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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 1, 2013 18:24:46 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - The headache was back. Despite the hour or so of clarity that adrenaline provided, the piercing pain was back with a vengeance once he lay down and didn’t die even as he slept, waking up the next morning with vague memories, a wrist in a splint and a sword sitting at the foot of his bed. His nurse had come in as soon as she realized he was awake, though it was much later than he was used to getting up.
At first, he didn’t remember much. He’d stumbled home, and he remembered one of his guards had to carry Lucien. They’d parted ways once they got up to the top floor, his butler basically grabbing him and leading him to his room while Lucien was carted off to his own. The nurse was called. A phone call had been sent back to Hong Kong and his parents. Something had certainly happened.
He woke up at noon, then sulked in bed until the nurse came to check on him. He was going to be fine, just a little shaken and a little broken up was all. The sword at the end of the bed? No idea where it came from, he’d dragged it in with him.
Kun Shui was sore all over, but after taking a few things given to him by the nurse and some water, he dismissed her and tried to get up himself. His legs shook just a little, wobbling before straightening. His back hurt and he felt like an old man. What the hell had happened? He could recall bits and pieces, but was still in too much shock to fully register the extent of the various damages.
Was Lucien alright, though?
Fuck.
Kun Shui limped to the door, heading out down the hall despite his exhaustion. Sleep wouldn’t fix giant lizards and a… what was that near the end? A tengu? Something along those lines.
”Lucien?” He made it to his door, but didn’t knock this time.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 1, 2013 19:50:35 GMT -8
After all was said and done, Lucien did not want to think. Thinking was a blissful waste of energy, and ignorance was bliss. He didn't want to think about what had happened. He really didn't want to think at all. He'd been fetched by a handsome guard of Kun Shuis, carried away from the gallery and carefully seated in the car. He hadn't even managed to walk from the car into the crystal palace--he'd had to have been carried, half conscious. He'd slept, exhausted beyond belief, and been woken some hours later by the old female doctor who served as Kun Shui's personal physician. She didn't even bother to explain why she was there--just peeled his pants off without an ounce of shame and checked out the technicolor bruise. It had hurt, but at the very least he'd learned something important before he'd passed out again. Nothing was broken. It was very badly bruised, and he was told to stay off it. His good hand was also lightly bruised, but it was an order of magnitude less severe. It was sore, but it wasn't in danger the way his leg was.
Lucien had a hard time caring, and he'd finally succumbed to the exhaustion that had been building from midway through his time at the art gallery. He slept for hours, deep and dreamless sleep. It was well past noon when his eyes first cracked open, the light from his window leaving the room bright and bothersome. He let out a little groan and then went to roll over out of instinct, whimpering and immediately flopping back onto his back. Bad plan--no rolling from him.
Which left him lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and trying so hard not to think about things. It was impossible though, and eventually his mind wandered back to everything that had happened. The feather in his chest. The monsters. The fact that he'd witnessed Kun Shui shooting someone. The last one bothered him less than the rest. He'd seen people die before, but he'd never seen Kun Shui do it. It seemed odd in his head, like a book that was on the right shelf but out of place, and he was unable to understand why.
Something was nagging at him, but he was unable to place it as he lay in bed. His eyes drifted open and closed as he slipped in and out of sleep, thoughts churning in his mind. There were no answers. None of it made any sense, and it wasn't a puzzle he could think over and suddenly solve.
Abruptly, there was a voice outside, and Lucien's eyes snapped open as he glanced up. He knew that voice--familiar and obviously upset. He shifted with a wince, pushing himself upright with one arm before regretting it, the bruise throbbing painfully. Everything ached. "Kun Shui?"
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 1, 2013 20:09:17 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - He wasn’t dead. If he was, he’d be well aware of it. Lucien was likely still sleeping or something down the hall and from what he remembered, he’d gotten a lot more hurt than he was. It was… his leg? Yes, something about his leg and then he punched a lizard. Who the hell punched a giant lizard? Well, Lucien did, apparently. He couldn’t quite imagine it, but there it was, burned into his memory like nothing else.
He heard his voice after he called his name, and that calmed him significantly.
Kun Shui slowed, pushing the door open with his good hand to see Lucien still in bed, struggling to push himself up on his arms. ”Hey, lie back down. It’s okay.” He didn’t need to be sitting up. In fact, if anything, Lucien needed to be put on some sedatives and told to stay in bed until he stopped being bruised all the colours of the rainbow.
Instead, he more or less limped over to his bedside, sitting down with a sigh at the foot of his bed. Everything hurt, being some degree of sore with the pulsing centered on his right wrist. Why the hell did it have to be his right?
”Are you feeling alright?”
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 1, 2013 20:36:35 GMT -8
The relief in Kun Shui's voice was obvious, and for a moment Lucien felt genuinely surprised by that fact. Did Kun Shui actually care so much about him? Did he actually care enough about him that he had been worried? Two months ago, Kun Shui wouldn't have noticed if Jun Shi had strangled him to death and left his corpse on the bed. All of a sudden he was rushing in to check on him, and it was a strange and slightly intoxicating feeling to realize that someone cared enough to check on him.
He sagged back into the bed as ordered, propped halfway up by pillows. His upper half was mostly fine--it was below the knee that wasn't doing so well, assuming you ignored his hands, which had taken quite the beating. He settled back, giving him a tiny, worried smile. What was Kun Shui doing up? Hadn't he been hurt? His eyes flicked around until they settled on his splinted wrist, smile twisting into an expression of simply worry. Was he alright?
In Lucien's mind, at the very least, there was no question on if the previous day had happened. It had happened. If it had happened as he remembered was another story, but at least the majority of it was correct. So he took Kun Shui's question in a different manner then some might have taken it.
"I suppose. My leg aches and... I think she said I wasn't supposed to walk on it, but I was half asleep. I'm still..." He paused, left hand reaching up to rub a thumb over his heart. "Sometimes it... itches. The whole thing, I'm just..." Then Lucien trailed off, unable to vocalize what he felt. How could he properly put his feelings into words? How could he even answer it? What could he possibly say that would explain how ridiculous and absurd the previous day was? Yet it had happened, and there was no way for him to force himself around that point without resorting to outright denial.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 1, 2013 20:48:46 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Kun Shui, despite a sound mind and (somewhat) able body, wasn’t sitting on the fence at all when it came to what happened yesterday. It did happen. The first damn thing he saw when he woke back up was that sword lying at the foot of his bed. It simmered, looking oddly pearly and rather immaculate, despite being through all that. He had to go take another look at it, but that was for later.
Lucien’s blanket was pulled up to his chest, hiding most of the damage. If he remembered correctly, it had been around his knee. He’d have to ask his nurse again when he next saw her, though the concern was new and mildly odd to him. Two years ago, he really wouldn’t have given it the time of day. Hell, even a couple months ago, he would’ve woken up injured and not even thought of the redhead.
”It’s alright.” If Lucien couldn’t quite explain it immediately, he would chalk it up to shock and that was that. There didn’t need to be any further questions on the matter because realistically, the both of them were quite exhausted and confused over the whole situation.
Kun Shui looked down at his wrist again. It gave a dull throb, but otherwise, he could’ve been worse for wear. Something could’ve been seriously broken, or he could’ve been dead. He would’ve ended up very much dead at the claws of that lizard.
”We just both need some rest… A lot of rest.”
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 1, 2013 21:13:13 GMT -8
Kun Shui was close at hand, and Lucien reached out, moving to take Kun Shui's arm gently to look at the damage. It was a stupid plan though. Kun Shui was just a bit too far for it to be comfortable, and he caught himself before he went too far, sinking back in as he winced. Definitely a bad plan--he'd move too much to actually touch him, and as much as he was worried, he wasn't about to seriously injure himself to check on Kun Shui when he could simply ask.
"You're alright?" His eyes were fixed on the splint for the moment, trying to compose his thoughts. Each thought felt like a rock in a quarry, and no matter how he moved them around, they simply rolled back into place. It was a giant, impossible to comprehend pile, and he let out a quiet sigh as he squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm not so tired now." He'd slept through the afternoon, night, and by the looks of it, most or all of the morning. Physically he was rested. Emotionally was another story, but that would take more thinking then resting. "I'm just trying to... to work out what happened. It's like flashes of light in a dark room, trying to piece it together when I only understand half of what happened." Which was an overstatement, because Lucien didn't even understand that much. He understood only chunks, and the vast majority of it was a confusing mess.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 2, 2013 15:53:19 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Kun Shui might have been sore all over, but at the very least he could move around. Lucien was confined to bed for the next few days, and he couldn’t imagine how sanity draining that could get. He’d been stuck in bed perhaps once as a child when he got sick, but that was as far as it went. He couldn’t fathom having to stay in bed, though he could do his work from there.
Lucien tried to reach for him and quickly realized he couldn’t, so Kun Shui took the liberty in edging closer until he was practically sitting alongside him. He didn’t mind the close proximity so much anymore, while a few months ago he definitely would have.
As for working out what happened, there was really no way to do so. It was something beyond his comprehension, and he’d quickly come to terms with that before anything else.
”Well, I can’t explain it any better than you can, at this point.” He was confused as hell, and that was the extent of it. ”More details will crop up as time goes by.” And more people come forward. Well, the surviving people, at least. There weren’t many of those.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 2, 2013 18:25:24 GMT -8
Lucien really didn't think so. If more details did come up... well, he didn't think that they would. It wouldn't make sense for them to. The police would investigate and would be genuinely mystified. None of it would make any sense. Just a lot of dead bodies and a bunch of stuff that made no sense--and a dead body with a bullet in it's brain.
Suddenly Lucien felt his stomach twist, and he glanced as Kun Shui, lips pinched with worry. "You shot him." Which Kun Shui already knew, but it was necessary for him to state his premise before he continued. "I can only assume the bullet can't be linked back to you. Did the guards get the guns?" He assumed they did, if they were half competent, but it was hard to tell. "It was an art gallery. There were probably cameras. How long before the police show up to ask questions?" How much money would Kun Shui have to pay them to make it go away? Lucien had no way of knowing that the police never would come--that the whole thing would be rapidly buried by a group he didn't know existed. "It's going to make a mess." He said with a small sigh.
If he lay perfectly still, there was only a dull ache and nothing else. It was only when he tried to move that the pain spiked, and he was trying to stay as still as possible.
Unbeknownst to Lucien, the ink glider had come along for the trip. He'd buried himself in a pocket and slipped out when they were alone, hiding under Lucien's pillow. It was only when he heard soft voices that he carefully peeked out, glancing up at Kun Shui curiously, just out of Lucien's sight.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 2, 2013 18:49:29 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - He hoped that they could just let it lie for a day or two. Kun Shui wanted it to sink in a little before he spoke about it, though he knew it was tangible and real. Still, Lucien seemed to find it important enough to talk about immediately, especially when it came to the subject of his guns, bullet casings, and if they’d been left. Good question. He didn’t know; his guards may or may not have picked them up when they final got to him and beat a hasty retreat to the waiting vehicle.
”I don’t know.” He’d have to find the guards that accompanied him and find out soon enough. For now, despite being all business, he didn’t want to think about it. Hell, he wanted to curl up and take a nice long nap, even though he woke up just a couple of hours ago.
”I’ll deal with it, though. Nothing that I haven’t done before.” And fixed up just as easily, for it never to be mentioned again. Of course, he didn’t enjoy doing it, but it had to be done. Handing over another little bamboo box full of bills wasn’t so hard, considering how many boxes he did have. He’d call for it to be prepared immediately, just in case.
A movement at the very corner of his vision caught his eye and he turned just in time to see what looked like a little black mouse sneaking out from underneath Lucien’s pillow. Kun Shui froze for just a second, because he had never had a single mouse in any house he’d lived in his entire life, before doing the first instinctual thing to come to mind.
He lashed out with his good hand, intending to slap it right across the room.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 2, 2013 19:42:44 GMT -8
Lucien had no doubt that Kun Shui was competent. He'd deal with it all, tie up all the loose ends and toss them in the river. If he was lucky, there wouldn't be a person in that bunch of loose ends, but if there was, so be it. Lucien was no stranger to people being in the way, and while he'd never had to execute someone, he'd certainly ordered the execution of such people. He'd only ever killed people when it was personal--impersonal hits were done by other people, and he'd never gotten his hands dirty on such things. Of course, he regretted it all now, but in a distant and faint way, not the same way he regretted the torment he'd forced on others and then had forced on him. Not in the way he regretted never having any friends, or people who cared about him.
Lucien saw Kun Shui's head moving, but it took him a moment to realize he wasn't just shifting his head. That moment was a bit too long, and abruptly Kun Shui lashed out.
The ink glider dove out of the way, scurrying back under the pillow as Lucien pushed himself upright, wincing and confused. Kun Shui hadn't tried to hit him, but he'd hit at something he couldn't see, and he twisted around trying to see it and spotting nothing. Abruptly he felt a movement against his side, the ink glider having scurried under the pillow and around the other side. It went right up Lucien's side, before perching itself on his collar bone and pressing against his neck the way a scared animal might.
It was only then that Lucien realized what that nagging feeling he was forgetting something was from. The monster--the bird thing--had told him to keep.. what had he called it? A pest or something. Lucien couldn't remember just what he'd said, but he could feel the little thing trembling against his neck.
Kill it.
The thought came from nowhere, intrusive and jarring. Why would he kill it? But even as he thought the question, the answer came to him--it was an ink monster, just like the rest. It could be a spy for the monster. There was no way to know, and yet the thought had been so alarming and disgusting that he found himself reaching up, gently cupping his hand around it. The ink glider seemed to pause, then nuzzled against the hand carefully, as if checking.
Lucien forced himself to breath, pain subsiding as he went still. "It's not biting. I think it was... I think it was the thing that was on my ass in the gallery." He was being crude, but he was also being accurate.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 2, 2013 20:15:26 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Kun Shui could deal with filth, funny enough. Jun Shi was the one that was squeamish about unclean things. No matter how much he wanted to turn a blind eye to it, Jun Shi got quite messy very often. It wasn’t uncommon for him to get elbow deep in some poor sap’s corpse for one reason or another, and then he always whined about how it smelled, or that he needed a bath, or how gross it all was. Meanwhile, if Kun Shui had to deal with that, he’d buck up, light a cigarette and plunge right in. Funny, how that worked.
The little black mouse abruptly scurried away, nosing its way under the pillow just in time for Kun Shui to just whisper past its tail. He wasn’t going to dive for it, but he was certainly irritated by the fact that there was a mouse in the apartment at all. Damn it, on top of everything, now he had to call an exterminator or set up a few traps.
The little thing made its way up to Lucien’s neck, and only then did he notice that its fur gleaned oddly, tinted greens and reds like, well, ink. Kun Shui blinked slowly at it; small bits falling into place in his mind before Lucien even spoke. Oh. Shit. Was it a tag-along from that little encounter? Not so little as it was nearly getting the lot of them killed, but he didn’t appreciate those little monsters in his house, either.
”You brought it back here?”
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 2, 2013 20:35:34 GMT -8
The small creature was shivering, huddled against Lucien's cupped hand, whether for warmth or comfort or perhaps even fore safety. It was impossible to tell how intelligent it was. Did it know that Lucien was guarding it? Did it know that humans were dangerous? It was impossible to tell, and Lucien was trying desperately to remember what the monster had said about it. It hadn't even been twenty-four hours, but it had been an exhausting day, and the details in his memory were sketchy. He'd been granted some sort of blessing--or curse--when the feather was pressed into his chest. Then he had told him to go, there had been something about a deal, and then something that Lucien remembered as being a lot like 'take that rat with you'. Anything more detailed then that was lost to them.
The creature, at the very least, had been afraid. It had fled a painting, and Lucien couldn't recall what had come after it? The lizard? No, the lizard had been in the tree. Maybe one of the other monsters, but all that mattered was that it had fled.
"I didn't realize it was here." He paused, then brushed a finger across it's fur. "The... the bird thing said something about it though. He didn't seem to like it." Nothing the Tengu lord had said explicitly explained such a thing, but it had been implied, at least in Lucien's mind. "And it was running from the other monsters." Did it really count as a monster itself? It was small and fluffy--more like an ink creature then an ink monster.
Lucien carefully shifted his hand to scoop it up, the little ball of fur settling in on his hand as it glanced around the room before taking a seat, sitting in Lucien's hand and curling up in a ball. It looked so small that Lucien was having a hard time seeing it as a particular threat.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 2, 2013 20:54:13 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Well if nothing else, the bird-thing seemed to have hated everything. Hell, it threw a sword at him. Kun Shui had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn’t just a plain old sword, but he’d yet to actually pick it up and inspect it. All he knew was that the blade was white and it glimmered, but that was all. Then again, it had been awfully light when he went to pick it up and drag it out.
Lucien easily scooped the little mouse up, and Kun Shui frowned at it. The thing was small, not much bigger than a particularly dainty teacup, but he still didn’t like it. More animals in the house, really? He thought the pigeon had been enough, which reminded him, the bird was still sitting in his office. Poor thing must’ve been quite distressed, having not been fed or its water changed that day.
”Do you expect to keep it?” Or better yet, was he sure he even could? Legality wasn’t the issue, but the fact that it could turn into a raging beast at any second. He didn’t know if those things grew or not but if it did, that was a frightening prospect. ”I really hoped to keep the number of animals in the house at a minimum.”
The thing was vaguely cute, sure, but he thought the pigeon had more appeal. Perhaps he was drawn to something more sophisticated and elegant, rather than wide-eyed.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 2, 2013 21:01:29 GMT -8
Lucien didn't know the answer to Kun Shui's question. He hadn't thought that far ahead. For the moment he wasn't sure if it was safe--was it going to turn against him? Was it a spy? Both were very real possibilities. At the same time, it had never made any move against them--it had fled from the other monsters, and there was no way of telling what sort of magic had brought them all to life. Maybe anything painted by the man became real--even things that weren't monsters. It was impossible to tell, and it wasn't as if he could have the thing tested.
As if sensing his fate was in question, the little ball of fur proceeded to start to clean itself, rubbing at it's head and generally prettying itself up. Lucien watched it carefully, eyes fixed on it. He hadn't thought about pets in the house. "It can... well, it can stay with me for observation. I still don't know what that... the bird thing did to me." With his free hand he reached up, tapping his chest roughly where the feather had gone in. "It's possible that this thing is connected to that, and I'd prefer not to kill it if so. If it turns into a monster or something..." He hesitated. "If it was here to tie off lose ends, wouldn't it have done so? I was unconscious for hours, completely unaware. It could have killed both of us without issue."
What if he was tied to it in some way because of the feather? What if the feather was the curse and the rodent was the blessing? What if it was the reverse? It was impossible to tell, but the status quo didn't seem to be having any major negative effects, and killing it was an irreversible action that could very easily make things much worse.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 2, 2013 21:11:54 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - The little furball started cleaning itself. Not that it looked like it needed it, honestly; the thing was already pitched black and gleaming in the light where it hit its fur. Admittedly it was cute, but not that cute in Kun Shui’s eyes. Maybe it was the notion that the thing was a mouse was what caused the mental block.
As for the thing staying with Lucien, he raised an eyebrow. Incredulous, to say the least. Lucien was injured and in no condition to be taking care of a quick footed little rodent. If nothing else, the maid would have to care for it until Lucien could, which would be a while if Kun Shui had any say.
His eyes went down to where Lucien tapped at his chest, right over his heart. His brow suddenly creased, mouth turning down into a thin line as he eyed that spot. As far as he saw, there was nothing there. But had something happened? He’d been too stunned when the bird man grabbed Lucien to get a good look, exactly. Also, there had been a sword thrown at him. That had him frazzled as it was.
Kun Shui leaned in and hooked a finger over Lucien’s collar, dragging it down to take a look at the area just over his heart. Nope, nothing there. Just checking.
”Are you sure you’re in any condition to even care for it?”
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 5, 2013 13:54:29 GMT -8
Lucien scowled at the look Kun Shui was giving him, but it's meaning was obvious enough. He couldn't possibly do everything the thing would need while laid up in bed, and Kun Shui would probably handcuff him to the bed if he tried to get up. Not that he wanted to get up. He knew that such a thing would only cause him pain, and he had no desire to even sit up, let alone stand on his injured leg.
"I meant I could see to it. Keeping an eye on it is the most important thing." He hesitated, then reached out to hold his hand out to the little creature, half expecting it to bolt away. He was unaware of what Kun Shui was thinking, not realizing that the other man didn't have a clear view of what had happened. The feather was an uncomfortable event that lingered in his thoughts, never quite fading away.
The ink glider stared at the hand for a moment before inching forward, sniffing at the end of Lucien's fingers before deciding it didn't smell so bad and hopping up into his palm. Lucien left his hand where it was, giving Kun Shui a smile. "As long as it doesn't run. Keeping an eye on it is the most important thing. It will give me something to do while I'm laid up in bed." KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 5, 2013 15:25:14 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Kun Shui took a slow breath through his nose. Lucien seemed to be insistent on keeping the little rat, and aside from it being a potential ink demon… Well, no, that was a pretty good reason not to have it around. Realistically, he could’ve told Lucien to get rid of it and he didn’t want to see it next time he came in, and he’d have to listen to him. He didn’t quite want to do that, though.
”…are you sure this’ll be a good idea? To keep this thing?” It had come from the paintings for sure, and actually letting it linger in the house was somewhat dangerous in his mind. If it decided to go rabid one day, or something triggered it, then the house could easily become another scene from the museum. He doubted they’d be able to get out of that one a second time.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 5, 2013 19:38:36 GMT -8
The simple answer was that no, Lucien didn't know. But if anything, he was more concerned about the fact that monsters were real and there was a feather in his chest then the possibility that the mouse might be some kind of... hidden monster. He could only shrug, unsure of what to say as he tried to compose his thoughts. "I don't know. But it seems innocent enough, and if it had wanted to kill us it could have done so easily. It seemed frightened of the monsters, so... I think it's just a real mouse." He glanced down at it briefly, then hesitantly reached out.
"Or something." It didn't look like a mouse at close inspection. The ears were wrong, as was the tail. It was more like a squirrel, only without the fluffiness. He reached out, gently stroking a finger down it's back. The creature made a happy little chirping noise, and Lucien found himself smiling despite the risk of it. "I'll get rid of it if you like." He would cede to Kun Shui in that. Whatever Kun Shui wanted, he would do, but he really didn't think it would be a threat.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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Post by KUN SHUI WEI on Dec 6, 2013 11:48:09 GMT -8
tagged: Lucien time: May 17, 2PM speech: kun shui. notes: - - - Lucien didn’t think offering to get rid of it would be very threatening, and he was absolutely right. Not too long ago, Kun Shui would’ve told him to get rid of it and walked right out. If he saw it a second time, he’d get rid of it himself. But he’d grown soft, and he was becoming painfully aware of that. Jun Shi still railed on him for it, though it wasn’t too pronounced as of yet. The second it effected business, if it ever did, he’d get an earful.
Kun Shui took a slow breath, and then let it go through his nose. He sounded exasperated, much like a parent whose kid kept asking for a puppy. Only unlike a lot of those parents, he was about to give in.
”It’s…” He paused. ”Fine. It’s fine. You can keep it as long as it doesn’t… get anywhere.” In other words, keep a damn good eye on it.
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Post by LUCIEN MARGAUX on Dec 9, 2013 10:44:52 GMT -8
Lucien was becoming quite aware of the changes in Kun Shui's mannerisms. Was he worried, after everything that had happened? It made sense that he would be. It was weighing heavily on Lucien's mind, and he doubted that Kun Shui was somehow immune to the mental anguish that came with having seen what they'd seen. He couldn't imagine that Kun Shui was terribly bothered by the death they encountered, but instead was no doubt bothered by the same thing that Lucien himself was bothered with--the monsters.
Monsters weren't real. It was a fundamental fact of life. Magic did not exist. To deny that was to deny gravity, or the fact that humans breathed oxygen. They were all fundamental rules of the universe, and to threaten them was to threaten everything. He found himself worried by it, unable to push his mind past the invisible boundary that separated his reality--the one he'd been born and raised in--from the one where magic existed. It wasn't as easy as simply saying that it had happened, and he had a good feeling it would be quite a while before he was able to accept it for real.
The little rodent pressed against his fingers, nuzzling into Lucien's hand. It brought him back to earth in a way, and his eyes gradually slid down to it. "I don't think it's a mouse either. It's some kind of... squirrel." He didn't know what a sugar glider was just yet, and he'd have to look it up when he had enough mobility for it. He cupped his hand carefully, scooping the thing up and pulling her up closer. Should he name it? Was he at that point yet, where he was naming creatures that came out of magic paintings?
He hadn't asked how Kun Shui was, had he? He glanced over at his wrist, wincing at the splint. They seemed to have nearly matching hand injuries, although he ad a feeling it would take longer for his to heal. "How's your wrist?" He asked, worried the damage might be worse then it appeared.
KUN SHUI WEI | MAY 17TH |
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