As interesting as it sounds, I'm afraid I may not be so adept at it, what with busy with other things. But that's all the more reason to admire and respect your efforts.
[ 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.
[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.
[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.
[ 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.
[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.]
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.
[ 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!
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.
[ Orchid lets out a squeak at the sudden feeling of being pulled backward, reaching out with her free hand to grab onto whatever she can. It is nearly Cid's arm she grabs, seeing as how it's closest to her hand already, but her fingers merely brush over it - unable to get a grip.
Then she's being scooped up in an all-too-familiar fashion in Daqiang's arms. She pouts up at him, knowing it won't make a difference at all. ]
My feet are fine.
[ Before she's carried away by the jealous immortal, Orchid turns back to Cid quickly. ]
If you want to talk more, you can send me a message at xiaolanhua.
[ Will he figure out how to spell it? That is the question. ]
[He declared to try and shut down that argument. If it didn't shut it down, she would argue with him the whole way back. Which was fine. If it made her forget about Cid-
As soon as the invitation to message her is out of her mouth, is expression shifts right to wide-eyed offense. right in front of his salad, orchid? in his arms?]
[ Don't be too jealous, Daqiang. She isn't putting her arms around Cid's neck right now, that honor goes to the Moon Supreme. The hold isn't tight in the least, as Orchid trusts him to carry her around. ]
Thank you again, Cid. Goodbye.
[ With that farewell, she looks back at Daqiang. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
me not realizing it was my turn---SORRY
no subject
Did you want to become immortal?
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
But...]
Destiny books?
no subject
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
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!
no subject
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.
no subject
What's this?
Did he just feel something like ire coming from Dongfang?
And then that move to pull her back...
......Ah.
A knowing grin slowly forms as he just nods.]
Of course, and you two did just get zapped by lightning. Must have been quite the ordeal.
Go on ahead and enjoy yourselves.
no subject
Then she's being scooped up in an all-too-familiar fashion in Daqiang's arms. She pouts up at him, knowing it won't make a difference at all. ]
My feet are fine.
[ Before she's carried away by the jealous immortal, Orchid turns back to Cid quickly. ]
If you want to talk more, you can send me a message at xiaolanhua.
[ Will he figure out how to spell it? That is the question. ]
no subject
[He declared to try and shut down that argument. If it didn't shut it down, she would argue with him the whole way back. Which was fine. If it made her forget about Cid-
As soon as the invitation to message her is out of her mouth, is expression shifts right to wide-eyed offense.
right in front of his salad, orchid? in his arms?]no subject
I'll bear that in mind.
[And probably message Daqiang because...yeah he has no idea how the fuck to spell that one—
In any case, he just smiles and waves to them.]
Take good care of her, Dongfang.
no subject
Thank you again, Cid. Goodbye.
[ With that farewell, she looks back at Daqiang. ]