we_bring_hell: (Graphic: Hail to the Pumpkin Queen)
Harrowhark the Ninth ([personal profile] we_bring_hell) wrote2020-10-27 10:55 am

This is Halloween!

The Bar loves her holidays, but she is also capable of respecting religious strictures. That's why she put a lot of thought into finding a Halloween costume for Harrow that works with her face paint and general insistence on the monochromatic.

Harrow, for her part, is baffled by the white-pinstriped black suit and the oversized bow, but the gloves are very cool, and the buckled shoes suit as well. She has no idea what's going on but she can live with this.

The Bar seems even more unusually populated than usual, and there are a lot of gourds around. Hm.
acrookedpath: (halloween: sauntering vaguely downward)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-02 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
"Lan Zhan hated me when we first met," he says with a shrug that stirs the wings at his shoulders. "But -- you are right, I should not tease."

His smile softens.

"I am glad for you. Truly. That you are sworn to each other now in more ways than one."
acrookedpath: (red ribbon)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-02 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
He laughs. "Because I pestered him incessantly and never met a rule of Gusu Lan's I did not try to break. He drew his sword on me within five minutes of meeting. I cannot count how many times he called me 'obnoxious' and 'boring' when I was at lectures. I think by the time he had known me a year or two, I had climbed in his esteem to 'tolerable, but only just.'"

And then, as the years continued on... well.
acrookedpath: (slight smile)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-02 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Cheerfully, "It must be why I get along with her so well."

Though he has only met Gideon the barest handful of times, they clicked as if they had known each other for ages.

His smile grows more crooked as he adds, "I do remember you saying you cheated, when the two of you fought."
acrookedpath: (slight smile)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-05 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah." The lopsided smile persists. "That would explain why she asked first if I had sown the field with bones when we sparred."

Honestly, it's the sort of battle strategy Wei Wuxian might use himself, if he had Harrow's particular necromantic talents. Jiang Cheng might have even had to deal with a surprise skeleton jumping out of the ground to startle him every now and then, while Wei Wuxian laughed and laughed out of sight behind a door.

But there is a difference between lighthearted pranks or hard-fought wars, and the acrimony that marked Harrow and Gideon's relationship for so long.
acrookedpath: (tools of the patriarch)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-05 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
His smile, at last, finds secure footing again. "Yes! I did not give the resentful energy too much form for most of it, but I directed it around her to form as many targets as I could. And later she asked if I might recreate the construct from Canaan House. That was..."

He wiggles a hand as if to indicate the degree of difficulty.

"Not as simple. But a great test of how I may control the forest's resentful energy. And I hope it will help, whenever the two of you must return."
acrookedpath: (a different cultivation)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-05 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"Between your brilliance and her ferocity," he says, "I am certain you'll triumph."

He grabs one of the cupcakes, unwrapping the circle of pleated paper that covers its base.

"I am still curious about what might be controlling it, though. Or who. It is immensely powerful, from everything Gideon told me."
acrookedpath: (a different cultivation)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-05 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"It could be," he says, thoughtful. "What was the other construct she controlled?"
acrookedpath: (....go on.)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-06 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
A soundless ah.

"Yes. That's right. I still think of constructs as entirely bone; I forget it is possible for them to be fierce corpses as well." He rubs the side of his nose. "What would go into... hacking?"

(The context is clear, but the unfamiliar usage of the word tilts Wei Wuxian's voice upward a fraction, uncertain.)

"The theorems?"
acrookedpath: (....go on.)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-06 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"And it would require as much power as controlling a fierce corpse? Or more?"

He nibbles the edge of his cupcake.

"I would assume more for this construct in particular, since it is so large, but..."
acrookedpath: (....go on.)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-06 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
He nods, chewing on another bite of cupcake as he absorbs this.

"So if you attack her directly to cut off the power at its source, she will certainly have a means to survive the assault." His mouth twists, a little. "I know there have been few alliances, and they are fraught and difficult as is, but is there any chance at all the rest of Canaan House could be united against her, if they knew she has been responsible for the slaughter?"
acrookedpath: (tools of the patriarch)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-06 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Another nod.

"You know if there is anything I can do," he says. "Either to gather more proof, or to fight against her should the time come. I will assist however I can."
acrookedpath: (slight smile)

[personal profile] acrookedpath 2020-11-06 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes," he agrees. Polishing off the cupcake, he leans back to skate two fingers over the bartop. "Madam Bar, some wine, please?"

Pop. The usual white ceramic bottle materializes, with a tiny festive bow tied around its neck. He can't help but grin as he picks it up, inclining his head to Bar in thanks.

"Have you made any more progress there?" he asks as he uncaps the bottle.
Edited 2020-11-06 17:14 (UTC)

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-06 21:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-06 22:07 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-06 22:31 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-06 22:46 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-06 23:00 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-07 01:25 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-07 01:40 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-07 01:47 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-07 02:28 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-07 02:53 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-08 02:37 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] acrookedpath - 2020-11-09 13:26 (UTC) - Expand