Audience: Gu Yun

[probe]

Comments

[probe]

[they will take the notes for investigation later, but they listen to that theory before there's a sigh.]

No, you were successful because Miss Amane would have gone through had her resolve remained steadfast instead of being interrupted. This place doesn't like when people go back on what they've set out to do. So, it saw fit to provide her with a reminder of her original goal.

[thus the burn.]

[liuli]

[ oh.

his eyes widen, briefly, at that, and then... he nods. ]

I suppose that makes sense. [ hey his theory wasn't wrong!! i mean, it was half right. ] So the curse interrupted her, and the place reacted.

Has it punished others like that here, before...?

[probe]

Yes, more or less. [to the first. to the second, there's a pause and greed shrugs slightly.]

I think if you consider the things you've witnessed here you may be able to determine an answer to that yourself.

[liuli]

[ i need you to know i waited to answer this because i'm not smart enough for this question

anyway. gu yun's quiet, for a second, folding his arms and tapping his fingers against the inside of his forearm. thinking about it... there's at least one case that comes immediately to mind, and he purses his lips. ]

I see. [ no u dont ur blind ] For being so bent on 'indulging', this place is rather restrictive. [ ... ] I wonder, if 'corrupting' is a better word than indulging, in this case.

We were so distracted, again. That injury completely derailed anything we had, and it was just a slow-moving wreck of a great kite after that. [ ... ] I tried to put things back into motion, but I couldn't let Misa make a claim like that against Grace without actual evidence or not, either, and by the time we finished uncovering everything, it was too late.

[ ugh. he lifts a hand, pinching the space between his eyebrows. ]

[probe]

[whether that was the conclusion or not, greed doesn't say. they let gu yun draw his own conclusion as they wait, listening carefully as if to decide what to say next.]

It always seems to feel too late, even when it's really not. You were doing well enough with piecing everything together, but sometimes evidence is simply decisive. The burn was meant to be seen for a reason.

[liuli]

Mhm. Still - punished for her non-action. I don't know. I wonder if the center could possibly explain the oddities that came out of Beauregard's case.

[ he still is pretty sure that dumbass robot probably wouldn't scapegoat someone so thoroughly.

anyway. gu yun frowns. ] Harrow saved a life this week - there is that small victory.

[probe]

Were there oddities in Miss Beauregard's case?

[...but there's a nod.] Miss Nonagesimus did extraordinarily well this week. I can't say I'm not thankful.

[liuli]

It just didn't seem much like that damned iron puppet to frame someone - he was clearly very open with his want to kill all of us. Maybe it might have, but to the extent she was framed...? Plus... it was a long time ago now, but she didn't even seem to realize her staff was missing, right? [ he's. trying to remember all the details good god. gu yun puts his hand to his chin, thoughtful.] It's bothered me since the beginning.

[ mmnnmn. to add onto that though, he nods. ] Harrow's extraordinarily clever. We're quite lucky to have her here.

[probe]

I think it's likely you're overthinking it. Especially since it's an old case that's been solved.

But that we are. I'm not sure she would always agree, but her efforts have been noticed.

[liuli]

[ with a snort. ] Probably.

And, good. I know I have. [ ... ] I've ... I'll be relying on her quite a bit, in this upcoming week, in ways I've rarely relied on anyone.

[probe]

...the deterioration of your senses is going to leave you at a bit of a disadvantage, isn't it?

[liuli]

Mm.

[ it still feels so strange to just - admit to it. the avatars already know, and even that makes him feel prickly. ]

Not as much of a disadvantage as you might think, but trial will present its own unique set of challenges. Even now, I'm struggling to hear you with your hood on, and it will only be worse - and then, eventually, I'll hear nothing at all.

[probe]

I'm aware. [they are still missing most of their vision, so they have some sense of how that's going to go for gu yun. they do make an attempt to speak a little louder though.]

So really it's more about having a seeing-eye Harrowhark who will act in your stead for seeing and hearing.

[liuli]

[ thank you he appreciates it. ]

Mollymauk will be assisting as well. We've worked out something of a plan in terms of gestures.

I'm sure you've likely noticed, with your condition, but, your other senses do pick up the slack, in some ways. I was injured when I was eight, so I've had a long time to train myself, particularly my sense of touch and smell.

[

look at the Cheese Effect for sunday and laughs ]

This is the first time I've really... I've never gotten help so directly, short of my medication. I'm not really sure how to feel about it.

[probe]

Yes, that has been my experience so far. [they seem to be listening and taking that into account.]

It likely would mean if anyone else noticed, you'd be seen as an easy target. [they will just say so.] Though I suppose help from two people is a better alternative than the wrong person finding out at all.

[liuli]

...Yes. [ he's definitely considered it - it's something that never really leaves gu yun's mind. ]

I can fight like this - that isn't my concern - but I don't have any weapons or anything to defend myself, short of the pin Wrath gave me. It will be helpful, but ultimately, I'll be on my own if I'm awake on a Thursday. That's why it's imperative that I get my medicine as quickly as possible.

[ because he does not want to be like this for more than a week. whew. ]

[probe]

And all the more reason you're planning to kill someone else first.

[word travels fast, my dude.]

[liuli]

[ he shrugs. ]

More so, I'm hoping to goad someone into trying to kill me. I can use being a presumed easy target to my advantage.

[probe]

And are you confident you won't actually get yourself killed?

[liuli]

[ he taps the top of his own hand, where the pride tattoo is - even if greed can't see it. ]

Being overly confident is dangerous. It would be befitting of someone sorted to my aspect to end up dead that way, wouldn't it?

I think of it as carefully weighing risk and reward. Like any battle, there are factors that I can control, and factors I can't. I have a boon that only two people know about - the same people who are helping me with my sight - and plan on playing up my loss of sight this week in public. I can set a trap, or try and engage in combat, but even a dragon has trouble defeating a snake in its own tunnels and burrows.

So no, I wouldn't say that I'm confident. I will say that I intend to go into this situation as well prepared as possible, and I won't run into it recklessly.

[probe]

...if you die, it will break them. [and the words are sharp even if they don't leave that to linger.] So it would be best if you really were as well prepared as possible. Pride or not, one slip-up will make all the difference.

I'm sure you understand.

[liuli]

...I know.

[ for someone who is constantly silly and easygoing, it seems, gu yun is always able to be serious when he needs to be. this is one of those moments, the way his expression sharpens to match. he's keenly aware of carrying the specific weight - of wrath, of lup - of not dying on his shoulders, because it's something he does every day. i can't die because people need me. he'd have to have been an idiot not to see how hard it was on her when he returned injured from his excursion.

... ]

I won't fail. [ he hasn't before, right? even if he's been brutalized and beaten half to death, gu yun is the very picture of resilience. he's never let great liang down. never once, no matter the personal cost. ]

... I'll admit, though, one of the things I have been thinking is that I do believe this person may have likely already committed a killing. I'm keenly aware of the fact that doing so successfully can get you an advantage, and I have no idea what that advantage might be.

I also only have what she gave me. I spoke with Pride, but right now, they're keeping me waiting - which I don't like. I can't hinge my entire life waiting for some magic weapon I may or may not want to use.

[probe]

[they don't clarify that they mean not only wrath but mollymauk as well, but they don't think it's necessary to elaborate either. gu yun seems to understand precisely what the point is.]

...Pride, most likely, won't let you fail. And Wrath provided what she could. [but now there's a tinge of curiosity in their tone.]

Who is it that you're planning to go after?

[liuli]

[ yeah. yeah!! he is aware. (': he made molly a promise, after all. no one left behind.

anyhow. the question is fine, and gu yun doesn't seem to mind admitting it. ] Mahito.

I've been warned specifically to mind what I say around him, because he's a wild card, and dangerous when he feels like he's been put in a corner. So, it follows that if I were to goad someone, he is an excellent choice.

[probe]

An interesting choice. [there's really nothing in their tone to suggest how they feel about that, but they do pause to think about that.]

Then...I suppose you've done the research necessary and have a back-up plan in case your first one fails?