[Xingchen shouldn't be down in the tunnels, considering his "loyalty" is to Macaluso upstairs, but he's also long since given up on appearances. He doesn't particularly believe in either cousin's cause and figures he'd be more useful not pretending everything was fine up at the banquet. And he really didn't feel like putting himself in danger of getting poisoned again.
The tunnels, however, are hardly a pleasant place to be, though he feels more freedom down here. But they're colder, though he supposed with the dragon throwing its fit, that's the case throughout the whole tower, and wetter, and Xingchen's robes weigh him down, making every step more difficult than the last. When they get out of this, he hopes he can find a hot bath somewhere, just soak in it, spoil himself. Hasn't he deserved that much after all the turmoil he's gone through in this city?
As he rounds some corner, however, he feels just that much warmer. Which is odd. Surely his daydreaming hasn't actually affected the area around him. He must be tired. Maybe the cold is getting to him -
He freezes (ha) when someone calls out to him. It takes Xingchen a moment to recognize the voice, but he does, and then relaxes a little. Eleven. It's been a while since he spent some time with the younger man.]
Well, I've been better.
[For any number of reasons.
He approaches closer, but cautiously, not wanting to trip over Eleven or anything that might be in his way.]
But I've been worse, too. You sound well enough, considering.
B
The tunnels, however, are hardly a pleasant place to be, though he feels more freedom down here. But they're colder, though he supposed with the dragon throwing its fit, that's the case throughout the whole tower, and wetter, and Xingchen's robes weigh him down, making every step more difficult than the last. When they get out of this, he hopes he can find a hot bath somewhere, just soak in it, spoil himself. Hasn't he deserved that much after all the turmoil he's gone through in this city?
As he rounds some corner, however, he feels just that much warmer. Which is odd. Surely his daydreaming hasn't actually affected the area around him. He must be tired. Maybe the cold is getting to him -
He freezes (ha) when someone calls out to him. It takes Xingchen a moment to recognize the voice, but he does, and then relaxes a little. Eleven. It's been a while since he spent some time with the younger man.]
Well, I've been better.
[For any number of reasons.
He approaches closer, but cautiously, not wanting to trip over Eleven or anything that might be in his way.]
But I've been worse, too. You sound well enough, considering.