inbox | eastbound

[downswing]

lan wangji
missives | encounters

Comments

(after the huntress' hold is broken) voice;

[reparo]

[ Shaky, tired, wracked with guilt. ]

H-hello - I'm so sorry. Are you...um. I've a potion to heal injuries if you need it.

Oh god, I'm so sorry...

[downswing]

( ...ah. But he is not so cruel, so vicious. )

No harm sustained.

[reparo]

Really? That's a relief...

[ A pause. ]

That beast that came into the clearing...

[ Is it dead? Is he mad at her? Does he understand that she remembers it all? ]

[downswing]

...sought the Huntress' creatures.

1/2

[reparo]

Ah.

[reparo]

Me, in other words.

[downswing]

You are not her own. That hour has passed.

1/2

[reparo]

Yes - yes. It has. I'm going to weaken her hold on this place.

[reparo]

I should genuflect in apologies to at least your husband and son.

[ oh god, and also his brother too. ]

[downswing]

I beg you do not concern them.


( #Secrecy. )

[reparo]

[ Oh, thank god. ] Okay. Not a word to them then.

[downswing]

It... would startle unnecessarily.

[reparo]

... and they may want to hold you back to protect you?

[downswing]

I am not so fragile.

[reparo]

No, far from it. You're formidable.

[downswing]

False.

[reparo]

Why would you say that?

[ He was an incredible opponent. ]

[downswing]

You have not encountered my brother in battle.

[reparo]

And I do not plan to - but you can be formidable in more ways than battle.

[downswing]

He performs adequately in all arts.


( ...which is as far as a member of Gusu Lan will ever go to flaunt the skills of one of their own clan. )

[reparo]

... is there a precept against accepting a compliment to yourself?

[downswing]

Boastful. Arrogant.

[reparo]

Boastful would be if you told me that you're the best fighter in our group. Arrogant would be if you told me that of course you are formidable, how dare I forget it.

[ so like, think of Jiang Cheng. ]

It's different. I'm telling you, to me you are incredible.

[downswing]

( He hears her, does. Waits, as if the pause will dwindle her enthusiasm. )

...not so, in Gusu Lan.

[reparo]

[ deeeeeeeeflates ]

Well, then. I'm going to say, instead, that I appreciate you?