Audience: Gu Yun

[probe]

Comments

[probe]

[rude. but regardless greed continues to work even when gu yun has a seat in front of them.]

Simple does suit some people better. [ah well.] We don't necessarily have to do anything, but some of us have taken it upon ourselves to do tasks we're accustomed to.

[liuli]

[ that gets him to laugh, actually?? ]

Greed! I can't believe you're calling me simple. Some men just are meant to eat dirt in the battlefield, ah? You sound like my second in command.[ he clearly is not even REMOTELY offended. ]

I suppose that makes sense. [ ... ah, that does remind him, though. there's a reason why he's here! gu yun sits back and starts digging about in the pockets of his silks. ] Well, if I'm simple, you are certainly clever, so, maybe you can help me figure out which of the Avatars this might belong to.

[ and with that, he will set something wrapped in a bit of silk down on the table, and unwrap the samurai figurine THAT I KNOW NOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. ]

[probe]

Nonsense. I would never be anyone's second. [is...is that a joke? it's entirely possible but it's hard to see when nobody can see their face! all the while, they're working on their documents but when gu yun sets the figure on their desk they look up.

they pause.

there's an awkward silence that follows.]

...ah. Well. I can assure you that if you leave it with me it will be returned to the correct Avatar.

[liuli]

[ DID GREED JUST TELL A JOKE? he looks thrilled by this.

and, you know, a normal person would probably take that as a sign, and drop that conversation with that. after all, it's such a nice request! gu yun, however, believes there is never enough chaos in the world, so he props his chin in his hand and looks at them. ]

Is that alright? Wrath was only able to give me a hint about it, when I asked her.

[ he's completely aware that he has just made a correct guess, yeah ]

[probe]

[STOP PERCEIVING THEM YOU LITTLE SHIT.]

I do have a bit more authority than Wrath in these manners, I'll have you know.

[liuli]

[ never ]

Oh...? I thought you all didn't have to do tasks if you didn't want to...? I wasn't aware there was a chain of command...

[probe]

There is. And I'm currently at the head of it.

[they sound very convincing given they are using a clawed finger to hook into the figurine and start dragging it closer to them.]

[liuli]

[ greed. honey. he inclines his head. ]

Well, if I could help the top of the chain of command find his lost item - I mean, move it through the ranks, then surely, this humble Gu Yun is happy to have been of service.

[

winks. ]

[probe]

Surely. [they continue to stare at gu yun for a moment before they tap their claws on the desk.]

...I suppose a thank you is in order for returning it.

[liuli]

Oh?

[ he'll be good and not pick on you anymore, greed, though he does prop his cheek in his hand again. ]

[probe]

Yes. Thank you for returning it.

[...yeah they are the avatar of greed and also they assume gy is mocking them, so no actual reward for gy.]

[liuli]

[ he

bursts out laughing, honestly, not even remotely bothered. greed is funny!! ] Ha! You're welcome. To each their own, in terms of sentimentality - I'm glad that I could get it to the proper owner, at least.

[probe]

[there's a slow nod and they seem to be squinting at him from under their hood.]

Yes. [a beat.] It isn't a sentimentality, however. Don't be mistaken.

[liuli]

[ look he's innocent!!! ]

Can I ask what the figure is, then? I'm quite curious.

[probe]

[i'm crying.]

It's...simply a figure from a television show I've seen a few times. It was a gift.

[liuli]

[ television show..... no he can put context clues together so. sounds like a movie. ]

The gift part’s what’s important, isn’t it? Not so much what it is. [ it reminds him of seeing his old iron shoulder guards at the top of chang geng’a bed. maybe not his best idea for a gift.... but one that had been touchingly meaningful all the same. ]

[probe]

I suppose. I despise the woman it came from, but it would be rude to reject it.

[...and also...they wanted it...]

[liuli]

[ he

immediately thinks of his new vocabulary word.

....tsundere..... ]

Well, you don't seem the rude type, for certain.

[probe]

...thank you? [why are they baffled about this. it's because yeah, gy's right, greed is tsundere please stop perceiving them even further.]

[liuli]

[ i'm in tears. anyway, he laughs, amused, and pats the table. ]

You don't have to be confused! Unless you think that's a bad thing? It's a compliment.

[probe]

If you insist. [there is still much confusion it's fine.] I'm not one for compliments, however.

[liuli]

[ he tilts his head, thoughtful. ]

Observations, then? Of behavior over time?

[probe]

[they tap a claw on their desk.]

I suppose you could say that. Consider it part of the job to understand the people I'm working with.

[liuli]

[ he thought so! ]

Hmm. It's the same for me, though, 'working with' often means working against. "Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated", and all of that, though, I'd argue you need to know your allies just as well.

[probe]

[hmmm.]

You and I fight severely different battles, Gu Yun. But the philosophy is similar enough.