open log

[holycurse]

WHO: Xie Lian and anyone!
WHERE: A little shrine at the edge of the woods
WHEN: All March
WHAT: Pyra built a shrine, anyone wanna come pray?
WARNINGS: None, probably

[So at some point over the past month, a shrine seems to have been erected outside of town, a little ways before the woods. It's a small, one-room building, but a pretty one - vine-covered pillars, stone steps, a reflecting pool next to the path...all done in a sort of ancient Chinese style, if maybe not entirely accurate.

The inside has a couple cushions to kneel on, an incense holder on a little make-shift table, and a statue! of a regal-looking man with a sword in his right hand and flowers in his left. The statue may possibly look a little familiar, but that's surely just your imagination. Anyway! Perfect place to stop by and leave a prayer, right?]

a. [Stop by and leave a prayer here, and Xie Lian will eventually come looking for you, with a] Hello, I heard you needed help!

[or something along those lines, anyway.]

b. [Or! Stop by while Xie Lian is actually there, sweeping the steps with an old broom. He'll even offer you a free smile.]

Comments

a [1/2]

[shizun]

[ Cue Shen Qingqiu wandering around the town. He says that he has wanderlust and can't stand to stay in his house all day. But it is actually checking all parts of the town in his daily walk. Which he considers fair! There was that time not too long ago that vines were sneaking out from the forest in. So, it's best to stay vigilant.

And he's surprised to see that there is actually a shrine built. He walks over to it, somewhat wary. But it appears to be done in an ancient Chinese style. That isn't quite like the usual decor that's around Chroma. So, somewhat made it? He can't help but notice a few inaccuracies and feel like this is definitely something that Airplane-bro would have created.

Actually, no. The inaccuracies aren't all that glaring and obvious. So... must have been someone else who made it. Nice job, person!! ]

[shizun]

[ He is a modern, second-generation rich kid. Furthermore, there isn't much in the way of gods in the novel world that he found himself existing in. Walking in, he looks up at the statue -- huh! Squinting, he remembers Xie Lian saying something about being a god.

He is trying to remember more, but all he really remembers is his stomach exploding in pain, blacking out, and some of his drunken stupor that happened after that. In other words, jack and shit and an off-handed comment.

Shen Qingqiu hums before kneeling down on one of the cushions. He adjusts his clothes after sitting down. Bringing his hands together, he drops his head down. ]

I want ... Xie Lian to go to bed on time and remember not to work too hard. [ He finishes his prayer before he gets back up. All right! Back to work for this old man! ]

[holycurse]

[Shifu............what is he supposed to do with a prayer like this! It's Pyra all over again!!



He goes to bed at a decent hour that night.

But also, next time the two meet:] I hope you've been taking good care of yourself recently, Shifu. You worry so much over others, I can't help wondering about you in turn.

[shizun]

[ ???????????????? ]

I have been doing my best. [ See this? This is a pin in the issue of me not liking myself. It's still up. I still have an eye on it. ] Wondering about me? Have I done something to cause Lianlian to worry?

[holycurse]

Ah, it's nothing, really! I just feel as if people have been worrying about me quite a lot since I first arrived here, and...well, there's nothing wrong with caring for others' well-being in turn. Right?

[Nailed it.]

a

[espritdecorpse]

[ He's running like a madman, knowing however it's only a matter of time before he's caught. The first time he'd encountered the Maiden Saber who isn't his Maiden Saber, she hadn't chased him. This was probably because she had been sleeping off the effects of alcohol or a purple scale or both. In any case, this time is different. This time, it's not only her that's after him, but the prince of punishment himself, Lan Wangji. Even grievously injured, the man is a force to be reckoned with.

But it's not like he's going to stand in one place waiting for death.

The direction he's running, he knows he'll hit the forest soon. He could probably hide there successfully. And yet... and yet... he fancies he can hear howling. The forest is full of wolves, even just the idea of meeting one is almost enough to make his soul leave his body. Thus caught up in his own breathless fears, he doesn't notice the little shrine until he's this close to falling into the reflecting pool. ]

A-aaah?

[ There... there wasn't a temple here, last time he looked. Where did it come from?

...

Just then, he fancies he can feel the pressure of being followed, and dives into the shrine to hide. He ends up on his knees before the altar. Wildly, he thinks to himself, well, this can't hurt.

He throws himself down prostrate and whispers urgently: ]

God of this shrine, save me!

[holycurse]

[Xie Lian doesn't have the power to teleport, but he does have powerful legs; when he receives that urgent prayer, he immediately drops what he was doing (sorting out the garbage he'd collected) and books it towards the shrine.

It takes a few minutes, but soon enough! The god of the shrine appears, straw hat pressed against his head as he skids to a stop at the door.]

Wuxian! Are you alright? What's wrong?

1/2

[espritdecorpse]

[ He expected instant retribution, so he remains flattened on the floor.

...




But then, it doesn't come. A moment passes, and then another. After a while, he sits up and looks around. By the time Xie Lian turns up, he's standing next to the table, digging in his sleeve for something to leave as an offering. When he hears his name called, he looks up, brightening considerably. ]

Ah, hello!

[ A beat ]

Er, hang on, how did you know—

[espritdecorpse]

[ NO HE IS STILL BEING FOLLOWED!!!!!! He'd recognize the reflection of that blue sword glare anywhere! ]

Wife! Dearest wife! Get down!

[ He's been trying to call Xie Lian "didi," but old habits, etc. Anyway, he's just going to try to leap on top of you, not!wife, to get you away from the door, and hopefully out of sight of a certain sword-riding cultivator. ]

[alittlespicy]

[ WangJi's entrance into the shrine is swift, but not disrespectful.
Then he freezes, his heart turning cold at what he sees and hears.

He quickly averts his eyes, sheathing Bichen but keeping the sword in his hand. He doubts he will be welcome to stay long. ]

Wei Ying.

[holycurse]

[Xie Lian's so used to getting called wife, he doesn't even blink at that--no, what surprises him is that sudden tackle!

He catches Wuxian mid-leap, unwilling to let himself get knocked over for fear of accidentally knocking over something in the shrine, and turns his head to try to see what it is that has the man so spooked. His danger senses weren't going off, so it's probably.....huh.]

You're...Lan Wangji?

[is this what he's saving you from...]

B!

[noholdsbard]

So this is your new haunt? [ Tristan’s glancing over the shrine with a look of open admiration. Sure, the building’s a little out of place with the more folksy European bent of the entire town, but it’s refreshing in a way. ]

I did not know that you were quite the adept builder, Xie Lian.

[holycurse]

It's a very nice building, isn't it? Though I can't claim any credit for it. [He gestures with a cheerful smile.]

Would you like to try leaving a prayer? No offerings necessary.

[noholdsbard]

Oh? [ He has to wonder who might be so adept at carpentry in this place. Nero, perhaps? But everything would look much more extravagant if she’d had her way… ]

And what do you think I should pray for, Xie Lian?

[ It’s not like he’s got to go on a quest for some magical MacGuffin or the other. Nor does he see Xie Lian as someone to be prayed to, though he holds the man in high regard nevertheless. What could the guy even do? Kill evildoers with his cooking? Make junk appear out of nowhere? ]

[holycurse]

[What to pray for? He hadn't quite expected that question, putting a hand to his chin as he thinks.]

Well...you could pray for safety or protection? Those are common enough requests for a martial god.

[If only he knew what was going through Tristan's head.....as it is, he simply looks innocently at the man, doing his best not to look too hopeful.]

[noholdsbard]

[ Look…these are honest questions!! And that…sure is an honest to goodness puppydog look. Tristan can’t resist that, least of all from a friend…!

Well…just this once, then… ]

That is a wonderful idea. Then I shall pray for the protection and safety of the people of this town. [ That’s…vague and flexible enough for Xie Lian to work with, right? ]

B

[metastasizing]

[ He's made it a habit of wandering about the town and exploring it, becoming used to being actual human-sized and living among actual humans in a town that has actually been built by humans before, instead of the body and cells providing the infrastructure and shelter.

Not gonna lie, it's been a strange experience so far. ]



...Ah.... so... what is this place?

[ He murmurs aloud, stepping into the shrine. It looks relatively new... and entirely different from the architecture of the main town. The statues captures his attention, as does the incense lit at its feet. ] ...Huh.

[holycurse]

[A visitor!! Xie Lian comes over, a friendly smile on his face, to greet the newcomer.]

Hello! Have you been to a shrine before? You're quite welcome to look around, regardless.

[metastasizing]

[ His eyes leave the statue to look at the young man approaching him, the perfect picture of confusion in the face of the stranger’s smile. ]

A... shrine. [ The word isn’t foreign to him, but he repeats it as if it might as well be. ]

Of what? Who is this... [ He motions to the statue. ] guy supposed to be? [ He’s holding a sword and flowers.

....He can’t quite get what it’s supposed to symbolize. ]

[holycurse]

[Does he not know what a shrine is? Or is this just his first time visiting one? It's unclear...oh well.]

This is the Xian Le Prince - a god from my homeland. Back in the day, people would pray to him for safety and protection from evil.

[metastasizing]

[ His brow raises in response to the explanation, limited as it is, as he slips his hands into his pockets. He gets the ideas of shrines and deities and protection. Hell, the great valves of the heart have depictions of some deities...

But that’s inside the body, where of course all the cells need protection. ] Protection from... evil as in.... To prevent bacteria entering the body in the first place?

b;

[neronian]

[ Nero stops by, of course. Why? Because it catches her eye, and she's damn proud of the statue, at that! When she stops by, she puts both hands on her hips and beams to nobody in particular, only basking in her own vanity.

...And then she looks at the shrine in its entirety. A Divine Spirit of sorts? ]

This is a nice shrine, if a bit understated for my own personal taste.

[ Not everybody appreciates all the glitz and glamour and gold, Nero. ]

[holycurse]

[Ah yes, the artist herself. He's not entirely surprised that she'd be here, considering what little he knows of her.]

I'm glad it has your approval! A golden palace might be a bit much for a town like this, I felt.

[As if he had any say in the building process.]

[neronian]

Hm, you may be right. Such splendor would stick out like a sore thumb.

[ She holds her hands behind her back, and starts to slowly pace around the shrine. ]

Did you build this shrine?

[holycurse]

Pyra built it, actually.

[That fact will forever fill him with warm, fuzzy feelings.]

She's a very kind person, to go to such lengths for someone like me.