[ ah. fresh impulse. the girl screams, and kaeya's brow furrows deeply. the sensation washes through him and immediately his feet are moving. she was speaking to someone behind her, as we're running, can we see who's accompanying her? shape and size at all? what her clothing might look like also? ]
Damn it--
[ the girl made their decision for them. oh well. ]
wasn't expecting that. is there any sign other than the footprints of people using this tunnel often? tools, or objects scattered around? is there anything useful for him to take? ]
[ some people don't just leave their tools lying around in empty tunnels, yuri. meanwhile, the girl risks a glance over her shoulder and shrieks again. ]
WHY ARE THE GHOSTS FOLLOWING MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?
[ as for the one she was talking to, they're only a little ways down the hall, but she overtakes them easily and just. keeps running? why is she still running. goodbye, i guess. there are others further back, that yelp with varying degrees of surprise as she scrambles to hide behind them.
the one man left behind looks a little too startled to run outright, staring at them like a deer caught in the headlights. he could pass for middle-aged, and he does manage to stumble a few steps back. ]
G-G-Get back!
[ ...very intimidating. he does have a sword, but can he even use it when he looks so spooked? ]
xie lian, very apologetic, puts both of his hands up. ] No, no, Miss, you misunderstand -
[ HOW IS THIS GOING SO BADLY. as the guy stumbles back, xie lian manages to at least skid to a stop, immediately trying to diffuse this, both of his hands up. he is a very gentle soul who exudes kindness and also clearly feels very bad for terrifying this poor little girl and also these people. stop he's the crown prince he's nice. ] Sir, I promise you, we mean you no harm - I'm most certainly not a ghost, none of us are...
[ oh god he's gotta stifle a chuckle at that. we love to see the enthusiasm. still. very serious face on, that man has a sword. ]
Please sir, lay down your weapon. Believe me when I say that we certainly weren't planning on dropping in so suddenly. All we're looking for is for some answers.
he doesn't drop the sword. in fact, rochalizo's gibbsmack seems to spur him into taking a proper stance? so they aren't ghosts, but then... ]
You came from the direction of the catacombs, didn't you? [ further back, the girl peers around the others to watch. ] We heard a collapse. Was it you? You came from above, didn't you?
[ xie lian has never been gibbsmacked in his entire life. he makes a surprised little ah! noise and then whips his head up, looking back, surprised?! and then back at the man, reaching up to rub the back of his head. ]
Ow... Yes, that's correct.
[ he's still trying to give off those very, very good vibes, other hand still held up in surrender. ] We followed the smell of fresh air to find out way here from the tunnel in the room we all fell in.
[ bro what are these fucking vibes. icky as hell. it has kaeya on tenterhooks and in turn he feeds a circle of it back. the man's stance has adjusted so kaeya just stands by to break something up if need be.
hopefully he'll feel like talking as they explain themselves further. for now he'll see if he's going to answer these few questions first. ]
[ as they speak, his eyes dart toward their weapons. the people in the back are pulling themselves together after the initial spook, drawing weapons of their own and stepping forward to join their comrade.
the young girl remains behind them, watching with wide, fearful eyes.]
You come from above. You bring weapons. [ the man's voice is strangely calm as he straightens his back. ] So you must understand why we can't take you at your word.
[ - a rumble shakes the cavern, prompting another to step forward, however hesitant. ]
Should we really be talking about this out here? Shouldn't we head back first, then deal with them? It's not safe out here, not this close to the catacombs.
[ i can't believe we're going to get kidnapped by this band of random npcs i hope this is completely off of what ray wants us to do.
xie lian doesn't seem to mind this, though, going for calm and soothing, too. he doesn't feel any fear - he's trying to diffuse the situation. ] We did fall - but it was from an accident, not by force. I have no interest in harming a soul.
Is there something dangerous, in the catacombs? [ what the fuck is a catacomb ]
[ kaeya sure would like to feel calm and collected, and it's battling rochalizo's curiosity. it's a brain fight. it's the worst. he settles for just being firm. ]
The structure foundations are weak. It's not safe. [ it's the girl who answers first, clutching at something around her neck. ] That's how they get through.
[ shushing from the others, and she falls silent, jaw set stubbornly. the man in front clears his throat. ]
Then we'll have to -
[ as if to prove a point, a resounding crash shakes the walls, echoing through the caverns. fear rolls over the group like a tidal wave, one immediately heading back to push the girl back from whence they came. the others plea for the last man, the de facto leader, to follow. ]
We can deal with this later, once we're behind the door!
Just bring them with us if you're so worried, Ranier!
Even if they are hellbound, it's not like they can hide it forever.
[ that strange, scraping sound starts to creep forward, and finally he relents. ]
...Quickly, then. All of you, go.
[ you'd best follow them while you can. the sound is only getting closer, and ranier seems intent on going last. ]
[ 'hellbound'. that's a new phrase. before xie lian can even really process it, though, curiosity rippling through his emotions, he hears that odd scraping sound and immediately turns towards it, hand going to his waist and curling around fang xin's handle. if they have to fight something here, they are going to fight it - he won't back down!
giving a quick look to the rest of the group, xie lian faces away from the fleeing group and starts to walk back with them, but draws his sword, as if making sure he'll be the last line of defense with the other three. time to save some common people! ]
Good sir - please, let us assist. Take care of your people, first.
[rochalizo is startled by the crash, but xie lian withdrawing sword prompts rochalizo to point his gun in the direction of the source, walking back as well as he aims.]
It really is trouble wherever one goes around here.
If one of you hands me a sword I can help them make short work of this. And we can all get answers. Please.
[ he's holding out his hand. yeah, he knows that none of you mole people trust him, but he's not going to run away from this fight. sure he has his coin, but he'd like something a little more tactile if he can manage it. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Oh - Miss, wait! Please, we don't mean you any harm!
[
yeah of course he's going after her. bye! ]
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[yeah he's also running after her. this probably doesn't make them look any less threatening when he's still holding a gun]
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Damn it--
[ the girl made their decision for them. oh well. ]
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wow.
wasn't expecting that. is there any sign other than the footprints of people using this tunnel often? tools, or objects scattered around? is there anything useful for him to take? ]
Guess we're following them then.
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WHY ARE THE GHOSTS FOLLOWING MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?
[ as for the one she was talking to, they're only a little ways down the hall, but she overtakes them easily and just. keeps running? why is she still running. goodbye, i guess. there are others further back, that yelp with varying degrees of surprise as she scrambles to hide behind them.
the one man left behind looks a little too startled to run outright, staring at them like a deer caught in the headlights. he could pass for middle-aged, and he does manage to stumble a few steps back. ]
G-G-Get back!
[ ...very intimidating. he does have a sword, but can he even use it when he looks so spooked? ]
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xie lian, very apologetic, puts both of his hands up. ] No, no, Miss, you misunderstand -
[ HOW IS THIS GOING SO BADLY. as the guy stumbles back, xie lian manages to at least skid to a stop, immediately trying to diffuse this, both of his hands up. he is a very gentle soul who exudes kindness and also clearly feels very bad for terrifying this poor little girl and also these people. stop he's the crown prince he's nice. ] Sir, I promise you, we mean you no harm - I'm most certainly not a ghost, none of us are...
[ that's my cousin! not me!!! ]
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rochalizo raises a hand and thwaps xie lian on the back of his head. not exactly lightly either, but at least he's a twink so it's not that hard.]
See? He's corporeal. Clearly not a ghost.
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Please sir, lay down your weapon. Believe me when I say that we certainly weren't planning on dropping in so suddenly. All we're looking for is for some answers.
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Ow
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anyway.
he doesn't drop the sword. in fact, rochalizo's gibbsmack seems to spur him into taking a proper stance? so they aren't ghosts, but then... ]
You came from the direction of the catacombs, didn't you? [ further back, the girl peers around the others to watch. ] We heard a collapse. Was it you? You came from above, didn't you?
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Ow... Yes, that's correct.
[ he's still trying to give off those very, very good vibes, other hand still held up in surrender. ] We followed the smell of fresh air to find out way here from the tunnel in the room we all fell in.
[ they are all probably still a bit dusty?? ]
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We're looking for a way out. [...] We heard rumbling where we came from. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?
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hopefully he'll feel like talking as they explain themselves further. for now he'll see if he's going to answer these few questions first. ]
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the young girl remains behind them, watching with wide, fearful eyes.]
You come from above. You bring weapons. [ the man's voice is strangely calm as he straightens his back. ] So you must understand why we can't take you at your word.
[ - a rumble shakes the cavern, prompting another to step forward, however hesitant. ]
Should we really be talking about this out here? Shouldn't we head back first, then deal with them? It's not safe out here, not this close to the catacombs.
[ a murmur of agreement from the others. ]
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[ i can't believe we're going to get kidnapped by this band of random npcs i hope this is completely off of what ray wants us to do.
xie lian doesn't seem to mind this, though, going for calm and soothing, too. he doesn't feel any fear - he's trying to diffuse the situation. ] We did fall - but it was from an accident, not by force. I have no interest in harming a soul.
Is there something dangerous, in the catacombs? [ what the fuck is a catacomb ]
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Catacombs? Who is buried here?
[unlike xie lian, rochalizo is not particularly trying to defuse the situation. fuck you, curiosity first.]
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[ kaeya sure would like to feel calm and collected, and it's battling rochalizo's curiosity. it's a brain fight. it's the worst. he settles for just being firm. ]
Does Alomé Meunie mean something to you?
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[ shushing from the others, and she falls silent, jaw set stubbornly. the man in front clears his throat. ]
Then we'll have to -
[ as if to prove a point, a resounding crash shakes the walls, echoing through the caverns. fear rolls over the group like a tidal wave, one immediately heading back to push the girl back from whence they came. the others plea for the last man, the de facto leader, to follow. ]
We can deal with this later, once we're behind the door!
Just bring them with us if you're so worried, Ranier!
Even if they are hellbound, it's not like they can hide it forever.
[ that strange, scraping sound starts to creep forward, and finally he relents. ]
...Quickly, then. All of you, go.
[ you'd best follow them while you can. the sound is only getting closer, and ranier seems intent on going last. ]
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giving a quick look to the rest of the group, xie lian faces away from the fleeing group and starts to walk back with them, but draws his sword, as if making sure he'll be the last line of defense with the other three. time to save some common people! ]
Good sir - please, let us assist. Take care of your people, first.
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It really is trouble wherever one goes around here.
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If one of you hands me a sword I can help them make short work of this. And we can all get answers. Please.
[ he's holding out his hand. yeah, he knows that none of you mole people trust him, but he's not going to run away from this fight. sure he has his coin, but he'd like something a little more tactile if he can manage it. ]
Let us help you.
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yuri just shakes out his arm, dein nomos unravelling from the leather string he carries it by, and he flips the sword up to catch it by the handle. ]
I’m kinda curious what’s got you running so scared myself.
[ “hellbound”…. that sounds like a whole other level of complicated and mysterious. ]