tushanshu_logs | [OPEN BY APPOINTMENT.] And no storming the gates.

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[OPEN BY APPOINTMENT.] And no storming the gates.

Characters: The Snakes and YOU
Date: Throughout the month of July; specific dates in subject headers, please!
Location: Mainly Yunxu's mansion in Central Sector, but potential for all over Keeliai; again, specific locations in subject headers, please!
Situation: A lot of the Foreigners have a bone to pick with Yunxu. (Or if they don't, they will very soon.) On top of that, Meisheng doesn't seem to be recovering from her illness, Jintou's gone missing, and the Snakes as a whole are actually leaving Foreigners well enough alone for the month unless a Foreigner approaches them first.
Warnings/Rating: None for now; will be updated as they apply.

[OOC: If your character has a bone to pick with Yunxu or is planning to approach Meisheng or any of the other Snakes, please contact me either by PMing this account or on plurk at

Amaraq. This is more for mod sanity than anything else, so don't be shy about requesting a thread!]

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Yunxu couldn't help a smile. It wasn't a friendly one. "You're claiming transparence under a banner of peace? Which of your recent actions are you hoping to use to convince me of that? Your infiltration just now, your notable absence from all public proceedings, or the messages you've been sending behind my back?"

Transparence indeed. In theory, Yunxu agreed - the Chihuelans were a threat that needed to be dealt with. Coming together to protect the city was arguably the most effective way of doing that. But with Zanru having disappeared completely and Heojin presenting such an unpredictable front, Yunxu wasn't nearly as optimistic.

Yunxu knew about the notes. Those words made Heojin tense, very slightly, but his expression didn't flicker--what of it Yunxu could see, at least. Was telling him so an oversight or a threat? Heojin couldn't afford to believe it was anything other than the latter.

But to him, or to the woman who was sending the notes for him--Valdis? Had Yunxu already made his move toward her, or would he as soon as Heojin had left? What purpose was there in telling him?

"I am claiming that I am willing to make an effort to change these things, if you are," said Heojin quietly, "but I am not going to do so blindly and without protecting myself. We both want our people free and prosperous. What are our differences when compared to that?" He raised his hands palms-up. "I have not been absent from the public, and I am here in your territory unarmed. What further measure of trust to you require?"

"Really," Yunxu said wryly. "And how adept of a shapeshifter are you?"

The question was meant to be just as wry, a dry joke to highlight the absurdity of the idea that Heojin could have evaded notice completely at public proceedings. But the moment the words were out of Yunxu's mouth, he had to wonder. Just how adept of a shapeshifter was Heojin? Yunxu had never known anyone to be able to change their face beyond recognition, but that didn't mean the feat wasn't possible.

And that, assuming it was true, begged the question - was this Heojin's natural form, or was this the form he took?

Yunxu watched Heojin, eyes narrowed. "If you're truly unarmed, where are my guards?"

Heojin only smiled. "Sleeping. They looked tired. I did not want to cause them undue anxiety." And he was, after all, a cultivator of natural resources. It wasn't very difficult to find something to drop in tea that would help someone fall asleep. He had used it against the invaders. For all that the residents of Keeliai called him coward, Heojin had been the one to first infiltrate the Chihuelan camp to enable the stealing and sabotage of their supplies.

"I also did not want to take the risk that you felt you would need a further advantage on me." Given Heojin was in the manor, with guards all around, ensuring that the ones within the immediate vicinity wouldn't answer was only prudent.

Sleeping. Of course. Why didn't Yunxu think of that.

"You speak of trust," he said after a moment - a moment during which he calmly considered the benefits of killing Heojin right here, and decided it would lead to too many consequences he couldn't yet predict. There was something dishonourable about knifing an unarmed man, after all. "I'm not sure how you justified putting yourself at risk, but that's your own affair. If you want an alliance, we'll both need to be willing to share more than just resources. If I asked you a question, what are the chances you'll give me an honest answer?"

"If you ask me questions," said Heojin, "I will answer, even if to tell you that I am not going to answer. Being dishonest and choosing to withhold a complete reply are not the same thing."

If Yunxu truly thought Heojin would answer anything and everything, he was mistaken. But to answr what he could--yes, that Heojin could do. "If I asked you a question, would you answer honestly?"

Ah, now the conversation was getting interesting. Yunxu's face stayed blank, kept its customary neutrality, but the very fact that Yunxu leaned forward over his desk was enough to highlight his thoughts. "No."

Meaning, in a delightfully roundabout way, yes. A paradox is ever there was one.

Only after a few moments to let that sink in did Yunxu allow himself a smile. "Let me propose a test. A question for a question."

A 'test', Yunxu called it. Only a test because Yunxu wanted testing. Heojin didn't feel the need. It was more like a game, otherwise, because the 'test' wasn't mutual. Like him, to move forward as if he had the upper hand. Also like him, to answer a question about honesty with honesty, and have the answer be a denial.

"A question for a question," Heojin repeated evenly. "Ask."

The smile faded. "What's wrong with Meisheng?"

On the surface, it was a test. She and Heojin had been exchanging messages without Yunxu's knowledge. Meisheng refused to admit anything might be wrong; she made a point of shifting whenever they were alone, changing her face to resemble the canine features she loved so much - to resemble, but not to authentically become. Something was wrong, and Yunxu's curiosity went beyond his usual objective professionalism.

On the surface, it was a test. The intent behind the question was anything but.

"You ... do not know?" For the first time Heojin displayed some evidence of discomfort, chewing on his lip and shifting in place before realising he'd done so and stilling. "She refuses to tell me. I had--that might have been one of my questions to you."

Yes, Heojin did think they needed to overcome their petty differences for the sake of the city. But it would have been a lie to claim that he wasn't hoping to get some indication of what Meisheng was hiding from him. That was why Heojin had leapt so eagerly at the chance for the letter exchange--it had been his only opportunity to ask. But she'd refused to talk about it.

A lie? Possibly. But Yunxu didn't think so. There wasn't a reason to lie. Heojin wanted this alliance, as ill-advised a feat as that was, and his reasoning was compelling. If he thought he was protecting Meisheng, perhaps - but that didn't make sense either. Heojin, both the authentic version and the play-actor, were a great many things, but they weren't manipulative. Heojin would more likely evade or outright admit that he wouldn't answer.

The thought that Heojin didn't know Meisheng's secrets was a strangely comforting one.

Yunxu gestured. "Your turn."

There wasn't actually much that Heojin wanted to ask. What was wrong with Meisheng had been his reason for this 'test' to begin with. So for some long minutes Heojin stood in the shadows, watching Yunxu.

Finally he said quietly: "You have always disliked me. Right from the day we met. Why?"

It was something he had never quite understood. Yunxu was many things, but he was intelligent. Most intelligent men didn't cling so to childish grudges, or judge so quickly and resolutely. So: why?

Yunxu laughed. "That's your question?"

There were several reasons, none of which were immediately relevant and none of which Yunxu felt particularly inclined to discuss. He did have to admit, however, now Heojin was forcing him to think about it, that none of them were Heojin's fault either. The only label he'd truly earned was 'Coward'.

And what sort of coward personally infiltrated Tu Yunxu's home?

He shook his head and walked to the sole window, deliberately turning his back on the man. "You had something I did not," he said quietly, pulling one of the heavy draperies back slightly to give him a limited view of the mansion's courtyard. "I begrudge anyone in a similar position."

Something that Yunxu did not. What did that mean? Was he referring to Meisheng's affection, or the affection of someone special in general? Did this have to do with that childhood friend who had disappeared?

Did it matter? The answer revealed enough. Perhaps more than Yunxu had intended.

"For the sake of a childhood grudge, you cling to your dislike?" Heojin asked, and shook his head. "Perhaps you should look at what you have instead. Unless you already are." At what he could have in the future, at least. Heojin might have asked what that was, but he didn't. It wasn't his turn.

"I cling to my dislike," said Yunxu, "because I'm a suspicious man, and I know nothing about you. You threaten what I have. I doubt my suspicion is going to change." He turned to look at Heojin, letting the curtain fall back into place. "If, knowing that, you're still determined to build an alliance, then I will admit to knowing less about you than I thought."

It was a question, even if it wasn't quite phrased as one. And the small smile on Yunxu's face implied that, should Heojin confirm he still wanted the alliance, Yunxu wouldn't dismiss the idea.

"Holding someone about whom you know nothing at bay is the very opposite of getting to know them," Heojin pointed out. This was the first time he and Yunxu had ever truly talked; the longest conversation they'd had that Heojin could remember. "If you knew me better, perhaps you would realise that I threaten less than you believe."

If anything, he was willing to add to it. True, he would be adding to it with himself, his family, his caste, but it still was an addition. He nodded. "I am. You care about our people. So do I. Our differences are nothing in comparison."

For a long moment, Yunxu didn't say anything. He watched Heojin from his position by the window, face blank of anything but the slight crinkle of suspicion around his eyes. Then he nodded, once, with a small smile. "It's a very pretty speech. But right now, Heojin, that's all it is - a speech. I will reward your questionable faith in me by allowing you to leave unharmed, and I have no doubt our conversation here tonight will bear influence on several of my decisions in the future." He nodded again. "Your unique defensive tactics are at their finest when the main force isn't aware of what they are, wouldn't you say?"

In hindsight, that was almost a concession - perhaps a little too much of one. But words couldn't be taken back once spoken, so Yunxu stood by the window and waited for the answer.

"Allowing me?" Heojin smiled faintly. He could escape unharmed without that offering, if he could so easily enter, and Yunxu was smart enough to guess at that. Of course he was; he all but confirmed that with what he said next. "There is strength in misdirection, brother. If you wish to speak with me further, you know how to contact me."

Meisheng may not know where Heojin was, most of the time--but Heojin was always aware of Meisheng. He bowed and stepped back toward the door without turning, and if Yunxu didn't stop him, he would exit and close the door behind him.

Contact, yes. That was the annoying part. Of course Yunxu knew how to contact Heojin. But there wasn't any strength in the knowledge alone, not when it meant relying completely on Heojin's goodwill in order to get an audience, and not when it meant Yunxu still had no idea where Heojin was. Or, more precisely, who Heojin was. There weren't many kedan who could change their appearances so perfectly.

The moment the door had closed, Yunxu followed. He strode quickly across the office and yanked the door open with perhaps more force than was necessary. Stepped out into the hall. Scanned up and down.

No one.

Yunxu frowned. The hall was too long for Heojin to have vanished without a trace so quickly. There were three guards out cold near the office door, but that was the only indication Heojin had been there at all.

Magic?

Possibly. But Yunxu couldn't do anything about it now. With one last glance over his shoulder, he went to enlist someone's help in moving the incapacitated guards over to the hospital.

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[OPEN BY APPOINTMENT.] And no storming the gates.

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