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

[hypnowhip]

[Hearing He Xuan say all of this... It both makes Sylvando's heart feel full, but also full of aching because of what he learned today. What he would give to be able to aid He Xuan back home, to help him avenge his loved ones in a way that wouldn't lead to so much added misery.

As a result, his smile is very soft when he replies.]

Thank you so much, darling, that's very sweet of you to say. I certainly didn't intend to diminish myself, but I try not to let pride get too tight of a grip on me. Still, I can hardly ignore such high praise!

[It's all he's ever wanted: for his efforts to pay off.]

I'd love for you to be able to meet my friends for yourself, but I haven't a clue how the Goddess makes such things possible. She's a very mysterious force, that's for sure.

[esurientabyss]

[ So, in other words, Sylvando would advocate for quicker, efficient deaths of them, right?

Slight jests aside, the response he receives in turn is certainly something that he conceives to be well within the realm of common sense. Not so overly prideful, but also appreciative in the face of a genuine compliment. ]

That's all reasonable enough.

[ Though, as Sylvando is talking, He Xuan sports a thoughtful expression, because he is the type of person to consider potential solutions. ]

As gods and goddesses are capable of feats that are unfathomable to most who are mortal, like us, I'm hardly surprised. Still, maybe she might allow something like an inter-world exchange of letters. Or just bring them briefly here for a time. Like as a reward.

If she is so kind, maybe she will not mind, if she is asked to do either.

[hypnowhip]

[He is not advocating for death of any kind here!!!! But he also wouldn't be mad if death was the result, okay. He Xuan can have a little murder, as a treat.]

Ooh! Now that would be wonderful! She has already brought people from the same world here, so maybe she'd let others visit? It's worth asking!

[He really likes the pen pal idea too, buuuut...]

It would be the perfect opportunity to ask her what the passage of time is like back home, too.

[esurientabyss]

[ There is going to be so much murder. Anyway...he ends up nodding. He Xuan will leave that up to Sylvando, because he's got nothing in turn at this point, he thinks. But as for the rest? ]

...Yes, it would.

As much as I've enjoyed my relatively short time here, it would be troublesome if too much time has gone by.

[ He should've considered that, but honestly, there is the simple fact that He Xuan is not exactly in the most up-to-par condition right now. ]

[hypnowhip]

It would be, especially after what you've told me. Time is of the essence, as they say.

[For MURDER-- no.]

But if the timeline here is different, then it's quite a boon for you, isn't it? I've no doubt your second attempt will be a success if you're allowed the time to recuperate.

[It worked for the DQXI party! He Xuan's got this!]

[esurientabyss]

[ Crying... ]

It is.

[ ...

He Xuan allows Sylvando's words to sink in. A considering look comes over his face. You know, the exact one where someone isn't dissatisfied, but realizing that a rare advantage can be near his grasp. ]

...Of course, you're right. I'd prefer if something like that can be confirmed as soon as possible. I hadn't considered what it would be like if somehow my being here would mean if when I return things are the same as they are when I left.

Though the specifics of this escape me, you seem like you know a thing or two about it.

[hypnowhip]

Just about better preparing myself for a rematch! The matters of magic and how it affects time is a teeeeensy bit beyond me, unfortunately.

[He knows some magic, but he's certainly no Rab or Veronica. He's practically moral support compared to them.]

But if you're actually asking me for advice, well... I certainly wouldn't say no. I'd just need to know more about these people who've wronged you so horribly.

[esurientabyss]

Preparations would work just fine. It's better than nothing.

[ 'Nothing in the world is difficult for one who is determined enough to achieve it.'

...So on and so forth.

As for who they are, well.

He Xuan easily begins to tell the general details of these people. It doesn't take long, but it is clear from his descriptors that they're rich, corrupt people. Just humans now because he is missing information about a certain key player (or players) in this at this time. ]

[hypnowhip]

[Okay, okay, this is a good start... Does He Xuan have any good deets on them that he's learned so far? A way to expose or exploit that corruption would be a good start to make them more vulnerable.]

[esurientabyss]

[ Not too many at this time. Though he mentions that apparently they've wronged many people, with the exception of the imperial officials who targeted him specifically when he went to take his exam to become a scholar.

But what might catch Sylvando's attention is that something is odd about these enemies he's made. Not because they are simply rich. Just, the number of them is by no means short, and the variety of backgrounds, which indicates that despite their positions, it may not mean they've even interacted with each other before! The various positions go from:

A noble man's son, guards from a rich man's estate, to actually officials from the imperial palace, upper-class merchants, so on and so forth. ]

[hypnowhip]

[...yeah, that doesn't go unnoticed. Sylvando's eyes narrow more and more in thought as the explanation goes on. Assuming He Xuan hasn't actually done anything wrong, it's practically suspicious. It's like when the Luminary was being touted as the Darkspawn and had all of these completely untrue rumors being spread about him.

Finally, he takes an opportunity to ask a question during a lull.]

When did all of this begin exactly, darling? Did it mount up over time, or was there a sudden onset of ire? I can't imagine you actually did anything to deserve all of this...

[esurientabyss]

About three or so years ago.

[ It wasn't always like this. That's for certain.

When he was young, he never saw such misfortune. He'd almost wonder if it would have something to do with stepping out of town, but given what happened to his sister and his fiancé, definitely not. ]

I'd thought I'd simply earned the wrong kind of attention from someone.

[ ...But, he knows that's not true either. ]

[hypnowhip]

I'd say it's far more than that at this point. I can't make too many assumptions, but...I worry that taking care of these people isn't going to bring an end to all of this.

[What if even more enemies rise out of the shadows? What's the actual root of this?]

[esurientabyss]

...Do you know of something like this having happened to someone else before?

[ It's the only thing he can ask. Just to be certain.

Not that he believes hearing certain things being said but not being visible is a good thing either, but suddenly saying that... of all the things he has heard of, he can't be sure he hadn't been going insane from the stress. ]

[hypnowhip]

...You know the Lord of Shadows I spoke of earlier? He had a way of pulling strings behind the scenes and making terrible things happen for no discernible reason. He did everything in his power to make the Luminary's life miserable- tried to get him killed before we could ever manage to reach him.

[The Gloomnivore also comes to mind, but...that creature only fed on existing misery and make it fester.]

[esurientabyss]

[ ... ]

Before I came here, I'd been hearing a voice.

It was telling me that terrible things would occur before they did. I feel that those people...their actions were still their own. I don't think they're being mind-controlled or anything, not in the slightest.

[ He Xuan merely feels like it simply allows himself to be the one targeted by their misdeeds. Him, his family, and anyone who dares to get close to him. ]