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

[massrez]

Do they? I'll have to remember that.

[ He definitely doesn't believe that. ]

I've been housed with Vipsania Marcella, if you are familiar. Failing that, I could always come to you.

[wifedup]

I can find my way. If you're a priest presumably you wouldn't want to come here.

( Here meaning the office tucked away inside of a brothel. Or maybe he would, Wen Kexing doubts many a man who says they're above all of that. )

When would be best?

[massrez]

Whenever you're able to encourage your new friend to accompany you.

I'll be remaining here, at least for a time.

[wifedup]

I can always toss it in a sack. What's it going to do?

( Probably many things, but Wen Kexing likes being blasé. )

[massrez]

I suppose we'll see, won't we?

[ It would be amusing if it wasn't also horrifying. But then, that could be said of a lot of things that have happened lately. ]

action!

[wifedup]

( It takes him a little longer than he anticipated. Apparently the hand can and will take exception to a sack and a more suitable arrangement has had to be made.

So here he is now, taking the hall to Anduin's room with a heavily chained box under one arm and his fan tucked into the other free hand, tapping an anxious beat against one thigh. There are scratch marks across his knuckles, as though his new friend fought it's imprisonment - or possibly, travel - but Wen Kexing still lifts the fan to rap it cheerfully against the closed door anyway, calling out like he hasn't a care in the world. )

Master Priest?

[massrez]

[ The door opens, and Anduin appears in its frame, dressed as the locals would be in a cream-colored tunic and blue pallium, draped over his shoulders. The only dead give-away that he's not a local is that long blond hair tied back at the nape of his neck.

He offers a welcoming smile before it fades, his eyes darting down to the chained box. Large enough for a hand, he imagines. ]

Ah. Yes, come in, please.

[ And he steps back to allow Wen Kexing entry. Better to keep what happens out of public view. ]

[wifedup]

( Wen Kexing smiles back, cheerfully, for a man who's currently haunted by a severed hand. He glides into Anduin's rooms easily, the swoosh of his robes audible. He certainly hasn't made any efforts to fit in with the locals, which makes him very obvious but he finds it funny, so. )

My apologies for the time it took. You were right, my new friend was difficult to get moving.

( He hoists the box, holding it now in two hands. If he gives it a little rattle well, it's deserved. )

[massrez]

Certainly it seems to have a mind of its own. Or whatever compels it does, at any rate.

[ His gaze lingers on the box for a moment before lifting to Wen Kexing. Looking for any signs of affliction, any signs that the hand has been affecting him. But that doesn't stop him from gesturing him onward down the hall. ]

To my quarters, then. We'll be less likely to be disturbed there.

[wifedup]

( There are dark circles under his eyes, but if pressed Wen Kexing would not blame the hand. ( It is absolutely the hand. ) He seems easygoing enough still, relaxed even, as he walks down the direction Anduin has shown him. )

We asked it a question - ah, that is Mistress Granger had me give it a pen before I came here. I inquired about it's name, but it was wilfully ignorant. It certainly seems present enough to have an identity, it just doesn't want it told.

[massrez]

I see.

[ His brow furrows, as he considers this information. As well as Wen Kexing's countenance. It wouldn't be the first time he's dealt with someone willing to hide their hurts behind a devil-may-care facade. ]

We could attempt to compel it, but I'm not sure that would be wise.

[wifedup]

Into giving away it's identity?

( It's an idea. The box rattles a little as though in protest, Wen Kexing eyes it in his arms. )

I'm not sure what's the best thing to be done with it, honestly. If I didn't think it might be of some use to us down the line I'd be getting rid. But it might. A bargaining chip even.

[massrez]

[ Anduin hums softly in thought. ]

Perhaps. Unless it's exactly where it wants to be.

[ Among them. It's a possibility, as much as the idea of it being a possible advantage.

They pass through the well-lit halls into the chamber Anduin has been using for the time being. A number of scrolls detailing the methods of healing employed here sit out on a nearby table, which the priest moves to neatly set aside for the time being.

Enough to make room for that box. ]

[wifedup]

What, just waiting for some unsuspecting victim to pick it up?

( Not that Wen Kexing is ignorant, in fact, his choosing to nab the hand was more enterprising than anything else. But still. The scrolls he glances over not quite so subtly, because he is a creature of curiosity more than anything else. He doesn't comment on them though, instead choosing to drop the box in the space Anduin has made. When his hands are free, he rests them on his hips, glancing the other man's way. )

It might try to throttle you if I let it out. It's been doing that. Never myself, but sometimes it appears when I'm working and decides it wants to help out. Deals have been made, so I'm not exactly complaining, but my reputation is at stake.

ooc: also! would those healing scrolls be obviously about healing bc wen kexing will be looking for one in the future 👀 maybe he can call on anduin after he finds his dying future husband

[massrez]

I understand. Though it's curious...why hasn't it attacked you, as well?

[ All the more reason to suspect it wants something. That it's here, with him, for a reason. Something they can't quite fathom yet.

Frowning in thought, he reaches to unlatch the lid, carefully prying it open...but with a hand on the lid to shut it again, quickly, if need be. ]

ooc: For sure! They're pretty clearly various works on healing (and at least one on poisons).

[wifedup]

Deference to my charm and handsome good looks?

( Cheerful, so cheerful, teeth flashing with his grin. )

No, I've asked myself that before. The hand hasn't attacked me, but it does seem rather attached. ( A thoughtful hum, as he weighs up just how much to reveal. ) I've locked it away before and it's found itself back at my side regardless. But so far it tries to hold on, instead of hurt. And it's certainly had it's chances.

( As much as Wen Kexing is on the alert 24/7 even he has lapses. He leans over the table as Anduin lifts the lid, the hand doing it's impression of a scuttling spider, backing away from the sudden light. ) I've had no luck finding out who's it is either.

[massrez]

[ At that, Anduin gives him a surveying look, brow lifting. But if he has a remark, he keeps it to himself. ]

So it's attached itself to you. So to speak.

[ His eyes flicker towards the hand, shrinking back from him like a cornered animal. ]

It's alright. We're not going to hurt you...

[wifedup]

( He watches all of this curiously, idly pulling the fan from his sleeve to tap a beat against his hip. The hand keeps rearing back, and Wen Kexing's expression remains impassive. And yet he isn't surprised when it jolts forward as if to lunge itself Anduin's way. He's faster, rapping the knuckles with the wooden edge of his fan so that it falls back inside the box. )

It isn't afraid, I don't think. More ... angry? Not that I can blame it, it's missing a body for one.

[massrez]

[ Impressive reflexes. Anduin gives the man a nod of thanks and a brief quirk of his lips before lifting his hand. ]

You say that as if they aren't often the same thing.

[ Fear for one's life, livelihood, fear for loved ones, fear of the unknown...all those things could provide the spark necessary to foster the wildfire anger could become. But who knew what drove this seemingly sentient limb to act as it did?

So what could not be divined from its behavior, he'd attempt to do through the Light. A golden shimmer appeared around his finger tips, before he extended his hand to hover just over the hand.

The Light, after all, resonated within all living things, though it could respond to the unliving if their intentions were pure. What would it sense within this entity? ]

[wifedup]

ooc: so idk how much we can do with the hand but this is the information i've been given. i also know through a thread with caityln that the hand probably belongs to one of the hand's soldiers who took on the black water. we might just want to purify it?

( Purity is certainly not one of the hand's more defining features, and Wen Kexing isn't sure if that's because of all the throttling after it's demise or not. It certainly reacts violently, throwing itself against the edges of the box in a desperate attempt to escape. He ignores it in favour of watching the way the shimmer lingers around Anduin's own hand, a feat he hasn't seen before.

Curiosity gets the better of him -. )

What is that you're doing?

[massrez]

ooc: Sounds good! Will give it a shot.

[ That answers that, it seems. Anduin's expression is stern as his eyes flicker open, shifting towards Wen Kexing. ]

The Light grants me insight. It is a force of warmth, of life, and this thing is devoid of both. There is something evil and wretched at its core. Whoever it came from originally...it means harm.

[ There's a slight pause, his brow furrowing as his voice gentles. ]

To you as well, I'm afraid.

[wifedup]

Well, I'm not entirely surprised.

( It hasn't tried to strangle him yet, but he also hasn't survived this long by being blindly trusting. Wen Kexing knows the thing before them is no good, handholding aside, he just also thinks it's useful, and he's never quite learnt to weigh up his options with the safest one in mind. ) I don't want to kill it, it might prove to be something we need down the line. But is there a way we can sedate it?

( It could be a bargaining chip. It could be a weapon. It's not anything if they destroy it outright. )

[massrez]

Possibly.

[ He studies the man's face for a moment. Is this concern? Or perhaps the hand's hold on him, interfering with what should surely be the sensible answer. ]

But it's possible that even sedated, it could influence those around it. It could still be a threat...to you as well.

[ The words are gentle, but firm, wrought with certainty. ]

[wifedup]

It could be.

( Easy, like the potential of a disembodied part is the natural state of things. )

I'm willing to take the risk. The way I see it, we're not in control here. Anything that might tip the balance is useful. Killing it seems hasty. We might need it.

[massrez]

...if you can think of a way it'd be of more use than harm, I'd be very interested to know what you have in mind.

[ Because he doesn't think there is one, frankly. But if the hand is already influencing him, perhaps pushing him to search his mind for the logic of it, to understand for himself that what he's saying doesn't add up, might be of more use than trying to convince him outwardly.

It's usually better that it be their own idea, anyway. Especially a stranger, who has no reason to trust the young priest's word alone. ]