Opening my eyes again in casted darkness... (January Catch-all)

[esurientabyss]

🌊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.

Comments

[associative]

[ Gaku settles into an easy jog, keeping a slow enough pace that allows them to talk. ]

I have cereal first, and I was born in the summer. I play a musical instrument and work out at least five times a week.

[ Unfortunately, his socks right now are black. ]

[esurientabyss]

The only thing on that list applies to me is that I was born in summer, and I pour milk into the bowl before the cereal.

[ He Xuan's secret breakfast crimes have been revealed to the world. Let them take flight and fly freeee.

Anyway, with a straight face, he adds: ]

That aside, suppose I should be giving you congratulations.

[associative]

[ Ugh what a monster, pouring milk before cereal! But at least Gaku has that to check off his list.

He raises his brows, giving He Xuan a curious look. ]

For what?

[esurientabyss]

[ No one can say that He Xuan doesn't have a masterful poker face...not that he needs to try. ]

You and Ellis. Both of you are suitable for one another.

[ He sees no reason to obscure that fact. ]

1/2

[associative]

[ Gaku looks surprised for a few seconds, but then he gives He Xuan a very serious look and eagerly says— ]

You really think so?

[associative]

[ But also. He should clear some things up. ]

We're not together, though.

[esurientabyss]

...You're not?

[ If he sounds mildly surprised, then that's not Gaku's imagination speaking. ]

[associative]

No. It's complicated.

[ And he isn't ready to tell He Xuan that Ellis has attachment issues. ]

I know he spent the night recently, but nothing happened between us.

[esurientabyss]

...

[ 'It's complicated', huh? He Xuan supposes he can imagine that. Relationships can be complicated, and annoying.

But he thinks Gaku says it fondly, so it must be in a good way. ]

Then, good luck.

[ He Xuan will probably be always some degree of grumpy, and finds it easier to say harsher words than any good ones. Compliments with conditions. But, he lets this one pass as is. ]

[associative]

[ Don't mind the surprised look he gives you, He Xuan. It even takes him a moment to recover. ]

Oh... thanks.

[ He's happy to lapse into a short silence as they run, but he eventually speaks up again. ]

I don't know how well you know Ellis, but he's different than he appears. He's not as gentle as he seems.

[esurientabyss]

[ He Xuan doesn't blame him for it, so he wisely doesn't comment upon it, and doesn't say much else until he speaks up once again. ]

Most people often put up a front of some kind, so while I know hardly anything personal, I would not be surprised.

[ But He Xuan believes Ellis is probably the type of person who could make a face like this and for the most part get what he wants. He imagines that something may have happened between the two, in order to break down that barrier. ]

But, that is why they need someone who, when they see their real side, will still wish to stick by them.

[associative]

[ He sure is!

But he supposes He Xuan is right. Even Gaku puts up a front in his day job, taking on roles of the kind of guy that would steal someone's girlfriend when in reality the thought would never cross his mind. ]

...I guess you're right. I like the real him better anyway.

[ Authenticity is the most important thing to him, after all. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ There is something to be said about being able to appreciate someone's real side, and loving all their parts. Though, He Xuan isn't exactly the sort to be good at putting that sort of thing together nicely the way a true poet would be able to manage. ]

Not surprised you'd say that.

[ He means it in a good way, as far as he's concerned. ]

[associative]

And why's that?

[ Gaku thinks it's a good thing, but he'd like to hear He Xuan's reasoning anyway. ]

[esurientabyss]

You don't appear to be the type of person to abandon someone just because they don't turn out the way you'd expect.

[ There'd have to be more damning factors about a person's personality. Though he doesn't Gaku's entire life story, he doesn't seem like a flighty person. But he may be basing at least a generous amount on him actually cooking so many nights in the row... ]

[associative]

I'm not. It's important to stay by someone's side, especially if you care about them.

[ He pauses, breathing out a bit as he regulates his breathing now that they've been running for a bit. ]

It's not like he's done anything unforgiveable anyway.

[esurientabyss]

It is.

[ Meanwhile, He Xuan hasn't really broken a sweat. On account of not needing to breathe either and honestly, doesn't really to do that so much; plus this doesn't require much exertion from him. ]

...Can't imagine him doing anything unforgiveable here.

[ Even if people can't be judged by a book, Ellis doesn't seem to have that kind of personality. Though, He Xuan supposes that can change. At a drop of a dime, people can turn on you when you least expect it. ]

[associative]

[ Wow! Some of us still have to use our lungs, thank you very much! But Gaku doesn't mind that He Xuan seems totally fine. Some people are just built different. ]

No. He's a good guy deep down... even if he's a bitter asshole.

[esurientabyss]

[ 'Some people are just built different.' - Gaku Yaotome, Jan 2023

Anyway, he does kind of like, resonate with the bitter asshole portion. ]

Seems like you've gotten to known him the best of anyone here.

[associative]

I hope so. We've gone on a lot of dates.

[ And he still doesn't have a cute boyfriend! His life is the worst!! ]

I just hope I'm making actual progress.

[esurientabyss]

[ Ganba, Gaku...!! Though, there is a small pause of consideration from him. ]

If you've gone on already a number of dates, it seems like it's hardly been for nothing.

[ He's briefly thinking of the whole dating thing himself for a bit. From the perspective of someone who seems so far removed from it. ]

...But, the courting process may take awhile.

[associative]

[ He gives He Xuan a curious look. ]

Really? How long?

[ Not like he's in a rush, but he's seen plenty of others get into relationships a lot quicker. ]

[esurientabyss]

Few months to a few years.

[ He Xuan suspects the two only have a few more steps to go before they enter into a true relationship. By which we mean, a literal couple steps. ]

It all depends on the both of you. But here, that timeline will be less than a couple years due to the deadline by the goddess.

[ Idly, this makes him think of when he had an actual fiance and what that entailed. Not that it lasted long, but courting is not unfamiliar to him regardless. ]

[associative]

Yeah, there's not as much time as there might need to be.

[ Which he isn't really a fan of, honestly. Gaku is still banking on there being some other way to go home. ]

I'd honestly prefer to wait a few years myself, but that's not an option.

[esurientabyss]

...Then, it's clear that you should make the most of your time.

[ Not that He Xuan hasn't made his own stance clear.

But, no matter what kind of exit they reach, if Gaku has found someone he truly cares for in that way, he doesn't see a reason for that to be pursued.

Though, his own words may come back to haunt him. ]