[ at the seat of the divine foresight, qingzu had said the general was out. and while dan heng had been fine waiting, yanqing offered to take him to see jing yuan — but then he'd gotten a call, left dan heng with a note with carefully scribbled directions and his seal to give dan heng permission to be in restricted areas before eliciting a promise of a practice match out of him and running off to go serve as jing yuan's faithful and helpful retainer!
(Snowmoon got out.)
Which is why now, Dan Heng is carefully navigating the hallways of the Cloud Knight HQ, looking for Jing Yuan. But an older lieutenant, who missed the entire hubbub of the stellaron crisis, has him cornered in a hallway on grounds of "this kid is suspicious," and has started asking questions. Whispers of the previous High Elder is all over the Luofu, and even with the emblem of the Astral Express on his coat, things about Dan Heng are off. Yanqing's seal and note might not be enough. Dan Heng doesn't shy away, but neither is he a good liar.
But there is hope, and that is in a familiar ponytail rounding the corner. ]
General.
[ He isn't asking for help, really. It's actually a greeting. Definitely.
[ The hand that comes down on the soldier’s shoulder is kind, but firm, the other resting at the small of Jing Yuan’s own back. He’d been in a meeting with the general of the Yaoqing, to coordinate the allocation of soldiers and supplies for the Luofu in exchange for further cooperation down the line in the Yaoqing’s ceaseless battle against Asmodeus and the Abominations of Yaoshi. He hadn’t meant for it to take long — these things were so routine for Jing Yuan at this point that he’s constantly making sure his Cloud Knights are over recruited so he has the manpower to send. But Feixiao had insisted on properly catching up, and Jing Yuan had every reason to not be rude about it. Still, as soon as Qingzu had relayed the message that Dan Heng was on the Luofu, he’d made his leave, heading towards the last place Qingzu had said she’d seen Yanqing and Dan Heng together.
He hadn’t wanted to make a big deal of Dan Heng’s initial return. Alas, the consequences of that were scenarios like this one: a Cloud Knight who hadn’t been briefed yet doing his job diligently. The knight turns to protest, but stops short when Dan Heng announces his presence, staring up at Jing Yuan, no doubt with wide eyes hidden behind his helmet. Jing Yuan’s smile is also kind, but firm. ]
All is well, good knight. This man is my personal guest. I will accompany him from here.
[ The knight nods, bowing to his general and then to Dan Heng, briskly making his way down the road, back to his post. Jing Yuan reaches up and rubs at the top of his head before turning to Dan Heng, apologetic. ] I appreciate your patience, and apologize for the wait. You wanted to see me?
[ In the mind of the average Xianzhou citizen, a Vidyadhara High Elder has certain traits; the pointed ears, certainly, but mostly the crowning horns. Those who have met Bailu know about the draconic features, but don't know about the cold, divine light that once overflowed from its vessel through his eyes. Older citizens on the Luofu, like that Cloud Knight, might even have the image of a cold, beautiful man with long, dark hair in their mind. Dan Heng's resemblance to his past life is beyond uncanny, even when he has his hair trimmed short, his ears cut down, the horns forced out of view by sheer will, and the Luofu has had to reckon with the effects of the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae for centuries.
Dan Heng watches Jing Yuan diffuse the situation with an expressionless, cautious stare, his face revealing nothing until well after the Cloud Knight disappears around the corner. Can an old soldier be blamed for caution? Dan Heng won't, as much as he didn't enjoy the interrogation, as much as it made him want to turn tail and hightail it back to the nearest Space Anchor and then to the Express. ]
... Yes. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day, General. [ Dan Heng falters for a moment, looking for the path he wants to proceed along in this conversation. ] Your weapon was made by the same person who made my spear, right?
[ To speak the name "Yingxing" gives him headaches, and now that he knows for sure... He'd rather not dwell on it. But he still needs information. The crack in the blade's base is a hairline one, that he'd only recognized by touch rather than sight at first, but if it breaks how will he keep his friends safe? ]
[ He starts to walk when Dan Heng speaks, glancing over to make sure the younger man is following him. At his question, Jing Yuan's step falters for the briefest of moments. His intention had been to take Dan Heng to the tea shop, but instead he makes a detour, leading Dang Heng down an alleyway and out towards Aurum Alley. ]
Indeed. A master craftsman, lost to time.
[ And Mara. They both know who it is, and Jing Yuan finds it unnecessary to mention it further. The ache that settles in his chest is likewise set aside, to focus on Dan Heng's presence here. The past matters, but for now, the present is what needs his attention. ]
[ Dan Heng trails along a half step behind him, his pace only slightly hurried (slower than Yanqing or the Master Diviner, but still betraying his youth) to match Jing Yuan's much longer stride. The effect is similar to when the Express had assisted the Luofu in the Kafka matter, and Welt Yang had been flanked by March 7th and Stelle while they parlayed with the Helmmaster. The Nameless don't hold for ranks the way the Cloud Knights do, and Dan Heng isn't a High Elder, isolated by the Preceptors and walking on his own. Whatever he thinks of the rest of the Luofu, Dan Heng holds the General in the same lever esteem as his own senior crew members, it seems. ]
I think Cloud-Piercer was damaged in the fight before the Phantylia conflict.
[ You know, with... with that guy. ]
Repairing it is beyond my skill level, and Himeko suggested that a Luofu craftsman might be better suited than her to help before we leave the system, but...
[ But he doesn't think it's a good idea to just show up and flash a Yingxing-made weapon in front of the Artisan Commission. ]
I am grateful that my exile was rescinded, but I wish to exercise caution, all the same. You know better than I would about who has the skill and discretion needed for the task.
[ After all that trouble he and Miss Bailu went through to reseal the Arbor... He's being cautious.]
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(Snowmoon got out.)
Which is why now, Dan Heng is carefully navigating the hallways of the Cloud Knight HQ, looking for Jing Yuan. But an older lieutenant, who missed the entire hubbub of the stellaron crisis, has him cornered in a hallway on grounds of "this kid is suspicious," and has started asking questions. Whispers of the previous High Elder is all over the Luofu, and even with the emblem of the Astral Express on his coat, things about Dan Heng are off. Yanqing's seal and note might not be enough. Dan Heng doesn't shy away, but neither is he a good liar.
But there is hope, and that is in a familiar ponytail rounding the corner. ]
General.
[ He isn't asking for help, really. It's actually a greeting. Definitely.
Please help him. ]
He hadn’t wanted to make a big deal of Dan Heng’s initial return. Alas, the consequences of that were scenarios like this one: a Cloud Knight who hadn’t been briefed yet doing his job diligently. The knight turns to protest, but stops short when Dan Heng announces his presence, staring up at Jing Yuan, no doubt with wide eyes hidden behind his helmet. Jing Yuan’s smile is also kind, but firm. ]
All is well, good knight. This man is my personal guest. I will accompany him from here.
[ The knight nods, bowing to his general and then to Dan Heng, briskly making his way down the road, back to his post. Jing Yuan reaches up and rubs at the top of his head before turning to Dan Heng, apologetic. ] I appreciate your patience, and apologize for the wait. You wanted to see me?
Dan Heng watches Jing Yuan diffuse the situation with an expressionless, cautious stare, his face revealing nothing until well after the Cloud Knight disappears around the corner. Can an old soldier be blamed for caution? Dan Heng won't, as much as he didn't enjoy the interrogation, as much as it made him want to turn tail and hightail it back to the nearest Space Anchor and then to the Express. ]
... Yes. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day, General. [ Dan Heng falters for a moment, looking for the path he wants to proceed along in this conversation. ] Your weapon was made by the same person who made my spear, right?
[ To speak the name "Yingxing" gives him headaches, and now that he knows for sure... He'd rather not dwell on it. But he still needs information. The crack in the blade's base is a hairline one, that he'd only recognized by touch rather than sight at first, but if it breaks how will he keep his friends safe? ]
Indeed. A master craftsman, lost to time.
[ And Mara. They both know who it is, and Jing Yuan finds it unnecessary to mention it further. The ache that settles in his chest is likewise set aside, to focus on Dan Heng's presence here. The past matters, but for now, the present is what needs his attention. ]
Why do you ask?
I think Cloud-Piercer was damaged in the fight before the Phantylia conflict.
[ You know, with... with that guy. ]
Repairing it is beyond my skill level, and Himeko suggested that a Luofu craftsman might be better suited than her to help before we leave the system, but...
[ But he doesn't think it's a good idea to just show up and flash a Yingxing-made weapon in front of the Artisan Commission. ]
I am grateful that my exile was rescinded, but I wish to exercise caution, all the same. You know better than I would about who has the skill and discretion needed for the task.
[ After all that trouble he and Miss Bailu went through to reseal the Arbor... He's being cautious.]
Edited 2024-06-12 11:01 pm (UTC)