having untangled from the crab hold sleeping position that is attempting to keep bertholt in line, xie lian is up and going to meditate very early this morning.
however, this is interrupted, because there is a shriek when he opens the closet. ]
What in the world--?! [ and should bertholt not sleep through this unusually loud noise, he will see that xie lian is holding the fabric of his silk robes out from the closet - and they are splattered with something red. ]
[ xie lian will pull out the silks for bertholt to see entirely - sure enough, they are splattered with blood. it is incredibly stark, because his usual robes are purely white. ]
I wore these yesterday. [ as everyone saw at the town meeting!!! ] What... what happened? [ ???? ]
[ thankfully, there is no corpse?? xie lian just looks wildly concerned, as he pulls the robes out fully. nothing else in there appears bloodied at all. ]
They didn't stain anything else, either...? It does look - [ he pauses, pressing his finger against the red - it's still sticky and fresh, and pulling it closer to smell makes his nose wrinkle. ] It's certainly real, or at least a very good illusion.
[ what the french fried fuck.
all of that is deeply concerning. what is also concerning is that he only has one other outfit, having put the rest of his clothes he borrowed back, nicely washed, and that is one that he does not know how to put on.
[ sweet bertholt. xie lian is on the bed, bandaged now - his injuries have been stitched up, and there's a little bandaid on his cheek. ]
I am! It is very kind for you to be worried over me, Bertholt. I am usually a very fast healer - it should be alright, especially with the kind care of Mr. Kim and the others.
[ xie lian will come to visit bertholt wherever he is being held!!! san lang is in ferret form instead of qilin, and he enters the room with a knock to announce his presence, and then bows his head in greeting for his former roommate.
he just sounds...tired, but the concern is still present on his face, and he manages a soft smile. ] ...Hello, Bertholt. How are you feeling...?
anyway he will come right over and settle down in front of the bars, sitting on the ground. san lang comes up too - he makes a soft chittering noise at the bars and puts his little paws on them. ]
At least the trial itself is finally over. It felt like even worse of a spectacle, after we already knew.
[ like twisting a knife, to say the least. ] ...I have some questions for you, as I'm sure you've been asked many, already.
san lang doesn't seem to mind the anger flicks - he just puts his lil paws together and bows his head. apologetic, perhaps.
xie lian nods, and takes a deep breath. he looks curious, a little, bit mostly just worried. ] ...Can you walk me through how you got to acting on Thursday night, as best as you can?
he hates that. xie lian's expression shifts - the frown on his face is deep, brows furrowed, and he's silent for a moment, processing that information. san lang, beside him, unhappy, starts to pace. ]
...I see. [ awful! ] Was it a threat, do you think? Or an offer?
And. [ after a moment. ] ... May I ask - we are allowed to share, in private, in small numbers. Are you a Celestial?
[ it's not snappish, necessarily, but there's a little sternness to his tone. ]
Creatures like that are meant to break you. In my realm, it is their very purpose. It is not your fault, that you wanted to protect the people close to you, and your home. Such desires are utterly human - and people have done far worse for far less.
[ hitting right on those white no face traumas. ]
Did it offer you a choice, at all? Would it have simply vanished, had you said no?
[ good slaps this murderer with some self esteem ]
Then, by that, you were not simply making a deal. You were coerced into it. These sorts of beings makes threats, disguised as sweet promises and kindnesses. They do everything in their power to ensure that you fall into their snare, and then laugh when you fail. To have your willpower taken from you in such a manner is despicable.
[ xie lian will not stand for this. his hand tightens into a fist in his lap. ] You are not weak, Bertholt. Make no mistake. You are the victim of the foulest sort of evil there possibly is.
[ bertolt is quiet for a long momenet as he listens to xie lian. the words seem to reach into him, giving him a sort of clarity that he hasn't had before. he gives xie lian a sad smile here ]
Thank you, Xie Lian. There's... a lot, I want to say, but I don't think I can or will. But your words mean a lot to me. And... I think it helped me understand some things.
[ that fierceness softens, a little, into empathy. ]
...Of course, Bertolt. [ some of the wind does come out of his sails, with it, and his voice softens again. ] I am glad I can help.
...And, if there's anything you want to say, or have done, before tomorrow, and after... people to look out for, or actions to take, I am happy to help. Yomiel said today we will still all be able to contact each other - I'll send a letter along, to try.
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w0, before trial
having untangled from the crab hold sleeping position that is attempting to keep bertholt in line, xie lian is up and going to meditate very early this morning.
however, this is interrupted, because there is a shriek when he opens the closet. ]
What in the world--?! [ and should bertholt not sleep through this unusually loud noise, he will see that xie lian is holding the fabric of his silk robes out from the closet - and they are splattered with something red. ]
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What... happened?
[ then he turns to look at the clothing and that instantly wakes him up as he crawls out of bed and towards him ]
Your clothes?
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I wore these yesterday. [ as everyone saw at the town meeting!!! ] What... what happened? [ ???? ]
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[ UM is there a body in our closet??? looks inside ]
Or did someone come in while we were sleeping?
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They didn't stain anything else, either...? It does look - [ he pauses, pressing his finger against the red - it's still sticky and fresh, and pulling it closer to smell makes his nose wrinkle. ] It's certainly real, or at least a very good illusion.
[ what the french fried fuck.
all of that is deeply concerning. what is also concerning is that he only has one other outfit, having put the rest of his clothes he borrowed back, nicely washed, and that is one that he does not know how to put on.
hm ]
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[ but he looks between that other outfit and xl ]
Um... do you want to borrow one of mine?
week 0; post execution
Are you sure you're ok?
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I am! It is very kind for you to be worried over me, Bertholt. I am usually a very fast healer - it should be alright, especially with the kind care of Mr. Kim and the others.
week 1 post trial i hate this
he just sounds...tired, but the concern is still present on his face, and he manages a soft smile. ] ...Hello, Bertholt. How are you feeling...?
i love you!!!
As... well as I can, all things considered.
:unamused:
anyway he will come right over and settle down in front of the bars, sitting on the ground. san lang comes up too - he makes a soft chittering noise at the bars and puts his little paws on them. ]
At least the trial itself is finally over. It felt like even worse of a spectacle, after we already knew.
[ like twisting a knife, to say the least. ] ...I have some questions for you, as I'm sure you've been asked many, already.
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idi does perk up a bit and look at the bars. she doesn't look upset at them anymore, but her tail does flick once in a remanant of her anger ]
Yeah, I'm ready to answer them now.
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san lang doesn't seem to mind the anger flicks - he just puts his lil paws together and bows his head. apologetic, perhaps.
xie lian nods, and takes a deep breath. he looks curious, a little, bit mostly just worried. ] ...Can you walk me through how you got to acting on Thursday night, as best as you can?
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Before, there was another Angel, who came up to me.
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i see. ]
...When was this? Not one of the Watchers?
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And no, it wasn't one of the Watchers. They were... different. Made of Dust.
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With the wings, and all...? What did they say to you?
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That if I wanted to go home faster, if I wanted to protect my friends, that I would help them keep order and take out the other side.
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he hates that. xie lian's expression shifts - the frown on his face is deep, brows furrowed, and he's silent for a moment, processing that information. san lang, beside him, unhappy, starts to pace. ]
...I see. [ awful! ] Was it a threat, do you think? Or an offer?
And. [ after a moment. ] ... May I ask - we are allowed to share, in private, in small numbers. Are you a Celestial?
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[ and there's a pause here ]
I'm not.
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The Watchers said that Nine was a Temporal. [ a frown. ] ...Did you know? Or - did the angel you ran into not provide you with that information?
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[ TCH
he looks a little annoyed? on bertholt's behalf? he will fight this dust angel
it doesnt last, even if san lang is a little puffy. ] ...I am sorry, Bertholt. I am sorry, that a creature would prey on you in such a way.
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[ it's not snappish, necessarily, but there's a little sternness to his tone. ]
Creatures like that are meant to break you. In my realm, it is their very purpose. It is not your fault, that you wanted to protect the people close to you, and your home. Such desires are utterly human - and people have done far worse for far less.
[ hitting right on those white no face traumas. ]
Did it offer you a choice, at all? Would it have simply vanished, had you said no?
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[ but hearing xl talk does make him feel slightly better? ]
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Then, by that, you were not simply making a deal. You were coerced into it. These sorts of beings makes threats, disguised as sweet promises and kindnesses. They do everything in their power to ensure that you fall into their snare, and then laugh when you fail. To have your willpower taken from you in such a manner is despicable.
[ xie lian will not stand for this. his hand tightens into a fist in his lap. ] You are not weak, Bertholt. Make no mistake. You are the victim of the foulest sort of evil there possibly is.
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Thank you, Xie Lian. There's... a lot, I want to say, but I don't think I can or will. But your words mean a lot to me. And... I think it helped me understand some things.
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...Of course, Bertolt. [ some of the wind does come out of his sails, with it, and his voice softens again. ] I am glad I can help.
...And, if there's anything you want to say, or have done, before tomorrow, and after... people to look out for, or actions to take, I am happy to help. Yomiel said today we will still all be able to contact each other - I'll send a letter along, to try.
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[ a beat ]
And... Kotetsu, Power and Kijima. Look after them too?
I'll write too, if I can.
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You have my word.
[ looks at execution. i hate you. ]
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Thank you.
[ i am not changing this icon ]