yona of the dramatic haircuts (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dawnblushed) wrote2020-10-11 02:46 pm
dawnblushed) wrote2020-10-11 02:46 pm
[So, wherever Hua Cheng happens to be (please don't say "Xie Lian's room" because this isn't a group thread), Yona comes across him eventually. That execution was a whole lot of yikes!
So, when she does come across him, she sort of pauses, and then -]
...hey, are you alright?
So, when she does come across him, she sort of pauses, and then -]
...hey, are you alright?
[ They can go hang out near the woods or something that seems calming and away from people that are all - well, reactive. We all know Xie Lian will be with people right now.
Hua Cheng glances her way, head cocked a little and braid between his fingers. ]
Mm? I'm fine, Yona - no need to worry.
Hua Cheng glances her way, head cocked a little and braid between his fingers. ]
Mm? I'm fine, Yona - no need to worry.
[If they're in the woods, then Yona is probably looking for a place to shoot. Again.]
You're sure? It's okay to say so, if you're not - everything that's happened over the last few days is... well, it's a lot.
You're sure? It's okay to say so, if you're not - everything that's happened over the last few days is... well, it's a lot.
[ She's valid, and he's probably contemplating stripping and shaping some branches and wood into projects.
Hua Cheng is quiet, for a beat, weighing the words. ]
Angry, but fine. [ A wry but dark look passes his expression. ] There are many people I've punished, over the centuries, whether by my own hand or not. They were guilty - corrupt officials, unjust and cruel gods, the list could go on and on. I've lived through any number of wars. Injustice and unfairness are long familiar notions to me.
The innocent always bear the weight of injustice.
Hua Cheng is quiet, for a beat, weighing the words. ]
Angry, but fine. [ A wry but dark look passes his expression. ] There are many people I've punished, over the centuries, whether by my own hand or not. They were guilty - corrupt officials, unjust and cruel gods, the list could go on and on. I've lived through any number of wars. Injustice and unfairness are long familiar notions to me.
The innocent always bear the weight of injustice.
...
[So this kind of thing is a constant even when you're around for 800+ years, huh. That's depressing to think about.]
They do. And it's easy to talk about wanting to change it, but... it's not so easy to actually do it. [See: how close they were to fucking up week 0 and how they actually did fuck up this week.] ...it's going to be hard not to lose my temper if we find out who was responsible later, I think.
[So this kind of thing is a constant even when you're around for 800+ years, huh. That's depressing to think about.]
They do. And it's easy to talk about wanting to change it, but... it's not so easy to actually do it. [See: how close they were to fucking up week 0 and how they actually did fuck up this week.] ...it's going to be hard not to lose my temper if we find out who was responsible later, I think.
[ Where there is mankind, there is always unkindness. But there is still the potential for good - he believes that, and only one person made him believe. ]
I think many of us would say the same thing. [ What a mess - they have at least one murderer unaccounted for, if not two. ] And the fact that they got away with it is going to embolden those that were tempted by the idea, if they were uncertain before.
Fighting amongst ourselves wastes energy and distracts from what we're meant to be seeing. We'll miss the signs of that scale tipping.
I think many of us would say the same thing. [ What a mess - they have at least one murderer unaccounted for, if not two. ] And the fact that they got away with it is going to embolden those that were tempted by the idea, if they were uncertain before.
Fighting amongst ourselves wastes energy and distracts from what we're meant to be seeing. We'll miss the signs of that scale tipping.
...you're right.
[She wants to fight everyone, but he's right! Alas. She'll just have to focus, which would not be too difficult for her in canon but unfortunately she's being written by someone who lacks a braincell right now.]
We need to be on the lookout for that. And... as much as I'd really like to let whoever killed this week have it, we need to find out what their motivations were, too. Was it just wanting to get a memory back? Or was it something else?
At least last week we were able to ask.
[She wants to fight everyone, but he's right! Alas. She'll just have to focus, which would not be too difficult for her in canon but unfortunately she's being written by someone who lacks a braincell right now.]
We need to be on the lookout for that. And... as much as I'd really like to let whoever killed this week have it, we need to find out what their motivations were, too. Was it just wanting to get a memory back? Or was it something else?
At least last week we were able to ask.
[ Listen, he's someone that is down for a good fight. He'll fight anybody. Has, for as long as he's been alive and dead alike. But - priorities. Thankfully these tags are written by someone whose braincell has been working at the time of publication. ]
This week, we had nothing to go off of. [ displeasure ] We were doing well in the investigation process, at first, but then we were left scrambling afterwards. We can't do that again, not when lives are on the line and there are so few answers about the Realm and nova, and whatever intent is behind these killings.
Are they in their right minds? Is that being taken from them, just like their memories?
This week, we had nothing to go off of. [ displeasure ] We were doing well in the investigation process, at first, but then we were left scrambling afterwards. We can't do that again, not when lives are on the line and there are so few answers about the Realm and nova, and whatever intent is behind these killings.
Are they in their right minds? Is that being taken from them, just like their memories?
[Are they in their right minds, Hua Cheng asks, and that... well, that certainly makes Yona go tense. More than tense.
Just the very suggestion of it makes her look pretty pissed off, actually.]
...if that's being taken from them too...
Just the very suggestion of it makes her look pretty pissed off, actually.]
...if that's being taken from them too...
[...hm. She closes her eyes and tries to force herself to calm down.]
...if they aren't in their right minds, then - maybe we'll be able to figure out something from how people are acting. Though... some changes in behavior might be caused by lost memories, so it's not like it would be concrete proof.
...if they aren't in their right minds, then - maybe we'll be able to figure out something from how people are acting. Though... some changes in behavior might be caused by lost memories, so it's not like it would be concrete proof.
En. That's what I was thinking, too. [ Virid still seemed in his right mind, at the end. Hua Cheng knows desperation, the need to survive longer than those your sword is turned towards, for whatever your goal is. He can't speak of the past week and whoever was involved in the killings, though.
He looks at her, contemplative, taking in her anger and then grounding afterwards. ]
Whether we like it or not, more have to die, to better know the impact that the loss of memories and nova has on those that are doing the killing. But in the meantime, all we can do is rely on the leaders and our own investigations during the rest of the week. Hope that we can find an answer or some means of stopping them before they can act.
He looks at her, contemplative, taking in her anger and then grounding afterwards. ]
Whether we like it or not, more have to die, to better know the impact that the loss of memories and nova has on those that are doing the killing. But in the meantime, all we can do is rely on the leaders and our own investigations during the rest of the week. Hope that we can find an answer or some means of stopping them before they can act.
...it doesn't feel like enough.
[haha, anger's back.]
I know that there's only so much that we can do, right now, as we are - but it really doesn't feel like enough.
[haha, anger's back.]
I know that there's only so much that we can do, right now, as we are - but it really doesn't feel like enough.
It isn't enough.
[ Pensive, agitated, even without emotionshare in this PC. ]
Nothing we've done thus far has been enough. Someone innocent was chosen for a crime he didn't commit, and we have few answers directing us towards the truth.
So, we do better. Or we die. Whether we fail to collect and salvage nova, or if we fall at the hands of a killer, that is the ultimate end for failure here. And I have no intention of meeting such an end.
[ Pensive, agitated, even without emotionshare in this PC. ]
Nothing we've done thus far has been enough. Someone innocent was chosen for a crime he didn't commit, and we have few answers directing us towards the truth.
So, we do better. Or we die. Whether we fail to collect and salvage nova, or if we fall at the hands of a killer, that is the ultimate end for failure here. And I have no intention of meeting such an end.
Neither do I.
[+1 to everything Hua Cheng is saying, basically! God, she'd like to burn whatever is responsible for this down to the ground.]
...and I've got no intention of letting the people I care about meet an end like that, either.
[+1 to everything Hua Cheng is saying, basically! God, she'd like to burn whatever is responsible for this down to the ground.]
...and I've got no intention of letting the people I care about meet an end like that, either.
[ He shoots a smirk at her, but it's more - approving, than anything else. ]
Then I think we are in agreement, on where we go from here. [ Answers, wherever they are. Protecting their important people, whatever it takes.
Justice delivered to those responsible. ]
Then I think we are in agreement, on where we go from here. [ Answers, wherever they are. Protecting their important people, whatever it takes.
Justice delivered to those responsible. ]
[I have once again forgotten to ask where Hua Cheng is.
Anyway, hopefully Yona isn't so Claude-adjacent that Hua Cheng is avoiding her, because when she spots him, she keeps a respectful distance away to avoid emotionshare if he doesn't want to share it, but she raises a hand in greeting.]
Hua Cheng... how are you doing?
Anyway, hopefully Yona isn't so Claude-adjacent that Hua Cheng is avoiding her, because when she spots him, she keeps a respectful distance away to avoid emotionshare if he doesn't want to share it, but she raises a hand in greeting.]
Hua Cheng... how are you doing?
[ It's fine, who knows where he is. The port? Still in the area, there, probably. ]
Ah, Yona. [ Since she doesn't have Claude in tow, it's fine. Hua Cheng moves to come closer, though not into the emotionshare radius just yet, inclining his head in return, seeming... in a much better mood, actually! ]
Aside from - [ handwave, execution, although there's a flash of red on his hand that wasn't there previously? ] - today is going much better.
Ah, Yona. [ Since she doesn't have Claude in tow, it's fine. Hua Cheng moves to come closer, though not into the emotionshare radius just yet, inclining his head in return, seeming... in a much better mood, actually! ]
Aside from - [ handwave, execution, although there's a flash of red on his hand that wasn't there previously? ] - today is going much better.
[See, this might be why Yona likes Hua Cheng: he encourages her to be feral.]
...yes. I think we are.
[Seems like this is a wrap for this thread? Which works out because now we have a new one!]
...yes. I think we are.
[Seems like this is a wrap for this thread? Which works out because now we have a new one!]
[Sometimes you just hang around a place after you see someone get eaten alive by a crocodile.
But, haha, yeah. That execution sure was a lot. Yona's eyes widen slightly as she catches sight of the flash of red on his hand, but - she's not really close enough to get a good look at what it is.]
That's good. ...you weren't hurt, were you?
But, haha, yeah. That execution sure was a lot. Yona's eyes widen slightly as she catches sight of the flash of red on his hand, but - she's not really close enough to get a good look at what it is.]
That's good. ...you weren't hurt, were you?
[ Honestly Hua Cheng has a bad habit of doing that, as if he can find something they missed the day before. ]
Hm? [ At first, he doesn't understand what would cause that question. But then he realizes where her gaze is drawn, and lowers his hand. Around his middle finger is a red string, with a neat, bowed knot. ] The opposite, actually.
Hm? [ At first, he doesn't understand what would cause that question. But then he realizes where her gaze is drawn, and lowers his hand. Around his middle finger is a red string, with a neat, bowed knot. ] The opposite, actually.
Oh!
[Well, that's better, then. Just the flash of red had made her worried it was blood, but.]
Good! I'm glad to hear it. ...I've never seen people tie strings around their fingers like that before, though. Is it the fashion where you come from?
[Well, that's better, then. Just the flash of red had made her worried it was blood, but.]
Good! I'm glad to hear it. ...I've never seen people tie strings around their fingers like that before, though. Is it the fashion where you come from?
[ Not until the extras - ]
It's a - reminder. [ Hua Cheng pushes aside any further thoughts of the cave, where Xie Lian had tied those strands of his hair around his finger instead, focusing on more recent events. ] A promise. Though it holds no spiritual power, here, I can normally tie the other end to another person and know that they're safe. So long as it remains unbroken, I can find them.
It's a - reminder. [ Hua Cheng pushes aside any further thoughts of the cave, where Xie Lian had tied those strands of his hair around his finger instead, focusing on more recent events. ] A promise. Though it holds no spiritual power, here, I can normally tie the other end to another person and know that they're safe. So long as it remains unbroken, I can find them.
Oh...
[Yona looks at the string again, more impressed than before.]
That's amazing! I've never heard of anything that could do that before... at least, not an item, anyway.
[Yona looks at the string again, more impressed than before.]
That's amazing! I've never heard of anything that could do that before... at least, not an item, anyway.
I see... how interesting. We don't really have things like that, where I come from.
[The closest would be [redacted], but afaik you're not canon familiar so you don't get metatext spoilers.]
[The closest would be [redacted], but afaik you're not canon familiar so you don't get metatext spoilers.]
Page 1 of 3