To Stand Where He Stood (Open)

[Katsu]

"Yes. She likes to tease as well, as you can see."

Katsu laughs lightly, the tension leaving.

"I'm afraid my only knowledge consists of what Yanmei has decided to share."

[Allison Kazim]

For a moment, all Ali could do was stare at the other woman. She didn't appear to be an angel as Ali knew them, though she knew the irony of her statement was likely lost on the other woman. Despite that, she found herself laughing, shaking her head at the suggestion.

"Likely not, but if you want to claim it, I won't spoil your secret." She shook her head, composing herself before their conversation drew unwanted attention. Hopefully.

"Indeed. It's appreciated." A pair who relied on trust, or at least he did. Ali nodded in understanding.

"The two of you seem to do well together." Or well enough. She wasn't sure if that was part of Katu's personality itself.

[Qi Yanmei]

Yanmei looked pleased by the answer, just adding in a quick:

"I'd rather be mistaken for a human."

Before she gives a cheeky shrug at Katsu's words. Ali's observation causes Yanmei's eyes to light up.

"Well, that is likely because I was born from Katsu's Qi. I have a lot of secrets, indeed. But I'm also still very young~."

She may be hinting that she doesn't quite know her own full potential yet.

[Katsu]

"She was born ten years ago, technically. Though you'd be hard pressed to tell that, given... how she is."

Not just physically, but the fact she was far too smart to be simply ten.

"That was when we were... exiled, too."

[Allison Kazim]

She was born of Katsu's qi? Another blink from Allison at that.

"Interesting." She gave a small, thoughtful sound for YanMei's benefit. "Try 'people' instead of 'human,' though I'm not sure how much it will help." One had secrets, the other accepted. Ali was starting to wonder if it was because neither of them knew the extent of said secrets, or if the sprite was teasing her to get her to keep asking questions.

"Oh?" She turned her attention back to Katus. "Before or after, if you don't mind my asking?"

[Qi Yanmei]

Yanmei takes note of the suggestion, giving her a nod of acknowledgement.

She does however remain quiet as Katsu brings up the topic of his exile in connection to her birth. The look of guilt was hard to miss.

[Katsu]

"...after."

Katsu admits.

"As we found out, Qi was unforgivable to have, at the time. Which is why we were trying to discover if things had changed, now."

[Allison Kazim]

That was an interesting development that lead to her really wanting to keep asking questions. Was it a manifestation of his qi on its own, or partially from Katsu being alone with his exile. It seemed he hadn't found another place to call home since then, or at least not one to keep him from asking about Aurora now. Maybe they'd tried, and found none willing.

"I see." She noticed the guilt, but opted not to comment on it. Ali recalled how Blake had asked her about her own abilities, if they were like qi - the abilities some were born with.

"Well, if it's any consolation, I was asked when I went there. But his partner from his time here also lives in the territory, and I've seen her treated no differently than anyone else by those in the main part of the city who survived, or the newcomers." Possibly because of less than friendly reasons, but it was still true.

[Qi Yanmei]

"Sounds like you may have no trouble, then, Kacchan." Yanmei says in a softer tone of voice.

[Katsu]

Katsu nods.

"...yeah. This might work out, after all."

And yet. He's anxious.

"Thank you for the information. Truly."

[Allison Kazim]

"You're welcome." Ali nodded at the pair as they seemed to mull over their options and opportunity.

"Good luck to you both, whatever you decide."

[Qi Yanmei]

They might need it.

"If you see us again, I suppose you can assume it all went wrong." Yanmei says, but it sounds good-natured. Even if she's serious.

[Katsu]

"Possibly."

Katsu nods.

"Thank you again."

And he turns to head off!

[Allison Kazim]

Allison would nod at Katsu as he left, then to YanMei before going off in her own direction!

[Blake Oleander]

Blake would be seated out near the edge of the training field taking a break from his ordeals of Diplomacy. He was thankfully getting more comfortable with it, but it still felt foreign to him. But he was adapting, as he needed to. Their crowd would be easy enough to spot, traditional garb from Territory 63 on Blake and all of those surrounding him with the sole exception of a young blonde woman in her twenties.

On Blake's head, moved to the side so it was not covering his face would be one of the masks that the Elder's traditionally used to wear, back before the territory began its change toward the future. The young King was speaking with some of his people, his face serious and his stance that of a warrior as if the four swords on his hips and back did not give that away.