westwhere | do you have enough love in your heart

Sometime after the situation is resolved, when he's sobered and covered in the blood of his attackers, he thinks about going back for it. The hellhound was loyal. Kept him from being alone. He never checked if the twitching stopped or if it's still suffering for its companionship, and he feels... strangely sentimental about it. He might not have time to bury it, but burning it seems kinder than leaving it to rot. Maybe the bourbon hasn't completely left him, because for a moment that actually matters to him.

“Dammit," he sighs as reality creeps back from his brief reprieve. There's probably going to be more after him before they get the picture, and it's nostalgic in a way that he hasn't experienced in a while. He looks like the easiest target, but he reasons he'll have some time before they try again. Enough to start a fire.

The living dead boy isn't phased by how much blood Five is covered in when he does come upon the other. Does he know what happened? No. That, however, did not mean he wasn't a bit concerned even if it can't be seen on his features. All he knows is that Five is one of theirs and he seemed... not annoyed, but some other emotion he can't truly pinpoint. Or maybe the other was annoyed by something.

"What happened?" Though, if he does end up seeing the dead hellhound then he'd know that something had gone on. His own friend was afraid of dogs, in general, and maybe it was better if he came upon Five rather than Wei Wuxian coming upon him.

Five turns to the sound, still on edge after getting ambushed, if not as sharp as usual. He recognizes the man after a few seconds, and his shoulders drop. The first thought he has is telling him his dog died, and he scoffs a laugh without explanation to what he found funny.

“Evidently,” he starts, then clears his throat. Then notices the blood on his sleeve, and frowns at it, like he’s only becoming settled with what happened. “They’ve finally made their choice.”

The laugh, unfortunately, throws Wen Ning off. He is not entirely sure what the other is laughing about nor does he want to ask. There might be a part of him that wants to but it also wasn't any of his business. Something could've easily broken the man before him. Anything, honestly, could've happened without anyone else's knowledge.

He doesn't say anything about the blood on the other, nor will he. Not when he, himself, has seen his fair share of bloodshed. "You are no longer a use to them?" Simple enough question really. One that Five doesn't have to answer. But they all played their parts, didn't they? Every last one of them had played a part and some had just gotten in far deeper than others. That? It seems to be Five's case, from the looks of it.

The question gets a suddenly intense amount of consideration, like he's recalling a memory, before he abruptly shakes his head. That may be true in a broad sense, but there's a more specific reason why they'd try to take him out.

"This wasn't about me," he states, slowly as he tries to keep his thoughts clear and correctly articulated. In hindsight, the signs were all there that this wouldn't end well. "It's her. Something must have happened."

He looks utterly disappointed to be making that conclusion. Weeks of work, and it's all for nothing. She could already be dead.

The silence, for the moment, doesn't actively bother him. Not when Five seems to be concentrating on something. What that something was, however, the living dead boy didn't know. Nor was he going to outright ask. Sometimes a person needed to be able to think before giving any type of answer.

Once the other gives his answer he gives a slight nod," Is there a way for you to find out if something happened to her?" Was there a way for Five to get to her or to her location to find out if something happened? If there was then they could head in that direction. Should that end in fighting then Wen Ning was fine with that.

"Unless there is something you wish to do before then."

If the other wanted to do something of that nature at all.

He frowns at the way he coaxes him along. It’s an effective strategy to get more information without asking, and Five isn’t sure where his intentions lie. He’s sober enough to know an under reaction when he sees it. There is something, so he nods, and swallows any emotion he’s unwittingly attached to a loyal hellhound that didn’t deserve to die in the streets.

“If they got to her, they’ll be announcing it soon enough.” He wondered if she could out power her enemies, and that would give him his answer. Some in their group might be relieved, but he’s been working at this for so long that he’s hesitant to say where she might be.

“Where do you factor in? You’re just here to help?”

If someone told the living dead boy that he was coaxing them then he'd be confused. He has never, to his knowledge, ever coaxed anyone in his life. Not even when it came to his sister. The only time he has coaxed anyone into anything was a small child and that had been little Yuan. Especially when it came to some of the simple things in life. Though he doubts that Sizhui would ever need anything like that again.

"Unless they wish to keep it hidden from those that supported her." That is the only reason he could think that they wouldn't announce something like that. He has not, honestly, had any impact on anything. Not that he knows of, at the very least. Even if he has had any impact he's not thought much about it. Why would he? He has just done what he could in healing those that were harmed.

"I am a healer. One who has just gotten away from those that would do harm," He states simply, he had dealt with the Hand after all. Though all he'd been doing is asking questions and wanting to make sure that Five was alright. There was no ulterior motive to things that he was doing or saying.

It might be easier to trust him if he had an ulterior motive. People who claim they don’t are harder to figure out. Less predictable.

He’s right, if they were trying to keep it hidden they could catch more of her supporters off guard. Then there are the bodies. It’d be smarter for them if it discouraged them, but generally, they send someone more skilled after him once they see what happened to the others.

“The Hand?” He assumes. He doesn’t know how many people actually heeded his warning to get away from them. “What are they doing now?”

Unfortunately, Wen Ning was not one to have an ulterior motive. He did not want to become like his uncle or cousins. Those that would harm did have ulterior motives and would harm others just because they could. That was not someone that he would ever become. He was, however, unlike most of his family a rather open book.

If anyone did try to come after them again then he had his chains. Something that he was good with in a fight. It wasn't like he actively felt. Which meant that, in the long run, he was someone that could fight along someone and give them a bit of reprieve if needed.

"That is where I was stationed before I got away from them, yes," He tells Five. There was no reason to lie to the other. If not for Sizhui then he probably wouldn't have gotten away as quickly as he had. "Before I left? The Hand continued to train its soldiers. They trained them hard." Though there was always something off about the soldiers. Just as when he first became part of the Hand he'd noticed the disappearances. Noticed those that did not return.

"If there is anything to know after getting out then I do not know it."

"You listened?" He sounds surprised, because nobody ever listens to his warnings. More likely he came to his own conclusion, but he'll allow him this moment to believe he could motivate common sense.

Common sense that would tell him not to get drunk and wander the streets with a hellhound and expect nothing bad to happen.

"Well, something happened," he sighs and rubs at his face, wiping off some of the blood. If there needed to be any more proof of how sloppy he was. He's fully responsible for getting the hound killed. It's ridiculous to get attached to a monster like that, but... it was regrettable. "...How are you at fires?"

"I did. Though, it is also due to my nephew. I would not wish to worry him or my jiejie in being in a place where harm could be done," He admits. Lan Sizhui meant a lot to him and he would do anything for his nephew, for his sister too. Just as he'd do anything for Wei Wuxian as well. They were people that were important to him. He also had not wanted to stay within the confines of the Hand either.

Sometimes common sense was hard to come by.

Though, the other was not wrong in that something happened. Five was covered in blood and it was possible that more would come after him. No one deserved to have people come after him, not like that. No matter what choices they made in the end.

"In starting them? If we have the right materials then I have no problem doing so." Fire did not bother him.

Five spares him a look to marvel at a rare time he'd gotten through to someone. He may not yet understand how the man always seems so calm, but he's known enough field agents who discuss dinner plans just as easily as their next assassination that it doesn't seem too out of the ordinary. Although if he connected him to his family, he could come up with a few theories.

Whatever his deal is, it doesn't matter right now. It'd barely been a request, or an offer to burn a body, but he nods in response. Does he want help? He looks around to see if there are any convenient torches nearby and he ends up lingering on a trail of blood with a stick poking out of it.

His expression darkens and he steps over to examine the piece of wood he'd been throwing not long ago, apparently lost in thought or considering what to burn. He barely glances back when he speaks again.

"Maybe you should go warn the others."

[ Despite the chaos, Vanessa has managed to avoid trouble thus far. It's easier for her than it is for most to stay hidden if she needs, but her concern has more to do with what endangers her colleagues. The blood splattered on him isn't notices as much as his lack of companion. Her own hound taps over to Five to give a stare as Vanessa approaches.

She doesn't say anything at first, standing near should he require assistance but is too proud to ask. She will at least hold out a handkerchief, for his face if nothing else. ]

[ The hound draws his attention, and Five watches as it circles near. His brain takes a moment longer to process that he's seeing a different hound, and he didn't just imagine everything that took place moments ago.

When he spots Vanessa it comes together. More so when she hands out something to wipe the blood off, which he numbly accepts and mops over his face. He's surprised at how red it is when he lowers it again, but he only frowns and proceeds to wipe his hands. There's always so much blood. ]

Thanks. [ He tries to pull the word out, seem less rattled, but now that his adrenaline has settled, he doesn't feel steady on his feet. He barely looks at Vanessa, and when he does, it's only because something amusing clicks with him. ] Good timing, as always.

Yes. I'm quite serendipitous.

[ If one means that she is a walking omen, that is. If he is suspicious about anything, she won't be the one to dissuade him. Why would she want to make him less likely to recover their old agreement?

The dogs themselves are strange new company in that Vanessa has never been the type to keep pets, but she has had a habit of keeping monsters and demons in the past. ....And she does like dogs.

For the moment, her hound continues to hover around Five to catch his scent, and then its ears slowly flatten with its head lowered. Vanessa watches the grieving beast with a softness to her gaze. ]

How did it happen?

[ It must have been an ambush, but how? Where? ]

[ Five doesn't miss the curious sympathy in Vanessa's tone. Maybe he's still in a strange mood, because even the question strikes him as funny, and he laughs this time. 'How did it happen'? He was drunk and playing fetch in the street. Maybe he should be flattered, if she thinks it'd be hard to get the drop on him. It'd be a shame to spoil that.

He settles unnaturally quickly, watching the other beast mourn the loss of its own. Not everyone is married to death. ]

Does it matter? They're dead now. [ Faulty logic. Even if they did get all of them, it's clear that this was targeted, and he gives a halfhearted shrug. ] They were watching. Attacked at a distance and killed the hound before I saw them coming.

[ He turns back to Vanessa, still feeling uncomfortably raw but keeping up appearances. ]

How are you enjoying politics?

A waste of time that provides no satisfaction.

[ She would rather take care of all of this quickly and quietly, but everyone has their rules. Vanessa hates politics, so that will provide no distraction. At least not as far as he would seem to like.

It isn't even subtle, which makes this even more of a tragedy. ]

Is it still there?

[ Her summary of politics seems fair to him, and he hums his response. If all his efforts came to this, he isn't sure why he tried as much as he did. He was just so desperate for something to work. Change.

The question has him tense. They harvested enough hearts together that his first thought is that's what she wants, and his brow furrows. ]

There's no point in feeding Alir now. He can have his pick.

[ That draws somewhat of a disappointed squint, but then she can't argue against him thinking her cold when she wishes for him to complete the contract.

Regardless, Alir would only accept human hearts.

Since he seems unable to cope with his grief for the moment, she just walks past him to follow the trail. Even with him blinking around, it shouldn't be difficult for her when she can already guess on his prior locations, and the blood on him has quite the scent.

Her hound seems to be tracking the scent of the one that still lies dead somewhere, already slinking off through the shadows. ]

It deserves a burial.

[ She's a bit more high profile than Five was, but she isn't too concerned about heading to where an assassination attempt took place. ]

[ So did they. He was too young, and he didn't have the means to dig their graves deep enough, but he didn't want them to rot next to him at the end of the world. ]

There's no time. [ Five calls out before she's too far past him. Strange that she seems focused on the hound, but better, that she didn't come to comfort him. Rather than ask him to lead her there, she seems content to have her companion sniff it out. He may as well not be here. Doesn't have to be.

It doesn't feel right to let her take care of it, as he has no doubt she would, so he blinks in a flash just ahead of her before she reaches where it rests in pieces. ]

We burn it. I was going to, before you came.

Then do so. Take it somewhere you won't be quickly discovered.

[ Burial is simply the term she uses since it sounds a bit more final than ‘burning’, and she does attempt to end it with a burial of whatever's left. Few have the luxury of that or grand funeral pyres these days, but neither of them are limited by human boundaries.

Her own hound is lying down near its slaughtered companion while Vanessa surveys the scene. All of this and yet he can't bring himself to kill one woman? ]

I can dispose of the rest, if you like.

[ They can just burn with a little less mourning involved. ]

[ Kind of her to offer. Five lost track of how many bodies he'd left scattered around after they'd made the poor decision to ambush him and kill his dog. Hellhound. Loyal companion.

He glances around them, estimating, and sighs. ]

I'm not running for office. I don't need you cleaning up after me too. [ He's done with it. If they attacked him, it's over. ] It was a gamble, and we lost.

[ While there has been some curious effort in favor of Messalina, Vanessa's ultimate care is the livelihood of those in their group. Whatever pretenses she had adopted for the sake of blending in are just as easily abandoned where needed. ]

Is it so impossible for you to believe that I am here to ease your pain? My heart still beats.

[ She looks to what's left of his hound. ]

Go and see your friend off, and after, you can find some beer or whisky to toast it and pay respects.

[ A stretch of silence follows, as if he's struggling to absorb her words. Partly because he's at odds with the pity in her tone and the gentle nudging to do what he needs, presumably to help. Although he can't tell if her last comment is pointed, considering how he managed to get ambushed in the first place.

Lingering here is only going to draw more attention, and he's still too bloody to leave any ambiguity to what happened. He gives her a long look and frowns. ]

There could be more.

do you have enough love in your heart

you were almost like a friend

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