[ RNG chose that we will not have to contend with the merry-go-round that is traffic at Xie Lian's room, so here we are.
It's been a long time since Hua Cheng has felt the need to make rounds on his own, but there's no one else to do it for him, here, and no other means for him to do it. The train station is... weird! He's interested in it. And so is someone else, apparently. ]
[I ASSUME THAT REPLY MEANT RAIL STATION so here they are again... in the middle of this mess. emet-selch is unconcerned with it, though, just perched on a bench as if everything is perfectly normal.]
If there was more to it, then it has yet to make itself apparent. It is possible he'll have more to say on the matter.
[but seeing as their culprit was unconscious, well.]
[ YES THIS WORKS because. There won't be very many people coming back here, he thinks. And looking at things again doesn't hurt, even if he won't outright say it.
Hua Cheng examines the window that Xie Lian broke, a mirror to the one that was broken by - who? ]
Oh, probable. Though I have to wonder if he's going to protest his, ah, removal from the Realm since he looked at it like a competition.
Some of them are... [ He weighs the words in his mouth for a moment, to choose the right ones. ]
Some of the people here aren't used to this side of humanity, or want to see the best in others despite their actions. They'll want to hear him out, I'd guess. But sometimes, there is no best, or there is no choice.
Naive is almost too gentle, for some of them. [ Some of them have obviously seen some of the grittier, shittier sides of humans, if their profiles are right. And yet! ] But you're right there. If this Realm nonsense is true, with the balance to restore nova, there isn't a choice. Unless someone wants to step forward.
I should hope not. The very last thing we need is half of them throwing themselves in front of each other, desperate to throw their lives away instead.
One was more than willing to offer himself up. I'm sure more would be, as well. [ A click of the tongue. ] We'll see if their willingness to throw themselves on the sword, as it were, is still there when tomorrow comes.
[why are mortals like this. he exhales a sigh, with a shake of his head.]
It is not only their willingness-- we shall see if they even have any opportunity to demonstrate it, or if the decision is absolute. From what you have said, I expect that if there is any way to alter those results, they may be seeking it.
[ He can't... completely disagree, to be honest. But still. ]
Even if there wasn't, they will be trying. That's simply how it works. We saw the worst of mankind, and having talked to and watched many of the people here over the past week... there's a lot of the opposite.
Oh, we're only at the start of it. It's a downward journey from here, if things aren't kept in check. And given the absolute uselessness of the "leaders," and the lack of information...
[ He spreads his hands. They're in for a wild ride. ]
[ Dianxia, he wishes he could say they would be pleasantly surprised. ]
Just wait for the in-fighting to begin before the murders do. It won't be long.
[ Squabbling over the rights and wrongs in the universe, the justice of the Realm's injustice and how it solves its problems... he won't even wholly blame it on mortals being mortals. It's just people as people. ]
[ Here we are, yet another visitor for Emet-Selch where he's in old man jail in the employee's only room. I'm tired of using the notes app so honestly, Hua Cheng has hit a moment much like Ange where the Realm is on the fritz and his voice is there. He's going to take advantage of it, now that he has it.
And that's to come in and see our sentenced grandpa. While there's obvious agitation underneath, he's honestly fairly calm when it comes to seeing him. The understanding tempers everything, because there's no reason - no point - to being upset about the verdict. They have other things to be angry about. ]
It's too bad, I was actually rather looking forward to it. But I'd like to think a change in scenery won't put too much of a damper on it.
[ Wry, but he doesn't stick with being vague for long. ]
Have you heard much about the shadow that the Realm is casting? A limbo space, for those that are removed. A sign this week was actually posted about leaving messages for the dead.
I have heard there is a place for those of us who pass, yes. 'Tis something of a relief-- an Ascian soul is resilient indeed, but without a vessel to occupy, I would simply linger here with none of you able to perceive me.
[ WELL NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT EMET LIVES THIS IS FUNNY ]
Ah, ghosts are similar, across the three realms. Without enough strength, many aren't capable of being perceived, and often are unable to speak. They need to be able to possess a vessel, or gain enough strength to take their own solid, physical form. [ Not that many of them can have such fine details as Hua Cheng's physical form, but, you know. Supreme ghost. ]
We may still be able to maintain our agreement, if you find yourself in that space. Though it isn't the ending I would have hoped for - especially with Shiro having been the attacker, and a murderer still running about.
[hello hua cheng... the manor is a good place to be a broody old immortal, isn't it? of course it is. unsurprising that they should meet here, then, where emet seems to be just chilling, two tiny dinosaurs chilling with him.]
-I would say good evening, but I do not expect that it is one.
[ Hua Cheng pauses as he comes into the manor, but then resumes his entry and moves to take his spinosaurus out from its nesting place in the collar of his robes. It, remarkably, does not try to scratch him for disrupting it. It instead goes scampering over to investigate the other two dinosaurs. ]
[the two dinosaurs make hesitantly curious noises, inspecting this newcomer. seems like the two of them already get along well enough with each other.]
'Tis more than a bit of a frustration, honestly. I do not particularly care about bringing people to some form of justice simply for removing those who splinter, but...
[not knowing? still a pain in the ass.]
I will be most surprised if she does not complain to us later.
[ Despite how it behaves with Hua Cheng, and how it does actually chew on Xie Lian - they're loving nibbles, it's fine - it seems pretty interested in being playful with the other two, as opposed to causing trouble. Little shit. ]
With Hikaru, she wanted us to forgive the person who found her. With Alyssa... en, she does sound a bit like the type to make her complaints known.
[ A pause of consideration, as he comes to sit in an adjacent moth-worn seat. ]
It doesn't bring me much joy, the same as sentencing you the last week didn't.
[as long as it's being friendly, so will they! emet hasn't actually been bringing his along much until he got shamed for it, so halmarut is very pleased.]
I know that she wished only to live. Even if her death truly were necessary, I do not think she will be terribly accepting of it.
[ This creature cannot be trusted on its own, lest it destroy Hua Cheng's things, so here we are. Playful dinosaurs while the oldies have serious conversations. ]
If we were in the three realms, I wouldn't be surprised if she emerged from that limbo space to make sure we knew her displeasure. That ire and resentment would result in something we call a Wrath level ghost - the second strongest kind we have.
[ He'd do the same thing. Is surprised, really, that they haven't gotten more disgruntled letters or "gifts" yet. ]
En. Funny, that we've been at this for weeks, now, and it turns out we're supposed to be killing the splintered participants, but condemning those that put them out of their misery, all to ensure that the world doesn't fall apart around us.
There isn't. [ An offhand gesture towards Emet-Selch, and his situation. ] Let yourself be killed, for the sake of things, or do the killing yourself and face an unfair verdict?
[ Kill, to prevent something akin to a disease from spreading, despite the innocence of the other party? Or watch as it jumps from person to person, until all of them are nothing but husks? ]
[emet-selch is hanging at the inn at some point! he's on one of the sofas with a cup of tea in hand, sipping idly at it, but... he doesn't appear to be doing anything else. nothing to read, not watching anything in particular. he is vibing.]
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w0, sunday
It's been a long time since Hua Cheng has felt the need to make rounds on his own, but there's no one else to do it for him, here, and no other means for him to do it. The train station is... weird! He's interested in it. And so is someone else, apparently. ]
Looking around, too, after all that commotion?
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[but he doesn't shoo hua cheng away, at the least. he remains slouched on one of the benches.]
There is little else to be found here, if you had wondered.
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[ He folds his arms behind his back, surveying the station. ]
En, a little. "Here" is unexplained, as far as places we can access. I can figure out its purpose, but its purpose has been taken.
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[He would very much like to leave, thank you. If this place served any purpose at all, maybe that could be arranged.]
Far better than the waiting we have already done.
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[ Once upon a time, he could have just waltzed out. He imagines the same for Emet-Selch. ]
I have a bad feeling that we're going to be doing quite a bit of waiting, and usually my bad feelings aren't wrong.
w0, post-trial
If there was more to it, then it has yet to make itself apparent. It is possible he'll have more to say on the matter.
[but seeing as their culprit was unconscious, well.]
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Hua Cheng examines the window that Xie Lian broke, a mirror to the one that was broken by - who? ]
Oh, probable. Though I have to wonder if he's going to protest his, ah, removal from the Realm since he looked at it like a competition.
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[he's not making any guesses at it yet, not knowing just how this removal is to be carried out.]
Should he protest, how likely do you think anything is to change the decided outcome?
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Some of the people here aren't used to this side of humanity, or want to see the best in others despite their actions. They'll want to hear him out, I'd guess. But sometimes, there is no best, or there is no choice.
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[it's the truth, isn't it?]
But I highly doubt any level of understanding would change this outcome, either.
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Naive is almost too gentle, for some of them. [ Some of them have obviously seen some of the grittier, shittier sides of humans, if their profiles are right. And yet! ] But you're right there. If this Realm nonsense is true, with the balance to restore nova, there isn't a choice. Unless someone wants to step forward.
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One was more than willing to offer himself up. I'm sure more would be, as well. [ A click of the tongue. ] We'll see if their willingness to throw themselves on the sword, as it were, is still there when tomorrow comes.
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[why are mortals like this. he exhales a sigh, with a shake of his head.]
It is not only their willingness-- we shall see if they even have any opportunity to demonstrate it, or if the decision is absolute. From what you have said, I expect that if there is any way to alter those results, they may be seeking it.
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Even if there wasn't, they will be trying. That's simply how it works. We saw the worst of mankind, and having talked to and watched many of the people here over the past week... there's a lot of the opposite.
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[a brief huff of a laugh, there, though it sounds somewhat tired.]
We are yet far from that.
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Oh, we're only at the start of it. It's a downward journey from here, if things aren't kept in check. And given the absolute uselessness of the "leaders," and the lack of information...
[ He spreads his hands. They're in for a wild ride. ]
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[if he ever had much faith in them, they'd broken it long before he ever arrived here. it's certain to just get worse.]
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Just wait for the in-fighting to begin before the murders do. It won't be long.
[ Squabbling over the rights and wrongs in the universe, the justice of the Realm's injustice and how it solves its problems... he won't even wholly blame it on mortals being mortals. It's just people as people. ]
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[a slow sigh, a shake of his head. there are constants, among mortals.]
The real struggle will not be overcoming the challenge of fixing this Realm, it will be getting past that.
w3 saturday, post-trial
And that's to come in and see our sentenced grandpa. While there's obvious agitation underneath, he's honestly fairly calm when it comes to seeing him. The understanding tempers everything, because there's no reason - no point - to being upset about the verdict. They have other things to be angry about. ]
Emet-Selch.
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[a bitter little huff of a breath.]
To think our agreement would be so short-lived.
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[ Wry, but he doesn't stick with being vague for long. ]
Have you heard much about the shadow that the Realm is casting? A limbo space, for those that are removed. A sign this week was actually posted about leaving messages for the dead.
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Ah, ghosts are similar, across the three realms. Without enough strength, many aren't capable of being perceived, and often are unable to speak. They need to be able to possess a vessel, or gain enough strength to take their own solid, physical form. [ Not that many of them can have such fine details as Hua Cheng's physical form, but, you know. Supreme ghost. ]
We may still be able to maintain our agreement, if you find yourself in that space. Though it isn't the ending I would have hoped for - especially with Shiro having been the attacker, and a murderer still running about.
w4, saturday
-I would say good evening, but I do not expect that it is one.
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No, I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is.
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'Tis more than a bit of a frustration, honestly. I do not particularly care about bringing people to some form of justice simply for removing those who splinter, but...
[not knowing? still a pain in the ass.]
I will be most surprised if she does not complain to us later.
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With Hikaru, she wanted us to forgive the person who found her. With Alyssa... en, she does sound a bit like the type to make her complaints known.
[ A pause of consideration, as he comes to sit in an adjacent moth-worn seat. ]
It doesn't bring me much joy, the same as sentencing you the last week didn't.
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I know that she wished only to live. Even if her death truly were necessary, I do not think she will be terribly accepting of it.
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If we were in the three realms, I wouldn't be surprised if she emerged from that limbo space to make sure we knew her displeasure. That ire and resentment would result in something we call a Wrath level ghost - the second strongest kind we have.
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[anyone might deserve it. he wouldn't complain if, say, shiro had done the same, were they in such a situation.]
...but we are not there, and so all that is left to do is to ensure her return.
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[ He'd do the same thing. Is surprised, really, that they haven't gotten more disgruntled letters or "gifts" yet. ]
En. Funny, that we've been at this for weeks, now, and it turns out we're supposed to be killing the splintered participants, but condemning those that put them out of their misery, all to ensure that the world doesn't fall apart around us.
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[it's all just a mess, honestly. he'll participate, and he doesn't care about most people dying, but he still dislikes this setup.]
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[ Kill, to prevent something akin to a disease from spreading, despite the innocence of the other party? Or watch as it jumps from person to person, until all of them are nothing but husks? ]
w6, saturday