[] Suggest Sixiang's idea, an expedition in miniature. (++Social Cohesion, ???)
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The library bites back.
Also its phrased as a 'mini-expedition' which might mean that its sort of truer to the kinds of issues we might face, though that is colored by Six and Ling Qi only having a minimal grasp of what is actually involved in an expedition like this mission.Ok, I'm in favour of mini-expedition.
The focus here should really be on the characters and developing their dynamic IMO, and that best does that. The military exercise seems like something that could easily lose sight of that, given all the other people and things involved.
[] Suggest Sixiang's idea, an expedition in miniature. (++Social Cohesion, ???)
Ling Qi retreated and circled, the saber style she practiced in moments like these was more than a little dance like. There was no reason to be inefficient after all.
[] Suggest Sixiang's idea, an expedition in miniature. (++Social Cohesion, ???)
Does anyone remember which update had this? I'd like to refresh my memory about what the conversation there entailed.Ling Qi blinked, her knees bending as her upraised blade absorbed the force of Renxiang's downward sweep. She tilted the blade, letting it slide off of her and circled left. "Meizhen and I?"
The heiress' nod was stiff. "Accepting and reacting to my Mother's directives is not enough. My failure in finding insight is proof of this."
Ling Qi remembered the very awkward tea party where that had come up and held back a grimace. "I did not mean to unsettle you so."
"You were… not wrong. If I damage myself unnecessarily in the course of my duty, this is also a disservice to those I am responsible for," Cai Renxiang stated coolly. "So… maintenance of the self."
I like him. He's a good egg. A+ Mengfellow.His smile became a little thinner, his eyes practically twinkling with humor. "Lady Baroness, when you study people and their institutions as closely as I, laughter is the only rational and healthy reaction."
This one had the setup, this one had the response.Does anyone remember which update had this? I'd like to refresh my memory about what the conversation there entailed.
Here you go:Does anyone remember which update had this? I'd like to refresh my memory about what the conversation there entailed.
It was Renxiang reflecting on her inflexible mindset regarding laws and rules after rereading her favorite book and Meizhen & LQ prodded her about what it was about during their knitting session."So, what is the book about though?" Ling Qi asked idly as she took Sixiang's advice, adding the spool to the colors she had picked out, now she just needed a pattern.
"The scholar's musings on the foundational elements of society and governance, and how they arise from the vagaries of interpersonal relationships," Cai Renxiang replied idly. Already the shapes of golden and black butterfly wings were taking shape on the silk in her hands. "I find that I have a new perspective on things with this reading, and have ignored some insights to my detriment."
Ling Qi would hope so, that didn't sound like the sort of thing a ten year old was really equipped to parse, no matter how prodigious. She was not going to say so though.
"I believe you have have done better in your tasks than could have been reasonably expected, given the chaotic elements at play," Meizhen replied. "It is good to be critical of oneself, but only to a point."
Cai Renxiang dipped her head slightly in acknowledgement. Ling Qi got the feeling that Meizhen had said as much before. "I disagree of course. My failures arose from inflexibility, presumption, and compromise of my ideals. As the Scholar Kung said, 'One who has committed a mistake and does not correct it is committing another mistake'."
"A fine statement indeed," Meizhen replied blandly. "Learn from the past certainly, but keep your eyes forward, lest the future plant a knife in your back. The past is inviolate, you cannot change it, only act on things as they are."
"You speak as if I am a madwoman, ready to destroy myself in battling the flow of time, and not one merely engaging in self reflection," Cai Renxiang said with faint exasperation.
"You have corrected your errors in perspective, and reflected quite enough. I merely worry that you will mire yourself in such musing and become your own obstacle," Meizhen shot back.
Ling Qi watched the two girls speak quietly, the dynamic was a little different than she expected. It was strange, her liege seemed a bit more… personable, with Meizhen. Some old ember of jealousy flared in her heart, though for what she wasn't sure. "While I can't speak for my lady. I have found some success in self reflection."
"Grudgingly," Sixiang added in amusement. "And with much prodding."
"And I will not gainsay the value of that," Meizhen replied with a huff. Glittering silver threads had begun to create an intricate geometric pattern on the silk in her hands. "We, the Bai are engaged in such matters ourselves at the moment."
Sooo... How deep you need to go to have tea party with Banana Eater and Not-Ferret?"Just so," Meng Dan agreed. "There are many wings and sub basements which are essentially naturally reinforcing spirit ecosystems, some of which extend entirely or partially into the liminal. When I describe making an 'expedition' into the Deep Archive, I am not making use of hyperbole."
Qi's insidious friendship has taken root even further. Now calling CRX by her name (also title) is unremarked upon. Not even a grumpy look!Ling Qi stepped back as Renxiang did, letting the saber fall to her side. "I'm glad, Lady Renxiang. You haven't answered though. Evasion is unlike you."