[ stop this is the first time you don't have to have restraint. he smiles, peach blossom eyes crinkling at the corners. ]
I was growing very, very tired of wearing that thing. [ easier to joke lightheartedly instead of thinking about the doom of the nightman any time now ] In more ways than one. I'll likely ditch this and return to my armor later in the evening, once I've gotten a moment.
[ weh. his expression softens a little, and he turns his head to look at her more properly. ]
Even now, that you try to protect us... [ affectionate, though he trails off. ] We'll be alright. Each of us has abilities - even I have things up my sleeve beyond what I do normally. Truthfully, there has always been a chance that we would have been uncovered, so we're not completely unprepared.
It's not the ideal situation to be in, but it means that perhaps it will enable us a chance to keep him distracted so you all can execute whatever is necessary to get to all the participants to the lobby.
-- Yeah, actually, since when can you heal people.
[ear flick. and then, more seriously:] You know I don't like that. This isn't going to end until the guy is dead, I'm not going to just stand here and watch him snap you all into dust like how the UWU did to us, and I'm not about to let this whole set up just keep going.
[ he reaches out and taps his free hand briefly against his uniform.
...but, ah. he lets her say her piece for the first part, keeping whatever thoughts he has on it all to himself, and instead just answers with an affirmative noise. ] That's right.
[she scowls at the fact that he keeps his thoughts to himself. she knows how he is - their whole relationship has always been that one comic of the two people looping around like snakes around each other to try and stop the other from getting hurt.]
anyway wow great he's blind to this look that he is absolutely being given conveniently. gu yun tilts his head back, though, recalling. ]
... I was home, for a little while. A few weeks. I dealt with those bandits. [ the memshare. ] I had enough time to reunite with Chang Geng - I have a story to tell you about him, later - and then, out of nowhere, I was here. Some sort of glitch, we think, but the jury is out on how or why.
I think that was the original intention, yes. I imagine, if whatever happened didn't, I would have been in the same situation as you. [ with like, emperor li feng as his hostage or something. ] The glitch itself may have occurred before we were even given a contract, and we ended up here without one.
That's what gave us the flexibility to do what we did, and run the coup itself.
Because the Nightman set this up to be a losing game, no matter what. He'll fulfill your contracts, but he will do everything in his power to ensure that you don't reach that lobby at the end - he can't make it impossible, but he's tried. We've done everything we can to run interference, because we as a whole refused to accept that result for you all, and for ourselves. It's why he's been so displeased that there hasn't been enough death.
[ he pauses for a moment. ]
Your first adventure, for example. The black tiger you ran into was mine. I assume you likely found Vax'ildan's necklace, as well. We ran through those same gauntlets and left things behind when he wasn't paying attention, to give you all advantages where we could. We've tried to learn how the hotel glitches and acts on its own, and used it to put more tools in your arsenal.
...Ultimately, the eight of us aren't the key to your survival, or the key to your success, and our hands are still tied in many ways. We can only act as support, and have only acted as support. But... as you had faith in us, back then. I have faith in you.
Edited (i forgot he doesnt actually know that) 2022-07-28 21:48 (UTC)
[she stops them in the hall and puts her hand over his mouth at the end of it, expression sharp, ears pressed back against her skull.]
You can't just - say. All of that, and then -- [she drags in a shaky breath, and then:] You don't have to be the key, that's fine, but you fucking listen to me, right now. We'll get you out and don't you dare put yourself on the line for it. Everybody is leaving. Including you, including Sora, including Shinnosuke - all of the staff.
[ well, whatever else he was going to say is cut off by the hand on his mouth.
.........
eventually, though, he gives a little bit of a nod. that's all he can really do, at the moment - he's already put himself in a large amount of danger. what's a little more? in his ideal world, they'll all get out alright, of course, but, if. if.
... well. he won't say that, just gazing at her, mouth still covered, brows knit together. ]
[there's a pause, and then she pulls her hand away.]
Don't. Don't make me lose you. [she says, quietly. no matter where they stand or what she thinks or what he thinks - the rings are a little insane about each other.] Not after all this.
[she rests her forehead against his, and for a second, she hesitates too. no surprises, she'd said to the two of them. but her heart beats loud and clear in her chest and in her ears and she wants, desperately, for him to be alive, for him to thrive even when she isn't here, and so - gently, she kisses him, because it's the only way she knows how to seal something approaching a promise.
it's brief, and she doesn't linger, too afraid to overstep, but she doesn't pull away, either.]
As long as you mean it. [she says, finally.] ... I'll do everything I can, too.
well. he wasn't expecting that, really - his cheeks flush pink, visibly so - but he lets it happen. ]
... I always mean it.
[ and that's got some weight to it. more than just i'll do everything i can. other words that are meant, even though it seems like he couldn't convince lup of it. ]
I'm not meant to die here. [ just like at the station. there are people that need him. there's an entire country that rests on gu yun's shoulders, even after a wish that was granted. ] ...But, I'll ask you to promise me the same.
she'll just stay here for a minute, breathing - he's an easy, calming presence, and he always has been, when he's not out risking his life. she's got... a pretty heavy amount of anxiety about what's coming, obviously, but she can't do anything but trust that it'll work out.]
I swear to god if I wake up and you're dead I'm going to lose it. [she mutters, grouchily.] ... What happened to the original Aquila?
[ i just think i deserve a little death as a treat
ah. a good question. he hums. ] Vax'ildan isn't here, and neither is the original Aquarius. They had business to take care of outside of this that was far less endangering to societies as a whole compared to some of their counterparts... And, neither of them could help Sora spell, or had a hostage of their own.
[ that's lighter, a little more teasing of sweet precious gemini. ] So. They left.
They're out looking for their own methods of dealing with this from the outside. Or, at least that was the plan when they left.
[ so, not quite.
the last part gets him to snort, a little. ] I'm sure I'll have yet another thrilling conversation with him, later. At this point, I don't particularly care; Vax'ildan is safe, and he should be focused on himself.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
guestservices) wrote2022-06-09 12:18 pm
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I was growing very, very tired of wearing that thing. [ easier to joke lightheartedly instead of thinking about the doom of the nightman any time now ] In more ways than one. I'll likely ditch this and return to my armor later in the evening, once I've gotten a moment.
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[... she watches him, as they walk.] You should stick close. Fuck, I should've put your name down. Or - Sora's, maybe.
[hhhhhhh]
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Even now, that you try to protect us... [ affectionate, though he trails off. ] We'll be alright. Each of us has abilities - even I have things up my sleeve beyond what I do normally. Truthfully, there has always been a chance that we would have been uncovered, so we're not completely unprepared.
It's not the ideal situation to be in, but it means that perhaps it will enable us a chance to keep him distracted so you all can execute whatever is necessary to get to all the participants to the lobby.
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[ear flick. and then, more seriously:] You know I don't like that. This isn't going to end until the guy is dead, I'm not going to just stand here and watch him snap you all into dust like how the UWU did to us, and I'm not about to let this whole set up just keep going.
[...] You said you got here early?
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[ he reaches out and taps his free hand briefly against his uniform.
...but, ah. he lets her say her piece for the first part, keeping whatever thoughts he has on it all to himself, and instead just answers with an affirmative noise. ] That's right.
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And how did that work? Tell me what happened.
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anyway wow great he's blind to this look that he is absolutely being given conveniently. gu yun tilts his head back, though, recalling. ]
... I was home, for a little while. A few weeks. I dealt with those bandits. [ the memshare. ] I had enough time to reunite with Chang Geng - I have a story to tell you about him, later - and then, out of nowhere, I was here. Some sort of glitch, we think, but the jury is out on how or why.
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So you would've been here around the same time we were, if not for that? Did you have contracts?
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I think that was the original intention, yes. I imagine, if whatever happened didn't, I would have been in the same situation as you. [ with like, emperor li feng as his hostage or something. ] The glitch itself may have occurred before we were even given a contract, and we ended up here without one.
That's what gave us the flexibility to do what we did, and run the coup itself.
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[ he pauses for a moment. ]
Your first adventure, for example. The black tiger you ran into was mine. I assume you likely found Vax'ildan's necklace, as well. We ran through those same gauntlets and left things behind when he wasn't paying attention, to give you all advantages where we could. We've tried to learn how the hotel glitches and acts on its own, and used it to put more tools in your arsenal.
...Ultimately, the eight of us aren't the key to your survival, or the key to your success, and our hands are still tied in many ways. We can only act as support, and have only acted as support. But... as you had faith in us, back then. I have faith in you.
no subject
[she stops them in the hall and puts her hand over his mouth at the end of it, expression sharp, ears pressed back against her skull.]
You can't just - say. All of that, and then -- [she drags in a shaky breath, and then:] You don't have to be the key, that's fine, but you fucking listen to me, right now. We'll get you out and don't you dare put yourself on the line for it. Everybody is leaving. Including you, including Sora, including Shinnosuke - all of the staff.
I mean it. Don't protag speech me.
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[ well, whatever else he was going to say is cut off by the hand on his mouth.
.........
eventually, though, he gives a little bit of a nod. that's all he can really do, at the moment - he's already put himself in a large amount of danger. what's a little more? in his ideal world, they'll all get out alright, of course, but, if. if.
... well. he won't say that, just gazing at her, mouth still covered, brows knit together. ]
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Don't. Don't make me lose you. [she says, quietly. no matter where they stand or what she thinks or what he thinks - the rings are a little insane about each other.] Not after all this.
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he leans forward a little, and after a moment of hesitation, bonks their foreheads together. ]
I'm too stubborn to be lost so easily. [ a little quieter to match. ] ... I'll do everything I can.
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it's brief, and she doesn't linger, too afraid to overstep, but she doesn't pull away, either.]
As long as you mean it. [she says, finally.] ... I'll do everything I can, too.
no subject
well. he wasn't expecting that, really - his cheeks flush pink, visibly so - but he lets it happen. ]
... I always mean it.
[ and that's got some weight to it. more than just i'll do everything i can. other words that are meant, even though it seems like he couldn't convince lup of it. ]
I'm not meant to die here. [ just like at the station. there are people that need him. there's an entire country that rests on gu yun's shoulders, even after a wish that was granted. ] ...But, I'll ask you to promise me the same.
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I'll do my best. [she says, with a little sigh.] I refuse to die here. Not for good. I want to go home.
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anyway. he nods a little against her forehead, staying close. ] You're going to get to go home. All of you are.
[ in that determinator i-won't-allow-for-anything-else voice of his.
maybe he'll die and then she wont have boy problems also ]
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she'll just stay here for a minute, breathing - he's an easy, calming presence, and he always has been, when he's not out risking his life. she's got... a pretty heavy amount of anxiety about what's coming, obviously, but she can't do anything but trust that it'll work out.]
I swear to god if I wake up and you're dead I'm going to lose it. [she mutters, grouchily.] ... What happened to the original Aquila?
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ah. a good question. he hums. ] Vax'ildan isn't here, and neither is the original Aquarius. They had business to take care of outside of this that was far less endangering to societies as a whole compared to some of their counterparts... And, neither of them could help Sora spell, or had a hostage of their own.
[ that's lighter, a little more teasing of sweet precious gemini. ] So. They left.
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a pause.] ... Hoo boy. Emet is going to flip.
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[ so, not quite.
the last part gets him to snort, a little. ] I'm sure I'll have yet another thrilling conversation with him, later. At this point, I don't particularly care; Vax'ildan is safe, and he should be focused on himself.
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... as for emet, she just. sighs.] ... It's weird, right? It not being Despair.
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point blank ]
I think he's an idiot, comparatively.
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