[It certainly seems like a downfall, even if it feels new to Huaisang. He's seen the sheer hatred on Jin Guangyao's face, unhidden, out in the open for Nie Mingjue to read as clearly as a scroll of battlefield tactics. As satisfying as it is, it also means danger for his younger brother, should the man catch him alone in some unsavory part of the city. But that won't happen. Mingjue will not let it. He has agreed to spare the snake's life while they're here in the interest of not throwing away his budding reputation but even just yesterday he was a man with nothing left to lose by cease-firing. Now, now he has everything to lose, clasping his hand across the table.
They will not be fooled again. There is much to learn and much to do, and he knows Huaisang will not shirk what matters, not after everything he's been through, but still, Mingjue hopes that he can let him be free and happy too. Deep down, that is always what he wanted for his brother, the reason he protected him in silence for his entire life. Even if he was harsh about saber practice, it's only because that was another way to protect him, trying to give him the skills to protect himself.
Turns out he hadn't needed those skills, he'd needed his own sharp intellect and acting.
He huffs something like a laugh.] Yes, I know. But Monster here denotes someone who has changed into something other than human. I am changing as well. [Though not into something as distasteful as a snake, thank all the ancestors. To illustrate this point, he tugs the collars of his own robes down just a bit, revealing a few inches of shoulder, on which is growing a patch of short, soft tiger-striped fur. He can't try to hide it from him so he might as well get that out there.
Letting go of his robes, he frowns again.] They both remember everything. Go easy on Xichen, he has a soft and forgiving heart. Jin Guangyao being Bonded to him will make him suffer enough. [And it's clear he does not approve of that decision, but Xichen hadn't been willing to listen to him.] ...I do not have a Bond. There have been no sound prospects.
Have you discovered if you will be a Witch or if you will change yet?
no subject
They will not be fooled again. There is much to learn and much to do, and he knows Huaisang will not shirk what matters, not after everything he's been through, but still, Mingjue hopes that he can let him be free and happy too. Deep down, that is always what he wanted for his brother, the reason he protected him in silence for his entire life. Even if he was harsh about saber practice, it's only because that was another way to protect him, trying to give him the skills to protect himself.
Turns out he hadn't needed those skills, he'd needed his own sharp intellect and acting.
He huffs something like a laugh.] Yes, I know. But Monster here denotes someone who has changed into something other than human. I am changing as well. [Though not into something as distasteful as a snake, thank all the ancestors. To illustrate this point, he tugs the collars of his own robes down just a bit, revealing a few inches of shoulder, on which is growing a patch of short, soft tiger-striped fur. He can't try to hide it from him so he might as well get that out there.
Letting go of his robes, he frowns again.] They both remember everything. Go easy on Xichen, he has a soft and forgiving heart. Jin Guangyao being Bonded to him will make him suffer enough. [And it's clear he does not approve of that decision, but Xichen hadn't been willing to listen to him.] ...I do not have a Bond. There have been no sound prospects.
Have you discovered if you will be a Witch or if you will change yet?