Her smile fades a little when she sees him without his usual lightheartedness, but it doesn't disappear. Her smile is as much a shield as it is a weapon. ]
Yes. [ Her voice is as soft as ever, but it's not sweet. ] I heard about the kidnappings. Itaru found a little girl, who suffered enough that she's now too afraid to speak.
[ Sometimes, life should not come fast to a young child like that. ]
[Life should absolutely not come fast to a young child like that HOO BOY!! There's a brief flash - a frigid sort of fury that cuts across Wei Wuxian's face, sharp and unpleasant. It's there and gone in a blink, but considering what fine control he usually has, it's clear Something has upset that grasp.]
There have been a couple of other incidents this week already. [ALL ARE UNSETTLING but first and foremost, as is his priority:] One was too close to Yiling, so I put a curfew in place for now. Ran across some violence in an alley while I was out with A-yuan but by the time I got back, the place was cleared. I don't really have much to go off of, but I wanted to see if you knew anything about that - if there have been any problems with anyone who smells strongly of coffee and smoke.
[Boy does he wish he had more to ask about than that since "smells like coffee beans and smoke" could cover a lot of people in this town, but it's about all he's got for now.]
[ If she weren't looking at him intently, she would've missed that. In some ways, it's almost a relief to see that, if only the circumstances weren't so dire.
Her eyes widen, and her own posture goes rigid. ]
I'm sorry that this turmoil is coming so close to your home. [ Considering how many orphans he houses and that it's meant to be a refuge, it's sickening to hear. ] Whoever's doing this should leave neutral territory as that.
[ She won't be naive to say that there shouldn't be trouble anywhere. That's not the town for that. It's true that mells like coffee and smoke could describe so many in Montevallo but...
This is where she forces herself to relax a little. She's not smiling anymore, but she unfurls the fist she unconsciously made around the surgical scissors in her hand. She sets those down. ]
I did overhear a conversation between two Xian Le members the other day, who were both smoking. They were talking about how someone was interfering with their business.
[He hums a little, first - a small, surprisingly soft note of agreement amidst his tension and anger. He's under no disillusions about this town or the sort of lifestyle that goes hand-in-hand with organized crime, and he understands just as well that even "neutral" territories are subject to danger when sandwiched between feuding families. Still...]
The fact that Middleton seems to be getting more involved - it worries me. [TO SAY THE LEAST. He drums his fingers against his chin, frowning as he considers what he knows, considers what to say next since boy he still has TOO MUCH TO SAY.
The mention of the Xian Le members has him looking back up, though, temporarily distracted.]
—Two of them? Did you get a good look at either? Or did they mention anything else?
[ She shakes her head, and her frustration is clear in how her words are a little more clipped than usual. ]
No, as I tried to get closer, they decided to walk into the hosiery store. [ Do you think she'd say Legal Fun Time in a serious manner aloud? ] Their shoes left some dirt and mud residue behind.
[ But that narrows things down as much as coffee beans and smoke. It's not enough. ]
The way things have been happening, the more vile activities occur—the more I feel like something has to change.
[The tension of the situation just immediately gets cut down 20 notches the second she says Legal Fun Time.
He bites the side of his thumb, a gesture caught between expressing his agitation and how fast his mind is working over this information.]
Could've been out near the lake, maybe? But there are a lot of unpaved back roads, and with all of the rain... [A sigh. It really does make things difficult to pinpoint. At least he can agree with the rest of what she says without having to even think about it.]
Something needs to change, because the pattern we're already seeing is a dangerous one.
[ Just like he has, she's thought and overthought it enough that she drove herself in circles. All she needs is to choose a place to start. ]
I would rather look into everything and find nothing than learn later there was something to be found some place we could've looked. I'm preoccupied for the next few days, but I can try after that.
[ Shinobu moves away from all her sharp tools and takes a seat next to Wei Wuxian. She folds her hands on top of her lap, the picture of poise. ]
I will fly into danger myself if it'll halt where this pattern is heading.
[There's another little hum; he hadn't been able to accept Obi-wan's suggestion of waiting and seeing, so of course he agrees with anything productive.]
I'll take a look around, too. [Somehow he ends up with a stolen mafia car and 2 kids out of his future endeavors. WILD.
He glances over toward her when she moves to take a seat, though. Their ranks are certainly filled with people who make good on their promises, and who risk life and limb to do so. He drums his fingers against his chin.]
...I'd hoped not to revisit the things that I left behind, you know? [Hoped, because he'll do what's necessary to keep his people safe.] But it's already too close to home to ignore.
[ Shinobu gains a niece(?), so it's not quite as wild as Wei Wuxian. Itaru may or may not give him some apple pie in the future.
An air of gravity settles over her, and she holds out a hand to him, palm up. They may not be the closest, but she wants to show her support in more ways than one even if it's a small gesture. ]
There are others here. You don't need to go that far, you can ask people you trust to help, but I know what extents I'd go for the people I want to protect. I can't tell you not to, too.
[ But she's the one who went into the mafia for a chance at revenge, and even with her compassionate heart, she hasn't questioned her choice. Her anger runs deep. ]
[Shinobu... Life sure is wild these days!! But being a tactile person in general, he appreciates the gesture. After a second, he sets his hand against hers, lining their palms and fingers up as best he can. It's grounding, at least, and a comfort.]
I know. [And he does, but he's always had a bad habit of standing without support even when it's offered. There's a little huff of a laugh; he bumps his shoulder against Shinobu's and gives her hand a little squeeze.]
But those are my people and that's our home, and I would do anything for them. [He knows Shinobu understands. Probably more than most, honestly - they're not dissimilar in their fierce protectiveness or in the roots of anger that can run far below.
After a beat:] —I don't think it needs to be said and I'm sure he already knows just as much if not more, but if you could bring this to Xie Lian's attention...
[ His acceptance of her gesture makes her smile genuinely, something she wonders how often she'll get to do in the near future with what's going on. Everything is getting grimmer and more dangerous, and it's enough to make her smile as a reflex so her dark emotions don't override her other ones.
The smile fades after a moment. ]
I'll tell him. Whatever happiness you can give your home and the people in it should be protected. [ A small pause. ] I worry a little about what he'll do sometimes.
[ Xie Lian tries to be too hands on sometimes, and while that's admirable, it also doesn't always lead to the best results. ]
[Yeah he's sure going to be smiling a lot less often too if people keep throwing gatling guns through his roof.
He sure understands her sentiment though, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand.]
His heart is good and I'd certainly be the last person to fault anyone for wanting to be hands-on, but still... [Some of the decisions he makes show how little time he's spent playing the game, so to say.]
I'd imagine it's even more of a stress for all of you.
[ She hums, a soft noncommittal note. She appreciates everything Xie Lian has done for her, and the growth she's seen in him in the last few months is staggering, but... he does need to wield that kindness of his in a different way. As a leader, it must transform. ]
He will prevail. He must, if we're going to get through this and stop more tragedy from occurring. I will do my part.
[ Her smile is a little uneven. ]
I imagine he's more of a stress to his bodyguards than to me.
Mm. Let's all do what we can, then, to keep the damage from worsening.
[That gets a huff of a laugh from him - genuine, and lighter than anything else so far in this conversation.]
Oh, I'm sure. I tease them about the grey hair soon to be in their future all the time! Seph's lucky that his hair was like that before he got the job.
One time, I heard he turned someone down just because he didn't like that he could see the kind of bald-ish spot where her hair parted with their height differences! Can you believe it?
[It's hard to tell if he's making this up or not...]
[That just gets him to laugh... This is probably the first time he's had a genuine good guffaw in a while and will PROBABLY BE THE LAST IN A WHILE TOO, IF PEOPLE KEEP BRINGING HIM INJURED KIDS AND THROWING GATLING GUNS AT HIS HOUSE. But Jiang Cheng is like a precious little brother to him, which means he gets to reap the reward of being endlessly bullied by an older sibling.]
Goodness, I've never heard it put so perfectly before! I don't want to see him end up alone, so maybe I really should enroll him in some etiquette classes...
[How could Shinobu ever be anything but sparklingly pure and kind!!]
I do think you're right about that! I'll have to go sign him up right away, then.
[With one last gentle squeeze, he lets her hand go and moves to stand. Things are still certainly dire - and they'll apparently only get worse - but it does feel nice to leave in a marginally better mood than he walked in with.]
Thanks for sparing the time in your busy schedule, madam doctor.
Anything for a patient like you. Feel free to come by any time if you're hurt, have another story to share, or want to plan etiquette classes for other people who need it.
[ Her heart is heavy with the information he shared, but she's more grateful to know it than not.
She walks over to the door to let him out. Even if improving moods isn't exactly her expertise, she's happy to provide the service. ]
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Her smile fades a little when she sees him without his usual lightheartedness, but it doesn't disappear. Her smile is as much a shield as it is a weapon. ]
Yes. [ Her voice is as soft as ever, but it's not sweet. ] I heard about the kidnappings. Itaru found a little girl, who suffered enough that she's now too afraid to speak.
[ Sometimes, life should not come fast to a young child like that. ]
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There have been a couple of other incidents this week already. [ALL ARE UNSETTLING but first and foremost, as is his priority:] One was too close to Yiling, so I put a curfew in place for now. Ran across some violence in an alley while I was out with A-yuan but by the time I got back, the place was cleared. I don't really have much to go off of, but I wanted to see if you knew anything about that - if there have been any problems with anyone who smells strongly of coffee and smoke.
[Boy does he wish he had more to ask about than that since "smells like coffee beans and smoke" could cover a lot of people in this town, but it's about all he's got for now.]
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Her eyes widen, and her own posture goes rigid. ]
I'm sorry that this turmoil is coming so close to your home. [ Considering how many orphans he houses and that it's meant to be a refuge, it's sickening to hear. ] Whoever's doing this should leave neutral territory as that.
[ She won't be naive to say that there shouldn't be trouble anywhere. That's not the town for that. It's true that mells like coffee and smoke could describe so many in Montevallo but...
This is where she forces herself to relax a little. She's not smiling anymore, but she unfurls the fist she unconsciously made around the surgical scissors in her hand. She sets those down. ]
I did overhear a conversation between two Xian Le members the other day, who were both smoking. They were talking about how someone was interfering with their business.
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The fact that Middleton seems to be getting more involved - it worries me. [TO SAY THE LEAST. He drums his fingers against his chin, frowning as he considers what he knows, considers what to say next since boy he still has TOO MUCH TO SAY.
The mention of the Xian Le members has him looking back up, though, temporarily distracted.]
—Two of them? Did you get a good look at either? Or did they mention anything else?
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No, as I tried to get closer, they decided to walk into the hosiery store. [ Do you think she'd say Legal Fun Time in a serious manner aloud? ] Their shoes left some dirt and mud residue behind.
[ But that narrows things down as much as coffee beans and smoke. It's not enough. ]
The way things have been happening, the more vile activities occur—the more I feel like something has to change.
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He bites the side of his thumb, a gesture caught between expressing his agitation and how fast his mind is working over this information.]
Could've been out near the lake, maybe? But there are a lot of unpaved back roads, and with all of the rain... [A sigh. It really does make things difficult to pinpoint. At least he can agree with the rest of what she says without having to even think about it.]
Something needs to change, because the pattern we're already seeing is a dangerous one.
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[ Just like he has, she's thought and overthought it enough that she drove herself in circles. All she needs is to choose a place to start. ]
I would rather look into everything and find nothing than learn later there was something to be found some place we could've looked. I'm preoccupied for the next few days, but I can try after that.
[ Shinobu moves away from all her sharp tools and takes a seat next to Wei Wuxian. She folds her hands on top of her lap, the picture of poise. ]
I will fly into danger myself if it'll halt where this pattern is heading.
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I'll take a look around, too. [Somehow he ends up with a stolen mafia car and 2 kids out of his future endeavors. WILD.
He glances over toward her when she moves to take a seat, though. Their ranks are certainly filled with people who make good on their promises, and who risk life and limb to do so. He drums his fingers against his chin.]
...I'd hoped not to revisit the things that I left behind, you know? [Hoped, because he'll do what's necessary to keep his people safe.] But it's already too close to home to ignore.
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An air of gravity settles over her, and she holds out a hand to him, palm up. They may not be the closest, but she wants to show her support in more ways than one even if it's a small gesture. ]
There are others here. You don't need to go that far, you can ask people you trust to help, but I know what extents I'd go for the people I want to protect. I can't tell you not to, too.
[ But she's the one who went into the mafia for a chance at revenge, and even with her compassionate heart, she hasn't questioned her choice. Her anger runs deep. ]
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I know. [And he does, but he's always had a bad habit of standing without support even when it's offered. There's a little huff of a laugh; he bumps his shoulder against Shinobu's and gives her hand a little squeeze.]
But those are my people and that's our home, and I would do anything for them. [He knows Shinobu understands. Probably more than most, honestly - they're not dissimilar in their fierce protectiveness or in the roots of anger that can run far below.
After a beat:] —I don't think it needs to be said and I'm sure he already knows just as much if not more, but if you could bring this to Xie Lian's attention...
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The smile fades after a moment. ]
I'll tell him. Whatever happiness you can give your home and the people in it should be protected. [ A small pause. ] I worry a little about what he'll do sometimes.
[ Xie Lian tries to be too hands on sometimes, and while that's admirable, it also doesn't always lead to the best results. ]
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He sure understands her sentiment though, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand.]
His heart is good and I'd certainly be the last person to fault anyone for wanting to be hands-on, but still... [Some of the decisions he makes show how little time he's spent playing the game, so to say.]
I'd imagine it's even more of a stress for all of you.
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He will prevail. He must, if we're going to get through this and stop more tragedy from occurring. I will do my part.
[ Her smile is a little uneven. ]
I imagine he's more of a stress to his bodyguards than to me.
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[That gets a huff of a laugh from him - genuine, and lighter than anything else so far in this conversation.]
Oh, I'm sure. I tease them about the grey hair soon to be in their future all the time! Seph's lucky that his hair was like that before he got the job.
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He is. At this rate, Jiang Cheng will have no chance at getting a date even if he wants one.
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If that boy wanted a date, he'd have to take at least ten etiquette classes first. Some of the things he's said to women are really something else.
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Would you care to give me an example?
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[It's hard to tell if he's making this up or not...]
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[ It's hard to tell if she's joking or not. ]
He'd be angry enough to do that for one reason or another. His looks would get him a date. His personality won't allow him to keep one.
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Goodness, I've never heard it put so perfectly before! I don't want to see him end up alone, so maybe I really should enroll him in some etiquette classes...
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It would do him wonders. We're only thinking of his future happiness. He'll thank you one day for it.
[ Jiang Cheng is too easy of a bully target. ]
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I do think you're right about that! I'll have to go sign him up right away, then.
[With one last gentle squeeze, he lets her hand go and moves to stand. Things are still certainly dire - and they'll apparently only get worse - but it does feel nice to leave in a marginally better mood than he walked in with.]
Thanks for sparing the time in your busy schedule, madam doctor.
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[ Her heart is heavy with the information he shared, but she's more grateful to know it than not.
She walks over to the door to let him out. Even if improving moods isn't exactly her expertise, she's happy to provide the service. ]
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[Though with luck (haha) he'll only have to come back to plan etiquette classes.
With that and a wave, though, he's off! Remember him fondly.]