lionsleeps | (Re)Court Inbox

Mmph.

[He wants to argue, but that is a point. And it was funny, so he barely manages to stifle his laugh.]

Maybe so.

[that feels like a tiny victory, but that in and of itself is exhausting.]

...I don't have a script to follow, here. I'm not that complicated, without one.

["if that helps" goes unsaid, but it's not subtle.]

A script...?

[Guess who's too far back in the timeline to know what you're talking about?]

[wait that's very central to his Everything these days. pauses to try and work out where to begin.]

...To follow, for the future.

So you... rehearse your conversations in advance...? Based on divination?

Not... so specific. Missions. Scripts have times, coordinates, targets. I'm not usually tasked with conversation, but I can be part of a lie.

Ah, I see.

[He doesn't infer anything about actual prophecies or whatnot, but he does get mission plans. The change in subject makes him feel a little better, too. He sniffs, but at least no longer sounds like he's about to collapse.]

So you're still a workaholic even now.

[Blade flinches, squirms under that familiarity. but... Jing Yuan could use a little softness, right now. he can tolerate this much.]

I don't like being at loose ends.

That's charming of you. Annoying sometimes, but charming.

[Unfortunately, Jing Yuan is juuust drunk enough to forget to draw a clear line between Blade and Yingxing with his words. He's as yet unable to draw one in his heart, but at least he's been trying to have manners about it.]

[this sucks. the mara is crawling up his throat, but he'll hold on... for now.]

Bad taste.

Maybe. I am mad in my own way, after all.

[He sighs, half humour and half bitterness, and crouches down to get comfortable. He's not sure what else would be useful to say, but he doesn't really want to go back to his room just yet.]

...Why exactly did you call me?

Mm? I said. Imbibitor Lunae sent me a message, worried for you.

But you're not reporting back to him. So why are we talking?

[wow! feeling distinctly cornered, silent for a while.]

Jing Yuan.

"Blade."

[You can definitely hear those quotes.]

[a hoarse little noise.]

[There's only silence in response. He's waiting to decide whether to run away again.]

[he grits his teeth. breathes out past the encroaching mara.]

I can't care?

You can. I wondered if you could admit to it.

Edited 2025-01-21 01:28 (UTC)

Don't- ask too often.

...Sorry.

...Me too.

[It's clearly audible when Jing Yuan starts to cry in earnest. It's not subtle or suppressed, this time. He's too drunk for that. But through it, he still manages to speak a little more.]

All this mess in the way, and you are still the only one who hears me.

[At the end of that his voice grows a bit distant -- he's pulled the phone from his ear. Blade has about 2.5 seconds before Jing Yuan hangs up.]

[that's... honestly a relief, this time. before the mara takes him and makes him worse than he already is. Jing Yuan doesn't need that right now.]

Good night.

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