[ it truly is amazing how different things are when you also need to prove someone's innocence, which is something xiao has long since stopped thinking about because it's. not actually that important to him. he figures he could just leave if they tried to take him by force, since it really shouldn't be an issue if there's no harbinger involvement.
but. it would probably make things difficult for liyue if he did that. ]
Fine.
[ he'll do what she says. time to get out of the way so they don't get caught. ]
[it's probably good to teach the fatui - and the tsaritsa, by extension - that just because rex lapis is "dead" doesn't mean they can just run around and do whatever they want. liyue is in its people's hands, and the fatui have proven time and time again that they don't really respect its people.
it's time to teach them to.
anyway, they get out of sight and follow the fatui from a careful distance. they're able to hear some of the discussion - or rather, the orders that are being barked out - and it soon becomes apparent that they are heading to (spins wheel, pulls up list randomizer) ...............the chasm, what the fuck.
yanfei frowns.]
Oh, dear.
[WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO BACK DOWN THERE. perhaps they can simply abandon the fatui to die. (no.)]
once it becomes obvious that is definitely where they are going, xiao takes a moment to consider the options. he glances over at yanfei, and while he has a feeling he knows what the response is going to be, he has to say it anyway. ]
It's too dangerous. You should stay behind.
[ maybe, for once, someone will take the suggestion and listen.
he know that won't be the case here, but he wouldn't be a yaksha if he didn't give the warning. ]
Edited (kicks the smile away) 2022-10-14 13:13 (UTC)
[it is dangerous, and she knows that, but that's precisely why she'd rather he not deal with this on his own. what if he gets hurt? again, at that? not to mention, she's supposed to be helping him out here. (he never asked her to, but the qixing did, so it's fine.)]
Surely they wouldn't be foolish enough to go too far in... [she sounds a little doubtful when she says that.] They're trying to hide evidence of what they're doing, not risk their own lives. So it stands to reason that we should be alright if we're just following them.
[she glances at him.]
...besides, we already know what to be on guard for. It will be fine.
[ even though these people are trying to frame him, at the end of the day they're still human so xiao will have to make sure they don't get murdered in here.
he doesn't quite sigh, but there's a sharp intake through his nose as he accept this without further fuss. again, he knew that she was going to say no, but he still had to say something anyway. ]
... then we should move. But if it gets too much, you're leaving.
[it's not an agreement! but it's not an outright disagreement, either, which is probably the best either of them can hope for at this point. they are both stubborn people, but it's fine.
into the chasm they go. it is probably a lot easier for them to move safely than it is for the fatui - they're not moving in a large group or carrying a bunch of crap along with them - so that gives them plenty of opportunity to observe what's going on as they head in there.
what surprises yanfei is how easily the fatui are able to avoid the people stationed around the chasm. it's almost like they know exactly where the millelith and the miners are stationed. her brow furrows a little.]
...how do they know?
[who is leaking information to the fatui, what the fuck.]
someone with a little more tact might figure out another way to phrase this. xiao, instead, just blurts out the first thought that comes to his head. ]
There seems to be a mole.
[ he figures this won't go well back over in liyue, considering just how overprotective they all are over the chasm-- it's one of the worst places to have a traitor stationed-- or maybe it was someone who was always loyal to the fatui in the first place?
this might go a little deeper than they initially thought. ]
That may be more trouble later for you if not dealt with.
It will be more trouble for them once I get to the bottom of this.
[she's smiling, but she speaks in a way that makes it abundantly clear that whoever the mole is will be punished to the Fullest Extent of the Law.
...one the time is right, though. she'll need to gather information to determine the mole's identity, and while it's likely that will come naturally as they're investigating what the fatui are up to and why they tried to frame xiao of all people so they could get away with it, the priority right at this moment is to gather proof of the fatui's plans while preventing any meaningless deaths.]
The ease with which the Fatui interfere with Liyue's affairs is— [she cuts herself off as some of the fatui vanish through a previously-hidden entrance into the chasm.] ...oh, dear. I suppose we'll have to go that way as well, or we'll lose sight of them.
[ why are there so many secret chasm entrances. xiao makes a mental note to do another search of this place once this is over, because this is starting to get ridiculous. he doesn't voice the thought because yanfei may volunteer to come with him.
sometimes you are trapped with someone for a relatively short amount of time but you leave knowing what they're like very well. ]
Follow me. Do not make any noise.
[ too many rocks to accidentally kick.
but he will swiftly move forward, keeping sure to tuck by the shadows to remain unseen. at the very least, the fatui are still completely unaware there is anyone else in here, so they aren't as alert as they could be. it's not too difficult to follow along as long as they don't fuck it up somehow ]
luckily for them, it's much easier for two people to be stealthy than it is for a company of fatui to be. xiao and yanfei are light on their feet, but even if their footsteps do occasionally make noise, the fatui seem to be assuming that it's coming from someone else among their number.
small mercies, though if push comes to shove later that's going to work against them.
the path the fatui take through the chasm is long and winding. yanfei can't help but wonder why they're going to such trouble - just what are they so intent on hiding? - but eventually, their leader motions for them to stop, then beckons some members of the group to shift around some heavy-looking rocks.
...which were covering a cavern entrance. yanfei purses her lips as the fatui start to enter it.
it's a much smaller space. going undetected there would be much easier said than done, and she looks to xiao to see what he's thinking as the fatui vanish into it one by one.]
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no subject
but. it would probably make things difficult for liyue if he did that. ]
Fine.
[ he'll do what she says. time to get out of the way so they don't get caught. ]
no subject
it's time to teach them to.
anyway, they get out of sight and follow the fatui from a careful distance. they're able to hear some of the discussion - or rather, the orders that are being barked out - and it soon becomes apparent that they are heading to (spins wheel, pulls up list randomizer) ...............the chasm, what the fuck.
yanfei frowns.]
Oh, dear.
[WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO BACK DOWN THERE. perhaps they can simply abandon the fatui to die. (no.)]
no subject
once it becomes obvious that is definitely where they are going, xiao takes a moment to consider the options. he glances over at yanfei, and while he has a feeling he knows what the response is going to be, he has to say it anyway. ]
It's too dangerous. You should stay behind.
[ maybe, for once, someone will take the suggestion and listen.
he know that won't be the case here, but he wouldn't be a yaksha if he didn't give the warning. ]
no subject
I would prefer not to.
[it is dangerous, and she knows that, but that's precisely why she'd rather he not deal with this on his own. what if he gets hurt? again, at that? not to mention, she's supposed to be helping him out here. (he never asked her to, but the qixing did, so it's fine.)]
Surely they wouldn't be foolish enough to go too far in... [she sounds a little doubtful when she says that.] They're trying to hide evidence of what they're doing, not risk their own lives. So it stands to reason that we should be alright if we're just following them.
[she glances at him.]
...besides, we already know what to be on guard for. It will be fine.
no subject
he doesn't quite sigh, but there's a sharp intake through his nose as he accept this without further fuss. again, he knew that she was going to say no, but he still had to say something anyway. ]
... then we should move. But if it gets too much, you're leaving.
[ whether she wants to or not. ]
no subject
[it's not an agreement! but it's not an outright disagreement, either, which is probably the best either of them can hope for at this point. they are both stubborn people, but it's fine.
into the chasm they go. it is probably a lot easier for them to move safely than it is for the fatui - they're not moving in a large group or carrying a bunch of crap along with them - so that gives them plenty of opportunity to observe what's going on as they head in there.
what surprises yanfei is how easily the fatui are able to avoid the people stationed around the chasm. it's almost like they know exactly where the millelith and the miners are stationed. her brow furrows a little.]
...how do they know?
[who is leaking information to the fatui, what the fuck.]
no subject
someone with a little more tact might figure out another way to phrase this. xiao, instead, just blurts out the first thought that comes to his head. ]
There seems to be a mole.
[ he figures this won't go well back over in liyue, considering just how overprotective they all are over the chasm-- it's one of the worst places to have a traitor stationed-- or maybe it was someone who was always loyal to the fatui in the first place?
this might go a little deeper than they initially thought. ]
That may be more trouble later for you if not dealt with.
no subject
[she's smiling, but she speaks in a way that makes it abundantly clear that whoever the mole is will be punished to the Fullest Extent of the Law.
...one the time is right, though. she'll need to gather information to determine the mole's identity, and while it's likely that will come naturally as they're investigating what the fatui are up to and why they tried to frame xiao of all people so they could get away with it, the priority right at this moment is to gather proof of the fatui's plans while preventing any meaningless deaths.]
The ease with which the Fatui interfere with Liyue's affairs is— [she cuts herself off as some of the fatui vanish through a previously-hidden entrance into the chasm.] ...oh, dear. I suppose we'll have to go that way as well, or we'll lose sight of them.
no subject
sometimes you are trapped with someone for a relatively short amount of time but you leave knowing what they're like very well. ]
Follow me. Do not make any noise.
[ too many rocks to accidentally kick.
but he will swiftly move forward, keeping sure to tuck by the shadows to remain unseen. at the very least, the fatui are still completely unaware there is anyone else in here, so they aren't as alert as they could be. it's not too difficult to follow along as long as they don't fuck it up somehow ]
no subject
luckily for them, it's much easier for two people to be stealthy than it is for a company of fatui to be. xiao and yanfei are light on their feet, but even if their footsteps do occasionally make noise, the fatui seem to be assuming that it's coming from someone else among their number.
small mercies, though if push comes to shove later that's going to work against them.
the path the fatui take through the chasm is long and winding. yanfei can't help but wonder why they're going to such trouble - just what are they so intent on hiding? - but eventually, their leader motions for them to stop, then beckons some members of the group to shift around some heavy-looking rocks.
...which were covering a cavern entrance. yanfei purses her lips as the fatui start to enter it.
it's a much smaller space. going undetected there would be much easier said than done, and she looks to xiao to see what he's thinking as the fatui vanish into it one by one.]