[NPC] CONSOLE | OPEN

[ironrule]

[The Foreigners have been privy to Snake announcements over the consoles before. The difference here is that those announcements have always been made by Meisheng, and have always been broadcast to the entire populace of Keeliai - kedan included. This particular announcement is also a public broadcast, but it's directed towards the Foreigners.

And when the announcement starts, viewers will be treated to Tu Yunxu himself, looking very grave.]

Good afternoon. One of my patrols found Jintou by the edge of Water Sector last night, just inside the city walls. He's alive.

[Always start with the good news, especially during a show of good faith. With any luck, not every Foreigner will believe Yunxu had anything to do with this.]

I must warn you, however - he is not himself. There is very little I or the hospital can do. Should anyone wish to take custody of him, please see Meisheng at her usual post in Central Sector.

[And the feed cuts off.]

[OOC: Characters are free to respond to this network post directly, although there's no guarantee Yunxu will indulge anyone for very long. Alternatively, action threads can be played out here as well if your character chooses to go to Meisheng about this. Please contact me either through Amaraq or by PMing this account if you have any questions!]

Comments

[redlightgreenlight]

So I've been told.

[She laughed. But creatures of chaos rarely shied away from it, it didn't seem that they could avoid it either. After all, they were still playing the game and perhaps they always would be. As for his question, there was far too much that she wanted to know, but perhaps it was best to start at the beginning.]

Why try to turn us against Milyn? What is it about her that angers you so?

[ironrule]

Her speech. She's infuriating. Have you tried to hold a serious conversation with her? It's impossible.

[redlightgreenlight]

That it is.

[Milyn was a special duck and it was true that she rambled, but she was also sweet and kind, which of course was why Valdis trusted her and not Yunxu. He hadn't answered her question, but she would move on anyway.]

And Enon? If you didn't kill him, then who did?

[ironrule]

[There's a flicker of very carefully timed exasperation.]

You think too big when it's risky, and much too cautiously when you don't need to. I haven't once lied to you, Lady Valdis. If you take the time to think about what I have told you, rather than what I haven't, you'd have arrived at your answers a long time ago.

[redlightgreenlight]

[She tipped her head, her body language remaining quite passive, but inside she was quite irritated, though her voice gave no sign of it. She knew he hadn't lied, she would have sensed it. A deeper breath, a fluttering heartbeat, a subtle shift in the eyes...telltale signs of a lie.]

The best manipulators work within the realm of truth. They know how to use it to their advantage and twist it to suit their needs.

[She studied her perfect nails for a moment, and then looked back up at him.]

Perhaps I'll simply tell you what I've heard and you can correct me where I've been led astray. After all, I dislike operating on false information.

[ironrule]

[He smiles. There's a hint of amusement in it.]

I make no promises.

[Simultaneously a warning, and an invitation. Valdis can interpret it however she sees fit.]

[redlightgreenlight]

[It would be so much easier to just kill the man and be done with it, but that would cause a whole new set of problems, besides, she wanted answers more than blood.]

Fifteen years ago, you were friends with another boy named Enon. [She paused as if trying to recall a memory,] Though, from what I heard, the word friends isn't exactly correct. That's not entirely important though, what's important is that Enon suddenly vanished and was found dead a week later. There was some evidence that you might be responsible and hence you were arrested, but, due to your connections with the Emperor, you were released.

[Milyn had also mentioned that Yunxu had a temper and was prone to violence, but that wasn't important either.]

I never met Eshai, but you seem to have some affection for her seeing as you defended her honor when you felt Akito had slighted her memory. Quite honorable actually.

[She kept every one of her senses trained on him, even focusing her empathy to try to get a better read on his emotional shifts.]

[ironrule]

[There's almost something refreshing about hearing Enon discussed so plainly. Even Meisheng is careful to avoid the subject these days. Yunxu hasn't heard the name in over a year.

He bows his head at the compliment.] Thank you. I would do the same for anyone who has earned respect they haven't been given.

[A fact. It also manages to confirm absolutely nothing, while simultaneously denying absolutely nothing. If Meisheng were in the room, she would be rolling her eyes.]

[redlightgreenlight]

[Well, that was an opening she couldn't resist.]

And Heojin?

[Her hand shifted to rest on the hilt of Revelations. but her features remained contemplative, as if the motion was nothing more than an instinctual reaction to thinking deeply.]

I've heard the stories, spoken to his people. He hardly seems the coward that you've made him out to be.

[ironrule]

[His brow raises.] Lady Valdis, I have never made Heojin out to be anything other than what he is. If I've occasionally used a title conferred on him by my people, well... [And now a short shrug.] I can't deny falling victim to the occasional bias.

[redlightgreenlight]

Occasional bias?

[It wasn't an outright lie, but it was enough of one to catch her attention, enough for her to push a bit harder.]

If it is merely a by-product of commonalty, then what prevents you from allowing your half-sister to see him?

[ironrule]

[A pause, but this one isn't long. It's more a pause of obvious startlement than danger.]

Where did you hear that?

[redlightgreenlight]

[It seemed she had managed to throw him off with that one, how divine. She managed to keep the sly smirk from her face when she replied, her features remaining passive.]

It is simply an inference based upon something I overheard, nothing more.

[ironrule]

[The pause replays. Yunxu shakes his head.]

Then I'm afraid it's the wrong inference. I've never told Meisheng anything of the sort. Perhaps you didn't hear what you thought you heard.

[redlightgreenlight]

You're an imposing man Yunxu, I suppose it's understandable that Meisheng is afraid of angering you.

[He hadn't bothered to deny her earlier quip, so he was at least a bastard in the literal sense if not in general.]

I'm certain that she would be relieved to hear that you aren't preventing her from seeing Heojin.

[ironrule]

I'm glad you're so certain. Is there anything else you want to confirm?

[redlightgreenlight]

[Well, since he was asking and had neglected to give her anything useful...]

Where exactly did your men find Jintou?

[ironrule]

As I said, by the edge of Water Sector.

[Yunxu goes on to give Valdis the exact location, describing the street corner at the end of the canal where Jintou had been found standing and staring up at the top of the city wall.]

I trust that satisfies you?

[redlightgreenlight]

[No, not by a long shot.]

Yes.

[She probably wasn't going to get anything else useful out of him.]

I'll be certain to let the other foreigners know how you helped bring Anton's attacker to justice.

[ironrule]

[Oh, Valdis. He's already told you who Shudder's attacker is. Or at least, he's told you who he thinks Shudders's attacker is. But there's a longer play here, and Yunxu won't say any more than he already has.

Well, apart from one thing.]

Thank you. I would be much obliged if you would also let me know whether anything comes from his blood samples.

[redlightgreenlight]

You'll be the first to know.

[She wanted to give him an outright 'no', this exchange had been far too one sided. But her pleasant, disarming smile returned her face as she decided to bait him.]

After Milyn of course.

[ironrule]

[For the first time during the conversation, Yunxu's easygoing countenance nearly slips.]

Of course.

[He smiles.]

I do enjoy our little chats.

[redlightgreenlight]

[The change in his demeanor was almost imperceptible, but she sensed it nonetheless. It seemed that now they were both playing with fire. The only difference being that she was immune to the flames.]

They are quite delightful.

[She stood and gave a small, genuinely respectful nod. The man was good at this game, but he'd mess up eventually. Just one more thing she was certain about.]

I'll see myself out, if you don't mind.

[ironrule]

Not at all. I hope you have a pleasant day, Lady Valdis.

[And, true to his word, Yunxu won't get up as Valdis leaves.]