[ what happens when two people try to avoid everyone? they probably find each other.
in any case yeah they both are bee-lining for the door when suddenly they drop down into mystery theatre hell-edition and—
well fuck this damn. he watches the screen impassively, but that's how lin jingheng watches anything really, with a neutral stance. reaching into his coat, it's easy to find the cigarette box and to tap one out into his mouth— ]
Heavy is the crown, or some bull like that.
[ he flicks the lighter as little harrow on screen closes the door behind her. ]
"Only God knows."
[ knows what's in that tomb. and harrowhark nonagesimus. he glances to her from the side a moment as a film is loaded up in between. ]
[she's shaken, seeing this again. she wraps her arms around herself and breaths a shaky sigh, touching her hands together and trying to shake off that feeling while also wanting to hold onto some of it.
she swallows, vulnerable and miserable, and nods.]
[ he still lingers over the screen before looking back at her. there's no anger there. people lie for a variety of reasons. lin jingheng lies and omits. he plays at unflappable. ]
We all tell lies. It's how we survive sometimes.
[ a film clicks slowly into place. cws for fucky neuroscience, loss of bodily agency due to brain death, forced medical malpractice, and women doing crimes.
lin jingheng's head is consumed by a cloud of smoke by the end. ]
[oh boy, yeah, this is fucked up. the thought of being helpless like that, without any kind of control, and to have that done to you by your own sister.
when he saw what happened to her parents he kept a straight face and she endeavors to do the same; it feels so much kinder to her than pity or concern and she imagines he's the same way she is. but her hands clench noticeably all the same.]
I see. Yes. I am quite familiar with the existential variety of lies.
[ the both of them belong to hand clenchers anonymous at this point, and just like through harrow's memory, lin jingheng remains as steely as can be as he watches. he remembers less of this, but that's because sixteen years really come and go when all you're doing is spinning on an abandoned dwarf planet that may as well be a rock.
funny how that aligns. ]
This double feature's shit.
[ a statement as he turns, finally waves away some of the smoke. ]
[she glances at him, a little curious despite herself, but swallows and shakes her head.]
I know we've been told God put his enemy there, a monster that will someday destroy him. But to me, she wasn't monstrous. I can't help it - I wanted to see her freed.
[she takes a breath.]
Do you know why she wanted you in that state? What did you know?
[ he sounds disappointed. maybe even... sad. damn. he looks down at his shoes and flicks some ash onto the carpet idly. ]
We were separated as children... and I was told that we'd weigh each other down. Ended up on opposite sides of the board... she deals in dangerous biochips, addictive as opium.
[ he trails off. ]
And still... she didn't kill me... even when I knew the truth. Didn't even set foot on that planet prison for the years she trapped us there.
[she reassesses him a little bit. he's kind-hearted. well, he always has been, to her. but it's a soft person who sees things this way.]
Yes. I understand. [...] My mother and father - they had done some terrible things as well.
I think they didn't know how to live with those things. It took them about a decade to realize that they couldn't live with it. Knowing how afraid they must have been, I suppose I cannot hate them.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
in any case yeah they both are bee-lining for the door when suddenly they drop down into mystery theatre hell-edition and—
well fuck this damn. he watches the screen impassively, but that's how lin jingheng watches anything really, with a neutral stance. reaching into his coat, it's easy to find the cigarette box and to tap one out into his mouth— ]
Heavy is the crown, or some bull like that.
[ he flicks the lighter as little harrow on screen closes the door behind her. ]
"Only God knows."
[ knows what's in that tomb. and harrowhark nonagesimus. he glances to her from the side a moment
as a film is loaded up in between. ]no subject
she swallows, vulnerable and miserable, and nods.]
I lied.
no subject
[ he still lingers over the screen before looking back at her. there's no anger there. people lie for a variety of reasons. lin jingheng lies and omits. he plays at unflappable. ]
We all tell lies. It's how we survive sometimes.
[ a film clicks slowly into place. cws for fucky neuroscience, loss of bodily agency due to brain death, forced medical malpractice, and women doing crimes.
lin jingheng's head is consumed by a cloud of smoke by the end. ]
no subject
when he saw what happened to her parents he kept a straight face and she endeavors to do the same; it feels so much kinder to her than pity or concern and she imagines he's the same way she is. but her hands clench noticeably all the same.]
I see. Yes. I am quite familiar with the existential variety of lies.
no subject
funny how that aligns. ]
This double feature's shit.
[ a statement as he turns, finally waves away some of the smoke. ]
Do you know who she is? The woman in the crypt?
no subject
[she glances at him, a little curious despite herself, but swallows and shakes her head.]
I know we've been told God put his enemy there, a monster that will someday destroy him. But to me, she wasn't monstrous. I can't help it - I wanted to see her freed.
[she takes a breath.]
Do you know why she wanted you in that state? What did you know?
no subject
[ he sounds disappointed. maybe even... sad. damn. he looks down at his shoes and flicks some ash onto the carpet idly. ]
We were separated as children... and I was told that we'd weigh each other down. Ended up on opposite sides of the board... she deals in dangerous biochips, addictive as opium.
[ he trails off. ]
And still... she didn't kill me... even when I knew the truth. Didn't even set foot on that planet prison for the years she trapped us there.
Jingshu...
no subject
[it isn't much better. maybe worse.]
no subject
In a way, I feel like I've failed her as well. Like I could have protected my sister from this somehow.
[ he shakes his head a bit ]
But past is past, isn't it? And now we have to live with the things we've done.
no subject
Yes. I understand. [...] My mother and father - they had done some terrible things as well.
I think they didn't know how to live with those things. It took them about a decade to realize that they couldn't live with it. Knowing how afraid they must have been, I suppose I cannot hate them.