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[ She tilts her head curiously up at him. ]
Did you want to become immortal?
Did you want to become immortal?
[ Ring ring, Cid. ]
Hey, Captain Brownbeard. I have a project for you that I might be willing to pay you for!
Hey, Captain Brownbeard. I have a project for you that I might be willing to pay you for!
[A small laugh and shake of his head.]
While I know some who would, I do not. The frailty of humanity is also what makes living it just as rewarding, no matter how cruel it can be at times.
Not only that, I do not fancy the idea of watching those around me fall and be the only one left.
While I know some who would, I do not. The frailty of humanity is also what makes living it just as rewarding, no matter how cruel it can be at times.
Not only that, I do not fancy the idea of watching those around me fall and be the only one left.
I'm considering coming up with a new one every time we talk. Just to see how many I can.
Okay, imagine this. You capture an image with a device - sort of how the shellphones do videos, then put it onto paper. No drawing needed. Just push a few buttons and a machine draws the image for you!
Okay, imagine this. You capture an image with a device - sort of how the shellphones do videos, then put it onto paper. No drawing needed. Just push a few buttons and a machine draws the image for you!
[ The way he speaks about humanity surprises Orchid to the point that she stumbles over... possibly nothing or maybe a small rock. It easily causes an ache in her chest as the image of a newly married bride lay dying, knowing that nearby a newly married groom had also drawn his last breath.
In her stumble, Orchid reaches out to grab Daqiang's arm to not fully trip over her own two feet.
When she speaks again, her own words are spoken quietly. ]
Living in Arbiter Hall, I couldn't see how important the moments in their lives were. Then I went to the Mortal Realm. My time among them was so brief, but their lives were so much fuller than I ever imagined.
In her stumble, Orchid reaches out to grab Daqiang's arm to not fully trip over her own two feet.
When she speaks again, her own words are spoken quietly. ]
Living in Arbiter Hall, I couldn't see how important the moments in their lives were. Then I went to the Mortal Realm. My time among them was so brief, but their lives were so much fuller than I ever imagined.
[As soon as she started to stumble, almost as soon as her foot began to turn wrong on the rock and before she even visibly slipped, his arm was up and ready for her to grip. His hand on her elbow. Hyper aware of her.
His own ankle ached for a moment.]
Orchid is the disciple of the Arbiter of Fate. She maintains the destiny books of all living beings.
[He explained so Cid could understand why Orchid would have reason to watch mortal lives. Though, he hadn't know she had been to the mortal realm. She'd only ever talked about Haishi City. She had mentioned her master enjoyed spending time in Yunmengze. Perhaps she had taken her along on a trip at some point before the one she was currently on?]
Living among mortals in this world is the longest this venerable one has ever been around them, himself.
His own ankle ached for a moment.]
Orchid is the disciple of the Arbiter of Fate. She maintains the destiny books of all living beings.
[He explained so Cid could understand why Orchid would have reason to watch mortal lives. Though, he hadn't know she had been to the mortal realm. She'd only ever talked about Haishi City. She had mentioned her master enjoyed spending time in Yunmengze. Perhaps she had taken her along on a trip at some point before the one she was currently on?]
Living among mortals in this world is the longest this venerable one has ever been around them, himself.
Edited 2024-06-09 00:48 (UTC)
[Taking full advantage of the permission he had to just show up on the Enterprise II whenever, Daqiang teleported to the main deck. He didn't bother waiting to be acknowledged by whomever might be on deck at the time, or notice if he had startled them, before he was jogging off towards where he could feel Cid's spiritual presence.
No matter where that was just then, when Daqiang spotted Cid, his face lit up with excitement and he raised his voice to call out and catch his friend's attention.]
Cid! Speak with this venerable one!
No matter where that was just then, when Daqiang spotted Cid, his face lit up with excitement and he raised his voice to call out and catch his friend's attention.]
Cid! Speak with this venerable one!
Edited 2024-06-10 03:37 (UTC)
[He stops when she stumbles, and he wonders if his words were somehow too much. He didn't think much of it, but perhaps it's different for an immortal? Or perhaps it's Orchid herself...? It doesn't help that he doesn't really hold "gods" and higher deities with much regard—current company excluded.
But...]
Destiny books?
But...]
Destiny books?
Basically, it's a machine that makes portraits from the image the picture takes.
Because if you want to draw people, you have to ask them to stand there forever, and that's no fun on their wedding day. I want to capture lots of images all at once without interrupting their happy day, then the machine can just draw all the pictures out for me much faster, so I can give them as a gift!
And maybe someone's not very good at drawing - not me, I'm amazing - but future customers!
Because if you want to draw people, you have to ask them to stand there forever, and that's no fun on their wedding day. I want to capture lots of images all at once without interrupting their happy day, then the machine can just draw all the pictures out for me much faster, so I can give them as a gift!
And maybe someone's not very good at drawing - not me, I'm amazing - but future customers!
[He should be glad he wasn't in bed with Benedikta at that time—
Instead he's actually out in the underground "city" in the Roost. "City" when it's more like a small town or village with the stone buildings filling the expansive underground cavern, sunlight streaming through the open "skylights" high above so despite being underground, it's quite bright as if it wasn't underground at all. Helps they have some additional lighting installed, but mostly the sun for now.
So Cid will look up from the well they had repaired and stares at Daqiang surprised.]
...Dongfang? Something the matter?
Instead he's actually out in the underground "city" in the Roost. "City" when it's more like a small town or village with the stone buildings filling the expansive underground cavern, sunlight streaming through the open "skylights" high above so despite being underground, it's quite bright as if it wasn't underground at all. Helps they have some additional lighting installed, but mostly the sun for now.
So Cid will look up from the well they had repaired and stares at Daqiang surprised.]
...Dongfang? Something the matter?
[Daqiang had not seen the full Roost before in his last visit. Cid had been outside it so he had not lingered or cared much about it. As well lit as the place was with the sun coming through, he had an excellent view of the small town getting back up and running. As he had not seen it before the damage, he could not say if the repairs were going well, but he assumed they were.
Once Cid had answered him, Daqiang hurried over in something slightly faster than a jog, but not quite a run. He shook his head as he came to a stop, looking... well, excited. Happy, even.]
Nothing is wrong. This venerable one wished to share news with you.
[He took a moment to reach up and pat his cheeks.]
Is this venerable one smiling?
[(He was. Not quite enough to puff up his cheeks, but he was.)]
Once Cid had answered him, Daqiang hurried over in something slightly faster than a jog, but not quite a run. He shook his head as he came to a stop, looking... well, excited. Happy, even.]
Nothing is wrong. This venerable one wished to share news with you.
[He took a moment to reach up and pat his cheeks.]
Is this venerable one smiling?
[(He was. Not quite enough to puff up his cheeks, but he was.)]
[ It was most certainly that his words struck something personal within her. To be talking to a mortal about why their lives are so big and how one might accept all the bad things and understand it. Time moves differently between Shuiyuntian and the Mortal Realm, it moves faster for mortals, so to her - their lives seem very fleeting at times. She wasn't able to speak with anyone mortal about this, as that would interfere with their destiny and primordial spirit. Especially when Orchid was trying to allow a destiny to manifest in what resulted in two deaths.
Orchid's grip on Daqiang's arm tightens for just a moment, as if it were her dress she was holding while dealing with such complicated feelings. There's a nod of her head at Daqiang's words, agreeing with him. ]
Whether you are immortal or mortal, everyone has a one-leaf Destiny Book upon the fate tree. Your destiny is written in the Destiny Books as a fate poem. It's not as detailed as a novel, but it records the major events in one's life. When they are born, what sort of job they might have, when they will marry, and have children. If they somehow stray from the fate poem, their cultivation will be damaged at least, or their soul will dissipate.
[ This is a conversation she's had with Jieli before. ]
As immortals, we are not supposed to interfere with the fate of a mortal or even other immortals.
Orchid's grip on Daqiang's arm tightens for just a moment, as if it were her dress she was holding while dealing with such complicated feelings. There's a nod of her head at Daqiang's words, agreeing with him. ]
Whether you are immortal or mortal, everyone has a one-leaf Destiny Book upon the fate tree. Your destiny is written in the Destiny Books as a fate poem. It's not as detailed as a novel, but it records the major events in one's life. When they are born, what sort of job they might have, when they will marry, and have children. If they somehow stray from the fate poem, their cultivation will be damaged at least, or their soul will dissipate.
[ This is a conversation she's had with Jieli before. ]
As immortals, we are not supposed to interfere with the fate of a mortal or even other immortals.
[Daqiang, of course, didn't care much about destiny books or fates beyond the one belonging to Chidi Nuzi.]
This world lays somewhere in the Ruins of Ten Thousand Heavens. Across the River of stars and outside of time and the flow of fate. This venerable one believes that what happens here is unlikely to have any effect on what happens in the Three Realms.
[It was the argument he had made about it to Orchid while they spent time in each other's body, since she had been worried about damaging the souls of the mortals in this world.]
Time flows differently here and too many imperfect worlds have had their people converge through the rifts. So our presence here cannot count as interference.
[Not that he had known about what interfering with fates did when he first arrived. His own spirit could not be damaged in that way simply because he was, personally, outside the cycle of reincarnation. If he died, he would die and that would be the end of him in any and all lives.]
This world lays somewhere in the Ruins of Ten Thousand Heavens. Across the River of stars and outside of time and the flow of fate. This venerable one believes that what happens here is unlikely to have any effect on what happens in the Three Realms.
[It was the argument he had made about it to Orchid while they spent time in each other's body, since she had been worried about damaging the souls of the mortals in this world.]
Time flows differently here and too many imperfect worlds have had their people converge through the rifts. So our presence here cannot count as interference.
[Not that he had known about what interfering with fates did when he first arrived. His own spirit could not be damaged in that way simply because he was, personally, outside the cycle of reincarnation. If he died, he would die and that would be the end of him in any and all lives.]
[Well.
That doesn't sit well with Cid, not especially with how certain fates in his world turned out. So there is a moment where his expression hardens, but...
...
Well, Orchid already seems to have been affected by his words, and he doesn't want to risk upsetting both of them. It's their world, their...culture. Perhaps that's just how things worked—things "had" to work, if what she says about straying from one's fate is as dangerous as it sounds. The cultivation part he couldn't care less, but if it damaged one's soul... Of course, as a human who is staunch on free will so already he thinks, "but if it's worth the risk in the current life," so it's not a concept he can so easily agree with.
But, he will be respectful and not share his thoughts on that matter. Instead he'll just...nod in understanding—in the sense of it being an explanation, anyway.]
Aye, if our being here affected our world, I am sure there'd be a lot more chaos, especially what with time also being a factor as well.
[He then glances at them, though it shifts more to Orchid.]
Perhaps you can try experiencing what it's like to be living among mortals. Dongfang here is...well, he is getting there.
[A small, teasing wink.]
That doesn't sit well with Cid, not especially with how certain fates in his world turned out. So there is a moment where his expression hardens, but...
...
Well, Orchid already seems to have been affected by his words, and he doesn't want to risk upsetting both of them. It's their world, their...culture. Perhaps that's just how things worked—things "had" to work, if what she says about straying from one's fate is as dangerous as it sounds. The cultivation part he couldn't care less, but if it damaged one's soul... Of course, as a human who is staunch on free will so already he thinks, "but if it's worth the risk in the current life," so it's not a concept he can so easily agree with.
But, he will be respectful and not share his thoughts on that matter. Instead he'll just...nod in understanding—in the sense of it being an explanation, anyway.]
Aye, if our being here affected our world, I am sure there'd be a lot more chaos, especially what with time also being a factor as well.
[He then glances at them, though it shifts more to Orchid.]
Perhaps you can try experiencing what it's like to be living among mortals. Dongfang here is...well, he is getting there.
[A small, teasing wink.]
[His brows only raise higher because... ...He has never seen Daqiang like this before and it's honestly a bit strange. Not in a bad way, however.
And at his question, he can't help but laugh.]
Think it's the first time I've seen you smiling, but if you want proof—
[He scoops out some fresh water into the bowl that happened to be there and holds it out to him.]
See for yourself.
And at his question, he can't help but laugh.]
Think it's the first time I've seen you smiling, but if you want proof—
[He scoops out some fresh water into the bowl that happened to be there and holds it out to him.]
See for yourself.
[Daqaing leaned over to examine his reflection. As he did, he moved one finger from each hand to the corners of his mouth and pushed upward. Trying to make his smile bigger. So that his cheeks puffed up properly with the motion.
Why was smiling so hard to do on purpose?
He grew frustrated after a moment and shook his head.]
Forget it. This venerable one can practice later. He has news to share.
[He straightened up and the excitement was back in his eyes. His smile growing despite his conscious ability to do so.]
You remember Orchid. She is difficult to forget, so you must remember her. She has agreed to marry this venerable one!
Why was smiling so hard to do on purpose?
He grew frustrated after a moment and shook his head.]
Forget it. This venerable one can practice later. He has news to share.
[He straightened up and the excitement was back in his eyes. His smile growing despite his conscious ability to do so.]
You remember Orchid. She is difficult to forget, so you must remember her. She has agreed to marry this venerable one!
[ Fate could be changed, but there was always a cost for that. For the one interfering. Orchid is well-aware of that and wouldn't mind sitting down with Cid to discuss it someday. She, herself, has altered the fate of a person she cared about to save his life, despite being one of the two people who knows best just how forbidden it is and how bad the consequences could be.
She doesn't decide what that fate is, Orchid only fixes them so that people's souls don't disperse. So they can be reborn into another life.
Orchid doesn't know how fate works in other worlds, if it's as fragile and yet unchanging as it is in hers. ]
I was worried about telling people my true identity upon arrival, as I didn't want to harm anyone. The more I see of this realm, the less I worry.
[ She smiles up at Cid at his suggestion. ]
Mm! [ A sound of agreement. ] I won't have to hide who I am this time!
She doesn't decide what that fate is, Orchid only fixes them so that people's souls don't disperse. So they can be reborn into another life.
Orchid doesn't know how fate works in other worlds, if it's as fragile and yet unchanging as it is in hers. ]
I was worried about telling people my true identity upon arrival, as I didn't want to harm anyone. The more I see of this realm, the less I worry.
[ She smiles up at Cid at his suggestion. ]
Mm! [ A sound of agreement. ] I won't have to hide who I am this time!
[Oh this is so amusing as he sits against the edge of the well. Really the one he had was natural enough. But his brows will raise sky high at that as he stares at him. In fact he was so surprised he almost leans to the side far enough to almost topple right in the well, BUT HE RECOVERED.]
Marriage? You and Orchid?
[Though he is still trying to process this because whoa.]
Marriage? You and Orchid?
[Though he is still trying to process this because whoa.]
Yes...?
[Cid's reaction is... not as enthusiastic as he'd thought it would be. Like he's confused about it. What is there to be confused about? It wasn't like Orchid had anyone else she liked-
Unless... Cid had been interested in her?
Daqaing's smile receded entirely, replaced with a frown and a suspicious narrowing of his eyes.]
What is it that makes you question it?
[Cid's reaction is... not as enthusiastic as he'd thought it would be. Like he's confused about it. What is there to be confused about? It wasn't like Orchid had anyone else she liked-
Unless... Cid had been interested in her?
Daqaing's smile receded entirely, replaced with a frown and a suspicious narrowing of his eyes.]
What is it that makes you question it?
[Oh if Cid had any idea what Dongfang was thinking—but Cid just continues to stare at him for a moment as if lost in thought.]
No, sorry, it was just so sudden it caught me off guard.
[And then a laugh because he knows how this must look and he feels a bit sorry for confusing him. So with a wider, genuine smile he stands to clap Dongfang on the shoulder in that overly familiar and friendly manner of his.]
But congratulations! Have you set a date? How did it even happen?
No, sorry, it was just so sudden it caught me off guard.
[And then a laugh because he knows how this must look and he feels a bit sorry for confusing him. So with a wider, genuine smile he stands to clap Dongfang on the shoulder in that overly familiar and friendly manner of his.]
But congratulations! Have you set a date? How did it even happen?
Yes, exactly! The duplicate pictures don't have to be life-sized, so the machine doesn't have to be big. Think like a flat portrait that could fit on the page of a book, or a couple that could go on a single sketchbook page.
This way you could capture important memories, and then keep them in a neat little book to look at whenever you want. Or hang some up on a wall. Like family pictures.
This way you could capture important memories, and then keep them in a neat little book to look at whenever you want. Or hang some up on a wall. Like family pictures.
[What was that wink for?
Daqiang's eyes dart between Cid and Orchid. He decides she's smiling too much at Cid. Of course she would charm him, but Cid was not allowed to charm her back.
Clearing his throat, Daqaing tugged on Orchid none-too-gently where he still had his hand on her arm. The motion would cause her to fall backward towards him and as she did, he dipped down to scoop her up into his arms in a single smooth motion. While her steps faltered, his did not. And when it was done, she was held in a princess carry.]
We should part ways. Orchid's feet are getting sore. This venerable one will take her back to the hot springs.
Daqiang's eyes dart between Cid and Orchid. He decides she's smiling too much at Cid. Of course she would charm him, but Cid was not allowed to charm her back.
Clearing his throat, Daqaing tugged on Orchid none-too-gently where he still had his hand on her arm. The motion would cause her to fall backward towards him and as she did, he dipped down to scoop her up into his arms in a single smooth motion. While her steps faltered, his did not. And when it was done, she was held in a princess carry.]
We should part ways. Orchid's feet are getting sore. This venerable one will take her back to the hot springs.
Edited 2024-06-11 05:20 (UTC)
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