[sidereal - the dreaming]

[laughitoff]

[for MDZS AU plot-related shenanigans]

Comments

[strikingchords]

[it's not that he's not more hurt than he was before, more that he's just trying to keep himself to himself more tightly after that abortive gesture. it's easier to betray yourself this way.]

All right.

[they'll do this Lan Wangji's way, then. returns to the level ground to survey the cliff face, lightfooted and out of sight range of the opened tomb. are there any that aren't dug into the walls like a cave?]

[laughitoff]

[all of them are mostly dug into the rock]

[strikingchords]

[cool.

he steps to the side of the entrance, still concealing his spiritual presence as well as possible, and slides a handful of talismans out of his sleeve. it's the work of a moment or two to swiftly draw a few more lines on them and then he flicks one as far away from the mouth of the cave while still in plain sight as he can get it.]

[laughitoff]

That's--!

[the attraction talismans flare! the ghoulbaby ponderously slithers back out of the tomb to check them out, getting in squabbles with several ghouls and fierce ghosts that are pulled in as well]

[strikingchords]

[it was only one talisman. he wraps the last three he altered around the shaft of an arrow and shoots it into the ground midway between this area and the garden. maybe get in a HUGE STUPID FIGHT, ghouls, or at least stop and think about it.

then he slips into the opened tomb behind the commotion, alert for tiny signs of any more traps]

[laughitoff]

[it's pretty crude and mostly unadorned! there are three rough, hulking ironwood coffins lined up inside, and a pedestal that holds a low-quality hunping. resentful energy pours from all of them. he does not immediately see signs of traps, nor does Wei Wuxian alert him to any.]

[strikingchords]

[takes a moment to feel out the room, then bows respectfully to the coffins and goes to open whichever one is farthest from the door]

[laughitoff]

[he can feel Wei Wuxian's puzzlement when he pulls it open: mixed human bones of several sizes lie scattered and separated inside]

[strikingchords]

[frowns at them; is he to take it that there's more than one skeleton mixed up in here...?

he leaves them for the moment and goes to open the next.]

[laughitoff]

[yeah! at least two adults and one child from first glance. they might not be complete, either; most obviously, all the skulls are missing

the second coffin contains . . . a heap of meat . . .]

[strikingchords]

[he likes this less and less!

the third?]

[laughitoff]

[the third is filled with flayed skins]

[strikingchords]

[THAT'S. NOT GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! stares at them all for a moment then heads over to the hunping...]

[laughitoff]

[there is a little dancing wisp of ghost-light inside]

[strikingchords]

[ah. all the pieces, then...

takes his guqin down from his back and plays a low note, just a few bars into Inquiry; a gentle prompt for the ghost to speak without being bound to it, if there's anything it immediately wants to say]

[laughitoff]

[it seems to be two ghosts stuck together, a man and a woman; both are weak. perhaps this helps them both sustain their form?

my poor babies, sighs the woman]

[strikingchords]

[oh...

What happened?]

[laughitoff]

[all cut down, all cut down, says one

no peace in these graves, says the other]

[strikingchords]

[he bows his head a little. he can see that; the Burial Mounds are pretty awful, especially with the resentment so thick.

...

What do you need?]

[laughitoff]

[a proper burial

how can they sleep like this? how can we?

in a quieter place . . .]

[strikingchords]

[...

he tugs a spirit-trapping pouch out of his sleeve and opens it for them.

Come. We will search. You will see it done.]

[laughitoff]

[they enter willingly...]

[strikingchords]

[closes the pouch and carefully replaces the lid on the funerary jar before he puts his guqin away.]

[laughitoff]

...?

[strikingchords]

They wish proper burial for their children. The other remains. A better burying ground.

[he begins to gather up the sad little bones into a qiankun pouch. Wei Wuxian can't help but feel the sharp edge of his sympathy, quiet and restrained as ever]