worthallthis | The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

I have a request.

[Everything about this is un-Xiao Xingchen-like. That he's initiating a conversation with his warden at all. That he's using the communicator (though it's in video mode because he doesn't really know how to change it, he's just filming the gray inside of his sleeve) and not just waiting until goat time. That he's actually asking for something.

And he knows it. He's not more stiff than usual. Because he's usually stiff. But this feels extremely weird and he hates it.]

[Yeah, this is kinda weird. Considering he sees the guy every day, and Xiao Xingchen could've just waited until the next time they handled the goats together.

But if it's important, maybe it's time sensitive. So B flicks his video on, too.]

Well, you know if it's somethin' I can do, I'll do it. What's goin' on?

[It isn't terribly time sensitive. It's just that he knew he'd talk himself out of it if he waited for morning. He's resisted this for the better part of a year, and he's convinced himself it would be more selfish not to ask.

But he might change his mind again in five minutes.]

The admiral is apparently able to partially remove the suppression on my cultivation. I was given full use of my senses back after Xue Yang's arrival, as a protective measure.

[Which was his temporary warden's idea, not his.]

I'd like the ability to manipulate qi returned, under any restrictions you require. It's useful in promoting healing, but I won't pretend it couldn't be used to cause damage as well. I don't need anything else.

[Well! B remembers having to be talked into asking for his serum back, and though he isn't sure XXC is trying to punish himself in quite the same way, he thinks it's probably a good sign.]

Sure, I think we can manage that. Just outa curiosity-- your answer ain't gonna change mine, I swear it-- what brought that on?

[His sigh, brief and constrained, is one of exasperation.]

Crozier got his nose knocked in. I can at least make it faster and less painful.

[He's thought about it many times, but an acute injury, albeit fairly minor, hit him more sharply than old aches could. It simply began to feel selfish not to fix.]

[B gives an amused little snort.]

Good reason. Let me just poke the Admiral for ya. Once he agrees, it shouldn't take long. When he gave me my serum back, it was within minutes of my warden asking.

It's not precisely urgent.

[He could say something snide about the number of inmates with a swathe of destruction behind them who have worse at their fingertips, but why? It wouldn't accomplish anything.]

[B's comm buzzes at the response from the Admiral.]

Well, it's been done, anyhow. You feel any different?

[B had felt different immediately, but his power works differently from Xiao Xingchen's, after all.]

I do.

[It's a sharpened awareness more than anything else. He hasn't asked for speed, strength, or lightness, or even being able to make amulets and talismans again. But he hadn't realized until now how particularly blinkered he felt without being able to feel even his own inner strength.]

This is much pleasanter, actually. Thank you.

[He sounds a little surprised.]

[B grins on his end. Definitely a better reaction than his own, when he got the serum back. And that's a good thing.]

I'm glad. You're very welcome. Maybe later you can show me some stuff you can do with it, I'm curious.

There's nothing to see, I'm afraid. You'd feel it if it was used on you, of course, like any medicine.

Nothing showy about it, huh? Well, all right.

[And he'd rather not have magic used on him if he can help it, honestly.]

Go heal your best guy's nose up. And tell him I said hi, yeah?

[Already flustered, the attempt at camaraderie throws him. He just grunts his assent and ends the call.]

The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

video

Re: video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject