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Entry tags:
Out onto the Tundra
WHO: Lee Chang, Archeval, Lan Wangji, Eleven, and anyone else who decides they want to tag along to go hunting in the tundra.
WHEN: April 25
WHERE: House of Dew -> The Tundra
WHAT: Lee Chang needs money and probably so do you, so it's time to head out into the tundra to... well, Wangji wants to kidnap animals but they're allowed to kill ones that want to kill them.
WARNINGS: Violence against animals, stuffing Wangji's sleeves full of rabbits, awkward discussions of relationship status and general shenanigans.
It is an hour before dawn, the sky is just starting to show a little light, and Lee Chang and his bodyguard Ylsa stand outside the House of Dew in the cold. Ylsa has somehow managed to get them a dogsled for the day - though she told Lee Chang that it would cost him half his share - so their supplies are already loaded up on the sled, the dogs patiently waiting in their halters and sniffing at each other. Lee Chang has never seen a dogsled, but the idea seems sound and the dogs seem excited, their tails wagging as their breath mists before their face. At the front of the sled there is an oil lantern hanging, already lit, casting enough light for the dogs to see by and for the humans to make do once they are out on the tundra.
Lee Chang at least seems to have real clothes, now, thanks tohis sugar daddy's Mingyu's generosity, but he's also wearing many many layers of women's silk robes underneath to give himself as much insulation from the cold as possible. They have enough food for three days - though they hope to be back by the time the sun sets, it is always wise to plan in advance. Down-filled bedrolls have been secured for a similar reason, and dogs always make good bedwarmers.
Lee Chang waits for the others, breathing out slowly. He feels a little more relaxed, now, with something to do other than simply while away his time, and he is eager to get out into the wildnerness.
Ylsa, as ever, seems put-upon and darkly amused, as if she is entertaining Lee Chang's idea simply to see what kind of trouble they are going to make for themselves. She only greets the others as they arrive with a small nod in their direction, while Lee Chang tells them:
"Once we are all here, we will depart. If you do not have weapons, Ylsa has some that you may borrow--"
"Purchase," she interjects.
"-- purchase from her, as necessary. Sling shots, and a few long spears."
Lee Chang, for his part, has a new sword at his hip, a strangely bright red ruby in the hilt catching the low lamp light as it flickers.
WHEN: April 25
WHERE: House of Dew -> The Tundra
WHAT: Lee Chang needs money and probably so do you, so it's time to head out into the tundra to... well, Wangji wants to kidnap animals but they're allowed to kill ones that want to kill them.
WARNINGS: Violence against animals, stuffing Wangji's sleeves full of rabbits, awkward discussions of relationship status and general shenanigans.
It is an hour before dawn, the sky is just starting to show a little light, and Lee Chang and his bodyguard Ylsa stand outside the House of Dew in the cold. Ylsa has somehow managed to get them a dogsled for the day - though she told Lee Chang that it would cost him half his share - so their supplies are already loaded up on the sled, the dogs patiently waiting in their halters and sniffing at each other. Lee Chang has never seen a dogsled, but the idea seems sound and the dogs seem excited, their tails wagging as their breath mists before their face. At the front of the sled there is an oil lantern hanging, already lit, casting enough light for the dogs to see by and for the humans to make do once they are out on the tundra.
Lee Chang at least seems to have real clothes, now, thanks to
Lee Chang waits for the others, breathing out slowly. He feels a little more relaxed, now, with something to do other than simply while away his time, and he is eager to get out into the wildnerness.
Ylsa, as ever, seems put-upon and darkly amused, as if she is entertaining Lee Chang's idea simply to see what kind of trouble they are going to make for themselves. She only greets the others as they arrive with a small nod in their direction, while Lee Chang tells them:
"Once we are all here, we will depart. If you do not have weapons, Ylsa has some that you may borrow--"
"Purchase," she interjects.
"-- purchase from her, as necessary. Sling shots, and a few long spears."
Lee Chang, for his part, has a new sword at his hip, a strangely bright red ruby in the hilt catching the low lamp light as it flickers.
no subject
Arche says the words with a sort of idle interest, ducking around a little hill jutting out of the snow as he squints toward the sled off in the distance.
"And then, what, elevated to some royal court? Bastard son? Gods spare me dealing with any more courtiers, perish the thought," he sighs. "I have enough backstabbing in my life from our Dark Council, and at least them I can just kill when they step over the line. Keeping one's tongue is not a primary method of staying alive among Sith high command." This last he drawls out again with a dry humor to his voice, boots crunching against the frozen grass.
no subject
Or so he keeps trying to remind himself.
His expression does turn bemused as Archeval continues, but it isn't as foreign to him as it should be.
"I cannot speak for your Sith," he mused idly. "Or the powers you wield. But a poisoned cup kills just as easily as a sword in the spine. And often has nothing to do with whether one deserves it, line or no."
He sounded - and looked - far more relaxed than he had. "I think I prefer the man that will face me before he slits my throat. But no, you are right. It is blood, rather than speech, that both paints someone a target and gives them a scrap of protection. But scraps never amounted to much."
He pauses again, pulling his robes a little tighter as a wind stirred, blowing diamond dusted snow up over his cheeks and into his furs, melting against the heat of his throat.
"So, I think I see why he appreciates your company. We are all tired of poisoned cups."
no subject
"I certainly can't disagree, and you can be entirely assured that if I'm out to kill you I'll do it right to your face. But I have nothing against anyone here--" --not strictly true, but Lan Wangji is unimportant and the merchant is still mostly only an irritating stranger-- "Save the man who thinks he can buy and sell all of us. I don't intend to get in the middle of whatever you two have going on. It's none of my business either way."
There's a moment's pause before he glances back over his shoulder with an eyebrow-raised stare.
"Though if you're going to hand him any more errands that leave him collapsing all over his quarters for me to nurse him back to health, I suppose I might make that my business."
no subject
"Errands. I handed him no errands." Nursing back to health-- He hadn't been allowed in Mingyu's rooms that entire time period, which was part of why Lee Chang had been so pissy to begin with. Let Archeval in, but not him. This, though--
"Are you saying you knew about what he was doing before he had completed the sword?" It was his best guess, but he didn't sound happy about it. "If you think I would ask him for such a thing--"
no subject
Arche scowls over for a second at that, but it doesn't seem to be at Lee Chang specifically. After a moment he jerks his gaze away to start back off down the tundra with a long, quiet, seething sort of sigh.
"That absolute idiot. Never mind, then. Apparently he simply needs to learn there is a happy medium between never sticking your neck out for anyone, and sticking it out a hundred meters in one go."
Annoyed as he looks by the idea, apparently he has absolutely no trouble believing that Mingyu would carry out such foolishness without any external prompting.
no subject
He lets the silence fill where Archeval does, and extends it for a moment even after the man speaks again, turning his head to gaze out over the tundra and take in the same horizon. Why look at each other when they can stare at snow?
"If he tries something of the sort again, don't assume that I know." He finally says, voice solemn. "Tell me. If I had to swear to take care of my own neck, then I will ensure he does the same whether he enjoys it or not."
no subject
He falls silent again after that, but it's more... companionable this time. Seems they've come to an accord of sorts, what with having a mutual goal to look toward. At least if these hunts are going to become a regular affair, there will be one person along who -- provided he doesn't get any more strange notions in his head about Archeval and Mingyu -- is at least tolerable to hang around.