un: starburst, toward the end of this arc.

[valeas]

( Emilia di Carlo has seen better days, by the look of her. Her battle leathers are torn, soot and cuts still on her face — but she doesn't give in to the exhaustion just yet, nor the bile in her throat. First, she addresses the people of Alem, dignified and resolute. )

Prince Haiva sacrificed himself and leaves his sister, the young Cle-Florens, spared.

I was witness.

( A pause, then, as she allows that to sink in. )

Hell is sealed.

You fought with valor so others might live. I'm glad to have fought beside you, and will remember your fallen just the same.

If you've yet to evacuate, the time is now. Hassir awaits.

Comments

un: yiling laozu | private to all but lan wangji, sizhui, xingchen, kamala, caitlyn, (ur char here)

[weifinder]

( the look he gives the camera is an exhausted one, but also a serious one. )

I ask of you all to kindly not correct any of our number who take Emilia's words for the citizens of Alem at surface value.

Please.

( here, his hands come up, and he bows to the camera. )

I request this of you in the hopes of your kind generosity.

un: owllady

[traaaaaash]

So you want to leave them under the illusion that Haiva was anything but the scumbag he was?

[weifinder]

Leave them to believe what they will of his sacrificing, yes. What do you gain by making explicit his insurmountable selfishness?

[traaaaaash]

[ There is a bit of silence as Eda contemplates this. See, she's done the thing where she lied to a loved one to cover up an inconvenient truth, and it blew up in her face -- but, well, they're not going to stay here, and whatever Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian got going on in their relationship is really none of her business.

And the people of Alem... well. Eda's seen how hard people cling to their belief in a ruler who purports to be virtuous. Not much to be done here.

She heaves a sigh. ]

Ugh, you're right. It's not worth it.

[weifinder]

( he sighs too. nothing in him seems victorious. just... grateful. )

Thank you.

un: ut malum pluvia | private to wei wuxian

[somebadnews]

[ Does everyone else know? He's a little surprised they'd be that smart, but more so that they're completely fine with it. ]

I thought you were against lying to him.

private

[weifinder]

I am. Which is why I won't say anything at all.

He's been deeply unsettled here. I'd like one thing to at least grant him some ease in rest, when he allows himself to rest.

private

[somebadnews]

[ He could make an argument here, and he's inclined to make comparisons, but instead he just files it under 'some rules only apply to Five' and lets it go. ]

He should be celebrating. It doesn't matter how it happened, Haiva deserved what he got and the girl he was determined to save lived.

Hell was sealed. Nothing else matters.

private

[weifinder]

He wants to believe people will face self enforced justice. Or can see the way to righting wrongs.

If this was our people, or our home, I would tell him. It's not. They're not. Being haunted by this, too, is useless.

And Hell is sealed, because of what we've all done for these people we leave within days, hoping Ratkingku doesn't follow after.

video | un: wooden sword | private to wei wuxian

[vdovy]

[ Like most, Yelena is still covered in soot and miscellaneous monster guts, literal fire and brimstone behind her, but she stops to make an exaggerated puppy-love face at the camera. ]

It's so sweet how you protect his innocence.

private

[weifinder]

( he chuckles at that, and her expression, giving a single shake of his head. )

We're not innocent men. We've fought wars, we've been manipulated and manipulated in turn. But he sees a will for people to face their worst selves and find reason to address it, and I would have him believe that if he's inclined to. This has been a difficult time for all, my husband included.

[vdovy]

Innocence is relative. If he believes, he is among the least cynical of us. I understand why you want to preserve that.

[weifinder]

( he breathes in, offering something of a smile. )

Thank you, Yelena. His heart is heavy enough as it is.

un: starburst, private.

[valeas]

( In the privacy of their transmission, her grimness takes on a more saddened quality, something more personal. She recalls the look of haunting Lan Wangji wore, and the cries of the shapeshifter she killed.

Her hands are full of blood. )

How is he?

private

[weifinder]

( there's a pause, and then his shoulders sink as his hands do, his expression more tired, more firm. he considers saying nothing, between the privacy of one relationship to the privacy of another, but this doesn't defend his husband. this doesn't protect him, to be leaving genuity with a mutual friend. )

Not well. He won't tell me why. He places himself on endless watches, and refuses to speak since Hell.

private

[valeas]

( she experiences conflict of her own, a desire not to break lan wangji's confidence and respect the hellish road they traveled. it wars with her growing concern, and ultimately, this concern wins out, alongside her trust of wei wuxian. )

I don't need to tell you Hell seeks to torment, and I would not share details he himself is unwilling, but I led him past the gates. ( the first level. ) A great wound was used against him.

un: oil change | text

[nachocheese]

[Thanks a lot for putting him up to this, Jimmy. Grrr.]

I have a question.

[weifinder]

I'll answer as I'm best able!

un: oil change | text | private to wei wuxian

[nachocheese]

I want to know the names of everybody who was involved in... let's call it "influencing Prince Haiva's decision," you feel me?

I'm not judging, I'm not saying he didn't deserve it and I'm glad the little girl's okay. I just wanna know.

@taken for granite | private

[rumorate]

They won't hear about it from me.

[Not that she has any real details anyway, but she knows enough to connect the dots. And sometimes you need to do dirty things to get the job done. It's not something that Allison is unfamiliar with.]

How have things been on your end?

private

[weifinder]

Thank you. I can tell Lao Five believes that telling my husband and things material to our situation, but not this, is hypocritical.

( he sighs, because he doesn't disagree, but he doesn't agree to endless pain inflicting either. )

They've been as you would expect! Tiring, but we persist. Lan Zhan hasn't been settled since his time in the Hell now sealed.

private

[rumorate]

Five is one to talk about selectively sharing information.

[Safe to say he's done it a few times on her end too.]

Is there anything I can do? I'm on the way to the monasteries, but if there's anything you need?

le private message; audio (& a tired one)

[reparo]

I didn't think he'd be the type to willingly sacrifice himself when a woman denying him something prompted him to murder in the first place, but -

[deep breath, exhale.]

Well done.

[weifinder]

I'm not worthy of any thanks beyond joining Wrathion in questioning the former prince.

[reparo]

Then I will be sure to also shower Wrathion with praise. His head's been getting smaller, so we might as well.