You owe me nothing. [ he says immediately, with a small shake of his head, softly insistent. don't be silly. ] Your safety is what mattered--I'm just glad that you're alright. [ as alright as alright can be. he's seen the worst, already. ]
...Besides, I couldn't move well enough to attack her properly. You subduing her gave me the opening that I needed before it was too late. [ in that moment of danger, where whatever illusions were in that place had blanketed his memories and made him believe he was back on the island at the beginning, yin yu still put himself in front of flayn to protect her.
and he'd still failed, really. here she was, weakened by that injury from the week before, reopened badly enough that she passed out. had yin yu been faster--had he not reacted to neena being so familiar, had he just recognized an evil spirit for an evil spirit on first go, he could have stopped this before it got to the point that it did. mentally, yin yu is kicking himself for it--he should have never even let it start in the first place. flayn was under his protection, and he failed her.
but, the fact that it was lady tanzawa, and at such a young age, threw him off. as flayn brings it up, yin yu pauses.
why was it tanzawa? there were plenty of people on the island, many who were not here. a young tanzawa, holding a syringe, claiming to treat them, and then lashing out when they wouldn't help to 'meet the numbers'. they weren't particularly close, but he thought well enough of her. were there not others they were close to, like lady kanroji? to see her hurt would've had a stronger emotional impact, or to see someone like wen ning...
...mm. he frowns, too, and gives a shake of his head. ] ...I'm not sure, either. When things have calmed, I'll ask Lady Lili about the person she saw, too--perhaps there are some similarities.
[ he doesn't like how in the dark he still feels, after all that. (at least it won't be long until he figures out that particular piece of the puzzle.) ] Nevertheess, we know now that whatever is in this place will use our experiences against us. We'll have to be very careful of what's real and what is not.
Your safety matters, too. I do not wish to see you hurt. Particularly not because you are defending me...
[she'll probably never be able to convince him not to at least try to protect her - but she can at least do her damnedest to strengthen herself enough that there won't be a need to. so that, next time, they can take down some creature together without one or both of them getting hurt.]
If the time comes that we must fight, I want to fight by your side, not cower behind you and wait. I do not think that I could bear it. [she smiles faintly.] ...so I will do my best to improve, in the hope that I may not continue to cause you worry.
[similarities... maybe. she nods, wondering about just what lili must have experienced. she's kicking herself for the three of them splitting up - would it have been different, if they'd stuck together?
or would they simply all have been grievously injured, instead of only two of them?]
...yes, we must be careful of that. It is— it is awful that they managed to alter our memories so easily. [...] I hope you will not hesitate if anything seems wrong again. Please, keep yourself safe.
[ even after being hurt, flayn's resolve is so strong. her character is really impressive, as it's been since they first met--there's a reason why yin yu had told guy she was much stronger than she appeared to be. it helps to lighten some of the troubled expression on his face, just a little, and he nods. ]
It would be my honor. [ to fight by her side. how nice, to fight with someone. how different. ] When your side is healed, we'll continue working on your training... but not until it's healed, alright? [ please don't go asking people to teach you how to fight while you're still actively bleeding. just for his sake and his many gray hairs. besides, it isn't her fault that this place has nerfed her abilities; yin yu has just had his taken from him for so long that he learned to cope without them.
(there is the nagging thought that there is no guarantee--death is around every corner here--but yin yu puts it away, back to brew over later.)
flayn has a point as she brings up their memories, too. it makes yin yu inherently uneasy, but it isn't unnecessarily an uncommon trick of the demons and spirits of his world. there are monsters who can eat your memories, others that toy with them to drag you in for the kill. he should've known. his tone hardens, just briefly. hesitating... ] I won't. [ yeah. the fact that he hesitated as long as he did here was shameful. he should have killed that fake 'neena' ten times faster than he did. not to mention, lili... ] I don't think that's the last we'll be seeing of 'the island', anytime soon.
[ not to mention that terrible place where they showed recordings, like the ones hua cheng's butterflies could make, but, well, that's a matter to deal with later. yin yu shakes his head to clear it away for now, and gives flayn a small smile. ] I'll keep myself as safe as I can, too. For now, you should be resting. [ a pause, as he stops himself, and then, ducks his head. ] ...and I will as well.
[ his cheeks pinken a little, if only because he predicted flayn scolding him for not doing the same thing, inevitably... cowed. ]
[she opens her mouth to ask if there's some kind of training she can do even with her side like this - after all, doesn't she need to be able to defend herself if someone decides her injury makes her an easy target? - but he's already gone on to say not until it's healed.
she doesn't exactly wilt, but the way her lips press together into a thin line is a pretty clear indicator that she was going to ask something along those lines.
it's fine. she'll figure something out.]
...I think you may be right. If this place is using our experiences against us, then... we should be prepared for any eventuality involving that place.
[she sighs. well, maybe the island won't show up on those screens. they were only there for a short time; they don't have the same amount of material to broadcast. that's a small comfort, though. if the portal into the mansion earlier in the week is any indication, they may be visiting the island itself later.
so much for leaving it behind.
his small smile draws out one in return though, and she nods.]
I will. And - thank you. [she manages a soft laugh.] ...for being willing to rest. I know it is... hard to sit still, but I am glad you will be taking the time to allow your injuries to recover.
[ he sees that! flayn!! for now, yin yu lets it slide, because he is almost sure she's going to try and find a way around that... maybe he can teach her some focusing methodology, or some meditation, or something that is not trying to punch and kick. or something. he'll figure it out. (actually, he can already see lili trying to do the same thing. why are they like this? really. why are they like this.)
she has a point about the island, too. mentally, he rifles through the trials they experienced, the executions, remembers giyuu's honed in attention on his cursed shackle, remembers seeing flayn's secret on his own investigation, (and, the little voice whispers, the remains of what you did) and tries not to wince. they weren't there for that long, but so much happened that it would certainly make for 'entertainment'.
them all leaving the island feels so far away now. what a grim reality to be living in.
flayn's little laugh soothes a little bit of the worry. he ducks his head, politely, nodding. ] I thank you as well for the same.
[ okay maybe not totally dropping that Learning to Fight thing. he sees you. ] ...it's important, to rest. It would be remiss to enter a troubling situation not at full strength--working hard for half of the result. [ he should probably practice what he preaches just a little more, but. yin yu's admitting to do so now, because the trouble for them this week is nowhere near over. tonight is the night of the 'curfew'. ] We will need your presence at the trial, no matter what goes on this week. I will do my best to save my own strength for then, as well. Is that fair?
Edited (forgets words at random) 2020-06-20 13:37 (UTC)
[it's been nearly two weeks, here - about the same time they'd spent on the island, in total. it feels like much longer, and from what the others have said about the length of their sojourns into various iterations of murder hell, she expects it will be even longer still before they find their way out of this.
...if only there was some faster way out.
she's silent, thinking about that and about what yin yu is saying as he continues, and when he says "the trial," her expression flickers. she badly wants to believe that there won't be one, but...
it's inescapable at this point, isn't it?]
I think we shall have more need of your presence there, Yin Yu. [he's much more capable than her, when it comes to things like this. despite how long she's been alive - well, there is simply so much she doesn't know. the trials make her feel out of her depth.] But I will... do my best to help, all the same.
the desperation of backtagging ancient threads.png
he stays quiet for a moment, looking at flayn. reflecting, on what he now so easily recognizes as a fleeting jolt of terror when her wound opened the first week, at the need to protect her that was more than just duty when neena attacked them.
eventually, yin yu shakes his head. ] ...I don't think that's true. It is important to recognize what you bring to the table, my lady. I may have learned some skills that are useful, but your traits are not the type of thing that can simply be learned. Many people rely on you, perhaps more than you know.
[...it's sweet of him to say that, but flayn doesn't really look like she believes him.
(it's a reversal of their usual - or rather, their usual, in the future, will become a reversal of this.)]
I do want to be someone that others can rely on... [her voice trails off, and she sighs.] At any rate, I will do what I can. I think that is all anyone can ask of any of us.
[ still, it tugs at his heart strings, in a way that's hard to put into words. flayn not being able to see her worth, her value... how is that even possible? she's a diamond, something so rare and brilliant you could see her shining for miles. her kindness has meant the world to yin yu for weeks, now, and it will continue to do so even more. ]
For now, for both of us, I believe that will be 'taking a rest'. I'll spread the story of what we saw and answer questions the best that I can, so please don't worry.
That will be fine. But if I hear of anyone saying you are out and about, I will have no choice but to get out of my own bed and come looking for you [with her injury] so do be sure to rest well.
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fishingforcompliments) wrote2020-06-06 12:53 pm
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...Besides, I couldn't move well enough to attack her properly. You subduing her gave me the opening that I needed before it was too late. [ in that moment of danger, where whatever illusions were in that place had blanketed his memories and made him believe he was back on the island at the beginning, yin yu still put himself in front of flayn to protect her.
and he'd still failed, really. here she was, weakened by that injury from the week before, reopened badly enough that she passed out. had yin yu been faster--had he not reacted to neena being so familiar, had he just recognized an evil spirit for an evil spirit on first go, he could have stopped this before it got to the point that it did. mentally, yin yu is kicking himself for it--he should have never even let it start in the first place. flayn was under his protection, and he failed her.
but, the fact that it was lady tanzawa, and at such a young age, threw him off. as flayn brings it up, yin yu pauses.
why was it tanzawa? there were plenty of people on the island, many who were not here. a young tanzawa, holding a syringe, claiming to treat them, and then lashing out when they wouldn't help to 'meet the numbers'. they weren't particularly close, but he thought well enough of her. were there not others they were close to, like lady kanroji? to see her hurt would've had a stronger emotional impact, or to see someone like wen ning...
...mm. he frowns, too, and gives a shake of his head. ] ...I'm not sure, either. When things have calmed, I'll ask Lady Lili about the person she saw, too--perhaps there are some similarities.
[ he doesn't like how in the dark he still feels, after all that. (at least it won't be long until he figures out that particular piece of the puzzle.) ] Nevertheess, we know now that whatever is in this place will use our experiences against us. We'll have to be very careful of what's real and what is not.
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Your safety matters, too. I do not wish to see you hurt. Particularly not because you are defending me...
[she'll probably never be able to convince him not to at least try to protect her - but she can at least do her damnedest to strengthen herself enough that there won't be a need to. so that, next time, they can take down some creature together without one or both of them getting hurt.]
If the time comes that we must fight, I want to fight by your side, not cower behind you and wait. I do not think that I could bear it. [she smiles faintly.] ...so I will do my best to improve, in the hope that I may not continue to cause you worry.
[similarities... maybe. she nods, wondering about just what lili must have experienced. she's kicking herself for the three of them splitting up - would it have been different, if they'd stuck together?
or would they simply all have been grievously injured, instead of only two of them?]
...yes, we must be careful of that. It is— it is awful that they managed to alter our memories so easily. [...] I hope you will not hesitate if anything seems wrong again. Please, keep yourself safe.
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It would be my honor. [ to fight by her side. how nice, to fight with someone. how different. ] When your side is healed, we'll continue working on your training... but not until it's healed, alright? [ please don't go asking people to teach you how to fight while you're still actively bleeding. just for his sake and his many gray hairs. besides, it isn't her fault that this place has nerfed her abilities; yin yu has just had his taken from him for so long that he learned to cope without them.
(there is the nagging thought that there is no guarantee--death is around every corner here--but yin yu puts it away, back to brew over later.)
flayn has a point as she brings up their memories, too. it makes yin yu inherently uneasy, but it isn't unnecessarily an uncommon trick of the demons and spirits of his world. there are monsters who can eat your memories, others that toy with them to drag you in for the kill. he should've known. his tone hardens, just briefly. hesitating... ] I won't. [ yeah. the fact that he hesitated as long as he did here was shameful. he should have killed that fake 'neena' ten times faster than he did. not to mention, lili... ] I don't think that's the last we'll be seeing of 'the island', anytime soon.
[ not to mention that terrible place where they showed recordings, like the ones hua cheng's butterflies could make, but, well, that's a matter to deal with later. yin yu shakes his head to clear it away for now, and gives flayn a small smile. ] I'll keep myself as safe as I can, too. For now, you should be resting. [ a pause, as he stops himself, and then, ducks his head. ] ...and I will as well.
[ his cheeks pinken a little, if only because he predicted flayn scolding him for not doing the same thing, inevitably... cowed. ]
no subject
she doesn't exactly wilt, but the way her lips press together into a thin line is a pretty clear indicator that she was going to ask something along those lines.
it's fine. she'll figure something out.]
...I think you may be right. If this place is using our experiences against us, then... we should be prepared for any eventuality involving that place.
[she sighs. well, maybe the island won't show up on those screens. they were only there for a short time; they don't have the same amount of material to broadcast. that's a small comfort, though. if the portal into the mansion earlier in the week is any indication, they may be visiting the island itself later.
so much for leaving it behind.
his small smile draws out one in return though, and she nods.]
I will. And - thank you. [she manages a soft laugh.] ...for being willing to rest. I know it is... hard to sit still, but I am glad you will be taking the time to allow your injuries to recover.
no subject
she has a point about the island, too. mentally, he rifles through the trials they experienced, the executions, remembers giyuu's honed in attention on his cursed shackle, remembers seeing flayn's secret on his own investigation, (and, the little voice whispers, the remains of what you did) and tries not to wince. they weren't there for that long, but so much happened that it would certainly make for 'entertainment'.
them all leaving the island feels so far away now. what a grim reality to be living in.
flayn's little laugh soothes a little bit of the worry. he ducks his head, politely, nodding. ] I thank you as well for the same.
[ okay maybe not totally dropping that Learning to Fight thing. he sees you. ] ...it's important, to rest. It would be remiss to enter a troubling situation not at full strength--working hard for half of the result. [ he should probably practice what he preaches just a little more, but. yin yu's admitting to do so now, because the trouble for them this week is nowhere near over. tonight is the night of the 'curfew'. ] We will need your presence at the trial, no matter what goes on this week. I will do my best to save my own strength for then, as well. Is that fair?
no subject
...if only there was some faster way out.
she's silent, thinking about that and about what yin yu is saying as he continues, and when he says "the trial," her expression flickers. she badly wants to believe that there won't be one, but...
it's inescapable at this point, isn't it?]
I think we shall have more need of your presence there, Yin Yu. [he's much more capable than her, when it comes to things like this. despite how long she's been alive - well, there is simply so much she doesn't know. the trials make her feel out of her depth.] But I will... do my best to help, all the same.
the desperation of backtagging ancient threads.png
he stays quiet for a moment, looking at flayn. reflecting, on what he now so easily recognizes as a fleeting jolt of terror when her wound opened the first week, at the need to protect her that was more than just duty when neena attacked them.
eventually, yin yu shakes his head. ] ...I don't think that's true. It is important to recognize what you bring to the table, my lady. I may have learned some skills that are useful, but your traits are not the type of thing that can simply be learned. Many people rely on you, perhaps more than you know.
[ ... he certainly does. ]
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(it's a reversal of their usual - or rather, their usual, in the future, will become a reversal of this.)]
I do want to be someone that others can rely on... [her voice trails off, and she sighs.] At any rate, I will do what I can. I think that is all anyone can ask of any of us.
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[ still, it tugs at his heart strings, in a way that's hard to put into words. flayn not being able to see her worth, her value... how is that even possible? she's a diamond, something so rare and brilliant you could see her shining for miles. her kindness has meant the world to yin yu for weeks, now, and it will continue to do so even more. ]
For now, for both of us, I believe that will be 'taking a rest'. I'll spread the story of what we saw and answer questions the best that I can, so please don't worry.
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[she sort of just stares at him for a moment.]
If we are both meant to be taking a rest, you are not exactly doing that if you are also telling the tale of what happened and answering questions...
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...I will make my report, and then head to bed for the evening. Does that suffice?
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That will be fine. But if I hear of anyone saying you are out and about, I will have no choice but to get out of my own bed and come looking for you [with her injury] so do be sure to rest well.
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anyway he feels appropriately scolded. ducking his head, with a little huff: ] Very well, my lady. I will.
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Thank you.