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I mean, I don't know much about it. We didn't actually make it all the way there, the ground opened up under us eventually. But it was...I dunno. It felt like I had to go there. It was like I couldn't fight going even if I wanted to.
[It was creepy.]
The ghost was helpful. He was trying to save others much weaker than him, and he saved our asses a few times too. I wish I knew who he was...he never told us his name.
[It was creepy.]
The ghost was helpful. He was trying to save others much weaker than him, and he saved our asses a few times too. I wish I knew who he was...he never told us his name.
[ i'm just gonna assume he's been here for a little while, but! xie lian is leaning against the baby jail, wherever it is, sitting towards the sun, head tilted back.
san lang, ferret formed, is pressed up against the bars, too, as close as possible. ]
... Are you awake, Rin? [ softly. ]
san lang, ferret formed, is pressed up against the bars, too, as close as possible. ]
... Are you awake, Rin? [ softly. ]
Yeah, it does.
[Rinkou nudges at San Lang a bit, but is careful not to touch Xie Lian. Cuddling is impossible when their people are this close, so this is all the affection San Lang gets.
Rin's gaze is transfixed on the sunrise, and he finds himself babbling a bit.]
The last time I saw a sunrise like this, it was after me and Bon teamed up to defeat a really powerful demon. He kept the barrier up to keep the demon from poisoning the nearby city, I used my fire to burn the demon away to nothing. It- it was the first time either of us had truly worked together as a team, we used to fight so much before then.
That's the first time Bon and I really understood each other.
[Rinkou nudges at San Lang a bit, but is careful not to touch Xie Lian. Cuddling is impossible when their people are this close, so this is all the affection San Lang gets.
Rin's gaze is transfixed on the sunrise, and he finds himself babbling a bit.]
The last time I saw a sunrise like this, it was after me and Bon teamed up to defeat a really powerful demon. He kept the barrier up to keep the demon from poisoning the nearby city, I used my fire to burn the demon away to nothing. It- it was the first time either of us had truly worked together as a team, we used to fight so much before then.
That's the first time Bon and I really understood each other.
[ rinkou gets a ferret nose boop, since he can't reach much, and then touches his lil paws against rinkou's head. boop. :c
xie lian doesn't seem to mind the babbling, though. he listens - that is what he is supposed to do, isn't it? he's a god, a prince, and sometimes, he has to learn to sit still instead of run head first into trouble. maybe if he'd listened more, he could have...
...it's not worth pursuing, right now. head tilted back a bit against the bars, he closes his eyes. ]
It sounds as though you had the same goal - protecting that city. No?
xie lian doesn't seem to mind the babbling, though. he listens - that is what he is supposed to do, isn't it? he's a god, a prince, and sometimes, he has to learn to sit still instead of run head first into trouble. maybe if he'd listened more, he could have...
...it's not worth pursuing, right now. head tilted back a bit against the bars, he closes his eyes. ]
It sounds as though you had the same goal - protecting that city. No?
[It is going to take Rin an embarrassingly long time to realize where Xie Lian is. Hell, it's probably going to be close to sunset by the time Rin curses up a storm trying to climb on the roof. His eyes are still red and puffy and his face is a mess, but he's not crying anymore. Emotionally drained, but a little closer to who Rin normally is.]
Why are you up here?
Why are you up here?
[ xie lian has been… around, today! he keeps returning to this spot - as the evening carries on, he seems to be keeping a little bit of a vigil.
he’s not actually expecting rin to notice him, so it’s a little surprising - but, a the sound of his voice, he looks down, and offers him a small smile, sheepish. busted. ]
Ah… the view of the sunset from this place is magnificent. That’s all. [ is it? ] Here.
[ and he’ll come over and offer a hand to help pull him up. ]
he’s not actually expecting rin to notice him, so it’s a little surprising - but, a the sound of his voice, he looks down, and offers him a small smile, sheepish. busted. ]
Ah… the view of the sunset from this place is magnificent. That’s all. [ is it? ] Here.
[ and he’ll come over and offer a hand to help pull him up. ]
[He'll take that hand up, because climbing with a hurt arm sucks.
Once he's up on the roof though, he'll sit down next to Xie Lian. The view really is magnificent, just like Xie Lian said.]
It's hard to believe it hasn't even been a whole day yet...we watched the sun rise and the sun set today.
Once he's up on the roof though, he'll sit down next to Xie Lian. The view really is magnificent, just like Xie Lian said.]
It's hard to believe it hasn't even been a whole day yet...we watched the sun rise and the sun set today.
[ and they almost didn’t get to, did they.
a small smile tugs the corner of xie lian’s mouth, and he nods, looking up at the stars slowly blinking on ahead as they settle down. ]
So we did. It is as I said, then - no matter what happens, the light will come. Whether it feels like it should, or not.
a small smile tugs the corner of xie lian’s mouth, and he nods, looking up at the stars slowly blinking on ahead as they settle down. ]
So we did. It is as I said, then - no matter what happens, the light will come. Whether it feels like it should, or not.
Yeah. The light will come again.
[Tomorrow is another day in another city. It's fine, probably.
Rin sits there quietly for a moment, watching as the sky turns purple with the hues of nighttime. Then he shifts his position so he's sitting cross-legged, and then he claps his hands in front of him and bows his head a little and closes his eyes. He's trying to do some kind of a prayer position, but he doesn't know what the hell he's doing. Then he starts talking in a mock-prayer voice.]
O, mysterious God of-
[He pauses, and then he cracks one of his eyes open to peek at Xie Lian.]
Er, what are you the god of again?
[Tomorrow is another day in another city. It's fine, probably.
Rin sits there quietly for a moment, watching as the sky turns purple with the hues of nighttime. Then he shifts his position so he's sitting cross-legged, and then he claps his hands in front of him and bows his head a little and closes his eyes. He's trying to do some kind of a prayer position, but he doesn't know what the hell he's doing. Then he starts talking in a mock-prayer voice.]
O, mysterious God of-
[He pauses, and then he cracks one of his eyes open to peek at Xie Lian.]
Er, what are you the god of again?
[ wow deja vu
xie lian has absolutely no idea what rin is doing at first. He just kind of watches him, head tilting like a bird, confused —
…and then, as he peeks at him, he laughs. it’s warm and bright, startled out of him, and xie lian can’t help the fond smile on his face. ]
…you can just say the central plains.
[ even if it’s a little silly - how long has it been, since xie lian heard a prayer? ]
xie lian has absolutely no idea what rin is doing at first. He just kind of watches him, head tilting like a bird, confused —
…and then, as he peeks at him, he laughs. it’s warm and bright, startled out of him, and xie lian can’t help the fond smile on his face. ]
…you can just say the central plains.
[ even if it’s a little silly - how long has it been, since xie lian heard a prayer? ]
[Like father like son! But at least Rin isn't flirting with XL.]
Right, right.
[He closes his eye again and starts once more with the overly-dramatic prayer voice.]
O, mysterious god of the central plains! Hear my words and answer my prayers!
There is a demonic spirit living within me! I can't get rid of it, because to do so would kill me. But it cannot be left unchecked, because any time I start having impulsive thoughts it takes over and makes me do regrettable things!
[After that dramatic speech, he quiets down to a normal speaking voice and sneakily peeks at Xie Lian again.]
Please, teach me how to tame the darkness in my heart so I can live like a normal person again?
Right, right.
[He closes his eye again and starts once more with the overly-dramatic prayer voice.]
O, mysterious god of the central plains! Hear my words and answer my prayers!
There is a demonic spirit living within me! I can't get rid of it, because to do so would kill me. But it cannot be left unchecked, because any time I start having impulsive thoughts it takes over and makes me do regrettable things!
[After that dramatic speech, he quiets down to a normal speaking voice and sneakily peeks at Xie Lian again.]
Please, teach me how to tame the darkness in my heart so I can live like a normal person again?
[ this feels so, so utterly familiar, too, and xie lian is just awash with instant fondness for rin. not just for him as a person and his situation, but for his spirit, as strong and fierce as can possibly be - even after experiencing such an immensely personal, painful trauma, he is still himself. a lantern not snuffed out.
a heart, that wants to be good.
when rin peeks at him, xie lian is smiling. the expression is so, so warm - he looks just touched, for a moment, the gentle and serene visage of a man who became a god so well known for his kindness. ]
...You may sit up straight. [ he plays along, with the god and devotee thing, for a moment, sounding just a bit more imperious. ] I ask those who pray to me never to prostrate - I don't see any merit in simply bowing before the gods as if they are so much better than humans. I was - and am - a human myself.
[ and then. ]
It would be my honor to help you, Rin. I could think of no prayer more important to answer, than one where I can help to set you free from your struggle - and teach you to keep your heart as still as water and that creature locked safe away. In whatever manners necessary - you have my word, as His Highness the Crown Prince, Martial God of the Central Plains.
[ it feels a little like playing dress up to say it, now, to act that way, but some of that imperious fake aura fades, and he holds out a hand. ]
...But more so, you have my word as Xie Lian, beyond anything else.
a heart, that wants to be good.
when rin peeks at him, xie lian is smiling. the expression is so, so warm - he looks just touched, for a moment, the gentle and serene visage of a man who became a god so well known for his kindness. ]
...You may sit up straight. [ he plays along, with the god and devotee thing, for a moment, sounding just a bit more imperious. ] I ask those who pray to me never to prostrate - I don't see any merit in simply bowing before the gods as if they are so much better than humans. I was - and am - a human myself.
[ and then. ]
It would be my honor to help you, Rin. I could think of no prayer more important to answer, than one where I can help to set you free from your struggle - and teach you to keep your heart as still as water and that creature locked safe away. In whatever manners necessary - you have my word, as His Highness the Crown Prince, Martial God of the Central Plains.
[ it feels a little like playing dress up to say it, now, to act that way, but some of that imperious fake aura fades, and he holds out a hand. ]
...But more so, you have my word as Xie Lian, beyond anything else.
[Rin sits up, as commanded. He would've done it anyway, but he's e specially doing it to play along with the 'act' of a god and a human communicating.
He listens to what Xie Lian tells him all of this, going about saying he would help in a flourished and fancy way, and he finds himself settling into a more genuine and meaningful smile. He was sure Xie Lian would have something to offer him- meditation is what he had thought of at first, even- but to hear it said so earnestly, and as a friend too, it just warms Rin's damaged and shivering heart. He's taken a lot of mental damage today, but the support of a friend helps make it a little bit easier to handle.]
Y'know, I've never been that good at saying 'thanks'. So...thanks. For listening, and for answering me.
I'll work hard, and I'll be a good student. ...as good of a student as I can be.
He listens to what Xie Lian tells him all of this, going about saying he would help in a flourished and fancy way, and he finds himself settling into a more genuine and meaningful smile. He was sure Xie Lian would have something to offer him- meditation is what he had thought of at first, even- but to hear it said so earnestly, and as a friend too, it just warms Rin's damaged and shivering heart. He's taken a lot of mental damage today, but the support of a friend helps make it a little bit easier to handle.]
Y'know, I've never been that good at saying 'thanks'. So...thanks. For listening, and for answering me.
I'll work hard, and I'll be a good student. ...as good of a student as I can be.
[He's actually already a cat-like demon so there aren't that many physical changes. But the behavioral changes are. Significant.
Wherever Xie Lian is, Rin is going to squeeze his way in so he can sit in Xie Lian's lap. He does this without saying a word, and he's just going to make himself comfortable unless Xie Lian kicks him out.]
Wherever Xie Lian is, Rin is going to squeeze his way in so he can sit in Xie Lian's lap. He does this without saying a word, and he's just going to make himself comfortable unless Xie Lian kicks him out.]
[Oh good, Rin will just sit there for a while.]
It's comfortable here.
[That is the only explanation Xie Lian gets before Rin points to Rinkou.]
Look at her.
[Rinkou is a wolverine currently, and she is laying on her back. Which is weird because she doesn't really turtle like that in wolverine form.]
It's comfortable here.
[That is the only explanation Xie Lian gets before Rin points to Rinkou.]
Look at her.
[Rinkou is a wolverine currently, and she is laying on her back. Which is weird because she doesn't really turtle like that in wolverine form.]
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