[she is fine with this - for as much as she goes for handholds, she'd probably bolt up a tree with anything else. subtle thigh press is good for sitting.]
Yes. [a headtilt.] You told me to do that. So I have.
I want to. I aim to. For you, and Nahri, and for Vash. [she says, glancing out over liyue.] ... And a little for myself now, too. I only mean that - well, after this last weekend, Rang did not have a choice.
[... that makes her a little sad, but it's alright.]
You can't afford to? [she's curious, but she's very ready to back off if he gets angry - she knows better than to push.]
That is why I will do my best to make sure that we do. [...] The reason I wanted us to be a team is because I think that we have a very good chance at winning.
...It's kinda funny, in a way. 'Cause I don't think -- the other two are pretty peaceful, aren't they. But I'm not.
When it comes down to it, I'll do it. The only way to get points is to erase somebody else. Just survivin' isn't enough. The only reason I haven't yet is 'cause the risk is bigger if I pull the trigger.
[ Aka the survivor pull is big enough, but it's not going to last. Unfortunately for Rang, he was the easiest scapegoat with half the game likely to blame him, but now he's gone. ]
[she'll admit it. she's a little more still, now. statuelike.]
We are not in last place. Not yet. But you're right. Just surviving isn't enough, and if we want to win, we will need to eliminate other teams. [it's just...]
I don't know that I could bring myself to erase certain people, though. Like Jonas. Or Ylfa. And if we are caught, I imagine it negates the advantage in the first place.
Gettin' erased doesn't make your team lose points, at least.
And you get more if you get away with it.
[ He agrees with Shenhe in regards to thinking that some people, he draws the line. Not Ylfa. And he likes more of TBD than not. He can't kill anyone in Justice!!!!! either, for, well. Obvious reasons.
As cowardly as he is, that's also another reason why he's staying his hand -- with more people, maybe somebody else will first. He has to take that gamble if he doesn't want to bet his humanity on this game first. ]
You don't need to. [she tells him, tilting her head.] I have thought extensively about doing it. I would be willing to, if it meant that the three of you are alright.
[ He looks and sounds like he's struggling, an open hesitation allowed because of his ridiculous love-arrowing and it's kind of like having a wound on display that's normally invisible to all else.
It's like something about what Shenhe says both somehow comforts and hurts him at the same time and not even he knows why or how to deal with it. ]
...Okay.
That's -- okay.
Okay.
[ It feels like grasping at a slippery marble, him trying to grasp onto her words. ]
[ It's more a matter of he didn't expect to feel the way he did when she said something as simple as I want to exist -- not verbatim, sure, but a similar enough gist. ]
[ He sits there quiet, ruminating over those simple words. Is there anything more powerful than hearing another person say 'hey, I want to live after all'?
they are brought a come and get it, which just. copies the description: A dish made out of a luxurious variety of ingredients. There is no great refinement in the making of this food, and it appears in Liyue often during festival season. Whenever this dish is served up, the person at the head of the table will invite everyone to dig in, saying "Come on, eat, eat," hence the name.
shenhe looks as excited as she ever can be to get it. she likes food a lot, just in general.
she also takes a picture of it. idk if this works because it's a virtual reality but she tries.]
[ He actually perks up a little when it arrives and seems kind of pretty interested in it? He likes noodles! And Chinese-based food. He prods at it a little with simulated chopsticks to take a look at what's all in it, and it all seems highly appealing. He's particularly interested in the shrimp because, you know, he's never seen one. It kind of looks like a sandworm but also not? But he's under the impression that telling people something looks like a worm is apparently a bad thing for people not-of-No-Man's-Land.
He snorts a bit when he sees Shenhe trying to take a photo though. ]
Don't be disappointed when it's just a white floor you're seein' later.
[she would think it's funny if he said it looks like a sandworm honestly, because yeah. shrimps are funky little guys. also i can't imagine she's never eaten a bug in her life, she lives in the mountains. she is simba.
when he snorts, she huffs, disgruntled.]
... Ah, right. I forgot. [she forgot for a second they weren't in liyue for real] Hmph.
At least you can come back and look at it as much as you want later.
[ He feels... well, he feels stupid because the logical part of his brain wants to remind him this isn't real, but he'll be damned if this technology isn't impressive regardless. And he does want to try to immerse himself proper if just for Shenhe, so he'll take a mouthful of soup.
One of the smallest joys in life is good eating!! ]
It's good. How do I eat this thing? Do I gotta peel off the shell?
[she seems a little amused at the question, but not in a mean way. she nods, leaning a little closer.]
Like this. [she will break off the shell! carefully.] I'm glad that you like it. I've found not everybody likes seafood. Fei Du refused to eat the shrimp.
[ He mimics this flawlessly. The first shell is a bit unclean, the second shell comes off without cracks, and by the third, it's neat and comes off in one piece. ]
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Yes. [a headtilt.] You told me to do that. So I have.
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[ Yeah, okay. He didn't expect her to have taken his advice but he thinks this place is as good of a place as any to do so. ]
Would be nice if you could have this lost tech at the mountain.
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It would. [she agrees.] I don't know that I'll see the mountains again, but you're right.
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I can't afford to.
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I want to. I aim to. For you, and Nahri, and for Vash. [she says, glancing out over liyue.] ... And a little for myself now, too. I only mean that - well, after this last weekend, Rang did not have a choice.
[... that makes her a little sad, but it's alright.]
You can't afford to? [she's curious, but she's very ready to back off if he gets angry - she knows better than to push.]
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[ He's quiet while the sounds of Liyue roam about around them, the comfortable sound of a bustling town that goes distant to him for a second. ]
I can't. [ Affirming. ] For the sake of the kids, I can't play around with the idea of givin' up or not returning.
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That is why I will do my best to make sure that we do. [...] The reason I wanted us to be a team is because I think that we have a very good chance at winning.
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When it comes down to it, I'll do it. The only way to get points is to erase somebody else. Just survivin' isn't enough. The only reason I haven't yet is 'cause the risk is bigger if I pull the trigger.
[ Aka the survivor pull is big enough, but it's not going to last. Unfortunately for Rang, he was the easiest scapegoat with half the game likely to blame him, but now he's gone. ]
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[she'll admit it. she's a little more still, now. statuelike.]
We are not in last place. Not yet. But you're right. Just surviving isn't enough, and if we want to win, we will need to eliminate other teams. [it's just...]
I don't know that I could bring myself to erase certain people, though. Like Jonas. Or Ylfa. And if we are caught, I imagine it negates the advantage in the first place.
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And you get more if you get away with it.
[ He agrees with Shenhe in regards to thinking that some people, he draws the line. Not Ylfa. And he likes more of TBD than not. He can't kill anyone in Justice!!!!! either, for, well. Obvious reasons.
As cowardly as he is, that's also another reason why he's staying his hand -- with more people, maybe somebody else will first. He has to take that gamble if he doesn't want to bet his humanity on this game first. ]
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she's just going to take his hand again.]
You don't need to. [she tells him, tilting her head.] I have thought extensively about doing it. I would be willing to, if it meant that the three of you are alright.
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I don't wanna hear more self-sacrificial bullshit.
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[but. she understands.] I like existing. I'd prefer to stay here as long as I'm able, which is why I haven't given it more thought.
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It's like something about what Shenhe says both somehow comforts and hurts him at the same time and not even he knows why or how to deal with it. ]
...Okay.
That's -- okay.
Okay.
[ It feels like grasping at a slippery marble, him trying to grasp onto her words. ]
...Good.
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... Hm. [she says, first, and then:] Is it okay?
[just, gently pushing again, to see if he wants to talk. wondering.]
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[ It's more a matter of he didn't expect to feel the way he did when she said something as simple as I want to exist -- not verbatim, sure, but a similar enough gist. ]
I'm... it's good that you feel that way.
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I didn't, for a while. I didn't care. But I do now.
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Lets their food arrive, show me the cookin'. ]
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they are brought a come and get it, which just. copies the description: A dish made out of a luxurious variety of ingredients. There is no great refinement in the making of this food, and it appears in Liyue often during festival season. Whenever this dish is served up, the person at the head of the table will invite everyone to dig in, saying "Come on, eat, eat," hence the name.
shenhe looks as excited as she ever can be to get it. she likes food a lot, just in general.
she also takes a picture of it. idk if this works because it's a virtual reality but she tries.]
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He snorts a bit when he sees Shenhe trying to take a photo though. ]
Don't be disappointed when it's just a white floor you're seein' later.
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when he snorts, she huffs, disgruntled.]
... Ah, right. I forgot. [she forgot for a second they weren't in liyue for real] Hmph.
Try it, then. Tell me what parts you like.
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[ He feels... well, he feels stupid because the logical part of his brain wants to remind him this isn't real, but he'll be damned if this technology isn't impressive regardless. And he does want to try to immerse himself proper if just for Shenhe, so he'll take a mouthful of soup.
One of the smallest joys in life is good eating!! ]
It's good. How do I eat this thing? Do I gotta peel off the shell?
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Like this. [she will break off the shell! carefully.] I'm glad that you like it. I've found not everybody likes seafood. Fei Du refused to eat the shrimp.
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[ He mimics this flawlessly. The first shell is a bit unclean, the second shell comes off without cracks, and by the third, it's neat and comes off in one piece. ]
Easy. [ Holding a naked shrimp like, ta-da. ]
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You learn fast. [she says, pleased, tilting her head.] I'm impressed.
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