He Xuan (贺玄) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
esurientabyss) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crescentview2023-01-01 07:31 pm
esurientabyss) wrote in crescentview2023-01-01 07:31 pm
Opening my eyes again in casted darkness... (January Catch-all)
🌊Who: He Xuan, and anyone else.
🌊What: Things happening; they're self-explanatory.
🌊When: January.
🌊Where: Varies.
🌊Warnings: Kidnapping, mentions of suicide & forced induction into harems; involvement of violence/murder. Anything else that may occur will be added or adequately warned for in the thread. TGCF spoilers, but since this already deals with memories, that's a requirement, really.
i. gravitation
[ No matter where He Xuan finds himself, whereas it's on the beach or somewhere else, there seems to be some kind of nonsense afoot. Some...feline nonsense at that.
They're all congregating rudely around him and he is essentially helpless to their attacks (cuddles and piling around his feet.)
He practically glares at anyone who catches him in the midst of this. ]
What?
ii. displacement
[ Ghost kings do not get sick, not really. But it doesn't mean that coughing or sneezing is an impossibility for him.
It just so happens he had grabbed something spicy from a restaurant and for some reason found himself sneezing due to some kind of pepper and now he's in the middle of a lake. Soon enough, he's grumbling, extricating himself from the water. What a waste of food. ]
iii. uncharted waters
[ In addition to those, anyone is free to encounter someone who seems to, for all intents and purposes appear to look like He Xuan, and is essence definitely still him. Yet, his appearance clearly differs in subtle ways. His skin isn't so pale, and his ears are not so sharp and he appears a little lost. Feel free to run into him like this, though he will be scrutinizing most people, and there appears to be a sword at his hip, which his hand is hovering on the hilt of. ]
iv. wildcard
[ Self-explanatory...! Open to things that are also not necessarily the above. ]
If you would like to plot with me, I can be reached on plurk @ leyfi, discord @ seraphkingdhaos#8538 and my plotting comment will be here.
🌊What: Things happening; they're self-explanatory.
🌊When: January.
🌊Where: Varies.
🌊Warnings: Kidnapping, mentions of suicide & forced induction into harems; involvement of violence/murder. Anything else that may occur will be added or adequately warned for in the thread. TGCF spoilers, but since this already deals with memories, that's a requirement, really.
i. gravitation
[ No matter where He Xuan finds himself, whereas it's on the beach or somewhere else, there seems to be some kind of nonsense afoot. Some...feline nonsense at that.
They're all congregating rudely around him and he is essentially helpless to their attacks (cuddles and piling around his feet.)
He practically glares at anyone who catches him in the midst of this. ]
What?
ii. displacement
[ Ghost kings do not get sick, not really. But it doesn't mean that coughing or sneezing is an impossibility for him.
It just so happens he had grabbed something spicy from a restaurant and for some reason found himself sneezing due to some kind of pepper and now he's in the middle of a lake. Soon enough, he's grumbling, extricating himself from the water. What a waste of food. ]
iii. uncharted waters
[ In addition to those, anyone is free to encounter someone who seems to, for all intents and purposes appear to look like He Xuan, and is essence definitely still him. Yet, his appearance clearly differs in subtle ways. His skin isn't so pale, and his ears are not so sharp and he appears a little lost. Feel free to run into him like this, though he will be scrutinizing most people, and there appears to be a sword at his hip, which his hand is hovering on the hilt of. ]
iv. wildcard
[ Self-explanatory...! Open to things that are also not necessarily the above. ]
If you would like to plot with me, I can be reached on plurk @ leyfi, discord @ seraphkingdhaos#8538 and my plotting comment will be here.
no subject
But, Noé's question has the benefit of one thing:
It echoes down and across the dark area, ensuring that at the very least, it is expected that his inquiry has been heard. Though the problem of that is simply that there's no audible response back.
At least, not at first.
There's the sound of something else instead...like something being dragged against the stone floor. It becomes a bit more clear once he reaches the bottom of the stairs. In front of him is a steel door with a doorknob. Does he open it and try to see what's behind it...? ]
no subject
Can anyone hear me?
[ Rather than expecting an answer that might as well never come, Noé turns the doorknob to check what’s inside. ]
no subject
[ A woman's curt voice speaks through the door. When he opens it, he finds a woman dressed in black with the addition of a black cloak that obscures her face properly.
She carries the distant scent of blood, and appears to be standing in some kind of hallway. There is also a body slumped somewhere behind her. Potentially a guard of some sort given that he's wearing some variation of armor and holding a sword, but given the blood pooling underneath him, well. He is no longer amongst the living. ]
Who are you supposed to be? Wandering into this place can mean the end of you.
[ There seems to also nothing be anything obvious to have been the potential culprit of that odd sound from earlier. A body would not have sufficed for something so loud, after all. But it is gone for the moment, nonetheless. ]
no subject
Noé Archiviste. [ Giving his name out just like that. ] And who are you?
[ The woman doesn't look like she needs help, all things considered. ]
Wouldn't it mean the end of you as well? Where are we?
no subject
Fortunately, giving his name out doesn't incur any negative consequences. ]
...Ming Yi.
[ She does indeed seem fine! ]
No, it wouldn't. [ No elaboration on the why, though. ] You're within a particular place inside Ghost City's wall. An area where people like you are prey for the creatures that live here. If you want to get through this safely, you should come with me.
[ Then the woman begins to start forward down the hall. Does Noé follow? ]
no subject
It's... nice to meet you. [ His voice breaks for a moment here because the circumstances are far from being nice, making it nothing more than a pleasantry. ] I can defend myself, so I can be of help. What is Ghost City exactly?
[ Knowing more about this place would definitely help with defending himself part. ]
no subject
The woman doesn't bother to extend such pleasantries. But does seem willing to offer an explanation: ]
Ghost City is the most busy place where ghosts and other such supernatural individuals go. It's controlled by a ghost king known as Crimson Rain Sought Flower.
[ In the next moment, the black-haired woman stops, right as a shadow seems to make its appearance...hard to see even with the torches that flicker. Something is in one of the figure's hands, but held lower to the ground, making the same dragging noise that Noé heard from earlier.
Then, whoever it is, speaks, "You...you two must be residents of this cursed place. I have to get back, no matter who stands in my way!"
It becomes clear that this is some kind of older male, sporting an unremarkable appearance, but looking like he has been crawling through the dirt once the light of the flames shines on his face. But in the next moment, the assailant races towards Noé, because of course that's his luck, and swings what appears to be shovel straight towards the poor guy's head. Seems like negotiations are out of the question. ]
no subject
He looks around to see if there might be something he could use to protect himself, but the surrounding darkness isn't too merciful on him. There's one more thing he needs to confirm, even if there might be not enough time before the next swing: ]
Are you okay, mademoiselle? Is this a ghost?
[ He hopes for a verbal answer because his eyes need to stay glued to the assilant. ]
no subject
She says, in an annoyed tone: ]
You're the one who got hit. [ ... ] But, you can say it is.
[ There is a strange dripping sound; from the ceiling there is a dark-colored liquid coming from the cracks, wetting the once dry floor. Skeletal hands burst out from the walls and the floors around them for no discernable reason other than to make it clear that this is some kind of veritable hellscape.
One flicker of a torch reveals a strange sword lying against the wall.
Of course, right after the woman said that, the assailant turns his attention onto her, especially since those skeletal hands are wrapped tightly around her ankles, and she can't move properly. Even though she tries to move, it is ineffective as the man aims for her head instead; she only manages to evade it by ducking. Fortunately, this is all leaving Noé out of the way (and free of being held back for now by said skeletal hands) of the next swing. Nothing like aiming for a more stationary target. ]
no subject
Hey! Leave her alone!
[ He's no stationary target, but maybe closing the distance between himself and the attacker will make himself more enticing, even if charging forward bare-handed sounds like a very stupid idea, that's exactly what he's going to do. ]
no subject
Not that it's likely to deter Noé from attempting to do exactly that. But this time when the shovel connects, it bursts into something like...these beautiful butterflies, which fly harmlessly off and then proceed to land on certain sections of the walls, eerily lighting up the hallways.
Finally, the woman crouches down, and rips the skeleton hands from her ankles. Blood from the effort leaks onto the ground, but she seems just fine. ]
You're fortunate that none of this is real...for whatever happens next, you don't have to struggle.
[ The man who had the shovel steps back, saying coldly, "I am the Earth Master, a god from the Heavenly Court. Creatures like you two won't live long when it's been figured out what you've done. Mark my words...both of you have done something that can't be forgiven."
The figure in front of him, this 'Earth Master' turns into something black, and then something else splits off from him, making it two figures. The black liquid from the ceiling begins to drip some more, turning into more a steady spill. Voices start to pour in from around them, mostly unfamiliar.
A sobbing child's voice speaks, "I'm scared..."
Then, a woman's voice of steel, "Why would I give up, when my brother and my family are still alive?"
Next, a chipper man's voice, "Don't worry. Ming-xiong is someone who doesn't know how to lie."
Finally, He Xuan's voice, "What good is your apology?"
The two figures step towards Noé and the female beside him. They reach out, but the woman doesn't move. ]
no subject
None of this is real?
[ The butterflies, the smell of the blood, the blood itself, the assilant. It all felt real... no, it still does, actually. With his sharpened senses, Noé's gaze turns to the man who called himself the Earth Master. When another figure takes shape next to him, Noé's skin crawls. His eyes seek for the woman, expecting some kind of an explanation. None of that happens, however, and soon his ears are filled with unfamiliar voices.
At first, he doesn't even recognize He Xuan's, but the realization comes after a while. ]
H-He Xuan?! Are you here?!
[ Since he doesn't know what the figures are intending to do, Noé takes a step forward and stands in front of the woman, covering her. ]
no subject
[ Yet, the woman doesn't seem troubled. When Noé looks back, he can merely see her golden eyes with a cold expression staring right back at him.
Despite the chaos of all this unfurling before them, little by little, there isn't much more to be gleaned from her expression; answers not forthcoming. As for the question that he asked?
There's only one answer. ]
I am right here beside you.
[ It goes like this. In this recurring nightmare, she introduces herself as Ming Yi to the person she meets up with, even if it is something that should be known to the person who 'meets' up with her. After all, in Noé's place would usually be Shi Qingxuan. She knows how it ends all the same...the figures, reach out. Two pairs of hands reaching to place their hands towards his arms, the other simply reaching for one hand on one of his shoulders. If Noé does not move from his position, he'll feel a blistering, white hot pain.
The air in the room begins to become hot and stifling, as if someone has lit a fire, and the butterflies disappear into thin particles around them, which drop onto the wet floor. The dark liquid is suddenly let aflame, and the fire crawls closer to them, soon to engulf the two in a painful grasp. ]
You're a foolish man to the end. People like you, who work hard to protect a stranger, when it isn't even necessary, will one day just die useless deaths.
Why do you bother, when one day you might just lose it all, because you couldn't resist trying to help someone you shouldn't have?
no subject
It... it won't be useless... [ His voice is strained, but he's trying his best to give a proper answer anyway. ] If... someone is saved...
no subject
[ He Xuan says wearily, while the other is in pain. Though even she isn't immune from it as the scalding heat finally reaches her robes, beginning to burn her too. But she doesn't flinch from the pain, no matter how horrid.
But here she can't call on her powers to put out the flame. Or heal him.
No matter how hard she might try to pull on the figures arms, it's useless. A parody of how He Xuan has been unable to save anyone, as always. ]
...You really shouldn't have been brought here.
[ Spoken quietly, before they're ensnared mercilessly in the flames, and Noé will find himself awake finally, in his own bed. At last, he is free from the nightmare, and free to do as he chooses. ]
no subject
He Xuan, are you home? I dreamed of you!!
[ That is something you should tell a person first thing in the morning. ]
no subject
You did.
[ He will step to the side to allow him in. ]
It was that nightmare, wasn't it? With the flames.
no subject
[ His voice is much softer when it becomes clear that He Xuan knows exactly what happened in the dream. Not to mention that he's surprised that the man is letting him in for some reason. It is very much appreciated that he does, though. ]
I want to know more.
no subject
Oh?
[ He heads into the living-room. Noé is free to sit wherever he pleases. This might be the on the list of the few times he's received guests in his shared home, not that he has ever made for a pleasant host. ]
About the man that attacked? The voices?
no subject
[ In all fairness, he wants to know everything, but for once in his life Noé finds a way to prioritize. He's definitely going to ask more questions along the way, though. ]
no subject
...Those were people in my life.
And myself. One of them being that irritating person as well.
That person thought he knew me. But in the end, he didn't. He never even knew my real name, until it was too late.
[ He Xuan only wishes he did more where Shi Qingxuan was concerned. But even as he picks apart his own plans, his designs even now, he doesn't think he could've changed anything. Except ensuring that the spiritual power remained. If he had... ]
Every time I have that nightmare, that person is beside me. Not you.