[ He grumbles unintelligibly for a moment, then glares mildly at his brother to make a point. ]
People who are intelligent and stubborn to do what needs done.
You got revenge as is right. Did you destroy our sect? Our people? I think not, A-Sang. I believe you did enough so that going forward, people can move on better.
[Huaisang doesn’t feel an iota of guilt for what he did, not one bit, but the thought of telling Mingjue…
They’re more alike than people might think. Stubbornness for one, a sense of justice. Huaisang’s moral compass is just a little bit more skewed.]
I figured it out almost right away, that he was responsible. I remembered when I played Cleansing to calm you and you’d — [Slaughtered poor Nie Zonghui. He doesn’t say this. His poor Da-ge had wept so bitterly for the lives lost then.] I remembered what happened, how you got worse.
I bid my time. I acted like a fool. Worse — like I couldn’t do anything at all for myself. And I plotted, and schemed, and I found a piece of you. Your body had gone missing, and I searched the very day you died until years later I finally found a single piece - your arm.
I knew I couldn’t suppress or exorcise the resentful energy coming off of you, so I guided a different bastard son of Jin Guangshan to give his body over to Wei Wuxian’s soul. Your arm slaughtered the Mo family…I may have thrown it into the village to bait Wei, but I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist figuring out who the arm belonged to.
[Not his brother’s favorite person, buuuuut ends justify the means and all.]
I wanted the world to burn, Da-ge. So I set everything in motion to expose your killer and find the rest of your body. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji followed every lead I planted, every hint I dropped, every little crumb I threw them.
Don't blame yourself for playing a skewed Cleansing. [ Most important to him is that his brother doesn't blame himself for not knowing.
But then he listens. While he doesn't like how his brother had used his arm to get things started, or that Huaisang had manipulated someone into such a sacrifice to bring Wei Wuxian back to life. Just because he doesn't like that man doesn't mean he can't see the benefit of having done so for revenge.
His beloved brother, who'd wanted to burn the world. To cleanse it, in a way. ]
I do not take back my words. You did what you had to for the better of our people. In war, deaths are expected on all sides involved.
[For the first time in what feels like forever, Huaisang can feel himself smiling. Really smiling. Tears blur his vision but it doesn't matter, his brother thinks he did well!
His brother thinks he did well.]
I braided your hair.
[He doesn't know why he thinks to say it, but it seems important.
The mental image is also something, Mingjue's severed head in his lap, Huaisang meticulously putting the signature Nie braids back into his long hair.]
[ Shell or not, certain things just must be done or seen to. Just as he's certain now that Huaisang had stitched his body back together and dressed him as he should be for his last resting place. ]
It would be my prize in exchange for helping another poor, lost soul.
[And it would keep him from going completely mad from the piss poor company he’s been forced to keep on the Barge. Xue Yang and Jin Guangyao. Gods help him.]
Life’s felt hollow since you died. I thought if you came back — you’d annoy me, and boss me around, but I’d have your company again.
[Mingjue will find no argument from Huaisang there. He wants nothing to do with either of them, unless it's to continue finding ways to make them unhappy. He's very skilled at that.
He smiles softly at the thought of going home to his brother. He could care for his da-ge for once, let him pursue his passions and live without a care in the world.
...well. Live with fewer worries in any case. Huaisang's not a miracle worker.
A soft smile still on his face, he bows his head.]
Mingjue likes figuring out the best ways for their people to have what they need. He enjoys the thrill of fighting and Night Hunts, in keeping their people safe. Without a war going on, maybe together they can figure out a better way for the Nie to not die quite so young.
...Guanyin's mercy, his brother hasn't given him that smile in far too many years. He huffs just a little, but feels himself smiling back. He's a hard man, but he does love his younger brother fiercely. ]
A-Sang. Do your best. I will handle things on this side.
I know you will. [As though Mingjue could do anything but take care of things.
Out of sight of the camera he grabs his fan and twists. Who knows how long it will be until he sees this man again? Who can tell if his schemes will even work this time?]
I’ll never stop trying to bring you back to me. That’s my promise to you. [And to himself. Mingjue will live the life that was stolen from him.]
And be kind to the brother you have with you now. He thinks you hung the moon and stars, even if you nag him about his duties to the sect.
That unknown span of time is the driving force behind keeping Mingjue in his seat. Yes, he has a duty to his people, and in finding the brother he has on his side of this spell.
But he also has a duty to this brother. And he will see it through as long as they have. Maybe it'll all be for nothing, and nothing changes. But that won't stop either of them from trying. ]
I will find my way back to you, one way or another. This will not be the last time we speak. [ Even if everything still goes wrong, they'll speak in the next life.
He grins then and chuckles. ]
Who's to say I don't? [ He is the elder brother. He's supposed to be the example, the reason the heavens move and their world is safe!
Even if this one knows the sad truth that he is only one man, and a man with very little time ahead of him. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-08-17 07:50 pm (UTC)But he shakes his head, sharply. ]
I would still have chosen to cultivate with the saber. That has always been my plan in life, to protect our people with my strength.
[ However. The Wen sect is essentially gone now. ]
But that strength isn't so badly needed now. Our people need those like you.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-17 08:34 pm (UTC)People like me. [Vicious little liars, that’s him.]
I took my revenge. I destroyed everything. Everything. It’s all wiped clean now.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-17 08:38 pm (UTC)People who are intelligent and stubborn to do what needs done.
You got revenge as is right. Did you destroy our sect? Our people? I think not, A-Sang. I believe you did enough so that going forward, people can move on better.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-17 10:27 pm (UTC)You don’t know what I did.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-17 10:58 pm (UTC)[ He's not above throwing Huaisang's words back at him if necessary. But he doesn't say it just yet. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-08-17 11:21 pm (UTC)They’re more alike than people might think. Stubbornness for one, a sense of justice. Huaisang’s moral compass is just a little bit more skewed.]
I figured it out almost right away, that he was responsible. I remembered when I played Cleansing to calm you and you’d — [Slaughtered poor Nie Zonghui. He doesn’t say this. His poor Da-ge had wept so bitterly for the lives lost then.] I remembered what happened, how you got worse.
I bid my time. I acted like a fool. Worse — like I couldn’t do anything at all for myself. And I plotted, and schemed, and I found a piece of you. Your body had gone missing, and I searched the very day you died until years later I finally found a single piece - your arm.
I knew I couldn’t suppress or exorcise the resentful energy coming off of you, so I guided a different bastard son of Jin Guangshan to give his body over to Wei Wuxian’s soul. Your arm slaughtered the Mo family…I may have thrown it into the village to bait Wei, but I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist figuring out who the arm belonged to.
[Not his brother’s favorite person, buuuuut ends justify the means and all.]
I wanted the world to burn, Da-ge. So I set everything in motion to expose your killer and find the rest of your body. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji followed every lead I planted, every hint I dropped, every little crumb I threw them.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-17 11:47 pm (UTC)But then he listens. While he doesn't like how his brother had used his arm to get things started, or that Huaisang had manipulated someone into such a sacrifice to bring Wei Wuxian back to life. Just because he doesn't like that man doesn't mean he can't see the benefit of having done so for revenge.
His beloved brother, who'd wanted to burn the world. To cleanse it, in a way. ]
I do not take back my words. You did what you had to for the better of our people. In war, deaths are expected on all sides involved.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 12:25 am (UTC)He dips his head softly.]
He had your head in his trophy room. He had to die.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 12:38 am (UTC)Mingjue closes his eyes at that detail. ]
But you found all parts of my body and put me back together. Exposed him and dealt with his end.
[ Reopening his eyes, he stares hard at his brother. ]
You did well.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 01:12 am (UTC)His brother thinks he did well.]
I braided your hair.
[He doesn't know why he thinks to say it, but it seems important.
The mental image is also something, Mingjue's severed head in his lap, Huaisang meticulously putting the signature Nie braids back into his long hair.]
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 01:41 am (UTC)The odd comment suddenly brings a grin to his lips. Ridiculous, and yet so very Nie. ]
I was going to ask if you had.
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Date: 2023-08-18 02:15 am (UTC)[Even if his brother was just a shell of himself, he was still his brother. If he was going to put him in a tomb he needed to look like a Nie.
It's so good to see him smile.]
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 02:22 am (UTC)[ Shell or not, certain things just must be done or seen to. Just as he's certain now that Huaisang had stitched his body back together and dressed him as he should be for his last resting place. ]
Was the resentment cleansed in the end?
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 02:37 am (UTC)No one was able to put your corpse to rest, Da-ge. The resentful energy was too strong. We sealed you away as best we could.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 02:41 am (UTC)I hope no more trouble is caused so you won't have to worry.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 02:46 am (UTC)Trouble follows me, but I can handle it. I'm capable.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 02:53 am (UTC)You are Nie and my brother. Of course you are capable.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 11:03 am (UTC)…nah. This is better. His brother sees him now, what he’ll become.]
I’m an inmate now, but one day I may be a warden. If that happens — would you be angry if I brought you back to life?
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Date: 2023-08-18 05:07 pm (UTC)He tilts his head at that question. It's not as easy as wishes.
But. ]
If in doing so you are not harmed, no I would not be angry.
[ Because he will always be Huaisang's older brother, no matter how great their ages shift because of the strange powers here. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-08-18 11:28 pm (UTC)[And it would keep him from going completely mad from the piss poor company he’s been forced to keep on the Barge. Xue Yang and Jin Guangyao. Gods help him.]
Life’s felt hollow since you died. I thought if you came back — you’d annoy me, and boss me around, but I’d have your company again.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-05 01:14 am (UTC)As long as it would not be Xue Yang or Jin Guangyao.
[ So shoot him. He doesn't want his brother to have to deal with either of those two. He's learned the hard way that there can be no saving them.
The last bit chases the worst of the ire away and he snorts, lips twitching into a smirk. ]
I would. [ And Huaisang wouldn't be alone. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-09-05 02:08 am (UTC)He smiles softly at the thought of going home to his brother. He could care for his da-ge for once, let him pursue his passions and live without a care in the world.
...well. Live with fewer worries in any case. Huaisang's not a miracle worker.
A soft smile still on his face, he bows his head.]
Da-ge...thank you.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-05 02:19 am (UTC)Mingjue likes figuring out the best ways for their people to have what they need. He enjoys the thrill of fighting and Night Hunts, in keeping their people safe. Without a war going on, maybe together they can figure out a better way for the Nie to not die quite so young.
...Guanyin's mercy, his brother hasn't given him that smile in far too many years. He huffs just a little, but feels himself smiling back. He's a hard man, but he does love his younger brother fiercely. ]
A-Sang. Do your best. I will handle things on this side.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-05 02:31 am (UTC)Out of sight of the camera he grabs his fan and twists. Who knows how long it will be until he sees this man again? Who can tell if his schemes will even work this time?]
I’ll never stop trying to bring you back to me. That’s my promise to you. [And to himself. Mingjue will live the life that was stolen from him.]
And be kind to the brother you have with you now. He thinks you hung the moon and stars, even if you nag him about his duties to the sect.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-05 02:41 am (UTC)That unknown span of time is the driving force behind keeping Mingjue in his seat. Yes, he has a duty to his people, and in finding the brother he has on his side of this spell.
But he also has a duty to this brother. And he will see it through as long as they have. Maybe it'll all be for nothing, and nothing changes. But that won't stop either of them from trying. ]
I will find my way back to you, one way or another. This will not be the last time we speak. [ Even if everything still goes wrong, they'll speak in the next life.
He grins then and chuckles. ]
Who's to say I don't? [ He is the elder brother. He's supposed to be the example, the reason the heavens move and their world is safe!
Even if this one knows the sad truth that he is only one man, and a man with very little time ahead of him. ]
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