[ it was foreboding to see the remains of campsites, especially when the evidence suggests they’ve been there for years, maybe decades. shinobu is on high alert, not only because she expects dangers within the cavern but also because she doesn’t fully trust her exploration companion yet. it’s hard to undo years of experience and prejudice, and one good demon cannot undo all the suffering she’s seen.
however, she wants to find a way to end this ritual or whatever before more suffering begins. as they go deeper, her feeling of foreboding grows as the humidity does. she enters the cove and stops in her tracks, her eyes fastened to the blood and the skeleton. ]
[it's been unsettling, to say the least. he'd gotten the impression they weren't the first because of the tally marks, the ghosts... the camp remains are further proof, and he doesn't care for it at all.
when she stops, so does he-- he can't feel the humidity, so the water is a surprise, but his eyes widen at the sight of that blood and skeleton both.]
Were they... trying to escape...? Isn't this too much blood...
[it might not be the blood pool round 2, but that's-- still bad, and he frowns as he steps forward first.]
[ She watches carefully in case there's something lying in wait. If it were someone solely trying to escape, there isn't as much to worry about, but if that person were trapped there to die, then... ]
I did, as well, but he didn't seem hurt from what I could see. There was also something suspicious in the lighthouse, but I couldn't find a way in.
[ She's already resigned to the idea that this has happened multiple times before, but that doesn't mean she'll allow it to happen again without doing something.
Her eyes snap to the water, and she wars between being risky and being cautious. How much does she care for the well-being of someone who could still be a demon?
She puts her hand on the hilt of her sword.
Wen Ning is innocent until proven guilty.
She takes a step forward, too, because she won't be a coward, and the snakes emerge, quick as whips. ]
[as soon as they emerge, he does his best to put himself between the snakes and shinobu-- and while he may have his knife on him, he doesn't bother to draw it.
he lashes out with a swipe of his arm first, the chains attached to his wrist smacking one snake away; after that, though, he just reaches for any snake that's nearby, grabbing them bare-handed, not caring about being bitten. he won't feel it.
[ They're going to be stubborn for a while because she doesn't know how much of the snakes attacking is natural and how much of it is this ancient ritual trying to protect itself. Or more specifically, the people behind this apparent killing ritual.
She kicks a snake away. ]
Are you putting yourself in danger like that because you've already died?
[ Wow, things are not looking great! But Shinobu sure is looking at a dead... living corpse? Wherever Wen Ning may be this fine night, she stops to greet him. ]
Hello, Wen Ning-san. Are things as terrible for you as they are for us?
[hello, shinobu... he's sitting around where that memorial flayn set up was, actually. since they evidently brought the items back after investigating, he's just hanging out here by himself, but he looks up when he sees her.
his head is detached from his body, sitting in his lap for now, and after he bows his... shoulders... he pauses a moment at her question.
[ A decapitated corpse... She's seen enough in her time that her smile doesn't falter, but being bowed to by one is a little new. ]
You choose silence over saying whatever that noise is. [ That's fair. She's not really judging that. ] But you don't disagree we're doing terribly right now.
[another pause, before he tries to shake his head. sort of. there's no head attached, of course, so it's more a sort of left-and-right sway of the shoulders to give the impression of the same motion.
It's a moral dilemma. Would you choose to save ten lives because you believe that voice? Do you condemn eleven to save them? Is it worth it? Can you say those lives are worth more than those that are sacrificed?
[the two fingers in response to her last statement are almost immediate, and he tries his best to nod, without really thinking about it.
he doesn't want to, either.
but then he's dead, so he supposes he's not really playing anyway, is he? maybe it's wrong of him to be a little relieved there's nothing he can do, as much as he wants to try to help.]
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week 1 tuesday
however, she wants to find a way to end this ritual or whatever before more suffering begins. as they go deeper, her feeling of foreboding grows as the humidity does. she enters the cove and stops in her tracks, her eyes fastened to the blood and the skeleton. ]
A sacrifice?
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when she stops, so does he-- he can't feel the humidity, so the water is a surprise, but his eyes widen at the sight of that blood and skeleton both.]
Were they... trying to escape...? Isn't this too much blood...
[it might not be the blood pool round 2, but that's-- still bad, and he frowns as he steps forward first.]
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It seems more like a murder.
[ With that much blood, that's her conclusion. ]
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[he hates that thought, thanks. if they aren't, then maybe there's no way out of this for all of them--
no, he can't let himself think like that yet, he has to focus. wei wuxian will be waiting.]
I met a... ghost, I think. Last night. He was bloody, too.
[so, more possible evidence for previous Murders. wen ning steps closer to the skeleton--
and looks up in alarm as the water ripples.]
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[ She's already resigned to the idea that this has happened multiple times before, but that doesn't mean she'll allow it to happen again without doing something.
Her eyes snap to the water, and she wars between being risky and being cautious. How much does she care for the well-being of someone who could still be a demon?
She puts her hand on the hilt of her sword.
Wen Ning is innocent until proven guilty.
She takes a step forward, too, because she won't be a coward, and the snakes emerge, quick as whips. ]
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he lashes out with a swipe of his arm first, the chains attached to his wrist smacking one snake away; after that, though, he just reaches for any snake that's nearby, grabbing them bare-handed, not caring about being bitten. he won't feel it.
what's a few more holes in his flesh, anyway?]
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It's not exactly a first, but it is a rarity. ]
I don't think they want us to stay.
[ That makes Shinobu contrary, and she stabs any snake that gets past Wen Ning, dodging most bites and forcing them back towards the shallow lake. ]
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[he says that as he just sort of snaps a snake's neck, dropping the body aside and kicking another away. sure, she's capable--
but he meant what he said before. it's better if he gets hurt, not someone living, so he's not backing off unless she does.]
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She kicks a snake away. ]
Are you putting yourself in danger like that because you've already died?
[ His lack of hesitation is noted. ]
week 2, saturday
Hello, Wen Ning-san. Are things as terrible for you as they are for us?
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his head is detached from his body, sitting in his lap for now, and after he bows his... shoulders... he pauses a moment at her question.
then just waves a hand vaguely.]
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You choose silence over saying whatever that noise is. [ That's fair. She's not really judging that. ] But you don't disagree we're doing terribly right now.
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wen ning is doing his best.]
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Please hold up one finger for yes and two fingers for no. For anything else, you can embellish.
We may all die tomorrow.
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his expression reflects that confusion, and he gives her the same vague little hand gesture, not wanting to just be rude and do nothing.]
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Do you believe that voice?
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the one finger stays.]
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[ She watches him carefully, her voice almost too sweet. ]
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but he can't give her a direct yes or no to that question.]
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I don't wish to play this kind of game.
[ She sounds bright, but her eyes are angry. ]
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he doesn't want to, either.
but then he's dead, so he supposes he's not really playing anyway, is he? maybe it's wrong of him to be a little relieved there's nothing he can do, as much as he wants to try to help.]
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Shinobu smiles, but it's more of a reflex than anything else right now. ]
Did you know Flayn-san was kind enough to wonder if we broke this ritual, would the dead come back? I said it would be nice.
[ She meant it even if her hope for it isn't high. How often does that happen? ]
I want to find a way.
[ She just doesn't know how possible. Pretty close to impossible. ]
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saying she wants to find a way gets the uno finger of agreement.]
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[ Is there a deeper meaning, or is it just because it's spooky? ]
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That you're still around has to mean something.
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another uno agreement finger, there.]
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[ maybe there is a mastermind she should be worrying about and maybe this ritual isn't all it's said to be, but
why not ask when they could all die tomorrow? ]
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he can't use words, and charades are hard to play if he wants to get something across. but--
oh, maybe that would work.
after a long pause where he's clearly thinking, he holds up three fingers. take it as you will, shinobu.]
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[ She tilts her head to the side. ]
What is that supposed to mean?
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but! he remembers where they are, and has an idea.
he gets up, head tucked under one arm, and walks to a nearby rock. he gestures to it.
then he moves to where that memorial was set up, pointing back over to the rock and then to the ground. he holds 3 fingers up again.
an effort's being made... listen she didn't ask if what he was thinking about was relevant at all. she asked, so he's attempting to answer.]
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She follows his movement, and it doesn't take her long. ]
Anaido-san? Did you two connect?
[ In death? ]
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sometimes you double die but it's ok because you make friends.]