You took all of me (December Catchall)

[esurientabyss]

🌊Who: He Xuan, and anyone else.
🌊What: A brief catchall.
🌊When: December.
🌊Where: Varies.
🌊Warnings: None, unless someone ends up convincing him somehow to do a NSFW bingo square or something.


i. silent nights (closed to Gaku Yaotome)

[ Well following the culmination of the activities of this, it is doubtless that the two had their own business to take care of. Maybe it would take a day, but probably not because when nightfall is upon them, it doesn't change the fact that sleep will be needed. Well, technically He Xuan could go without it, though it hasn't exactly...come up. ]

...It's late. I assume you're coming to bed.

[ He Xuan doesn't know how to phrase that less awkwardly, help. ]

ii. these abandoned fields

[ ...Well. These fields are not going to cultivate their damned selves, as much as He Xuan would like for them to. So here he is, out in the early morning, hair pulled back into a familiar ponytail, despite how long it is, and sleeves rolled up.

He's doing farm work, with the hoe and whatnot. Though, apparently not without a few curses. His family had a farm when he was young, yet it has been ages since he has been on a farm. Not to mention, they didn't go into misfortune until a certain point, so his experience personally attending to one is extremely limited.

Maybe a certain shovel would prove to be useful here, in retrospect. Or maybe not, because he doesn't know how to use it. Anyway, more effort is being exerted here, without trying to ruin the soil. ]

iii. responsibility is a heavy (annoying) cross to bear [various prompts]

[ He Xuan can be seen in town at various early points of the day. Though he looks annoyed to be there, and if for whatever reason someone comes closer to him, he frowns, but he does like...the minimum effort to look like he's not about to kill someone, expression more neutral. ]

What?

[ Later on, he can also be witnessed hanging around at the actual beach, seeming caught up in the way the setting looks in the late afternoon. He seems more at peace at this time, on account of the fact he is more at ease with this sort of surrounding. ]

iv. wildcard

[ Feel free to throw in a random scenario that doesn't fit the above if you'd like. I haven't actually gotten around to making a plotting post since I just commented around, but here is his bingo so far! ]

Comments

[feralheart]

[ M-21 startles a little, but when he glances up to see He Xuan he relaxes again and gives him a grunt that definitely means "hi." ]

For now. Sand feels nice.

[ ...Because this probably invites an explanation of some kind. He pushes himself up into a sitting position unhurriedly, stretching to pop everything that needs popping. After a moment he adds curiously: ]

Why're you here?

[esurientabyss]

[ Hi to you too. One of these days He Xuan himself will learn to communicate a greeting himself...

...

Nah. At most it will be a grunt like what M-21 made. ]

I'm here because it's better than being anywhere else.

[ Until dinnertime or lunchtime or breakfasttime. Also, it's quiet and peaceful. ]

If you're hanging around, we should get something done together. Our houses won't fix themselves.

[feralheart]

[ Why should he, when they communicate so fluently in grunting? This is working great. ]

The forest isn't bad either.

[ M-21 looks up with interest. He Xuan was a good partner last time... ]

...I'm sick of splinters already. What do you have left?

[esurientabyss]

[ It truly is...they're doing great, fam. ]

I don't visit forests often.

[ Until now, he guesses. Stupid goddess. ]

Still a decent amount. [ ... ] Let's sing a song together. There are no witnesses.

[ If one shows up, He Xuan will just simply claw their throat out. It's fine. ]

[feralheart]

[ Coincidentally, M-21 can cheerfully contribute to throat clawing. He finally pushes himself up to his feet, dusting sand off his clothes. ]

We'll trade again. [ ... ] Teach me one. I don't know any songs.

[ But if he listens, he can just copy what He Xuan does. How hard could it be? ]

[esurientabyss]

[ Damn, he thought the other might have known one. ]

...I don't know one either.

We could always make one up.

[ Help, he just picked this one for no good reason. ]

[feralheart]

You're how old? And you never learned one?

[ On the one hand, He Xuan could probably pass for younger than him. On the other hand, he's definitely not human, so... But it's more bemused than judgy, so M-21 just shrugs. ]

...Fine. Like you said, no witnesses.

[ He's at least heard snippets of songs secondhand. So he picks the first one that comes to mind and hums a little bit to get them started. ]

[esurientabyss]

Probably older than you. And no. It's a waste of time.

[ There are probably some folk songs now at his hometown, and there were songs in the Heavenly Court, but you bet he never bothered to learn 'em.

Anyway, unlike perhaps another previous muse of mine, he's shitty at it. So even though you can imagine there are words he's adding to go with the hum, they are not the greatest. It probably sounds off-key too even though this is something they are making up on the fly.

For the both of our sakes we can speedrun this so it is less agonizing, and then...just like that, it's over and done with. ]

Finally. That was one of the most irritating things I have ever done.

[feralheart]

[ He's gamely doing his part! Off-key and pitchy and all that other stuff that someone as tonedeaf as me doesn't know the meaning of.

...It probably sounds completely awful. And M-21 grimaces a little because it deserves it. But the lingering expression for a second after that isn't nearly so sour, because he might never admit it, but that was a tiny bit funny. ]

Don't become a songwriter. Should be good enough to count, though.

[esurientabyss]

[ Their efforts are clearly enough to make idols proud (no, it's the exact opposite...)

Well, at least one of them enjoyed that nonsense. He Xuan will literally put an end to the goddess if he has to do anything song-related ever again. ]

More than good enough. Or I'm putting the goddess six feet under.

[ He says like he hasn't already considered it before, lol. ]

[feralheart]

[ 'NO WITNESSES' intensifies. Gaku can't judge them if he didn't see. ]

She can probably hear you. Don't try anything stupid unless you can come back, like that guy at the meeting.

[ The hypocrisy sure is thick enough to cut with a knife. After a second M-21 sticks his hand out to He Xuan. He said they'd trade, so... ]

[esurientabyss]

[ ...There is a small pause as he considers that response. Oh, right, the meeting that the one with the weak and now-potentially deranged man observed with all that legalese.

Though it takes him even a bit longer to recall before a sound of disapproval leaves him. ]

The arrogance of a conceited heavenly official is putrid, just like their entire being.

[ Merely ripping up a pamphlet caused that? What a fragile ego this goddess had...pathetic.

Also, evidently He Xuan doesn't seem to give a rat's ass about what anyone thinks of him because he is still talking shit, RIP.

Then he stares at the hand silently, as if to ask 'why are you extending it to me', help... ]

[feralheart]

[ M-21 heaves a sigh, fully expecting to get hit by a cow or a pig or some other such nonsense. Never let it be said he can't learn from his hypocrisy. ]

What, you have goddesses like that where you come from too?

[ He Xuan... M-21 wiggles his fingers a little, not quite impatient, just with the restlessness of a man fully aware of how awkward he's being. ]

Give me your hand. Unless you want something else from my card.

[ Fair is fair, right? ]

[esurientabyss]

[ That is just M-21's life now, having to be on the look out from flying pigs or cows due to previous or current associations. ]

Yes. Most of them are intolerable. Even now.

Not surprised it's the same here.

[ Even if he doesn't really recognize this goddess...anyway he looks at the hand and he taps it lightly before taking it. ]

Fine. [ ... ] What are we even doing...?

[feralheart]

Huh. You really are some kind of noblesse.

[ Or whatever the equivalent is where he's from. Talking so casually about heavenly whatever...

M-21 gives a little snort when He Xuan taps his hand. What, is he checking for a trap? Making sure he's solid? It's kind of cute. He curls his fingers around He Xuan's surprisingly cold ones. ]

Holding hands. Don't tell me you don't know how.

[ Says local man who has also never held a hand within his memory. RIP. ]

[esurientabyss]

A what...?

[ No, it's because he was uncertain what to do with it. Not that he's going to admit to that. His grip is also rather secure, instead of loose. ]

I know how to hold hands.

[ He says, flatly, yet in the sense of being petulant as well. A certain, loud and lively person used to make him hold hands sometimes. He finds it just as annoying then as he does now, but that's because he dislikes the whole 'holding' part. ]

[feralheart]

[ Wait, how does he even explain noblesse when 'not actually a vampire' is the opposite of descriptive. ]

Immortal. Stronger than a human. They can control their minds or wipe their memories. ...They don't drink blood, though.

[ Yeah, that's not really getting the gist of it. Well... good enough. At least they're acing this handholding, although M-21 doesn't know how long he needs to hang on. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ ...They've been doing it long enough, He Xuan decides, and lets go. ]

Can't exactly wipe someone's memories.

[ Nor does he need to drink blood. Though he doesn't comment on the mind control portion. ]

What are you then?

[ He Xuan you can't just ask people what they are. Or maybe he can because he has zero manners. ]

[feralheart]

[ That's fine. If it doesn't count, M-21 will be back for his hand later. What is respect for immortals?

Especially ones who just ask rude questions like that?? Reminding himself that he did kind of start it, M-21 bites down on the reflex to answer 'a mistake.' ]

I used to be human. And I'm not a noblesse. You that interested in the details?

[esurientabyss]

[ The amount of laughter I just had reading that is glorious.

Honestly He Xuan's level of respect towards other people is...a dubious amount, so he is valid. ]

You called me a noblesse.

[ He states blandly like that explains him asking. ]

[feralheart]

Because you seemed like it.

[ That's his excuse. He Xuan is just a rude bean, apparently. Which would be pretty rich coming from M-21.

But he's also just as happy not expounding any further. They've got a good equilibrium here. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ They're doing well here, fam. ]

Hm. Whatever the case, you have my answer.

[ ...And of course so is He Xuan. Unsurprisingly, perhaps. But it is definitely what he'd consider to be good enough on his end as well. ]

[feralheart]

Yeah.

[ They're doing great! For very malleable definitions of what 'great' means. But M-21 will go the extra mile on communication to add: ]

...Doesn't bother me what you are. We're all stuck here the same. Just don't try any mind control on me.

[esurientabyss]

[ ...

He Xuan almost smiles, but it doesn't happen. If he did manage one, it might be a cruel one. He's not a nice person... ]

Your fear is unfounded. I don't have the capability.

[ Unless, he supposes, he gained access to one of those soul (??)/body swapping/controlling spells. Entirely not impossible. Something he decides not to mention. ]

[feralheart]

[ Do your worst, you horrible ghost man. ]

It's not fear.

[ Words aren't exactly his forte either, but it bothers him a little to be misunderstood about this. He's got his own baggage with people jumping to conclusions about what he is. ]

...If you can't do it, then it doesn't matter.