pc catch-all, xie lian

[veraltwin]

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w2, post-trial

[veraltwin]

[After the trial's over and everything is said and done, Alisaie is... not going to go far from the manor, actually! She's sticking close, and is mostly just trying to find someplace to be alone, whether that's indoors or outside. IT ISN'T WORKING VERY WELL.

Xie Lian is welcome to run into her anywhere, but when she hears him Alisaie will whip in his direction, hand going to the pommel of her rapier.]

Who goes there?

[yueshen]

[ oh hello - he is not expecting someone to just be ready to Fight when he rounds the corner, so.

xie lian lifts both of his hands up in surrender. he is a beacon in all white, so. ]

Miss Alisaie, it is just me - erm, Xie Lian. Are you alright...?

[veraltwin]

[Even though his actions happen first, it takes until she hears her voice for her to remove her hand from her blade, lowering it to her side.]

Ah, Xie Lian. Forgive me, I'm a bit on edge after earlier.

[yueshen]

It's alright - I can't blame you.

[ could. could anyone.

he gives her a gentle smile, though, slowly lowering his hands. ] I thought perhaps we could chat, for a moment. If that's alright?

[veraltwin]

Of course. Where would you like to speak?

w3, friday

[veraltwin]

[Sometime after headcount, Alisaie will be in the church--a curious place to be, considering she still can't see, but she's sitting in one of the pews, legs crossed, staring intently at one of the mosaics. Taf is in her lap, similarly focused.

If Xie Lian doesn't say anything she'll notice him in a minute, but... she really wishes she could see these with her own eyes right now.]

[yueshen]

[ alisaie your eyeballs

xie lian doesn't say anything immediately - his footsteps echo in the church, though. it appears he's returning back to where he spent the night before, worried, and looking for susato.

but... spotting the young lady, he makes his way over, and calls, quietly - ]

...Miss Alisaie. [ to alert her to his presence. ]

[veraltwin]

[The footsteps are enough to catch her attention, actually. (As they speak, Xie Lian will very likely be able to catch her responding to the tiniest of sounds, perhaps sounds even he cannot hear.) Still, his voice is appreciated, if only because it lets her know who's there before Taf can see him.]

Xie Lian.

You were in here last night, were you not? With... Susato.

[yueshen]

[ grip's abi's hands i played a blind character last game i understand your struggle

as ever, his voice is very gentle, but - alisaie will hear a soft, sad quality to it, today. ]

...I was. I came back to look - hoping perhaps that San Lang would have been able to catch her scent.

[ san lang, a qilin, makes a soft whine noise - that's a no. ] ...but we have had no such luck. What's brought you here, something of the same?

[veraltwin]

[i'm honestly having fun with it ngl :')

She shakes her head, though.]

Much as I'd like to scour this town from top to bottom to find her, I recognize that there are several factors which would hinder my ability to do so.

I came here because of yesterday. Alphinaud described the mosaics to me earlier this week, and I confess to finding some similarities in what he told me and what we found.

w3, post-trial

[veraltwin]

[Did they even clear out of the church at all after all of that? Or did they just sit there waiting until everyone was gone? I don't know.

But yikes.]

...do you think these days will ever become any easier, Xie Lian?

[yueshen]

[ probably just sitting there. xie lian just looked like he was going to vibrate out of his skin as it ended, heart-rendingly miserable and angry and a thousand other emotions just under the surface of his calm expression. he's got his fists clenched in his lap, at the moment, and when alisaie speaks to him, he takes a deep, shaky breath. ]

...No, Miss Alisaie. I don't think they ever will.

[ the emotion is in his voice even as he speaks quietly. ] Nothing about loss can ever be easy.

[veraltwin]

[It makes two of them, though Alisaie's expression tells most of her story.]

If we could have but found Rex's killer... voting for them might have been easier, though we would still be sending one of our own to the executioner's ring tomorrow. But in that case, we would have at least known their intent was ill. I cannot blame Rin for anything that happened, especially not when his blade was broken in defense of others.

w4, tuesday!

[yueshen]

[ wherever alisaie is on this fine tuesday, xie lian is coming to find her!! he looks bright and happy as he does, and greets her with his usual, polite bow. ]

Miss Alisaie! [ san lang, a ferret, chirrups loudly as well. ] May I borrow you for just a moment? I'd like to tell you something.

[veraltwin]

[Always so polite! But Alisaie will smile when she hears his voice, turning to meet him.]

Of course. I'll always have a moment to speak with you, Xie Lian. What is it?

[yueshen]

[ he reaches out, and if she will let him, takes her hands! and makes direct eye contact. ] I think that your passion and heart is truly inspiring. I very much appreciate the way that you have not only thrown yourself into solving as many things as you can here, but also specifically how immediately you rose up to help Baraqiel-gege.

I think that you are strong of character, strong of heart, and that your realm, this realm, and your brother alike are very lucky to have you.

[ he then releases her hands.

~* sincerity *~ ]

[veraltwin]

[She isn't expecting it at all, but he can indeed take her hands! For a moment there's bewilderment on her face, but as he speaks it shifts to amusement, then to some combination of pleased and surprised before back to absolutely bewildered, a small flush rising to her cheeks. STOP THAT XIE LIAN YOU'RE EMBARRASSING HER YOURSELF?????????

(Maybe it's a good thing her vision hasn't returned yet, though her eyes are now struggling to find focus rather than staring entirely unseeing.)

It takes her a moment to react, but when she does it's with an attempt at a laugh.]

Well! I don't think I need to ask what that was about. An exchange with the Watchers?

w4, saturday.

[yueshen]

[ alisaie's vision won't need to be perfect to hear the sounds of someone in the arena!

specifically, she'll hear the harsh, aggressive sounds of a sword stabbing into cloth and tearing it asunder. the sound of metal cutting through the air. and, the person wielding it - breathing heavily, letting out grunts and noises with each slice - as he relentlessly attacks one of the cloth dummies. over and over and over, until he hacks the head clean from one and sends it sailing across the arena.

it is only then that he stops, and looks up. ]

[veraltwin]

I see you had the same inclination I did.

[Alisaie's holding her rapier lightly in her right hand, Taf perched on the opposite shoulder.]

These trials grow worse every week, don't they?

[yueshen]

[ ... ah.

he takes a step back, pulling the sword away, finally, and wipes sweat from his brow. ]

...to say the least. And how utterly frustrating, this was. [ xie lian stabs fang xin into the ground, now, point down. ] Accusations flying left and right, and not a single one we were successful with. For as much as 'successful' can be considered in this situation.

[veraltwin]

[She's gonna stow her blade at her waist; it's not heavy enough to withstand being thrust into the ground like that.]

'Tis almost impossible to figure out what happened when so much is learned at the eleventh hour. It matters little how much we try to prepare--as new information surfaces, naught we've discussed before fits.

w5, post execution! 69... heh

[yueshen]

[ well! after. all of that disaster, xie lian is sitting by the hot tub. there's a small fire going - he's got a bottle or two lined up next to him, and seems to be contemplating a letter.

when he glances up, he spots alisaie, though, and offers her a soft, small smile. it's not quite as bright as usual - even in the dim light, it's easy to tell xie lian is tired. san lang, rabbit formed in his lap, twitches his nose in taf's direction in greeting, too. ]

Good evening, Miss Alisaie. [ as calm as ever. ]

i'd make a joke but neither of them would want that so sldfkjsd

[veraltwin]

Xie Lian.

[She wasn't necessarily expecting anybody to be here right now, but Alisaie will make her way toward him anyway. As they get closer, Taf hops down from her shoulders, trotting up and sniffing in their direction. Hello San Lang.]

Do the Watchers ever respond after days like these?

(crying) nice

[yueshen]

[ san lang seems happy with this; he gently reaches out to bump his nose to taf's in greeting.

xie lian himself glances at the letter and his lap, and huffs. ]

If there is one I want to see, I usually just go to see him. [ baraqiel. we mean baraqiel. ] ...Rather, I am trying to write a letter for the dead. Or... trying to, I suppose.

[ the words are not coming very easily today. ]

[veraltwin]

...ah.

[She doesn't look repentant, but Alisaie does glance away for a moment at his words.]

I'm not sure I'm the best person to offer advice on doing so.

[Especially not after. All of that.]