He's an adult. He's well into his late thirties or even early forties. He still makes a sort of clipped sound of disbelief at what she says, because in all that life where he wasn't in darkness aware of nothing but time passing, he has never heard of an energy transfer technique like this.

And he's heard and read some very bizarre things. Why does this seem more closely tied to dual cultiv... No. No! Not going there!

Sounding a bit pained, and still embarrassed: )

I, ah. See. No, look, I think there might be another way, or at least, if it's about forming a connection to where lines of energy run through the body, then a wrist, or any place that leads to concerns about tongues?!

[sankta]

Another way would be easier... but if it's the only way we have, I'd rather do it than leave those people out there.

[weifinder]

I'm not saying to leave them out there, either, just—that seems so absurd! Hilarious in another light, but ah, I wasn't... I wouldn't be telling young ladies and young men to help him without warning, that's... hah, not what I'd want to do to anyone.

( Except maybe himself in that whole "I'd roll with it, I guess" way. )

[sankta]

Well it's a little more funny now I know this was all a misunderstanding. A little. ( not much. ) Glad to know I wasn't just thrown out there like that.

[weifinder]

I would never!

( after that, which sounds less outraged and more outrageously sincere, he pauses, then laughs. )

Really, I couldn't, who would do that to a young miss or a young sir? There's flirting, there's shamelessness, and there's that.