[ Voice ; Action ]

[lostblacksouls]

[ It's a little quiet, not to mention cold out this night... It'd be bad to be out without a jacket or something proper to wear, especially with that wind, but suddenly there's a post on the network.

An ominous voice speaks through the audio feed. ]

Only when the light within dies out does true darkness reveal itself... Will you become lost in the labyrinth of your sorrow, or continue on towards the sun?

[ Whether or not you had time for that to sink in, the feed is suddenly filled with much rustling and sounds of muffling over the speakers. ]

Ahhh? What, what, is this thing working? What a curious telephone! Is this how it works, hmmm???

Comments

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[The language catches his attention. He even stops and turns his head to acknowledge the other.]

Nihao.

You are from China, no?

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

[ Ah, that familiar tongue. How long had it been since he found another Chinese man? Lau nodded his head, giving a polite bow. ]

Mm, Shanghai. I am Lau, and you are?

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

I am Wang Yao. [He returns the bow.]

Are you new here?

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

[ Smiles. ] A pleasure.

It appears I just arrived here, actually. I've received a little information about this place.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

Well, for starters, we're not on the planet earth anymore, though I won't be surprised if you refuse to believe that. I myself thought it was ridiculous when I first arrived.

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, I already heard about that. Another world... It's not so impossible, is it? After all, we are able to cross countries by ship... Each country like another world on its own.

This isn't all that different.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

That is true. To think that our people once thought the entire world consisted only of China. [And now people were sending men up to the moon.]

How are things in Shanghai anyway? I have not been there for some time.

[Plus he might be able to find out the time that this man was from. He wouldn't want to rush forward with telling him about their country's future if he was from the past, not to mention that he himself was the personification of China.]

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't know myself, I haven't been in Shanghai personally for a long time. Business is still going well, so I suppose that would cover that part.

[ He places his sleeves together. ]

Despite those two terrible wars, we've recovered quite well, I think. Business is still booming, as they say.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[There might have been a change in China's eyes when the Opium Wars are mentioned.]

Yes, I also think that we have recovered well. China is strong and it will always be.

...You say you have not been to Shangai for a long time either. May I ask where you have been lately then?

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

[ He nods slowly. ]

I have been residing in England. As President of the Trading Company Kun-Lun, it's important that I conduct my business in London.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

Hmph. London is a good place for business considering it's the capital and all, despite some of its people getting in the way of things.

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

They really do get in the way at times, don't they? Still, I'm able to conduct my business well enough.

London is quite under my control, I assure that much.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

You seem very confident in yourself, not that it's a bad thing.

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

For those that have confidence, any road is easily traveled.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's true. People with confidence don't fear taking on the world as much.

As for myself, I have been traveling between China and the French Indochina recently.

[From what he gathered on what the other had said so far, he was from a time where Vietnam was still under French control.]

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

Oh? How has that been going for you? I heard there was a rebellion happening...

[ He still kept in touch with his associates in Shanghai, and their associates were always keeping up with the latest news. ]

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[In his mind he thinks, "Oh, there's a rebellion happening alright," even though he knows it's not the same as the one in his current time.]

Yes, things are pretty hectic there. Nonetheless, I've been lucky to come out of there unscathed.

I only go there because my boss has given me duties I must carry out in that place.

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

Oh? What kind of duties?

[ He can't help his curiousity after all. ]

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

I help repair the damage that's been done. [And some other things.]

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

[ Lau gives a smile at that. ] That sounds like a taxing job for one person.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

Which is exactly why I have a crew with me to help. I'm the leader, so it was my job to make sure they got from here to there safely.

Enough about me, though. What are some of the things your company trades?

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

Ah, my company? Well, all kinds of things. Ingredients, raw materials, things like that... We also produce clothes and trade those around the world in order to make quite a bit of profit.

Sure is a good time to be trading.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

Oh? How interesting! I actually have quite a hand for making silk clothes as well as Chinese cuisine~ [He smiles for the first time in their conversation.]

It is, especially when the foreigners have such an interest in Eastern culture.

[action] | Mandarin

[lostblacksouls.livejournal.com]

Oh, so what of being here, then? Are there any materials that could be made into silk clothes? I wouldn't mind setting up shop at least a little here.

[action] | Mandarin

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[He puffs his cheeks a bit, looking to the side.]

I asked the scientists the same question a long time ago, but they told me that all the silk worms on this planet died! There are materials to make clothes, but none of them are as fine as genuine silk.