synflux | CLOSED | burning in the line of fire

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CLOSED | burning in the line of fire

WHO: blade, dan heng, jing yuan & kafka
WHAT: first chaotic group outing of many
WHERE: the onsen
WHEN: vague hand gestures
WARNINGS: nudity? kafka with a riding crop, idk? will update when necessary

[ listen, if jingliu can set up a reunion between the old members of the high-cloud quintet with all of them leaving said reunion still alive despite the trauma, then jing yuan can too. it's inevitable, after all, given their current circumstances, and it's better to get things, hangups and baggages resolved and set aside sooner than later on the battlefield.

of course, with his gifts as the divine foresight, the general can easily foresee this as either a disaster waiting to happen or a peaceful gathering of old enemies-to-friends (acquaintances?). nevertheless, he sends a message to both kafka and Dan Heng: ]

The moon makes for a wonderful sight tonight here at the inn while soaking in the baths. Shall we drink our worries away before we're called for duty?

[ he trusts kafka knows who to bring, or drag if that's more appropriate.

jing yuan, on the other hand, will make sure there's alcohol snuck in and the open-air bath and a room will be available for their use for the next few hours. surely, the innkeepers won't be able to resist him. ]

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( when she sees the message, she does debate it for a moment. reading between the lines isn't hard when you're used to cryptograms and ciphers, so she can make a few safe assumptions regarding their mutual friend's attendance. there are some.. potential hiccups, but while her usual command over spirit whisper is diminished, she highly doubts that jing yuan would let blood be spilled over the perfectly nice baths. so, why not.

if nothing else, it'll be funny.

so here they are, in the appropriate lack of attire and towels, one flanked by the other, with kafka trailing just a little behind. inattentive as she might look undoing the loose ponytail to tie it a little higher - she does glance aside as they cross the threshold to take her companion's measure, hand now on his lower back to urge him onwards. just in case. )

By the way, it won't be just us. We're being graced with the presence of your old friends. Thoughtful of them to invite us, don't you think?

( naw, she didn't tell him. not until now. funnier. )

Go on, A-Ren.

( 'play nice' isn't said out loud, but it's a given. )

[ great, because jing yuan also didn't bother telling dan heng that they'll have company!

is there a possibility that the younger male may never accept any of his invitations ever again? sure. but is it going to be worth it? ... well, that remains to be seen as this could devolve into entirely opposite directions. he trusts that they'll mostly fall into their respective roles as they did during his master's social gathering—only with fewer clothes.

in any case, he waves at them from his seat in the pool, giving dan heng an encouraging nod and a meaningful look right after. he'd appreciate it if he doesn't, you know, bail out on them. ]

Haha, I hope you don't mind if I'd invited a few others to join us.

[ to be fair, it's just the two of them added to this pile. ]

I imagine this may be a good opportunity for everyone to set aside our differences in the meantime.

[ no killing each other, please. he promised the owners he'd take good care of their open-air bath. ]

[ Ren can tell that something is wrong before he even steps inside the room. Kafka is unusually quiet concerning the details, and she's also trailing behind him rather than leading the way. Not that he's the type to question her too much, but this does strike him as Odd.

And then his hunch turns out to be right when she brings up that they aren't going to be alone in the open-air bath. He opens his mouth to speak, but then his eyes land on Jing Yuan, and then finally Dan Heng. His mouth closes shut immediately.

He turns around to face Kafka, fully intending to escape. ]

I'm leaving.

[ Yeah, bye. Time to try and walk past her. ]

( her greeting to the other two that's already settled comes in the form of an amicable smile. and when ren makes his declaration to leave, she doesn't bother looking back up at him. they got to where she wanted them to be, there's no longer a need to watch for subtle hints of if he's about to run off when he's made himself clear. )

After coming all this way?

( really, it's too bad. she's not budging from the spot even when his more imposing figure threatens to leave. she'd rather they talk this through before it becomes an issue on the field. jing yuan's probably thought of that too, even if it's tinged with sentiment. she knows how to play well enough with others when she has to. can they? )

I don't think so.

( a tip of her chin to the heated pools. go on. )

Sit. Let's hear them out.

[ They've worked with each other enough times that there's hardly any need for them to communicate the usual way, but still. This is something he would've appreciated a heads-up on, especially since it has to do with Dan Heng. She knows how easily the man's presence can trigger his mara, so why...

When she doesn't move an inch, he can only sigh. ]

Fine.

[ But he'll take a seat at the furthest spot away from Dan Heng, thank you. He's not even in the water like a loser. ]

[ well, the response is expected and very valid; if anything, jing yuan has foreseen ren just bailing out on them without another word, even with kafka at the helm. it isn't as if the man has always had the patience to deal with things that he finds annoying or exasperating, not now and not ever. and with dan heng present, well ... it complicates things even more.

still, he's a little more relieved that he decided to stay. even if ren seems pretty much adamant about the purpose of this gathering. ]

I realize that the experiences we share have not always been pleasant, but seeing as we were brought to this world for one purpose, then I don't see why we couldn't call for temporary respite until this is all over.

[ when they return to wherever they were pulled from, everything will be back to normal. ]

Hostilities among ourselves will serve no purpose but to delay our return.

[ a sudden text from jing yuan serving as an invitation to a peaceful time at the hot spring might have been unexpected in its entirety, but as the only person he has any sort of familiarity with in this foreign planet, it would do both well to stick together. he trusts the luofu's arbiter-general enough to accept the invitation.

(which was a mistake, by the way.)

a familiar voice and visage in the form of the stellaron hunter kafka entering their bath is enough to keep dan heng in high alert, but seeing ren of all people trailing after her, equally as ignorant to their current predicament as he is, just has dan heng turn his head towards jing yuan.

do you know the look a cat gives you when you've betrayed its trust, general? because that's what you're seeing right now.

the gears in his head begin to turn, putting together words and finding a proper excuse to get up and leave. it would be rude to jing yuan, yes, perhaps tarnish their alliance a little, but really... not even a heads up? is it because he knows the likelihood of dan heng turning down his invitation would increase significantly if he knew? doesn't that already speak volumes of how uncomfortable he is, right now, despite their brief meeting with jingliu?

ren sits the farthest possible from him, and dan heng can't help but be thankful for it. at least they're on the same page. ]

I suppose I can agree with those sentiments. I don't wish to stoke conflict... But a word of warning prior to this would have been appreciated.

[ he wants to slide further into the water and disappear, frankly. can vidyadhara do that? maybe by the end of this outing they'll all find out. ]

( ren concedes, and this time she does try to catch his eye to draw his focus before glancing over at dan heng as well. the improvised lines between the pages have always been entrusted to her, and for good reason - she was doing just fine for herself as a notorious figure even before elio's script. language has ever been her weapon. )

You won't have that mercy on the field. Are you going to freeze up like prey animals at the sight of each other, even then?

( cruel to say, maybe. but necessary. a distraction could kill even the mightiest of them.

and just as she meanders on over to jing yuan's spot to pour herself a drink - regardless of how dan heng might tense at her proximity - her eyes once again lands on the vicious maws of destiny's slave. she's asking if he wants one without really asking, and lingers until she gets an answer.

... it also has the added benefit to see how the poor dan heng might handle the prolonged proximity anyway. see if he'd run, too, with her just steps away. )

In all likelihood, I won't always be around to keep an eye out to keep the worst at bay. How and when we're deployed could keep me as far or as close as our handlers feel is necessary; maybe even paired up in permutations we wouldn't otherwise naturally fall into.

But you knew that already.

[ jing yuan doesn't miss the look dan heng sends him, accepting the unspoken accusation and hurt thrown at him with as much grace and contrition as he can muster. the younger man's discomfort and surprise are valid, but he agrees with kafka. it wouldn't do for all of them to remain this way when they're finally on the battlefield when their lives are on the line.

he holds out the bottle of wine to kafka, offering to pour her a cup as she goes about doing the bad cop role. ]

The possibility of working together is even more imminent for you both, considering the team you belong to. And while I understand that there are others in Revelation whom you will work with, you can't dismiss such inevitability.

[ and like kafka, he won't be around to intervene or rein in one of them if needed.

jing yuan chuckles in an attempt to dispel the growing tension. it also won't do to keep this kind of conversation the entire evening; thing will eventually fall into place with them doing anything. ]

Dan Heng? Ren? [ he offers them both a cup of wine. ]

Edited 2024-01-04 12:27 (UTC)

[ It's not like he doesn't understand their situation.

Getting whisked away into a strange new world means that all of their hang-ups barely matter here, especially when nothing he does will bring him closer to what he wants. They should be thankful he hasn't tried to start anything once he found out that Dan Heng is here too, because he would have, if they weren't being forced to work together by those who captured them.

He can only sigh as both Kafka and Jing Yuan explain themselves. There's little comfort in knowing that Dan Heng was just as clueless as he was.

But at least he isn't trying to escape again.

He will, however, remain seated outside of the waters. A glance is spared towards Jing Yuan when the man offers him a cup of rice wine, and then he nods. Fine. He'll sit here and drink too. ]

[ ... how is he planning to get the drink if he's not even walking over towards the baths?

jing yuan gives him a meaningful but very pointed look, before he realizes that this man will not budge where he's planted himself until someone decides to go over there and stick the cup in his hands. and considering that dan heng has secluded himself in one corner of the pool and kafka's not about to do it herself ... that leaves him to do the work.

he doesn't bother hiding his exasperation as he gets out of the warm water, cup of wine in hand. but instead of handing him the cup, he curls his arm around his elbow and starts tugging him towards the pool. ]

Ren, don't be a killjoy. This is meant to be a celebration.

[ of sorts, you know. ]

[ Jing Yuan can deal with a pointed look in return. ]

... Perhaps if this was meant to be a celebration, then it should have been stated as such.

[ Without??? Omitting details??? Since it seems both Kafka and Jing Yuan decided to do so. But sure, this is a celebration. Sure, he'll look at how the other man is tugging him towards the waters and he eventually allows him to tug him forward.

Just like a child, he's led to the pool where he dips his feet in. The temperature is just right; hot, like a heavy blanket. He reaches for the cup of wine in Jing Yuan's other hand and takes it for himself before sinking in, claiming his spot far away from Dan Heng. ]

Neither of you would've made an appearance if so.

[ listen, this is the most effective way of dragging them both and making them sit in the same room together.

it's enough that ren allows himself to be dragged over to the pool, no doubt a concession or compromise of sorts though jing yuan doesn't expect him to be cowed any further. he's certain this is the extent this man will let him or kafka lead him around without him acting or lashing out.

it's a start, at least. ]

What do you intend to do should you find yourselves needing to work together?

[ he trusts them both to an extent but it's going to be an issue if they can't at least gather their wits about when shoved in the same room. ]

( don't mind her, she's an innocent* bystander in all of this. she'll be taking her wine some respectable distance away to soak in the waters as well now that they've mostly settled. for propriety's sake, mostly. she'll still be keeping an eye and ear out in case something goes south, though, not to worry.

a sip, warmed by both water and wine. it really is a nice night to be enjoying both if only they could sit pretty long enough to.

maybe she should have made it clear to ren from the beginning, and maybe she should've trusted him to see enough reason to come along anyway. but that sort of talk comes more naturally to those that are far more aware of what camaraderie is. it requires a level of being conscientious of another's emotional health that she's not quite keyed into despite her curiosity.

but it made the most rational sense in cold logic alone.

she's happy to nudge the conversation along at least. she knows that they know what their situation is. now they just need a little more time to come to terms with it properly before they revisit the inevitable. )

Maybe we should make this a regular thing.

( a pattern for them to get used to. it gives them time enough to prepare if they know it's coming. )

After missions, having dinner and such. It'll make the next face to face not as much of a surprise, since you'll have to get used to the idea one way or the other anyway.

( with all their fun civilian identities, even. a lovely game of make believe. )

[ If Kafka had made her intentions clear from the get-go, Ren wouldn't have made it here at all. Maybe he would have understood the reasoning for why this had to happen, but his hang-ups with Dan Heng are too complicated to be resolved with a simple meeting like this so easily. Even now, he still wonders if he shouldn't just leave right now.

That's why when she suggests making this into a regular thing, he tosses her A Look. ]

I doubt it will be that easy.

[ It's going to take a lot more than just karaoke parties and onsen dates to fix things between them, but he supposes they might as well try now that they're here. ]

... But you can do whatever you want.

[ It's not like Kafka nor Jing Yuan will listen to him anyway. Not when they've already decided what's best for everyone involved. ]

[ for all it's worth, there are valuable points being brought up (they're on the same team, what would they do if forced to work together, etc.), but the reality of the situation itself feels bizarre. it feels as though just a moment prior to this he was in the express, surrounded by the chill air of the archives with march and the trailblazer's voices louder than everyone else's coming from outside. that felt like home, a warm comfort in his distant heart.

surrounding himself with two enemies of the express, brought forcefully outside of his comfort zone by someone he trusts (trusted...??) feels almost like one of the nightmares dan heng is often plagued with. like at any moment now he would wake up and be home, except it never comes.

although the cup of wine is accepted with a degree of hesitance, dan heng's expression only grows more and more clouded by doubt. he's just going to hold it the entire time and not take a single sip, sorry man. ]

... We can have meetings. Dinners and other gatherings can be considered at a later time.

[ dinners are... a little too intimate and personal for his tastes. thank you for your consideration. ]

[ you know what's cray-cray? notifs not showing up

it doesn't take a genius to realize what dan heng's feelings on the matter might be, and jing yuan understands if he'll take a moment or ten to absorb everything and settle down. perhaps this was too much of an upending of his world, but in a place where conflict is brewing on the horizon, they barely have enough time to sort out their feelings.

that can be revisited later on, perhaps even after they've returned to their original lives. for now, he smiles apologetically at the younger male; he'll accept his ire and the renewal of his doubt, for now. ]

Very well, your compromise is a start.

[ he won't force dan heng to drink the wine, either. instead, he places a gentle hand on his shoulder for a brief moment before he pulls it away. ]

The next time will have a word of warning prior, at least.

[ no one wants to toplevel for solo threads, so fine!! i'll take one for the team!!

bother him while the others are somewhere else, possibly drinking or talking or whatever. jing yuan's definitely stewing in the bath, staring quietly at the moon—at least, until the wine finally gets to him and he's all but close to dozing off in the water.

help? or you know, not help him ... ]

( ah, the infamous dozing general.

she has no doubt that he'll likely be fine. he's a professional in his craft of taking naps in odd places, probably. but the combination of steeping in hot water and the effects of alcohol would surely still be detrimental for those as long-lived as them. funny as it would be to see him oversleep here, or find him in the bushes outside later, she'd rather not lose a collaborator so soon.

so, a nudge. more with her voice than a physical one. nothing untoward. this is still a public space. )

Are we going to need to carry you back to the base?

[ not everyone is from pteruges-v

the nudge is more than enough for him to stir, though it doesn't look as if he's fallen asleep anyway. not with the way his expression shifts to alertness, any sign or hint of sleep quickly dissipating like the steam from their bath. a necessary talent that's been honed for years for someone like him. ]

Would any of those two consent to carrying me back to base?

[ because lbr, kafka isn't going to do any kind of heavy lifting. that much, jing yuan's sure. ]

[ Guess who is finally in the water, either thriving or not. He's had a few cups of wine at this point so he isn't a big baby anymore, but he's not exactly the most social person to begin with.

At least he's here and not, y'know, trying to run away.

But there may be a few attempts or two when no one is looking... ]

[ or so he thinks no one's looking.

having a pupil as terribly chaotic and energetic as yanqing has taught jing yuan how to pay attention to certain expressions, certain looks. and he knows that look when someone is trying to run away or sneak off, which is why he plants himself next to ren in the bath, gesturing to pour more wine into his cup. ]

You have to do better than that to slip away without anyone noticing.

[ Jing Yuan can't compare Ren to Yanqing entirely because Yanqing won't glare at the General like Ren is doing so right now. Even more so now that the other man has firmly planted himself next to where Ren has situated, wine cup now thrust upon his hand without any chance for protest. ]

You won't let me go even when I've reached my limit?

[ They're not supposed to soak in the hot springs forever... They risk passing out. (Well, maybe the others are the only ones who have to worry about it.) ]

[ he can still protest; jing yuan simply won't accept it. ]

Who's to say I won't reach my limit before you do?

[ in any case, the cup of wine will continue being thrust into ren's hand until he accepts it. and it's only then will jing yuan take a sip from his own cup, sinking a little deeper in the water and leaning against the edge of the pool. ]

Enjoy the water and the company of friends a little longer.

[ Ren has no choice but to accept the cup of wine given to him, sighing loudly before settling back down in his spot. He sips at his cup quietly. It's difficult to come up with something to say that isn't just protests or refusals.

Then again, what he chooses to comment on isn't any better. ]

... Friends.

[ Is that what Jing Yuan sees them as? ]

I guess the water is nice.

[ He'll give him that. ]

Friends.

[ he's called them that once, he'll call them that again despite their complaints. and nothing will change until he and dan heng decide to firmly, resolutely reject him.

jing yuan smiles a little more smugly, content that his choices have not been and are not being questioned despite the initial hiccup in this gathering. he realizes that it might have been too sudden and forceful, but there's no other way to facilitate something like this between all of them. ]

Mm, is it not? I now have half a mind to have one built in my home when we return.

[ It's better that Jing Yuan isn't testing his luck. Ren's patience has already reached its limit, and if the other man pushes it any further, then he might just up and leave the baths right now. Never to return, nor talk with either Jing Yuan or Kafka since this was their idea.

(For a little while, anyway.) ]

Then get one.

[ Who is he to tell the Arbiter-General of the Luofu to not get a hot springs installed at home? He's sure that no one will refuse this request. ]

Maybe it'll help you relax better.

[ no one could truly tell him off as the arbiter-general of the luofu, not especially over things he's already made his mind up. at the same time, having a hot springs built in his own home would no doubt raise questions among everyone in the luofu. ]

You don't think I relax enough as it is?

[ fu xuan and qingzu would certainly have words to say about his ability to doze off anywhere at anytime. ]

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CLOSED | burning in the line of fire

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since everyone's being a COWARD

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