[closed post] war council

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe wants to find and kill Aornis immediately, and if Shen Yuan's death was more recent, he would do so. But he's had time to ruminate on what happened, and speaking to Shen Yuan through Lan Wangji—and watching his new body grow—has settled some of the frantic animal need for revenge. His rage has not dimmed in the slightest. But he has some practice enduring it while he waits for his time.

The fact is that Luo Binghe already fought Aornis once and lost. And that was two against one, with Shen Yuan at his side. He has some idea of why—Shen Yuan lost his cultivation, and Xin Mo turned on him—but since he cannot remember, there could have been other factors. And since Lan Wangji has concealed information from him before on this matter, he cannot rashly charge into a fight without ensuring he knows everything there is to know.

Thus, he is looking for Magnus. This would be so much easier if the mansion were like Luo Binghe's palace, where all his wives and inner circle have taken his blood. How can anyone tolerate how inefficient it is to look for people?

Comments

[summerdude]

Magnus hesitates. "Are you open to talking to Hanguang-jun?" he asks. "And, like. Claudius? I don't know if I know everything they do about... her." He hasn't asked, because it's overwhelming and he only wants to know if she's, like, actively coming after someone else he loves. "I've been focusing more on Shen Yuan." Don't tell Luo Binghe about the dick pics, Chase!!!

[protagonisthalo]

"I am. Are they willing to talk to me?"

[summerdude]

"Yeah, of course," says Magnus, with perhaps a little too much confidence. They both know that Luo Binghe lost his love and has a vested interest in this thing.

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe gives him a skeptical look. Claudius, perhaps. Lan Wangji wouldn't spit on Luo Binghe if he were on fire, and Luo Binghe has no interest in persuading him otherwise. "In case they are not, I'd be indebted if you could ask them for me. And I have another question I think you are more suited to answer."

[summerdude]

"Yeah, I can be Diplomatic Envoy Guy," says Magnus. "Tell them to meet you... somewhere. Lakehouse after breakfast tomorrow?"

[protagonisthalo]

"Alright. What can you tell me about the murderer's weapon?"

[summerdude]

"When she got me, it was with a sword," says Magnus, promptly. "I don't know if anyone recognized the kind. When she got Shen Yuan... Listen. The memories were really hazy, but it looked like a gun just, like, hovering in midair. Maybe a pistol? I don't know a lot about kinds of guns beyond, like, my buddy TJ's rifle. I don't know." He frowns. "Maybe she was actually holding it and I just don't remember that part????"

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe frowns. "How does it work? I have seen a gun before—Nina's. But I know not how to fight it."

[summerdude]

"There's no good way, guns are the worst. You'll want it out of commission somehow. Some way of getting it out of her hands and away from the scene. Bullets are fast and you can't, like, stop them." Grimly, Magnus thinks that it's likely the Peace of Frey could probably do the trick... but he really doesn't want to be involved unless he absolutely has to. Maybe Hanguang-jun could use his music? That does a shockwave too, right?

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe nods; this is very helpful. In case Magnus is worried, he adds, "If she does hit me, I heal quickly. She got to Shen Yuan by blocking his cultivation, but my resilience is inborn, not cultivated. She cannot affect it with coincidence."

[summerdude]

Magnus feels compelled to say, "I have... this ability. Peace of Frey. It disarms anyone within a thirty-foot radius of all weapons. But that includes allies, so it's probably not a great solution."

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe hesitates. "It could be useful. If we faced each other without weapons, I would undoubtedly be the stronger. But... Do you intend to fight with me? I had anticipated doing so alone."

[summerdude]

"I don't want to," he admits. "But if I have to, I will. You... you really shouldn't fight her alone."

[protagonisthalo]

"I'm used to it."

[summerdude]

"Dude," says Magnus, very seriously. "No man is an island." There's, like, an entire movie about it^*. "And if I've learned anything from all the battles I've fought, the easiest way to overcome someone who doesn't have people -- like Loki; he had an army but they didn't care about him or his reasons, they just cared about stirring things up -- is by having a community." His hand flexes into a fist, fingernails biting into his palm. "She doesn't have people. You need to have people. If I have to be 'people...' if Hanguang-jun can't help... I will."


*He's thinking about About a Boy.

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe has to swallow back the sudden tightness of his throat. "What you say is reasonable. And... very kind. I hope it will not come to that." Shen Yuan wouldn't like to see Magnus in danger. And Luo Binghe wouldn't either.

[summerdude]

"It would be so stupid for you to die trying to avenge Shen Yuan," says Magnus, stoutly. "So don't. I'm pretty sure anyone here would be willing to help in some way, honestly, given everything she's done."