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@estantia.bsky.social Oct 10, 2026, 1:00 PM

Okay I have *two* really good responses for this between my projects, so I'm doing both. For #EotUS, a tense negotiation and a revelation, complete with undignified reaction.

#WriteSky #Wuxia

Flowing Silk was immediately curious, but it was nothing compared to the eagerness with which the Eye responded, "Oh? *That* time?" Flowing Silk could *hear* the fangs in the voice, almost feel the beads of venom ready to fall. "That would do well enough."

Han's eyes shut in resignation, "Then take it. Immortals know I've given too much to hold back now."

With Han's agreement, the Eye flashed triumphantly and a bead of emerald light rose from it, floating to Flowing Silk. Flowing Silk removed his hand from the Eye to catch it with both hands, studying the Secret as it floated above his palms. Curiously it was the same size and shape as the beads, another proof of them being equal and opposite.

Flowing Silk turned and opened his hands, offering the memory to the Beads. Han held out the beads in an appropriate offering position and the emerald bead floated over. As soon as it touched the other beads it melted into a golden glow that the pearls quickly absorbed.

The group collectively breathed a sigh of relief and Han moved to hand the beads back. Just before he let go they rippled gold for a second and Han went pale, hands shaking as he finished handing them over.

Flowing Silk settled the beads around his neck with his own sigh of relief at the familiar weight. Thank goodness, he wasn't alone any more.

The unnatural darkness lifted and one of the servants unfroze, "-ore tea, Master Sheng?"

At the confirmation that the negotiation was over Flowing Silk's bones gave out, sliding off his chair to collapse in a puddle on the floor. Everything had gone rather fuzzy, but he was mostly sure that was just his eyes refusing to process anything because his brain was too busy trying to handle the enormity of what it had just learned. "Gods and little fishes I was not expecting that to work," he gasped. "I didn't think it was actually *true*."

@estantia.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 5:12 PM

#AwesomeCharacters Ren would be expected to choose 1 (and has done so previously in text) but wants 3. Flowing Silk would rather go for 2 or 3. Ren therefore uses his ridiculous information gathering skills to find the best examples of 3 across the city.

Star Anise takes all four.

#WriteSky #EotUS

@estantia.bsky.social Sep 30, 2026, 1:25 PM

I knew my art would get better once I finally managed to understand masks and glow layers. I was not expecting THIS much of a difference!

Illustration from chapter 6 of Eye of the Unborn Serpent. #Art #EotUS #Writesky

@estantia.bsky.social Sep 30, 2026, 10:11 AM

#WIPSnips | guard

Having skipped past a lot of spoilers, have an adorable little demon creature and Sheng representing how we would all respond in this moment.

#EotUS #writing #Writesky #JustWuxiaThings

Further into the woods there were now definite rustlings in the undergrowth and some of the knots on the trees looked increasingly eye-like. Not only that but Sheng noticed a few of them seemed to be following the group.
"Hmm, a decent attempt at creepiness," Sheng mused to himself as they walked. "Though not quite as unsettling as…"
There was a sudden snap of branches behind them and Sheng spun, Flowing Silk drawing his fans to guard from anything that might come from the front. Xiong fell back to be ready to defend his Grandfather.
The small black demon hissing at them was around the size and shape of a dog but with a huge falcon beak.
It would have been a lot more intimidating were it not holding a stick in its mouth. It bit down, the two halves of the stick falling to the floor. The demon looked almost… confused at its stick being gone, like a young puppy.
Sheng felt his eyes light up, "Awwww, it's so cute."
"I wonder if that was a threat or if it was trying to get us to play?" Flowing Silk wondered, though his apprehension of demons was clearly warring with how cute it was.
The demon opened its beak and screeched, the sound disturbingly loud in the silence of the forest.
"... We may wish to move," Flowing Silk said, Xiong and Sheng nodding as the group changed to not quite a run. The demon seemed content to let them go without following, Sheng waving goodbye to it before settling into the Eagle Talon stance.

@estantia.bsky.social Sep 28, 2026, 1:01 PM

#WIPSnips Prime -> First. Going back and editing, found this section folks might enjoy, because calling the trippy vision's bluff is always a good tactic.

#WriteSky #EotUS

"So you refuse to believe that your brother might hurt you?"
"I do."
The illusion wearing his brother's face chuckled, "How about a bet? I shall show you a truth, and you can give me your answer… if you can stand it."
"There's no reason for me to believe that, but fine, you want me to play along with this game?" Flowing Silk stood still, his robes drifting to a stop. "Show me."
The thing wearing his brother's face smiled too widely and a shadowed figure stepped out of the darkness in black Magistrate's robes. A dark hooded cloak obscured all their features apart from an evil smile as bright as the sanity searing symbol of Dom Mak gleaming around their throat.
"You see now?" 'Han' said, "I am working with him and your blood is required as a sacrifice. How does it feel? Knowing I seek to betray you?"
Flowing Silk shook his head. "Firstly, there's no reason for me to believe this interpretation. Did you really think magistrates aren't taught how the truth can be used to mislead? Secondly: it doesn't matter. I know he has a secret, and he has promised to explain it. If he is working with them he probably has a reason and it is unlikely I shall ever have to be in this situation."
His opponent looked shocked at how calm he was, "And if it is as I have shown?"
Flowing Silk smiled sweetly, "Then I thank you for your warning, and I shall be ready." he raised an eyebrow, "So the choice is down to whether I believe in him, is it not?"
His opponent looked at him in shock, then glee as Flowing Silk opened his arms, "Then here is my choice. I choose to believe."
The thing wearing Han's face chuckled, laughed, then howled as it spun and hurled the feather blade at him with all its might, sinking deeply into his stomach until the white robes were stained red.
Flowing Silk braced himself, grimacing with pain as he reached forward and grabbed something on his stomach, lifting his head with a triumphant look in his eyes. "Got you."

@estantia.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 10:18 AM

An early scene from Rival and Lover today! Because the best way to get to know someone is pacifying their honoured dead..?

(Flowing Silk is seven here, for reference.) #WIPSnips #EotUS

The group moved faster now that Flowing Silk was carrying the bag of ritual components and he peeked inside to take a look. Incense, candles, mask, pre-written mantras of… sleep and binding? Chimes. Fairly standard things for priest work, a bag kept ready for emergencies.
Master Li broke the quiet, “Master Yinghao, would you continue telling me about the ghost in question? I would prefer to pacify the spirit of such a noble man rather than seal it. If we can find the cause of his unrest...”
The noble looked sad, “While we know the general cause we cannot seem to find the specific cause of his discomfort. He has never rested easily, for all that he took his own life to restore the Clan’s honour after he failed to protect the previous Emperor, may he be reincarnated swiftly.”
The priest frowned again, “Strange, that should have eased his soul.”
Master Yinghao nodded, expression grave, “That is what we have thought these last six years.”
They hurried on as the priest asked more questions, about things they may have left undone, family and duties. Flowing Silk listened quietly as he observed his surroundings and the stance until they came to a large gate, Master Yinghao looking briefly at the guards (Singing Sword style? Definitely tense and alert, they were expecting trouble), “Where?”
“Last we heard 5 minutes ago he was past the lily garden and heading towards the nursery, Master Keishin.”
Master Yinghao went white, “The children.”
All three of them burst into a flat out run, even Master Li managing a surprising turn of speed. Master Yinghao Keishin sped ahead of both of them, his strides becoming wide and flowing. He spun, the small torch flame he had taken stretching and growing to become a living scarf of fire that shed light on the shrubs at the side of the path.

@estantia.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 10:03 AM

So I mentioned that I do art as well. Here's one of my WIPs, a scene from EotUS Chapter 6. In which Flowing Silk wakes up from an unintentional nap.

#WIP #EotUS