milliways_bar | (no subject)

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monkey

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Today there was a wave of Xiongnu like nothing Hua had ever seen before. His horse nearly got cut out from under him three times. Several generals died. And, perhaps worst of all, the supply tent was put to the torch, meaning that provisions were scarcer than ever. If their numbers hadn't been so badly thinned by the enemy attacks, their food situation would be far worse.

Hua's not really sure what to think about that.

At least the Realm of Barbarians has let him in, and doesn't appear to have been affected by the battle.

[tinytag: Hua Mulan]

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Monkey is at the bar, eating a bowl of pine nuts; when he sees Hua, he slips into the crowd and vanishes.

Shortly later, a foolish young monk bumbles into him. "Oh! How extraordinary!"

"Hm?" Hua looks up, and then bows out of habit. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. Are you all right?"

"Think nothing of it," he says promptly, adjusting his saffron robe.

"Tell me, young man, do you have a sister?"

Hua nods. "Yes, one older sister," he says. It's a question he's answered enough times in the army so far, and it's a true answer. There's no reason the question should mean anything unusual, right?

"Ah, that explains it," he says. "I believe I may have met her, some time ago."

"A young woman with a most unsatisfactory horse."

"One makes do with what one has," says Hua, a little bit rattled. "A reservist's family can only afford so much, after all."

"For a moment," he laughs, "I thought that you had gotten up to some sort of hijinks, sir, dressing up as a girl."

"A soldier, are you?"

"I would never do that," says Hua with full sincerity. "Although- and this is just an example, you understand- pretty girls seem to get better bargains in the marketplace than I do. And yes, I am. For the past month or so, anyway."

"Disguises may sometimes be necessary," Tripitaka agrees solemnly.

(Something furry flickers behind him, there and gone very quickly.)

"As a priest, of course, I abhor violence." There is, however, no change in his perpetually sunny visage. "I hope you have at least tried to reason with them."

"I'm not in the vanguard," Hua admits. "I don't usually get anywhere near the enemy until the fighting is already under way. If I ever come near a Xiongnu warrior who isn't trying to take off my limbs, I'll see what I can do."

"I expect it's all just a misunderstanding," Tripitaka says blithely. "People are really all right once you get to know them."

"The invasion is a great movement of the peoples, I hear," says Hua. "Pushing south from their ancestral lands like a horde of locusts. I expect the misunderstanding is that they can fit that many people on land where they aren't welcome."

"Such an easy mistake it must be to make," he says. "People seem to make it so often."

"So I hear," says Hua. "Father says it's happened before like this, but not in my lifetime."

"Sadly, strife is common in every generation. Only the Buddha's truth bring peace."

There's another golden flicker-flash; sometimes Monkey just can't help himself.

Hua nods. "The Emperor certainly thinks so," he says. "All the court is Buddhist now. I don't think it's soaked down to the army, though. Maybe for the best."

"I think a pacifist army would be lovely," he demurs. "Everyone would finally see the value of discussion and reason."

"It would help, I think," says Hua, "if there were two pacifist armies. So that no one tried anything while the other was trying to discuss things with them."

He nods vigorously. "Perhaps someday all the armies of the world will lay down their arms and take up the scriptures. What a blessed vision you have, young fellow."

If it were anyone else saying this, Hua would think they were crazy. But this is a priest. So they're like that.

It's still a little weird, though.

"I'm glad you think so," is all he says. "I didn't think it was a vision, though. It just made sense."

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