Audience: Gu Yun

[probe]

Comments

[liuli]

[ oya ]

My interrogation techniques are famous all across Great Liang. I'll make you talk. [ he says this, and. wiggles his fingers on his free hand, still holding the bottle up. wriggle wriggle wriggle. tickle fingers. ]

[probe]

If you tickle me, I will kick you in the face.

[this IS a threat.]

[liuli]

Is that a promise?

[probe]

[...]

See, now, what am I supposed to say to that? Are you into foot stuff? Gu Yun.

[liuli]

[ he immediately starts cackling, doubling over with the force of it, because clearly he is messing around. now who's gremlin laughing.

sometimes you say something obnoxious to get out of answering questions! ]

[probe]

[they just kick him off the bed goodbye]

[liuli]

Ah, the wine - !

[ DON'T DO THAT

it's maybe only sheer instinct that keeps his arm up in the air to keep the booze from spilling all over the place, though he's probably got some down the front of his robes, because he hits the ground with a thump when kicked off, not even trying to avoid it. deserved

snickering, he sits back up, hair a mess, and props his arm on the edge of the bed and his chin on top of it. fufufu. ] Sorry, sorry. [ are you? ] You are correct. Most creatures tend not to like me much. Can't imagine why.

[probe]

[oh my god.

they just dissolve into giggles at that. that was very impressive, not spilling the wine all over everything - and when he props himself up on the bed like that, there's this pause. something under the hood twitches.]

Hm. I can't either. [they say, affectionately.] Come back up here.

[also:] I have a twin brother. I'm not human. I'm really good with a sword.

[liuli]

[ he looks too pleased with himself, actually. with a moment to smile brighter, like the cat who got into the cream, he climbs back onto the bed, and offers the them the bottle.

hmmm. ] I'd like it to be the last one. Would be ironic.

[probe]

[they take the bottle, holding it.]

Well, shit. [and they take a swig!]

[liuli]

[ WHAT!!! HE WAS JOKING ]

Really? Not at all?

[probe]

Ugh. Don't. I prefer guns, if I have to have a weapon. Otherwise, magic is my, uh, thing.

[liuli]

[ nyehehehe ] I see, I see. Why the swords, then?

[ tapping his own hand mark! it's a crown, but whatever. ] Someone with a sense of humor?

[probe]

Mmm, the best way to show off wrath as a concept, I guess.

[a pause. they shift, and show him the back of their hand. they have the same sword tattoo as the rest of the wraths, but instead, this one has a stupid guy fieri flame decal around it.]

Mine's a little more personalized.

[liuli]

[ i hate you

he leans over to look, though, makes a noise. look at that. ]

Does that go for each of you? That your symbol's a bit different. [ gu yun turns his hand over, glancing back at his crown. ] I suppose it would match with the fact that you're all still rather powered in comparison to some of us.

[probe]

[look.]

It sure does. Some of them don't like showing them off, though. [they hand him the wine, and then take his hand, tracing the tattoo.] I don't care. Half the time you can't see mine because of the, you know. The cracks.

[the lava ones. which are calm, right now.]

[liuli]

[ he lets wrath take his hand. with a more normal hold, they will probably feel his callouses - his hands are thin and elegant, those of a young master or a scholar, maybe, but the undersides of his palms are more callous than skin.

unwittingly, the warmth of the touch gives him goosebumps, but, it's underneath his sleeve, so. gu yun watches them, gaze flicking up briefly to their hood, then back down. ] It's reactive, isn't it? To you.

[ considering the smoke the other day, and the fact that their hands are stilled. ]

[probe]

Yeah. It is.

[they sigh a little.]

I'll be honest! I sort of hate it!

[liuli]

Why's that?

[ he turns his hand over, and runs his thumbs over one of the cracks, if they'll let him, the gesture very gentle. ]

[probe]

[they do. it makes them shiver, and tense just a little, but they don't pull away.]

I'm sensitive about the way I look, but not for the reasons you'd think.

[liuli]

[ he's quiet for a moment, gently stroking that same spot with the pad of his thumb. it really is warm. ]

Well. I haven't seen the way that you look quite yet, so I suppose I can't make any judgements. But, I'm sure whatever you're hiding under there will be a sight to see.

[ he smiles, maybe a little teasing, but affectionately so. ]

[probe]

[something under the hood twitches.]

Well, you're not wrong. [they're a little more quiet than usual. a deep breath, and then:] Anyway! Let's get drunk.

[liuli]

[ the sudden, abrupt change in topic makes him snort, a little surprised, but! he reaches over for the wine bottle, still holding their hand with the other, and goes to take another swig straight from it. for as light and easy as that topic switch was... he saw that. maybe that's why he's not letting go. ]

Let's. I won't make you work for it this time. [ teehee. he'll offer it by the neck when he's finished. ]

Did you hear any odd noises, on Thursday? The night of. I know you all are 'upstairs', or what have you.

[probe]

[oh... hand holds. they don't seem to mind. maybe they will just link their fingers with his. do not perceive them.

they also take the wine bottle.]

Nope. I keep hearing about them, though. Odd noises like what?

[liuli]

[ nope! not perceiving. he curls his fingers around theirs, though. nice and easy. ]

A skittering sound. Like claws on tile. We heard it just before we were knocked unconscious - which, by the way, was rather unpleasant. I hardly sleep on my own terms.

[ he tilts his head. ] It came up on Saturday, as well, when Beauregard was gone. You didn't hear it then, either?