GUEST SERVICES - NIE HUAISANG

[cluedin]

Comments

[cluedin]

[ they tilt their head, all three of their eyes blinking in tandem, but they bow their head slightly as well after a beat. ]

Neither is yours. But you are doing alright.

[ general you, but they don't specify. ]

[unanswering]

We're... managing. I'm not sure if we're doing well enough to say it's alright.

[every weekend is years off his life.]

Not as well as I'd hope, in any case.

[cluedin]

[ there's a pause. their third eye closes on its own as they frown a bit in thought. ]

You are doing ... better. [ they don't specify better than what, though, but it sounds like they're sort of agreeing with nhs at the same time? ]

[unanswering]

Better than others, at least, from what I've been told.

[they're still doing better than the week they didn't catch melt? it's something.]

I suppose we'll have to see if we end up having much success.

[cluedin]

[ there's a nod ]

Yes. I am... [ they seem to be searching for the right word for a second ] rooting for that.

[ this is probably not a big revelation, blue. ]

[unanswering]

I'd be surprised if you weren't.

[that gets a small smile out of him, at least.]

But we're-- doing what we can. Even if some of it has probably been, ah, ill-advised.

[cluedin]

Yes.

[ ... like, they're not going to disagree... but they lean to rest their chin in their palm ]

But ill-advised choices have been many, here.

[ sometimes you answer an invitation from a haunted house, for example. ]

[unanswering]

[and sometimes you do blood rituals in a haunted house. he gets it-- there's a slight nod.]

Well, they can't all work out.

[but, you know, speaking of that.]

...I was told we'd need to separate the two of you. Assuming we work out how- do you think there's likely to be a way you'd survive it?

[considering how long it sounds like it's been, he's, you know. not so sure about that concept.]

[cluedin]

[ they bring their hands up so they can put their fingers together in front of them, sort of like this ]

We are connected, but we are not the same. [ they separate their fingers and look at their hands ] We are both difficult to kill. If possible, separation would be best for everyone.

[unanswering]

...I see.

[a little hum, there.]

The sorts of things I'm familiar with-- there's a trade, sometimes. There's a way to bring back someone's soul, for example, but the one doing it has their own destroyed in the process. One doesn't accomplish something difficult or impossible for nothing.

Do you think we should anticipate it being more like that? Or do you not know, either?

[cluedin]

I am not certain.

[ there's an honesty there, and their third eye stays closed for a bit ]

There have been many losses already. I would like to avoid more.

[unanswering]

...I would, too. But I don't think many of the others are going to prepare for that possibility.

[he's usually ready for things to go wrong, though, so- he's just going to keep doing that.]

-speaking of losses. [because do you ever forget you literally discussed asking something ic! i did!] Young master Akira and I- well, he mentioned master Wright worked for you-? We... wondered if you'd be able to confirm whether losing him means... we've lost the help he was able to provide for good.

[nie huaisang assumes so, because again, he's the type to expect that sort of thing-- but if he's wrong, it'd be nice to be able to tell akira so, in this case.]

[cluedin]

[ they blink all three eyes. they seem to be thinking on how to word it... ]

Help is never truly lost.

[unanswering]

...cryptic, but at least a little reassuring.

[a slight shake of his head, there. it's something.]

I have the feeling we'll need it.

[cluedin]

[ oh. they look at nhs and tug their bangs over their third eye a bit ]

The girls are better with guests.

[ ...sorry... ]

[unanswering]

Ah- no, I didn't mean it like...

[he falters a little bit there, frowning a little as they tug their bangs into place.]

I'm sure you're- not really in a position to speak too freely! Not a bad sort of cryptic, exactly--

[please he's not the best at this]

[cluedin]

[ this is a feedback loop of awkward and blue raises their hands slowly, like they're not sure what to do to calm nhs down ]

Not... upset? [ its what they nhs thinks is happening? ] People are... difficult.

[ for them, anyway. ]

[unanswering]

...they can be. I'm used to dealing with them in very different ways than I've had to here, so I- suppose I can understand, somewhat...

[not entirely because (gestures at like, blue's everything whereas he's human) but you know.]

[cluedin]

[ they nod, satisfied. ]

But you have made connections.

[ they seem pleased with that? fwiendship ]

[unanswering]

-a couple of them.

[he fans himself, idly- it's more like he just needs something to do with his hands.]

It's... well, I suppose there's at least one good thing in all this.

[cluedin]

People... can find good even in the bleakest situation. It is interesting. [ they clearly don't mean this to sound condescending but. it still kinda does. ]

[unanswering]

Do you have trouble with that?

[fortunately nhs is super used to people sounding condescending and just. ignoring it.]

[cluedin]

[ they tilt their head back, thinking about it ]

With connections. Not with seeing the good.

[ because they have to be optimistic, to be willing to keep doing this after. this long. ]

[unanswering]

To be honest, I think I'd have given up on all this long before reaching this point, in your place.

[he shrugs one shoulder, there.]

So you really must be doing something right, when it comes to seeing good in things.

[cluedin]

Time is different. I am not human. I have more... patience.

[ and a lot of spite and stubbornness, but they don't say that. ]