[Aw. It's a good story, one that has her whole attention even when her mouth is full of tea.]
You told me the same when I called you Chijin-san - I think, if it's okay with the other person, then it becomes a good memory. Xie Lian-san may be you, but Chijin is who is my friend - a "person I know well", even if it's just a silly mistake.
When Hua-chan first called you Gege when we were talking, it reminded me a lot of "Onii-san". It's what you can call your older brother... like, "hey, this person is special and respected and he is mine and I am his!"
I've only gotten to use it here, though, so I don't think it's quite the same as you and Hua-chan. [It would be nice, she thinks, to have a brother.
confusion, then realization flickers across xie lian's face, and his emotions, but he clamps down on it in a second, shoving it downwards immediately. a part of his heart aches for hikaru, because that... that is something she has forgotten.
hikaru has three older brothers. the first - his name is satoru. she said he was like san lang. xie lian won't forget. for hikaru's sake, he won't forget.
...he won't remind her, either, though not now. not yet, but it fills him with a flickering sense of determination, for the other purpose of this conversation.] ...I see. It does sound very similar.
...Hikaru. [ said, quietly, with a sense of serious purpose, as they settle down. ] Have you spoken much with your leader this week?
[She shakes her head, taking a moment to swallow.]
I talked to them for a while after, um... after what happened to Shuuya-kun. [The hurt and guilt bubble up IMMEDIATELY so have fun with that lingering for a bit.] I was going to go talk to them today - I wanna know what happened with the port.
There's hesitation and hurt, as though she wants to decline. But he'll quietly speak in her raspy voice.]
Not a lot.
They... knew I'd been trying to talk to Shuuya-kun. They tried to comfort me about it, but... they told me his heart would have rejected me no matter what I did.
[And there is a flare of fierce, disbelieving anger at that.]
But that's not why I went to talk to them. I went to ask what they did with the dead.
I didn't want to tell too many people. I... don't want what happened with Cater-chan and Sharon-san to happen again, or for anyone to sacrifice themselves, just because of a possibility.
That's very wise of you. I think it's best to try and keep that information to an absolute minimum - as much as it would be nice to spread hope to others, what is hopeful for us may yet be a motivation for others.
[ so. xie lian's quiet for a moment, letting the somber moment float over them both. he'd lean over to give her a nudge, but that whole shock thing makes that very difficult. ]
...but it helped me. To know such a thing helped to strengthen my own resolve to get the Realm fixed as soon as we can.
[ one thing xie lian really likes about hikaru is her spirit. it gives him hope, to know that people like her still exist in this world, or any world, and he gives her a small, reassuring smile. ]
Then, let's do our best so you have the ability to follow through.
[ he shifts a little, reaching for his own cup of tea, and then lifts it, tilting it a bit towards hikaru so they could clink them together. ] And that means taking care of yourself too, Miss Hikaru.
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You told me the same when I called you Chijin-san - I think, if it's okay with the other person, then it becomes a good memory. Xie Lian-san may be you, but Chijin is who is my friend - a "person I know well", even if it's just a silly mistake.
When Hua-chan first called you Gege when we were talking, it reminded me a lot of "Onii-san". It's what you can call your older brother... like, "hey, this person is special and respected and he is mine and I am his!"
I've only gotten to use it here, though, so I don't think it's quite the same as you and Hua-chan. [It would be nice, she thinks, to have a brother.
She takes another drink.]
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....ah.
confusion, then realization flickers across xie lian's face, and his emotions, but he clamps down on it in a second, shoving it downwards immediately. a part of his heart aches for hikaru, because that... that is something she has forgotten.
hikaru has three older brothers. the first - his name is satoru. she said he was like san lang. xie lian won't forget. for hikaru's sake, he won't forget.
...he won't remind her, either, though not now. not yet, but it fills him with a flickering sense of determination, for the other purpose of this conversation.] ...I see. It does sound very similar.
...Hikaru. [ said, quietly, with a sense of serious purpose, as they settle down. ] Have you spoken much with your leader this week?
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I talked to them for a while after, um... after what happened to Shuuya-kun. [The hurt and guilt bubble up IMMEDIATELY so have fun with that lingering for a bit.] I was going to go talk to them today - I wanna know what happened with the port.
...
Why?
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What did they say...? If you don't mind my asking.
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[I mean, she doesn't mind sharing, but...]
About what? Shuuya-kun?
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[ xie lian glances to the side to look at her. ] If you're comfortable with telling me so.
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There's hesitation and hurt, as though she wants to decline. But he'll quietly speak in her raspy voice.]
Not a lot.
They... knew I'd been trying to talk to Shuuya-kun. They tried to comfort me about it, but... they told me his heart would have rejected me no matter what I did.
[And there is a flare of fierce, disbelieving anger at that.]
But that's not why I went to talk to them. I went to ask what they did with the dead.
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...I know, already. I learned the same information you did.
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I didn't want to tell too many people. I... don't want what happened with Cater-chan and Sharon-san to happen again, or for anyone to sacrifice themselves, just because of a possibility.
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[ so. xie lian's quiet for a moment, letting the somber moment float over them both. he'd lean over to give her a nudge, but that whole shock thing makes that very difficult. ]
...but it helped me. To know such a thing helped to strengthen my own resolve to get the Realm fixed as soon as we can.
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I want to save them, along with everyone else. And...
[She swallows, her voice cracking for a moment.]
I promised Shuuya-kun I would find him, that I would bring him back if the Realm would let me... and he promised me that if I could, he would follow.
I don't want to break that promise.
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Then, let's do our best so you have the ability to follow through.
[ he shifts a little, reaching for his own cup of tea, and then lifts it, tilting it a bit towards hikaru so they could clink them together. ] And that means taking care of yourself too, Miss Hikaru.
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I will, Chijin. I have people who care for me here... so I'm not gonna ignore their concern.
I'm gonna see if someone can help me clean my burns before I talk to my leader. I washed up as best as I could last night, but... [haha ow burns]
I got all the soot out of my hair, at least!
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...I can help you with anything visible, at least... Ruoye's quite useful for this sort of situation. [ where they can't touch, anyway! ]
that icon....
[she. was not expecting him to offer, and the surprise sits blankly for a few moments.
...]
Um... Would you mind?
I can find somebody else, it's not a big deal!
xie lian didnt know whether to laugh or cry.png
The lipstick really sells it tbh
Mnn... Okay, well... There's a first aid station open down the street now, isn't there? We can go there when we're all done?
I don't need a lot, Chijin, I promise.