[PALACE GAME - LAN WANGJI RUN]

[laughitoff]

Everything is red. You are dying, somewhere far beyond pain, the very essence of yourself going to pieces. You’re shattering so badly you don’t know if you’ll ever find all of yourself again, if you’ll ever put yourself back together. There are teeth on you, ripping, tearing, devouring. There are teeth inside you, carving their way out, and those are worse.

This is a memory, happening at a remove. It is not yours. This is not happening now.

Everything is grey. You wake up in a prison cell, eyes wide, the ceiling flat and blank and unfamiliar above you. For a moment you simply think, no. You think, Please, wasn’t it over? Wasn’t it enough? You consider closing your eyes again and refusing to get up, until oblivion reclaims you. Even if you’re no longer dying, everything hurts.

This is a memory, happening at a remove. It is not yours. This is not happening now.

What is happening, then?

You–

–sit up.

Comments

[strikingchords]

I can return your life here, but only by destroying something else, first.

[laughitoff]

[He gets scowlier. Kind of clipped:]

You don't have to. I know I'm just a memory.

[strikingchords]

Not a fond one.

...

For Wei Ying.

[he'll remove the altar with Heresy, and then return Jin Zixuan to life properly with Orthodoxy, yeah

he owes Jiang Yanli that much]

[laughitoff]

[It actually doesn't quite work as intended? His robes repair, and he gets about as mobile as a living person can, but the grey cast to his skin doesn't disappear. He looks at his hands ruefully.]

Well...I guess we've got a history.

[strikingchords]

Would share his anger, in his place.

But, you are missed.

Can you help me?

[laughitoff]

Ah--yes. Yes. Here.

[He flusters a little--apparently he forgot he was supposed to do this--and yanks another piece of tarnished metal out of his sleeve, shoving it at Lan Wangji.]

[strikingchords]

[takes it, and tucks it away with the other]

My thanks, also.

[laughitoff]

[Hm, those definitely look like chunks of the Tiger Seal.]

It's not--

[He shrugs irritably.]

It's the least I can do.

[strikingchords]

[he knows.]

Your son is well.

[laughitoff]

[The irritated cast of his expression softens.]

You should be saving this for the real one, if you ever see him again. But I'm grateful to hear it.

[strikingchords]

Is it such a limited resource?

Life continues. Here, as well.

[laughitoff]

It's all Wei Wuxian here, in the end.

[strikingchords]

Yes.

...

His sister would appreciate the memory.

[laughitoff]

What memory? That thing?

[He gestures to the charm.]

[strikingchords]

Yes.

[laughitoff]

Keep it for her, then.

[strikingchords]

All right.

[bows to him again, and tucks away the charm as well]

You will remain here?

[laughitoff]

[He gives it a very familiar disdainful look, but shrugs.]

I guess?

[strikingchords]

There is no reason not to assist in housekeeping.

[laughitoff]

I can't tell if that means you're telling me to stay or go.

[strikingchords]

It means, be useful.

You are a memory that has defended Wei Ying and others before. Whatever your history.

[laughitoff]

[He mutters 'no pressure??' under his breath very quietly.]

That doesn't mean I don't require any direction.

[strikingchords]

[looks at him judgmentally]

You have no judgment?

[laughitoff]

[Irritated:]

I'm a memory! I don't have the same autonomy as a person! Deal with it!

[strikingchords]

[just gives him a withering look]

...

Find cinnabar and draw an array to create a stone beast. I will bring materials here.

[creating one of the stone beasts is very complicated, but Jin Zixuan is a sect heir; he for sure should know how to get things set up, whether or not he has the ability to actually use cultivation like this]