tushanshu | video | november 12, 2016

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video | november 12, 2016

[Right off, what will be remarkable is that China has enabled video; those familiar with her network habits will probably recall she doesn't usually.]

[The second remarkable thing is the small fluffball she's holding cradled to her chest. It's a rabbit. It's small, it's white, it's adorable, and it's got a collar around its neck with a soul gem. Which means yes, the small animal China is cuddling is none other than Erskine Ravel.]

[She's stroking the bunny very nicely.]

I wonder. Wasn't some fine gentleman giving us updates on the weather, occasionally?

I find I miss his gardening tips.

[She sounds and looks entirely earnest, blue eyes wide, face innocent, and she pauses only a moment to scratch behind the bunny's ears very delicately.]

And some sort of a forecast would be useful, I think, as things turn cooler.

[This is completely and totally the only reason she's made this post. Really.]

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How kind.

I feel like I should be returning the favor somehow. Anything you need a hand with? Or a charm that needs recharging, or something along those lines?

[It's a hypothetical favor, really, but if Zatanna's offering, China's hardly going to turn it down.]

I've found your perspective useful before. You're among those Foreigners who have been here the longest, after all, aren't you?

[Not...quite where she expected the conversation to go. Her smile faltered the slightest, but she maintained her composure.]

That's right.

Me and Jack have been here...what, three years? Four? I kind of lost count after that whole fiasco with the Dreaming Realms.

So you have perhaps the most complete picture of events, and the city's dynamics, and the changes in them. As complete as any Foreigner can have.

[She doesn't mention the faltering smile.]

Were I to ask a favor, it would be in that vein.

[...but of course, this entire exercise was hypothetical.]

[Of course.]

In other words, you might have questions for me.

That's cool. You wouldn't be the first.

[Zatanna's answered her before, as well.]

With the rate at which we Foreigners vanish unexpectedly, it might be beneficial to make the most of your knowledge.

While it remains.

You mean you think there's a good chance I could be the next one to go.

[She didn't sound particularly frightened or even upset by the thought. In fact, she had little more than a shrug in reaction.]

Like I've said before, if there's anything you want to ask, just go ahead.

The worst that could happen is that it's something even I never knew about.

Isn't there?

[It's just a fact of the world, yes. China likes Zatanna's attitude; no need to get up in arms about something that simply is. It will happen, or it won't.]

Evandau. He died before I arrived.

[This is not exactly a question, but half the interest is in seeing what Zatanna finds most important to mention.]

[She waited for a question. Her reaction was...minimal, at best. Which was perhaps harsh, given they were speaking of someone's death, but...she never had any personal relationship with the guy. He was a noted improvement over Eshai, and that was only because of certain personal bias.]

If you're asking whether or not he's actually dead, then I can't say.

Last time I checked, he still was, but who knows?

[Well, that's certainly a direction.]

You did mention the dead walking before, didn't you.

I've heard little of the man other than his death, and that the shoes he had to fill were too big for him.

That was different.

[...probably; she couldn't say with all certainty, but there hadn't been any evidence of the dead walking since. Eshai certainly hadn't come back, and Evandau had certainly been loyal enough to her that he would have tried to bring her back before himself.]

And that--[referring to the "shoes"]--depends on who you ask. Which probably shouldn't be me, because I am incredibly biased against that woman.

She might have done a lot of good, I'll give her that, but that doesn't change the fact that she was often a cruel bitch.

[China's been called worse. She doesn't dismiss Zatanna's opinion out of hand, but she does take it with a sizable grain of salt. Leading:]

That sounds personal.

Even a biased opinion has information in it.

[...including information about the person giving it.]

It was very personal.

[And she doesn't mind admitting that much. There was an old expression about never speaking ill of the dead, but China had asked, and this was nothing she wouldn't--or hadn't--said to the woman's face at some point.]

Jack once tried to express his concerns to her about something. She responded in a way that basically threatened to hurt other people on his behalf, and then display that pain right out in our front yard so he could see it first-hand. She was rude and sniped at us and never answered any questions we had, no matter how reasonable they were.

May I inquire about the specifics of that something?

[She sounds only thoughtful still, not judging either way.]

It hardly sounds becoming of a leader.

[But a tyrant, perhaps.]

[She sighed, rubbing at her forehead.]

It was...a long time ago, so I'm not sure I remember every last part. It was the threat that stuck out most.

All I know is that it was right after the issue with the zombies. Jack was being Jack, expressing his concerns. Eshai was crankier than usual and just wanted everyone to stay out of her way or something, even though we helped. So she threatened to hurt a bunch of innocent people...maybe even kill them...and make sure it all happened right outside out suite so that he would be forced to watch. Literally for no reason other than the fact that he wanted to help, and she didn't want him to help.

That was how she dealt with people she wanted to go away.

Heavy-handed.

[China does now sound faintly disapproving. That isn't at all a subtle way to make the nosy step back.]

Yes, I would question her suitability as well, if that was a typical thing.

[She's aware that some people still respect Eshai, but really. Subtlety.]

The attitude definitely was. I don't think she carried out very many of those threats in the long run, but now you know why there wasn't much love lost between us.

[Zatanna knew there were others who respected Eshai, too. She just didn't get why.]

So I do. Hm.

It's useful contextual information.

[It isn't thanks, since China doesn't really do those a great deal, but it's an approximation thereof.]

Do you know of any, that she carried out?

...not that comes to mind.

Granted, this was a few years ago. A lot's happened since then. Could be I blocked it out, like I did some things that happened in the Death Realm.

[Another quiet 'hm.']

How interesting.

[A beat, as she assimilates, and decides there's nothing more to focus on right now.]

This has been a fascinating diversion. I do appreciate it, my dear.

You're welcome. Anytime.

I'm always happy to help. Especially if it's something I can do that not many others could.

How generous of you.

[Give China an inch and she'll take the mile, but for now she just tilts her head and smiles.]

Another time, then.

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video | november 12, 2016

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