[ It’s so bad it’s good, right? Riiiight? Seriously, with as cringey as Henry is on a daily basis, it’s no wonder he remains genuinely amused at his own humor as he is now. He’s legitimately this bad on a normal day.
On that note, it’s refreshing, really, to be in the company of someone who isn’t put-off by his inherent creepiness, terrible jokes, and morbid personality. Back home, everyone seemed to handle him with the equivalent of an eyeroll at the end of a ten-foot pole, so to be not just tolerated but indulged? He’s practically giddy! Congrats, Wei WuXian -- he’s keeping you.
With those tugs, their shared steps wobble and wander, out-of-sync, but neither seems to really notice for all the merriment and camaraderie shared between them. ]
It still talks to you?!
[ Okay so, hear him out here -- Henry can speak to most living things, (so he claims), and he’s very good at making things dead, but! Talking to the dead? Now that is a skill he’s yet to master. So forgive his sparkly-eyed stare that accompanies the question. ]
Oh yes. They have plenty of useful information, if you listen to them.
[Though it wasn't the same thing as Inquiry of the Gusu Lan sect's skills, he made plenty of use for it. Perhaps he can save the fact he made an intelligent fierce corpse for later on. After he's demonstrated his power.
Wei WuXian sighs, leaning more on Henry.]
A land like this must have plenty of angry, resentful spirits and monsters about.
NICE! [ Legitimately, he's impressed. ] I can talk to any living thing, while it's still living. But, once it's not anymore, things are--
[ wait for it ]
--dead silent!
[ You are now free to facepalm.
Henry doesn't share that sigh, though; he's far too enthused about all of this. He will, however, continue right on supporting Wei WuXian's weight against him, however much he deigns to bear. ]
I bet there are! It'll be a blast! Ooh, hey -- do you think you can show me how to talk to them??
[Wei WuXian's laughter now combines with a groan, putting his forehead on Henry's shoulder as if putting his head to a table. This is how it's going to be the whole time, isn't it?]
You've got too many jokes! I can tell it'll be hard to keep up with you.
[He can only guess that such a rigid society led many to die with resentment towards those who live with more choices than they had. Not too different from his own world, in some ways. Still, this realm is all too bizarre!
At the other part, he keeps walking forward, not raising his head as a complicated expression passes over his face.]
Ah... it's a difficult process to even begin that. You should just rely on me to talk between you whenever you need it. It's no trouble, and it makes me feel useful anyway.
...a pretty vast majority of the time? Maybe. Probably.
At least the shared laugh, (or laugh-groan), gives way to silence as Wei WuXian's head on Henry's shoulder actually earns a peek at him, a tilt of his chin added to imply curiosity. He's awfully close, isn't he? And yet--
--it's nice. Welcomed, even. Considering most seem to only desire more distance between themselves and someone this strange. What an unexpected change of pace! Could it be that he's found someone who enjoys his specific brand of weird?
There's only one way to find out. ]
Hey, speaking of, that mark you have says we can be even more useful to each other, if you wanna!
[ He's just going to throw that out into the ether, because what is tact, decorum, and/or a filter, anyway? Accept, and he might just throw in a clause about a maximum of [x] amount of bad jokes per day! Act now for this once-in-a-lifetime offer!! ]
[Wei WuXian pulls his head back up to look down at the other man, confused for a moment, until he remembers what mark he means. Right-- during their chat, he almost forgot all about this ridiculous system. Something he is all too tempted to test the boundaries of.
With an exaggerated gasp, he puts on a coy affect just as exaggerated, his free hand toying with the fabric of his (loosely-drawn) cross-collar shirt.]
Sir, you're moving far too fast! I have a reputation. I can't just give in to the first handsome man who asks. At least, not until we get to know each other a little more.
[The orientation might've said that it's not strictly romantic or sexual, but that doesn't mean he's not going to keep treating it that way while talking about it. Everything about the concept is just so strange that he has to have a little fun with it.]
[ The exaggerated gasp leaves Henry blinking. Bear with him -- he’s a tactless sort when it comes to even the most important interpersonal matters, but if he’s offended by way of accident, then he will show contrition!
...Oh, so perhaps it’s not that at all. ]
Mm! I agree! Because if you do, then I won’t have a chance with you!
[ ....wait, what? Does Henry not realize he’s said handsome man, or is he just being clever? It’s not immediately clear.
Ah well. At least they’re here now! ...Whatever “here” is. It’s certainly demarked like a cemetery, (he followed the signs for “memorial park”, which is the same thing, right?), but it’s... not a cemetery? Strange... it seems they don’t have a typical graveyard here -- or, not the type Henry’s familiar with, suffice it to say. Rather, this is a mausoleum: Almost cathedral-like, with towering shelves upon shelves of neatly-organized name plaques, some adorned with flowers, and others not.
Wei WuXian probably gets all kinds of vibes from the place; but again, Henry’s specialty is making the living dead in all manner of un-fun ways. His power stops there. ]
[The remark earns a blink, and Wei WuXian also can’t figure if it’s a part of the joke or if the man is being self-deprecating. Better to err on the safe side. He reaches over and flicks his finger against a lock of Henry’s hair, chuckling.]
Give yourself some more credit.
[As they’re now at their destination, he pulls himself off of Henry to take a closer look. He's reminded of an ancestral hall... this isn’t what he expected. After the conversation he’d overheard with those farmers - with his reputation as the one who digs up graves - he hesitates for a moment. Still, it’s just one or two people he needs for protecting him, and he’ll taken care of them.
Leaning in to one without any flowers, his eyes begin to glow red.]
If you’re in there, you can’t just lie around all day. It’s time to get up and get to work!
[It doesn’t take long. Though muffled by the layer of stone, they’ll hear a deep, aggravated groaning noise from within.]
[ Repeated in a thoughtful murmur, a hair above a whisper. And then, almost visibly, one can watch the pieces fall into place.
...oh. Oh.
OH!
And then, Henry’s face breaks into a notable scarlet, a sharp contrast against the pallor of his skin and hair. A soft sound escapes him, not far from a giggle. Someone thinks him attractive...! It’s... it makes him feel things, though he doesn’t know how or what to do with it.
Anyway, it’s much more interesting to watch Wei WuXian work, which Henry does with a steadfast gaze, eyes widening markedly at the visible change in the other’s eye color. My, he’s certainly taking a commanding tone, isn’t he? Much different than that used when slinging curses around the battlefield, at least. But--
Sure enough, there’s a groan. And a startled -- pleasantly surprised!! -- gasp from the dark mage precedes his verbal reaction. ]
Woooooow! [ His (already light) tone lifts upward into the high octaves of glee. ]
[With another heehee as he turns to Henry, Wei WuXian steps out of the way just as the stone shatters with a loud crunching noise. With another crunch, shards of stone fly out, a grey hand reaching through the hole it formed. Clawing, tearing-- something finally crawls out, a light clack on the floor as black dress shoes step onto it.
It's clear that this being is far more powerful in death than it was in life. The body has been well-preserved, dressed in a fine suit, but a kind of dark energy twists his features into something monstrous.]
The only problem is that they're not too smart.
[There's a way to fix that, but Wei WuXian isn't sure if he wants to go through the trouble again. It feels more off when he's controlling something with a human level of awareness now...
Either way, he won't be as irresponsible as before.]
Can't have him go about without me keeping an eye on him. Anyway, I don't want to wake up all of them. That'd be like herding cats. Just this much should be fine to help me, should I ever get into trouble.
Okay this? This right here?? This is the most awesome thing Henry’s seen in a super long time. As he watched, this person he’s just barely met walked with him to a mausoleum, whispered some words on the winds, and summoned the dead. Just like that!
Coolest. Thing. EVER.
Now, a (former) sharp-dressed man stands before them, the last vestiges of dust and broken concrete and decorative marble still clinging to the fibers on his expensive clothes. Rather than be horrified, Henry sweeps in to brush him off, just like welcoming a new friend back to the land of the living. Sure, they may not be smart, but--]
Who cares! [ he’s way too thrilled about this for intelligence to be even a remote concern. ] It’s a real-life Risen! Right here! Right now!!
I haven’t seen one of these guys since the last one I pulled the arms off of!
[ But he won’t do that to this one, if he’s going to be in charge of keeping Wei WuXian safe. That’s totally different. ]
So you summon Risen to be your personal bodyguards? [ Pardon him if he circles about to have a closer look, peering up at that nightmarish face with intrigue. ] Wowie, he’s a real looker, isn’t he?
[ What exactly is meant by that comment -- if anything even remotely sincere at all -- is unclear. ]
'Risen'? Is that what these are called where you're from?
[Are there really people who share these powers from other worlds? He can ask about that later...]
But ah yes, they protect me from bandits on the road. As well as push and pull and carry things for me. Very handy. The smarter ones know what to do already, but these ones need constant direction to do the same thing.
[No need to tell Henry that he used to direct them in a more... offense-based manner, even if he doubts the man will have even the slightest problem with that. There are some things Wei WuXian doesn't bother to hide here - like his demonic power - but it'd be nice to escape some of his past.
However-- if only Henry had seen when he, along with Lan WangJi, found a (very built) dismembered torso. He'd realize that Wei WuXian is right there with him on this, being completely shameless.
He reaches up and pats the undead man's face.]
Smile a little, you'll be much cuter.
[The undead man would need a lot of effort to make an actual smile, but he seems to relax a little, his face resembling how he must've looked in life... except for the blank look in his eyes.]
Mhm! Good ol’ Risen. They’re useless in a fight--[ well, more or less ]--but they’re great canon-fodder! Top-notch for cursing! And for dissection, if you ever wanna know what makes ‘em tick!
[ He’s. Definitely done all of those things. It’s abundantly clear in his tone. No need to tell Wei WuXian that he once thought about attempting to summon a legion of them to fight the Plegia-Ylisse War, now is there?
...Okay maybe he’ll just hint at it a little. ]
Of course, I never thought of asking them to do stuff, beyond just fight people. And once they start, they don’t really pick sides, or stop until you kill ‘em dead all over again.
[ Now that he’s done circling and dusting and otherwise generally fawning over this marvel of mighty macabre magic, however, he looks to Wei WuXian with awe and interest. ] You’ve made yourself a package deal -- a submissive with their very own extra-submissive!
[ It's a chilly night to find oneself outside at all, let alone in the proximity of water's gentle mist. But! Rei said at the fountain, not in the vicinity of, not somewhere nearby, and Henry is nothing if not diligent about marching orders.
Ah well. His cloak is plenty protective, at least, and the moon is beautiful and bright above. Plus, honestly? He's excited to see his friend, (they're friends, right??), in better shape than he was last left in, even if that isn't a hard goal to meet. Also, bonus -- they get to discuss a contract! Which means maybe Henry will be able to have someone around all the time. A constant companion! Which is literally the Best Thing. All he wants out of this place.
Anyway. He'll look quite the awkward duck among a murder of crows inexplicably gathered around, staring at the moon and humming a tune until Rei arrives. ]
( rei sets upon the evening dressed warmly in clothes a little too upscale for a submissive without a dominant. though not specifically averse to cold, the up's temperature is particularly chilly, and so he's generously layered as he approaches the park and the fountain. though a ways away from the down, he'd chosen it because he'd quite liked the view, and he thought it might make for a more pleasant talk.
it's easy to pick out henry in the evening light; or, perhaps, it might be more accurate to say he'd seen the crowd of crows before he'd seen henry, which drew his gaze to his partner for the evening. his eyebrows raise, curious, and he lifts his hand in greeting as he approaches, mindful not to tread upon any avian friends. )
My. You're quite popular, aren't you? I hadn't realized you took on crows like familiars. ( friends, he means. ) I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.
( it's hard to say what he expected to come of this conversation, exactly. he held both curiosity and concern toward henry, though they'd only recently met (granted, their relations had escalated somewhat toward the end of their first meeting, but rei sets that aside for the moment). he supposes he'd use this conversation to see if his worries are founded, and understand a little bit better the sort of enigma this strange boy is.
really, rei ought to follow his own policy better— that he oughtn't get involved with those of the "living" so much; and yet, here he is, a corpse whose cold-gripped hands dig into the affairs of another. tsk, tsk. )
[ Temperature aside, it’s a beautiful backdrop, a gorgeous night to be outside among the crows. By the time of Rei’s arrival, he’s gathered one on his shoulder, even, the bird’s head curiously tilting this way and that as if taken by him. They’ll disperse, however, once company enters the fray, some merely hopping to make room while others take flight with fleeting calls. Henry, if he wasn’t already strange enough, answers while seeing them off with a wave. ]
Seeya later! Tell your family I said ‘caw, caw’! [ (Goodness, he sounds loony...)
But, that done, his attention is fully on Rei. ]
Yeah! Some of my best friends are crows! That was back home, though. [ A thoughtful pause, only a second long, no more. ] Maybe they put in a good word for me with the crows here?
[ And then it’s all tossed off with a shrug, and their conversation changes gears without ever shifting tone. ]
Anyway! You look like you’re feeling better! [ To say the least! There's no limp in his steps, no weakness or pallor to his features...
...he's. Actually a very attractive man when in good health, isn't he? ]
Keeping up on your blood intake?
[ Though, don’t tell him with whom... Henry’s got a bit of a jealous bone within him, (roughly the size of a femur, no big deal), even if logic should tell him he can’t sustain one whole person’s need for blood on his own. ]
( strange as it is—or perhaps endearing because it's strange—rei watches henry send off his crow companions with a smile and curiosity. henry was an odd one, for sure; some might phrase that a little less kindly, but henry had a method to his madness, as far as rei could tell. his stalk had grown twisted and his petals unfurled asymmetric, but there was a person there.
he closes the distance between them once his crows are gone, at a friendly distance. )
Overfed, almost. ( he remarks casually, running his tongue along the inside of his teeth idly. it hadn't been a good thing, but, regardless. ) I appreciate your concern, regardless. I wouldn't like to trouble you by asking for a bite again ... It was terrible of me to ask it of someone I'd just met, besides.
( rei, not thinking henry might want to offer himself again. he merely assumes henry's remarks about them are jests, or, at least good will. )
Shall we walk as we talk? This park has a lovely view at this time of evening. I thought it might be nice to share it with someone.
( which sounds more forward than he intends ... he's just naturally like this when he isn't on the verge of dying. )
[ There is a person inside, yes. Mired by oddities, outwardly seemingly unconcerned with whomever he might drive away with his own strangeness, morbid curiosity, and terrible jokes, but a person nonetheless. A person who doesn’t yet value his own worth quite where and as he should, and has led an awkward, sad, and utterly lonely life.
Not that a single soul would glean that from the smile he wears, of course. ]
Who’s troubled by it? [ A casual shrug. ] I was happy to help then, and I still am now. Honest!
[ Secretly, it’s... hard for him, trying to carve out a place in this world. At least at home, he had a purpose to serve. Here, however, there’s no war to fight in; no need for magic, (let alone his specific brand of it); and only one person he recognizes from the home he hails from. To potentially make matters worse, he’s been seemingly gifted a fantastic place to live, complete with more tools and supplies than he could ever imagine needing.
Everything, really, except for the one thing money can’t buy: Companionship. ]
You got it! [ A nod. Clearly, he missed that whole “forward” bit; but, then again, you kinda have to smack Henry with advances before he figures out that he’s being flirted with. (Wei WuXian learned this one the frustrating way.) ]
It must feel good to get out, now that you’re walking on your own again. [ Again, so proud. ]
( lethargic as rei usually was, it feels good to stroll about, especially in the crisp night air. he's much more awake, much more vibrant in the night time, and there's a glow to him in the dying light.
he laughs faintly at henry's remark, the corner of his mouth curling in. what henry says is especially true now, given he'd just come off a bad run-in, but rei was never one to let much of anything affect him. it's merely another burden of many, none of which have succeeded in bringing him down much. )
Indeed. Though generally one to prefer leisure, I've realized there's more value in taking strolls beneath the moonlight while I'm well and able. ( "moonlight" he says, it being not at all yet night, ) You've been well since our last encounter, I hope? You seem to be in high spirits as ever.
Leisure? You mean, like naps? [ Henry is also a fan of naps; although--] Oh yeah! You’re probably nocturnal, right?
[ Said as coolly as ever. Honestly, Rei could tell him he transforms into a bat and hangs upside down to sleep and Henry would remain relatively unfazed. Nothing shocks him anymore.
...well. Almost nothing. He’ll never quite be fully prepared for people saying they like him, enjoy his company, and want him around. That’s just weird. Side-eyeing is much more familiar. ]
Mhm! Why wouldn’t I be?
[ He’s certainly not suffering, by any means -- the Up has made sure of that. He lives in comfort; and, bonus? He’s pretty sure his floormates are vampires, so his floor always smells like fresh blood! Coolest. Thing. Ever. ]
You guess rightly. This time in the evening for you is equal to morning for me.
( it's certainly more impressive to brag about being on an early morning walk than a later evening one, but regardless. his body's clock and aversion to sunlight, beyond his control, is in some parts why he's grown to feel himself separate from the rest of humanity, even if there are those in his bloodline who suffer worse than him from their vampiric condition. it's difficult to make personal connection with others when you're often sealed into the night.
still, he tries to remain awake during the day, some days, at least a little bit. he doesn't want to leave this world behind. )
Mm, no particular reason. You seem likely to get yourself into trouble, is all. ( perhaps an understatement given henry offered him blood their first meeting and the sort of things henry wrote on his dub profile, but ) Still, if I wouldn't ask, I wonder if you'd pay any mind to yourself. Those who are reckless tend often to overestimate themselves.
( a little presumptuous maybe, but he thinks it's true— about henry and about others. )
Pay mind how? In gold pieces? [ Henry, please. Rei is clearly being sincere -- at least to a degree -- and the mage would rather crack his typical less-than-hysterical jokes and laugh everything off. ]
It's no overestimation -- when it comes to curses, hexes, and dark magic, I'm a master! [ A master, indeed; of a craft that has no known purpose here. Thus, that brief verbal fanfare seems to make a sharp crescendo, then decline to something gentler. ]
Why do you sound like you're worried about me? There's no way I'm gonna die here, you know!
There's no danger, life-or-death battles, no blood... [ well, except that which he's offered his companion once by now, of course; still, it sounds like that is the real hardship here, to him ] ...it's really boring.
[ Perhaps because he hasn't discovered enjoyable, truly satisfying sex yet? Who knows. ]
( worry not, rei is growing fairly used to henry's addiction to wordplay, nor does he expect much in terms of gratitude. if henry were normal enough to go "aw, shucks" over it, rei might not have reason to worry at all. )
Death is rarely the worst that can happen. ( a stock phrase, sure, but cliché because it rings true. ) But more pitiful still is one who does not know it until they suffer it.
( and here he isn't speaking particularly about henry; it might apply to him, certainly, but it's applied to rei, too— to his friends, to his enemies. a perverse and pervasive courtship with death, and the heartbreak ensuing when she would not take them.
but he digresses. )
Is that what your life was before? A string of battles to the death?
Anyhow, pardon his wistful staring off into the sunset for just a moment; and never mind the fleeting, scarce brush of their hands as they walk. All unintentional, he promises. ...Mostly. ]
I was the scariest dark mage Plegia's ever known. Any curse, any time!
[ He sounds so casual, and truly, he's always looked the part, to boot. Life or death, or just win or lose, he's always worn the same smile. But, for as loath as he is to handle anything with a modicum of seriousness, he's also not obtuse. And surely... he doesn't have to reveal himself to add a bit of gravity to the conversation, (since Rei seems to crave it so notably). ]
...Would you call your state a curse, then?
[ No, he's not a mind-reader -- the pieces of logic he needs are there. Rei is a vampire, right? Vampires are immortal, last he checked. ]
unfortunately, it's very much true that rei is a bit of doom and gloom himself; he handles matters with the levity of a stone slab, encrypted with ancient prophecy. nosy as he is, granted, he's at least not cagy in return; it's more a matter of understanding what he says about himself than getting him to say it.
gradually, he leads their path toward the gardens, where the trees overhang in the dark. )
In several ways, perhaps. ( he answers freely, honestly. ) My mother gave birth to a corpse, as her mother did before her; these are the curses I've born on my shoulders, ones so fine I doubt even one as mastered as you could remove them.
( because they're less literal curses, exactly, so much as disease woven into his existence. it makes them inescapable, exhausting, and yet, he smiles at henry. )
... But if I must have all this time spent undying, I'd rather help than hurt. I cannot break my curse, but I can work within it.
( the path within the gardens is dark with the long shadows of the trees, darkness sprawling in the shape of the ornamental branches, rei seems perfectly at home in here, and perhaps he assumes henry will be, too. admire the light-dwellers as much as he'd like, but he does not belong there. here rei's skin has a sheen, his red eyes seem to glow. )
So I turn the question to you, boy. Bored as you are, with a penchant for your curses— Where do you stand? I wouldn't have called you to meet me if I thought you wholly a monster, but, whether you resolve to be one . . . That is what matters to me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
for wwx!
Date: 2018-11-25 10:29 pm (UTC)On that note, it’s refreshing, really, to be in the company of someone who isn’t put-off by his inherent creepiness, terrible jokes, and morbid personality. Back home, everyone seemed to handle him with the equivalent of an eyeroll at the end of a ten-foot pole, so to be not just tolerated but indulged? He’s practically giddy! Congrats, Wei WuXian -- he’s keeping you.
With those tugs, their shared steps wobble and wander, out-of-sync, but neither seems to really notice for all the merriment and camaraderie shared between them. ]
It still talks to you?!
[ Okay so, hear him out here -- Henry can speak to most living things, (so he claims), and he’s very good at making things dead, but! Talking to the dead? Now that is a skill he’s yet to master. So forgive his sparkly-eyed stare that accompanies the question. ]
(also good with continuing to a new thread with henry's changed designation)
Date: 2018-11-26 01:47 am (UTC)[Though it wasn't the same thing as Inquiry of the Gusu Lan sect's skills, he made plenty of use for it. Perhaps he can save the fact he made an intelligent fierce corpse for later on. After he's demonstrated his power.
Wei WuXian sighs, leaning more on Henry.]
A land like this must have plenty of angry, resentful spirits and monsters about.
shall we continue to the nearest spooky place, or have them chat a bit more?
Date: 2018-11-27 03:48 pm (UTC)[ wait for it ]
--dead silent!
[ You are now free to facepalm.
Henry doesn't share that sigh, though; he's far too enthused about all of this. He will, however, continue right on supporting Wei WuXian's weight against him, however much he deigns to bear. ]
I bet there are! It'll be a blast! Ooh, hey -- do you think you can show me how to talk to them??
they can go on to chat at the spoopy place!
Date: 2018-11-28 06:52 am (UTC)You've got too many jokes! I can tell it'll be hard to keep up with you.
[He can only guess that such a rigid society led many to die with resentment towards those who live with more choices than they had. Not too different from his own world, in some ways. Still, this realm is all too bizarre!
At the other part, he keeps walking forward, not raising his head as a complicated expression passes over his face.]
Ah... it's a difficult process to even begin that. You should just rely on me to talk between you whenever you need it. It's no trouble, and it makes me feel useful anyway.
hokay, i'll skip them forward right after this!
Date: 2018-12-02 03:26 am (UTC)...a pretty vast majority of the time? Maybe. Probably.
At least the shared laugh, (or laugh-groan), gives way to silence as Wei WuXian's head on Henry's shoulder actually earns a peek at him, a tilt of his chin added to imply curiosity. He's awfully close, isn't he? And yet--
--it's nice. Welcomed, even. Considering most seem to only desire more distance between themselves and someone this strange. What an unexpected change of pace! Could it be that he's found someone who enjoys his specific brand of weird?
There's only one way to find out. ]
Hey, speaking of, that mark you have says we can be even more useful to each other, if you wanna!
[ He's just going to throw that out into the ether, because what is tact, decorum, and/or a filter, anyway? Accept, and he might just throw in a clause about a maximum of [x] amount of bad jokes per day! Act now for this once-in-a-lifetime offer!! ]
righto~
Date: 2018-12-03 06:28 am (UTC)With an exaggerated gasp, he puts on a coy affect just as exaggerated, his free hand toying with the fabric of his (loosely-drawn) cross-collar shirt.]
Sir, you're moving far too fast! I have a reputation. I can't just give in to the first handsome man who asks. At least, not until we get to know each other a little more.
[The orientation might've said that it's not strictly romantic or sexual, but that doesn't mean he's not going to keep treating it that way while talking about it. Everything about the concept is just so strange that he has to have a little fun with it.]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-03 04:11 pm (UTC)...Oh, so perhaps it’s not that at all. ]
Mm! I agree! Because if you do, then I won’t have a chance with you!
[ ....wait, what? Does Henry not realize he’s said handsome man, or is he just being clever? It’s not immediately clear.
Ah well. At least they’re here now! ...Whatever “here” is. It’s certainly demarked like a cemetery, (he followed the signs for “memorial park”, which is the same thing, right?), but it’s... not a cemetery? Strange... it seems they don’t have a typical graveyard here -- or, not the type Henry’s familiar with, suffice it to say. Rather, this is a mausoleum: Almost cathedral-like, with towering shelves upon shelves of neatly-organized name plaques, some adorned with flowers, and others not.
Wei WuXian probably gets all kinds of vibes from the place; but again, Henry’s specialty is making the living dead in all manner of un-fun ways. His power stops there. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-03 07:56 pm (UTC)Give yourself some more credit.
[As they’re now at their destination, he pulls himself off of Henry to take a closer look. He's reminded of an ancestral hall... this isn’t what he expected. After the conversation he’d overheard with those farmers - with his reputation as the one who digs up graves - he hesitates for a moment. Still, it’s just one or two people he needs for protecting him, and he’ll taken care of them.
Leaning in to one without any flowers, his eyes begin to glow red.]
If you’re in there, you can’t just lie around all day. It’s time to get up and get to work!
[It doesn’t take long. Though muffled by the layer of stone, they’ll hear a deep, aggravated groaning noise from within.]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-03 08:33 pm (UTC)[ Repeated in a thoughtful murmur, a hair above a whisper. And then, almost visibly, one can watch the pieces fall into place.
...oh. Oh.
OH!
And then, Henry’s face breaks into a notable scarlet, a sharp contrast against the pallor of his skin and hair. A soft sound escapes him, not far from a giggle. Someone thinks him attractive...! It’s... it makes him feel things, though he doesn’t know how or what to do with it.
Anyway, it’s much more interesting to watch Wei WuXian work, which Henry does with a steadfast gaze, eyes widening markedly at the visible change in the other’s eye color. My, he’s certainly taking a commanding tone, isn’t he? Much different than that used when slinging curses around the battlefield, at least. But--
Sure enough, there’s a groan. And a startled -- pleasantly surprised!! -- gasp from the dark mage precedes his verbal reaction. ]
Woooooow! [ His (already light) tone lifts upward into the high octaves of glee. ]
Are you really raising the dead?!
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Date: 2018-12-04 12:59 am (UTC)It's clear that this being is far more powerful in death than it was in life. The body has been well-preserved, dressed in a fine suit, but a kind of dark energy twists his features into something monstrous.]
The only problem is that they're not too smart.
[There's a way to fix that, but Wei WuXian isn't sure if he wants to go through the trouble again. It feels more off when he's controlling something with a human level of awareness now...
Either way, he won't be as irresponsible as before.]
Can't have him go about without me keeping an eye on him. Anyway, I don't want to wake up all of them. That'd be like herding cats. Just this much should be fine to help me, should I ever get into trouble.
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Date: 2018-12-04 01:52 am (UTC)Okay this? This right here?? This is the most awesome thing Henry’s seen in a super long time. As he watched, this person he’s just barely met walked with him to a mausoleum, whispered some words on the winds, and summoned the dead. Just like that!
Coolest. Thing. EVER.
Now, a (former) sharp-dressed man stands before them, the last vestiges of dust and broken concrete and decorative marble still clinging to the fibers on his expensive clothes. Rather than be horrified, Henry sweeps in to brush him off, just like welcoming a new friend back to the land of the living. Sure, they may not be smart, but--]
Who cares! [ he’s way too thrilled about this for intelligence to be even a remote concern. ] It’s a real-life Risen! Right here! Right now!!
I haven’t seen one of these guys since the last one I pulled the arms off of!
[ But he won’t do that to this one, if he’s going to be in charge of keeping Wei WuXian safe. That’s totally different. ]
So you summon Risen to be your personal bodyguards? [ Pardon him if he circles about to have a closer look, peering up at that nightmarish face with intrigue. ] Wowie, he’s a real looker, isn’t he?
[ What exactly is meant by that comment -- if anything even remotely sincere at all -- is unclear. ]
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Date: 2018-12-04 02:40 am (UTC)[Are there really people who share these powers from other worlds? He can ask about that later...]
But ah yes, they protect me from bandits on the road. As well as push and pull and carry things for me. Very handy. The smarter ones know what to do already, but these ones need constant direction to do the same thing.
[No need to tell Henry that he used to direct them in a more... offense-based manner, even if he doubts the man will have even the slightest problem with that. There are some things Wei WuXian doesn't bother to hide here - like his demonic power - but it'd be nice to escape some of his past.
However-- if only Henry had seen when he, along with Lan WangJi, found a (very built) dismembered torso. He'd realize that Wei WuXian is right there with him on this, being completely shameless.
He reaches up and pats the undead man's face.]
Smile a little, you'll be much cuter.
[The undead man would need a lot of effort to make an actual smile, but he seems to relax a little, his face resembling how he must've looked in life... except for the blank look in his eyes.]
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Date: 2018-12-06 05:06 pm (UTC)[ He’s. Definitely done all of those things. It’s abundantly clear in his tone. No need to tell Wei WuXian that he once thought about attempting to summon a legion of them to fight the Plegia-Ylisse War, now is there?
...Okay maybe he’ll just hint at it a little. ]
Of course, I never thought of asking them to do stuff, beyond just fight people. And once they start, they don’t really pick sides, or stop until you kill ‘em dead all over again.
[ Now that he’s done circling and dusting and otherwise generally fawning over this marvel of mighty macabre magic, however, he looks to Wei WuXian with awe and interest. ] You’ve made yourself a package deal -- a submissive with their very own extra-submissive!
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From:now should i skip them to dinner? lmao, they're just touring the town at this rate, i love it
From:hehe sure! they're having fun and getting along
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From:Rei: post-dub app conversation (early-Dec-ish)
Date: 2018-12-04 01:11 am (UTC)Ah well. His cloak is plenty protective, at least, and the moon is beautiful and bright above. Plus, honestly? He's excited to see his friend, (they're friends, right??), in better shape than he was last left in, even if that isn't a hard goal to meet. Also, bonus -- they get to discuss a contract! Which means maybe Henry will be able to have someone around all the time. A constant companion! Which is literally the Best Thing. All he wants out of this place.
Anyway. He'll look quite the awkward duck among a murder of crows inexplicably gathered around, staring at the moon and humming a tune until Rei arrives. ]
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Date: 2018-12-04 06:46 am (UTC)it's easy to pick out henry in the evening light; or, perhaps, it might be more accurate to say he'd seen the crowd of crows before he'd seen henry, which drew his gaze to his partner for the evening. his eyebrows raise, curious, and he lifts his hand in greeting as he approaches, mindful not to tread upon any avian friends. )
My. You're quite popular, aren't you? I hadn't realized you took on crows like familiars. ( friends, he means. ) I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.
( it's hard to say what he expected to come of this conversation, exactly. he held both curiosity and concern toward henry, though they'd only recently met (granted, their relations had escalated somewhat toward the end of their first meeting, but rei sets that aside for the moment). he supposes he'd use this conversation to see if his worries are founded, and understand a little bit better the sort of enigma this strange boy is.
really, rei ought to follow his own policy better— that he oughtn't get involved with those of the "living" so much; and yet, here he is, a corpse whose cold-gripped hands dig into the affairs of another. tsk, tsk. )
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Date: 2018-12-04 06:05 pm (UTC)Seeya later! Tell your family I said ‘caw, caw’! [ (Goodness, he sounds loony...)
But, that done, his attention is fully on Rei. ]
Yeah! Some of my best friends are crows! That was back home, though. [ A thoughtful pause, only a second long, no more. ] Maybe they put in a good word for me with the crows here?
[ And then it’s all tossed off with a shrug, and their conversation changes gears without ever shifting tone. ]
Anyway! You look like you’re feeling better! [ To say the least! There's no limp in his steps, no weakness or pallor to his features...
...he's. Actually a very attractive man when in good health, isn't he? ]
Keeping up on your blood intake?
[ Though, don’t tell him with whom... Henry’s got a bit of a jealous bone within him, (roughly the size of a femur, no big deal), even if logic should tell him he can’t sustain one whole person’s need for blood on his own. ]
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Date: 2018-12-04 08:03 pm (UTC)he closes the distance between them once his crows are gone, at a friendly distance. )
Overfed, almost. ( he remarks casually, running his tongue along the inside of his teeth idly. it hadn't been a good thing, but, regardless. ) I appreciate your concern, regardless. I wouldn't like to trouble you by asking for a bite again ... It was terrible of me to ask it of someone I'd just met, besides.
( rei, not thinking henry might want to offer himself again. he merely assumes henry's remarks about them are jests, or, at least good will. )
Shall we walk as we talk? This park has a lovely view at this time of evening. I thought it might be nice to share it with someone.
( which sounds more forward than he intends ... he's just naturally like this when he isn't on the verge of dying. )
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Date: 2018-12-04 08:29 pm (UTC)Not that a single soul would glean that from the smile he wears, of course. ]
Who’s troubled by it? [ A casual shrug. ] I was happy to help then, and I still am now. Honest!
[ Secretly, it’s... hard for him, trying to carve out a place in this world. At least at home, he had a purpose to serve. Here, however, there’s no war to fight in; no need for magic, (let alone his specific brand of it); and only one person he recognizes from the home he hails from. To potentially make matters worse, he’s been seemingly gifted a fantastic place to live, complete with more tools and supplies than he could ever imagine needing.
Everything, really, except for the one thing money can’t buy: Companionship. ]
You got it! [ A nod. Clearly, he missed that whole “forward” bit; but, then again, you kinda have to smack Henry with advances before he figures out that he’s being flirted with. (Wei WuXian learned this one the frustrating way.) ]
It must feel good to get out, now that you’re walking on your own again. [ Again, so proud. ]
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Date: 2018-12-04 09:50 pm (UTC)he laughs faintly at henry's remark, the corner of his mouth curling in. what henry says is especially true now, given he'd just come off a bad run-in, but rei was never one to let much of anything affect him. it's merely another burden of many, none of which have succeeded in bringing him down much. )
Indeed. Though generally one to prefer leisure, I've realized there's more value in taking strolls beneath the moonlight while I'm well and able. ( "moonlight" he says, it being not at all yet night, ) You've been well since our last encounter, I hope? You seem to be in high spirits as ever.
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Date: 2018-12-06 05:28 pm (UTC)[ Said as coolly as ever. Honestly, Rei could tell him he transforms into a bat and hangs upside down to sleep and Henry would remain relatively unfazed. Nothing shocks him anymore.
...well. Almost nothing. He’ll never quite be fully prepared for people saying they like him, enjoy his company, and want him around. That’s just weird. Side-eyeing is much more familiar. ]
Mhm! Why wouldn’t I be?
[ He’s certainly not suffering, by any means -- the Up has made sure of that. He lives in comfort; and, bonus? He’s pretty sure his floormates are vampires, so his floor always smells like fresh blood! Coolest. Thing. Ever. ]
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Date: 2018-12-06 10:57 pm (UTC)( it's certainly more impressive to brag about being on an early morning walk than a later evening one, but regardless. his body's clock and aversion to sunlight, beyond his control, is in some parts why he's grown to feel himself separate from the rest of humanity, even if there are those in his bloodline who suffer worse than him from their vampiric condition. it's difficult to make personal connection with others when you're often sealed into the night.
still, he tries to remain awake during the day, some days, at least a little bit. he doesn't want to leave this world behind. )
Mm, no particular reason. You seem likely to get yourself into trouble, is all. ( perhaps an understatement given henry offered him blood their first meeting and the sort of things henry wrote on his dub profile, but ) Still, if I wouldn't ask, I wonder if you'd pay any mind to yourself. Those who are reckless tend often to overestimate themselves.
( a little presumptuous maybe, but he thinks it's true— about henry and about others. )
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Date: 2018-12-07 12:27 am (UTC)It's no overestimation -- when it comes to curses, hexes, and dark magic, I'm a master! [ A master, indeed; of a craft that has no known purpose here. Thus, that brief verbal fanfare seems to make a sharp crescendo, then decline to something gentler. ]
Why do you sound like you're worried about me? There's no way I'm gonna die here, you know!
There's no danger, life-or-death battles, no blood... [ well, except that which he's offered his companion once by now, of course; still, it sounds like that is the real hardship here, to him ] ...it's really boring.
[ Perhaps because he hasn't discovered enjoyable, truly satisfying sex yet? Who knows. ]
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Date: 2018-12-07 02:57 am (UTC)Death is rarely the worst that can happen. ( a stock phrase, sure, but cliché because it rings true. ) But more pitiful still is one who does not know it until they suffer it.
( and here he isn't speaking particularly about henry; it might apply to him, certainly, but it's applied to rei, too— to his friends, to his enemies. a perverse and pervasive courtship with death, and the heartbreak ensuing when she would not take them.
but he digresses. )
Is that what your life was before? A string of battles to the death?
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Date: 2018-12-07 03:52 am (UTC)[ He thinks he's cheeky.
Anyhow, pardon his wistful staring off into the sunset for just a moment; and never mind the fleeting, scarce brush of their hands as they walk. All unintentional, he promises. ...Mostly. ]
I was the scariest dark mage Plegia's ever known. Any curse, any time!
[ He sounds so casual, and truly, he's always looked the part, to boot. Life or death, or just win or lose, he's always worn the same smile. But, for as loath as he is to handle anything with a modicum of seriousness, he's also not obtuse. And surely... he doesn't have to reveal himself to add a bit of gravity to the conversation, (since Rei seems to crave it so notably). ]
...Would you call your state a curse, then?
[ No, he's not a mind-reader -- the pieces of logic he needs are there. Rei is a vampire, right? Vampires are immortal, last he checked. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-07 05:56 am (UTC)unfortunately, it's very much true that rei is a bit of doom and gloom himself; he handles matters with the levity of a stone slab, encrypted with ancient prophecy. nosy as he is, granted, he's at least not cagy in return; it's more a matter of understanding what he says about himself than getting him to say it.
gradually, he leads their path toward the gardens, where the trees overhang in the dark. )
In several ways, perhaps. ( he answers freely, honestly. ) My mother gave birth to a corpse, as her mother did before her; these are the curses I've born on my shoulders, ones so fine I doubt even one as mastered as you could remove them.
( because they're less literal curses, exactly, so much as disease woven into his existence. it makes them inescapable, exhausting, and yet, he smiles at henry. )
... But if I must have all this time spent undying, I'd rather help than hurt. I cannot break my curse, but I can work within it.
( the path within the gardens is dark with the long shadows of the trees, darkness sprawling in the shape of the ornamental branches, rei seems perfectly at home in here, and perhaps he assumes henry will be, too. admire the light-dwellers as much as he'd like, but he does not belong there. here rei's skin has a sheen, his red eyes seem to glow. )
So I turn the question to you, boy. Bored as you are, with a penchant for your curses— Where do you stand? I wouldn't have called you to meet me if I thought you wholly a monster, but, whether you resolve to be one . . . That is what matters to me.
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