hua cheng

[outsidebones]

Comments

week 0; saturday

[outsidebones]

[harrow is near the pool, in a contemplative mood, on her own. when she sees hua cheng, she glances up from whatever thoughts she's focused on, looks at him, and a slightly odd grimace comes across her face. she drops the expression a moment later.]

Well. A long day.

[supremity]

[ well, that's an amusing reaction. he snorts a little as he walks in, tanhua at his heels, his arms folding behind his back as he goes. ]

Very enlightening, being on the participant's side of it.

[outsidebones]

Oh, yes. And I won't disguise the obvious, that we were quite focused on you as a potential suspect for much of the day.

A trial by fire.

[supremity]

Yes. Very obvious from the get-go. [ a little dryly ] Exhausting, but we're strangers, and I did fine. I applaud the thoroughness.

Especially since the end giveaway was a "papercut."

wk 1; monday

[supremity]

[ well, rather than learn their lessons, hua cheng finds himself investigating the new set of doors. he stands in front of number 6, arms crossed, tanhua seated on his haunches next to him, regarding it thoughtfully when he notices harrow. ]

Might as well, right? [ what's it going to do, kill them? they're a necromancer and a ghost. ]

Re: wk 1; monday

[outsidebones]

It will simply bother me if I don't look inside. I know they will never be worthwhile, but the thought will itch.

[so yes, let's go in...to the art room.]

[supremity]

Likewise, I'm afraid. [ aside, to tanhua: ] Stay out here.

[ the huli jing lets out a raspy yap, staying right there, and they can. go into the art room. which actually has him visibly interested if still cautious. ]

Well, something might come alive and try to strangle us again, but at least there aren't clowns.

[outsidebones]

It's...painting?

[she will cautiously approach the paints, like she's waiting for a jump scare.]

wk 4; friday

[supremity]

[ his movements are stiff and slow again, and he looks tired and scuffed up while also being freshly clean, but hua cheng is still here, still out and about.

there's a brief perk seeing her. ]

Harrow.

[outsidebones]

Hua Cheng.

[she approaches him, nods her head. there's something a bit stiff and awkward about it, with an odd twist to her mouth. she's limping a bit, and her face is painted but only half, avoiding the burn on her cheek.]

I am sorry to hear about Kaeya.

[supremity]

... as am I. Tomorrow will be interesting.

[ his expression twitches briefly, twists at the corners, almost rueful and angry at the same time. it evens out afterwards as he closes his eye. ]

Have you heard or seen anything? I'm afraid I didn't get the chance, since I was a bit preoccupied digging myself out of the cemetery.

[outsidebones]

You were buried?

[her hands clench slightly.]

The housekeeping room was too hot, the cemetery caused lost feeling in the extremities, Kaeya was found in the chapel, and there was a dream in the karaoke lounge.

week 5; monday

[outsidebones]

[wanna explore disneyland? we can head towards the castle.]

...How are you? After this weekend.

[supremity]

[ this is fine. and interesting, since his other self was here. ]

Well enough. Not particularly optimistic for the end of the week, but these games are a day by day experience. [ despite that, he's fairly calm, watching his daemon trot ahead. ] But I'm glad that Sheila's alright. That you all got her back.

[outsidebones]

I'm glad, too. Obviously.

[a soft huff.]

It got bad, for a bit. Between us and yours.

[supremity]

Emotions were high. One of yours was in danger, Rin speaks with his heart before his head, and Diluc was a victim of circumstance and shadow.

[ he pauses, thoughtful. ]

A different Lup was someone who I would have called a companion, once. I've had no interest in our two groups being at each others' throats, even before you, Leclerc, and I went on a trip together. And besides, I know it'd be nothing but a bloodbath that wouldn't stop and wouldn't be worth it.

week 6; monday

[outsidebones]

[i don't know anything about ghost city so tell me what it's like. but harrow and hua cheng are here!]

wk 6; thursday

[supremity]

[ in the short period of time they have before curfew is in place, hua cheng is... well, detached, perhaps, arms crossed as he looks flatly at the note left up. ]

Evening, Harrow. Exciting news tonight. [ dryly. his daemon sniffs at her in greeting, but that's all for now. the flatness eases to a genuine question, though. ] How's Lup doing?

[outsidebones]

Not well.

[she's tired and stressed, and when the daemon sniffs her she's not quite at ease, being a big weirdo about animals.]

How is Joonghyuk?

[supremity]

Mm. Let me know if you or her need anything, if you like.

[ because he likes them both well enough, and he sees how joonghyuk has been. but it's fine, tanhua respects the space and stays there. ]

Stomping around when he has no business to be. I had to corral him back to Kim Dokja after he saw this. Can't say I'm surprised, but at least, as far as I know, yours is still mostly under wraps.

[outsidebones]

She won't go anywhere, at least.

[a heavy sigh. she will glance at the note.]

...Why. For Kaeya? For your hostage?

week 6; saturday

[outsidebones]

[well. she will come to see him in jail. too bad it's not just a head.]

...I genuinely have no idea who it was, by the way. It wasn't Yuri.

[supremity]

[ help that'd be funny ]

I don't believe it was. [ he's petting tanhua, sitting calmly. ] No, I was thinking Tsurumaru or Mikazuki, personally.

[outsidebones]

I'm not so sure. There's no reason to narrow the shoes down by keys, if they were involved with Joonghyuk's case.

[supremity]

[ he tilts his head back and forth ]

I suppose it doesn't necessarily matter, now. So long as these are the last of the shadows. [ scratches a fox ear ] What does that bring us down to, without Leclerc and the sword spirits?