catch-all for shang qinghua.

[selfimmolates]

Comments

week 3; saturday

[selfimmolates]

[hi, sqh. i'm not going to bother with a setting.]

So Advancement Opportunity was used on you, huh? If that's true, you left that part out of your explanation before.

[nosediving]

[who cares about settings?]

Would it have changed anything? Either way, I was going to defect.

[selfimmolates]

No, but it would've been nice to know.

[nosediving]

. . . I'll remember, so I don't do it again.

[selfimmolates]

If you get hit by Advancement Opportunity again, that'd—well, I wouldn't say it'd be bad luck, because it'd be probably intentional.

Haven't pissed off anyone recently, have you?

[nosediving]

Not to my knowledge. Given the way this contest works, though, there doesn't have to be a personal reason when choosing someone.

[selfimmolates]

Mm-hmm.

... So, a jar?

[nosediving]

[ he stiffens. ]

You heard that?

[selfimmolates]

I try to keep my ears open.

[nosediving]

It's really nothing important. By next week, the bruises will have faded and the matter will be behind us.

[selfimmolates]

Which means that it wasn't just a jar randomly falling on you.

[nosediving]

Huh?

Of course not. How could a falling jar leave such a clean mark on both arms? But what happened has no relevance to the trials, so it shouldn't matter.

[selfimmolates]

You do realize no one's going to let it drop just like that, right? And it's not going to be a good look for you if another mysterious injury shows up next week.

[nosediving]

It won't happen again. [ he pauses. ] Probably.

. . . Young man, could it be that you're concerned for this one?

[selfimmolates]

I mean, sure.

[nosediving]

Really?

[ he visibly balks at that, but is quick to gather himself. ]

I see. That is . . . good news.

[selfimmolates]

... Uh, are you okay?

[nosediving]

[ yes! he nods a few times. clearly, once wasn't enough. ]

Don't worry. Injuries like the ones I have today shouldn't be happening again anytime soon.

More importantly, are you all right? I realize that you're used to looking after yourself, but I'd like to hear how you've been doing regardless.

[selfimmolates]

I'm fine.

[he'll never admit to being anything else??]

[nosediving]

[oof.]

As expected. Your independence is truly admirable.

[selfimmolates]

[he shrugs.]

It's just how I am.