love set you going like a fat gold watch (open)

[higginbottom]

Esther is being entrepreneurial. In fact, she has set up a small booth in the Mansion foyer with a sign that reads:

Let Me Write You a Poem (Or Equivalent Prose)

Of course, she hasn't had any takers yet, so she's feeling a little discouraged. But no matter! The point is, she's there, sitting and looking very prim and proper.




Looks can be deceiving, though she herself may not realize that yet.

Comments

[ghostmaster]

"Poetry!" exclaims Wei Wuxian as he comes through the foyer. "Good poetry or bad poetry?"

[higginbottom]

"Good poetry, of course," Esther insists, gently. "Would you like me to write you something?"

[ghostmaster]

"If it's good, then you should definitely write me a poem about how handsome my husband is. I need to impress him, you see. I wouldn't want things to grow stale!"

[higginbottom]

"Oh, I can certainly do that--could you tell me a little more about your husband? His likes and dislikes? How he looks?"

[ghostmaster]

"Oh, surely you've already met Lan Zhan."

[higginbottom]

"Yes," Esther replies, nodding, "But first impressions do not always give the full picture of someone's personality."

[ghostmaster]

"Well, tell me about your impression!"

[higginbottom]

"He seemed...helpful? I suppose?"

[ghostmaster]

"Oh, no, no, no," Wei Wuxian says, shaking his head and tsk-ing his tongue. "That won't do at all. That would be a very bad poem about Lan Zhan. It's overdone. Trite. He's heard all about his helpfulness before."

[higginbottom]

"What do you think he'd want me to write about?"

[ghostmaster]

"Him? No. I want you to write about how handsome he is!" Wei Wuxian reminds her.

[higginbottom]

"Ugh, fine," she says, huffing a little in annoyance. "Give me a moment, please."

[ghostmaster]

"Sure, sure, I'll wait." Wei Wuxian pulls up a spot on the banister of the sweeping staircase to the second floor and perches there, watching.

[thepurpledanger]

Gu Xiang has never felt her fury burn this hot before--she's faced down murderers and cannibals, been a child among criminals who would not hesitate to hurt a child, and she has become hardened by their company. If you let yourself grow sensitive to every injustice, you will only ever be sensitive. Better to grow a thick skin, a thick face. Better to be calm and cocky and competent, so that the worst people will think twice about trying their luck with you.

All of this means that she has no defenses against the sudden avalanche of rage she feels when she sees Esther hovering next to her little sign. It's not enough that she's kissing Gaheris! It's not enough that she's cooking with him! Now she's writing poetry, too????

She sees white. Her heart feels as though it will pound out of her chest. Her fists clench so hard that blood trickles from her palms where her nails bite into flesh.

Gu Xiang leaps the banister of the stairwell, fluttering down before Esther in a whirl of purple skirts. "Choose a weapon," she says, hand on the hilt of her whip sword. "Because if you're going to keep trying to replace me, let's just fight to the death and get this over with."

[higginbottom]

Okay, Esther is, well, kind of stunned by the response. It seems disproportional! Besides, God forbid she kiss a boy!

"My words are my weapon of choice," she decides to reply, coolly. She looks up at Gu Xiang, sizing her up, in a way. She's pretty. Hm. Concerning.

[thepurpledanger]

Gu Xiang narrows her eyes--but she's never backed down from a challenge, and she is the mansion's most prominent poet. This stupidly tall, stupidly pretty girl won't even be a challenge! "I accept," she says.

[higginbottom]

Esther smirks slightly. She thinks she can win. She begins to recite a poem that she's come up with.

"The caught mouse hardly
runs from its captor--
instead, it squeals until it's dead,
its glass-eyed glare staring me down.
I am here, can't you see?
I am the cat who caught the mouse.
Villain is my name."

[thepurpledanger]

For just a moment, Gu Xiang stares at her, open-mouthed. She hadn't realized that this strange girl was actually good at poetry! But she can tell from the cadences of the recitation that this isn't a poem memorized and recited; this is a poem composed in the moment, meant for Gu Xiang's ears only, cutting as a whip-crack.

If her heart beats faster, surely it's only the rush of battle.

"See how the cat proudly licks her asshole,
glorying in breaking the mouse's neck--
a pitiful triumph! This cowardly little asshole
slinks away from other cats, hissing,
arching her back, tail tucked to shield her asshole.
Show me your claws, kitten. I am no mouse.
I am a tiger, and in the jungle, I am the biggest asshole."

[higginbottom]

"That's cute," Esther replies, rolling her eyes. Still, she can feel color rush to her cheeks - obviously, from being called out. Right?

"The ass is as the ass does,
a whip-smart farce of a thing,
who calls out no one but herself.
See how she neighs and bucks!
What cunning she must have, to be so
brazen. I, for one, think that
the little donkey should join
in the courage of shutting up."

[thepurpledanger]

Gu Xiang paces the foyer, hands folded behind her back, every stride sharp and precise. If she had a tail, it would be lashing.

"Why jeer of animals?
Before me: a woman,
no more. Limp hair,
plain gown, red face.

Puffing her weak verse,
blowing out her cheeks,
as though her whining
could rival the wind."

[higginbottom]

Esther rolls her eyes. How pathetic!

"But the wind is a howling force--
one that rips through houses and trees.
If my whining could rival the wind,
it would already best it, blowing you away.

And what of you? You tiny woman, you dark-haired
succubus, come to destroy. I will not
take your insults for long."

[thepurpledanger]

Gu Xiang's eyes flash. She smiles, stalking toward Esther on light feet. Her purple sleeves stream behind her as though in an unseen breeze.

"Sing, you weak east wind!
Howl feeble complaints!
What beauty you have,
your jealousy taints.
Seethe! My long black hair
and my rose lip paint
make you envy-wild.
You lose all restraint."

[higginbottom]

Esther pouts. She wasn't expecting this woman to be so good at poetry!

Still, she continues:

"Yes, you have beauty,
but is it truth? Retreat
before it's too late;
your own envy clouds
your lack of real hate."

She's noting how, in fact, pretty Gu Xiang is. Hmm.

[thepurpledanger]

Tilting her chin up, Gu Xiang meets Esther's blue eyes--but although the fierce challenge in her gaze hasn't dimmed, there's a playfulness now in her expression that was missing before. This is no longer a duel to the death; it's a sparring match between two equally matched opponents.

"Why should I envy
the willow's long arms?
The scholar tree blooms,
and bees flock in swarms
to that fragrant tree."

She pauses, dangling the comparison in that unfinished verse long enough to insult--then relents.

"But my hard heart warms.
Maybe there is room
For the willow's charms."

[higginbottom]

Esther actually blushes. This is...strange. There's a sort of thrill in this, this game between them.

"You're very talented," Esther says, after a moment, her mouth suddenly dry, and her face still hot.