[It's like Driving Miss Daisy, but instead it's Driving Master Xie Lian. If Jiang Cheng can sword surf in another life, he can drive a car, so it's fine.
Unfortunately, when they get to the brothel supposed owned by Madam Wren, they will find it's shut down and dark despite not much of it being burned from the previous ravaging fire. Hmmm.
Hanging around out front by the corner of the street is some hoodlum teenagers, three of them. They're skeptically eyeballing the fancy car.]
[ of course. it's not particularly surprising that the brothel is dark. xie lian's already mentally compiling a list of the courtesan workers when he spots the three young men on the corner. seated in the back of the car, xie lian gets this look on his face like he's going to climb out, and he reaches for the door handle. in fact, there's the distinct sound of the door unlocking from the back.
are jc and kara going to let him go out and investigate this alone or, ]
[ grumbled seconds before he hears the door unlock, because of course xie lian has to keep making dumb decisions today. he's said it before, but there's no way kara is allowing xl to go alone, so he too opens the door and steps out with a resigned sigh. ]
[I refuse to log in and out, so Jiang Cheng will stay in the car, but will tiredly tell Kara to try not to get murked by some stupid teens hanging around the lamppost on a street corner.
Also, he's watching and he's a good fucking shot, don't push it.
Hilariously, the teenagers look like deers caught in a pair of headlights when Xie Lian and Kara both get out of the car together. It's obvious they are going to stroll over or a visit. There's two boys, one tall and lanky, and one short and stocky. Between them in height is a girl dressed in boy's casual clothes. Worriedly, the short boy immediately drops the cigarette on the ground and kicks it back like he hadn't been caught smoking it.]
Hey, you stop right there! [The girl says.] We aren't afraid to fight any weirdos!
[ wow is he a weirdo now??? how the mighty have fallen.
if they don't recognize him, that's a good thing. he's taken to wearing a hat nowadays, anyway, and he's not exactly fancily dressed. xie lian lifts his hands, going for his best sheepish-and-lost-rich-person smile. quick, think fast! look harmless! he's small enough (and packing a lot of heat but no one has to know that!) ] Um, sorry, we don't want any trouble. Right?
[ right? kara? right? ] I think we might have made a mistake... maybe you might know where we went wrong?
[ if kara had a different sense of humor, he might laugh. a bunch of kids, wanting to fight? how intimidating. oh, how he shakes in his fancy rich boy shoes.
still, he'll follow xl's lead for now, only raising an eyebrow at his little act before nodding in agreement. ]
We were told there was some business around here. Must've taken a wrong turn.
[The kids all stop when Xie Lian and Kara get a bit closer, but also when they talk. And then they hurriedly start punching and slapping each other, almost nervously. Their voices are hissed whispers that obviously Xie Lian and Kara can both hear.]
That’s the head and his goon! I knew it!
Ow! Shhh, you idiot, you’re going to get us all put in a dungeon or something!
The one under the temple! What are we going to do?! I have to be home in two hours!
[The girl wrestles out of the huddle of all of them.] Alright, dumbasses. Shut up. [She sort of puffs up to be bigger.]
What are you looking for? Uh..... sir. We haven’t done nothing.
not shocking. xie lian offers these teens a smile, though it's a bit clueless. dungeon? ] Of course not.
[ a beat of silence. ] I was hoping to visit this establishment. With the fires, I was hoping to pay my condolences to the courtesans, and the owner as well. We also [ this is it! this is the moment where xie lian gains his thick face, where he just says things that are utterly shameless such as: ] were planning on jump starting their business again. Haha...
[ oh my god. kara has to resist the urge to roll his eyes or, even better, just turn around and leave because he really isn't about this brothel patron kind of life!!
ugh. whatever. he eyes the girl in the middle, obviously the leader of this little crew. ]
[Hmmm. The three teenagers look over Xie Lian and Kara skeptically. And then they quickly spin around to huddle together and whisper amongst themselves. After a few moments or so of this Intense Discussion, they turn back around.]
Look, man, we won't tell nobody, [one of the boys says.] About you being into that stuff or whatever.
[Wanting to visit courtesans, he means.]
Yeah, but! [the girl butts in.] What do we get for helping you?
[ what do the kids these days want. when was the last time xie lian interacted with a teenager. ?? he's clueless.
he doesn't react to the "being into that stuff or whatever" because he's absolutely sure that's going to get added onto the long list of rumors about the Xian Le Family Head, but that's okay. focus on business. ] This one thanks you for your discretion.
Is there something in particular you would like? [ with a nod of his head, a slight smile. ] I always pay informants very well, no matter what kind of information they might give.
A car! [One of them suddenly chirps out, and this only causes an avalanche of gentle but nearly bickering:] No, a whole candy store! A gun! Make us the mayor! [collectively] I want really fancy shoes!
[The girl elbows both of the boys roughly in turn.] Idiots. You can't just ask to be the mayor. [Why is she surrounded by boys. She is the only girl in a fifty mile radius.]
The lady who owns this place is a bitch, [she says frankly.] She's rude, especially to kids. We'll help you if you take all her stupid money and build that dungeon and put her in it. Don't you got a bad rep anyway? Don't be out here helping her.
[ oh hell YES. xie lian lifts his hands to try and pacify the two boys, but listens to the third person's comment. his eyes twinkle with a little mischief--there's a lead. ]
Who knows, we might have the dungeon already. [ a joke... he's joking.... ] We'll take her money and put it back to the city, candy store included.
[ a beat. ] If she's been cruel to the citizens of Xian Le, then that's a crime in my mind, no matter how old you are. To be cruel to kids is even worse. I'll see to it she's punished personally.
[ he glances back to kara, briefly, as if confirming. give him a good scary badass nod in agreement, kara. ] We need as much information as you can share with us.
[ kids only get guns if they know how to use them properly. but a candy store, they can do, so xie lian can have the scary badass nod he's looking for. ]
[At first, they look between Xie Lian and Kara reluctantly, skeptical. One boy rubs his nose with his arm, and the other two shuffle their feet until they give in. They move as one teenage unit (scary) toward the lamppost again, and then the girl points down the other street.
When Xie Lian and Kara come forward to get a good view, they'll be able to see a sliver of warm light coming from a tiny basement window attached to the brothel. There's an alley behind the brothel, too.]
There's a basement door, or whatever, but it's got a chain on it... uh, sir.
[ xie lian will rip that thing off with his BARE HANDS. he gives the teens a smile, reassuring, and lifts both of his hands in a respectful gesture taught from obi-wan; a bow of his head, hands clasped together. ] Please don't worry. We'll take care of this, and she won't bother you all any longer. When this is all over, I'll come find you all for a proper reward.
Ookurikara. [ all crisp business, he straightens and returns to kara. ] Let's move.
[ hopefully someone tells jc so he doesnt have a heart attack ]
[ jc will obviously get the message if they just? head to where the kid pointed? kara has no doubt that xie lian will find a way through that chain, so he just sticks close, keeping his good hand near his gun in case wren doesn't appreciate her basement door being broken open. ]
[Oh, scary. The kids all exchange glances, huddled together, and they watch both Xie Lian and Kara go for the alley. They'll probably get spooked and run away, only to run into Jiang Cheng who has the window down and accosts them to make sure he knows for certain where Xie Lian and Kara are going.
He... trusts Kara, though, 😔 so he knows Xie Lian will be okay.
If the two want to take a gander in the window, it's a tad hard to see. The window's glass isn't the most clear, but it looks like there is a put-together room in the basement of the brothel with a single lantern going. Only one person is moving around inside, the glass making the silhouette seem small. They seem to be at a desk?
The basement door in the alley is indeed crossed over with a chain, hooked with a padlock. Hm.]
[ xie lian doesn't even stop to look at the window. he doesn't even bother. why would he. his expression says "i'm going to do this now even if it's a stupid solution", because most people would try to sneak in, or maybe unlock the door somehow?
oh no, not xie lian. he is a man of his words. he rolls the sleeves of his very nice jacket and button up to his elbows, then promptly reaches forward to wrench this padlock off of this chain with his bare fucking hands. ]
[ yea kara knew the second that xie lian told those kids he'd do this that he actually would. and kara, being kara, doesn't see the point in stopping him because it gets the job done? so he's just waiting for this to happen and keeping an eye on that figure in the window. ]
Well, the chains tear away like spaghetti. It does sound very loud, though, when the doors swing open and Xie Lian and Kara are right at the top of a very short set of stairs down into a somewhat elegant but simply decorated room.
Unfortunately, what's waiting on them is not only an equally elegant woman decked out in jewels, but a raised revolver. She has a whole lot of money chunked together in stacks across the desk.]
Who--?!
[It being Xie Lian shocks her considerably. She doesn't know whether to lower the gun or not, so it wavers uncertainly. He busted into her hideout?!]
[ yes hi hello, this is where kara shoulders past xie lian to aim his own gun at the lady's face. threaten the head and get threatened in return, yo. he'll be a human shield for xie lian if he has to. ]
[ which is good! because he was about to run forward and confront her and probably tackle her or something so this is a better plan. xie lian's got his gun too, within seconds, up with kara's. ]
Put down your weapon and put your hands where we can see them. [ his voice is measured and serious, but calm. as a family leader should be. ] Now, Madame.
[The bewilderment turns quickly to both fear and anger. Surely, Xie Lian protects all his people and is not breaking in to accost her? But no, here the man is with a big pile of muscle.
The gun doesn't lower, but instead turns to level at her own temple. She doesn't fire, thankfully, just pointedly holds it there to keep them from making any rash moves.]
That depends on who wants to know. Are you siding with the traitor now, Westside Ruler, Xie Lian?
[ kara's first instinct is to demand to know what the hell she's implying. xie lian would never be so unkind. who the hell is she to say otherwise, when she clearly doesn't know him? his grip tightens on the gun in anger, but he doesn't squeeze the trigger, instead carefully watching for a chance to disarm her. xie lian can do the talking; he was always better at it, anyway. ]
Ookurikara. [ xie lian says, quietly. just enough to be heard. he's not going to step out from behind kara or ask him to relax, but he shifts his own gun out of sight, setting it back into his holster and lifting his hands. ]
I want to know. [ parroting that question back, stubbornly: ] You are a member of Xian Le. Shouldn't you have come to me if you were having a problem with a traitor in the first place? Put the gun down, and we can talk.
[She watches the two of them with intense, black, and beady eyes. The gun doesn't lower, but she doesn't appear to be ready to pull the trigger. It's insurance she's thinking, maybe.]
I never had a problem with a traitor. He was the one who had a problem with me.
[ the small, stubborn part of his head yells because you were kidnapping children but he doesn't say anything to it. this situation is too delicate for an accusation even if it's true. ]
Tell me what happened. [ it's no question, but it isn't threatening, just calm. ] When did this start?
When he chose to start it. [She sounds both bitter and frazzled.] When he decided to sit some of us up at that coffee shop. Don't you remember everyone talking about it, Xie Lian?
Or were you too busy looking in the other direction like you've been doing for so long now? I guess your temple could use a little more cleaning while the rest of us grow poorer around you.
[ she says that so easily. as if they didn't see. as if they didn't try to find the answers themselves. how can she be a part of the family and still be so clueless? how can she have so little faith in xie lian? ]
Tell us who, and we'll take care of it.
[ no one is getting away with hurting their people. not even wren, for hurting those kids - but the traitor comes first. ]
[ the sleepless nights up over information, the countless investigations, the hunting, the comforting of hurt families, missing people, of breaking his back to try and hold the world up in his hands. that comment stings, but xie lian's pride has bene hurt enough times in the past month. ]
Why did he choose to start it? [ he presses, patiently. he doubts she trusts either of them enough to tell them just yet, and he wants to get her to admit it. ]
[Her laugh is very short and very humorless, and it doesn't even begin to reach her eyes.]
That's why you're here, isn't it? You know why he chose to start it, and you're here to deal with me yourself. Why not just let him dirty his hands more? Wouldn't that be convenient for you?
No one really misses the Mori, sometimes not even the Mori. They'll just add more families to their stock. Perhaps one day, maybe even Xian Le families who don't have anything left.
[ this is why xie lian usually does the talking. kara doesn't particularly care about why wren or the traitor are doing what they're doing, only that they're doing it and hurting xie lian in the process. ]
We don't work with traitors.
[ why else would they look for him? but also... there can only be so many people close enough to xie lian that she would believe this, and kara hates that more than anything. they're out here claiming to have the best interest of the family in mind, but how can they? if they're really so close to him, they'll know exactly what they're doing to xie lian.
[ that gets xie lian. it sticks deep and he feels the rise of rage in his chest like a furious tide. his serene calm snaps, smolders, turns to fury. the fact he doesn't push past kara guarding him is a miracle. ]
Their stock?! They're not cattle! Mori or Xian Le, they're children, Wren! People who sat in those damned cages-- until they died, at your-- at our hands! How many people got hurt because of your actions-- and for what?
You said I did this because I wasn't paying enough attention to you and the family? Look at you! [ he gestures, throwing out his non-dominant arm in gesture at her jewelry, the pile of money behind her. ] You call this suffering?!
[Like Xie Lian, the anger boils up in her, and she turns the gun around on the two of them again, arm quivering. Her voice is high and strained.]
I crawled out of suffering however I could! I did what I had to do when you were busy living just fine! How many girls would be out on the streets without this place? How many are there now because this one is in ruins?! Maybe the Mori will shoot them down with another gun and put them out of their misery!
Maybe the long-haired Middleton Specter will come for you next time!
[ haha yea, no, we're not doing this. xie lian may recognize what he's about to do as Kara's weight and grip on his gun both shift, but he doesn't wait for confirmation. he just lunges forward to grab wren's wrist tight and twist it to the side, where she won't be able to aim properly even if she does pull the trigger. ]
[ not a split second later xie lian catches on. the shift in weight in front of him is the perfect indicator, and he's right after kara with the same terrifying speed as ever, ducking underneath her arm and grabbing the gun, pushing downwards. it's easily enough pressure to break her trigger finger, but at this point, xie lian wants her unarmed and he's lost his patience.
gun now safely in his hands, xie lian doesn't bother pointing it at her. she's unarmed, kara's on her, and he won't sacrifice his principles even in the face of his own anger. instead, he steps to the front, putting on the imposing presence that has to come from the head of xian le. ] If this place is in ruins, then we'll build another and rehome the people who have done nothing wrong. If you were really, truly suffering, if you could've looked beyond your pride and come to me, I would've given you the shirt off of my back. Instead, you've disrespected my family, disgraced my parents, and betrayed the very principles of Xian Le.
I don't support a traitor. You can tell me everything you know about this 'Middleton Specter', and maybe then, you can hash out your problems with him together in a prison cell. I'm sure you'll have plenty to talk about.
[As soon as they move, she makes an attempt to turn the gun on herself and pull the trigger. She's too slow for that. The gun does go off, but doesn't hit anything but the opposite wall. The woman yells and then growls, weakly struggling against both of their holds.]
That's all I know! A dark- and long-haired man from Middleton whose eyes were fire when he came to blow up my warehouses! It was dark, and we were busy trying to get away before he killed all of us! Put me in a cell with him, that's fine! I'll do what you're too cowardly to do and kill him myself!
[ kara only tightens his grip, holding her as still as he can. dark, long-haired, with eyes like fire? that... doesn't give them much more than they already had, does it. ]
If you want us to do something about him so badly, you have to give us more than that.
[ even just that sentence crosses one suspect off of xie lian's list. two, though he hadn't suspected the second much at all. but it's not enough.
he won't let wren's shrieking and threatening bother him, stepping around kara to be seen, though out of reach. ]
How many people are involved in your operation? Anyone left is a target, Wren. [ if they find the other members of this ring, they'll find their traitor, desperate for vengeance. ] I'll protect the girls in your house--they're innocent compared to you--but you have to talk.
No one in Montevallo anymore! He killed them all! It was too dark--none of us alive could see who it was. He fled back in the direction of Yiling Ridge, and the rest of you are too stupid to find and kill him.
There are too many in this operation in other cities! You can't get rid of them all from here on your high horse, Xie Lian!
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Unfortunately, when they get to the brothel supposed owned by Madam Wren, they will find it's shut down and dark despite not much of it being burned from the previous ravaging fire. Hmmm.
Hanging around out front by the corner of the street is some hoodlum teenagers, three of them. They're skeptically eyeballing the fancy car.]
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are jc and kara going to let him go out and investigate this alone or, ]
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[ grumbled seconds before he hears the door unlock, because of course xie lian has to keep making dumb decisions today. he's said it before, but there's no way kara is allowing xl to go alone, so he too opens the door and steps out with a resigned sigh. ]
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Also, he's watching and he's a good fucking shot, don't push it.
Hilariously, the teenagers look like deers caught in a pair of headlights when Xie Lian and Kara both get out of the car together. It's obvious they are going to stroll over or a visit. There's two boys, one tall and lanky, and one short and stocky. Between them in height is a girl dressed in boy's casual clothes. Worriedly, the short boy immediately drops the cigarette on the ground and kicks it back like he hadn't been caught smoking it.]
Hey, you stop right there! [The girl says.] We aren't afraid to fight any weirdos!
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if they don't recognize him, that's a good thing. he's taken to wearing a hat nowadays, anyway, and he's not exactly fancily dressed. xie lian lifts his hands, going for his best sheepish-and-lost-rich-person smile. quick, think fast! look harmless! he's small enough (and packing a lot of heat but no one has to know that!) ] Um, sorry, we don't want any trouble. Right?
[ right? kara? right? ] I think we might have made a mistake... maybe you might know where we went wrong?
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still, he'll follow xl's lead for now, only raising an eyebrow at his little act before nodding in agreement. ]
We were told there was some business around here. Must've taken a wrong turn.
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That’s the head and his goon! I knew it!
Ow! Shhh, you idiot, you’re going to get us all put in a dungeon or something!
The one under the temple! What are we going to do?! I have to be home in two hours!
[The girl wrestles out of the huddle of all of them.] Alright, dumbasses. Shut up. [She sort of puffs up to be bigger.]
What are you looking for? Uh..... sir. We haven’t done nothing.
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not shocking. xie lian offers these teens a smile, though it's a bit clueless. dungeon? ] Of course not.
[ a beat of silence. ] I was hoping to visit this establishment. With the fires, I was hoping to pay my condolences to the courtesans, and the owner as well. We also [ this is it! this is the moment where xie lian gains his thick face, where he just says things that are utterly shameless such as: ] were planning on jump starting their business again. Haha...
[ let's spend some money on courtesans (?) ]
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ugh. whatever. he eyes the girl in the middle, obviously the leader of this little crew. ]
Did they move the business, or what?
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Look, man, we won't tell nobody, [one of the boys says.] About you being into that stuff or whatever.
[Wanting to visit courtesans, he means.]
Yeah, but! [the girl butts in.] What do we get for helping you?
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he doesn't react to the "being into that stuff or whatever" because he's absolutely sure that's going to get added onto the long list of rumors about the Xian Le Family Head, but that's okay. focus on business. ] This one thanks you for your discretion.
Is there something in particular you would like? [ with a nod of his head, a slight smile. ] I always pay informants very well, no matter what kind of information they might give.
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And we don't put them in dungeons.
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[The girl elbows both of the boys roughly in turn.] Idiots. You can't just ask to be the mayor. [Why is she surrounded by boys. She is the only girl in a fifty mile radius.]
The lady who owns this place is a bitch, [she says frankly.] She's rude, especially to kids. We'll help you if you take all her stupid money and build that dungeon and put her in it. Don't you got a bad rep anyway? Don't be out here helping her.
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Who knows, we might have the dungeon already. [ a joke... he's joking.... ] We'll take her money and put it back to the city, candy store included.
[ a beat. ] If she's been cruel to the citizens of Xian Le, then that's a crime in my mind, no matter how old you are. To be cruel to kids is even worse. I'll see to it she's punished personally.
[ he glances back to kara, briefly, as if confirming. give him a good scary badass nod in agreement, kara. ] We need as much information as you can share with us.
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Do you know where she went?
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When Xie Lian and Kara come forward to get a good view, they'll be able to see a sliver of warm light coming from a tiny basement window attached to the brothel. There's an alley behind the brothel, too.]
There's a basement door, or whatever, but it's got a chain on it... uh, sir.
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[ xie lian will rip that thing off with his BARE HANDS. he gives the teens a smile, reassuring, and lifts both of his hands in a respectful gesture taught from obi-wan; a bow of his head, hands clasped together. ] Please don't worry. We'll take care of this, and she won't bother you all any longer. When this is all over, I'll come find you all for a proper reward.
Ookurikara. [ all crisp business, he straightens and returns to kara. ] Let's move.
[ hopefully someone tells jc so he doesnt have a heart attack ]
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What are you planning to do once we're in?
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He... trusts Kara, though, 😔 so he knows Xie Lian will be okay.
If the two want to take a gander in the window, it's a tad hard to see. The window's glass isn't the most clear, but it looks like there is a put-together room in the basement of the brothel with a single lantern going. Only one person is moving around inside, the glass making the silhouette seem small. They seem to be at a desk?
The basement door in the alley is indeed crossed over with a chain, hooked with a padlock. Hm.]
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oh no, not xie lian. he is a man of his words. he rolls the sleeves of his very nice jacket and button up to his elbows, then promptly reaches forward to wrench this padlock off of this chain with his bare fucking hands. ]
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Well, the chains tear away like spaghetti. It does sound very loud, though, when the doors swing open and Xie Lian and Kara are right at the top of a very short set of stairs down into a somewhat elegant but simply decorated room.
Unfortunately, what's waiting on them is not only an equally elegant woman decked out in jewels, but a raised revolver. She has a whole lot of money chunked together in stacks across the desk.]
Who--?!
[It being Xie Lian shocks her considerably. She doesn't know whether to lower the gun or not, so it wavers uncertainly. He busted into her hideout?!]
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Are you Wren?
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Put down your weapon and put your hands where we can see them. [ his voice is measured and serious, but calm. as a family leader should be. ] Now, Madame.
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The gun doesn't lower, but instead turns to level at her own temple. She doesn't fire, thankfully, just pointedly holds it there to keep them from making any rash moves.]
That depends on who wants to know. Are you siding with the traitor now, Westside Ruler, Xie Lian?
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I want to know. [ parroting that question back, stubbornly: ] You are a member of Xian Le. Shouldn't you have come to me if you were having a problem with a traitor in the first place? Put the gun down, and we can talk.
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I never had a problem with a traitor. He was the one who had a problem with me.
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Tell me what happened. [ it's no question, but it isn't threatening, just calm. ] When did this start?
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Or were you too busy looking in the other direction like you've been doing for so long now? I guess your temple could use a little more cleaning while the rest of us grow poorer around you.
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Tell us who, and we'll take care of it.
[ no one is getting away with hurting their people. not even wren, for hurting those kids - but the traitor comes first. ]
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Why did he choose to start it? [ he presses, patiently. he doubts she trusts either of them enough to tell them just yet, and he wants to get her to admit it. ]
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That's why you're here, isn't it? You know why he chose to start it, and you're here to deal with me yourself. Why not just let him dirty his hands more? Wouldn't that be convenient for you?
No one really misses the Mori, sometimes not even the Mori. They'll just add more families to their stock. Perhaps one day, maybe even Xian Le families who don't have anything left.
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We don't work with traitors.
[ why else would they look for him? but also... there can only be so many people close enough to xie lian that she would believe this, and kara hates that more than anything. they're out here claiming to have the best interest of the family in mind, but how can they? if they're really so close to him, they'll know exactly what they're doing to xie lian.
for that, he'll kill the traitor himself. ]
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Their stock?! They're not cattle! Mori or Xian Le, they're children, Wren! People who sat in those damned cages-- until they died, at your-- at our hands! How many people got hurt because of your actions-- and for what?
You said I did this because I wasn't paying enough attention to you and the family? Look at you! [ he gestures, throwing out his non-dominant arm in gesture at her jewelry, the pile of money behind her. ] You call this suffering?!
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I crawled out of suffering however I could! I did what I had to do when you were busy living just fine! How many girls would be out on the streets without this place? How many are there now because this one is in ruins?! Maybe the Mori will shoot them down with another gun and put them out of their misery!
Maybe the long-haired Middleton Specter will come for you next time!
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gun now safely in his hands, xie lian doesn't bother pointing it at her. she's unarmed, kara's on her, and he won't sacrifice his principles even in the face of his own anger. instead, he steps to the front, putting on the imposing presence that has to come from the head of xian le. ] If this place is in ruins, then we'll build another and rehome the people who have done nothing wrong. If you were really, truly suffering, if you could've looked beyond your pride and come to me, I would've given you the shirt off of my back. Instead, you've disrespected my family, disgraced my parents, and betrayed the very principles of Xian Le.
I don't support a traitor. You can tell me everything you know about this 'Middleton Specter', and maybe then, you can hash out your problems with him together in a prison cell. I'm sure you'll have plenty to talk about.
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That's all I know! A dark- and long-haired man from Middleton whose eyes were fire when he came to blow up my warehouses! It was dark, and we were busy trying to get away before he killed all of us! Put me in a cell with him, that's fine! I'll do what you're too cowardly to do and kill him myself!
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If you want us to do something about him so badly, you have to give us more than that.
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he won't let wren's shrieking and threatening bother him, stepping around kara to be seen, though out of reach. ]
How many people are involved in your operation? Anyone left is a target, Wren. [ if they find the other members of this ring, they'll find their traitor, desperate for vengeance. ] I'll protect the girls in your house--they're innocent compared to you--but you have to talk.
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No one in Montevallo anymore! He killed them all! It was too dark--none of us alive could see who it was. He fled back in the direction of Yiling Ridge, and the rest of you are too stupid to find and kill him.
There are too many in this operation in other cities! You can't get rid of them all from here on your high horse, Xie Lian!