[ When someone comes into the kitchen, he looks away from what he's doing - and then sighs out of his nose, before going about something different while a seat is taken.
Once he's done, he doesn't just leave. So, this time, Hua Cheng sets his hand on the back of Alex's chair from the side, and a mug of something hot and honey-calming is offered from above in the other hand, handle towards her. ]
We really ought to stop meeting like this.
Edited (I promise I can spell and not edit 500 times) 2020-10-04 22:34 (UTC)
[ the kitchen is where all the cool people hang out. ]
Or at least we should make sure it's under better circumstances. [ she accepts the drink, and sets it down on the table as it seems too hot at the momeny to hold with two hands like she sort of wants to. ]
[ The Realm has a hurt/comfort relationship with its kitchen. ]
I wouldn't mind better circumstances, actually. [ Considering he knows so very little about how things work in these more modern settings, and Alex does. And isn't bad company to have. ]
Mn. [ As close to you're welcome in a sincere capacity as you get. ]
Oh, it would be. [ Probably a little blunt, but whaddya gonna do. ] Given what happened, what so many of us heard, this isn't going to be the last of it.
The fact people automatically stole knives from the kitchen without prompting should've been a sign things could go bad. I just... hope people really think over what happened before acting on instinct.
I can't necessarily blame them. Quite a few of us came from places where a knife was the only thing keeping you alive.
[ He twists the end of his braid between his fingers, taking a deep breath. ]
There are going to be people who do think it through, though. A life for your cherished memories? For your sanity, if pushed that far? But barely any of us know one another well enough to be able to say who might be willing to do it.
It... sends a message, of some kind. [ but she can understand people not trusting each other, initially. it'd be reckless to automatically trust someone. ]
I know that. But then your memories are back but the cost is attached to them. Maybe some people are okay with that? But I don't know if I would be. I really don't want to lose my memories again, but if I had them back and knew it had come at the cost of someone's life...
I don't know. Maybe I'd resent myself and those memories because of it.
[ He inclines his head in agreement - it does send a message, and it was a crystal clear one.
But Hua Cheng regards her, thoughtful, considering that admission. It has a certain conviction to it, and he can respect that. ]
Then, Alex, I say this with all honesty that I hope you never have to face the choice. There's too many people here that should never have had to consider the option of blood on their hands as the price to pay for something like that. And I hope Virid will be the only case.
[ They both know better, he thinks. But the sentiment stands. ]
[ me, also with 20/20 hindsight: should've asked someone to pick up the loot ]
We don't know if there's rhyme or reason to the choice, right now. It could be that they see an easier target, or that it's someone they had a disagreement with, or even they just don't know them as well as another person here.
But if there's a pattern, or a reason that is common amongst all of them...
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WEEK 0, execution-sunday
Once he's done, he doesn't just leave. So, this time, Hua Cheng sets his hand on the back of Alex's chair from the side, and a mug of something hot and honey-calming is offered from above in the other hand, handle towards her. ]
We really ought to stop meeting like this.
no subject
Or at least we should make sure it's under better circumstances. [ she accepts the drink, and sets it down on the table as it seems too hot at the momeny to hold with two hands like she sort of wants to. ]
Thank you.
no subject
I wouldn't mind better circumstances, actually. [ Considering he knows so very little about how things work in these more modern settings, and Alex does. And isn't bad company to have. ]
Mn. [ As close to you're welcome in a sincere capacity as you get. ]
no subject
... You could say we can only really improve our situation from here, but that feels a bit too much like tempting fate.
no subject
Oh, it would be. [ Probably a little blunt, but whaddya gonna do. ] Given what happened, what so many of us heard, this isn't going to be the last of it.
no subject
You mean what Virid said?
...
The fact people automatically stole knives from the kitchen without prompting should've been a sign things could go bad. I just... hope people really think over what happened before acting on instinct.
no subject
[ He twists the end of his braid between his fingers, taking a deep breath. ]
There are going to be people who do think it through, though. A life for your cherished memories? For your sanity, if pushed that far? But barely any of us know one another well enough to be able to say who might be willing to do it.
no subject
I know that. But then your memories are back but the cost is attached to them. Maybe some people are okay with that? But I don't know if I would be. I really don't want to lose my memories again, but if I had them back and knew it had come at the cost of someone's life...
I don't know. Maybe I'd resent myself and those memories because of it.
no subject
But Hua Cheng regards her, thoughtful, considering that admission. It has a certain conviction to it, and he can respect that. ]
Then, Alex, I say this with all honesty that I hope you never have to face the choice. There's too many people here that should never have had to consider the option of blood on their hands as the price to pay for something like that. And I hope Virid will be the only case.
[ They both know better, he thinks. But the sentiment stands. ]
no subject
I guess we'll find out before the end of the week. If anyone's decided to kill again.
...
If they have we'll... just have to do better than last time.
no subject
That's all we really can do, if we don't catch them before they act.
[ And he obviously hates that. ]
no subject
... I wonder if there's a way to know if someone's going to be targetted. That could change things, a lot.
no subject
We don't know if there's rhyme or reason to the choice, right now. It could be that they see an easier target, or that it's someone they had a disagreement with, or even they just don't know them as well as another person here.
But if there's a pattern, or a reason that is common amongst all of them...