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Seeing as you've been assigned the liaison to my goings-on, I have some intelligence to impart to you.
I'll be holding a birthday celebration for Black Cat at the Stone Dragon cafe on the 10th of this month. Your household is invited, so please relay the invitation as you see fit. The event will begin at noon. Discretion is also advised, but only to avoid spoiling the surprise for the kitten. Gifts will be appreciated but are not required, if you decide to attend.
I'll be holding a birthday celebration for Black Cat at the Stone Dragon cafe on the 10th of this month. Your household is invited, so please relay the invitation as you see fit. The event will begin at noon. Discretion is also advised, but only to avoid spoiling the surprise for the kitten. Gifts will be appreciated but are not required, if you decide to attend.
Edited 2024-08-13 01:30 (UTC)
[She probably thinks she's being very funny, and unfortunately she's right. Little does she know, this is entirely the kind of thing he expected to result from that discussion. Planned enrichment in the form of diplomacy rp, for the weird bird who referred to his household as a 'den of thieves' like that's normal. Living it down is never.]
Intelligence received and appreciated. Any intelligence regarding gifts?
Intelligence received and appreciated. Any intelligence regarding gifts?
Some. I can't do all the work for you. You'll have to do some scouting of your own.
He likes practical things. Money, of course, but that would lack sentiment, and I should know you have an understanding of that.
He likes sweet things, fruits and honey, and things that remind him of being a Cat. He would also appreciate something that takes his poor sight into consideration. Something to help him, or something that he can appreciate without looking at it.
Of course, if you have an idea of your own after conversing with him as you do, then trust your own judgement. I'm sure he'll enjoy being thought of regardless.
He likes practical things. Money, of course, but that would lack sentiment, and I should know you have an understanding of that.
He likes sweet things, fruits and honey, and things that remind him of being a Cat. He would also appreciate something that takes his poor sight into consideration. Something to help him, or something that he can appreciate without looking at it.
Of course, if you have an idea of your own after conversing with him as you do, then trust your own judgement. I'm sure he'll enjoy being thought of regardless.
[A lie, like an alibi? Or just the kind of thing that seems endemic here? If she doesn't even want him intimidated, she surely wouldn't even imply the former. Then again, she may well be beyond caring overmuch at this point, to do any such calculations, and underneath all his ragged fear and too-familiar frustration he can recognize she doesn't owe him anything here. To say nothing of how little she owes Li Lianhua. He should probably take this as a courtesy, and not antagonism, despite himself.
Even his real subordinates couldn't quite be threatened into working miracles, after all. And the only truth he knows is which of the two is more likely to be dishonest, regardless of what she knows of the boy.]
I'm in your debt. It may not have been a lie.
Even his real subordinates couldn't quite be threatened into working miracles, after all. And the only truth he knows is which of the two is more likely to be dishonest, regardless of what she knows of the boy.]
I'm in your debt. It may not have been a lie.
You're not. I've washed my hands of it.
[A debt is the last thing she wants to be owed right now, whether he means it or not. Does she care whether Li Lianhua was hiding healing abilities? Not really. She files the information away that Akechi might have been truthful, but otherwise she has too much else on her mind.]
[A second later, she changes it.]
Actually, if you see Black Cat while you're out, let me know. His house was empty when I went to check on him. I can't find him anywhere.
[Not nearly the whole truth of the situation, but it's as much as she can explain.]
[A debt is the last thing she wants to be owed right now, whether he means it or not. Does she care whether Li Lianhua was hiding healing abilities? Not really. She files the information away that Akechi might have been truthful, but otherwise she has too much else on her mind.]
[A second later, she changes it.]
Actually, if you see Black Cat while you're out, let me know. His house was empty when I went to check on him. I can't find him anywhere.
[Not nearly the whole truth of the situation, but it's as much as she can explain.]
[She won't do all the work, but she's willing to do enough, clearly, as long as she gets to say lots of silly things at the same time. Sentiment indeed, from someone with such a soft spot for a Cat.]
Very thorough, as expected.
What I didn't expect is having to do so much liaison work so soon. The gift will be easier.
Very thorough, as expected.
What I didn't expect is having to do so much liaison work so soon. The gift will be easier.
[Hello to you too, Cat. Also, what.]
Rarely, they do.
Why?
Rarely, they do.
Why?
Did you expect to name yourself my liaison and not be put to work? You're very funny.
Anyway, if I offered the invitation to your lotus himself, he likely wouldn't even look at it. And for once, I'm not pestering him for my own entertainment. I imagine Gattino genuinely wants him there, so put a good effort into it please.
Anyway, if I offered the invitation to your lotus himself, he likely wouldn't even look at it. And for once, I'm not pestering him for my own entertainment. I imagine Gattino genuinely wants him there, so put a good effort into it please.
Asking questions was part of the deal. I'm answering.
[Nowhere in the deal did it say Di Feisheng couldn't be curious right back at him, damn.]
Predisposition, suitable environment. Or someone else's intent. Probably all of that, for the best result. Time most of all.
[Nowhere in the deal did it say Di Feisheng couldn't be curious right back at him, damn.]
Predisposition, suitable environment. Or someone else's intent. Probably all of that, for the best result. Time most of all.
[NOT how he envisioned that going, no, though it probably should have been. But she wasn't there for the interrogation. She doesn't understand. Or she understands too well, which is why she keeps calling Li Lianhua that. Tigers are so bloodthirsty.]
You don't have to tell me the work I've chosen. I wouldn't do anything less, but I'm not promising anything.
You don't have to tell me the work I've chosen. I wouldn't do anything less, but I'm not promising anything.
Thank you. If there's any way I can make the negotiations proceed more smoothly, do let me know. I'm willing to make some small concessions if it means that the event goes well.
Edited 2024-09-03 01:54 (UTC)
Delicate and restrained as that swipe is, a lack of retaliation would have tripped him up more. But of course Di Feisheng doesn't miss a step in this dance even in this shape, and with every move Li Lianhua gets to learn a little more of it. Miss Iris remains ignorant of how lucky she was. A private smirk crosses his lips at the thought, or possibly just at Di Feisheng and his surprising (delightful) tolerance of being pet in general, even while his eyes are locked on the prize.
And what a prize it is. He carefully examines the size and texture of the bones, taking note of the different knife marks and the tools used for drilling the holes and putting everything together. "Animal bones," he finally decides. In case anyone was curious. "Likely not her own kills, a butcher took these apart." So it's not the materials that matter to her, but the final product. "Expert work on the cleaning and bleaching, that would have taken a lot of effort... Only, I don't recall anyone in town offering that service." So her own work, and not the first time she's done it. Is that why she was so protective of it?
But there's obviously more to the damn thing, he heard that himself. He turns to pace a few steps away from the panther, lost in thought. She clearly didn't hide a little ghost in the pipes, so it must be something about the placement of the holes creating the words. But words are too numerous and complex to be made by singular holes... unlesshe rubs his lil fingies together it's made to speak a very different tongue. Of course a series of whistles and notes could carry meaning. And once there's meaning, whatever assures all the people here understand one another would do the rest.
It still takes great skill and precision to carve those holes and place the thing perfectly into the wind to assure those notes would be played more or less in the right order. Not unexpected of that woman, but certainly interesting. Should that be her own tongue, then? Or one of many she knows?
Why, still, put so much effort into making this? Just to see others react to it, maybe. To learn more about how languages work in this realm. Sentiment, if it is indeed her mother tongue? More sentiment, if she knows one person capable of understanding it without help.
Li Lianhua's expression sharpens into an unkind smile down at the instrument in his hands. "She's not done with you until she gets this back, you know." As if the attempted murder over a toy hadn't given that away already.
Oh well. With a shrug, he tosses the mess carelessly over his shoulder, high into the air and barely in the panther's general direction.
And what a prize it is. He carefully examines the size and texture of the bones, taking note of the different knife marks and the tools used for drilling the holes and putting everything together. "Animal bones," he finally decides. In case anyone was curious. "Likely not her own kills, a butcher took these apart." So it's not the materials that matter to her, but the final product. "Expert work on the cleaning and bleaching, that would have taken a lot of effort... Only, I don't recall anyone in town offering that service." So her own work, and not the first time she's done it. Is that why she was so protective of it?
But there's obviously more to the damn thing, he heard that himself. He turns to pace a few steps away from the panther, lost in thought. She clearly didn't hide a little ghost in the pipes, so it must be something about the placement of the holes creating the words. But words are too numerous and complex to be made by singular holes... unless
It still takes great skill and precision to carve those holes and place the thing perfectly into the wind to assure those notes would be played more or less in the right order. Not unexpected of that woman, but certainly interesting. Should that be her own tongue, then? Or one of many she knows?
Why, still, put so much effort into making this? Just to see others react to it, maybe. To learn more about how languages work in this realm. Sentiment, if it is indeed her mother tongue? More sentiment, if she knows one person capable of understanding it without help.
Li Lianhua's expression sharpens into an unkind smile down at the instrument in his hands. "She's not done with you until she gets this back, you know." As if the attempted murder over a toy hadn't given that away already.
Oh well. With a shrug, he tosses the mess carelessly over his shoulder, high into the air and barely in the panther's general direction.
[Cats wiggle when they don't want to be held. Cat does the same with words. Sorry about it, Sir Straightforward.
He's certainly wiggling on the inside at the word he most didn't want to see when it came to this. Time. Something none of them have.]
someone elses intent? what is that supposed to mean?
He's certainly wiggling on the inside at the word he most didn't want to see when it came to this. Time. Something none of them have.]
someone elses intent? what is that supposed to mean?
Only small ones?
Though I hope even those are unnecessary. I meant when I told your Cat there shouldn't be any fighting.
Though I hope even those are unnecessary. I meant when I told your Cat there shouldn't be any fighting.
[Cats are very silly creatures that way.]
I'd be more specific than that if I knew. There's bound to be techniques for causing trees to accumulate power, or have some particular use.
[...Listen, this is normal.]
I've fought moderately spiritual trees. Not cultivated them.
I'd be more specific than that if I knew. There's bound to be techniques for causing trees to accumulate power, or have some particular use.
[...Listen, this is normal.]
I've fought moderately spiritual trees. Not cultivated them.
As part of an array. Not some kind of wild cultivated trees. If you find that you'll be one up on me.
Will I have to answer questions about every thing you see out your window?
Will I have to answer questions about every thing you see out your window?
Ones I would consider small.
There won't be any fighting, rest assured. I won't ruin this for him.
There won't be any fighting, rest assured. I won't ruin this for him.
[She really must be out of sorts. He would be more curious about the specifics, if things were less dire on his side of things. What he even hopes to do, what he thinks he can hold onto tooth and nail just with his applied presence (and none of the ability that used to go with it) is not a consideration. Just the insistence that this time will be different (he always wants it to be different). Whatever wounds or disruptions she's holding will have to remain her own affair. He is distantly surprised to find himself not unregretful.
Her second message only confirms there's something off, something significant. A missing Cat would explain some of it, maybe all? How could he know.Of course he means it. Being reassuring is unfortunately not his purview, even at better times than these.]
He seems cunning enough to stay hidden, but I'll keep my eyes open.
Her second message only confirms there's something off, something significant. A missing Cat would explain some of it, maybe all? How could he know.
He seems cunning enough to stay hidden, but I'll keep my eyes open.
[Well just hang on for volume N of the manuals and probably there will be arrays maybe. Possibly. It turns out conveying information is its own skill set in addition to the skills the information is about, and it isn't one he's cultivated especially. Wild.]
[And alright. Li Lianhua had been the one to link miracle trees and cultivation in Cat's mind, not just to naysay Iris' involvement. This is the most illuminating Cat has possibly ever been. He'd been a little blindsided by the tree question opener, but this makes way more sense now.]
I'm not going to fight your miracle tree. But proper cultivation isn't usually where someone turns for shortcuts.
[Cat needs to get that tree into a fight club or start feeding it blood or something suitably frowned upon by the orthodox jianghu. Refining his own qi isn't going to be helpful on the time scale he's looking for, which is how you get things like the Alliance, ultimately.]
What else did he say?
[And alright. Li Lianhua had been the one to link miracle trees and cultivation in Cat's mind, not just to naysay Iris' involvement. This is the most illuminating Cat has possibly ever been. He'd been a little blindsided by the tree question opener, but this makes way more sense now.]
I'm not going to fight your miracle tree. But proper cultivation isn't usually where someone turns for shortcuts.
[Cat needs to get that tree into a fight club or start feeding it blood or something suitably frowned upon by the orthodox jianghu. Refining his own qi isn't going to be helpful on the time scale he's looking for, which is how you get things like the Alliance, ultimately.]
What else did he say?
He could stand to be less cunning right now. Or more.
[Not enough to hide from her... or enough that she hadn't found him to begin with. She still isn't sure how that happened. She was barely conscious of her actions, and her memory of it is likewise blurry and fading. She only remembers teeth and fur, thorns and blood... And then very suddenly, him.]
[She really shouldn't say more than that right now. She just needs to focus on finding Cat. And Di Feisheng will have his own bundle to take care of. She shouldn't keep him.]
Thank you. For keeping an eye out. Take care.
[Not enough to hide from her... or enough that she hadn't found him to begin with. She still isn't sure how that happened. She was barely conscious of her actions, and her memory of it is likewise blurry and fading. She only remembers teeth and fur, thorns and blood... And then very suddenly, him.]
[She really shouldn't say more than that right now. She just needs to focus on finding Cat. And Di Feisheng will have his own bundle to take care of. She shouldn't keep him.]
Thank you. For keeping an eye out. Take care.
Edited 2024-09-10 02:34 (UTC)
Di Feisheng's patient interest was wasted. Only Li Lianhua could make so thorough an inspection of something, with such a well-tempered and attentive audience, and still manage to proclaim only things that would be obvious to anyone with any sense. Tell him about kinds of knife next, since the subject of bones and how to make someone invested in conflict have already been covered. It's not like the panther interrupted his opportunity for a lecture, he just decided to be bad at it.
Di Feisheng is already doing his feline best expression of reproach, ears and all, before Li Lianhua finishes his detective act and throws the thing. Having to hurriedly pounce it out of the air like a dropped tea cup is undoubtedly just as funny in this shape, as is the huff of disdain at having the tangled mess under his claws yet again, at the prospect of having to return it, and at Li Lianhua as a whole. Tell him the important stuff or stop saying words. Stop throwing clattery things too.Better yet, go back to paying attention to Di Feisheng. But surely he will do that anyway.
He's right of course, however unfortunately, as is becoming all too familiar. Possibly this is the thought Di Feisheng is telegraphing with a speculative look at the window he'd just had such a good time leaping through, now visibly reluctant to repeat the performance if it means defending his actions to a lunatic.Can't he just get stabbed instead. Incredible that Li Lianhua would suggest such a thing after saying he could hang it from his dao he doesn't even have. He foregoes the toy windchime entirely to pad over to the window and peer out instead, standing up like a person. Check the vengeance forecast and think about diplomacy, with a heartfelt sigh borrowed from unemployed real animals everywhere. It will be more work than stealing, unfortunately, and he can't even be a panther about it.
Di Feisheng is already doing his feline best expression of reproach, ears and all, before Li Lianhua finishes his detective act and throws the thing. Having to hurriedly pounce it out of the air like a dropped tea cup is undoubtedly just as funny in this shape, as is the huff of disdain at having the tangled mess under his claws yet again, at the prospect of having to return it, and at Li Lianhua as a whole. Tell him the important stuff or stop saying words. Stop throwing clattery things too.
He's right of course, however unfortunately, as is becoming all too familiar. Possibly this is the thought Di Feisheng is telegraphing with a speculative look at the window he'd just had such a good time leaping through, now visibly reluctant to repeat the performance if it means defending his actions to a lunatic.
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