chroma | catchall for vin

[countermeasures]

i haven't had coffee yet so this won't be pretty yet

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[countermeasures]

[not for the first time after seeing one of these memories, jiuqing sort of wants to punch vin's brother.

but that's not the most important thing here - just the part that stands out to her. the man is one she recognizes from another memory, and vin had seemed to trust him in that one. or at least - to be concerned for his welfare.

that must have been after this, she thinks...? unless...]

...what did end up happening?

[allomantic]

[she pauses for a moment, thinking of what to say.]

Much has happened since then... That was nearly a year ago, when I first joined with him.

[countermeasures]

...

[she nods. so - vin probably did end up coming to trust him, she thinks. why would she have stayed with him for so long out of simple curiosity?]

I see... I thought it must have been an older memory.

[allomantic]

[after a moment, she nods.]

I would not mind telling you what's happened since then, but - it is a longer story, and not especially happy.

[countermeasures]

If you wouldn't mind telling it, I would be glad to hear it.

[she wants to understand vin better!!]

But only if you are comfortable with the retelling. Whether you tell or not, you're still a friend to me.

[allomantic]

...Thank you.

[that's sincere, but she decides where to start.]

We had... many plans. We were going to start a war between the noble houses, build an army of the common people, take over the capital city, and kill the ruler. But - much has gone awry.

[countermeasures]

I suppose overthrowing a ruler is... extremely complicated.

[she should probably be more bothered by this than she is, but like. what has her own imperial family ever done for her? if vin's is anything like the royals she's met, she can understand why.]

...are you going to be alright, once you go back?

[allomantic]

Yes. And... other people are unpredictable, unfortunately.

[she pauses, surprised by the question, and then hesitantly:]

That remains to be seen.

[countermeasures]

...Vin.

[she looks. so worried!! hello!!]

[allomantic]

[after a moment:]

I'm not trying to worry you, but I don't think you'd appreciate it if I lied, either. We can speak about something else if you would prefer.

[countermeasures]

I'd rather talk about the dangers you may be facing.

Perhaps if we discuss it, we can come up with some sort of a plan.

[she would like to make sure vin survives???]

[allomantic]

[she nods, after a moment.]

The memory where I was... injured. We went there in the first place to find something we thought might help us - but we had to pull back when the Inquisitors found us. We had hoped for a while we wouldn't need it, but...

[she sighs.]

I was headed back there right before I was brought here.

[countermeasures]

[...but they had needed it, after all. why else would they have gone after it? vin doesn't take useless actions, and she's fairly sure the man in her memories doesn't, either.]

Will there be Inquisitors again, when you return?

[allomantic]

[...]

It is possible it will be more well guarded. The rebellion has been discovered, since then.

[countermeasures]

Perhaps there's something you could do to draw the guards away...? Stage some sort of distraction somewhere else, and slip in and out while they're busy dealing with that?

[allomantic]

[she pauses for a moment.]

Well - encountering them last time was unexpected. They were already supposed to be in a different part of the palace. The problem with that is... they are drawn to a power I use. They can sense when it is activated, and it will likely need to be activated while I'm there.

[countermeasures]

[hmm. that makes it more complicated.]

...and it's only you that uses that power?

[allomantic]

[she nods.]

[countermeasures]

[damn. that makes it more difficult.

jiuqing falls silent, trying to think up other options. but - she really doesn't know vin's world well enough to be able to plan against the possibility of running into the inquisitors again.]

[allomantic]

[after a moment:]

...I'm sure I'll think of something. But - thank you, regardless.

[countermeasures]

...if you ever want to talk over possibilities, I'd be glad to hear you out. I'm not very familiar with your world, but I'm good at coming up with plans, usually.