stillsea | vine

[ blinks at him in surprise because WHAT DO YOU MEAN MAYBE. THIS IS SUCH A SPECIFIC PROBLEM. ]

I'm not sure if I really understand it, but she could transform into him somehow. She used his dragon form in the fight, and when I confronted her about it, she used his face - spoke to me with his voice. If I didn't see her do it with my own eyes, I might have still thought it was really him.

[ This CR is so inspired. My god maybe we'll be besties. ]

Did she ever talk about what happened to her in that Abyss? If she met someone, why all that, how exactly...

[ He trails off towards the end because he truly seems a little... a mixture of baffled, maybe just a touch overwhelmed. ]

[ finally, the cr we always talk about. ]

No. The first time I asked, she said saw nothing down there. And then... I couldn't really look at her anymore, so I left.

[ which he does feel bad about! he should've asked more! he should've gotten answers!

...but it's hard to get over being lied to like that, especially by a friend. ]

...Fair enough.

[ Honestly. All things considered, that Leng Feng doesn't seem to avidly hate her is already probably more than most. ]

You ever been to this Abyss yourself, know much about what it's like in there?

[ Sorry that it's millions questions time, he really was not kidding. ]

I haven't. And even if I did, I'm not arrogant enough to think I'd be able to escape if my older brother couldn't. I've only heard stories - warnings to try to avoid the cultivators so we aren't thrown in ourselves.

They say it's the closest thing there is to hell in our world, but if someone with an innocent heart falls in, they'll come out stronger than before. Never said how, though.

Sounds like one of those tall tales they tell in different parts of the world.

[ Urban and folk legends are a dime a dozen, all sorts of rumours about the Hellish planes, the unknown planes, things that go bump in the night -- maybe you'll come out stronger the other end, maybe you won't. ]

You believe in any of that?... Guess you'd have to to some degree.

[ If Lady Shen is this one-in-a-million rarity, the exception to your rule that powers don't come out of nowhere. ]

When I was younger, before my brother was sent down there, I thought that was all it was - just some legend meant to scare us into behaving.

...I believe it now. Something happened down there in the Abyss to make them fight, and I've seen her strength. But just killing a demon, even one as strong as my older brother, wouldn't give her that kind of power all on its own.

Wait, you're a demon?

[ He doesn't disbelieve in the existence of demons. Obviously. I mean, look at Molly. LOOK AT FJORD HIMSELF. But Leng Feng physically essentially appears pretty human.

It puts more context to what Leng Feng said about how the well is a prison for demons. ]

What do you think would have... I mean, it must've been somethin' else to do the impossible.

[ he nods. ]

I'm a dragon. But I had to pass at human for a while, and I was stuck that way in our season, too, so I think I just got used to it.

[ anyway, that's the hard part. he frowns in thought. ]

There are... I've heard other stories, from way before I was even born. There was a particularly strong demon who led a war against the Chaoyang Sect - Chu Tian. He was known as the Demon of a Thousand Faces, and he could transform into just about anything.

That's the only time I've heard of anything similar to what Lady Shen could do. But they said he disappeared after being defeated by Shen Yitian, so I don't know if Yuhua's powers would have anything to do with him.

[ spoilers: they do. of course they do. leng feng just doesn't know that. ]

[ Dragons can do that? You learn new things every day... or well, rather, it's the reminder that despite finding a lot of familiar beats, their worlds are likely ultimately separate. Does this world just call anything that isn't a human a demon? ]

I... see. [ Mmmmhhh. Interesting stuff for sure. Maybe he should look more into fiends and the like whenever he gets to go back next. ] Sorry 'bout all the questions. Think I even surprised myself with how many I ended up askin'.

No, it's okay. I did agree to it. I suppose I just wasn't expecting... certain things to be relevant to anyone else?

[ the abyss thing, sure, people do go into hell and back apparently. but the rest? yikes. ]

Honestly? I'm just as surprised as you are.

So that's what happened to you? Just... suddenly developing your abilities?

They're pretty new to me. Yeah.

You could say learnin' more about them may have been a part of me gettin' roped up into all this to begin with.

Can't say I'd blame you for that. Sorry I don't really know anything helpful.

[ truly wishes he did but that's how the cookie crumbles, microaggressions be damned. ]

Do you think they can really give you answers?

No, I think it's something. Maybe I don't exactly know about any abyss wells and prisons and dragons, but if we both have similar-enough things, maybe it's a direction to consider.

[ You know? And he has reason to consider it. ]

I don't know, but since I'm already here, I may as well try and get my time's worth.

Yeah, maybe. I don't know what your world's like, but maybe there's something similar enough.

[ that's fair though. he nods. ]

That's how I feel about it, too. They can't help my brother, but maybe the rest of my family...

You don't think they can't use the, uh... you know, resurrection spell? On your brother? As a wish?

[ They call it technology but you know, it's some divine magic shit to him. ]

Resurrection spell? That's a thing?

I thought you guys had something like it.

[ Maybe he misunderstood what he heard about your season because honestly he kind of has no fucking clue what is going on there. Like he kind of got the low-down but what do you mean you were in a singing competition that was a front for hunting demons? ]

There were some unfortunate deaths, let's say, back in mine, but we still had a chance to get people back up and try again as long as at least one person in our team got to the next checkpoint.

Even then, this wish they're offerin' -- as far as I know, there don't seem to be any particular limits on it, right?

Oh, you mean the show. Maybe that's true, but I suppose I just thought that was different, since were all in the same place, and my brother... he wouldn't just be in our world, but he's long dead by now.

[ this is veering into magic territory which is nothing like qi control* and he doesn't understand any of it!

*citation needed ]

I don't know if there are any limitations to it. They didn't explain it very well. I just... I'm not sure that I want to get my hopes up again.

[ Double oh, well, because technically resurrection spells do exist in his world but he was already misunderstood for it being commonplace and he doesn't want to go through the spiel of explaining it's rare or mega expensive or maybe someone is misconstruing it with necromancy, who even knows. ]

Is it an answer you'd want to know?

I... I don't know. Maybe...?

My family was preparing for war before I was brought in for our season. My brother... he'd be able to handle that a lot better than I would. He's always been stronger than I am. So... maybe.

[ but is it right to bring someone back from the dead? and what would that mean for yuhua, who wore his face? it's all very confusing. ]

Maybe in a way it'd be worth considering. At the least, maybe to get your proper farewells.

No closure's the worst of it and all.

...I'll consider it. None of us really did get the chance to say goodbye before. [ ... ] But after learning about that, I thought... maybe it's best to focus on what's ahead instead. There are people who are still around and in need of help.

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