inbox | eastbound

[downswing]

lan wangji
missives | encounters

Comments

[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?

[downswing]

That honours me. ( A heartbeat, then, carefully: ) You are in health? After.

[reparo]

Ah, yes. I'm [ pauuuuuse ] in possession of a talisman.

[downswing]

Elaborate.

[reparo]

Wrathion enchanted a bracelet for me. It should stave off her influence, maybe. At the moment I am staying back from heading her way directly.

[downswing]

Should she approach?

[reparo]

I've been asking people to knock me out.

[downswing]

...violent. But functional.

[reparo]

Most importantly, effective. I'm bad at physical combat so the best thing to do it make sure I can't wield my wand at all.

[ take.notes. ]

[downswing]

...Hermione. Think. How did you enter her thrall?

So far, only the dead and necromancers.

[reparo]

The volcano in Ke-Waicai - I think the energy, or spirits, that I absorbed to ease the pressure there stayed with me.

[downswing]

Why there?

[reparo]

Closest I've come to the undead, maybe?

[downswing]

Wei Ying. Wrath. You have encountered necromancy before.

[reparo]

Yes, well... [ A long pause, before she muses out loud: ] Maybe after Sanwon, I am more like one.

[downswing]

...see if you answer to Wei Ying's flute.

[reparo]

...beg your pardon?

[downswing]

His flute controls dead and resentful energies.

[reparo]

And you think that if I carry them, he will be able to control me?