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]

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?

[nothinglikefather]

Yes, actually.

[He's not accepting your wallowing, Wen Kexing.]

Right, if you can't sleep, I'm not going to let you stay alone drinking. The hand doesn't count. Grab a coat, we're going out.

[wifedup]

( Like a whiny child. )

You told me I looked bad and now you want me to go outside? Are you trying to ruin my reputation?

[nothinglikefather]

You're prettier than every other drunk in Ephes. I swear.

[wifedup]

It's a good thing I am so susceptible to compliments then.

( A heavy sigh. )

Fine, I'll come out with you. But let me freshen up first.

[nothinglikefather]

I'll be outside in 20 minutes. My treat.

[wifedup]

It better be.

( Heaving himself up like this is a monumental task. )

I'm using the door not the window.

[nothinglikefather]

I wouldn't dream of letting you use the window. Until I drag you home at sparrow-fart in the morning.

[wifedup]

Oh, it's to be that kind of night?

[nothinglikefather]

Is there any other sort?

[wifedup]

So I'm told, I've never seen one though.

[nothinglikefather]

I don't think you're going to see it tonight either.

[wifedup]

Promises, promises.

( He's fitting some kind of wood under the lip of the bowl in the background to keep the hand inside when he lifts it, careful. )

I hope you know I intend to drink a fair amount. You might have to find more work to reimburse your coin.

[nothinglikefather]

Want me to take up shifts with the girls? Already told you, that's not going to happen.

[He is joking, but Wan Kexing worries too much. Jacob doesn't just earn money from him after all. ]

[wifedup]

But you'd look so good in the silks!

( Half-hearted, but there's an attempt at the usual humour at least. )

All right, leave me be for now. I'm getting changed, I can't let the entire populace of Ephes see me at anything less than my best.

( Like he didn't let the entire network see him looking miserable. Don't mention it. )

[nothinglikefather]

Of course I would, but that's besides the point.

[He shakes his head. Honestly, he looks good in everything. Well. Most things.]

I'll see you outside once you've got your glad rags on.