I am not one to point fingers, without any sort of evidence - and I know there is only my word to speak on the type of person that I have known Qi Rong to be. I would rather find something more concrete than hearsay, whether it is proof of his innocence, or of guilt, but...
[ xie lian pauses, chewing on his lip. ] ... A story about his nature may perhaps best illustrate the type of person that he is.
...Many years ago, I rescued a young child from his death. The situation itself caused a bit of trouble for me, but the trouble itself was far worth it, and I paid it no mind.
Qi Rong, however, decided to punish that child for causing that trouble. He had a golden carriage - so he captured the child, shoved him in a gunny sack, tied the sack to a rope, and dragged it behind the carriage while driving at top speed through the streets of Xian Le. Had I not stopped him when I did, he surely would have killed that child - all because of something he perceived as troublesome, that no one else did.
I had him arrested. When we spoke of it, he had no regrets or remorse for his actions - only complaining that the child was "tougher than he looked", as if a starving, miserable child was some sort of soldier.
That is the sort of person that Qi Rong is, and always has been - and I knew him as a human, not as a resentful spirit.
[She swallows a little because. . . wow, what an upsetting story. But she nods slowly, measured.]
I am glad you told me this. That is a truly wicked thing that he did. But it is good to know the character of the people here.
I'm sure it is difficult, considering he is your cousin. I would never accuse him without evidence, no matter what he has done. But if there is evidence to tie him to the crime, knowing this will be a help to all of us.
[ a little nod. he wouldn't either! big on Justice TM here. even if qi rong stinks. ]
...Difficult is a good word for it. [ being related to qi rong is difficult in general!! actually!! ] It was something of a shock, to see him when I arrived - and to see him the way he is now, eight centuries older than I, was even more so.
Qi Rong is boorish and arrogant - and he is not intelligent, either. There may be a chance that if we ask the correct questions of him, he will tell us what he has done, if he has done anything - simply because he wants to brag about his achievements. He must always see himself as larger than he is, and has been that way since we were children.
Then that is a plan. Perhaps. . . if we were to go on about how clever and skilled this disappearance was, how ingeniously we were deceived, and then speculate that no one here would be capable of pulling such a thing off. . .
…that would likely work. [ he’s not sure whether to laugh or cry about it, but, that’s what it is!!
san lang, a ferret, sighs and droops around xie lian’s neck a little further. ]
…I truly do hope this isn’t the case. I would hope that perhaps after eight hundred years, he might have changed a little, but…. I think he’s only gotten worse, somehow….
[She can't tell exactly how he feels about his cousin, but it seems difficult to have to admit to all of this. If it were her, she would be worried about being wrong, and causing harm to a family member, so she's trying to keep that in mind.]
We will watch and observe, and only act if it seems necessary. Hopefully, we will learn soon what happened to Mr. Pontmercy and it will show us that Qi Rong is not to blame. Otherwise. . . you have my word that I will give him the same consideration that I am sure you must.
[ she is right on the money! qi rong is a difficult subject; even seeing him had been a jarring surprise. it’s a complicated mess of emotions, but. if he’s done wrong, if he is as cruel and resentful as he is claiming, and if he has hurt someone else, then those actions are unforgivable.
he likes this plan, though. xie lian nods, determined. ] Thank you, Miss Susato. I appreciate it.
…it is frustrating to know that something could have happened while we were all locked up like that. I understand if it was for our own safety, but… I have fought many ‘spectres’ in my lifespan. If Marius had been locked out, for some reason, I would have so much rathered risk my safety in order to safely bring him inside.
no subject
[ xie lian pauses, chewing on his lip. ] ... A story about his nature may perhaps best illustrate the type of person that he is.
...Many years ago, I rescued a young child from his death. The situation itself caused a bit of trouble for me, but the trouble itself was far worth it, and I paid it no mind.
Qi Rong, however, decided to punish that child for causing that trouble. He had a golden carriage - so he captured the child, shoved him in a gunny sack, tied the sack to a rope, and dragged it behind the carriage while driving at top speed through the streets of Xian Le. Had I not stopped him when I did, he surely would have killed that child - all because of something he perceived as troublesome, that no one else did.
I had him arrested. When we spoke of it, he had no regrets or remorse for his actions - only complaining that the child was "tougher than he looked", as if a starving, miserable child was some sort of soldier.
That is the sort of person that Qi Rong is, and always has been - and I knew him as a human, not as a resentful spirit.
no subject
I am glad you told me this. That is a truly wicked thing that he did. But it is good to know the character of the people here.
I'm sure it is difficult, considering he is your cousin. I would never accuse him without evidence, no matter what he has done. But if there is evidence to tie him to the crime, knowing this will be a help to all of us.
no subject
...Difficult is a good word for it. [ being related to qi rong is difficult in general!! actually!! ] It was something of a shock, to see him when I arrived - and to see him the way he is now, eight centuries older than I, was even more so.
Qi Rong is boorish and arrogant - and he is not intelligent, either. There may be a chance that if we ask the correct questions of him, he will tell us what he has done, if he has done anything - simply because he wants to brag about his achievements. He must always see himself as larger than he is, and has been that way since we were children.
no subject
[She nods and clenches her fists a little.]
Then that is a plan. Perhaps. . . if we were to go on about how clever and skilled this disappearance was, how ingeniously we were deceived, and then speculate that no one here would be capable of pulling such a thing off. . .
no subject
san lang, a ferret, sighs and droops around xie lian’s neck a little further. ]
…I truly do hope this isn’t the case. I would hope that perhaps after eight hundred years, he might have changed a little, but…. I think he’s only gotten worse, somehow….
no subject
[She can't tell exactly how he feels about his cousin, but it seems difficult to have to admit to all of this. If it were her, she would be worried about being wrong, and causing harm to a family member, so she's trying to keep that in mind.]
We will watch and observe, and only act if it seems necessary. Hopefully, we will learn soon what happened to Mr. Pontmercy and it will show us that Qi Rong is not to blame. Otherwise. . . you have my word that I will give him the same consideration that I am sure you must.
no subject
he likes this plan, though. xie lian nods, determined. ] Thank you, Miss Susato. I appreciate it.
…it is frustrating to know that something could have happened while we were all locked up like that. I understand if it was for our own safety, but… I have fought many ‘spectres’ in my lifespan. If Marius had been locked out, for some reason, I would have so much rathered risk my safety in order to safely bring him inside.
no subject
You are very brave to say so, however.