un: abwhorent / video ( a couple of days post coliseum )

[wifedup]

( There is a hand. The hand is palm up, fingers splayed, unmoving where it lays upon a desk. Someone has bandaged it from the wrist leaving the space where an arm should be a little less gruesome, though the hand is still unmistakeably without an owner and currently lifeless. Beyond the hand is Wen Kexing, slouched in a chair, a carefully cultivated air of boredom about him. He's exchanged his usual blue robes for new ones of vivid red and he sits in the flickering candlelight looking down at the hand with the faraway sounds of laughter and music surrounding him. Without a word he reaches inside of his sleeve to produce a gold ring, holding it up to his network device before he drops it on the desk, a little further from the hand. There is a moment, two, and then the hand wobbles like a turtle on it's back before it flips itself upright and begins to move, crawling towards the discarded jewellery. The ring is plucked up, clumsily fitted halfway on to one of the digits, the size too small for the broadness of its fingers. They clench in response, and Wen Kexing hums. )

I don't know about you, but where I'm from severed limbs aren't supposed to lend themselves to vanity.

( The hand, now alert, scuttles around Wen Kexing's desk plucking up anything it can. Another sigh and the man himself is lifting a half-empty wine bottle out of the way, his attention turning back to the camera. ) I found it in the middle of one of those rifts. It had an effect on the corpses around it so I thought it might be useful. They seemed aware of the thing, avoidant perhaps. The water stopped oozing quite as much when I took it too. I'm not versed in magic, so I don't know what any of that means. I will say that it seems ... angry, most of the time. ( He's used to murderous intent, it's part of his day to day life. The hand certainly has that in significant amounts. Though he thinks anyone who suffered such a loss might be. ) I also found it clutching this.

( His other hand slides open a drawer, lifting out a tattered scrap of cloth. A purple mantle, ragged at the edges, like it has been torn free. Wen Kexing smiles in a way that is not quite pleasant, teeth flashing in the light. )

Perhaps someone has some knowledge of any accidents that have taken place lately. I'd hate to think there's a person out there who might be suffering, I am a philanthropist after all. Which is why I'm sharing my findings.

( The hand suddenly makes a beeline for the edge of the desk, Wen Kexing moves just as fast, flipping a wooden bowl over the top of it, leaning forward to put his elbow on the base of it to trap his new friend. It throws him out of the shadows though, the dark smudges under his eyes part of a man who has very much not slept in a while. He realises this shortly after, shrugging a shoulder with ease before lifting the earlier wine bottle back up, flicking the cork away so he can take a deep drink. )

It's a little unruly.

Comments

[wifedup]

We're not married.

( With a faint thread of hysteria through the tone of his voice. He wishes they were. )

And also, I found him drinking on the street dressed like a vagrant.

[nothinglikefather]

[ Of course they aren't married. Men can't be. Jacob is aware of that, rolls his eyes heavenward. ]

You're two peas in a pod then?

[wifedup]

Are you insulting the way that I dress now? I take pride in my appearance, unlike some people.

( Who's he implicating? Jacob or Zhou Zishu? Who knows. )

[nothinglikefather]

I meant neither of you were fine upstanding gentlemen. Considering you run a brothel and give out free drinks.

[ Huff. ]

[wifedup]

I treat my friends well, that's all.

( Also the brothels weren't his idea. )

[nothinglikefather]

You do, that's very true.

Although you don't allow them to do the same in return.

[wifedup]

( You little shit. )

There's nothing you can do, Xiao Frye. I'm just not sleeping well. It will pass.

[nothinglikefather]

[ Takes one to know one. ]

You don't even let me try. But I respect your decision, even if it's a bloody stupid one.

[wifedup]

What would you do? Knock me out? That's not very nice of you.

[nothinglikefather]

It would give you a good sleep at least, which is better than you've got right now. Can you put your finger on a better solution?

[wifedup]

It isn't the hand.

( Or at least, he hasn't quite come to that conclusion yet. )

Also, your puns are terrible.

[nothinglikefather]

At least I'm awake enough to make puns.

[Sigh. Wennie, you're a stubborn wanker.]

When did you last get some sleep? Any sleep.

[wifedup]

( Grumpily. )

You make it sound like I'm at death's door.

[nothinglikefather]

No I don't, stop being dramatic. Answer the question.

[wifedup]

I have taken naps. I took one just this morning.

( He needs more wine, honestly. Just ignore him rooting around the desk drawers. )

It isn't the sleeping that's the problem. ( Uncorking a bottle with his teeth, spitting the top away. ) I've been dreaming. But I'm not a child so I will handle it.

[nothinglikefather]

You aren't the only one with nightmares.

[The ones Jacob has are varients on a theme, horrific visions of shadowy mist, approching a target, pushing home the blade and then turning the corpse over to see himself, his sister, or some indistinguishable woman that seems to be his mother.]

Short sleep is something. If... if you need to talk, well. I'm banned from the brothel, but you can talk to me through the window if you like.

[wifedup]

I know.

( Everyone he comes across has their own problems, Wen Kexing is very aware of this. He takes a drink of the wine, setting it back on the desk. )

You're not actually banned, you can come and go as you please. Who am I to stop you?

[nothinglikefather]

[A snort of laughter]

The boss?

[wifedup]

Nobody listens to me in this Godsforsaken place anyway.

[nothinglikefather]

Join the club, no one listens to me here or at home.

[wifedup]

The trick is to make people afraid of you.

( Sleep deprivation and ... whatever he's drinking and his tongue is a little looser. )

Though that isn't the case here.

[nothinglikefather]

Only your enemies, Wennie. It doesn't pay to have the people you care about afraid of you.

[wifedup]

You need to find people to care first.

( And then -. )

Ah, ignore me. I'm -- I don't know. Maudlin.

[nothinglikefather]

Are you saying you haven't?

No, I'm not ignoring you. Put the wine down, it won't help.

[wifedup]

I do, I do.

( He is just seething with secrets and when those come out -. )

I have friends home and here, aren't I lucky?