[ xie lian is here in the park, laying down with his upper half propped up on a familiar looking tiger staring up at the sky with his hands folded on his chest.
the tiger lifts its head and looks at kotetsu for a moment - and then growls, low and ominous. xie lian himself opens his eyes, turns, and then frowns, nudging the tiger, who silences and then resumes grooming a white ball of fur sitting between his paws that must be san lang.
xie lian himself smiles, tired, but a smile none the less. ] Hello, Mr. Kotetsu.
[ kotetsu doesn't mind hearing that. not the first time he's had a daemon try to warn him off. hopefully it won't be too many more times before they reach their finale.
finley is back in her own tiger form and kotetsu himself is a bit more ... stable looking compared to when he was at the trial itself. he nods his head at xie lian, offering his own bit of a smile. ]
How've you been doing? It's been a bit since we talked.
[ the tiger does seem to settle, at least, though it looks generally displeased - it's only when a pair of white paws come up to pat his face that it snorts and looks away.
xie lian looks away from the two of them though and sits up properly instead of leaning on the tiger, folding his hands in his lap. ]
I am truthfully just glad that this is over. [ the trials, anyway. ] All of it.
[ the tiger behind him growls again, though it seems to just be a low rumbly noise. xie lian reaches back to scritch it behind the ear, like he's soothing it; he's silent and thoughtful as he does, considering what kotetsu says.
... ]
... Mr. Kotetsu, you're the one who will be finding new realms, aren't you? Are you going to be able to find a way back to where Baraqiel's item is?
I am. I never know what choices I'll have when I go to make that choice.
[ But ah. That mention of the item. ]
Probably. [ Then he shakes his head, voice more resolute. ] No. I will. From what I heard, it's something I'll be able to open. I have to find it, for both of you.
...When the way is found, I want to be the one to retrieve the item. I have two people I would like to take with me. It is likely that you will be needed here. [ sholmes will surely need him, no? ] And if it is another journey as it was for Rin, I intend to carry it on, as it will be a journey to my homeland.
I won't fight you on that. Do what you need, I'm only there to open the door. We all have things that are important to us, that we want to fight for. Things very personal to us.
[ one less thing to worry about. he pets the tiger behind him absently, stroking the top of his head. ] It is more than just being personal, truly - for the matter of simple logic, I am familiar with the territory. I have cleared more than one lair of a ghost in my time.
But, I will not allow us to fail. I will need to know the moment it is open - I don't want someone else to be accidentally pulled into it. I am prepared, as are those I'd like to take with me, so whenever the opportunity arises, we will leave.
The moment I find it, I'll do my best to let you know. I don't want any type of accident to happen to leave you from this.
We will get this taken care of and we will put things right. I have faith. I've always had it. Even if it seems like I've stumbled along the way. I've never given up. Not for a second.
[ he's been shaken, lost his confidence at times, but he's had this role to keep him facing forward. things he's needed to protect, both in living and dead. even if it's been in secret. ]
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w6, post trial
the tiger lifts its head and looks at kotetsu for a moment - and then growls, low and ominous. xie lian himself opens his eyes, turns, and then frowns, nudging the tiger, who silences and then resumes grooming a white ball of fur sitting between his paws that must be san lang.
xie lian himself smiles, tired, but a smile none the less. ] Hello, Mr. Kotetsu.
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finley is back in her own tiger form and kotetsu himself is a bit more ... stable looking compared to when he was at the trial itself. he nods his head at xie lian, offering his own bit of a smile. ]
How've you been doing? It's been a bit since we talked.
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xie lian looks away from the two of them though and sits up properly instead of leaning on the tiger, folding his hands in his lap. ]
I am truthfully just glad that this is over. [ the trials, anyway. ] All of it.
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[ he walks a bit closer, finley finding a spot in the grass to settle before he sits down by xie lian. ]
I'm still not looking forward to tomorrow, but... One more world and whatever this end may bring.
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... ]
... Mr. Kotetsu, you're the one who will be finding new realms, aren't you? Are you going to be able to find a way back to where Baraqiel's item is?
no subject
[ But ah. That mention of the item. ]
Probably. [ Then he shakes his head, voice more resolute. ] No. I will. From what I heard, it's something I'll be able to open. I have to find it, for both of you.
For all of us.
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...When the way is found, I want to be the one to retrieve the item. I have two people I would like to take with me. It is likely that you will be needed here. [ sholmes will surely need him, no? ] And if it is another journey as it was for Rin, I intend to carry it on, as it will be a journey to my homeland.
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[ he deeply understands this. ]
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[ one less thing to worry about. he pets the tiger behind him absently, stroking the top of his head. ] It is more than just being personal, truly - for the matter of simple logic, I am familiar with the territory. I have cleared more than one lair of a ghost in my time.
But, I will not allow us to fail. I will need to know the moment it is open - I don't want someone else to be accidentally pulled into it. I am prepared, as are those I'd like to take with me, so whenever the opportunity arises, we will leave.
no subject
We will get this taken care of and we will put things right. I have faith. I've always had it. Even if it seems like I've stumbled along the way. I've never given up. Not for a second.
[ he's been shaken, lost his confidence at times, but he's had this role to keep him facing forward. things he's needed to protect, both in living and dead. even if it's been in secret. ]
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That is good to hear, Mr. Kotetsu. I am glad you have been able to find and hold onto such a thing.
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My role gave me purpose. The people around me became my support. You were a piece of that, so thank you, for having that faith in me.
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Of course.
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It's good to see you smiling. I know times have been hard on you.
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Ah? I suppose so. That's kind of you to say. They've been hard on everyone - I'm quite fine.
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I'll believe you on that. Not like we can really lie this week, right?
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[ even still, the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. ]
That is correct, yes. At any rate, I am simply glad to be moving towards our conclusion.