[ Tsukasa gives her half a smile, a blush creeping up across his cheeks and nose - it's more because she's pointed it out, but the little gesture doesn't help, either. ]
...I don't, do I? I think most people'd consider that a weakness.
[ He's on the fence on what he thinks of it himself - it's gotten him a lot of teasing so far, and he doesn't think it's that great to be unable to lie in a town like this.
On the other hand: he thinks it probably makes him at least a little trustworthy, too. ]
You don't though, do you.
[ it's not really a question, because shinobu's always turning his deprecating remarks into something nice. ]
[ He knows her too well. Her smile is a little impish before it's pure affection. ]
To me, it's a strength. In this town full of lies, your honesty is moonlight on a dark night.
[ It's pure water in a lake full of poison. She doesn't want that to change. What she worries about with him is how gullible and forgiving he is. That jail is proof, and it's too naive even if the people who generally occupy it are there for harmless reasons.
I'll think about it. Maybe I will become mayor and get started on constructing a proper jail.
[ He's joking - he doesn't think he'd make a good one, not really. ]
You're always so poetic... I'm jealous of your way with words. [ ...but that's not the important thing right now, and he clears his throat. ] Um -- flirting isn't going to solve our dilemma, Shishi, so let's hold off on it for the moment.
I'll support a mayor that will build a proper jail.
[ Joking or not, she's sincere about that. They need multiple businesses and services constructed. The recent events have only highlighted how much. ]
You're the one who always flirts first, Tsukasa. [ "Flirts." However they end up like this. She doesn't disagree with him, however, so she maneuvers away from him. ]
Capturing that man, whoever it is, will solve some of it. I wish I had more of an idea.
Mmm... The compliant crossdressing delinquent, Minato -- his hair's also pretty short, so he's out. Shishimaru, too. And it can't be Xie Lian, either. He's as upset as you or I about this whole thing...
He'd never do it. [ Tsukasa's firm on this - if there's anyone he believes in within the Xian Le, it's their most recent family head. And not just because the two of them are similar. ] Where does that leave us?
Honestly... There's some people I'd like to discount as well. [ He's only human -- so is she, and he mimics the touch she'd given him earlier, his fingers brushing her cheek. ] Shishi, I'm sure between the two of us we'll be able to figure out... or rather, lend whoever you're worried for an alibi.
[ ...Mmm. It's his turn to hug her, resting his head against hers. ]
Me too. That's someone I'd like to discount, too...
[ Because, for everything he is, Wei Wuxian is nice. Wei Wuxian is someone he could call, maybe, a friend? He's not someone Tsukasa could think - would think - is capable of something as horrific as what's happened so far. ]
I wonder if he's the one who's sent me such threatening notes through Shigure, too... Ah, not really threatening-threatening, but very angry ones. [ "Do your job!" and all. ] ...No, we're supposed to be building a case for him. Er, his alibi...
[ ...he doesn't know where to begin, because there's no way he can confirm his location at all times. The town is tight-knit, but not that much. ]
No, I don't think he'd harass you or your partner that way.
[ At least she's pretty sure about that. She can't say she knows him as much as others, but she thinks she has a good enough read of his character. She also knows his past, so she knows he's not incapable. It's just now...
Is it so wrong to not want to suspect someone you care about? She knows it's too soft-hearted of her to think that way. ]
It's fine. You don't have to suspect. I don't want to believe it's him. I can continue to do so.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ She's joking, but she's not. He may be the police, but his family has ties to the Xian Le. ]
Even if it didn't, you don't have a face that can lie.
[ She reaches up to brush her fingers across his cheek. ]
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...I don't, do I? I think most people'd consider that a weakness.
[ He's on the fence on what he thinks of it himself - it's gotten him a lot of teasing so far, and he doesn't think it's that great to be unable to lie in a town like this.
On the other hand: he thinks it probably makes him at least a little trustworthy, too. ]
You don't though, do you.
[ it's not really a question, because shinobu's always turning his deprecating remarks into something nice. ]
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To me, it's a strength. In this town full of lies, your honesty is moonlight on a dark night.
[ It's pure water in a lake full of poison. She doesn't want that to change. What she worries about with him is how gullible and forgiving he is. That jail is proof, and it's too naive even if the people who generally occupy it are there for harmless reasons.
The truly horrible often end up dead. ]
I still think your basement needs reform.
[ Her usual smile is back. ]
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[ He's joking - he doesn't think he'd make a good one, not really. ]
You're always so poetic... I'm jealous of your way with words. [ ...but that's not the important thing right now, and he clears his throat. ] Um -- flirting isn't going to solve our dilemma, Shishi, so let's hold off on it for the moment.
[ Calling this flirting is also a joke desu, ]
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[ Joking or not, she's sincere about that. They need multiple businesses and services constructed. The recent events have only highlighted how much. ]
You're the one who always flirts first, Tsukasa. [ "Flirts." However they end up like this. She doesn't disagree with him, however, so she maneuvers away from him. ]
Capturing that man, whoever it is, will solve some of it. I wish I had more of an idea.
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anyway. ]
Mmm... The compliant crossdressing delinquent, Minato -- his hair's also pretty short, so he's out. Shishimaru, too. And it can't be Xie Lian, either. He's as upset as you or I about this whole thing...
[ :thinking: ]
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Shinobu's smile is inscrutable. ]
I hope it wouldn't be Xie Lian. To make his own family buckle like this would be....
[ Terrible. ]
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He'd never do it. [ Tsukasa's firm on this - if there's anyone he believes in within the Xian Le, it's their most recent family head. And not just because the two of them are similar. ] Where does that leave us?
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[ It is perhaps some of their similarities that made Xie Lian endear himself to her so quickly.
Here, Shinobu's smile falls away, and she looks off at the wall. ]
I have some suspicions, but I don't want to admit one of them. I hope it's not him.
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Honestly... There's some people I'd like to discount as well. [ He's only human -- so is she, and he mimics the touch she'd given him earlier, his fingers brushing her cheek. ] Shishi, I'm sure between the two of us we'll be able to figure out... or rather, lend whoever you're worried for an alibi.
[ well
maybe. for her sake, he kind of hopes so. ]
...Tell me?
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There's a small, almost unnoticeable tremble.
In the softest whisper: ]
Wei Wuxian.
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Me too. That's someone I'd like to discount, too...
[ Because, for everything he is, Wei Wuxian is nice. Wei Wuxian is someone he could call, maybe, a friend? He's not someone Tsukasa could think - would think - is capable of something as horrific as what's happened so far. ]
I wonder if he's the one who's sent me such threatening notes through Shigure, too... Ah, not really threatening-threatening, but very angry ones. [ "Do your job!" and all. ] ...No, we're supposed to be building a case for him. Er, his alibi...
[ ...he doesn't know where to begin, because there's no way he can confirm his location at all times. The town is tight-knit, but not that much. ]
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[ At least she's pretty sure about that. She can't say she knows him as much as others, but she thinks she has a good enough read of his character. She also knows his past, so she knows he's not incapable. It's just now...
Is it so wrong to not want to suspect someone you care about? She knows it's too soft-hearted of her to think that way. ]
It's fine. You don't have to suspect. I don't want to believe it's him. I can continue to do so.