Empatheias-themed call me out
Sep. 28th, 2014 08:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fanfictionming posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
calvino
"Empatheias is a large, floating island and is the last remnant of a destroyed world. Its only city, Verens, is a somewhat strange place with its steampunk design and magitech technology. No two buildings ever seem to look the same, but perhaps it's not just because of the nature of its fashion. Emotions also help to change and sometimes warp the city and the island itself. Through these emotions, the island continues to grow, revealing more about what happened to the world below. These emotions can also play a role in much smaller ways. A simple laugh can illuminate a room, an angry outburst can shatter windows. The grass can both grow and wither depending on who is standing on it.
These emotions are collected in special crystal amulets and it is this amulet that you will rely on throughout your stay. As you meet and interact with people, explore the world, and go about your daily life, it will fill with the various emotions you experience. Keep it close, for it may prove to be the key to returning home.
Until then, get to know your new "home" and neighbors. Who knows what will be revealed next?"
((OOC: A call-me-out post set in the setting of the Dreamwidth RP Game
empatheias. Credit to empatheias for the original concept and description, and credit to molybdenumgp03 for the image.))
Locked to wavesoakedlegs
Date: 2014-09-28 12:38 pm (UTC)There was never anything personal from Lu Meng's side, at least with regards to Guan Yu's children. He only bore some disappointment and anger towards the man himself for his over-bearing arrogance and pompousness, and towards Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei for giving Wu nothing but false hopes and broken promises. Wu is not to be Shu's shield, meant to bear the brunt of Tsao Tsao's anger while their supposed ally flourishes within the shade. Allies help each other out, support each other in their time of need. With Shu though...Wu had just been a quick opportunity, yet another puppet in Zhuge Liang's play. Master Zhou Yu and the whole of Wu had just been collateral damage along Liu Bei's path to benevolence; Lu Meng would never forget that, could never forget that. So when push came to shove he took the opportunity so presented to him, and he made the bed that he laid in that night.
But he will not deny that he had acted dishonourably. And that it is cruel for children to witness their father being put down. Lu Meng had never known his own, the man having died shortly after his birth, but he had his mother and he understood the bond that ties a child to their parent. He prayed to the Buddha that she was shielded from the true cause of his death; that would cause her too much pain and distress then she could bear. But much in the same way he had inflicted a similar pain onto Guan Yu's children. And he had robbed the younger siblings of an older brother as well.
Would he have killed the children? He wonders idly as he gazes into the deep blue sky of Empatheias. The adrenaline, the passion, the anger, the hatred, the vicious bloodlust, the thrill of victory...he had been completely consumed by these intense emotions. Compassion and empathy was nowhere to be found that night, only cold logic.
So yes, he probably would've killed them.
In death he has had the time to think over his actions. And that's a sobering thought, that he would stoop to such levels. And that he would do it again if he had to. It's kept his mood low ever since he and Guan Xing parted ways and swore to stay out of each other's path, out of respect for the laws of the land. That such terrible familicide had to be carried out for the greater cause...the land had truly turned into a bloody stage if such a tale could be stomached by the masses, even championed as a victory.
Lu Meng sighs and glances over to the drooping sunflowers on his right that had just, about five minutes ago, been standing up straight, tall and proud before he had taken his seat here.]
Sorry. I just can't shake this bad mood off.
[It seems funny to address flowers. But Lu Meng can't apologize to Guan Xing. Even if he did it would be scant condolences and probably nothing short of his head would do to soothe the younger man's hurt and justified anger.
The very least he could right now is offer his apologies to the pretty things.]
Locked to thirdarrow
Date: 2014-09-28 12:40 pm (UTC)Empatheias was really an interesting land for Ma Dai, with its technology and its crystals and its people. And he could focus on that curiosity to block out whatever else he might be feeling, including loneliness and homesickness. The darker side of him that he had taken so much care to conceal from everyone remained blotted out by the powerful inquisitive nature of his, and so long as he kept up learning, kept up wanting to learn, he could keep those negative emotions buried underneath. So far his questioning took the form of strange colours and small images that bloomed about his head, revealing some of the thoughts that ran through his head.
The book he's currently browsing discusses technology; it's a little beyond his level, as evidenced by his increasingly puzzled expression and the little painted cogs above his hat that are whirling forward then backward and even flipping on their sides. With a sigh he places the book back on the shelf, the paint-like mechanisms disappearing into a small burst of dripping yet dissolving ink.]
This is more than I can take! Maybe there's an easier book inside.
[Ma Dai pushes the door open, the windchimes nearby tinkling to announce his presence. He calls out anyway, just to be polite and make sure that he's not intruding on anyone.]
He-yo! Is there anyone in?
no subject
Date: 2014-09-28 01:58 pm (UTC)He looks up from the book that he had been perusing at the sound of the windchimes and leaves his seat behind the counter to take a better look. The customer that had come in seems to be a young man of around his age, with a rather... interesting piece of headwear. ]
Good afternoon. Might I assist you with anything?
[ He says this calmly, with his usual half-smile. ]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 09:42 am (UTC)[Ma Dai tips his hat at the young shop-keeper's direction; he doesn't mean anything offensive by his comment, so hopefully none is taken. He's just always been a little blunt with his speech. He's been spoken to about it before in the past, but isn't honesty always the best policy? At any rate no harm's done to anyone.]
And sure, I could use a little help. I'm looking for a good book to read, do you have any suggestions? I don't mind the topic...well maybe not technology books. I'm still getting used to this place; let's just take it one step at a time, hmm?
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 02:36 pm (UTC)He returns the stranger's greeting with a half-nod. ] Well, it depends on what you are seeking. We have a selection of literary works from Verens' authors, as well as texts on natural phenomena, if you are partial to that subject.
Are you perhaps looking for any reference books to pick up skills?
why do we do this to each other
Date: 2014-09-28 01:05 pm (UTC)It's not like she hates this place. What she hates is how she's been taken away from her world, from her duty, and forced into another one. Her father was nowhere to be seen, and she can't trust that time will somehow stop back home, no matter what people say. And unfortunately, just dimming these emotions and putting on a pretty face isn't enough here.
Far from it. She'll never get home if she keeps... waffling around, genuinely unsure and genuinely distraught. So instead, she picks herself up, along with her amulet. And she turns her attention to what she's always been spectacular at, for better or for worse.
Diao Chan was made to dance.
The world around her may change. Technology may make leaps and bounds, leaving her behind. The seas and the skies themselves may swap places, or cease to exist at all. But it remains a fact that Diao Chan is very, very good at the things she trains herself to do. Dancing is, technically, just another art that is expected of her. A maid of such a high-class man must be refined, after all.
(Except she is no maid, and he is not just her master. But that's for another day-- if she dwells on that now, it might start raining.)
The unique... intricacies of the world make it hard for her to hide her emotions. But adaptation is key, and she's taken to over-exaggerating her feelings instead when the situation calls for it. She's the perfect image of a 'weak woman', after all-- she can fake a fainting spell to explain why the flowers around her wilting. A spontaneous fever to explain why a tree nearby caught fire. People will be swarming to help her.
At least... those who don't see right through the whole disguise. The people from back home, especially those who've heard the legends of a 'silver-tongued vixen' bringing down a tyrant, would probably be smart enough not to underestimate her from her looks. And yet, she looks so... innocent, now, dancing along the roadside.
Instead of wilting, flowers are springing up at her feet. It's a pretty sight.
If anyone sees her, she may or may not pretend not to notice them.]
FEELS. That's why.
Date: 2014-09-29 12:07 am (UTC)If he could be honest, Zhang Liao rarely feels anything anymore. His whole life has been absorbed into training; like a sword that has been hammered into shape by the steady blacksmith, so has his emotions been completely quashed by the back-breaking training he has endured nearly all his life. Those irritating, unnecessary things have been packed tight into a tiny box and locked away somewhere in the back of his heart. The only time he truly feels anymore is when he's in battle. That's when he allows those tightly compressed emotions to let loose, giving his blows a ferocity and an almost sadistic glee as he hacks his way across his opponents. He doesn't seek bloodlust, or rather he hopes not to, but as a man seeking to walk to the path of the warrior he must test his abilities and the battlefield is the only place that he knows off where he can truly embrace his skills and the man he's become.
So now that the laws of this extremely peaceful land require him to feel again, to actively seek out emotion in order to find his way home...he's been having quite a lot of difficulty with accomplishing that. When something has been honed into a habit it is difficult to unlearn, and for Zhang Liao to willingly break his stoic nature is to ask him to completely revamp how he lives his life. It hasn't been easy, and as such he's taken to flushing out and destroying the monsters that hound the villagers as a substitute to his normal way of expressing himself.
The crystal amulet that hangs around his neck remains decidedly empty though, hinting that the monsters don't provide enough of a challenge for the great general. A whole week spent in the wilderness routing the wild beasts has done little to provoke a more passionate and emotive response for him. Which is why he's heading back to town, in the hopes of perhaps finding a worthy warrior to cross blades with.
And that's when he sees her.
It has been a few years since Master Lu Bu and Master Chen Gong perished. He heard a few rumors about Mistress Lingqi and the trouble that she was stirring up further down south, but there was one member of their tiny, close-knit group that had completely vanished without a trace. It's strange that even from so far he can recognize her dancing because he barely said even two words to her when last they served the same lord. But as he nears her he feels his heart beating faster, feels a tightness in his throat and his mouth turning dry.
He grieved. Privately, away from prying eyes and ears. Grieved for those who had died while he had lived. Wondered how he could face them again in the next life. Plagued by nightmares that, while they had ceased in their frequency, have remained seared in his memory. Accusing stares and fingers. Hot and angry words. Tears, unwanted, unbidden tears from his young charge. And she cried in his dreams too, because he knows that she would do that. Prey on man's feelings, twist them to her advantage. That's what she does best.
He had always been so careful with his emotions, so careful to ensure that no one ever figured out how shameful a man he actually is. But to see her again without warning...it's a bit more than his hardened warrior heart can take.
A strong gale comes up from behind him, blowing down hard on the thick green grass and whipping flower petals into a colorful yet chaotic whirlwind. Because that is always, always how he feels, when he sees Diaochan dance.]
...Lady Diaochan. You live.
sobs
Date: 2014-09-29 12:41 am (UTC)She hasn't gotten completely used to registering these changes in weather as a sign that someone is nearby. However, the slight turns of her head and nimble twists in her body means that she can easily see all around her. It's obvious that there's someone there, but she's unable to attach that blur of a looming figure to a name. Her steps only stop once she hears her name.
She knows him.
A surprised expression manages to make its way onto her face, reflected by an apple shaking off a nearby tree. It's not common, but sometimes, Diao Chan's reputation precedes her-- never in ways that are beneficial. It doesn't matter if they admire her for what she's done (well, about to do before she got pulled here), or if they keep their distance in fear of her potential trickery. The fact that they know is both reassuring and horribly, horribly wrong.
Not to mention that she realizes her actions don't help to restore the Han rule at all.
But that's fine. It'll be fine, because she'll go back to her world with this new knowledge, and she'll fix whatever she did wrong. She'll have to twist Lu Bu around even further than she intended to, for years and for decades, but she'll do it.
So the reappearance of Zhang Liao causes her to shiver, because there's a very good chance he knows.]
Master Zhang Liao! [There's a pleasant smile on her face as she bows, though there's ice forming between her toes.] Thank goodness, I thought I was alone here.
[Ah, and-- it's time to make a lie. Diao Chan's smile becomes unsure as her face dims in 'confusion' at his statement. (She knows perfectly well what he means, and that only confirms that Zhang Liao knows more than she does about their world. Oh dear.)] What do you mean by that, though? I just saw you with Master Lu Bu some time ago.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 01:46 am (UTC)His expression of surprise of seeing her alive had snapped back to its usual strict mask, but the magic of Empatheias ensures that his true feelings remained exposed to the outside world. The wind picks up in intensity, swirling leaves and flowers around them and bathing the two in a sweet, nearly over-powering fragrance. The land reflects the turmoil that churns within him, a turmoil he tries to contain as those long dead emotions begin to crawl out of the grave he had buried them in. And the perfume, both sweet yet sickly so...how sweet it is to fall in love, yet how dreadful to yearn for the companion of your lord and master. The guilt and shame lingers like a bad aftertaste at the back of his tongue, and this world knows; see how the flower petals begin to blacken and curl around the edges from an invisible rot.
His reply is delivered with his usual stern demeanor, but it can't hide the effects that his emotions have on the land around him.]
My lady. I do not wish to distress you and I prey that you will pardon my words, but I say them not to pain you and not in jest, but in truth and honesty.
My lady...time does not follow its natural course here. It has been a few years since last we met, when you fled with your father to safety after Dong Zhuo had been put to the blade by Master Lu Bu.
Master Lu Bu has been executed by Tsao Tsao. As has Master Chen Gong. Mistress Lingqi wanders the land, and this Zhang Liao, the one who stands before you...he serves Tsao Tsao now, in the hopes of finding a path worth walking on.
[He bows to her, giving her the respect that is due to the companion of his fallen lord, and to avoid looking at her face, to give him time to prepare his heart for the inevitable poison that she will fling at him for having abandoned his lord at death's door.]
Zhang Liao begs your forgiveness. But what I have just told you...it has truly transpired over the past two years. I swear it on my name and my pride and honor as a warrior that it is not a lie.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 02:21 am (UTC)And that says something in itself too, though she hopes that the warrior won't notice. The shock upon her face isn't reflected by anything around her, because she already knows, and she's always expected something like this to happen. If-- if things were better, after her father was safe and sound, maybe she would've reached out for help. From the people most likely to give it: the foolishly benevolent, or the easily charmed. But apparently, that's not what happens in 'history', and not what happens in Zhang Liao's memory.
Instead of remaining emotionless and only pretending to be shocked, Diao Chan starts to prey on her own emotions. The fact that Lu Bu truly dies in such a pitiful way, the fact that she only causes the land to fall into bloody war does evoke real sorrow. So she focuses on that, repeating in her head like a chant that she's a silver-tongued vixen and the land is in turmoil because of you. She repeats it, and repeats it, over the course of only a few seconds. But it's enough to make her (almost) believe it.
The gale surrounding Zhang Liao turns into a freezing blast of wind by the time it reaches Diao Chan, and the smell of fragrance is replaced by the crisp dryness of winter.]
...Master Lu Bu is...? [She knows, of course, but if she keeps focusing on her emotions and keeps repeating it in her head, actual feelings will surface soon enough. Never as strongly as the first time she finds out, but it's better than nothing. Diao Chan seems to ignore Zhang Liao's declaration of how he was now serving Cao Cao, in the favor of grief.]
Master Chen Gong... and what will become of Mistress Ling Qi? [Isn't she only a small child? Because that's the only Ling Qi she knows. And it's a good thing the only Diao Chan that Ling Qi will know is the Diao Chan who is her father's mistress.
Not the Diao Chan who leads her father to ruin.
Still. She eventually bows away from Zhang Liao, putting her hands on her face to 'weep'.]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 02:58 am (UTC)Pulling himself back up, he watches on impassively as those delicate hands cover her face. He remains silent as she cries, and because he had expected some measure of grief he's better prepared for this outpouring of sorrow. The cold pinches at his skin, but if Empatheias wanted more out of him than it will have to do better than that to catch him off guard again.
The warrior does not know how to comfort; he only kills. So he quietly waits for her to finish, for that is all he can offer from his own steel-clad heart.]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 03:28 am (UTC)But Diao Chan is far from a petal, instead eventually rearing her head up. Like something awaking from hibernation, creeping out through the snow. Its head is visible first, before it body coils (Diao Chan bows to Zhang Liao once again) and it stretches open its mouth to reveal fangs tipped with--
(Diao Chan closes her eyes in quiet contemplation for another moment, before opening her mouth to say something.)]
At least you are alright, Master Zhang Liao.
[And the snake strikes.
She 'ignores' the fact that he's now serving Wei, now serving the man who controls the Emperor like a dog. Instead, she lets the ice melt, and flashes the lone person she recognizes a warm smile.
Despite the cold fear gripping her chest.]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 03:58 am (UTC)The truth of the matter is that it's been two years since things have changed for him. And during those two years his soul-searching had intensified as he sought a reason, a justification even, for why he continues to fight if all he caused was further chaos and bloodshed.
And so far the answer continued to elude him.
He is slightly surprised that she isn't angry at him. He knows her feelings on the Han Emperor, and even if he was never too sure how much she truly cared for Master Lu Bu, her loyalty to the Emperor was absolute and unshakeable.
Given that he's serving one of the latest in a line of treacherous tyrants (Tsao Tsao was pretty open about his manipulation of the Emperor and the persecution of the Emperor's loyal followers; Zhang Liao was pretty sure that falls firmly in the 'tyrant' section of the history books) he expected something less...cordial.]
Thank you for your kind words, my lady. I'm not sure what I've done to warrant them; they are more than I deserve, but I thank you all the same.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 04:22 am (UTC)To adapt and to learn how to use the situation to your advantage is to define the line between failure or success. And if not in her original timeline, then she will succeed here, by using what she has. And now, one of Cao Cao's men are in her sights.
All's fair in war.]
I do not believe in Cao Cao's vision or actions myself. [A nice way of saying 'I don't like him'.] But I do believe you must have your reasons, Master Zhang Liao.
[Not to mention that being alive is (almost) always better than being dead.
She says only this, keeping her back straight (but not too straight as to seem proud). His reaction will decide what she will do next.]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 06:21 am (UTC)The truth is that even Zhang Liao didn't believe the reason Tsao Tsao had given him. He has served two lords, fought for their banners and received naught but sick guilt and sticky blood on his hands. What was the point in serving a third? But the Lord of Wei had refused to kill him; that spoke something about Tsao Tsao. Tsao Tsao did not do mercy and yet he had given it so freely to Zhang Liao. The least Zhang Liao can do is serve him, at least till he has done enough that he can leave with a clear conscience.]
Tsao Tsao spared my life. He refused to order my execution and accorded me the freedom of fighting under his banner or leaving. By a warrior's code I am indebted to him.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 01:35 pm (UTC)...
Her endless trains of thought start causing the grasses near her to start bouncing, as if they're moving in rhythm with the thinking in her head.]
Do you think... he's only using you because he knows you'll serve him?
[A beat.
Should she have said that?]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 01:57 pm (UTC)It will take more than my life to convince me to swear my fealty to his banner.
[That much he can say with conviction and sincerity. He owes Tsao Tsao, but at the same time duty doesn't equal loyalty. Unless Tsao Tsao can provide a true reason for Zhang Liao to continue to fight in his army, Zhang Liao really doesn't see any reason why he should continue on. Gone are the days of his blind loyalty to men who did not deserve it. In that sense he has grown a bit more careful with whom he serves, a bit more discerning of men and their motives, and their desires for the land.]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 02:26 pm (UTC)That's... a very useful answer. She'll take note of it.
(It's suffocating, to have your every thought be dedicated to one single cause. You don't just have to deceive the people around you-- you have to deceive yourself. Deceive yourself into thinking that this is the best possible way, deceive yourself into thinking that this will all be worth something. Because Diao Chan can't possibly deceive herself into thinking that some people deserve to be manipulated, or that she's a monster-- that's an insult, to everyone.)
That train of thought, which comes and goes in one burst, almost goes unnoticed by the world. Except the air around the both of them thins noticeably for a split second, and may just make Diao Chan cough for a moment.]
I see... I still do not believe you are unworthy of kindness. You must have endured many indescribable hardships by both Master Lu Bu's side and as under Cao Cao. Much more than I may imagine.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 10:11 pm (UTC)He clears his throat, silently wondering what that particular movement in the air signifies. But he then scolds himself, because it's none of his business to poke into Diaochan's thoughts and emotions. As he does his best to cover up his own from others, so he should respect everyone else's privacy to their own internal struggles.]
You are too kind, my lady. All I have done is swing my blades; I have performed no other noteworthy service.
[...this is the longest conversation he's ever had with Diaochan. It just isn't proper to speak with your lord's mistress, alone. He should take his leave soon. But it's also his duty to make sure that she's alright.]
But Zhang Liao isn't worthy of your concern, though I am grateful that you think of me. How do you fare yourself, my lady? Has the land been kind to you?
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 11:21 pm (UTC)This land has been quite kind-- almost too much so. Heehee... I fear I may find myself spoiled rotten before I can return home. [That's... true, honestly. The lack of war, the lack of shortages, the amazing technology, the kind people-- it's like what a village life in a land of peace would sound like in fairytales. The only thing that keeps her from immersing herself completely in this 'normal' life is the fact that she isn't, in fact, leading a normal life.
She has a duty to do. And she won't ever forget it.]
How about you? I don't believe this place has much for a warrior like yourself to do.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-29 11:59 pm (UTC)It is a peaceful land.
[He'll agree with her on that. He can't complain, really, about the land and all its simple pleasures. No battles, no famine, no plague or death...it's a taste of what's to come back home, because eventually someone will have to end all that fighting and restore the peace to the Empire. Now whether a Han Empire will still exist at the end of that road...that's up to Tsao Tsao and Liu Bei.]
There is enough. Monsters still lurk around the perimeter of the village, so I have made it my duty to protect the border.
[He also need something to keep his skills sharp. The easy life in Empatheias could easily cause one to slack, and Zhang Liao is strict on himself to ensure that he keeps himself at the top of his game.
This peace though...it bothers him, that he would find it boring. That he just can't seem to adjust to life after war worries him, because why pursue war when it sows the seeds of chaos and further bloodshed? But he finds that he has so little purpose in life when there are no great battles to fight. His mind had become aimless, wandering about even as he slaughtered a herd of monsters because there was no challenge, no thrill. Honestly speaking he could admit to being worried that he is actually getting worse from the lack of good opponents to do battle with.
...his thoughts are getting careless again. Gathering them up quickly before he lets slip any indication of what's going on in his mind (he can't bother Diaochan about these matters, that's for certain!), he brings himself back to the conversation.]
So long as I know that the people are safe, then I am satisfied.
[...that's a partial lie. But it's a half truth that sounds a whole lot better than what he truly thinks.
Too bad Empatheias doesn't seem to agree. Zhang Liao's brooding and the admittedly dark thoughts about peace and war and his place within them causes the clouds to grey a little above them.]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 12:15 am (UTC)Monsters? I've never seen them before... [She has. She's fought them. Her attacks are ranged and focus on crowd control, so they can never swarm her.] You must do a very good job at keeping them at bay, then. [Zhang Liao's uncertainty of whether he can settle well into a land of peace works incredibly well for Diao Chan-- in the sense that she needs a way to get to Cao Cao. It's not good in the sense that she genuinely wants him (and a lot of people) to be happy, but. Well.
She's basically going to ruin Lu Bu, anyway. The suffering of a few for the good of the majority. She has to remember that. The Han Empire must return.]
Is that what you've been doing today, then? Hunting monsters... not many come out this far into the forests. [Even if it's a previously-built path, the ground is beginning to be overrun by plants. Or perhaps it's the result of Diao Chan's dancing.]
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 09:34 am (UTC)[Perhaps it's a good thing that Zhang Liao is always such a serious person. It lends his words more weight, stripping any inkling of his true thoughts away from them. Because as much as he bears...certain feelings towards Diaochan, he's also well aware of how she works. That doe-eyed innocent and delicate act was what snared both Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu after all; having witnessed it himself, even confronted her about it later when he felt enough was enough and he owed it to his master to step in and do something, he knows that he's going to have to be careful and take whatever she tells him with a pinch of salt.
Because he's going to have to interact with her, isn't he? She's got her whip but she's no warrior. And while Empatheias was infinitely safer when compared with where they're from, he doesn't want to disregard any possible risk that something sinister might potentially be lurking somewhere beneath the serene and scenic backdrop of this island. Which is partially why he spends so much time near the borders of the human settlements; if anything starts coming round the mountain, he wants to be the first to know.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-01 02:50 am (UTC)Putting yourself in danger even here... I can see why Master Lu Bu chose to keep you by his side. [But she understands flattery isn't going to go far when it comes to Zhang Liao. And even then, she's not sure if what she just said was the right thing to say, seeing that he's serving Cao Cao now. But she'll find out soon enough. First things first:]
Even with magitech and the power of our own emotions, monsters run rampant... I owe the people here very much for their kindness. [Pause.] Would it be too much to ask for you to bring me along when you're hunting for them?
[That's the bomb she wanted to drop.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-01 10:12 am (UTC)And it is that honor as a warrior, a retainer and as a man, that causes him to foot his down quite sternly on her request and protest. ]
My lady, there is no need for you to involve yourself with such matters. There are ample warriors in this land who can take up the sword if needed. Please, rest easy and leave these troubles to us.
no subject
Date: 2014-10-02 03:48 am (UTC)I understand. [She does, but she doesn't like it. Ah well, she'll probably continue wandering the outskirts now and then. If Zhang Liao finds her, pretending to be lost may suffice. Diao Chan can't just... 'rest easy' and rot away doing nothing all day. Sure, there's people to meet and fun to be had, but she can't exactly enjoy all of those with the nagging notion of her duty still being ever-present.]
If I may be so bold, perhaps I could say the same for yourself. [...] I haven't seen you in town before.
no subject
Date: 2014-10-03 04:54 am (UTC)I venture into the town when needed, but I do not tarry for long. There is still need for a man with my martial ability. So long as there is a need, then I will be there.
[The thought of laying down his axes...that's not a comfortable idea to him at all. It would be like tearing a painter from his paint brush, like blinding an archer, or chopping off the legs of a dancer; he would not be able to live.
No, it's far better for him to continue as is. He'd rather die than let slacken in his training; that is his dedication to the path of the warrior.]
fade to black then giant monster swarm?
Date: 2014-10-04 01:12 am (UTC)Though, that's rather understandable to her as well. Honestly, she doubts she can tell Lu Bu what to do if he was brought here. ...Well, she could, but the constant itch of battle would be too much. At least with him, if she puppy-eyes and goes on about how 'I'm worried about your own safety too', he'll eventually bring her along.
And he never blames her for anything. Which is... useful, as well as a little sad.]
If that is what you say, Master Zhang Liao. [Her tone is respectful enough, with its usual demure cheeriness returning.] Please do not overexert yourself.
Sounds good to me!
Date: 2014-10-05 02:16 am (UTC)Zhang Liao nods and salutes her respectfully.]
Thank you my lady. If ever you are in need of my service, simply call and I will answer.
[Those strange crystals are pretty useful for communication purposes.
With that he carries on to town, back ramrod straight and never looking back. The wind follows with him though, as does a low, grumbling thunder that comes about from his unease...
...or at least, that's what he thought it was.
They came in the darkness, heralded by rain, lightning and thunder. Monsters of all shapes and sizes, swooping from the sky with claws outstretched, the tips itching to gouge into flesh. Zhang Liao didn't know how it was possible that so many could have appeared; none of the other warriors knew either, for as far as they could tell Empatheias could not hold these many monsters. All of them had their work cut out for them as they hacked and sawed through feather, hide and scale.
Zhang Liao remains focused on the task at hand. A living whirlwind of red death in the middle of this storm, he leaves a trail of corpses in his wake. He then receives a message that monsters were thick in one place; no one else can be spared, and he is needed to be there to protect those who lived nearby.
Zhang Liao listens dutifully, but when he receives the directions to where he must fight there's a shocked look that flashes across his face. Cutting the conversation short immediately despite the concerned look his comrade gave him, Zhang Liao feels his heart starting to beat again as he starts to run.
He can't...he can't let anything happen to her.]
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Date: 2014-10-05 03:11 am (UTC)She's in a teahouse when the rumbles start coming closer. A few warm drinks and even a night's stay for a single dance to entertain the guests-- it was a good trade. And the day seemed to be going so well, as she was reminded that her dancing could do more than trick and beguile. Maybe they liked it especially so because it was 'exotic', given her whole visage. But she didn't mind. She was smiling, and still smiling as she realized something was wrong.
It's only when one of the shopkeepers open the window and scream that her heart sinks to her feet.
Diao Chan doesn't waste any time. That's the last thing she can allow her to do, both back home and in this world. The chain whip she left on the table is the first thing she reaches for, and the last thing she says to the people cowering inside is to hide. There's some protest as she walks right into the storm herself, but no one runs up to stop her personally.
That works with her. Besides, she's far from helpless in these kind of situations.
The first few beasts are easy to take care of. They're threatening, but they're also slow, far too slow. She jumps all over them, slides between their feet, and trips them over each other. They swarm at her without a second thought, and they all suffer when she starts to twirl. The magical pink that surrounds her isn't just for dancing, and proves that as much as she can, keeping the monsters away from the town.
But even though she slips out of trouble every time, like a fish slipping through a man's hands, the fish will eventually suffocate out of water.
Her weapon is made to keep things away, not kill them. Its only way of truly getting rid of monsters is to whip them to death, which is achievable, but not so conducive when there's just so many. But she can't back off, either-- because the people she's protecting are even more defenseless. How can she fight them off, then? This is a secluded part of Verens, and--
Oh. Wait. She knows.
As if you needed the incentive to keep hurrying, Zhang Liao, but she's going to duck behind a building for a moment before pulling out her amulet.]
Master Zhang Liao! The left district of Verens, with--
[And she's about to tell him where she is, before one of the monsters starts flying down from the rooftops, and the scream that comes is very much genuine.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-05 05:33 am (UTC)The monster has barely leapt from the roof when there's a sudden streak of lightning that flashes across the sky, accompanied with a deafening clap. And right at that moment, the monster's downward swoop is quite abruptly ended by a spinning axe to its head. With a sickening thud and crunch the monster ends up pinned to the wall, eyes rolled upwards and tongue lolling out of its mouth and fangs still bared for the kill as blood and brain matter trickle down the sides of its muzzle.
And standing there with his arm still outstretched from the throw and a splash of black monster blood on his armour is Zhang Liao. The rain and darkness keeps his face covered in shadow, but there's no mistaking that dangerous gleam in his eyes, nor the red, bloody foot prints that he leaves behind, unable to washed away by the torrents of water pounding down on Verens. Like a cobra with its hood fully expanded and its body coiled tight to strike, Zhang Liao's sending out a clear warning to the monsters; touch a single hair on Diaochan's head, and there won't be anything left of them by the time he's through.
This is the Zhang Liao that everyone in Wei fears. The Zhang Liao who rides out at Lu Bu's side, leaving nothing but carnage and destruction in his wake.
With the Diaochan's safety temporarily secured for the time being, Zhang Liao walks over and calmly wrenches his axe out of the monster's skull with a sharp twist of his wrist. Blood sprays out from the gaping wound and what little remains of the skull as the body splatters to the ground, further painting the fearsome warrior in black and red. The blue armour he wears underneath begins to resemble his old uniform.]
My lady, are you unharmed?
[His voice is rough and his frightening aura doesn't dissipate, but at least there's something resembling concern in his tone as he questions Diaochan.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-05 07:10 am (UTC)In the thick storm, it's hard to register anything. Only flashes of red color between periods of darkness, lightning strikes only illuminating the surroundings for so long. It's hard to smile when you're so unsure of everything and the smell of blood is thick in the air, so she decides not to. With the wind blowing so fast around them and the visibility so low, it's not like Zhang Liao would notice, right? (Right?)
Instead, her expression falls from a shocked look to something of a forlorn stare. There's blood covering her feet and in-between her toes, with scrapes on her knees and a small gash across her collarbone. She's far from injured, yes, but she could use a good shower. This is a disheveled state Diao Chan hasn't ever reached, not even during the peak of battle. Because Lu Bu was always there, along with (as much as it pains her to admit it) Dong Zhuo, and they wouldn't want any scars to appear on their pretty little dancer. Hell, even when it came to tricking the two, her father was always somewhere nearby to support her. To remind her it was all for the better.
So, you could say that these monsters were, in fact, the first battle where she stood alone.]
I'm alright... [Lu Bu would be furious to see her in such a state. She-- almost mistakes Zhang Liao for a monster, to be honest, which causes the wind around them to whip even faster at their skin. But he's far from a monster. He's an ally, and now she's not alone here.]
--Ah, no, the teahouse! [She can't dally. Diao Chan snaps her head at the direction of the place where she came from, only to see a monster (or two) slam right through the entrance. She needs to say something, anything to Zhang Liao-- it could just be 'please save them', or 'the monsters can't be allowed closer'. But for some reason, her feet are moving faster than her lips, and she's running straight towards the threat.
...Oops.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-05 08:40 am (UTC)His piercing gaze flicks from her face down to her feet, stops for a moment to note the blood (no serious injury, that's good) before he looks back at her young, fatigued face, still locked in some expression of shock before it turns into despondency. And that's not a surprise for him; it's not lost on Zhang Liao either that this is the first time she's entered the battlefield without Lu Bu by her side, ensuring her safety.
Poor girl. So young, so delicate and yet forced to fight.
But minor nicks and bruises aside she seems to be alright. Zhang Liao allows a slight sigh of relief to slip out of him, a tiny flicker of the humanity that he normally sets aside when in the thick of battle.]
Good. Forgive me for my tardiness, I-
[And than suddenly she's off again, sprinting towards the damn teahouse. Diaochan rushes off before Zhang Liao can stop her; it's an unconscious reaction as he reaches out to grab her, the tips of his gloves just barely brushing against the soft fabric of her clothes before she's out of his grasp and running back into danger. In this darkness she's a pink petal, tossed about helplessly by the wind and forces that she can't fight back against. Yet still she pushes onwards, throwing herself against the strong gale that whip and tear at her as she pushes through a curtain of heavy rain.
He runs after her, yelling for her to stop, that he can handle this and he just wants her to stay out of danger and stay safe because she's his lord's beloved concubine, he has an obligation to protect her from harm. He's already failed Master Lu Bu once, he can't afford to fail again!
But...but isn't he already failing his master? Because that tightness in his heart that's threatening to burst his chest...that's not solely born out of his loyalty and duty to his old master.
He doesn't know when his voice turns ragged and desperate, almost pleading as he screams for her to just listen to him, but his voice is drowned out by the storm and all he can see is her running, running, slipping out of his grasp and through the ruined doorway. He's but a few steps behind, but then again...it only took Zhuan Zhu a few steps to strike down the King of Wu.</small.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-05 09:13 am (UTC)The fact that she was always so full of gratitude all the time didn't help, either. Diao Chan is a maid, but she was also the adopted daughter of a father who cared for her. And he raised her on stories, of exemplary people, men and women. Of acts filled with bravery, of earth-shattering displays of loyalty and of heart-wrenching acts of generosity. These stories become the guiding light for so, so many-- the wise and the kind, the protective and the enlightened. Their names are recorded in history which such glory, people really do dream of joining them in being remembered for values.
That isn't Diao Chan's goal. But they've certainly affected her, because she must repel the monsters, she must save the people who offered her a place to stay. That's just how it works, and--
She doesn't completely forget about Zhang Liao. But probably not in the way he would like-- she looks around closely, making sure there isn't any monsters which can ambush him, but doesn't stop to wait.
When she finally slips in, it's right under the nose of a monster, and right into the face of another. Her chain whip goes to work immediately, and she spins on her toes with a kind of ferocity that wouldn't be good in a dance but would be good in combat. The monster right outside the teahouse is thrown to the floor, and the other is slammed into the wall. She's got to use her emotions to her advantage-- focus on the anger, focus, focus, put it into your weapon-!
A scream from the other side of the room throws her off, and the anger switches into worry before it switches into pain.
The monster she put against the wall swiftly returns the favor, its humanoid shape giving it the ability to flick an arm and toss her aside. Its ugly pig face almost seems to laugh (just her imagination?) as her shoulder knocks against concrete hard, and her head starts buzzing from the impact. She's stepped on broken glass, and now, the blood on her legs isn't just from monsters.
...Get back up, she's getting back up, but the one outside is coming back too...]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-05 05:40 pm (UTC)A loud ear-splitting crack and earth-shaking boom pounds the tea house; for a moment the entire building sways, and both monsters and scared victims alike duck their heads, loose pieces of plaster tumbling down from the ceiling. All sound in the room cease; no howling wind, no thunder clap, not even a drop of rain water. Instead there's quiet. An ominous, chilling silence. The air grows thin and tight as breathing becomes difficult, but a thick tension presses down on everyone, prompting cold sweat and a gnawing fear that something is building up and about to explode. Like a kettle that's been kept sealed but boiling on a fire, the pressure is intense, almost suffocating.
Time seems to slow down as Empatheias waits for the hammer, poised and ready to fall on the anvil.
Both monsters stop in their tracks; where human reasoning fails, animal instinct prevails. The one closer to the door decides to check the entrance. It makes a turn...
...and that's when the bubble pops.
A buzzing whirl. A blast of wind. A light tap on the wooden floor.
A bloody foot print.
Time resumes.
All at once, the missing storm sounds return to the teahouse, blaring out their return like some disorderly and chaotic orchestra. The thick pressure and tension in the air dissipates, allowing the cold air to flow freely once again. For a moment it's a slight breeze, gently bouncing off the walls. Then it begins to circle, curling around the crouched figure in the centre of the room, head bowed and twin axes extended out like wings.
The monster turns back to look at him. It lumbers forward, one meaty hand uncurled to reveal huge and wickedly sharp claws meant for shredding human flesh to strips. Then suddenly, there's a crackle in the air. A thin, static blue line dances between the tips of the axes, from one point to another...
...and that's when the entire, hulking beast rips neatly into half from a cut so sharp, fierce and fine, that the monster had not even noticed it is already dead. Blood sprays out from the cut, completely drenching him in the monster's life essence. Truth be told though he welcomes it, just like he welcomes the powerful gust that comes rampaging through the teahouse's doors, wrenching the window shutters of their hinges and sending the tea cups crashing to the ground. The rain bursts in through every opening it can find, drenching everyone in cold, freezing water...save for the man that's standing straight up right now, blood dripping off every inch of his armour and trailing a mess down his face. The lightning that springs from his twin axes sizzles the air, what with all the moisture seeping in. The wind whips all around him as he becomes the eye of the storm, drawing it from outside into the teahouse.
But it's the expression on his face that draws the most attention. He appears almost like a stranger, one that would prove to be unrecognisable to Diaochan. All semblance of the stoic, calm man that had just spoken to her this morning has been wiped away. Instead, there is nothing but a terrible, terrible rage that promises no mercy, promises pain and suffering and all manners of torture. There is nothing left of a human in his eyes, so wild and burning with madness. He takes one step forward and the ground crackles and burns with all the pent up emotions that he has, for so long, held back. But the dam is broken and they rush out like a flood, unstoppable and sweeping everything away.
It's a good thing that he gets mad so rarely, for it seems that Empatheias reacts badly to Zhang Liao's anger.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-05 11:51 pm (UTC)The building sways, but she doesn't have enough air to gasp.
Diao Chan is one of those stuck in a stupor as time seems to stop; she's left staring at the ground, wondering what just happened what just happened is everyone alright and yet her head is too heavy to lift up. She... floats like a spirit in purgatory, as if the judges of hell can't decide on which one to send her to. Maybe the building will collapse on her, or maybe the monsters will get her first. Footsteps, stillness, but her head isn't still, it's whirring with everything that's happened and oh no, what will become of her father back home, if she dies here--
And as time resumes, she realizes she can't die here, and her survival instincts kick right in.
She stumbles up, before standing on both feet equally, despite the gash in her right one. It's bearable, the pain is bearable, even though she can feel the wound splitting apart and the blood thinning out against the water. Diao Chan sees, she sees what Zhang Liao does next, and her mind almost falls into a stupor again.
But she can't, because she needs to live, and Zhang Liao is so so so angry she's not sure if she can.
Why is he angry? Is it because of her? Can't be just her, right? Is it because of the monsters hurting the people? Perhaps so? This is a different kind of rage compared to that of Lu Bu's (right?)-- she can't dim it by simply comforting him, by simply calling out their name and assuring them that she is right here.
The ground breaks. She feels like she might fall into it, almost, and so she says the first thing she can think of. The first thing that comes to mind when she sees the blood and she sees the anger, the first thing that comes to mind when she ignores his rage and hopes for the best--]
Master Zhang Liao!
[I'm right here!]
Are you alright?
no subject
Date: 2014-10-06 12:45 am (UTC)Zhang Liao crosses his blades in front of him, causing blue sparks of energy to flow from the sharp end to the handles. Yet somehow he seems unharmed, as he crouches down on the floor once again, facing down the sole remaining monster left in the room which roars and bears its teeth at him before it squares its shoulders and makes a suicidal charge.
For all its bluster and bravado though, Zhang Liao can sense its fear. And that fear makes him feel powerful and alive. The air around him once again crackles with electricity. It's a dangerous element to wield in a room spotted with puddles of water.
But he doesn't forget the other people in the room. And most of all, he doesn't forget her.]
I thought I told you to stay out of this!
[Is he yelling at her, or is he letting out a battlecry to frighten the monster? Either way it's dead, the twin axes having severed its midriff with little to no effort. The monsters legs are still moving when the top half of its body slides off its torso, and the entire mess crashes into the wall. The poor teahouse owner is going to have quite a lot of work cut out for him. Zhang Liao doesn't even flinch at the gory mess he's made. He's still too worked up from all that's happened to calm himself down, and that shows when all the mirrors in the room shatter when lightning continues to discharge from him, amplified by all the rainwater that's entered the room. The ceiling shakes again, causing more plaster to tumble down.]
Your disobedience could've cost you your life! There is only so much I can do if you deliberately continue to place yourself in danger like this!
[...well if she's looking for confirmation on exactly what's gotten him so enraged, she has it.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-06 01:30 am (UTC)The thundering anger now currently reverberating around her is about to send Diao Chan to her knees-- and she almost allows it to, before locking them. She's stuck, stuck between her desire to protect those around her, and her duty of maintaining the persona of a delicate maiden. She should be used to this. She is used to this, to simply cowering down and manipulating men under the table. And while it's puzzling that Zhang Liao would become so genuinely angry rather than just shocked about her escapade, it's just another variable she has to consider right now.
He needs to... calm down. Or else he's going to destroy more than even the monsters.
And so, she bites back on her true feelings and locks them away again. As usual.]
...I understand. [Her head is bowed to the floor, which means she doesn't need to put on a regretful expression. So she only peppers her tone with that fake regret, while her face remains something of a grimace. Diao Chan is a delicate, delicate flower, and sometimes a flower is tossed off the ground by the momentum of the wind. That's all.]
I am sorry... to have put you through this trouble. [She'll take cover now. (Right? She's constantly questioning what she's doing, constantly scanning everything to cover up her mistakes.)] Please.... don't be angry.
[Please?]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-06 02:16 am (UTC)But as abruptly as the storm came, so does it end. Suddenly the rage just flows out of his face and his body, replaced with weariness and something akin to resignation. The cyclone around him subsides and the lightning vanishes, but the rain continues on, pouring down on their heads from the gaping hole in the roof that he had unknowingly punched through with that ugly display of temper.
The water washes away some of the blood on his face, and with it all of the anger that had so consumed him. Zhang Liao takes a step back and bows to Diaochan; his shoulders still remain stiff, a sign that he's still tense, but he's calm now. Calm, stoic, and emotionless.
God, he's tired of feeling.]
...my lady. Please stay here and rest.
[His tone is quiet, almost regretful. And the truth is that he is very, very sorry that he lost his temper so badly. But even now he's still holding back other emotions that he can't afford to show Diaochan because there would just be too much questions and no good answers.
It's a good thing that it's raining so heavily already; it already perfectly matches how wretched he feels. With one last bow he turns around and marches back out into the pouring rain.]
timeskip next right?
Date: 2014-10-06 10:29 am (UTC)Her... shoulder still aches, but while the gash on her foot hurts, she's easily combat ready. A part of her still seeks to protest, but a stronger part of her forces her knees to stay. Her entire form is slouched-- unbecoming of a dancer, but she has to give off the impression that she's too tired to go anywhere.]
I will. ['Don't worry about me'? Will he only find that suspicious?
...Well, if anything, she has to stay here to make sure those taking refuge aren't threatened any further. They'll all get out of this. Alive.
And then, after all that, she can think about how puzzling Zhang Liao's emotions are.
She's about to wish him luck, but the words die in her throat, as if she's afraid to say them. Which... is true, isn't it? That's why it's even colder around Diao Chan (as if it needed to be, the water is going to freeze on her skin--).
At least, she'll still seek him out later.]
exactomundo!
Date: 2014-10-06 11:08 am (UTC)Aware that he's caused severe property damage from his little outburst, he returns back to the little tea house in the early morning. The proprietor is understandably nervous and jittery when he sees Zhang Liao approach; he ponders, briefly, if that's why the owner agreed to let him fix the roof to make amends. Perhaps the man felt that his life would be in danger if he refused? Zhang Liao couldn't blame him, really. Even back home his presence put most of the townspeople on edge, and even the children would run away when they saw him coming from afar. These things happen when the public opinion paints you as a vicious and violent fighter, almost as demonic as the very monsters you had slain to protect the people. So that's why he doesn't mind. Or at least, he tries not to mind.
For today he's dressed in the simpler garb of Verens; that makes it easier for him to climb up to the roof and repair it. And he works quietly and diligently without complaint; roof repairs is nowhere as exhilarating as martial arts but given how emotionally spent he still is from yesterday, he finds this mundane, repetitive but simple task relaxing, a break from everything that's happened and from all the fighting and killing.]
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Date: 2014-10-06 12:16 pm (UTC)It's a thin black one that doesn't throw too much attention, except for the fact that she doesn't usually cover her arms, even on days where the cold threatens to snake its way into her bones. There's a hideous bruise spanning across her shoulder, but it'll go away soon enough-- though, her first instinct is to still buy something to hide it.
Zhang Liao isn't by the guardhouse. Seeing that it was the usual place people said he frequented other than the outskirts of civilization, she's... a bit lost on where to look next. Diao Chan doesn't forget the incident at the teahouse, of course (why would she?).
And, well. She shouldn't be surprised to see him.]
Master Zhang Liao?
[But just in case, she calls out to him tentatively. Are you already working?! It's barely been a few hours... and at this point, it's the late afternoon by the time Diao Chan finds him.]
no subject
Date: 2014-10-07 05:26 am (UTC)But then again...a sharp sickle will cut through a bundle just as fast as it would sever a single strand. Zhang Liao thinks of himself as that sickle, while the enemy soldiers that thought to group together to take him down...they're just like the grass. And he cuts all of them down all the same, whether individually or together.
...and he did blow up this roof by himself too.
That train of thought didn't end too well; guilt is an emotion he's too acquainted with. The branches of a tree nearby bend with the weight of what he feels; Zhang Liao sighs, takes a deep breath and steadies himself, watching as the branches slowly straighten back to their original position. There's no point in feeling regret about things that have happened.
And then there's feeling bad about things that are ongoing. Like the big, big issue of how he shouldn't be thinking of a certain dancer in a certain manner.
Zhang Liao hears his name being called out. He keeps his balance easily as he walks to the edge of the roof and salutes Diaochan, being extra careful this time to keep his emotions under check.]
My lady. The owner is inside, if you wish to speak with him.
[Though he has a sinking, sinking feeling that she's not here to talk about her job prospects with the proprietor. And the tree branches begin to bend again.]