[ he remembers! xie lian smiles, and feels the faint sensation of relief. that's good. to gain a memory back...xie lian's, selfishly, a little relieved for that, too. all of his experiences with san lang are so very precious, that he hopes neither of them forget them all. (even if here, it feels like a possibility.)
...but, focusing on the task ahead. ]
...Okay. I'm glad to hear that. That means that whoever we didn't catch probably wasn't on your team.... so we can eliminate Swan, and Goat. I learned from someone yesterday that Shima was on Fox - that leaves Rabbit, Wolf, and Tiger.
I think, based on the way the nova ranking came out this week, that we could probably safely assume that it's Wolf. Don't you?
En, Fox was what I and another guessed. [ And he was right, hooray! But he brings one arm around, setting aside the warm thoughts of regaining and holding onto memories made with Xie Lian, reaching to twist the end of his lonely braid between his fingers as he thinks. ] Tiger hasn't moved in the rankings, nor has Rabbit, but I agree that Wolf is the one that we need to look at the most right now.
[ Of course, they could be guessing well, participating actively, or had more than one party in the "expeditions." But to have held the position for so long..? ]
And because I learned that Cater was on Wolf, and yet they haven't moved once in three weeks. Sharon's death was in self defense, supposedly. Perhaps if Cater was her killer that secured them nova at the time before she was killed, herself, and this week's second killer...
The unknown killer was on Goat, last week, by that theory, which would make sense. He couldn't confirm or deny it, when I asked him.
[ unfortunately. he knows that one for sure. ] With the participation of the members of my team in the expedition, and a "successful killing", it makes sense that we rose so high - and conversely, that we did not, this week.
I think we're starting to get somewhere, as slowly as we are. It still leaves many mysteries, particularly with what Miss Elsa said, but... though today's victory was a bit hollow, I am glad that we were able to find the best possible outcome, at least for what happened with Laine.
[ ah. ] Mn - San Lang, I also learned something else, while I was working with Brother Goat this week. The dead, here... they're not actually dead. Actually, I think it's a bit like Ghost City.
Yes, with that, I think it does help explain how your team rose in the ranks. While Swan sounded sure that the report you found was not one kept by Goat, that doesn't absolve a teammate from a possible murder. And while my team rose this past week, I don't think it was through a killing - if that were the case, we may have been able to overtake Rabbit.
[ Pensive, thoughtful, but confident regardless - ] So long as we've gotten our feet under us, and don't lose that traction, I think we'll do better. We weren't able to catch Raven's killer, and that... bothers me, with so much information in front of us that has nowhere to go, now. But little else to be done but keep going.
[ But you... have his attention, unsurprisingly, as everything seems to snap to a point. ]
Brother Goat informed me that it was something like being in limbo - that when they are "removed", it is more literal than we think. They're being placed somewhere else. Brother Goat says they are alright, and there's a chance we can restore them when it's all said done - I would assume when we stabilize the Realm.
[ like being caught in between. like the ghosts who choose to linger, instead of move on.
it's very familiar, and very comforting, to know those they lose aren't necessarily lost. xie lian has the same mindset on death as any good taoist might - it is a natural part of life--but it doesn't worry him any less. ]
Swan did mention the winning team gets a wish. Perhaps that ties into it. [ Addressing the last point, first, because his mind is set on hyperfocus now as he goes through even that small amount of information.
The murders are cruel. They could very well be dangerous to the stability of the Realm. But to know that the Realm is casting a shadow, and a place for the dead to go to exists, is... interesting. He starts to strategize. ]
I see. So while we might have left the three realms that we knew, there's still something familiar in this place. Perhaps... hm. We'll need to know more.
It's almost a bit comforting. [ xie lian smiles a little as he thinks about it, tucking his hands into his sleeves. ] It means that we can focus as much as possible on returning those removed from the Realm back, when all is said and done.
I hope that the place they're being held is like Ghost City. [ this is said with a touch of fondness. ] I'm sure they would all enjoy it, very much, if it was.
I'm certain if Raven is the person that he was at the start, he would be thrilled to be in Ghost City. [ Schwann... he's not sure. But Hua Cheng shakes his head, a quirk of a smile offered in response to Xie Lian's fondness. ]
Perhaps the dead can learn more about the situation that we can't, from their different perspective. It will be interesting to see how this limbo they're in plays a part in everything - we know so little about the Realm itself, despite its rules and how it exists as this place of power. To know there's a shadow beyond it...
It almost feels a little less pressing, in some ways. Best to try and resolve the killings, regardless, since so many people here are mortal with no familiarity with life after death, and the murders have not been particularly kind in any way.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ he remembers! xie lian smiles, and feels the faint sensation of relief. that's good. to gain a memory back...xie lian's, selfishly, a little relieved for that, too. all of his experiences with san lang are so very precious, that he hopes neither of them forget them all. (even if here, it feels like a possibility.)
...but, focusing on the task ahead. ]
...Okay. I'm glad to hear that. That means that whoever we didn't catch probably wasn't on your team.... so we can eliminate Swan, and Goat. I learned from someone yesterday that Shima was on Fox - that leaves Rabbit, Wolf, and Tiger.
I think, based on the way the nova ranking came out this week, that we could probably safely assume that it's Wolf. Don't you?
no subject
[ Of course, they could be guessing well, participating actively, or had more than one party in the "expeditions." But to have held the position for so long..? ]
And because I learned that Cater was on Wolf, and yet they haven't moved once in three weeks. Sharon's death was in self defense, supposedly. Perhaps if Cater was her killer that secured them nova at the time before she was killed, herself, and this week's second killer...
no subject
[ unfortunately. he knows that one for sure. ] With the participation of the members of my team in the expedition, and a "successful killing", it makes sense that we rose so high - and conversely, that we did not, this week.
I think we're starting to get somewhere, as slowly as we are. It still leaves many mysteries, particularly with what Miss Elsa said, but... though today's victory was a bit hollow, I am glad that we were able to find the best possible outcome, at least for what happened with Laine.
[ ah. ] Mn - San Lang, I also learned something else, while I was working with Brother Goat this week. The dead, here... they're not actually dead. Actually, I think it's a bit like Ghost City.
no subject
Yes, with that, I think it does help explain how your team rose in the ranks. While Swan sounded sure that the report you found was not one kept by Goat, that doesn't absolve a teammate from a possible murder. And while my team rose this past week, I don't think it was through a killing - if that were the case, we may have been able to overtake Rabbit.
[ Pensive, thoughtful, but confident regardless - ] So long as we've gotten our feet under us, and don't lose that traction, I think we'll do better. We weren't able to catch Raven's killer, and that... bothers me, with so much information in front of us that has nowhere to go, now. But little else to be done but keep going.
[ But you... have his attention, unsurprisingly, as everything seems to snap to a point. ]
How so?
no subject
[ like being caught in between. like the ghosts who choose to linger, instead of move on.
it's very familiar, and very comforting, to know those they lose aren't necessarily lost. xie lian has the same mindset on death as any good taoist might - it is a natural part of life--but it doesn't worry him any less. ]
no subject
The murders are cruel. They could very well be dangerous to the stability of the Realm. But to know that the Realm is casting a shadow, and a place for the dead to go to exists, is... interesting. He starts to strategize. ]
I see. So while we might have left the three realms that we knew, there's still something familiar in this place. Perhaps... hm. We'll need to know more.
no subject
It's almost a bit comforting. [ xie lian smiles a little as he thinks about it, tucking his hands into his sleeves. ] It means that we can focus as much as possible on returning those removed from the Realm back, when all is said and done.
I hope that the place they're being held is like Ghost City. [ this is said with a touch of fondness. ] I'm sure they would all enjoy it, very much, if it was.
no subject
Perhaps the dead can learn more about the situation that we can't, from their different perspective. It will be interesting to see how this limbo they're in plays a part in everything - we know so little about the Realm itself, despite its rules and how it exists as this place of power. To know there's a shadow beyond it...
It almost feels a little less pressing, in some ways. Best to try and resolve the killings, regardless, since so many people here are mortal with no familiarity with life after death, and the murders have not been particularly kind in any way.