But that does not mean that we cannot work together, or that we cannot have partnerships or familiarity. Camaraderie does not need such absolute terms as trust or loyalty. Keeping one's cards to the chest and making mutually beneficial agreements are not incompatible ideas. That is the healthy relationship of those with power to be used.
That is far more trustworthy than the absolute sort of trust in a single, ever-changing individual with flaws and weaknesses. Don't you think?
i understand where you're coming from, gongzi, but isn't that a little too cynical? you don't have to trust me, i'm not asking for that.
but seeing relationships in this way... the stakes are not that high here. we can be genuine friends and enjoy each other's company without using each other.
"the healthy relationship of those with power to be used" you said. whose power? our innate abilities or the power we hold over other people, the power they hold over us?
Cynism requires that one has put that emotion behind their choices.
But you are incorrect. The stakes here are quite high. After all, we have all been trapped within this powerful ayakashi, and it is clear that many more have been affected before us. Who can say how massive an influence it has had thus far? It is the utmost priority.
And of course, I am referring to all forms of power. Not simply money, not influence, not that which exists in you and I. It is all connected.
Ah, by the by, we were not speaking of trust in you, Wei Wuxian-san. Is that what you are really concerned with?
[ ayakashi... has he mentioned that word before? it doesn't ring familiar to wei wuxian but then again, his memory is pretty bad. it must mean something like monster though, for the context matoba uses it in. ]
you think the resort is malicious?
i'm not concerned about your trust in me, matoba seiji. like i said, you don't have to trust me if you don't want to. i don't exactly trust you either.
[A word that encompasses all that is not human- gods and ghosts, demons and phenomena, spirits of all kinds- it is so easy to compartmentalize all that is "other", when you have a neat word for it.]
Yes. Although, what I have learned somewhat recently is that the situation may be a little more complicated than I had anticipated. I am still striving to study whether or not this realm has a true consciousness controlling it.
I see? That is to be expected. Very good. Then, we are on the same page.
I dare you to travel down to the basement staff maintenance levels below the 2-floor rooms, and explore it for around an hour. Then, please report back to me what you experience there.
[A task he would consider too dangerous for a normal human, but given Wei Wuxian's revealed nature, he thinks that he should be able to handle himself- and perceive enough that he may notice things that Matoba missed because he blacked out the last time he tried to do this, it's fine :)]
[ He did explore it a bit when he and Lan Wangji went and found the heart. But then they were tossed out and he hasn't been back since. He's not sure he wants to do this exactly but not out of fear, more... laziness? This is going to take a lot of effort on his part to navigate, damnit.
So, Wei Wuxian goes to explore. His trip is uneventful but what shakes him to the core are the whispers. The accusations. The strange feeling he heard Wen Qing's voice on the wind. It leaves him upset and frustrated and angry at the hotel but that's nothing he's going to tell Matoba.
[Laziness is a better problem to have than threat to life and limb, look on the bright side! ...Although, perhaps that's still an issue even for a demonic cultivator. Better equipped than most, though.]
That is a shame. I suspect that it has been hidden away more thoroughly this time, but I wondered if you might be able to sense it on inspection.
I also had something else in mind, however. Upon one of my inspections of the basement areas, I once came upon an abandoned device. Something like the "pods" in Mating Season, if you have attended their dating services.
However, this one was labeled "punishment" something or other. I don't remember it well, because I was knocked unconscious by a strong force soon thereafter and reawoke in the 2nd floor hall.
I wondered if you might come upon it as well, and survive a little longer. Oh, well.
[ he doesn't know what to say to that. truthfully, he didn't dig too deeply into the basement level because those voices came before he got too far in and then it just left him feeling miserable. so, he kind of just stopped in a corner and waited out the hour, eyes closed and breathing tight.
maybe he should have been more curious. ahhh, well, there's always next time. because, of course, there will be a next time. ]
why do you care about the malevolent energy surrounding me?
Why? Because it is my purpose, after all. Malevolence attracts malevolence. You are a danger to those around you if the riffraff that cause illness and disaster gather in your wake.
Normally such ayakashi happily gather together in crowds, but you are a strange and unfortunate situation wherein they may gather despite your sense of self. But interestingly, not unique. There is someone similar to you in this resort. I never would have expected that, prior to now.
Another man corrupted by malice who yet retains strong human will. Though unlike you, his corruption was his own doing.
[He doesn't think the similarities between Wei Wuxian and Rokurou end there, but he's yet to investigate those suspicions fully... Consider that part [pending] :)]
Haha, well that is simple to answer. As I explained, so long as your malevolence remains contained, your skills are far more a boon to a shared goal of escaping this realm.
So long as that scale remains balanced, I am fine to live and let live. Understand?
[Matoba doesn't think he's very difficult to understand (an unbiased source if there ever was one!), but he gets this reaction a lot. Oh well! He won't concern himself with it any further for now.]
I believe we have one round remaining. I will take another truth for my last turn.
I'd have to do some proper research first, wouldn't I? While I know of some stories from the mainland, I am not familiar with every variety of spirit and monster, even in my own.
But for the most part, all corpses are susceptible to burning. That is purification in its most basic form. So, I suppose I would go with such a technique.
initially, yes. i didn't want to live anymore when i died. i didn't want to burden the world with my existence.
now, i have a second chance. i have a family again. i have my zhiji. i don't want to lose them. so, i will hold onto this new life with all that i can.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matoba / truth or dare overflow
i can't believe he still insulted you while giving you a compliment. incredible work.
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Trust is an unnecessary skill for working in the exorcism business.
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i bet this means you don't trust me at all, do you?
[ which is. OBVIOUS. considering their weird back and forth since his arrival. ]
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But that does not mean that we cannot work together, or that we cannot have partnerships or familiarity. Camaraderie does not need such absolute terms as trust or loyalty. Keeping one's cards to the chest and making mutually beneficial agreements are not incompatible ideas. That is the healthy relationship of those with power to be used.
That is far more trustworthy than the absolute sort of trust in a single, ever-changing individual with flaws and weaknesses. Don't you think?
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i understand where you're coming from, gongzi, but isn't that a little too cynical? you don't have to trust me, i'm not asking for that.
but seeing relationships in this way... the stakes are not that high here. we can be genuine friends and enjoy each other's company without using each other.
"the healthy relationship of those with power to be used" you said. whose power? our innate abilities or the power we hold over other people, the power they hold over us?
it all just seems a bit too taxing to me.
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But you are incorrect. The stakes here are quite high. After all, we have all been trapped within this powerful ayakashi, and it is clear that many more have been affected before us. Who can say how massive an influence it has had thus far? It is the utmost priority.
And of course, I am referring to all forms of power. Not simply money, not influence, not that which exists in you and I. It is all connected.
Ah, by the by, we were not speaking of trust in you, Wei Wuxian-san. Is that what you are really concerned with?
Actually I decided 2/2
oh my god
you think the resort is malicious?
i'm not concerned about your trust in me, matoba seiji. like i said, you don't have to trust me if you don't want to. i don't exactly trust you either.
[ just to... level set, he supposes. ]
i'll go with dare this time.
a normal reaction to Matoba lectures
Yes. Although, what I have learned somewhat recently is that the situation may be a little more complicated than I had anticipated. I am still striving to study whether or not this realm has a true consciousness controlling it.
I see? That is to be expected. Very good. Then, we are on the same page.
I dare you to travel down to the basement staff maintenance levels below the 2-floor rooms, and explore it for around an hour. Then, please report back to me what you experience there.
[A task he would consider too dangerous for a normal human, but given Wei Wuxian's revealed nature, he thinks that he should be able to handle himself- and perceive enough that he may notice things that Matoba missed
because he blacked out the last time he tried to do this, it's fine :)]no subject
[ He did explore it a bit when he and Lan Wangji went and found the heart. But then they were tossed out and he hasn't been back since. He's not sure he wants to do this exactly but not out of fear, more... laziness? This is going to take a lot of effort on his part to navigate, damnit.
So, Wei Wuxian goes to explore. His trip is uneventful but what shakes him to the core are the whispers. The accusations. The strange feeling he heard Wen Qing's voice on the wind. It leaves him upset and frustrated and angry at the hotel but that's nothing he's going to tell Matoba.
So, an hour or so later, the text comes. ]
not great down there
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A very broad statement. But not untrue.
Did you find it?
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I also had something else in mind, however. Upon one of my inspections of the basement areas, I once came upon an abandoned device. Something like the "pods" in Mating Season, if you have attended their dating services.
However, this one was labeled "punishment" something or other. I don't remember it well, because I was knocked unconscious by a strong force soon thereafter and reawoke in the 2nd floor hall.
I wondered if you might come upon it as well, and survive a little longer. Oh, well.
My turn. I'll take a truth.
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maybe he should have been more curious. ahhh, well, there's always next time. because, of course, there will be a next time. ]
why do you care about the malevolent energy surrounding me?
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Normally such ayakashi happily gather together in crowds, but you are a strange and unfortunate situation wherein they may gather despite your sense of self. But interestingly, not unique. There is someone similar to you in this resort. I never would have expected that, prior to now.
Your turn.
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and truth, i'd rather not do a dare again.
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[He doesn't think the similarities between Wei Wuxian and Rokurou end there, but he's yet to investigate those suspicions fully... Consider that part [pending] :)]
Is that so? A bit of a shame. Here is one, then.
Why are you so concerned with my cynicism?
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[ he might want to seek out this man later, see exactly what matoba is talking about. but he's not going to ask for his name just yet.
anyway, the answer to his question is easy. ]
i want to understand if you're a threat to me or not.
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So long as that scale remains balanced, I am fine to live and let live. Understand?
[Matoba doesn't think he's very difficult to understand (an unbiased source if there ever was one!), but he gets this reaction a lot. Oh well! He won't concern himself with it any further for now.]
I believe we have one round remaining. I will take another truth for my last turn.
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It's the grey area of his words that has Wei Wuxian worried. What does it mean to keep it malevolence contained? ]
alright. i understand.
and for truth, if you were to kill me how would you do it?
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But for the most part, all corpses are susceptible to burning. That is purification in its most basic form. So, I suppose I would go with such a technique.
Your last turn, now. Make it a good one.
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truth.
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Would you rather you had not returned to the living, Wei Wuxian-san?
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now, i have a second chance. i have a family again. i have my zhiji. i don't want to lose them. so, i will hold onto this new life with all that i can.
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And are you holding on for you? Or for them?
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