eastbound | un: ut malum pluvia

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un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[ It's been days, and Five still hasn't found that damn missing bride. The more he finds out about this train, the more he'd like to get to the bottom of this 'reality altering' living dream nonsense before it causes real problems. Whatever was going on with that train breakdown, it's obvious things are getting worse. Then there was that weird ass message from the Merchant warning them not to leave the tracks. Like anyone would.

As much as he hates turning back to the network, several of them have been picking up on threads lately. It's possible they have a lead, and after he spoke to the apothecary, he's hoping one will have something worthwhile to contribute. ]

So we know the train and others like it used to make their money ferrying dream thieves. [ It's very possible they don't know that, but Five sounds like he's talking to himself more than the rest of them. ] And the wares that were stolen from the apothecary during the weddings were magic stabilizers and sleep narcotics, powerful enough to kill someone. We also know that no one on the staff has made much of an effort to find what was taken, so there's a chance they were involved one way or another.

[ At least the conductor, who Five doesn't trust for one second. ]

What we don't know, is what their motivations are. The bride is easy enough to figure out, but why help her? [ And now he actually sounds like he's addressing the others: ] Did anyone have contact with the three women who came on board? It seemed like they were just as eager to steal whatever they could get their hands on. Where the hell did they go?

[ Then they disappeared just before the conductor announced that a dream thief was onboard. Something must have happened during the breakdown. There's a lot he's still missing, and he's half convinced it's because he's been sleeping far too many hours for them to get away with whatever they want. And while the solution isn't promising, he still throws it out there. ]

I've got some ideas, but I'll need 100 silver pieces. Feel free to donate.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is there more either wishes to share?

Now. Before otherwise learned.

The rabbits confuse him!

He confuses them.

He'd like fewer threatening postures or your version of exorcism, it's not really functional with his particular embedded curse. Hmm, anything else, anything else...

'Threatening postures.'

Not everyone sees you gripping Bichen as the enticing kind of provocative!

( So very aware Five Can See This. )

A skittish spirit.

Quick to cut.

( sound familiar bae? )

[ (Of course he's reading and zeroing on that 'he survived' comment. Nobody remembered to mention that people die from that.) For a minute he thought Wei Wuxian decided to keep the ordeal to himself, but apparently he was just waiting for it to come up naturally in conversation. ]

With a long memory. I hope it was worth telling him.

Now you know why you won't go to him for these things!

( the hilarity of five choosing to believe lan zhan in this one thing will amuse. especially when it's the man who hasn't had to deal in such things! )

Your memory would be better spent holding on to things which matter, but ah, ah, men do as they will. Are we done here?

Give him his coin.

Then you are done here.

Ah, let him collect first from the other volunteers, then I'll see his needs fully met!

[ The rare moment when he appreciates something Wangji says. ]

You could at least pay for your husband's share.

Planning on calling me ge?

( ... big brother, such as it is )

[ He absolutely will not. ]

Remember that I’m one of the few willing to do something about this. Consider it a small fee for the trouble.

( he snorts to himself, knowing this is again not true, and that most of this is five's unwillingness to be controlled by outside forces. fair enough; wei wuxian likewise detests it. he also knows there are forces one fights or does not fight, and ways to spend resources, and this is how five chooses to spend his. )

You continue to create debt. ( not that he has plans to call it in, but it's something he knows five calculates. ) You're comfortable with that?

[ He knows the answer to that. It took him years to ask for help for something that was actively torturing him. This isn't the same, but it bothers him how easily he brings it up. ]

You seem to be of the opinion that you weren't a last resort.