Not at all. It was outdoors, snowing-- we came to a broken bridge, and while miss Anya and I were able to get most of the dogs across with us...
Young masters Jin and Kuji ended up falling, with the sled and the last dog. You'd have to ask them about what happened, I'm not sure where the shark came from.
[he's not sure they deserve thanks for it-- they really couldn't look anyone in the face if they'd just let her die without trying, could they?]
A- dragonlike creature stole her body, just after. It damaged both of the boys to get to her, and we had to pursue it from the battlefield... many of our injuries came from that.
[trying to chase a wyvern over an active battlefield is rough, unsurprisingly.]
It was only when we brought it down and retrieved her from it that we were able to leave.
[Uhhhhh, oh my god? Akechi's eyes widen, horrified.]
What? That's—
[—terrible? Horrible? Awful? Whatever Akechi was going to say is lost to the void, as they are suddenly pulled away from the here and now, and into a memory.
An engine room, hot and muggy and stifling. Seven teenagers and a creature, including one that Nie Huaisang will find very familiar. A messy, disastrous mix of genuine sadness and regret — that is soon overcome by nothing but feelings of anger and frustration, while Akechi spirals. The memory comes to an end as two creatures appear behind him, and he orders them to attack the group of teenagers.
he's struck by the similarities, honestly-- a powerful father with an illegitimate son who wants revenge, isn't that the root of all nie huaisang's troubles? there's definitely some surprise in the way he looks at akechi right after that, maybe the briefest hint of an expression that seems to be... evaluating him, possibly.
but then there's another memory, this time huaisang's. the temple it takes place in has clearly been the scene of a battle, blood everywhere, a large coffin somewhere in the background.
it's also clear from huaisang's side of the memory that he's planning something, though no one here seems to realize it. externally, he plays the part of the useless sect leader they expect. internally his mind is racing, evaluating; they've sealed his brother's corpse, so he can no longer rely on nie mingjue's grudge. he can't act on his own, he has to find a way to make sure jin guangyao does not survive this--
and there it is. no one is looking at him. everyone is distracted-- they're hardly looking at jin guangyao, which he thinks is a mistake on their part, but one he can use. he steadies himself.
'brother xichen, behind you-!!'
... and through the rest of it, he keeps up that same face, even as guangyao calls him on staying hidden this whole time. you've lied so much, they won't believe you now, nie huaisang thinks, and while there's still fear there...
he feels a deep sense of satisfaction, looking at their sworn brother's blade piercing this murderer's chest. it's been years in coming.
the man in white doesn't seem to know what to do with himself, and there's... some slight regret there, as jin guangyao rants on, tells lan xichen he never thought of harming him, but--
that's why he's the only one who could strike this blow. he's the one it would hurt the most coming from, and nie huaisang wants him to suffer.
it's justice, after all, for one who killed a sworn brother to die feeling equally betrayed. isn't it?]
The memories end, and Akechi takes a step back. Then, another. The expression on his face barely fits the person he pretends to be around the rest of the group. It's openly wary and mistrustful, jaw clenched as he carefully watches Nie Huaisang — like he's waiting for the worst, and ready to act when it inevitably comes to pass.
Tersely:]
That man... [Hm.] You used someone else to do your dirty work for you?
You heard him, didn't you? Of all the evil in the world, what hadn't he done... does it really matter how I had him killed?
[a little shake of his head, there. where akechi's expression is different, his own hasn't changed too much; he seems calm, if more serious than he usually has been. maybe faintly exasperated-- he is so tired of being exposed like this, but there's no undoing it all now.]
It wouldn't work if it were me dealing the blow. There's still more than enough I did to him on my own, as it is.
[a tilt of his head-]
I take it that it wouldn't be enough for you, if it were anyone's hands but your own?
Some things are important enough to accomplish by any means. If it brought him to justice... [a little hum, there, a wave of his hand.] It hurt him more, the way it was.
[which, honestly-- was equally important. he needed to suffer for his actions.]
Were you able to deliver that blow on your own, then?
It certainly sounded like it mattered to you, a moment ago.
[telling him he can't exactly act superior if he wasn't successful isn't going to serve him well here, so nie huaisang doesn't; he thinks it, of course he does, but it doesn't show in his expression. it's still calmly neutral, a little curious.]
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[NHS, EXPLAIN??? He will get back to the rest in a second.]
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[jin ling owning explosives has given him one PROLONGED HEART ATTACK.]
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I see. Consider this a parenthesis, but do you know who he participated in that game with?
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[he has zero problem outing zenitsu, you're welcome, akechi.]
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[thanks for being a pal, nhs.]
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Young masters Jin and Kuji ended up falling, with the sled and the last dog. You'd have to ask them about what happened, I'm not sure where the shark came from.
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[he shakes his head, brow furrowed.]
She was- behind me. A bit above, staying at range. I couldn't see it happen-- if I had, I... don't know if we would have been fast enough or not.
We had healing medicine with us, but it didn't work.
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... Even if it amounted to nothing, thank you for trying to save her.
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[he's not sure they deserve thanks for it-- they really couldn't look anyone in the face if they'd just let her die without trying, could they?]
A- dragonlike creature stole her body, just after. It damaged both of the boys to get to her, and we had to pursue it from the battlefield... many of our injuries came from that.
[trying to chase a wyvern over an active battlefield is rough, unsurprisingly.]
It was only when we brought it down and retrieved her from it that we were able to leave.
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What? That's—
[—terrible? Horrible? Awful? Whatever Akechi was going to say is lost to the void, as they are suddenly pulled away from the here and now, and into a memory.
An engine room, hot and muggy and stifling. Seven teenagers and a creature, including one that Nie Huaisang will find very familiar. A messy, disastrous mix of genuine sadness and regret — that is soon overcome by nothing but feelings of anger and frustration, while Akechi spirals. The memory comes to an end as two creatures appear behind him, and he orders them to attack the group of teenagers.
... That's probably fine.]
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he's struck by the similarities, honestly-- a powerful father with an illegitimate son who wants revenge, isn't that the root of all nie huaisang's troubles? there's definitely some surprise in the way he looks at akechi right after that, maybe the briefest hint of an expression that seems to be... evaluating him, possibly.
but then there's another memory, this time huaisang's. the temple it takes place in has clearly been the scene of a battle, blood everywhere, a large coffin somewhere in the background.
it's also clear from huaisang's side of the memory that he's planning something, though no one here seems to realize it. externally, he plays the part of the useless sect leader they expect. internally his mind is racing, evaluating; they've sealed his brother's corpse, so he can no longer rely on nie mingjue's grudge. he can't act on his own, he has to find a way to make sure jin guangyao does not survive this--
and there it is. no one is looking at him. everyone is distracted-- they're hardly looking at jin guangyao, which he thinks is a mistake on their part, but one he can use. he steadies himself.
'brother xichen, behind you-!!'
... and through the rest of it, he keeps up that same face, even as guangyao calls him on staying hidden this whole time. you've lied so much, they won't believe you now, nie huaisang thinks, and while there's still fear there...
he feels a deep sense of satisfaction, looking at their sworn brother's blade piercing this murderer's chest. it's been years in coming.
the man in white doesn't seem to know what to do with himself, and there's... some slight regret there, as jin guangyao rants on, tells lan xichen he never thought of harming him, but--
that's why he's the only one who could strike this blow. he's the one it would hurt the most coming from, and nie huaisang wants him to suffer.
it's justice, after all, for one who killed a sworn brother to die feeling equally betrayed. isn't it?]
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The memories end, and Akechi takes a step back. Then, another. The expression on his face barely fits the person he pretends to be around the rest of the group. It's openly wary and mistrustful, jaw clenched as he carefully watches Nie Huaisang — like he's waiting for the worst, and ready to act when it inevitably comes to pass.
Tersely:]
That man... [Hm.] You used someone else to do your dirty work for you?
[Clearly, that's the biggest issue here.]
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[a little shake of his head, there. where akechi's expression is different, his own hasn't changed too much; he seems calm, if more serious than he usually has been. maybe faintly exasperated-- he is so tired of being exposed like this, but there's no undoing it all now.]
It wouldn't work if it were me dealing the blow. There's still more than enough I did to him on my own, as it is.
[a tilt of his head-]
I take it that it wouldn't be enough for you, if it were anyone's hands but your own?
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[Derisively, punctuated by a scoff as he continues to watch him.]
If there's something I want to get done, I do it myself. I won't stoop so low as to use others to deliver the final blow in my stead.
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[which, honestly-- was equally important. he needed to suffer for his actions.]
Were you able to deliver that blow on your own, then?
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A flicker of shame, there and gone in a second.]
It doesn't matter anymore. That man was ultimately brought to justice.
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[telling him he can't exactly act superior if he wasn't successful isn't going to serve him well here, so nie huaisang doesn't; he thinks it, of course he does, but it doesn't show in his expression. it's still calmly neutral, a little curious.]
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Just because something matters to me, it doesn't mean it matters in the grand scheme of things.
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[was it enough that it happened? or does it sting too much, not to have done it himself?]
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[That is not the question NHS asked and Akechi knows it.]
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