catch-all for shang qinghua.

[selfimmolates]

Comments

[selfimmolates]

That's surprisingly forward of you.

Anyway, what have you tried already?

[nosediving]

Short of writing on them, I've attempted all the conventional methods. There don't seem to be hidden words, and . . . Well, all that's left to do is write, and I don't want to waste these with meaningless words.

[selfimmolates]

Just to make sure, have you asked Fortune what to do?

[nosediving]

It's been a while since we spoke . . .

[selfimmolates]

Maybe you should ask.

[nosediving]

With you here, there's no need. Quickly now, young man—let's solve the meaning of these scrolls!

[selfimmolates]

She would know better than me, you know... but fine, let me see if I can think of anything.

[nosediving]

[shang qinghua observes ray, having exhausted his own options. no hidden message (written and audible), no difference in taste from ordinary scrolls. he's certain they need to write on it, but, like he'd said, he doesn't know what to write.]

[selfimmolates]

... You don't have any idea what to write? I mean, this is your item.

[jan is delaying,]

[nosediving]

I've only just begun to seriously involve myself in the contest. My knowledge is too limited to waste this gift.

[jae can wait.]

[selfimmolates]

All right, let's start from somewhere else: have you used your ability before this? Do you have any hint as to what this could be for?

[nosediving]

This is the first time. I could not risk using this ability when there was a rule against taking items out of a room. [anyone observant enough to notice something new on him would have figured out his alignment right away.] I was given this pair of scrolls and nothing else, not even a word of instruction.

[selfimmolates]

... Why didn't you just use it in the courtyard, then? But too late now, I guess.

[nosediving]

It wasn't a matter of not being able to remove the item. If I'd used it and someone had noticed the discrepancy from the information beneath my statue, depending on the item created by the ability, my alignment to Great Fortune would have been too obvious.

[selfimmolates]

That makes sense, except then you did a terrible job of hiding it now, unless you weren't even trying.

[nosediving]

If I seclude myself out of mistrust, I will truly have failed as a participant. I don't mind revealing myself to a handful of us. It would only be a potential problem if everyone knew.

[selfimmolates]

[but why trust the kid with the gun.

but fine. ray accepts that answer, so he thinks.]

They came in a pair, so I wonder... Try writing anything down on one of them, like "Hi."

[nosediving]

[because he doesn't want the gun pointed at him.

this is what he wanted to avoid . . . hi? what a waste of a nice, clean scroll! but shang qinghua acquiesces and jots down the characters for hello.

phew, if only it were as quick and easy as english. in real time, the same characters appear on the other scroll!]

[selfimmolates]

... I thought so. They're for communication.

[nosediving]

Then it's good that you're here with me. Why don't you take this one?

[selfimmolates]

Really? Don't have anyone else in the temple you'd rather talk to?

[nosediving]

What good is confiding in someone if I offer nothing in return? You can consider this a token of my appreciation for your help. Besides, I won't have to explain myself if I just give it to you.

[selfimmolates]

Then I won't turn it down. Thanks.

[except why would he ever want to talk to this guy.]

[nosediving]

[listen,]

These are the first and last items I'll have made with Great Fortune's blessing . . . After this week, I won't be her follower.

[selfimmolates]

Figured. It'd be kind of a dumb move to remain her follower after outing yourself.