[ so it's racism, he thinks and doesn't say. he's a modern and aware of the fantasy racism trope. ]
Humans do that to themselves, too. Stereotypes that become dangerous, hateful. [ he just plays cards he's not qualified for this talk. ] It's... disappointing to hear that it happens no matter what.
[ he's a hope in the future of humanity guy but like. Man. ]
...I've seen that, in some ways. [ normal, working-class humans being ignored by cultivators. brother workers being looked down upon for surviving how they could. backwater villages that are considered not worth a sect's time to assist. ] It is disappointing, but I think the only thing to do is keep treating people as people first, regardless of their circumstances.
[ which goes for those like fukawa and mikoto, too, in his opinion. ]
The people here have been pretty good about that so far.
[ that gets a firm nod. never has he agreed with a statement more, honestly. ]
A soul is a soul. Thinking, feeling, hurting the same as any other can. [ a little look at leng feng's, at that. so interesting. ] Everyone here is a bit weird, but I think it makes us all understand each other a little better.
[ said quietly. you're still a little weird, buddy.
but yay cliffs. michiru's been missing his jacket all week and finally has been cold enough to get some heavier crew gear so he's bundled up against the wind, at least. ]
We can stay back. Don't risk anything just to show me.
[ but! they're here so he doesn't waste any more time. in leng feng's place, there's suddenly a beautiful and much, much larger serpent dragon. pearly blue scales glitter in the light, and in place of a normal dragon's claws and ears, he has fins befitting a water dragon. and in the middle of his forehead, nestled between his horns, a crest glows blue. ]
I don't know what dragons are normally like where you're from, but I think I'm pretty cool.
woah!! that's a dragon!!! a really pretty dragon.......!! michiru is appropriately entranced, awestruck for a moment. and then, naturally, ]
Incredible! Your scales are like a fish more than a reptile... they shine in such a lovely colour. Just like your soul does! And you're way bigger than I thought, you weren't kidding about some spaces not working...!
I guess it makes sense if they match my soul. It's all a part of me.
[ he can't really smile in the same way in this form, but he does hold himself a little taller in pride. a little stream of water appears to swirl around his fins. ]
Mm, there's a reason I don't go around like this every day. I don't even know how Stolas does it every day.
[ moving around him in a circle just trying to. see all of him. ]
Are both your forms as easy to maintain as the other? Can you take on any more, or shift parts? Is water magic easier in this form? You said you can fly a little, is that magic-based too?
[ please tell him to shut up he WILL go on forever. ]
Human form's a lot harder - I basically have to control my qi constantly to hold onto it, but I've gotten used to it after a while. You could say this is my natural form, so it's easiest to maintain, but... not so easy to be in. [ for aforementioned space reasons. ] I can show you my usual form back home when you're done.
[ michiru is a little busy ogling right now. ]
And yeah, manipulating water is a little easier like this, but I'm not sure about flying?
[ haha. this is a lot of questions it's a little overwhelming? ]
Is the water manipulation easier like this because you don't have to control your qi as precisely at the same time? Are qi all elemental exclusively, or is there a way to manipulate other elements? Are all dragon demons water dragons like you? Does-- ah.
[ cuts himself off, then. realisation takes a bit but he has been told to be more self-aware. ]
More or less, yeah - less to focus on all at once. And no, it's not all elemental, there are countless other ways to do it. It really depends on the person. [ he laughs lightly. ] There might be other dragons out there, but the ones I know are all like me.
[ and in a blink, he detransforms. he appears mostly human again, but retains his horns and finned ears. claws and fangs, too, if you look close enough, ]
This form's easy enough for any dragon to maintain, even if they're not as good at qi manipulation. We spend most of our time like this when we're somewhere safe.
I know. He was my teammate before. But our situations are different, and I don't want to get too used to this and forget myself when I go back home. It's better to keep the habit going.
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Humans do that to themselves, too. Stereotypes that become dangerous, hateful. [ he just plays cards he's not qualified for this talk. ] It's... disappointing to hear that it happens no matter what.
[ he's a hope in the future of humanity guy but like. Man. ]
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...I've seen that, in some ways. [ normal, working-class humans being ignored by cultivators. brother workers being looked down upon for surviving how they could. backwater villages that are considered not worth a sect's time to assist. ] It is disappointing, but I think the only thing to do is keep treating people as people first, regardless of their circumstances.
[ which goes for those like fukawa and mikoto, too, in his opinion. ]
The people here have been pretty good about that so far.
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A soul is a soul. Thinking, feeling, hurting the same as any other can. [ a little look at leng feng's, at that. so interesting. ] Everyone here is a bit weird, but I think it makes us all understand each other a little better.
[ a beat, ]
Well, you're mostly normal. But you get the idea.
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[ he thinks he is? but they all probably do.
anyway. cliffs! ]
Probably shouldn't get too close to the edge... I can fly a little bit, but there's no need to risk it.
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[ said quietly. you're still a little weird, buddy.
but yay cliffs. michiru's been missing his jacket all week and finally has been cold enough to get some heavier crew gear so he's bundled up against the wind, at least. ]
We can stay back. Don't risk anything just to show me.
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[ but! they're here so he doesn't waste any more time. in leng feng's place, there's suddenly a beautiful and much, much larger serpent dragon. pearly blue scales glitter in the light, and in place of a normal dragon's claws and ears, he has fins befitting a water dragon. and in the middle of his forehead, nestled between his horns, a crest glows blue. ]
I don't know what dragons are normally like where you're from, but I think I'm pretty cool.
[ okay loser ]
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woah!! that's a dragon!!! a really pretty dragon.......!! michiru is appropriately entranced, awestruck for a moment. and then, naturally, ]
Incredible! Your scales are like a fish more than a reptile... they shine in such a lovely colour. Just like your soul does! And you're way bigger than I thought, you weren't kidding about some spaces not working...!
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[ he can't really smile in the same way in this form, but he does hold himself a little taller in pride. a little stream of water appears to swirl around his fins. ]
Mm, there's a reason I don't go around like this every day. I don't even know how Stolas does it every day.
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Are both your forms as easy to maintain as the other? Can you take on any more, or shift parts? Is water magic easier in this form? You said you can fly a little, is that magic-based too?
[ please tell him to shut up he WILL go on forever. ]
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[ michiru is a little busy ogling right now. ]
And yeah, manipulating water is a little easier like this, but I'm not sure about flying?
[ haha. this is a lot of questions it's a little overwhelming? ]
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[ cuts himself off, then. realisation takes a bit but he has been told to be more self-aware. ]
Sorry. Yes, I'd like to see your usual form too.
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[ and in a blink, he detransforms. he appears mostly human again, but retains his horns and finned ears. claws and fangs, too, if you look close enough, ]
This form's easy enough for any dragon to maintain, even if they're not as good at qi manipulation. We spend most of our time like this when we're somewhere safe.
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[ the shrinking back down to human size surprises him more than the expanding to dragon size did. ]
I see... keeping some of the features that identify you easily. Why don't you keep this form while you're here?
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I've gotten used to looking human, and I think it puts most of you more at ease when I do - even if you aren't afraid of demons like in my world.
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Stolas is right there, though...
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I know. He was my teammate before. But our situations are different, and I don't want to get too used to this and forget myself when I go back home. It's better to keep the habit going.
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[ half-raises a hand. ]
Do you mind? If I touch your horns.
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[ he'll fully raise it, then, and the other comparatively to his own curved horns, the ones that transformation week has granted him. ]
They kind of resemble deer antlers, so I wanted to feel if they were similar.
[ are they, ]
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anyway yea idk they probably feel similar enough. ]
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[ michiru he doesn't know what that is. anyway FASCINATING. ]
Kinda soft.
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Is it surprising?
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[ okay he will stop touching now. ]
Yeah. Dragons are so different everywhere.
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[ hums. ]
We can't really expect different worlds to be exactly the same as our own, though. It makes more sense that it would vary a lot.
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Humans seem pretty much the same everywhere.
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