[ okay first of all, xie lian has never seen a gun in his life, so he does blink a little at rochalizo's rifle, but this is more important! so.
his voice is quiet as he speaks, very serious. ]
...Before anyone even said anything, when we were all discussing where we slept - he said, quite loudly, that he was alone in his room, yet no one can account for where his roommate was.
[ ... ] Qi Rong is... you were correct, in that I am familiar with him, because we are related. He's my cousin. Though, he is currently much older than me, his behavior has not changed at all since he was younger, when I knew him.
I don't mean in simply his mannerisms. He is boorish, and crass, and crude at his very best. Rather...
[ san lang puffs up a little bit further besides xie lian, making a displeased noise. ] ...It is best to give an example. Many years ago, I rescued a young child from his death. The situation itself caused a bit of trouble, but it was worth it, and all was well.
However, Qi Rong 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 the 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.
... Is he usually the honest sort? Admittedly, if he were responsible for the man's disappearance, I would think that he'd instead claim that Marius had been there.
It is an unfortunate combination indeed. [ xie lian doesn't say it, but rochalizo can likely read the "it's unfortunate for everyone" all over his face. smh. ]
Either way - I hope that it is not the case, but, my own knowledge of him and what he has become, too, has made me wary.
[ rochalizo please. this startles xie lian - he seems to be completely lost in his thoughts where he's sitting, a cup of completely full tea in his hands. san lang startles from where he is curled in a ball in xie lian's lap - his tail stands straight up.
[ xie lian laughs, though - maybe it's a little startled out of him, because he hasn't had anyone talk to him like that in a long, long time? but then comes to join him, walking easily despite the injuries and grateful, really, for the distraction. ]
...Alright, then. Thank you, Rochalizo. Do you cook?
A hobby that may end up poisoning one of us, someday... but certainly. Miss Susato showed me how to steam so vegetables, and I can make rice. That is a start, yes?
Page 1 of 6