but of course it has. he'd made every possible effort to arrive before the listed time - as soon as he was able to arrive, really, since he rushed here quite quickly upon finding out where they'd been taken - but it hadn't quite occurred to him that the listed time was when the main event was set to begin.
those whom he sought had no place in the 'main event'. their parts matter only slightly more to these people than their lives had.
his arrival is far more conspicuous than he intended (or even realizes), especially to those who might be watching for any sign of disturbance. his hair is far longer than most of the men here, his clothes tidy but ill-suited to the event (and nearly white in color, conspicuous in its own right) - and he enters with a quiet urgency in each controlled step, in his eyes as he scans the auction room. xingchen pauses here, at a loss for who exactly to speak to, but then they announce a nymph-arm lamp and his eyes close with a bracing breath.
then he's in movement even before his eyes quite open again, and when they do, they're fixed on the nearest employee whom xingchen has seen address the auctiongoers on their way in. the man in question is standing just close enough that runyu might overhear, ) I'll buy them all, everything from this lot. I can pay, just - please, tell them to stop. ( but the man dismisses him (almost certainly assumes he's running some sort of scam, since he doesn't look the sort to have money of any kind nor to buy or deal in monster parts), turning to head off toward an employees-only door to check on something backstage - and xingchen steps after him, hands curled to shaking fists and tone sharper with desperation. ) You don't understand, you have to- ( nope, he's not stopping, ) I said that I'd pay you, I can show you, I have the money right h- ( but he doesn't even have time to reach into his pocket before the man has disappeared, leaving xingchen staring helplessly after him, mouth still slightly open in unfinished pleading.
but then, his gaze drops to the floor (for as much as it counts as 'gaze', it's unfocused and burning with tears he refuses to shed in this place) with a shaky exhale, lips pressing together. this lasts for a short couple of seconds, barely enough time to draw his breath back in, when the auctioneer announces the lamps have been sold and xingchen's in motion again as if he's been burned. he whirls now, heading for the door at barely short of a jog. he can't quite see where he's going, and his shoulder collides with someone before he's gotten far, but he fumbles out a quiet choked, ) Forgive me, I'm- I have to go- ( and continues on toward the door.
what a shame that he's mixed up the exits. that particular door is really just going to get him lost in some remote wing of the lodge. )
no subject
but of course it has. he'd made every possible effort to arrive before the listed time - as soon as he was able to arrive, really, since he rushed here quite quickly upon finding out where they'd been taken - but it hadn't quite occurred to him that the listed time was when the main event was set to begin.
those whom he sought had no place in the 'main event'. their parts matter only slightly more to these people than their lives had.
his arrival is far more conspicuous than he intended (or even realizes), especially to those who might be watching for any sign of disturbance. his hair is far longer than most of the men here, his clothes tidy but ill-suited to the event (and nearly white in color, conspicuous in its own right) - and he enters with a quiet urgency in each controlled step, in his eyes as he scans the auction room. xingchen pauses here, at a loss for who exactly to speak to, but then they announce a nymph-arm lamp and his eyes close with a bracing breath.
then he's in movement even before his eyes quite open again, and when they do, they're fixed on the nearest employee whom xingchen has seen address the auctiongoers on their way in. the man in question is standing just close enough that runyu might overhear, ) I'll buy them all, everything from this lot. I can pay, just - please, tell them to stop. ( but the man dismisses him (almost certainly assumes he's running some sort of scam, since he doesn't look the sort to have money of any kind nor to buy or deal in monster parts), turning to head off toward an employees-only door to check on something backstage - and xingchen steps after him, hands curled to shaking fists and tone sharper with desperation. ) You don't understand, you have to- ( nope, he's not stopping, ) I said that I'd pay you, I can show you, I have the money right h- ( but he doesn't even have time to reach into his pocket before the man has disappeared, leaving xingchen staring helplessly after him, mouth still slightly open in unfinished pleading.
but then, his gaze drops to the floor (for as much as it counts as 'gaze', it's unfocused and burning with tears he refuses to shed in this place) with a shaky exhale, lips pressing together. this lasts for a short couple of seconds, barely enough time to draw his breath back in, when the auctioneer announces the lamps have been sold and xingchen's in motion again as if he's been burned. he whirls now, heading for the door at barely short of a jog. he can't quite see where he's going, and his shoulder collides with someone before he's gotten far, but he fumbles out a quiet choked, ) Forgive me, I'm- I have to go- ( and continues on toward the door.
what a shame that he's mixed up the exits. that particular door is really just going to get him lost in some remote wing of the lodge. )