a heavy silence ensues from jing yuan as well, the surprise mutual and mirthless. whatever 'plan' it is that jiaoqiu refers to, it had come with a heavy cost, a price he continues to carry into the afterlife. it seems far too cruel, for someone who has only endeavored for the benefit of all the xianzhou.
(...and somewhere in jiaoqiu's words, a curious thread of truth to unravel, that cannot be true at all.)
but it can wait for a moment longer. his thoughts wander briefly to yanqing, who had been so exuberant to serve as ringmaster for the upcoming wardance, as jing yuan himself once had. to everyone else left in the wake of their demise, their treasured friends and allies.
these thoughts ultimately settle on the one here with him. he silently waves a hand in front of jiaoqiu's face, to confirm one suspicion. ]
Your plan was not one that ensured your wellbeing?
[ spoken with grave (albeit hypocritical) concern. ]
Tell me, what happened to you?
[ he would ask if it were the work of hoolay, however given the foxian history with the borisin, it feels prudent not to speak even basic assumptions. ]
[ there's a reaction at least, when he waves a hand - jiaoqiu seems to catch the motion, but it is limited.
he straightens, just a little, where he's standing. like he's going to give a report, like old habits die hard. he can disconnect himself enough to talk about it without feeling anything about it. not that he ever does, anyway; there's nothing to feel. he did his duty, as both Feixiao's retainer, and as a healer. ]
Borisin infiltrated the Luofu, not long before the Wardance. Feixiao knew that there was a chance they were going to take action, and so we requested Hoolay be moved to the Yaoqing. Moze and I made our way to the Shackling Prison to initiate the transfer.
When we arrived at the bottom, we discovered that the borisin had managed to disguise themselves as foxians. They overpowered Miss Xueyi, unleashed Hoolay, and took me prisoner. Moze escaped, on my orders.
[ ... ]
I refused to let Hoolay escape without giving Feixiao a significant advantage.
[ and then - he reaches into his pockets, pulling out a small bottle of red liquid. ]
[ the borisin infiltrating the luofu, their warhead esacping the shackling prison is no pleasant news, especially on the heels of the sanctus medicus. as jiaoqiu steels himself to deliver his report, so does jing yuan to receive it.
(the casualties must have been immense. though despite his fears, there is also a reassurance, and deep gratitude knowing feixiao had been there, flanked by her capable retainers.)
but as for xueyi coming to harm, and jiaoqiu being taken prisoner... jing yuan stares unblinkingly at the vial in jiaoqiu's hand. knowing the foxian's skillset, he can supply one or two vague ideas. ]
I imagine not anything you utilize regularly in your cooking.
[ he'll ask for jiaoqiu to pardon his reach, as he takes the bottle carefully to examine it closer. ]
[ he allows jing yuan to take it, and glances across the room instead. the bottle is mostly full, which makes his skin crawl. ]
It is called Tumbledust. An extract from an exotic flower named Yabruh. With just one drop, it's able to numb a patient's body during surgery, making them painless throughout the entire process. However... increase the dose or the potency, and it'll slow the metabolism, making the blood thin and resulting in the loss of all senses.
I'm sure you know much about borisin customs. They partake in a feast of bloodwine and flesh from their prisoners before battle. Knowing this, I drank the entire bottle I had on my person, and waited for Hoolay to be done with me.
[ he folds his arms. ]
It would have weakened him greatly in his fight against General Feixiao. I hoped to ensure her victory, at the cost of one life.
[ there's an unspoken sigh as jing yuan commits these details to memory. as he conjures, unbidden, the grisly scene of blood and sawteeth. ]
...And now you are here.
[ he cannot praise him, nor can he admonish him. jiaoqiu is cunning by half, but even moreso he is brave, and above all loyal. and for all the horror the situation calls for, there is gratitude as well. a true sense of debt, to go with an unthinkable sacrifice.
jing yuan takes a moment, before he continues, softly. ]
General Feixiao is our greatest warrior across the hexafleet.
[ jiaoqiu folds his arms, but jing yuan requests his hand again so he may return the vial. he folds jiaoqiu's fingers over it and lingers there, his grip warm and weighted over his hand. ]
...I imagine the only great loss she suffered, was you.
[ he takes the bottle, ears pinned back against his skull. ]
... She will survive without me.
[ but there's a weight to it. already, he misses her. he worries. he doesn't know if she survived. it's going to sit on his shoulders for all eight weeks that he is here, and even longer, should he not make it back. he doesn't pull away, either, when jing yuan lingers. jiaoqiu thinks the alliance has lost something more important than anything else in jing yuan being here, but he can't help be feel relief that at the very least, they're within each other's sight.
well. mostly.
his lips purse, and his jaw works for a moment, like he's fighting himself on something. ]
My vision is badly damaged. I can see, but not well. Up close, it is easier, but from far away, it's shapes and blurry colors. I will not be announcing this to anybody, and I'd like for you to keep it to yourself.
it is not a certain end for either of them, however, and jing yuan wouldn't be who he is without a tireless mind. if there is some nebulous way back, as they've been told, they will find it. he will exhaust every avenue to ensure they are able to return home, and it is reassuring to know jiaoqiu is someone who will do the very same.
there's a moment's pause, before he gives jiaoqiu's hand a gentle squeeze. ]
...I am sorry to hear it. I am no healer, but it is my hope there might be a cure to be found in a place such as this. [ miracles and all. ]
But in the meantime, I will exercise discretion. And I ask that you call upon me as you see fit.
that's more true than he really realized, up until this moment. the hand squeeze means that his shoulders slump just a bit, that his posture goes from rigid to just... very exhausted. he hasn't really dealt with any of the emotions of dying, perhaps unsurprisingly. he won't do it now, either. ]
Thank you.
[ he says, finally, voice a touch rough. ]
You can rely on me as well, General, as always.
[ this useless loser can still have a little bit of purpose. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
a heavy silence ensues from jing yuan as well, the surprise mutual and mirthless. whatever 'plan' it is that jiaoqiu refers to, it had come with a heavy cost, a price he continues to carry into the afterlife. it seems far too cruel, for someone who has only endeavored for the benefit of all the xianzhou.
(...and somewhere in jiaoqiu's words, a curious thread of truth to unravel, that cannot be true at all.)
but it can wait for a moment longer. his thoughts wander briefly to yanqing, who had been so exuberant to serve as ringmaster for the upcoming wardance, as jing yuan himself once had. to everyone else left in the wake of their demise, their treasured friends and allies.
these thoughts ultimately settle on the one here with him. he silently waves a hand in front of jiaoqiu's face, to confirm one suspicion. ]
Your plan was not one that ensured your wellbeing?
[ spoken with grave (albeit hypocritical) concern. ]
Tell me, what happened to you?
[ he would ask if it were the work of hoolay, however given the foxian history with the borisin, it feels prudent not to speak even basic assumptions. ]
no subject
he straightens, just a little, where he's standing. like he's going to give a report, like old habits die hard. he can disconnect himself enough to talk about it without feeling anything about it. not that he ever does, anyway; there's nothing to feel. he did his duty, as both Feixiao's retainer, and as a healer. ]
Borisin infiltrated the Luofu, not long before the Wardance. Feixiao knew that there was a chance they were going to take action, and so we requested Hoolay be moved to the Yaoqing. Moze and I made our way to the Shackling Prison to initiate the transfer.
When we arrived at the bottom, we discovered that the borisin had managed to disguise themselves as foxians. They overpowered Miss Xueyi, unleashed Hoolay, and took me prisoner. Moze escaped, on my orders.
[ ... ]
I refused to let Hoolay escape without giving Feixiao a significant advantage.
[ and then - he reaches into his pockets, pulling out a small bottle of red liquid. ]
Do you know what this is, General?
no subject
(the casualties must have been immense. though despite his fears, there is also a reassurance, and deep gratitude knowing feixiao had been there, flanked by her capable retainers.)
but as for xueyi coming to harm, and jiaoqiu being taken prisoner... jing yuan stares unblinkingly at the vial in jiaoqiu's hand. knowing the foxian's skillset, he can supply one or two vague ideas. ]
I imagine not anything you utilize regularly in your cooking.
[ he'll ask for jiaoqiu to pardon his reach, as he takes the bottle carefully to examine it closer. ]
Please enlighten me.
no subject
[ he allows jing yuan to take it, and glances across the room instead. the bottle is mostly full, which makes his skin crawl. ]
It is called Tumbledust. An extract from an exotic flower named Yabruh. With just one drop, it's able to numb a patient's body during surgery, making them painless throughout the entire process. However... increase the dose or the potency, and it'll slow the metabolism, making the blood thin and resulting in the loss of all senses.
I'm sure you know much about borisin customs. They partake in a feast of bloodwine and flesh from their prisoners before battle. Knowing this, I drank the entire bottle I had on my person, and waited for Hoolay to be done with me.
[ he folds his arms. ]
It would have weakened him greatly in his fight against General Feixiao. I hoped to ensure her victory, at the cost of one life.
no subject
[ there's an unspoken sigh as jing yuan commits these details to memory. as he conjures, unbidden, the grisly scene of blood and sawteeth. ]
...And now you are here.
[ he cannot praise him, nor can he admonish him. jiaoqiu is cunning by half, but even moreso he is brave, and above all loyal. and for all the horror the situation calls for, there is gratitude as well. a true sense of debt, to go with an unthinkable sacrifice.
jing yuan takes a moment, before he continues, softly. ]
General Feixiao is our greatest warrior across the hexafleet.
[ jiaoqiu folds his arms, but jing yuan requests his hand again so he may return the vial. he folds jiaoqiu's fingers over it and lingers there, his grip warm and weighted over his hand. ]
...I imagine the only great loss she suffered, was you.
no subject
... She will survive without me.
[ but there's a weight to it. already, he misses her. he worries. he doesn't know if she survived. it's going to sit on his shoulders for all eight weeks that he is here, and even longer, should he not make it back. he doesn't pull away, either, when jing yuan lingers. jiaoqiu thinks the alliance has lost something more important than anything else in jing yuan being here, but he can't help be feel relief that at the very least, they're within each other's sight.
well. mostly.
his lips purse, and his jaw works for a moment, like he's fighting himself on something. ]
My vision is badly damaged. I can see, but not well. Up close, it is easier, but from far away, it's shapes and blurry colors. I will not be announcing this to anybody, and I'd like for you to keep it to yourself.
... Please.
no subject
[ and neither will you, goes unspoken.
it is not a certain end for either of them, however, and jing yuan wouldn't be who he is without a tireless mind. if there is some nebulous way back, as they've been told, they will find it. he will exhaust every avenue to ensure they are able to return home, and it is reassuring to know jiaoqiu is someone who will do the very same.
there's a moment's pause, before he gives jiaoqiu's hand a gentle squeeze. ]
...I am sorry to hear it. I am no healer, but it is my hope there might be a cure to be found in a place such as this. [ miracles and all. ]
But in the meantime, I will exercise discretion. And I ask that you call upon me as you see fit.
no subject
that's more true than he really realized, up until this moment. the hand squeeze means that his shoulders slump just a bit, that his posture goes from rigid to just... very exhausted. he hasn't really dealt with any of the emotions of dying, perhaps unsurprisingly. he won't do it now, either. ]
Thank you.
[ he says, finally, voice a touch rough. ]
You can rely on me as well, General, as always.
[ this useless loser can still have a little bit of purpose. ]