Audience: Gu Yun

[probe]

Comments

[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.

[liuli]

[ playfully - ] You did just say I was meant for something simple!

[ but, joking aside, he gets it. ] The mind is a weapon in and of its own, I believe, no matter where you are. Letting such a thing fall flat is akin to dulling a sword's edge.

Are you something of a scholar?

[probe]

You're correct. I've never let my mind rest for fear of letting it grow dull. [greed doesn't know what the fuck a relaxation is.

and given the circumstances, they shrug.]

A prosecutor. [they do not expect gu yun to know what that is, so.] My job is to prove the guilt of a culprit in a court of law.

[liuli]

[ wow same!!! local man sleeps in his iron armor for days at a time so he can use it as a cast for broken bones so he can continue leading his army

i mean ]

Oh? No wonder you take such thorough notes. [ a beat. ] It must be so frustrating to watch us at these trials each week, hm.

[probe]

[sir?

but greed pauses. and there's the most weary sigh in the world. ]

Incredibly, though I've been a part of plenty of ridiculous trials myself.

[liuli]

[ he's fine.

anyway out of absolutely genuine curiosity, almost chinhandsing-- ]

Anything in particular stand out as comparable to this place? What's the most ridiculous thing you've seen?

[probe]

[they seem to think.]

The most ridiculous here, or the most ridiculous there? There aren't many things that top the defense cross-examining a parrot.