video: un: pillar of the heavens

[inkfire]

[ open scene: a quiet night, the sun long since set, the night air finally cool, and mo ran alone in his tent. ah, blissful peace, some modicum of comfort after a long day trekking the dunes, and mo ran— rash and foolhardy, makes use of a special treasure he discovered. (or perhaps it is something the sand provided to him, laughing at the misfortune sure to come.)

all is quiet, except for a moan, hastily broken off, and then: the sounds of a swarm. a legion of small, fluttering locusts, their wings buzzing. they come from nowhere, from the sand itself, and disturb nothing in camp, except for one specific tent: mo ran.

the swarm descends and the peace around his tent is shattered as he yelps and curses the heavens. scrambling can be heard in the tent, as though a fierce fight is underway, and a minute later, a new video appears on the network.

normally cheerful, with a smile bright enough to charm any young maiden, dimples to please the aunties, and bright eyes, he looks different that night, his eyes a little darker, annoyance lingering at the corners and in the twist of his lips. around him swarm the locusts, and any attempt at batting them away s futile. more simply appear. ]

How the fu— how do I get rid of locusts? Never had to deal with something like this before.

[ a brief scramble and then he darts out of his tent, the camera shaking some. he's half dressed, hair down, and barefoot as he makes his way out. for a moment, he looks relieved, brightening up, the locusts have forsaken him, he can beg another tent possibly. but alas, that is not the case: within moments, the locusts are back, swarming around him. ]

Fucking hell, [ he mutters, and tries to brush away the locusts again, running a little further away from his tent in hopes of dislodging them. ] Can I set these stupid things on fire?

[ they're in his hair, and— what's that, are those locusts trying to get into his pants?— so maybe fire isn't the best option. ]

Comments

[weifinder]

Lan Zhan is very gifted at cleansing!

( s m i l e )

[inkfire]

That's your husband, right? One of the guys in white.

[ s i g h ]

[weifinder]

The most handsome, tallest, best sighted one of them, yes!

[inkfire]

The prettiest is my shizun, but he is taller. What do you mean by best-sighted?

[weifinder]

That my martial uncle, who lacks eyes, is also in that number.

[inkfire]

There's another one?

[weifinder]

Yep! See if you can find him! He likes talking with people.

[inkfire]

He just can't see them.

[weifinder]

Yes, but that's not a problem only he has, ah? Plenty of people don't see others because of their own desires clouding their vision. In that way, he often sees better than most.

[inkfire]

Is he a monk or something, passing on such trainings? Or did you learn that fro someone else?

[weifinder]

Are not all cultivators meant to try and see beyond what eyes see? He's not a monk, as it is, none of us are, though my husband's clan was originally established by one. My martial uncle is one you can ask on your own to find his answers satisfying or not.