[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

[laughitoff]

[As the memory ends, the ghost of Jiang Yanli appears in the seat across from him. She's in neat grey robes instead of the red wedding finery, but they've been ruined by the swordwound through her body and by the vicious slashes across her back. She looks at him sadly, and does not move.]

[strikingchords]

[no, this is unacceptable. stares at her, stricken, then destroys a random unoccupied chair next to her so he can restore her to life (or as close as the palace allows)]

[laughitoff]

[HE ALSO...MAKES UNDEAD JIANG YANLI.

She lifts a hand to her mouth as she revives, looking back at him, startled]

Hanguang-Jun...?

[strikingchords]

[cool,]

Young Madam Jin.

[laughitoff]

Ah...I appreciate the assistance.

[strikingchords]

[...bows to her...]

Wei Ying is in distress.

[laughitoff]

[Her mouth thins...dipilomatically:]

Yes. A-Xian has been in distress for quite some time.

[strikingchords]

[bleakly, if you can pick up on anything past "stern":]

I am aware.

[laughitoff]

[A gentle incline of her head.]

Hanguang-jun's efforts have not been in vain.

[strikingchords]

[


just doesn't acknowledge that whups]

What can be done, here?

[laughitoff]

[She is a memory, and does not take offense.]

You must finish gathering the Seal.

[strikingchords]

Do you have a piece, as well?

[laughitoff]

Ah--yes, I do.

[She slides it across the table. He appears to have half the Tiger Seal now; oddly, dream logic is telling him this is enough to be a complete Treasure.]

[strikingchords]

My thanks.

[nods and tucks it away]

...

A question.

What is the meaning of a blank banner?

[laughitoff]

A conduit to the Burial Mounds.

[strikingchords]

...

May I ask a favor?

[laughitoff]

Yes, though I do not know if I can grant it.

[strikingchords]

Can you leave this place?

Would ask you to find your husband and instruct that he draw a ward around the pool here, when he completes his task.

[laughitoff]

[She looks faintly disturbed, but nods.]

I can do this.

[strikingchords]

[tilts his head]

Do you think it unwise?

[laughitoff]

I think it is new. As a memory, it is hard for me to say what is or is not unwise in the greater context of things.

[strikingchords]

[...nods]

Once that is done. Would ask that you tend to his living space, where he will not.

[laughitoff]

I can do that, if you point the way.

[strikingchords]

[nods...]

Will meet you again soon, then.

[he'll give her directions to the temple to meet Jin Zixuan, for now...]

[laughitoff]

[She bows to him again after that and moves out the door, disappearing into the streets.]