Her eyes widen fractionally, and her posture stiffens. She's not sure how relieved she should be, if at all. If they're not from either family, she has less reason to think about her life choices, but if they are outsiders, what is their plan? Are they trying to start a war? ]
Yes. He found a young girl while looking into things. She was kidnapped and suffered what no child should.
[ Cold fury flashes in her eyes and hardens those last few words. ]
But his reaction internally isn't so different from hers. Outwardly, his expression doesn't change much--just enough that his face manages to shift from "resting placid" to "icy anger". He is mafia, yes, and like most of them, he has blood on his hands--but he has always maintained very firm lines, and harming children like this crosses them further than he'd ever have thought anyone would dare to go. Especially in a town like this, where he knows he isn't the only one who feels this way.]
It's unacceptable. Bruises, bumps, cuts, there are signs she was tied and bound, and she is too afraid to see almost anyone.
[ Her words come slow, as if she's trying to keep her anger at bay. She's made her allowances for how the mafia operates, all the unlawful and terrible acts they can do, but her lines aren't drawn too far off from where Lan Wangji's are when it comes to children. ]
She won't speak. [ A pause, and her hands form fists. ] It would be very difficult for her to speak.
[A part of him wants to ask for clarification, if only so that she can assuage his immediate thoughts at her words. But... Lan Wangji is not in the business of lying to himself, if he can help it. If these people are willing to hurt children in the first place, he will not grace them with the lenience of doubting a doctor who, by all accounts, is honorable.
He won't ask her who's caring for the girl now--as long as she is safe, it doesn't really matter. She's in Xian Le hands right now, and if the girl is too frightened to see anyone, then he won't do them the discourtesy of asking to visit. It probably wouldn't do anyone any good anyway--there is nothing he could do for her that a doctor couldn't. Still, he can't help but offer.]
She trusts my cousin the most from what I can see, so I've asked him to do what he can. [ If Lan Wangji has any strong options about Itaru, he's free to voice them. ] I'm telling you about her because I'm almost certain she's from the Eastside, but please know I'll protect her with my life. If any more harm finds its way to her, I will exact retribution. Whether they're from outside the town or from within.
[ Anyone who would hurt children the way Brie was is a demon and does not deserve her mercy. ]
[At first, Lan Wangji doesn't say anything. If he wanted to, he could push to have the girl moved to their territory--he's basically second only to Chuuya, and he knows such a request wouldn't be denied. But... he didn't do the Xian Le the courtesy of telling them about Bianca and Bennett before he'd brought them to Yiling Ridge, and truthfully, he is a father just as much as he's a Mori executive. Besides that, he simply isn't a cruel man. And removing a traumatized girl from the people offering her care and comfort would be nothing else.]
Please ask him to tell her that she is welcome to come home if she wishes to. [No obligation--but it is home, to him, the place where he feels safest, where he can protect his son, and his closest friends--everyone except the love of his life, who can protect himself and his own people just fine.
Out loud, he will probably never say "yes, I trust Shinobu". But he does believe her, especially about this, and that's probably worth more anyway.] If there is anything she needs, please let me know. A message through Shigure will suffice.
I will. I want her to find a place she calls home and thinks is safe. If it's back with the Mori eventually, I would still be happy.
[ At the moment, the little girl likes to go between living in Itaru's clinic and under the bridge. Why she wants to be a troll, Shinobu doesn't know, but she doesn't want to push it before she can gain trust.
Despite her current alignment, Shinobu does not think poorly of everyone in the east side of town. ]
Thank you, Lan Wangji. [ Her gratitude is sincere. ] I've always thought you reasonable.
[ since. she doesn't know of his daily deliveries. ]
[STOP HE'S REASONABLE ABOUT EVERYTHING EXCEPT WEI WUXIAN LET HIM LIVE.
But Lan Wangji, too, has no personal grudge against the Xian Les, or even Xie Lian himself. Only those who would harm his family earn his ire, and that would likely hold true even if he didn't care so strongly for "an enemy". He has always been the type to evaluate people based on their own choices and actions, not their background or status. From what he knows, Shinobu has only ever shown a thorough dedication to human lives, and so deserves nothing but respect.
Montevallo as a whole would be worse off without her, though he doesn't say that out loud.]
Thank you for telling me. [She didn't have to. He won't overlook or forget that.
A pause, then--he really doesn't have any right to be asking for more of her time, but...]
Could I trouble you to evaluate Bianca and Bennett? I do not know how long they were on the streets.
[Like, they seem alright, and they're adapting well to life at Yiling Ridge (or at least they were until a GATLING GUN FELL ON THEM but he doesn't know that yet), so it's not a top priority and more of a "if you get a spare minute" sort of request, but still. He still doesn't feel great about dumping more kids on Wei Wuxian, the least he can do is make sure they're healthy.]
It's no trouble at all. I would be happy to see them.
[ Keeping children safe and healthy is always something she wants to do, but for obvious reasons, it's one of her bigger priorities currently. She always keeps some sort of medical bag with her. ]
I don't have everything with me to do a thorough examination, but I can do a basic one now. I can come back later in the week, if they can stand another doctor's appointment so soon.
[ Not many children are patient enough for that in her experience.. ]
All right. I'll go seek them out. Thank you for your time.
[ He didn't have to entertain a conversation with her. She knows he could've left at any point and could've refused to talk. Even if they've always been civil, it's still within his right. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Her eyes widen fractionally, and her posture stiffens. She's not sure how relieved she should be, if at all. If they're not from either family, she has less reason to think about her life choices, but if they are outsiders, what is their plan? Are they trying to start a war? ]
Yes. He found a young girl while looking into things. She was kidnapped and suffered what no child should.
[ Cold fury flashes in her eyes and hardens those last few words. ]
no subject
But his reaction internally isn't so different from hers. Outwardly, his expression doesn't change much--just enough that his face manages to shift from "resting placid" to "icy anger". He is mafia, yes, and like most of them, he has blood on his hands--but he has always maintained very firm lines, and harming children like this crosses them further than he'd ever have thought anyone would dare to go. Especially in a town like this, where he knows he isn't the only one who feels this way.]
Her condition?
no subject
[ Her words come slow, as if she's trying to keep her anger at bay. She's made her allowances for how the mafia operates, all the unlawful and terrible acts they can do, but her lines aren't drawn too far off from where Lan Wangji's are when it comes to children. ]
She won't speak. [ A pause, and her hands form fists. ] It would be very difficult for her to speak.
no subject
He won't ask her who's caring for the girl now--as long as she is safe, it doesn't really matter. She's in Xian Le hands right now, and if the girl is too frightened to see anyone, then he won't do them the discourtesy of asking to visit. It probably wouldn't do anyone any good anyway--there is nothing he could do for her that a doctor couldn't. Still, he can't help but offer.]
Is there anything you need for her?
no subject
She trusts my cousin the most from what I can see, so I've asked him to do what he can. [ If Lan Wangji has any strong options about Itaru, he's free to voice them. ] I'm telling you about her because I'm almost certain she's from the Eastside, but please know I'll protect her with my life. If any more harm finds its way to her, I will exact retribution. Whether they're from outside the town or from within.
[ Anyone who would hurt children the way Brie was is a demon and does not deserve her mercy. ]
no subject
Please ask him to tell her that she is welcome to come home if she wishes to. [No obligation--but it is home, to him, the place where he feels safest, where he can protect his son, and his closest friends--everyone except the love of his life, who can protect himself and his own people just fine.
Out loud, he will probably never say "yes, I trust Shinobu". But he does believe her, especially about this, and that's probably worth more anyway.] If there is anything she needs, please let me know. A message through Shigure will suffice.
[considering he. sees shigure every day]
no subject
[ At the moment, the little girl likes to go between living in Itaru's clinic and under the bridge. Why she wants to be a troll, Shinobu doesn't know, but she doesn't want to push it before she can gain trust.
Despite her current alignment, Shinobu does not think poorly of everyone in the east side of town. ]
Thank you, Lan Wangji. [ Her gratitude is sincere. ] I've always thought you reasonable.
[ since. she doesn't know of his daily deliveries. ]
no subject
But Lan Wangji, too, has no personal grudge against the Xian Les, or even Xie Lian himself. Only those who would harm his family earn his ire, and that would likely hold true even if he didn't care so strongly for "an enemy". He has always been the type to evaluate people based on their own choices and actions, not their background or status. From what he knows, Shinobu has only ever shown a thorough dedication to human lives, and so deserves nothing but respect.
Montevallo as a whole would be worse off without her, though he doesn't say that out loud.]
Thank you for telling me. [She didn't have to. He won't overlook or forget that.
A pause, then--he really doesn't have any right to be asking for more of her time, but...]
Could I trouble you to evaluate Bianca and Bennett? I do not know how long they were on the streets.
[Like, they seem alright, and they're adapting well to life at Yiling Ridge (or at least they were until a GATLING GUN FELL ON THEM but he doesn't know that yet), so it's not a top priority and more of a "if you get a spare minute" sort of request, but still. He still doesn't feel great about dumping more kids on Wei Wuxian, the least he can do is make sure they're healthy.]
no subject
It's no trouble at all. I would be happy to see them.
[ Keeping children safe and healthy is always something she wants to do, but for obvious reasons, it's one of her bigger priorities currently. She always keeps some sort of medical bag with her. ]
I don't have everything with me to do a thorough examination, but I can do a basic one now. I can come back later in the week, if they can stand another doctor's appointment so soon.
[ Not many children are patient enough for that in her experience.. ]
no subject
Anything you can manage would be more than appreciated. [As for whether or not they'll tolerate another appointment--] I will speak to them about it.
[He's good with kids, though he'd probably never say that himself.]
no subject
She claps her hands. ]
All right. I'll go seek them out. Thank you for your time.
[ He didn't have to entertain a conversation with her. She knows he could've left at any point and could've refused to talk. Even if they've always been civil, it's still within his right. ]