a post for psl/etc things

[paradigmish]

beware. there might be nsfw.

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[eggshell]

[He already has frozen to death, thrice in fact, and it was extremely unpleasant to thaw and refreeze considering muscle and organs and tissue were soft things that grew sharp ice crystals. But she doesn't need to know this.

He drifts to the shore, hauls himself up on the edge. He then shrugs off the coat, and extremely pointedly wicks the water out of it with cloudhymn, before folding it neatly next to hers. In fact, he will dry her coat and fold it too, only because it is extremely annoying to see it crumpled like that.]

I am older than you. Stop that.

[paradigmish]

Oh, are~ you?

[ She watches him with half-lidded eyes, her head a curiously pale spot above the steaming water. It's not that she doesn't know, really, but it's fun to tease.

The skill is interesting-- and indicative. She hums. ]

It would be interesting if that were true. I had not realized the Vidyadhara counted their previous years among their current ones.

[eggshell]

We do not, but even for my species, I am- far along in the years.

[He starts taking off his clothes, folding them neat in the same way, and he has to pause between taking off all his accoutrements on account of the mara making his muscles spasm painfully as it tore them apart and rebuilt them.]

Well, how old are you?

[paradigmish]

[ There's no response, for a long moment.

Then a touch; a flat palm, soft even with the scales, laid over one of the spasming patches of muscles. (in the brief moment before he'll flip shit, anyway.) ]

Tell me. What is it you seek on this dead world?

[eggshell]

[That patch is on his upper shoulder, and he tenses immediately. He can't quite tell what it is but there is something about her that reminds him of Yaoshi but then again that might just be because most things remind him of Yaoshi because of Their unending grace and affection and Their hobby of not allowing him to rest ever fucking again-]

I told you. I am just passing by.

[His hand shoots up to clench around her wrist violently, hard enough to make a normal human's bones creak.]

[paradigmish]

[ The twinging muscle soothes, under her touch, the power all too familiar to him. It is the same, in some ways; the warmth of life unmistakable.

She lets him grab her wrist, smiling kindly. A normal human would certainly be yowling with pain, but she remains still and calm, even if her soft skin starts to visibly mark under his grip.

Her voice has lost some of its lilt, still pleasant but soft and even. ]

And wander the wastes like a lost foal, rather than come and go the moment your ship restocked. I see all who enter this world, and none stay so long as you-- or succumb to the freeze and return as themselves, and not~ monsters born of the Corruption.

[eggshell]

[Dan Feng, whose existence bordered on divine, did not fare well with other creatures like him. All of her little tells added up to someone who was really uncomfortably like the god who unmade him, and she invoked the same disgust-attraction-worship Yaoshi did.]

The Ruin Author has no power over me. [Did- did she see him - how did she know - half-naked, he leans into her touch, like a lover, and tries to break her wrist completely.]

[paradigmish]

Perhaps not power~, but--

[ The words die off as he snaps her wrist-- with a muffled and sickening crack her clawed hand twisting at an unnatural angle.

The reaction this time is swift; heedless of her injury she uses his grip on her to twist his arm between both of hers, aiming to return his action twofold and snap his elbow backwards. ]

What a way to refer to Their Mercy.

[eggshell]

[He expected the retaliation, but he didn't expect her to be so fast; there's the similar, wet sound of his elbow breaking, and Dan Feng groans.

The problem here is that it sounds remarkably similar to groans from the opposite end of the spectrum of sensation, and with the way Dan Feng smiles at her, slow and panting and open-mouthed, it's hard to tell whether he's actually hurt or not.]

What are you? [Purred, even as his elbow starts twitching as it heals.] Tell me. Tell me.

[paradigmish]

[ She moves a few inches back, to allow him to do that; there's no real animosity to her movements or her expression, mostly watching him with faint bemusement. She flexes her hand, as everything starts to slot back into place.

She watches his arm do the same, though, her ears perking just slightly at the sound of his voice. ]

My name is Glayva. [ A pause, to look back up at his face. ] Tell me~ what you know, about the old Mailea. Had you been there? Did you hear of its fall? I don't remember you, Mercy's Blessed. No Vidyadhara came here, when the world was full of life.

[eggshell]

[He continues to shed his clothes- his pants, now, seemingly completely at ease with her now that she's broken one of his limbs - and dries that too.]

Dan Heng. The last time I was here was centuries ago, and - it was already cold. I had warmed myself in the waters.

[He shifts to sit with his legs dangling in the water. And then he tries to kick her in the face, he's just swinging his feet okay, not his fault she's there.]

[paradigmish]

[ Catches his foot; she doesn't try to break it, or anything, but her smile turns slightly tight. He's annoying??? ]

It's good~ to see you've gotten your energy back, but I'm beginning to think~ I should have left you to freeze. Dan Heng~.

[ And lets his foot go, circling around to the ledge near him, to lean against it. ]

So you know little of the old kingdom. That doesn't surprise me.

[eggshell]

But you did not.

[He slips into the water, then, naked save for his earrings, and then he immediately !! Tries to cage her against the ledge. Hi. Hi hi hi hi hi h]

I did want to meet the old guardian- the Kirin. I wanted to ask them something. [HI HI HI HI HI HI H I HHI] Perhaps my benefactor would know where they are?

[paradigmish]

[ She hums a bit, her tail lifting to curl around Dan Feng's closest leg. ]

I suppose that depends on what question you want to ask.

[eggshell]

Why, are you two acquainted?

[paradigmish]

[ She looks over her shoulder at him. Boy you are so stupid it's cute. ]

Something like that~!

[eggshell]

[He tries to hook his chin over her shoulder but is foiled by her ruff, which he ends up sort of eating.]

I want to see them. [There is an ominous silence.] I could offer you...

[paradigmish]

[ Quiet, for a moment. Then sighs, good-natured, lifting her hand to scritch her claws into his hair. ]

Goodness~... What could the god of a dead world possibly have for you? This world no longer bears riches.

[eggshell]

I wanted to ask after their heart--

[Wait what is going on. Dan Feng pushes into her hand, makes a sound like an engine spluttering out, and then proceeds to bite what he could reach of her jaw.

This is threefold: because he is annoyed, because he is confused and annoyed, and because if he breaks skin, the Abundance will start poisoning her through his saliva. Bodily fluids. Whatever. He isn't actually sure that's what will happen.]

[paradigmish]

How romantic~...

[ She gives a pleased little rumble, tilting her head to allow him to do that; she doesn't seem overly concerned, really, even if he does try to break the skin. And, well-- what is there to poison? The merciful abundance has already brought her back time and again; it will take more than the nibbling of a dragon to destroy her with it. ]

There was a rumor, once, that the heart-blood of a Kirin would grant immortality. I don't think you need my heart for that, Dan Heng.

[eggshell]

[His tail swishes out of the water, and his hands curl around her shoulders, like a lover, if not for how the bruising force is back there again.]

It was not for me. [The grip grows ever tighter.] Mine did not take. I will take yours.

[paradigmish]

Ah~... For somebody else.

[ That tight smile is back again, her claws digging sharply into his scalp, in warning. ]

It truly is a shame that you're like this~. If you were a bit sweeter~ I would be happy to bleed for someone so cute~...

[ She pushes back against his caging grip with surprising strength, moving back from the ledge. The water around them begins to grow hotter, bafflingly, like a vent from the earth had opened up beneath their feet. ]

But you chase fables. A stolen gift will not grant what you seek.

[eggshell]

[He lets her go, and floats a couple of feet away. He doesn't stray far, though; he's not angry, but now he's curious, which is arguably worse.]

How do you know? [He makes a complicated gesture with his hand, half submerged in the heat, and several spears shaped out of water coalesce behind him, like a halo.] I should want to try. Just a little bit. You would not miss it.

[paradigmish]

[ She lets him go easily, fingers slipping through his hair and tail gently uncoiling so she can turn around and watch-- his movements, the spears. ]

You are not the first to try~ and you won't be the last.

[ She moves back, and up, cloven hooves easily scaling the rock ledge even backwards. Her gaze is still soft, but there's a condescending, pitying edge to the squinting smile. ]

I hear the immortals of the Xianzhou meet a cursed, suffering end. Indeed retribution for shunning the Merciful gifts and seeking ever greater heights. I am different. You, too, should have been different. It's a shame one of Long's favored could have fallen so far.

You suffer too, don't you~? Does your beloved suffer~? Do you think my heart, ever beating, would not poison them?

[eggshell]

[He'd not made the connection, now he does: her vitality has the same poisonous grace as his own. That was the one line he did not cross; Jing Yuan's suffering was Dan Feng's alone, and he was willing to do anything, including kill a god, to ensure that.]

I want him to stay. Not like - not like - [He blinks up at her.] I can use you still. For one more person. [Because he still had Yingxing's corpse in cryostorage.] He's human, but he'll understand.