[ knock knock!! there's somebody at your door, claude.
it's xie lian! he'd spotted claude wandering around yesterday, but he seemed to be lacking... well, speech, and there are many important things to be said that require words, so. patiently, he's waited until today to catch his attention.
he wants to make sure he's okay, first of all. other things after. ] Claude? Do you have a moment?
(Sometimes you lose your voice because you ran your mouth all weekend and deserve to stay quiet for a bit. But by Tuesday, he's back to normal! Albeit... totally lacking his sense of smell which has, in turn, thrown off his taste. Breakfast was pretty weird this morning.
Anyway, he's in his room!! Changing out of one set of clothes after running around the jungle all day. When he hears someone at the door, he calls out,)
Just a moment-- (And after a minute or so, he hops over towards the door and cracks it open. He's still... half putting on his shirt, it's no big deal.) Ah, Xie Lian.
[ xie lian has a friendly smile for him when he opens the door, and nods his head in polite thanks as he invites him in. good think he's not one of the 95840294690 girls that has a crush on you claude you could kill someone (like ochako) doing that!
but xie lian is just xie lian and not even aware, so. ] Mm! I was going to come by yesterday, but it seemed like you lost your voice, right...? This effect is so utterly strange, this week. I haven't been able to smell anything for the past two days, but it seems as though I got off lucky.
[ don't worry he's stupid and disinterested in all of those sorts of things. it's only sisi laughing at him!
anyway. xie lian gives him a little smile, waving his hand to clear off the apology, as light and warm as ever. ] Ah... no, it's quite alright, you don't have to apologize to me. It wasn't your fault - and more than anything, I'm just glad that it's resolved, and that you two can easily make amends. That, and... well, I'm glad it didn't end up any worse.
[ he's SO glad for that much. and for their little friendship, restored. two people he likes very much, now back to liking each other!!
time to bend pc timelines a little but that's fine. xie lian tucks his hands in his sleeves. ] You two worried me quite a bit! But...luckily, perhaps, for you and San Lang alike, I do know what happened, and... while it was extremely troubling, it wasn't what I originally thought, so I am glad.
Oh... I'm glad to hear that, Claude - I like you very much, too. That was why I was so worried! [ claude von riegan is a good boy and xie lian adores him. ] Well, in that case, of course I accept your apology. I'm just thankful that it was a spat caused by interference, and not a real problem.
I actually wanted to check in with you a bit beyond that this week, as well. I was wondering if perhaps you would like to work together a little more closely, in the coming weeks.
I have some thoughts, but... I'm not sure if they're true or not. [ i, oocly, know why they were picked, and i can assure that xie lian's thoughts are completely wrong
but that's fine. anyway! moving on. he makes a quiet noise of agreement. ] En, I do.
...I want to be able to save the Realm, and do so with as little loss as possible. And I think that the way that we are all separated does us no favors - our team leaders each only know certain things, and we limit ourselves into fear and fright by staying disjointed, and staring into the unknown. With the knowledge that there may be some beast or monster involved, it is more important now than ever that we are all working together in as many ways as we can.
[ xie lian gives claude a little smile. ] ...I do like you very much, Claude. And I think you're very clever. I think we - and San Lang, too, of course - could work very well together, if we can.
On that same note, I don't mind sharing my team with you, if you will share yours with me in exchange. I have spoken of it once, this week, and have been informed that three times is the maximum, though I'd like to share it in trust that the knowledge will be safe. Alright?
I agree. I know everyone is out there forming their own networks... I have my own, even. But the way we're disconnected, it's difficult to share what we know so everyone is working with only parts of the story.
(And this is frustrating! Even for someone like Claude who enjoys puzzles. These are puzzles that get people killed and he doesn't like that! He sighs, and runs a hand through his hair,)
Very well. (He nods,) I'm willing to work with you. Both of you. There are a lot of mysteries here but the best solution still seems to be the same each time: We work together but we work carefully.
(They covered for him that night. They were able to forgive him for this past week. He'd already liked them before but... both Hua Cheng and Xie Lian had proven themselves valuable to him so he has no qualms,)
I'm still within my limit so I'll tell you... My leader is Fox.
(Which is fitting, isn't it? For a lying schemer like him.)
Clever creatures. [ a fox, anyway. xie lian smiles, a little. he's compared san lang to a fox before, too. cunning, yes, but light on his feet. clever, sometimes tricky, but not in a way that xie lian doesn't like.
he gives a dip of his head, accepting his answer, both for working together, and in thankfulness for going along with the terms. ] Mine is Goat.
I think that is a good thing, to be on separate teams. The Leaders seem to have different realms of what they know, and what they don't - it is a good way to compare and gather a more complete picture of this place.
Hah.(There's something funny about Xie Lian's answer, ) A goat, huh?
(Interesting.)
I've noticed that. It seems each leader seems to know something different and each week... some of them learn something different while others don't. I'm still trying to figure out what everyone knows exactly but I don't think they even know.
I do believe I am as stubborn as one. [ xie lian acquiesces with a laugh, poking at himself. ] So...in that sense, it certainly fits me.
[ at least that's why he thinks claude thinks it's funny!! ]
I agree, too. It's troubling - our Leaders here are often just as blind as we are, and I think that many of us forget that. We are all just trying to stumble towards similar goals.
(Something about what Xie Lian says makes him go quiet, almost thoughtful as if something has clicked in place for him,)
Is that what you think? (Being stubborn?) ... That's one way to put it.
(And like the wind, he brushes over to the next topic, moving on without another thought,)
And what are those goals exactly? Which ones are you aware of? There's the one we were told initially, to collect Nova and help the Realm recover. There's this monster that Elsa mentioned a few days ago that seems to be the source of our troubles.
Then there are the general goals... working together, protecting our leaders, trying to stay alive each week...
(And so many more. But it would help to know they're on the same page. Or rather, the same pages.)
[ xie lian gives him a soft smile as he asks that question. ]
...My goal is, and has always been, to protect as many people as I can. To restore the Realm is to help save all of us - not just those who are walking within it right now, but the worlds that is attached to, who have no choice in the matter.
I want to minimize the amount of loss and tragedy, as we have all experienced so much already. I want to help, as much as I can.
[ he'd said it to claude before, after all. my dream is to help the common people. ]
I would give up every memory in my head if that was what it took to do so.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w3, tuesday afternoon!!!
it's xie lian! he'd spotted claude wandering around yesterday, but he seemed to be lacking... well, speech, and there are many important things to be said that require words, so. patiently, he's waited until today to catch his attention.
he wants to make sure he's okay, first of all. other things after. ] Claude? Do you have a moment?
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Anyway, he's in his room!! Changing out of one set of clothes after running around the jungle all day. When he hears someone at the door, he calls out,)
Just a moment-- (And after a minute or so, he hops over towards the door and cracks it open. He's still... half putting on his shirt, it's no big deal.) Ah, Xie Lian.
(He was looking for him yesterday, right? )
I was hoping I'd see you today. Come in.
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but xie lian is just xie lian and not even aware, so. ] Mm! I was going to come by yesterday, but it seemed like you lost your voice, right...? This effect is so utterly strange, this week. I haven't been able to smell anything for the past two days, but it seems as though I got off lucky.
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Ah, that's me today... I haven't been able to smell anything all day which you wouldn't think would be a problem until you start eating.
(Anyway he'll close the door behind them and immediately--)
I owe you an apology. You and Hua Cheng. I don't... know what happened last week.
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anyway. xie lian gives him a little smile, waving his hand to clear off the apology, as light and warm as ever. ] Ah... no, it's quite alright, you don't have to apologize to me. It wasn't your fault - and more than anything, I'm just glad that it's resolved, and that you two can easily make amends. That, and... well, I'm glad it didn't end up any worse.
[ he's SO glad for that much. and for their little friendship, restored. two people he likes very much, now back to liking each other!!
time to bend pc timelines a little but that's fine. xie lian tucks his hands in his sleeves. ] You two worried me quite a bit! But...luckily, perhaps, for you and San Lang alike, I do know what happened, and... while it was extremely troubling, it wasn't what I originally thought, so I am glad.
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(He's going to be reeling from this for awhile,)
I really like both of you, you know. And the last thing I want to do is cause either of you... well, more trouble.
(Because he's Claude so he is, inevitably, trouble.)
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Oh... I'm glad to hear that, Claude - I like you very much, too. That was why I was so worried! [ claude von riegan is a good boy and xie lian adores him. ] Well, in that case, of course I accept your apology. I'm just thankful that it was a spat caused by interference, and not a real problem.
I actually wanted to check in with you a bit beyond that this week, as well. I was wondering if perhaps you would like to work together a little more closely, in the coming weeks.
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(Why them! But oh. What's this?)
You mean sharing information about this place.
(Forming a network.)
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but that's fine. anyway! moving on. he makes a quiet noise of agreement. ] En, I do.
...I want to be able to save the Realm, and do so with as little loss as possible. And I think that the way that we are all separated does us no favors - our team leaders each only know certain things, and we limit ourselves into fear and fright by staying disjointed, and staring into the unknown. With the knowledge that there may be some beast or monster involved, it is more important now than ever that we are all working together in as many ways as we can.
[ xie lian gives claude a little smile. ] ...I do like you very much, Claude. And I think you're very clever. I think we - and San Lang, too, of course - could work very well together, if we can.
On that same note, I don't mind sharing my team with you, if you will share yours with me in exchange. I have spoken of it once, this week, and have been informed that three times is the maximum, though I'd like to share it in trust that the knowledge will be safe. Alright?
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(And this is frustrating! Even for someone like Claude who enjoys puzzles. These are puzzles that get people killed and he doesn't like that! He sighs, and runs a hand through his hair,)
Very well. (He nods,) I'm willing to work with you. Both of you. There are a lot of mysteries here but the best solution still seems to be the same each time: We work together but we work carefully.
(They covered for him that night. They were able to forgive him for this past week. He'd already liked them before but... both Hua Cheng and Xie Lian had proven themselves valuable to him so he has no qualms,)
I'm still within my limit so I'll tell you... My leader is Fox.
(Which is fitting, isn't it? For a lying schemer like him.)
no subject
he gives a dip of his head, accepting his answer, both for working together, and in thankfulness for going along with the terms. ] Mine is Goat.
I think that is a good thing, to be on separate teams. The Leaders seem to have different realms of what they know, and what they don't - it is a good way to compare and gather a more complete picture of this place.
no subject
(Interesting.)
I've noticed that. It seems each leader seems to know something different and each week... some of them learn something different while others don't. I'm still trying to figure out what everyone knows exactly but I don't think they even know.
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[ at least that's why he thinks claude thinks it's funny!! ]
I agree, too. It's troubling - our Leaders here are often just as blind as we are, and I think that many of us forget that. We are all just trying to stumble towards similar goals.
no subject
Is that what you think? (Being stubborn?) ... That's one way to put it.
(And like the wind, he brushes over to the next topic, moving on without another thought,)
And what are those goals exactly? Which ones are you aware of? There's the one we were told initially, to collect Nova and help the Realm recover. There's this monster that Elsa mentioned a few days ago that seems to be the source of our troubles.
Then there are the general goals... working together, protecting our leaders, trying to stay alive each week...
(And so many more. But it would help to know they're on the same page. Or rather, the same pages.)
no subject
...My goal is, and has always been, to protect as many people as I can. To restore the Realm is to help save all of us - not just those who are walking within it right now, but the worlds that is attached to, who have no choice in the matter.
I want to minimize the amount of loss and tragedy, as we have all experienced so much already. I want to help, as much as I can.
[ he'd said it to claude before, after all. my dream is to help the common people. ]
I would give up every memory in my head if that was what it took to do so.