[It's something he can already see, from what little he knows of Anaido. He seems - strange, certainly. The kind of person who'd easily put others off. But genuine, all the same, especially when it comes to the feelings that matter the most.
He does seem like the kind of person who'd understand. Really, who could ask for more?]
Why are you asking me? If that's something you want, then you should see it through. [Reaching out to pat Wen Ning's little noggin.] I won't be here forever, you know! It's up to you to carve out the life that you want to live. If you want him to be a part of it, then keep him close, mm?
[Though haha! Now that he's brought it up:] --Who is it that killed you, anyway? He didn't say.
['why are you asking me', he says, and wen ning's immediate thought is why wouldn't i? he came as soon as he heard wei wuxian's voice again, for the first time in years-- he's been around for him since, to help as he can. for him, and for a-yuan. of course he would ask.
but- 'i won't be here forever' is something that stops him from answering immediately, his brow furrowed. wei wuxian should-- have a life of his own, after everything. it's not something he thought of much before, but recently it's begun to be a little more on his mind. especially after what seemed to have happened in the temple...
it's less an acknowledgement that his young master won't be around forever. it's more an acknowledgement that he maybe won't be needed that makes wen ning nod. that maybe he should start thinking about-- what to do, on his own. what he might need to do. he has one thing, at least, but--
haha, that question sure is something! wen ning glances aside, there.]
I-- I didn't want them to... it wasn't their fault. On the island, they... were influenced.
[Meanwhile Wei Wuxian's just like "well, I will die first, so there's that." He's still not thinking about a possible future! Haha!! Maybe he'll just die here and won't have to worry about it.
But he'll set aside talks of that nature for later. For now, instead:] So it's someone who's here with us now, and still alive.
[Because Wen Ning wouldn't deny a direct question if they weren't, or would phrase it in a different way.]
I'll be kind, don't worry! I won't bother them. [Hm. Suspect. A more pointed look.] So? Which one?
wen ning would squirm, if he still felt the physical urge to. it shows in how he can't meet wei wuxian's eyes, how his shoulders remain hunched, his head bowed slightly with his hair a curtain around his face.
he stays silent for several moments, before he finally just says:]
[HE KNOWS HOW TO CHEAT AND HE'S NOT AFRAID TO DO IT!!
There's a little pause as he finishes threading the needle, but his expression doesn't change outwardly. Hm. It's fine. He's in a great mental state right now anyway! He tugs the string taught, tying it off properly.]
I see.
[And then leans forward so he can start stitching up Wen Ning's arm.]
Any particular reason he targeted you? You said they were influenced, yes?
They were. But I think... it was because I was dead.
[he hesitates, there.]
He... burned me to ash, after he killed me. He told me before that he was an officer of a place called Ghost City, that... held all sorts of creatures of resentful energy. So I think that that's... why he chose me.
[wen ning is quiet, for another moment.]
When I arrived on the island, their... their ashes were still with me. I have them here, too, because- he kept them safe after he killed me. Returned them after I was brought back with the others.
[There's a second where he glances up and over, briefly curious - their ashes? - before it strikes him.
Ah.
Yin Yu does seem like the sort of person who wouldn't kill for the thrill of it. Who wouldn't treat the dead with disrespect. Is he happy Wen Ning was somehow murdered and burnt to ash? Not in the least, and there's the sharp edge of something in his expression to reflect that. Most people would miss it, but Wen Ning's spent too much time around him at his worst to not pick up on all of his little tells.
He pulls the thread tight.]
Well, I did say that I wouldn't bother him. [He will bother him.] You really--
[Hm. He seems to reconsider whatever he was going to say with that abrupt cut-off, and eventually just sighs instead.]
...I'm glad that he kept their ashes safe for you, at least.
[that sharp edge worries him-- but he's not sure he can say anything of it, in a place like this. not with what he himself has had to ask of wei wuxian, may have to ask of him again.]
I am, too. But... you should know things were different there. On that island, I... I felt weaker. I broke my hand trying to break through a heavy door. There wasn't as much resentful energy in me-- I couldn't have reattached anything I lost. He decapitated me, and it was... enough. But I feel like I have my usual strength again.
[he'll be all right. he thinks that fight earlier should hopefully prove it-- though wen ning could admittedly have made it faster. could have grabbed him by the throat as soon as he came in range, and squeezed, and that would be all.
but he hadn't wanted that for his opponent.
...and most of the time, wen ning wouldn't press. he wouldn't ask after wei wuxian cut himself off. but he tilts his head slightly-]
I assumed it would be something like that - presumably to even the playing field a bit, so to say. As you are now, you wouldn't be a very "fair" opponent, mm?
[PATS HIS ZOMBIE ARM. Considering the hosts on the boat were also able to "retain" their natural abilities and states of being, he's not surprised that the same applies to Wen Ning here, either. It makes him a little nervous, all the same.
The question just earns him a smile, though - bright and easy as ever.]
Ah, you're really so silly sometimes! What a strange world it is, for someone like you to be fueled by so much resentful energy.
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He does seem like the kind of person who'd understand. Really, who could ask for more?]
Why are you asking me? If that's something you want, then you should see it through. [Reaching out to pat Wen Ning's little noggin.] I won't be here forever, you know! It's up to you to carve out the life that you want to live. If you want him to be a part of it, then keep him close, mm?
[Though haha! Now that he's brought it up:] --Who is it that killed you, anyway? He didn't say.
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but- 'i won't be here forever' is something that stops him from answering immediately, his brow furrowed. wei wuxian should-- have a life of his own, after everything. it's not something he thought of much before, but recently it's begun to be a little more on his mind. especially after what seemed to have happened in the temple...
it's less an acknowledgement that his young master won't be around forever. it's more an acknowledgement that he maybe won't be needed that makes wen ning nod. that maybe he should start thinking about-- what to do, on his own. what he might need to do. he has one thing, at least, but--
haha, that question sure is something! wen ning glances aside, there.]
I-- I didn't want them to... it wasn't their fault. On the island, they... were influenced.
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But he'll set aside talks of that nature for later. For now, instead:] So it's someone who's here with us now, and still alive.
[Because Wen Ning wouldn't deny a direct question if they weren't, or would phrase it in a different way.]
I'll be kind, don't worry! I won't bother them. [Hm. Suspect. A more pointed look.] So? Which one?
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the guilty look wei wuxian gets when he points out they must be here and living is all the proof he needs that he's right.]
I really don't... it was in the past, young master Wei, it's- it's all right.
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Wen Ning.
[Hm.
That's it.
That's all he says. As he continues to gently finish bandaging up that broken limb and then securing the wrap so he can start threading a needle.]
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wen ning would squirm, if he still felt the physical urge to. it shows in how he can't meet wei wuxian's eyes, how his shoulders remain hunched, his head bowed slightly with his hair a curtain around his face.
he stays silent for several moments, before he finally just says:]
-master Yin Yu.
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There's a little pause as he finishes threading the needle, but his expression doesn't change outwardly. Hm. It's fine. He's in a great mental state right now anyway! He tugs the string taught, tying it off properly.]
I see.
[And then leans forward so he can start stitching up Wen Ning's arm.]
Any particular reason he targeted you? You said they were influenced, yes?
no subject
[he hesitates, there.]
He... burned me to ash, after he killed me. He told me before that he was an officer of a place called Ghost City, that... held all sorts of creatures of resentful energy. So I think that that's... why he chose me.
[wen ning is quiet, for another moment.]
When I arrived on the island, their... their ashes were still with me. I have them here, too, because- he kept them safe after he killed me. Returned them after I was brought back with the others.
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Ah.
Yin Yu does seem like the sort of person who wouldn't kill for the thrill of it. Who wouldn't treat the dead with disrespect. Is he happy Wen Ning was somehow murdered and burnt to ash? Not in the least, and there's the sharp edge of something in his expression to reflect that. Most people would miss it, but Wen Ning's spent too much time around him at his worst to not pick up on all of his little tells.
He pulls the thread tight.]
Well, I did say that I wouldn't bother him. [He will bother him.] You really--
[Hm. He seems to reconsider whatever he was going to say with that abrupt cut-off, and eventually just sighs instead.]
...I'm glad that he kept their ashes safe for you, at least.
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I am, too. But... you should know things were different there. On that island, I... I felt weaker. I broke my hand trying to break through a heavy door. There wasn't as much resentful energy in me-- I couldn't have reattached anything I lost. He decapitated me, and it was... enough. But I feel like I have my usual strength again.
[he'll be all right. he thinks that fight earlier should hopefully prove it-- though wen ning could admittedly have made it faster. could have grabbed him by the throat as soon as he came in range, and squeezed, and that would be all.
but he hadn't wanted that for his opponent.
...and most of the time, wen ning wouldn't press. he wouldn't ask after wei wuxian cut himself off. but he tilts his head slightly-]
Young master Wei, I really.... what-?
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I assumed it would be something like that - presumably to even the playing field a bit, so to say. As you are now, you wouldn't be a very "fair" opponent, mm?
[PATS HIS ZOMBIE ARM. Considering the hosts on the boat were also able to "retain" their natural abilities and states of being, he's not surprised that the same applies to Wen Ning here, either. It makes him a little nervous, all the same.
The question just earns him a smile, though - bright and easy as ever.]
Ah, you're really so silly sometimes! What a strange world it is, for someone like you to be fueled by so much resentful energy.