[ lailah is in the church after trial (surprise surprise) just sitting in the otherwise empty pews. she notices jing yuan enter, but remains quiet until he's closer, perhaps finishing a silent prayer.
but then she'll offer him a weak smile. ]
Not that I would be much help in a trial like that, but I do wish we could at least try.
[ but she gives him a little nod, welcoming him to sit and stay as long as he likes. and also kind of just a 'yeah' at the thing about today's trial. yeah. YEAH. ]
Ah, yes. I'm with the Sisterhood back home. At Trinity. [ this clarification means nothing to him. ]
Information and organization are the basis for solving those kinds of puzzles. [ he loves a mental exercise though unfortunately... not ones quite like these... ] Your skills would be indispensable, I'm sure.
[ ... ]
Is this school where you also learned [ ... ] long-ranged combat?
[ yeah she just locks in on the puzzle and does nothing else. (no) ]
Thank you for saying so. I wonder if we're lucky or not that we won't find out until transport is restored.
[ which surely will happen much sooner than just before the end of the game. surely. ]
That's right. It's part of the standard curriculum blu-rays that we watch in class. Though I'll admit, we all still do much better when Sensei is around. [ she does pause for a second though because she HAS actually had some months around other people to acclimate to what is and is not normal in other worlds. or at least. a few details. ] It may be worth mentioning that where I'm from, every girl carries a firearm and combat is very common. And nonlethal.
[ YIPPEE!! also me trying to intuit at 1:30AM in the morning if jing yuan would know what a blu-ray is. records do exist in honkai, so he's probably aware of similar, archaic formats of media...... ]
Nonlethal combat...? Is it more akin to training...?
[ or is it more like... the projectiles they use aren't harmful... (truly trying and failing to understand this culture.) yet he supposes it makes sense, in a way, for someone who seems so peaceable otherwise. ]
If I may ask, Lailah... How is it you arrived here in the first place, then?
We do try to get plenty of training in for school, but there's a lot of real combat, too. Especially at certain other schools. Or certain bad neighborhoods. You know how violent troubled youths can be. But rather than that, it's that we're... particularly tough. Apparently.
[ which feels like a very odd thing to say about herself. ]
Well, let's see. First I was reached out to by God. Then we had a nice meeting over tea discussing what the job would be like...
[ that isn't contextualizing like game mechanics this is blue archive lore. 🫣 all girls are invincible and that's why they have gunfights all the time. ]
Yes, that's right. I don't think I could ever fall in battle with Sensei there to guide me.
Oh, I'm just one student of many. Sensei is wonderful but I think of it more as returning to the Sisterhood. I didn't die, after all, so I may have no place in Heaven yet.
Although... it will kind of be a shame to stop serving the Lord quite so directly.
I would believe the Lord may choose to keep you in their [ (hsr voice) THEIR ] service indefinitely. Though I'm also of the opinion there's still much to experience in life.
[ ... ]
I hope this will not make you cross with me, but may I ask your age...?
[ crying because he gets the impression she's like, early 20s/young adult rn. ig still a baby when you're old as dirt, but even so... ]
You think so? It would be an honor if they would, but... You're right. I won't be disappointed either way.
[ and she shakes her head. ]
Not cross at all! I've seen all of the profiles so I understand that age can be hard to guess based on appearances. And I'm sure it doesn't help that I wear more traditional clothing instead of a school uniform. [ THIS IS NOT TRADITIONAL CLOTHING. ALSO WHY WOULD YOU WEAR A SCHOOL UNIFORM AT YOUR JOB. both of these points seem to elude her. ]
[ LAILAH YOUR SEXY NUN OUTFIT............ HELP. age difference aside, jing yuan can't even fully form an opinion because he is from a gacha game rife with boob windows and leggy.
the age reveal does gives him a bit of pause. ]
I... would not have guessed, Miss Lailah. You carry yourself with more composure than many others older than you, here.
[ not naming any names, but shanders for two, ]
I suppose if you're truly content with your work, and with your life, then I have no need to worry too much.
[ unfortunately i do love the sexy high school girls game. ]
I've been trying my best to stay composed but don't think too highly of me. [ might be kind of teasing. but also kind of not. ] I'm very easily flustered, and clumsy too.
I think I've just gotten lucky that none of you have seen me drop papers all over or—oh, goodness, the other day I accidentally broke a table in half trying to rearrange the furniture.
Oh, I'm alright. Thank you for your concern, but I'm really not as prone to injury as the rest of you. [ your fragile, delicate, not indestructible bodies... ] And please, just focus on resting your soul and self-reflection! There's no need for you to help out when we're meant to be your Guardian Angels.
... But I hope you won't mind if I call on you for company, sometimes. I'm not used to eating meals alone.
[ YOUR WET TISSUE MAN. it's fine she has the brawn but blue archive girls on autoplay are all dumb as hell. she could never be a war general............. ]
What a relief. Because that is exactly what you need to be doing.
Good! You see, in the Sisterhood we eat together, bathe together, study together... It's been so strange to have all this time by myself all of a sudden.
...That reminds a little of my time as a Cloud Knight. [ sisterhood vs. xianzhou army bros who will win... (sisterhood) ]
But that was all a very long time ago. Now, it is the other way for me—I usually take my meals alone. [ sometimes with yanqing, his retainer, but in all jing yuan is a very private person, to compensate for being such a public figure. ]
[ the more u insist the more i want to see blue archive girls win. DOWN WITH HOYOVERSE AND FLAT ASSES ]
A worthy endeavor. [ he's pretty sure lailah would have a higher success rate... thinks about how easily she enticed adolphe with stew... ]
Of course. It's been a very long time since I started out as a recruit [ he is now their commander, though peaceful times means he mostly pushes around papers ], but in the early days I spent much of my time training under my master, and with my peers.
The Cloud Knights are tasked with repelling monsters on the Luofu [ his home ], referred to as the Denizens of Abundance. Unfortunately, the same curse that grants my people immortality is also the source of these abominations.
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week 2, saturday
but then she'll offer him a weak smile. ]
Not that I would be much help in a trial like that, but I do wish we could at least try.
no subject
It does feel frustrating, not to be able to lend them our help. But I think they would appreciate the sentiment, if they knew.
[ (he is going to be haunted by 'horse' forever... jk.) jing yuan smiles softly in return, and sits down carefully beside her. ]
...Not that last week's trial was easy to witness, but today's felt especially... [ gruesome. BRITT! ELI!! ] arduous.
[ but also, he's curious... ] Did you have a religious upbringing, Miss Lailah?
no subject
I could be another set of hands, if nothing else.
[ but she gives him a little nod, welcoming him to sit and stay as long as he likes. and also kind of just a 'yeah' at the thing about today's trial. yeah. YEAH. ]
Ah, yes. I'm with the Sisterhood back home. At Trinity. [ this clarification means nothing to him. ]
no subject
I believe you would offer additional insight as well.
[ and honestly, in a way he's seeking that insight from her presently. ]
...Trinity? Is that the name of an establishment?
no subject
[ putting what is happening here very mildly. ]
Oh, yes. It's my school.
no subject
jing yuan smiles in understanding. ]
Information and organization are the basis for solving those kinds of puzzles. [ he loves a mental exercise though unfortunately... not ones quite like these... ] Your skills would be indispensable, I'm sure.
[ ... ]
Is this school where you also learned [ ... ] long-ranged combat?
no subject
Thank you for saying so. I wonder if we're lucky or not that we won't find out until transport is restored.
[ which surely will happen much sooner than just before the end of the game. surely. ]
That's right. It's part of the standard curriculum blu-rays that we watch in class. Though I'll admit, we all still do much better when Sensei is around. [ she does pause for a second though because she HAS actually had some months around other people to acclimate to what is and is not normal in other worlds. or at least. a few details. ] It may be worth mentioning that where I'm from, every girl carries a firearm and combat is very common. And nonlethal.
no subject
Nonlethal combat...? Is it more akin to training...?
[ or is it more like... the projectiles they use aren't harmful... (truly trying and failing to understand this culture.) yet he supposes it makes sense, in a way, for someone who seems so peaceable otherwise. ]
If I may ask, Lailah... How is it you arrived here in the first place, then?
no subject
We do try to get plenty of training in for school, but there's a lot of real combat, too. Especially at certain other schools. Or certain bad neighborhoods. You know how violent troubled youths can be. But rather than that, it's that we're... particularly tough. Apparently.
[ which feels like a very odd thing to say about herself. ]
Well, let's see. First I was reached out to by God. Then we had a nice meeting over tea discussing what the job would be like...
no subject
he nods. he does indeed know how violent the troubled youths can be. ]
...Ah. I should hope it is not a painful ordeal, regardless of your resilience.
[ i love trying to contextualize wacky anime mechanics.
a pause. ]
You were invited to heaven...? You did not fall in battle...? [ was she like... RAPTURED? ]
no subject
[ that isn't contextualizing like game mechanics this is blue archive lore. 🫣 all girls are invincible and that's why they have gunfights all the time. ]
Yes, that's right. I don't think I could ever fall in battle with Sensei there to guide me.
no subject
Ah. And will you return to... this Sensei, once your work here is finished?
[ he really is just polling across the npcs like. WHO ARE YOU. WHAT DO YOU WANT. (positive) he just wants to get to know them better... ]
no subject
Oh, I'm just one student of many. Sensei is wonderful but I think of it more as returning to the Sisterhood. I didn't die, after all, so I may have no place in Heaven yet.
Although... it will kind of be a shame to stop serving the Lord quite so directly.
[ NUN......... ]
no subject
I would believe the Lord may choose to keep you in their [ (hsr voice) THEIR ] service indefinitely. Though I'm also of the opinion there's still much to experience in life.
[ ... ]
I hope this will not make you cross with me, but may I ask your age...?
[ crying because he gets the impression she's like, early 20s/young adult rn. ig still a baby when you're old as dirt, but even so... ]
no subject
[ and she shakes her head. ]
Not cross at all! I've seen all of the profiles so I understand that age can be hard to guess based on appearances. And I'm sure it doesn't help that I wear more traditional clothing instead of a school uniform. [ THIS IS NOT TRADITIONAL CLOTHING. ALSO WHY WOULD YOU WEAR A SCHOOL UNIFORM AT YOUR JOB. both of these points seem to elude her. ]
I'm seventeen years old. I'll be eighteen in May.
no subject
the age reveal does gives him a bit of pause. ]
I... would not have guessed, Miss Lailah. You carry yourself with more composure than many others older than you, here.
[ not naming any names, but shanders for two, ]
I suppose if you're truly content with your work, and with your life, then I have no need to worry too much.
no subject
I've been trying my best to stay composed but don't think too highly of me. [ might be kind of teasing. but also kind of not. ] I'm very easily flustered, and clumsy too.
I think I've just gotten lucky that none of you have seen me drop papers all over or—oh, goodness, the other day I accidentally broke a table in half trying to rearrange the furniture.
no subject
also hehe... easily flustered... but also ?????? lailah... is swole. that makes sense though seeing her carry her giant luggage around ]
...That is very impressive. You're not hurt, are you?
[ asks out of habit even though she just said she was indestructible... ] If you need help with any tasks, feel free to call upon me.
no subject
Oh, I'm alright. Thank you for your concern, but I'm really not as prone to injury as the rest of you. [ your fragile, delicate, not indestructible bodies... ] And please, just focus on resting your soul and self-reflection! There's no need for you to help out when we're meant to be your Guardian Angels.
... But I hope you won't mind if I call on you for company, sometimes. I'm not used to eating meals alone.
no subject
he smiles warmly, a withheld laugh tickling his chest. ]
No need to fret, Miss Lailah. Resting comprises my top 3 skills. [ he is a PRO at taking it easy. ]
And it would be my pleasure. I would love to hear stories of your Sisterhood, over a meal sometime.
no subject
What a relief. Because that is exactly what you need to be doing.
Good! You see, in the Sisterhood we eat together, bathe together, study together... It's been so strange to have all this time by myself all of a sudden.
no subject
...That reminds a little of my time as a Cloud Knight. [ sisterhood vs. xianzhou army bros who will win... (sisterhood) ]
But that was all a very long time ago. Now, it is the other way for me—I usually take my meals alone. [ sometimes with yanqing, his retainer, but in all jing yuan is a very private person, to compensate for being such a public figure. ]
So I do appreciate the invitation.
no subject
Let's see to it that no one has to eat alone unless they want to, then.
Would you tell me about your time as a Cloud Knight? I'm not familiar.
no subject
A worthy endeavor. [ he's pretty sure lailah would have a higher success rate... thinks about how easily she enticed adolphe with stew... ]
Of course. It's been a very long time since I started out as a recruit [ he is now their commander, though peaceful times means he mostly pushes around papers ], but in the early days I spent much of my time training under my master, and with my peers.
The Cloud Knights are tasked with repelling monsters on the Luofu [ his home ], referred to as the Denizens of Abundance. Unfortunately, the same curse that grants my people immortality is also the source of these abominations.
[ they are endless... ]
no subject
It sounds like a very commendable job to take up. How old were you when you started?
[ coming from the same curse sounds ambiguous to her. she doesn't know how curses work. she doesn't know any hyv lore and neither do i. ]
It must be hard to face them. Are they... were they once people? Or were they always monsters?
(no subject)
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