{ he thinks about that for a long moment. really thinks about it. hates how his stomach twists because of it. and it isn't either because of guizhong, but... if people who have died before can come here, does that mean his sister, his mom could... eventually turn up? it's actually possible?
he looks away from her, bites the inside of his cheek to force pain to stop himself getting stuck on that thought. it's too dangerous. }
Then I suppose I should just be happy for my friend that you found each other here.
I'm glad for it, too. He's not like anyone I've ever met.
[But it was important to mention not because of that, but because of what it means for how well she understands that peculiar feeling of displacement, and of having memories that a living person is not supposed to have. Of the moment of your own death.
Nnno... but he did point a gun at me right before I decided that kissing him was the only way to make him stop acting like an idiot.
[She tilts her head at him, smiling wryly as she recalls that particular event.
With her arm around the young man she gives him a small squeeze, not entirely convinced despite how sure he sounds of his answer. She'll come back to that.]
{ ok, at that he does laugh. it's loud, sharp, just once. }
Hah! { he exhales then, looks up at the ceiling, wonders where in their history that actually sits. but she asks about soup and he. shrugs. }
I don't really have a preference. Anything is fine, really.
{ then he pauses, thinks back a little bit and realises ... he should clarify something. }
And for the record, it isn't dying that is bothering me. { a small chuckle follows that, and it doesn't sound sad--he's being truthful here. } I've been searching for that for long enough. If anything, it was pretty anticlimactic. I did at least get some rest for three days. { moving on with the yapping } Anyway, no, the issue is I pre-tty much almost took all of our group with me.
{ his speech finally slows, becomes a bit more subdued. }
That... No matter how much I may be willing to gamble on my own life, it was never my intention to include or bring any of them down with me.
[Because that makes things easier for her, and it's going to be excellent soup no matter what kind of soup she makes.
She listens to him again, tilting her head a little at what she says (she did not miss that, sir) but not interrupting. It's important not to interrupt, she thinks, in situations like this.
And it's hard to know what to say, but... sometimes that's all right. Sometimes there isn't anything to say.]
I believe you. [Guizhong replies softly. She turns in her seat and wraps both arms around him, lightly pressing a kiss to the side of his head.] Oh, Aventurine. What am I going to do with you.
{ it does make it easier for her, but it's easy to not be picky when you would take anything someone gives you, especially if it's homemade. sometimes the small things in life mean more.
but he doesn't expect the gentle hold of her arms around him, nor the kiss to the side of his head. guizhong will feel him freeze up momentarily, and even if he relaxes a bit he's still tense. }
Well, another round trip to the flower yard wouldn't be a bad start.
She shifts back enough to look him in the eyes, one hand on his shoulder and the other gently cupped against his cheek. What is she going to do with this boy!]
Humans can still be so perplexing to me, even after all this time.
[Not least when they don't want to live, when a mortal life is so fragile and precious. Not that she intends to lecture.
"Humans"? { there's no judgement with that though, but he does glance her over. the cosmos has a hell of a lot of different species, so she could be a number of them. best to not assume. } You're a long lived species then?
{ he ... is not answering the other question yet. not yet }
[She will come back to the other question if he doesn't answer it. Guizhong is already on to how he keeps turning the conversation to talking about her instead.
For now, she nods.]
In Liyue, my home country, I'm what is called an adeptus.
{ deflecting is a way of life, sorry, guizhong. but if she keeps prodding she'll get bits and pieces eventually. a lot of his life isn't a secret. especially as a director of the strategic investment department people know and gossip about his past, so it is what it is. }
An adeptus... { he murmurs that back, pauses. } What does that mean to you? Where I'm from there's... a lot of different people from all walks of life. Take-- { his throat tightens, thinking about her but he'll continue on as though nothing is wrong } ---Castorice, for example. She's the demigod of death. I don't know what she's been through, but her powers alone are rather unique. You won't surprise me.
[Another little huff, but she drops back properly into her seat. She supposes she can indulge his curiosity.]
The adepti are a group of illuminated beasts and immortal beings, most being bound by a contract to protect Liyue from demons and evil gods, and directed by the Prime Adeptus, Rex Lapis.
[She tilts her head a little at him.]
I watched over the people of Liyue when they lived on the Guili plains at Rex's side, offering him my guidance and wisdom. Before the war reached us.
[Her arms fold loosely.]
I was not powerful compared to others, but I made the choice not to hide. When my people were threatened I made the choice to face that threat.
You died to save them... { he pauses at that, repeating facts back at her. }
How... How would you feel if you inadvertedly caused the death of people you cared about instead? That your actions caused them harm, or just... just getting close to you inevitably caused the scales to balance in favour of causing them that harm?
[She studies Aventurine for a few moments, then gently takes his hand.]
I think... I would feel guilty. Worry that people who cared about me would be harmed simply by the very act of doing so. But... [Her fingers squeeze around his hand.]
I don't believe that such things must be inevitable. And I think... that someone in such a position would be deserving of compassion. Perhaps the most deserving, since they would likely find it most difficult to show it to themselves.
The moment I was born I was blessed with... good fortune. But such a blessing comes for a price. What was supposed to be something of hope for my clan, led to their demise. I don't... I don't know why it was me, why I was chosen. All I know is that since I was born, everything has been...
[It's a cruel kind of blessing and yet, she knows of its kind. Her other hand curls around their linked ones.]
No, nothing.
[Truth be told they have barely talked about him, though as much as Guizhong enjoys gossip she thinks something like this would be better coming from the man himself.]
Mm. { it's a small hum, nothing much to give anything away. } In that case, I may as well say. It isn't as though there's any point hiding it. Most... people back home know. After all, genocide leaves a mark on the universe.
{ there's no light way of saying it. }
Sigonia, where I was born, was a desert planet. Most of us were in nomadic tribes. When I was a child the IPC made a deal with the Avgins, they were supposed to protect us. { the implication probably says enough } ...I'm probably the last one.
{ he blinks, looks away from guizhong, avoids her eyes. instead they lower, and his hand pulls away from hers to move to his neck. }
{ his hand pulls at his collar, showing off the mark there. }
I was captured, passed from owner to owner, until I made a grand bet and landed myself a role within the IPC. People like me don't have the luxury of a happy ending, Guizhong. But... I want to stop other people getting caught in the crossfire if I can help it.
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Date: 2025-12-22 12:25 am (UTC)Oh, yes.
[Nod, nod.]
During a war. A very long time ago, by the reckoning of everyone else here from the same world.
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Date: 2025-12-22 12:37 am (UTC)well, not fine. but, y'know. }
Sorry, I didn't... I didn't realise it'd happened back home for you. Does, does Boothill know?
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Date: 2025-12-22 12:43 am (UTC)It has been talked about, yes.
[When that shining light cut across her entire torso had made it very clear she had suffered a wound that could not be recovered from.]
I died, and then I was here.
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Date: 2025-12-22 12:47 am (UTC)he looks away from her, bites the inside of his cheek to force pain to stop himself getting stuck on that thought. it's too dangerous. }
Then I suppose I should just be happy for my friend that you found each other here.
{ he does sound sincere when he says that. }
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Date: 2025-12-22 12:50 am (UTC)I'm glad for it, too. He's not like anyone I've ever met.
[But it was important to mention not because of that, but because of what it means for how well she understands that peculiar feeling of displacement, and of having memories that a living person is not supposed to have. Of the moment of your own death.
She leans against him the smallest bit.]
Are you tired?
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Date: 2025-12-22 12:58 am (UTC)MmmMm. Though I doubt he pointed a gun at you the first time you met, did he?
{ he probably shouldn't find that funny though, the fact that he did to him. in hindsight, at least, it is. }
But no. Not right now.
{ that's a lie, but it does actually sound convincing. }
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Date: 2025-12-22 01:01 am (UTC)[She tilts her head at him, smiling wryly as she recalls that particular event.
With her arm around the young man she gives him a small squeeze, not entirely convinced despite how sure he sounds of his answer. She'll come back to that.]
What kind of soup do you like best.
edits again now cas is officially dead too 😔
Date: 2025-12-23 12:24 am (UTC)Hah! { he exhales then, looks up at the ceiling, wonders where in their history that actually sits. but she asks about soup and he. shrugs. }
I don't really have a preference. Anything is fine, really.
{ then he pauses, thinks back a little bit and realises ... he should clarify something. }
And for the record, it isn't dying that is bothering me. { a small chuckle follows that, and it doesn't sound sad--he's being truthful here. } I've been searching for that for long enough. If anything, it was pretty anticlimactic. I did at least get some rest for three days. { moving on with the yapping } Anyway, no, the issue is I pre-tty much almost took all of our group with me.
{ his speech finally slows, becomes a bit more subdued. }
That... No matter how much I may be willing to gamble on my own life, it was never my intention to include or bring any of them down with me.
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Date: 2025-12-24 05:26 pm (UTC)[Because that makes things easier for her, and it's going to be excellent soup no matter what kind of soup she makes.
She listens to him again, tilting her head a little at what she says (she did not miss that, sir) but not interrupting. It's important not to interrupt, she thinks, in situations like this.
And it's hard to know what to say, but... sometimes that's all right. Sometimes there isn't anything to say.]
I believe you. [Guizhong replies softly. She turns in her seat and wraps both arms around him, lightly pressing a kiss to the side of his head.] Oh, Aventurine. What am I going to do with you.
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Date: 2025-12-25 10:03 am (UTC)but he doesn't expect the gentle hold of her arms around him, nor the kiss to the side of his head. guizhong will feel him freeze up momentarily, and even if he relaxes a bit he's still tense. }
Well, another round trip to the flower yard wouldn't be a bad start.
{ no??????? that isn't what she meant!!! }
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Date: 2025-12-25 12:41 pm (UTC)That isn't what she meant!
She shifts back enough to look him in the eyes, one hand on his shoulder and the other gently cupped against his cheek. What is she going to do with this boy!]
Humans can still be so perplexing to me, even after all this time.
[Not least when they don't want to live, when a mortal life is so fragile and precious. Not that she intends to lecture.
She kisses his forehead instead.]
Why do you want to die so badly?
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Date: 2025-12-25 01:34 pm (UTC){ he ... is not answering the other question yet. not yet }
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Date: 2025-12-25 01:36 pm (UTC)For now, she nods.]
In Liyue, my home country, I'm what is called an adeptus.
[So, not human.]
And I'm around three thousand years old.
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Date: 2025-12-25 01:41 pm (UTC)An adeptus... { he murmurs that back, pauses. } What does that mean to you? Where I'm from there's... a lot of different people from all walks of life. Take-- { his throat tightens, thinking about her but he'll continue on as though nothing is wrong } ---Castorice, for example. She's the demigod of death. I don't know what she's been through, but her powers alone are rather unique. You won't surprise me.
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Date: 2025-12-25 01:48 pm (UTC)The adepti are a group of illuminated beasts and immortal beings, most being bound by a contract to protect Liyue from demons and evil gods, and directed by the Prime Adeptus, Rex Lapis.
[She tilts her head a little at him.]
I watched over the people of Liyue when they lived on the Guili plains at Rex's side, offering him my guidance and wisdom. Before the war reached us.
[Her arms fold loosely.]
I was not powerful compared to others, but I made the choice not to hide. When my people were threatened I made the choice to face that threat.
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Date: 2025-12-25 01:52 pm (UTC)I see. And that's... when you died?
{ at least his voice softens as he asks this. }
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Date: 2025-12-25 01:57 pm (UTC)Yes.
[She doesn't seem upset by it. It's simply something that is.]
And the resulting release of my power covered the escape of my people. As I knew it would.
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Date: 2025-12-25 02:05 pm (UTC)How... How would you feel if you inadvertedly caused the death of people you cared about instead? That your actions caused them harm, or just... just getting close to you inevitably caused the scales to balance in favour of causing them that harm?
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Date: 2025-12-25 02:43 pm (UTC)I think... I would feel guilty. Worry that people who cared about me would be harmed simply by the very act of doing so. But... [Her fingers squeeze around his hand.]
I don't believe that such things must be inevitable. And I think... that someone in such a position would be deserving of compassion. Perhaps the most deserving, since they would likely find it most difficult to show it to themselves.
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Date: 2025-12-25 03:59 pm (UTC){ he trails off }
Has Boothill told you anything about my history?
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Date: 2025-12-25 04:25 pm (UTC)No, nothing.
[Truth be told they have barely talked about him, though as much as Guizhong enjoys gossip she thinks something like this would be better coming from the man himself.]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 04:39 pm (UTC){ there's no light way of saying it. }
Sigonia, where I was born, was a desert planet. Most of us were in nomadic tribes. When I was a child the IPC made a deal with the Avgins, they were supposed to protect us. { the implication probably says enough } ...I'm probably the last one.
{ he blinks, looks away from guizhong, avoids her eyes. instead they lower, and his hand pulls away from hers to move to his neck. }
Do you know what a commodity code is?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 04:41 pm (UTC)No.
[But Guizhong has a quick mind and with all context given so far... she has a feeling she can guess where this is going to go.]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 04:50 pm (UTC)I was captured, passed from owner to owner, until I made a grand bet and landed myself a role within the IPC. People like me don't have the luxury of a happy ending, Guizhong. But... I want to stop other people getting caught in the crossfire if I can help it.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 05:03 pm (UTC)You deserve that happy ending too, tiántián. [A squeeze, then she sits back and gives him a gentle look.]
What happened to you wasn't your fault. You're not worth less because of who you are.
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