[There's been something that's been increasingly bothering Raven since Monday, aside from the now almost familiar feeling of having forgotten something. When he happened to pass by Xie Lian on monday it seemed to flare up, and he ignored it. Today, passing by Xie Lian again on the bridge, he felt it again, but stronger.
It wasn't like last week. Why's it so specific? He's absolutely not into this. Does Xie Lian feel it too? He can't take that change either way, so the moment they happen to lock eyes he just turns and books it across the bridge.]
[ well! this has been a bit odd. xie lian's been feeling off since yesterday, though he can't quite figure out why. san lang (as clever as he is) had noted that perhaps it had something to do with the effects like last week, then claimed to be feeling lonely if xie lian let him be, so. since then, he thought that was it...?
but the strange feeling didn't really get better. odd.
it only got better when passing one of the other members of their little group - raven, the one with the bow and sword. xie lian noted it briefly on monday, but this time, it feels a little more obvious.
he's about to open his mouth to say something when raven just fuckin books it. ] Ah -- hey, wait a second!
[ THERE HE GOES.... should he let him just...
that weird achy feeling returns the minute raven is gone. xie lian frowns at the ground for a second, and then - ] Wait for me!
[Well, the trouble is as much as he wants to avoid encountering Xie Lian, running away from someone inoffensive you just doing want to talk to is one thing. But when they're actively trying to chase you down... Well, Raven doesn't have much self-respect, but even he has limits.
Making it harder still is that weird, unplaceable niggling urge that fought against the attempt to distance. Similar to last week, but definitely different. Specific. It reminded him of Canary, that draw she had, that had made him want to stick by her side, no matter what. It felt wrong to be feeling anything similar to it now. But, well, he didn't have any say in that matter. That aspect is all too familiar.
It's when he gets a ways down the metal hallway of the Northern area, to the first chance to dart off into another room, that he truly becomes overburdened with the pointlessness of this. So he finally stops, leaning up against the wall outside the tech lab, trying to act as if nothing weird has happened.]
xie lian skids to a stop so he doesn't go absolutely flying down the hallway, sleeves waving as he tries to stop himself from falling over. luckily, he doesn't, and he looks surprised when raven just stops, and...
mostly confused? ] Um, why were you running...
[ ... ] Anyway. Raven, I hope that I didn't frighten you, I just wanted to talk...
[ ...
now that he's here, he's not sure how to talk about it. he reaches up, touching his forehead briefly. ] You...have you been feeling odd, since the week began?
[Listen sometimes you act on instinct when you should not have. That's just how it be like sometimes. He will in fact just skate right over that first question, because talking about this weird effect is actually less embarrassing than explaining how his desire to avoid it had made physically fleeing seem appealing. He never denied being a coward when accused, but would rather not bring it up himself.]
If ya mean besides feeling like I forgot something again, then yeah, I have.
[WELL. OK. At least it isn't just him. He settles down a little bit. Only a little though, because this is still a problem.]
How long do ya think we gotta stick together before it wears off? No offense, you seem nice and all, but old Raven ain't gonna be able to romance any of our eligible ladies with a pretty boy like you around. [He won't make that mistake twice.]
It doesn't matter! You could be th' most oblivious knight in the empire, as long as you're polite and handsome and cool, the ladies won't pay any attention to old Raven!
[This seems like a very specific grievance about a situation that has happened to him before.]
[ xie lian, voluntary celibate, is the last person to talk to about that. ]
.....Either way, I don't think we have to be that close all the time? Even just standing like this is better, and perhaps if we step away, it will take time to feel bad again? Like draining water.
Hmm. Well, if you think of it like that, d'you think you could like, front load it? [More intense closer for short time means more "water" and thus longer time for it to drain?]
[ xie lian does that! his hand is small, fingers long and delicate. it could totally pass for a pretty lady's hand, if you ignore the fact that he's covered in scars and sword callouses. ]
[ hey partner. xie lian will come find raven after a long day, shuffling into the control room when he feels that emotional tiredness that comes from being too far apart.
he's not nearly affectionate enough to come close to touching him or anything, but he does come join raven, watching him for a moment before glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. ]
[Raven's fine just vibing, but Xie Lian is alright so sure, he can entertain some conversation too!! He's not sure you can really call this good, but it's fine. Everything is fine.]
Guess this is the last night yer stuck with old Raven, huh?
Mm, only "weird" in as much that it was unexpected.
[ xie lian nods a little. his curiosity was stoked, and there was so much going on that there wasn't really time to speak about it before. ] If you don't mind my asking... has this place brought you back from the dead, Raven?
[He blinks because he hadn't even considered that a possibility and now is wondering how many of the others who had died are in THAT situation? What happens if they succeed here and get to go home? Will those people die??]
... I don't mind, since you saw what's keeping me alive. [That weird thing in his chest.] Nah, I died ten years ago, but I didn't stay dead that long.
[Coming back over the bridge from pirate town, Schwann spots Xie Lian. He knows this man, but he hasn't spoken to him since when he can clearly remember things, so probably this would result in another situation of being mistaken for Raven.
Still, Xie Lian is on the bridge, so he has to at least say hello since he's walking right by.]
Good afternoon, Xie Lian. [A weirdly formal greeting, by Raven standards.]
w7 post all that jazz... looks at the w2 pc im gomen things happened so much
[ raven! if your walk takes you out to the bridge, you may spot xie lian. he's changed into an outfit more similar to his usual white robes, the underpinnings to his fancy ball one, and is leaning with his elbows on the railing, looking out at the glitchy world around them.
Y'know, the thing ya said earlier hits a bit different now that I know yer a god. [His own lack of faith or not, it's cool that a god wanted more of his company??]
Eh, I'm just teasin'. I understand that well enough. Y'know, back home that "Captain Schwann"'s supposed ta be a war hero. Can you believe that? [Ridiculous!!]
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Week 1 Tuesday afternoon
It wasn't like last week. Why's it so specific? He's absolutely not into this. Does Xie Lian feel it too? He can't take that change either way, so the moment they happen to lock eyes he just turns and books it across the bridge.]
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but the strange feeling didn't really get better. odd.
it only got better when passing one of the other members of their little group - raven, the one with the bow and sword. xie lian noted it briefly on monday, but this time, it feels a little more obvious.
he's about to open his mouth to say something when raven just fuckin books it. ] Ah -- hey, wait a second!
[ THERE HE GOES.... should he let him just...
that weird achy feeling returns the minute raven is gone. xie lian frowns at the ground for a second, and then - ] Wait for me!
[ takes off to give chase. unfortunate. ]
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Making it harder still is that weird, unplaceable niggling urge that fought against the attempt to distance. Similar to last week, but definitely different. Specific. It reminded him of Canary, that draw she had, that had made him want to stick by her side, no matter what. It felt wrong to be feeling anything similar to it now. But, well, he didn't have any say in that matter. That aspect is all too familiar.
It's when he gets a ways down the metal hallway of the Northern area, to the first chance to dart off into another room, that he truly becomes overburdened with the pointlessness of this. So he finally stops, leaning up against the wall outside the tech lab, trying to act as if nothing weird has happened.]
You need somethin'?
[Nailed it.]
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xie lian skids to a stop so he doesn't go absolutely flying down the hallway, sleeves waving as he tries to stop himself from falling over. luckily, he doesn't, and he looks surprised when raven just stops, and...
mostly confused? ] Um, why were you running...
[ ... ] Anyway. Raven, I hope that I didn't frighten you, I just wanted to talk...
[ ...
now that he's here, he's not sure how to talk about it. he reaches up, touching his forehead briefly. ] You...have you been feeling odd, since the week began?
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If ya mean besides feeling like I forgot something again, then yeah, I have.
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...does it feel better, right now?
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[HE CAN'T... HE CAN'T SAY!!! WHAT IF IT'S JUST FOR HIM? What if that's misinterpreted as flirting....]
... Maybe. Does it feel better fer you?
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slowly, he nods. ]
I feel less tired, just by standing near you.
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How long do ya think we gotta stick together before it wears off? No offense, you seem nice and all, but old Raven ain't gonna be able to romance any of our eligible ladies with a pretty boy like you around.
[He won't make that mistake twice.]
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anyway. ]
Oh, that won't be a problem. [ xie lian waves his hand! ] That's not really the sort of thing I'm interested in, so...
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[This seems like a very specific grievance about a situation that has happened to him before.]
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[ do you really think he's polite and handsome and cool... aw, raven. ]
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[He does because he has eyes?]
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[ xie lian, voluntary celibate, is the last person to talk to about that. ]
.....Either way, I don't think we have to be that close all the time? Even just standing like this is better, and perhaps if we step away, it will take time to feel bad again? Like draining water.
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[More intense closer for short time means more "water" and thus longer time for it to drain?]
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[ Are you hitting on him. ]
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Just- Gimme yer hand or something.
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[ xie lian does that! his hand is small, fingers long and delicate. it could totally pass for a pretty lady's hand, if you ignore the fact that he's covered in scars and sword callouses. ]
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If we just do this fer a minute or so, it oughta last a while, don't ya think?
w1 sunday....all of china will know my shame
he's not nearly affectionate enough to come close to touching him or anything, but he does come join raven, watching him for a moment before glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. ]
...Good evening, Raven. [ what a terrible day. ]
WHAT SHAME
Guess this is the last night yer stuck with old Raven, huh?
that missed pc......
I wouldn't say stuck, necessarily... but, if it's like last week, I would assume so.
I COULD REDACT IT IF YOU WANT????
I'M CRYING no its okay we ended up curfew pcing anyway
[ what a way to put it, raven... ]
...You do have an interesting outlook on death, my friend.
yeah im saying i could delete the one here we ended up not using
[And you apparently have died too!!]
;__; caitie is so good to me
[ xie lian nods a little. his curiosity was stoked, and there was so much going on that there wasn't really time to speak about it before. ] If you don't mind my asking... has this place brought you back from the dead, Raven?
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... I don't mind, since you saw what's keeping me alive. [That weird thing in his chest.] Nah, I died ten years ago, but I didn't stay dead that long.
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[ xie lian reaches for his own chest, and taps gently in the center of it, where that odd device was. ] I was quite curious, but I didn't want to pry.
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[That villain.... that bully.... he's so mean.]
It's a blastia, a magic device. My heart got destroyed, so this thing's taking its place.
week 2 thursday
Still, Xie Lian is on the bridge, so he has to at least say hello since he's walking right by.]
Good afternoon, Xie Lian.
[A weirdly formal greeting, by Raven standards.]
w7 post all that jazz... looks at the w2 pc im gomen things happened so much
come say hi? ]
IT'S FINE I'VE ALSO BEEN LAX LATELY
Y'know, the thing ya said earlier hits a bit different now that I know yer a god.
[His own lack of faith or not, it's cool that a god wanted more of his company??]
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Um... I'm glad, I guess.. you really shouldn't think of it as anything impressive, though, Raven.
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Eh, I'm just teasin'. I understand that well enough. Y'know, back home that "Captain Schwann"'s supposed ta be a war hero. Can you believe that?
[Ridiculous!!]
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anyway! he makes an O: face ]
Is that so ridiculous? [ tell him more! ]