So, after that, Beau and I went to the place where they all fell, and I picked one of them up.
[Based on the reactions he's gotten for doing that so far, he's quick to move on.]
As soon as I did, I had this really vivid vision of being, like... On the ground in an auction hall, and there were people bidding on me while I was chained up and crying.
Lan Wangji's expression doesn't appear to change, but somehow he exudes an air of judgment... it's gone quickly, though, and his attention focuses, razor-sharp. He's frowning slightly, taking this information in.]
[He's ignoring that judgement despite looking predictably sheepish for a moment, but then he continues on, shaking his head.]
No. I don't get the feeling it was about something that's going to happen to me, but... I'm wondering whether it could have been a warning for something that might happen to someone in the future.
[Hm... Lan Wangji's gaze shifts outward, distant, as he files this information away.]
Is this how Beau was injured?
[He is Shinobu's brother, after all. He heard about that, though Shinobu was understandably more focused on her own loss of control than anything else.]
[He hadn't wanted to say anything considering how Beau reacted the last time she found out he mentioned to someone else that she had been hurt, but now he nods.]
Yeah. We kind of, uh, had to go head to head with a manticore in order to get the meteor.
[He didn't know that they were ATTACKED BY A MANTICORE in order to touch some funky space rocks, though!!! He doesn't know Hunter well enough to sigh in exasperation, but he sure seems like he wants to for a minute.]
Did anything else happen? In your vision, or otherwise. [Any man-eating sea lions show up, for example]
Right now, I do not have answers. [He'll put that out there right away, just so Hunter isn't like, waiting with bated breath. He'll still do what he can, though.] But I believe it is related to the Maou.
[It's fortunate that Lan Wangji is naturally quiet, since I personally still don't really know exactly how much he's allowed to say about his role. GOD.]
The dream seemed to imply they would cause great destruction. I am searching for them, as I believe they may be able to prevent it. Either way, they likely hold great power.
[Does he need to spell out how people get, when power is involved?]
I do not know the intent of their origin. [He's been bonked with Divine Powers, but the gods didn't specify that part.] But I would like to believe we can convince them to help.
[Lan Wangji's own powers of persuasion aren't the greatest, but he's stubborn, and he has a good heart. They've both gone a long way for him in this world, without too much tragedy--he's hoping for the same this time.]
[Exactly! Lan Wangji nods--he's hoping for the same. Still, he thinks it's important to be cautious.]
Until we know who they are, it is difficult to say. But even if they are reluctant, they do not deserve to be sold. [He's assuming that that's what Hunter's vision was implying, anyway.]
Yeah. I think it would be a good idea to assume they're on their side. I just worry about what people might do if they think that isn't the case, you know?
[He frowns.]
I don't want them to get hurt because people assume they're bad news.
[He can't discount the possibility that the Maou truly do want to cause harm and destruction. But he won't assume that they do, either. It's too early to pass judgment either way.]
I would hope that your vision was a warning. But we cannot help them if we do not know who they are. [He's not super eager to ask this of a relative stranger, but--does he really have a choice? They're all in this together, aren't they?] If you find any further information, will you inform me?
[WHICH SOUNDS REALLY HARSH but he says it just as plainly as he says everything else, god. He means well, I swear. He seems to be aware that that's easier said than done, though (he would know, given his, ah, abilities). Belatedly, he adds--]
[He looks puzzled, both about how that was delivered and whether or not it was meant to be an insult, especially once Lan Wangji follows up with that next sentence.
After a few moments, though, even though he sounds uncertain:]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Based on the reactions he's gotten for doing that so far, he's quick to move on.]
As soon as I did, I had this really vivid vision of being, like... On the ground in an auction hall, and there were people bidding on me while I was chained up and crying.
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Lan Wangji's expression doesn't appear to change, but somehow he exudes an air of judgment... it's gone quickly, though, and his attention focuses, razor-sharp. He's frowning slightly, taking this information in.]
Bidding?
[On him, as a person?]
Did you recognize anyone?
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No. I don't get the feeling it was about something that's going to happen to me, but... I'm wondering whether it could have been a warning for something that might happen to someone in the future.
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Is this how Beau was injured?
[He is Shinobu's brother, after all. He heard about that, though Shinobu was understandably more focused on her own loss of control than anything else.]
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[He hadn't wanted to say anything considering how Beau reacted the last time she found out he mentioned to someone else that she had been hurt, but now he nods.]
Yeah. We kind of, uh, had to go head to head with a manticore in order to get the meteor.
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[He didn't know that they were ATTACKED BY A MANTICORE in order to touch some funky space rocks, though!!! He doesn't know Hunter well enough to sigh in exasperation, but he sure seems like he wants to for a minute.]
Did anything else happen? In your vision, or otherwise. [Any man-eating sea lions show up, for example]
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No, that was it. I was just hoping that we could find a way to make sure the whole auctioning thing doesn't happen to anybody.
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Right now, I do not have answers. [He'll put that out there right away, just so Hunter isn't like, waiting with bated breath. He'll still do what he can, though.] But I believe it is related to the Maou.
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Yeah? In any specific way, or just connected to them in general?
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The dream seemed to imply they would cause great destruction. I am searching for them, as I believe they may be able to prevent it. Either way, they likely hold great power.
[Does he need to spell out how people get, when power is involved?]
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Wait, do you think they're going to cause something bad to happen or that they're going to prevent it?
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[Lan Wangji's own powers of persuasion aren't the greatest, but he's stubborn, and he has a good heart. They've both gone a long way for him in this world, without too much tragedy--he's hoping for the same this time.]
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I bet we could. I mean... How do we know they wouldn't want to help us in the first place?
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Until we know who they are, it is difficult to say. But even if they are reluctant, they do not deserve to be sold. [He's assuming that that's what Hunter's vision was implying, anyway.]
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[He frowns.]
I don't want them to get hurt because people assume they're bad news.
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[He can't discount the possibility that the Maou truly do want to cause harm and destruction. But he won't assume that they do, either. It's too early to pass judgment either way.]
I would hope that your vision was a warning. But we cannot help them if we do not know who they are. [He's not super eager to ask this of a relative stranger, but--does he really have a choice? They're all in this together, aren't they?] If you find any further information, will you inform me?
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Yeah. Yeah, of course. [...] Sorry, I'm just not used to people asking me stuff like that. But I totally will.
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Are you unreliable?
[lwj please don't ask questions like that with honest curiosity]
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[He pauses, thrown, before he shakes his head.]
Uh, I don't think so? But - it's kind of for other people to say, isn't it?
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[WHICH SOUNDS REALLY HARSH but he says it just as plainly as he says everything else, god. He means well, I swear. He seems to be aware that that's easier said than done, though (he would know, given his, ah, abilities). Belatedly, he adds--]
I will trust your efficiency until proven wrong.
[But like, no pressure.]
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After a few moments, though, even though he sounds uncertain:]
Uh... Thank you, I think?
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[These two are doing their very best.]
Is there anything else I can do for you?