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[ CLOSED ] every moment is a precious thing,
WHO: Dextera, Berkut, Lan Wangji
WHERE: The forest!
WHEN: Some point in September…
WHAT: A god, a prince, and a cultivator walk into abar forest (to look for a rainbow hen)!
WARNINGS: Nothing yet, probably drama.
[ it’s easy to become hopeless, when the forest begins its all-out assault. of everything that’s happened in this town, and dextera has been here from the beginning to witness it, this more than anything else feels like they’re approaching an end. the trees that have loomed over them, creeping closer, have finally made their move, and the only thing left to do is to try to find the curse, once-blessing, where it all seemed to come from
the hen.
dextera arms himself, alone, with his sword, his crystals, plus the pocketwatch and feather that the town had put into his hands, even though he’s well-aware by this point that the forest prefers groups. bonds. so many people have left, though, it’s hard to gather them up—but it seems that the magic in the woods hasn’t entirely gone toward the malicious advance. maybe it’s a few minutes, a few hours, but the way the branches and forest floor twist themselves bring him in contact with two others, apparently shepherded this way as well. one is well-familiar to him by now, and the other is someone he’s only seen here and there. ]
…
[ he doesn’t let his guard down just yet, though. the trees have a way with illusions. he grips his sword. ]
I just want to find the hen.
WHERE: The forest!
WHEN: Some point in September…
WHAT: A god, a prince, and a cultivator walk into a
WARNINGS: Nothing yet, probably drama.
[ it’s easy to become hopeless, when the forest begins its all-out assault. of everything that’s happened in this town, and dextera has been here from the beginning to witness it, this more than anything else feels like they’re approaching an end. the trees that have loomed over them, creeping closer, have finally made their move, and the only thing left to do is to try to find the curse, once-blessing, where it all seemed to come from
the hen.
dextera arms himself, alone, with his sword, his crystals, plus the pocketwatch and feather that the town had put into his hands, even though he’s well-aware by this point that the forest prefers groups. bonds. so many people have left, though, it’s hard to gather them up—but it seems that the magic in the woods hasn’t entirely gone toward the malicious advance. maybe it’s a few minutes, a few hours, but the way the branches and forest floor twist themselves bring him in contact with two others, apparently shepherded this way as well. one is well-familiar to him by now, and the other is someone he’s only seen here and there. ]
…
[ he doesn’t let his guard down just yet, though. the trees have a way with illusions. he grips his sword. ]
I just want to find the hen.
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Wangji's been calling for his husband since branches hit both of them off of Bichen and when he looked, there was no trace of the black-clad man, but there has been no answer save for the silence of the Wood.
Now there is another voice, and he swallows down the call.
Then his eyes narrow. ]
Should not go alone.
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Do you know where you're going?
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…I don’t, but… [ he glances to wangji. that’s probably true: if he doesn’t know where he’s going, he shouldn’t go alone.
slowly, like he’s apologizing for a sin he hasn’t yet committed, he lowers his sword. ]
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[ Wangji, on the other hand, nods. ]
Was part of Archer's expedition, as well.
[ And he remembers Berkut was there alongside Archer.
At least he doesn't look in any way angry about the sword. Or the questioning. It's only his eyes searching the Wood that betray that something is ruffling his composure. ]
Things are different now.
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If you suppose the same holds true for the clearing, I am familiar with the path.
[He shrugs.]
Of course, the forest won't make it so easy.
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[ they all have similar thoughts here, then. all of them are after the hen, and all of them are certainly capable of getting it, but dextera is inclined to agree: the forest won’t make it easy. ]
There are always trials. Three trials. Just like in the story.
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Probably means this time there is something to find. If we work together. [ Calm. There is no hostility or resentment in his voice or words, for all he is no longer looking at them. ]
Can you do it?
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[Berkut's answer, though noncommittal, suggests in tone that he bears no objection to an alliance. Three trials for three people aren't terrible odds. There's an abrupt pause before he starts off in the direction that Wangji faces, not bothering to wait for Dextera's reply.]
Come.
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[ this might be difficult on dextera for no other reason than he isn’t precisely compatible with the kind of people that they both are, but berkut is familiar, and wangji doesn’t seem unkind. the trials, whatever they are, won’t fail because of those two. dextera is sure he’s the weakest link even with the most experience.
when berkut gives the command, he follows. ]
…
[ after a moment of silence, though, he feels like he should contribute his knowledge. ]
The trials will want us to work together… that’s how it goes.
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[ Wangji takes the rear position. Dextera did not seem like he was about to cut himself on the sword, but he's not sure of the younger one's abilities, and his own senses can be extended enough that should there be an attack - and they are among trees, the thing most likely to attack - he can react swiftly enough. ]
Common in many fairy tales. It--
[ His voice cuts off without warning, and if either of the other two turns to look, he's - still walking, and his eyes are still scanning the surrounding woods, but his eyebrows are drawn together - and his head is tilted to the side, as though he's listening for something. ]
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It . . . ?
[Echoing Wangji, Berkut stops to look at him. The forest is rather unpredictable right now, and he doesn't intend to walk blindly ahead when one of theirs suspects something. A sound, perhaps? He waits for Wangji to finish.]
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it’s like he crosses an invisible border, and a whisper licks at the edges of his senses. shoulders tensing, he stops once more. ]
Ah…
[ a chill runs down his spine. he hears it, but surely it’s not the same thing that made them listen in the first place. ]
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[ It is a voice which he hasn't heard in more than five years. It is a voice which he hadn't been hearing much of, anyway. But one he cannot mistake anyway.
With the other two pausing, he does, too. His eyes meet Berkut. ]
It lets all get further.
Wangji!
[ The pale eyes close. But trying to shut off his senses does not make the voice go away, not quite. And he...
He misses him. ]
Father. [ Softer. Sounding almost younger. He knows he should ask for verification, should try to put his thoughts out. But there doesn't seem to be a threat - he opens his eyes again, to not miss one - and he'll need a moment to subdue his emotions enough for words. ]
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Berkut glances between Dextera and Wangji. They're both behaving strangely. He takes a step toward Wanji, who was the first to react, when he hears it: a deep, rumbling voice that exudes authority.
"Where do you think you're going?
Berkut gasps. He whirls around to face Dextera. They look like a trio of hapless fools hearing—]
Voices?
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no, perhaps he has more influence than ever before, now that dextera has made his decision. it’s the archangel’s voice he hears in his moments of doubt, and it’s all the more effective now because he’s probably right. although the consciousness orb has long been removed, dextera grips his wrist as if he can quiet the voice before it grows too loud.
you fool, it chides. it doesn’t matter how far you run. it doesn’t matter what you do. nothing will make up for what you did to the world. ]
No, I…
[ if only berkut weren’t looking at him. they may have reached a kind of peace, but berkut still has an authority like the archangel. ]
We’re all hearing something di— [ don’t try to figure it out. you aren’t supposed to think. ] Nn…
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[ Wangji's voice is quiet as he confirms and clarifies, but very firm. Even as the words wash over him.
Wangji. Son. What are you doing? Where are you going? To make sure that you are with the person who killed so many? Who brought disgrace and disaster to our Sect? Who brought disgrace and pain, over and over again, to you? Turn back. You have worthier things to pursue. You are better than that.
You are better than me.
Wangji's chin dips down and his jaw clenches. These are not the words of his Uncle. Not the attacks on Wei Ying, the ones that made Wangji's hackles rise and his heels dig in. No, these were his own doubts, except not quite, because Father never saw everything, no matter how much everyone tried to keep him updated.
Wangji... sometimes thought that Father would understand. But sometimes, also knew that he can't. They were different, after all. ]
Redress wrong that has been done in the past. Aid those who in need it. [ His chin snaps up. ] Do not hesitate to make decisions.
[ The pale eyes turn to both of his companions. ]
A trial.
[ And, in his mind, he adds, Father. Even if it was only for Wei Ying, it would still be worth it. There is no evil in his heart. He is worth loving.
He's only met with laughter. No one is worth what you have sacrificed for him. What you will sacrifice for him, if you continue on this path. Go back.
Wangji's jaw only clenches slightly. ]
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"What is it now, Berkut? Your own strength has failed you, so you seek a magical fowl to save a town that means nothing to you? Only a fool aspires higher than his worth."
Berkut is quiet. Then he brings a hand to his forehead, pushing his bangs up and breaking eye contact with the two men present, and chuckles shortly. This place really is hell.
He tugs on Buceph's reins. No, he won't hesitate here.]
Then what are we waiting for? . . . Let's go!
["Have you learned nothing? Each time you borrow that which isn't yours, a voice visits you. Behave yourself and turn back."
He continues to smile as he walks. There's no telling what he might do if he doesn't.]
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the archangel has been in his head before. he inhabited a corner of dextera’s mind through brute force, and spread his roots by being effortlessly correct in the judgments he made. such is the mindset that hearing him speak now leaves dextera in. it blurs his vision, makes his heart beat faster. he wishes guren were here, to help snap him out of it. ]
But I…
[ he wants to go. he should push forward: it’s a trial, and he realizes that.
i knew you were an idiot, but i didn’t think that you would fall for something like this.
and yet.
if you really want to help, you’ll turn around and wait for the end. you can’t afford another failure. can you not hear me? i’m speaking on behalf of the town. this isn’t your duty. ]
What are they… saying? To you?
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That going forward is selfish, wrong, and a betrayal to the people who raised me.
[ After a small pause. ]
In the story, the young man's first choice was between the easy, well-lit path, and the difficult one.
Easy now would be to return.
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[He stops. They should move as a group. Now if only Dextera would start moving his feet. The voice of his uncle reverberates unabated in his mind, and he duly ignores it, even as the harsh words sink in somewhere within his subconscious.]
O piteous God, pay their words no heed. Listening will do you no favors.
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there may not be a literal rush, a clock ticking down their time in the forest, but the longer dextera makes them all stand here, the more likely it is that they’ll all give up after all. ]
I’m sorry.
[ an apology for hesitating, but it might be an apology to the man he’s hearing, too. he forces himself to move on, his hand clamped around his wrist rather than, perhaps more naturally, over his ears. ]
They have to give up eventually.
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The wisdom of others, no matter how profound, is not necessarily wisdom for you.
[ It is a hard-learned lesson, that, and he says it as much for Dextera's benefit as his own, his father's words tearing into him still, too. Though he does not try to close himself up to it. Though it is likely but an illusion, it is the last time he is likely to hear his father's voice.
But he also takes up his position at the rear. Forward is the way to go.
After a while, though the whispers continue, he murmurs, ] thank you both.
[ Bonds are important, and his usual silence would not strengthen then. ]
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What a sight that would make!
He almost laughs when he hears the thanks. In disbelief? Mockery? Derision? Sincerity? Who knows, and who cares.]
No need! It is as the god says. They'll give up eventually and we'll be left to continue down our merry path. Don't fall behind now.
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berkut, on the other hand, seems rattled. that happiness is uncharacteristic. he’s never so blithe. ]
Berkut…
[ is this, too, a trial? or is berkut just unsettled by the voices? the archangel reminds him that there’s nothing he can or should do, unless that thing is to give up. he takes a deep breath. ]
He’s… right. He’s right. Whatever you’re hearing doesn’t have to be true.
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God?
[ Get to know each other time? ]
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