estoria | ( OPEN )

My humblest apologies for playing a part in that-- although, frankly, a funeral procession is the least of the problems I've seen.

[Like the bodies of the soldiers who shed blood on the soils of his birth being impaled upon a tree. Like seeing captured women and children-- the famillies of the fallen soldiers-- being sold off as slaves.

Like fears of magical weapons being deployed from the other side of the continent. Like preparing an army of the undead, so that the bodies of his countrymen can never be defiled by the enemy ever again.]

..Perhaps, this may be a good time to stay inside a while. Summers are often a droll and uncomfortably humid time.

[he shakes his head slightly There is no need. It can hardly be said to be your fault in any way. Else, I would have to apologize for spying into your personal past.

[SIGH. Stupid ghost animals. And why a goat?]

It hardly feels like it. It seems as though the weather hasn't changed at all. Never mind that there is never any rain, it feels quite the same as the spring. I wonder.

The southern reaches of the Empire can have a climate quite like this-- although the lack of rain is curious.

[To be frank, he was expecting there to be a monsoon-like season. Clearly his theories were biased and flawed.]

[modern technology, man, it just doesn't go with ancient thinking]

I am sure it has everything to do with the Company and their control of the colony. At the same time, it is unnatural. [and he frowns again in displeasure, just thinking of it] At least, I have done enough reading to finally determine what month it really is. Without the stars and the moon to tell, it has been...interminably frustrating learning this simple information.

Yes, it has been. I've not bothered with the conversions, since I doubt they will apply very well to the world I hail from...but, given the similarities between our countries, it does make me curious. What have you found in your studies?

Perhaps not, but it does offer some sense of familiarity. And, I admit, I wouldn't mind knowing when the better festivals should be properly observed. [waving a hand in the air, idly] This 'July' people speak of, corresponds roughly to the sixth lunar month. That means I've missed Duangwu, and Qingming, but at least the latter is of no consequence because my ancestors' tombs are not here.

Though, I wonder now if the appearance of ghosts corresponded with that time in the calendar...

[So Zihuan's country also followed the lunar calendar, Koumei thought. They could indeed rely on eachother when it came to calculations of this sort, if that was the case.]

It would make sense. Even if they aren't our direct ancestors, they're still spirits that deserve to be honored in their own right. I personally can't help but wonder what happened during their lifetimes, because there are ways to become corrupted enough that you can never join your ancestors, even in death, where I come from.

Such things are always sad to see.

Perhaps. I had always taken the existence of spirits and the curses they can lay on their unfaithful descendants as mere superstition, but in this world, the rules may be different.

[lookin' at you over there, spirit-goat]

Either way. I expect ghost animals to be less of a burden than ghosts which chant murder at you all day and night. Whether we have to do something to send them to their rest or whatnot, I can't say.

Perhaps we should just treat them with the same respect as we would the dead in any other situation?

But that still doesn't resolve the problem of our memories meeting like they did.

No, it doesn't.

[he looks down around his feet, not that he can see the spirit-bird, but he has to wonder]

Was it proximity? Did I touch it, somehow?

[and now he's actually tempted to suggest experimenting. Hey Koumei where's your brother, let's make him walk through a goat...]

I'm...honestly not certain where the little bird is right now, [Koumei admitted, running a hand sheepishly through his hair as he peered around the room for it.]

Normally the little one is close by...

[Without so much as a request for pardon, Koumei dipped his head down to peek under the table-- only to find that the little ghostly bird had settled somewhere near his feet.]

Ah. That explains our problem. It's been here the whole time.

[putting two and two together...]

If that is so, but I only briefly saw that memory, then I must have touched it or otherwise been too close to it at that very moment. Else, I might still be seeing through your eyes.

Believe me, Lord Zihuan, when I say that I might have to cut you down where you stand if that were to happen.

[Not that Koumei would want to, but there were details about himself and his world that he would prefer didn't get out-- beyond military secrets and the overall unpleasantness that was Koumei's life.]

Would that I could leash the bird, so that I can keep track of its whereabouts at all times.

[So mishaps like this didn't happen again.]

[oho, is that so? He arches an eyebrow real high.]

I believe you, but I would not be able to accommodate you if you tried. I'm sorry, but instinct and training require that I stop you.

[It's all hypothetical anyway, hopefully they never reach the point where they have to pit themselves against each other. That would just be terrible.]

At least the beast following me is large enough that I can see it to warn you. In fact, right now, I should say that unless you want to even the odds between us that you not attempt to enter the kitchen no matter how cold your tea might be. [bastard is still right in the doorway]

Duly noted.

[Nevermind that, if he had the mind to, he could still unnerve Zihuan with the extent of his Metal Vessel's abilitles. Such feats weren't something that he wished to use needlessly in this city, however-- recovering his stamina took longer that it did normally.]

This does make life difficult. And locking ourselves in our quarters is impossible if we wish to continue with our lives.

I refuse to hide, but walking through extremely crowded places seems like a foolish idea as well. [SIGH] What a dilemma.

[it's not, really, it just means being ridiculously cautious for a few days until this wears off. Whatever it is.]

( OPEN )

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