[ i hope that goat is watching them and knows that they are very loved. we stan you, goat! the comment makes xie lian smile. ] I do, too.
[ anyway beyond goat stanning ] Hm... do you think perhaps yours was by an ally, and not by someone who saw you as an enemy? [ thoughtfully. ] That's sweet, if a bit misguided. [ let soo-won have his pride 2k20... ] We could probably safely eliminate anyone who was in our group. It would be good to find out which leaders they were with, if possible, since you said the Wednesdays tended to be the peak of nova...? Although I wouldn't be surprised if you'd already learned such information, Soo-won.
[ that was praise, 100%. ] I agree with you, though. Perhaps it would be best if we tried to find out such things individually, instead of in the setting of a large group, so that we might be able to discern the truth by checking the pairs. For instance, if I told you what mine did, and Miss Lup told you something different, you would know at least one of us was lying.
[ and... considering the last part makes xie lian frown. for a moment, his emotions read as... just a flicker of softly present fear. ]
San Lang did make his presence very visible, when he stepped up at the beginning of the week, and was quite forceful in getting things done at the trial, as well. Claude was ill this past weekend, and...as you've said, they're both very insightful.
I do think that someone--or, really, at least two someones, are targeting Claude, for one reason or another, but... I also know that in our land, San Lang has a reputation. He is one of the most widely feared beings in all of the three realms, and many gods especially find him an easy target because of it. There are many things that I know for a fact that he has not done, that have been pinned to him, simply because the name "Crimson Rain Sought Flower" is one that is seen as the scourge of the Heavens.
[ xie lian glances down at his hands, for a moment, folding his fingers together. ]
...but, I know what kind of person he is. If... if there was reasonable evidence that San Lang had done something wrong, then I would be the first person to step up and say so, and I would ask him to do the same for me. I like to think that the person that I am can stand for my own dedication to what is right, and what is wrong. I am more than willing to admit my own biases towards San Lang, but they come from the fact that I know him.
[ a pause, and his emotions go quiet, for a moment. vulnerable; worried. ] ...but, I would hate for someone to use him as a target for something he has not done here, too, simply because he looked like an easy person to pin a crime on.
[ and he admits to that little pulse of fearful emotion easily, honest. ] That is my biggest fear with what comes with these strange curses, this weekend.
Ah... [he shakes his head at that] I'm not interested in gathering many more alignments, in truth. I think that people should be allowed their secrets. I'm willing to perform trades, but given that I've gathered at least one person on every team thus far that I believe I can trust, that's all I need in order to search for what I desire.
[so he's completely swiveled around in terms of his priorities and focus, but he's not against information sharing at all! so there's that
that said soo-won listens, and he listens closely, before speaking - ]
Do you believe that those who have taken life here deserve death, and that their actions stems from malicious sentiments? There is a chance that perhaps some of them due, driven by a desire to regain what was important to them, if they noticed a memory that was gone.
That is where I'd like to begin questioning - we don't know this for certain, given that there is currently a theory that Virid was directed to kill. If he was ordered to do so and didn't see a reason to disagree, he implied that it was due to the fact that we have a greater enemy lurking than each other.
I understand what you're saying, and the belief that someone would willingly volunteer themselves for removal if they took a life. However I also think that we don't need to immediately condemn all acts of killing here as one driven by selfish motivations.
At the very least, not yet. So perhaps... that is my gentle challenge to you.
Someone may try to frame him, or he may take an action himself. We won't know until we actually end up in trial - but regardless even if I wish to find the truth of what happens....
I also don't think that those people deserve to die anymore than the rest of us, when none asked to be brought here.
...That is the theory that I have heard too, yes, with Virid. [ but. xie lian nods along, listening very carefully... and at the gentle challenge, he gives him a small smile, ducking his head. ]
I understand... I suppose it's hard not to be defensive. [ after all, he'd rather the whole world blame him for something, over hua cheng being blamed for doing nothing wrong. xie lian would sooner leap on a blade himself before he'd be the reason for san lang to be falsely accused of anything. ] If anything, I think both you and I can speak to what it feels like, when circumstances like those are out of our control.
[ considering. last week's entire fiasco. he doesn't mean that directly, of course; goat has informed him their situation was unique, in terms of revival, and he's sure soo-won already knows that, so. ] -- but, I don't disagree with you, either. I do think, ultimately, the loss of memory and the chance to gain it back is going to be what will motivate someone to act. Whether... whether that's from participant to participant, or from a leader to a participant, as well.
I won't make rash decisions when it comes to the fate of this place, nor the people here, whether that is inside a trial or outside of it. [ despite being A Protagonist, xie lian does have a good head on his shoulders, and he likes soo-won, and his take on the world. he must truly be a good king. (i'm ready for yona spoilers prove this assumption of mine deadass wrong.)
so, the words he says are just as candid, as honest. ] My only goal is to save as many people as possible - to find a way to restore the Realm as quickly as we can, and unravel the mysteries of this place for the good of us all. We cannot control our circumstances, or the actions of others: we can only control ourselves.
[ a pause. ] I do want to try to find out what's going on with Claude. For him to be targeted two weeks in a row by an item, or a curse, or whatever it may be -- that is worrying to me, San Lang aside.
Then our goals are in alignment. All that matters to me is ensuring the safety of everyone's homes, including my kingdom, and then allowing those here to be revived and also seek to go home however they can. I don't particularly have much interest in mysteries past that. The only reason why I consider it important to find whoever killed on any given week is that getting the answer right generates more nova than getting wrong.
[soo-won is at the end of the day someone who is practical. he likes all people, and he tries his hardest to understand them. in most cases, he succeeds. and so it's why it's hard for him to be blinded by idealism or black and white definitions of right and wrong.
rather, he'll just continue - ] It may be that Claude was accidentally targeted, unless someone truly has it out for him. It's worth investigating whether he's made any enemies, or perhaps even allies that don't know what the effects might be and are willing to believe he'll survive through whatever is thrown at him.
It's worth seeing where these powers even come from, and who holds them. I believe that the effect I carry is rather.... purposeful and intentional - but it's hard to say if others are the same.
[ there is a part of that that xie lian probably will never agree with - he will always care for finding the truth when it comes to the harm that even one person could face - but, he can see the big picture, too. his own hopes come with hundreds of years of experience, but his heart is still the same.
willing enough, maybe. or soft. either way. listening to soo-won, xie lian's mouth crooks up a little in a smile. ]
So we do. I'm happy to share anything I learn if it's helpful - and as such, if you learn of anything towards that goal that I might not have, I'd hope you would share it with me as well. I'll do my best to help where I can.
[ a beat. ] You know...your kingdom is very lucky to have you, Soo-won.
I hope you understand if I'm a bit slow to share all things at once with everyone - especially in cases where it might encourage people to take advantage of the circumstances and have more chances to harm others. There is also the way in which information circulates in this place.
All Leaders are aware of conversations that their members have - and so if I were to broadly share information immediately, then it would go against the intention of discovering what information the Leaders get on their own. We know what Goat told us, but I would rather see if one of Tiger's members could go to them and receive the same information first, or if it's truly exclusive to us.
But once I get a better grasp on that, then I think it'll be easier to share information. And between the two of us, there's nothing that Goat would want or care to hide anyway.
[he means well - he's someone who wants the happiness and safety of everyone involved here. but given his role, he's not someone who believes that the constant freedom of information is the way to do it, not when they're all still essentially strangers.
but to this much, he can agree]
But fufu, that's nice of you to say. I'm afraid I'm just one person making the best of what I have. That can go for anyone here.
No, I think it's a good strategy. [ xie lian hums in agreement. ] Brother Goat said much of the same, after all - I don't think we should jump the gun. The motivations we've talked about here are still very much a wild card, and I don't want to let out information that could cause more harm than good.
[ after all, he knows intimately the effect that can have. it was a hard earned lesson, one given to him over a decade of suffering that multiplied into eight hundred years worse of it, and xie lian has always done his best to learn from his failings. ]
I'm curious to see what will happen with this week's... um, disruption, [ gestures at the entire flaming pirate port fiasco. ] in comparison to what happened with us. I think I saw almost everyone at some point trying to put out the metaphorical and literal fires - so, if we do see a burst in nova, it should be fairly equal, no?
It'll have to be something we can only wait for, for now. [ and to soo-won's last sentence, xie lian gives him a genuine smile. ]
Making the best of what you have and putting in the work to do so; those things matter far more than some simple title of royalty or blood. No kingdom thrives because a king or emperor simply sits upon its throne in name alone.
I'm glad that we'll be able to continue to work together, Soo-won. [ and, clasping his hand to his fist, he gives soo-won a polite bow. ] Let's do our best to return the Realm to its rightful state.
[there's just a little bit of a laugh at the bow, and he shakes his head at that, as if encouraging xie lian to refrain from doing.... that again.]
You're being far too formal, Xie Lian. I'm still the same person, whether I'm a king or a merchant. But I return the sentiment, and I hope to work together with you well. I'll let you know if I find anything worthwhile.
For now, we all ought to prepare for tonight in case others choose to act. I'll try to help you look after Claude and Hua Cheng over the weekend if I can, and will let you know if I notice any other odd disruptions.
I have some guesses.... but nothing that can be confirmed right away, I'm afraid.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ anyway beyond goat stanning ] Hm... do you think perhaps yours was by an ally, and not by someone who saw you as an enemy? [ thoughtfully. ] That's sweet, if a bit misguided. [ let soo-won have his pride 2k20... ] We could probably safely eliminate anyone who was in our group. It would be good to find out which leaders they were with, if possible, since you said the Wednesdays tended to be the peak of nova...? Although I wouldn't be surprised if you'd already learned such information, Soo-won.
[ that was praise, 100%. ] I agree with you, though. Perhaps it would be best if we tried to find out such things individually, instead of in the setting of a large group, so that we might be able to discern the truth by checking the pairs. For instance, if I told you what mine did, and Miss Lup told you something different, you would know at least one of us was lying.
[ and... considering the last part makes xie lian frown. for a moment, his emotions read as... just a flicker of softly present fear. ]
San Lang did make his presence very visible, when he stepped up at the beginning of the week, and was quite forceful in getting things done at the trial, as well. Claude was ill this past weekend, and...as you've said, they're both very insightful.
I do think that someone--or, really, at least two someones, are targeting Claude, for one reason or another, but... I also know that in our land, San Lang has a reputation. He is one of the most widely feared beings in all of the three realms, and many gods especially find him an easy target because of it. There are many things that I know for a fact that he has not done, that have been pinned to him, simply because the name "Crimson Rain Sought Flower" is one that is seen as the scourge of the Heavens.
[ xie lian glances down at his hands, for a moment, folding his fingers together. ]
...but, I know what kind of person he is. If... if there was reasonable evidence that San Lang had done something wrong, then I would be the first person to step up and say so, and I would ask him to do the same for me. I like to think that the person that I am can stand for my own dedication to what is right, and what is wrong. I am more than willing to admit my own biases towards San Lang, but they come from the fact that I know him.
[ a pause, and his emotions go quiet, for a moment. vulnerable; worried. ] ...but, I would hate for someone to use him as a target for something he has not done here, too, simply because he looked like an easy person to pin a crime on.
[ and he admits to that little pulse of fearful emotion easily, honest. ] That is my biggest fear with what comes with these strange curses, this weekend.
no subject
[so he's completely swiveled around in terms of his priorities and focus, but he's not against information sharing at all! so there's that
that said soo-won listens, and he listens closely, before speaking - ]
Do you believe that those who have taken life here deserve death, and that their actions stems from malicious sentiments? There is a chance that perhaps some of them due, driven by a desire to regain what was important to them, if they noticed a memory that was gone.
That is where I'd like to begin questioning - we don't know this for certain, given that there is currently a theory that Virid was directed to kill. If he was ordered to do so and didn't see a reason to disagree, he implied that it was due to the fact that we have a greater enemy lurking than each other.
I understand what you're saying, and the belief that someone would willingly volunteer themselves for removal if they took a life. However I also think that we don't need to immediately condemn all acts of killing here as one driven by selfish motivations.
At the very least, not yet. So perhaps... that is my gentle challenge to you.
Someone may try to frame him, or he may take an action himself. We won't know until we actually end up in trial - but regardless even if I wish to find the truth of what happens....
I also don't think that those people deserve to die anymore than the rest of us, when none asked to be brought here.
no subject
I understand... I suppose it's hard not to be defensive. [ after all, he'd rather the whole world blame him for something, over hua cheng being blamed for doing nothing wrong. xie lian would sooner leap on a blade himself before he'd be the reason for san lang to be falsely accused of anything. ] If anything, I think both you and I can speak to what it feels like, when circumstances like those are out of our control.
[ considering. last week's entire fiasco. he doesn't mean that directly, of course; goat has informed him their situation was unique, in terms of revival, and he's sure soo-won already knows that, so. ] -- but, I don't disagree with you, either. I do think, ultimately, the loss of memory and the chance to gain it back is going to be what will motivate someone to act. Whether... whether that's from participant to participant, or from a leader to a participant, as well.
I won't make rash decisions when it comes to the fate of this place, nor the people here, whether that is inside a trial or outside of it. [ despite being A Protagonist, xie lian does have a good head on his shoulders, and he likes soo-won, and his take on the world. he must truly be a good king. (i'm ready for yona spoilers prove this assumption of mine deadass wrong.)
so, the words he says are just as candid, as honest. ] My only goal is to save as many people as possible - to find a way to restore the Realm as quickly as we can, and unravel the mysteries of this place for the good of us all. We cannot control our circumstances, or the actions of others: we can only control ourselves.
[ a pause. ] I do want to try to find out what's going on with Claude. For him to be targeted two weeks in a row by an item, or a curse, or whatever it may be -- that is worrying to me, San Lang aside.
no subject
Then our goals are in alignment. All that matters to me is ensuring the safety of everyone's homes, including my kingdom, and then allowing those here to be revived and also seek to go home however they can. I don't particularly have much interest in mysteries past that. The only reason why I consider it important to find whoever killed on any given week is that getting the answer right generates more nova than getting wrong.
[soo-won is at the end of the day someone who is practical. he likes all people, and he tries his hardest to understand them. in most cases, he succeeds. and so it's why it's hard for him to be blinded by idealism or black and white definitions of right and wrong.
rather, he'll just continue - ] It may be that Claude was accidentally targeted, unless someone truly has it out for him. It's worth investigating whether he's made any enemies, or perhaps even allies that don't know what the effects might be and are willing to believe he'll survive through whatever is thrown at him.
It's worth seeing where these powers even come from, and who holds them. I believe that the effect I carry is rather.... purposeful and intentional - but it's hard to say if others are the same.
And so, we have our next steps.
no subject
willing enough, maybe. or soft. either way. listening to soo-won, xie lian's mouth crooks up a little in a smile. ]
So we do. I'm happy to share anything I learn if it's helpful - and as such, if you learn of anything towards that goal that I might not have, I'd hope you would share it with me as well. I'll do my best to help where I can.
[ a beat. ] You know...your kingdom is very lucky to have you, Soo-won.
no subject
I hope you understand if I'm a bit slow to share all things at once with everyone - especially in cases where it might encourage people to take advantage of the circumstances and have more chances to harm others. There is also the way in which information circulates in this place.
All Leaders are aware of conversations that their members have - and so if I were to broadly share information immediately, then it would go against the intention of discovering what information the Leaders get on their own. We know what Goat told us, but I would rather see if one of Tiger's members could go to them and receive the same information first, or if it's truly exclusive to us.
But once I get a better grasp on that, then I think it'll be easier to share information. And between the two of us, there's nothing that Goat would want or care to hide anyway.
[he means well - he's someone who wants the happiness and safety of everyone involved here. but given his role, he's not someone who believes that the constant freedom of information is the way to do it, not when they're all still essentially strangers.
but to this much, he can agree]
But fufu, that's nice of you to say. I'm afraid I'm just one person making the best of what I have. That can go for anyone here.
no subject
[ after all, he knows intimately the effect that can have. it was a hard earned lesson, one given to him over a decade of suffering that multiplied into eight hundred years worse of it, and xie lian has always done his best to learn from his failings. ]
I'm curious to see what will happen with this week's... um, disruption, [ gestures at the entire flaming pirate port fiasco. ] in comparison to what happened with us. I think I saw almost everyone at some point trying to put out the metaphorical and literal fires - so, if we do see a burst in nova, it should be fairly equal, no?
It'll have to be something we can only wait for, for now. [ and to soo-won's last sentence, xie lian gives him a genuine smile. ]
Making the best of what you have and putting in the work to do so; those things matter far more than some simple title of royalty or blood. No kingdom thrives because a king or emperor simply sits upon its throne in name alone.
I'm glad that we'll be able to continue to work together, Soo-won. [ and, clasping his hand to his fist, he gives soo-won a polite bow. ] Let's do our best to return the Realm to its rightful state.
no subject
You're being far too formal, Xie Lian. I'm still the same person, whether I'm a king or a merchant. But I return the sentiment, and I hope to work together with you well. I'll let you know if I find anything worthwhile.
For now, we all ought to prepare for tonight in case others choose to act. I'll try to help you look after Claude and Hua Cheng over the weekend if I can, and will let you know if I notice any other odd disruptions.
I have some guesses.... but nothing that can be confirmed right away, I'm afraid.