Damn. She was really hoping for a shared dream. Those were something she'd heard of, something they could've worked with. Instead he has no name for her beyond Li and she has no knowledge of him beyond what he's said to her. They're as clueless now as when they started speaking.
A thought occurs to her. Without a pause to let him stop her, she takes her knife and makes a cut on her wrist, under the edge of the glove. The pain confirms it's real, and she swear softly in Mandarin. "This is real." It's less a statement of discovery and more one of resignation. They've got no way out but through, now.
She cleans her knife on her skirt and wipes her gloves on her blazer, trying to keep both free of any lingering slickness. The battle isn't over. It is once again time to face down the unknown. At least this time they had each other from the start rather than meeting mid-fight. Two can face a lot that one cannot. And while she doubts they can save everyone, she knows they can save some.
"Go for the joints," Li says. "Elbows, knees, they're all still as sensitive as before. It's easier to take them down that way than normal people because they're swinging wildly. Up high or down low confuses them. I've rolled under at least a dozen without any problem. We're not as well armed as I'd like, but we're learning. We can do this, together."
Still, something has her pausing, hesitating to step up onto the ledge like before. Softly, she admits, "Xiaohu. My birth name is Xiaohu. If we meet outside of this city, somehow, say it to me, so I'll know it's you, and I'll know this wasn't a dream. We'll both know, that way. Okay?"
Have to head to bed now. Sorry!
A thought occurs to her. Without a pause to let him stop her, she takes her knife and makes a cut on her wrist, under the edge of the glove. The pain confirms it's real, and she swear softly in Mandarin. "This is real." It's less a statement of discovery and more one of resignation. They've got no way out but through, now.
She cleans her knife on her skirt and wipes her gloves on her blazer, trying to keep both free of any lingering slickness. The battle isn't over. It is once again time to face down the unknown. At least this time they had each other from the start rather than meeting mid-fight. Two can face a lot that one cannot. And while she doubts they can save everyone, she knows they can save some.
"Go for the joints," Li says. "Elbows, knees, they're all still as sensitive as before. It's easier to take them down that way than normal people because they're swinging wildly. Up high or down low confuses them. I've rolled under at least a dozen without any problem. We're not as well armed as I'd like, but we're learning. We can do this, together."
Still, something has her pausing, hesitating to step up onto the ledge like before. Softly, she admits, "Xiaohu. My birth name is Xiaohu. If we meet outside of this city, somehow, say it to me, so I'll know it's you, and I'll know this wasn't a dream. We'll both know, that way. Okay?"