un: heart-fluttering hummingbird | audio (forward-dated: 24 May)

[downswing]

( A silence to his mouth, begrudging. The words, when he does speak them, gravel between teeth: )

...apologies. The blood in the northern halls will want more hands for the washing.

We made insufficient attempt.


( ooc: posted today for ooc ease, but assume this comes up after Sizhui/Eleven/Mingyu speak with the miners, around 24 May. Alina and Lan Wangji have given the miners their mercy kill, before they could fully transition, and removed the bodies from where they were kept... but clean-up. )

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un: first blush of tender youth | audio

[somebadnews]

[ Five isn't so terrible that he's cheering about being right. If anything, he's surprised he announced it. He doesn't have anything constructive to say, but it's due some kind of acknowledgement. ]

Was that the last them?

[ The miners, he means. Never got a chance to see how many they grabbed. ]

audio ; un: knelt lady of swallow and song

[sankta]

Nice username. ( look it's her first time seeing it. )

But yes, that was the last.

[somebadnews]

[ Frowns. He's an old man who doesn't know magic technology enough to change it, shut up. Also -- kind of surprised she was involved. ]

You've been busy.

[sankta]

I should have watched the turnips grow. That would have been less trouble.

[somebadnews]

Turnips aren't enough to make a house a home.

[sankta]

I've never been good at finding home.

[somebadnews]

[ If that isn't a sad statement... ]

You seem to be settling in just fine.

[sankta]

I think it's the people I've met.

[somebadnews]

Is it?

[ Has... no idea how to interpret that. She's met him, so. ]

Already made your opinions about them?

[sankta]

( he would be one of those people she's met. )

I've made an opinion. It's enough for now.

[somebadnews]

[ Exactly. Which is why he has to wonder. ]

You're ahead of me, in that case.

[sankta]

Really? The young cynic has yet to make up his mind I'm surprised.

[somebadnews]

[ What are you. ]

I do miss things now and again.

[downswing]

Some fled to the forest in the clashes.


( But he did not keep the count. )

[somebadnews]

[ That couldn't possibly be important. ]

Well, I'm sure that was the last we'll see of them.

[downswing]

Do not ridicule on this day.

[somebadnews]

I'm not. [ Mostly. What can you say? They were going to die either way. ]

It was a mistake.

[downswing]

Culled cleanly.

[somebadnews]

[ The halls might say differently, but he's made a mess with quick kills enough not to bring it up. ]

That's at least something that comes with experience.

HE THINKS HE HAS IT

[downswing]

( This child, who speaks as no children do. A boy, enchanted by slaughter, finding all wanting. Who refuses the gift of a toy, the spirit aged past —

...measure.

No. And yet. Master Xiao Xingchen's sword could riddle the answer cleanly, but Lan Wangji alone has not exorcised for one lifetime to neglect the marks of possession, cruel and plain.

He hesitates. Considers. Then, pace measured: )

Do you wake at times without knowing your whereabouts?

[somebadnews]

[ What a bizarre question. Enough that he doesn't want to answer without knowing what he's getting at. (Is that somehow related to the murder they were just calmly discussing?) ]

Why are you asking me that?

[downswing]

( Pausing: )

A matter of study.

[somebadnews]

[ Just when he thought he had some normal qualities he could relate to... Why is everyone so weird today? ]

Study of what, exactly?

[downswing]

Sleep within this house.


( No lie. Only, one person's. )

[somebadnews]

[ HOW IS THIS RELATED. Why ask him of all people... unless... ]

Did you wake up in the woods?