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

iii

[of_sablier]

[If Jack looks even the slightest bit surprised to be almost barked at like that, he sure doesn't show it. Instead, he just grins and lifts one hand to wag a finger in a playfully admonishing gesture.]

... people normally say "Hello" when meeting someone for the first time, you know.

[But from the way he punctuates that sentence with a wink, it's clear he isn't bothered in the slightest.]

[esurientabyss]

[ ...He Xuan knows playful when he sees it. He's pretty sure he's seen some of the gods hanging around in the Heavenly Court do that. Besides, of course, the ex-Wind Master. ]

It's been centuries since I bothered to greet anyone like that.

[ Just going to say this, bluntly. Though, it may perhaps be evident that He Xuan is definitely someone relegated in the sour-puss category right from the beginning of this interaction. But, he'll also ask: ]

Did you need something?

[ Given what they need to have done around here and the squares, not exactly an unreasonable inquiry to put forward... ]

[of_sablier]

[Centuries, hmm? That's certainly interesting indeed-- not that Jack is going to say anything aloud that might tip off his own situation. He's just going to file it away in the back of his mind, something that might potentially be useful for later.]

A "hello" would be nice now that we're having a conversation. [...] Or a name. That would be even more useful.

I'll even start! I'm Jack.

[Sorry, He Xuan. You (probably) don't deserve this.]

[esurientabyss]

[ He Xuan sees no need to hide how ancient he is, unlike Jack. Though that is something borne of unconscious and conscious arrogance more than anything.

To He Xuan, though, the blond he sees in front of him is for the moment, just a normal human. One who seems to be unrepetantly chipper and potentially facetious. ]

...He Xuan.

[ He says his name simply, but somehow with the gravitas of speaking an announcement of someone's execution. Though, he also raises a brow, as if asking an unspoken, 'Now what?'

Even Jack might deserve more than this attitude (or maybe not.) ]

[of_sablier]

[Well, that's a start, at least. It's like Oswald all over again, and Jack is well-practiced at dealing with that sort of thing by now.

... which is also why he proceeds to stick out his hand for a handshake, if only because he knows that will likely garner a response that will be even more entertaining than what he's already managed to coax out of the man. And he's willing to wait as long as it takes for He Xuan to give in. Jack is a patient man, after all.]

[esurientabyss]

[ He Xuan has never been offered a hand for a handshake before, help.

...And it isn't exactly something that is done where he is originally from so he doesn't know exactly what he's looking for here. So instead, he reaches to poke at the hand in the center.

Then, ask pointedly: ]

...What am I supposed to do with this?

[of_sablier]

[Oh no, this is even more fun than he'd been expecting. He Xuan looks so utterly baffled that it takes Jack a considerable amount of effort not to start laughing at the look on his face.]

You shake it, of course! Like this!

[And Jack will grab that poking hand to give it a good, firm handshake. There, see? Jack has already taught He Xuan something new! He's not so bad after all.]

[esurientabyss]

[ And just like that, his hand is shaken! Though he will pull it back soon enough, looking traditionally grumpy about it, before looking down at his hand, and then back over at Jack once more.

A soft scoff leaves him. ]

...Ridiculous. What is the point of it?

[of_sablier]

[Okay, now Jack is definitely grinning, but it's easy enough to play that off as him just being pleased to make a new friend. Sorry, He Xuan.]

The point?

[Jack blinks, tilting his head.]

Why, it's a greeting, of course. You shake hands when you meet for the first time.

[...]

Where I come from, at least. Do they not do that in your world?

[esurientabyss]

[ ...Or he thinks it's funny. Either possibilities float in his head, which earn about the same degree of his usual sourpuss-like tendencies. ]

They could in other lands.

But if they do, I wouldn't know. Nor would I care for such things.

[ Usually, anyway. But a handshake isn't the worst way to make physical contact with someone if he has to; not that he's going to go around and do that with everyone he meets, though. That will be on other people, if they dare.

That said, doesn't he just sound like a radiant ball of joy, Jack... ]

[of_sablier]

Hmm... how do people in your land typically greet each other, then?

[He sounds honestly curious about this. If he's going to be here in this place with people from all sorts of other different worlds, why not take the opportunity to learn more about them? After all, the end goal is to get married, so he might as well start learning about the customs of these other worlds...]

Do you just wave? Or maybe bow?

[esurientabyss]

[ Well, this is certainly the first time he has been asked it, but he also doesn't feel disinclined to answer. He Xuan himself does not do many greetings that are normal for others to perform because he is, quite frankly, rude.

But, that doesn't mean he has no knowledge of how they are done. ]

...Normally, people can bow. But, it's not a basic matter.

It can differ. Especially if the person you're greeting is of higher importance than you are; then it can be a deeper bow. Or something just like this—

[ He Xuan holds up one hand before having the fist of his other meeting it, then actually inclining his head in what is actually a respectful manner. ]

Self-explanatory.

[of_sablier]

[Jack watches He Xuan perform the bow, studying the movements he makes from the way he touches his fist to his palm to the particular inclination of his head. It's not a complicated motion at all, but from the seriousness with which He Xuan carries it out, it's clear that this is the sort of thing one needs to get just right. It isn't as though he isn't well acquainted with proper manners himself, after all.

Once He Xuan is done, Jack straightens up and then proceeds to mimic the gesture-- and to his credit, he keeps a perfectly straight face right up until the very end, where at last he breaks into a grin.]

There! How was that?

[esurientabyss]

[ He Xuan is half-surprised Jack does take it seriously, if only because the other man appears so...there's a word for it. But he's not exactly coming to mind just yet. Whatever, it isn't like he's some kind of wordy scholar anymore.

Then he's suddenly staring at what is certainly a silly grin. Never change, Jack. ]

...Passable.

[ He says, but the important thing is that the blond got it right. ]

You must be ridiculously used to adapting.

[of_sablier]

[Airheaded? Scatterbrained? He certainly does give off that impression the majority of the time. And while it's not the wrong conclusion to draw, he is in fact capable of being serious when the situation calls for it!]

Ahaha, is it that obvious? It is something of a necessary skill in upper-class society... so many rules and manners that one needs to learn, after all. The worst part is trying to keep them all straight!

[But it is something that he excels at by this point, so hearing it affirmed doesn't come as a surprise to him.]

[esurientabyss]

[ Upper-class society, huh?

Well, it's certainly true that Jack has an appearance like he's dressed for that type of grouping. He Xuan himself had never been a part of such things when he had been alive, and though he hadn't necessarily had the best experience with those associated with that class at that time, he doesn't exactly feel strongly about them now either way. ]

Then, you're part of a well-known family. Not just simply 'Jack'.

[ He Xuan will point out, though not with any sort of irritance. Consider it more of an actual observation, if anything. ]

[of_sablier]

[... ah. It's a part that Jack had avoided mentioning for a reason, but now that it's been brought up, he's not going to shy away from it. Not after he spent so long struggling to be able to claim that name.]

Vessalius, actually. But that doesn't mean anything here, so I didn't see much point in mentioning it.

[It's a plausible excuse. It's not as though anyone in this world would have any familiarity with the name, anyway, so knowing it means next to nothing here.]

[esurientabyss]

[ Not many people don't see much point in mentioning their full name. So naturally He Xuan assumes something is going on.

Not that he's going to go ahead and question everything about it. That's just not his style. Pointing out things bluntly is, though. ]

Seems like it means something to you.

[ He will move right along, though. Perhaps rudely so. ]

But, status does mean little here; only the ability to cultivate and ensnare oneself foolishly in some bond of another. Or, alternatively, the power to overcome the goddess.

[of_sablier]

[It does mean something to Jack, actually, but likely not what He Xuan expects. Which is why he's all too happy to take that segue in conversation and continue:]

Ohh? Does that mean you're going to attempt to go up against the goddess herself?

[Goodness, but that is ambitious indeed. Jack can't deny he would enjoy watching how that might play out, not that he's going to say as much out loud...]

Since you don't seem to have any intention of getting married, that is...

[esurientabyss]

...I plan on doing whatever I please.

[ So, that appears to be a yes at the moment. ]

Eventually, she will become an obstacle. A goddess on her level will just simply cease to exist if she dares to get in my way.

[ Though, he still seems to be somewhat picking up his slack for now. Still, if He Xuan could choose, he'd go back to the hermit life. For the most part (outwardly), anyway. He may be a Calamity, but he is still relatively the type to keep himself low-key until he decides to Not. ]