[ that ends up making him laugh. ] I have a feeling that you aren't sorry at all.
[ gu yun teases, affectionately, and pats the box of tea sitting on the table. ] Is there a particular kind of tea that you like? I'll pour you a cup. I can't say I'm as good at it as Gluttony, perhaps, but it's not unfamiliar.
I'm a little sorry! [but not enough. once they're seated they peer at the box of tea.] Something a little sweet? I don't like bitter tastes that much, but I'm not familiar with enough teas either.
[ he picks absently through the teas, before eventually selecting something with fruit notes -- popping the top off, it smells like apples, so. that'll have to do for now. ]
The differences between the people here is astounding, sometimes, Avatars included. I think if you said that to someone from Great Liang, they may faint from shock.
[ that comes with a wink, teasing. time to make them tea, though!! he nudges the sugar over towards them in case they want it and sets about setting the leaves to steep. ]
You think? [this means nothing to them other than learning a litlte more, and also yes they're immediately taking the sugar as they wait for the leaves to steep.]
But come on. You didn't think we'd all be similar to each other, did you? What's the fun in that?
Not at all. [ he grins! there's a bright, curious edge to it, bold even in his gestures. ]
Though, I had never thought that there were other worlds before I came here. Imagine my surprise, the first moment I walked in and saw Molly. [ who is like his brother from another tiefling mother (?) apparently. so hey! gu yun can roll with it. he just wants to know it, learn as much of it as he can.
he stirs his own tea in the process. ] Is your home more - ah, from the future, Lust? Comparatively.
That's true. A lot of you seemed surprised by that, but I think I've always known there're parallel worlds out there. [they lean forward to peer at him, pink eyes glowing under their hood.]
But yup! Definitely from your future, at least. The place I was before is pretty modern. I guess that's why I don't mind being here.
[ he allows this, waggling his eyebrows when the peer in, and quips - ] See anything you like?
[ but it's just playful, teasing as he grins mischievously and nudges the cup of tea over to them now that it's done steeping. ] What a fascinating life you must have lived, to have learned such a thing! I'm very curious, you know.
That's why I can't say that I mind it, either, in terms of things like that. There's no limit to learning, is there? [ how wise of you, marshall gu. ] There's no sense in digging your heels in and not trying to master it when it's placed right before you because of tradition or stubbornness.
Um...[unfortunately for gu yun's ego, that's all they say before they move on! they will take their tea though.]
You're not wrong! It's really important to try and learn how to adapt, but do you think there's a lot of people here who're gonna be stubborn about it?
[ it, seemingly, does not bother him any. great liang's most shameless, truly...
tea passed, though, he picks his own back up, and considers their question, thoughtfully. ] Not particularly - maybe slower to pick it up, though. I don't believe I'm anywhere near the furthest behind of the people here.
[ considering how old sqx and my are. also, pride is definitely more ancient than him, so ha ] I've at least seen machinery, though, so I have a bit of an advantage, in that case.
You're definitely ahead of a few people, like Yuri! [they just happily roast him.] What kind of things have you seen before? I know a little about where you're from, but I like hearing it from the people who've actually been there.
[ he immediately snorts at the yuri roasting because he's going to roast him for this, also. ] Precisely!
[ to their question, gu yun hums, taking a sip of his tea, slipping into the easy mode of a storyteller. ] In my home, the majority of machines are powered by something called ziliujin - an extremely rare purple substance found underground. It's even said a nation that sits on a natural ziliujin deposit sits upon more than a mountain's worth of gold. Typically, it is burned as an energy source, and the combination of it and steam powers much of the technology in my realm, from the smallest of lamps, to the largest of Giant Kites and Dragons - ships for the air and for the sea.
There aren't necessarily things like the phones you all have given us, or any of the technology like the refrigerator or the screens, but we aren't so far behind that the world still lives completely by candlelight.
Though... it is not necessarily an easy material to obtain, so, the transition from candlelight is a bit slow. [ he laughs, a little. ] The extraction and distribution of ziliujin is taken care of by the government, and used for its assorted needs, typically related to the military. I have a small supply I am granted, for the use of Armors and the like.
[and lust listens attentively, though gu yun may hear them whisper "whoa...steampunk" under their breath even if their eyes don't leave his face. they're adding sugar to their cup and stirring it, nodding along with each piece of new information.]
It sounds like you could make all kinds of stuff if it was powered by something like that. But what happens if you run out? Does the energy just go away and the machines stop working?
his expression gets a little more serious, then. ] It would. What we have is plentiful, but the supplies dwindle, and the Emperor chooses how anyone may use it. It's why it is so imperative, not only not to waste ziliujin, but to continue to evolve our use of technology in order to make the nation not so reliant on it anymore. The faster we can pull ahead of our neighbors, the better it will be for Great Liang as a whole.
[ lust will get the sense, just as he's talking, that gu yun... really, really loves his country. there's a moment of determination in his assessment, there, though it's brief. ]
It's starting slowly. It can be diluted, and there are substitutes to make up for what is left behind - it's why the common folk can even have any at all. But... for now, we just have to make do with what we have, and keep finding it.
[ a beat, and then, he grins, a little sneaky. ] Or, keep our neighbors from finding it, first. [ sounds like a job for the marquis of order! ]
[they hold onto their teacup and consider this quietly.]
Even substitutes can only go so far though, right? And if it's a resource that has to be protected for the greater good...no wonder you want to do what's best for Great Liang. It must be hard.
Ahh, well. [ he waves off the seriousness of the moment with a laugh. ] Truthfully, I don't get a single say in how it's used or why! This humble Marquis is merely a servant of his Emperor.
[ . . . ]
Though, I do wonder. [ gu yun tilts his head. ] Do you say so because you assume I would? Or because you already know the wish I made that ensured my arrival here?
[ gu yun's mouth curls up behind his tea cup. ] I suppose that depends on the Emperor.
[ there's. a little irony in lust's very good point, though they probably don't know it - it is only recently that the black iron camp has been restored to its current splendor, and it is only because gu yun was the one who made it possible. emperor yuan he had been the reason for the camp's initial decline, after all, more interested in the pen than the sword, and great liang had suffered for it, but gu yun invested his time and his resources into making the black iron camp the force it had been in the years of his father long before him. it would be impossible for yuan he to ignore how useful the black iron camp would be to the betterment and protection of great liang as a whole, and gu yun had been the one to make it a fact instead of just an opinion.
he's been fighting for its relevancy ever since, and since li feng took charge, the process has begun anew. with the black tiger seal in his hands, gu yun holds all of the military power by land and air, but li feng is a different leader, and one he has yet to truly suss out.
of course, he'll never say any of that - just leave it at the mysterious, wry smile he gives them and move on to their second question. ]
That's very kind of you to say, though - I am an awfully passionate person! [ fufu. back to his usual easygoing cheer, now. ] You all have information on all of us, so I won't pretend otherwise - I'm here for my homeland - but I like your intuition, and will gladly take such a compliment.
[ lie back and thank of great liang,
he bows his head, playing it up just a little, but he is honest. ] You seem quite big-hearted yourself, Lust. The others speak very highly of you.
[wow. so i see gu yun is completely fine. lust knows a bit about his history but not as much as some of the others, and so they kind of nod in agreement in that way that says they aren't going to ask questions and are willing to accept that answer.
it's easier for the both of them to just slip into another conversation.]
You should! It's a really, really important skill to have in a place like this. I think it'll help you get what you came for if you can always remember what you're passionate for.
[there's a slightly surprised and please pause then.] ...they do? I like all of them, too.
[ the way you just stepped right into one of the biggest conflicts in sha po lang was VERY funny
anyway!! he clearly is paying it no mind! so. ] Passion and Lust do go hand in hand, don't they? [ much lighter and teasing! ] I'll keep your expertise in mind.
[ he has no intentions of losing sight of that goal, anytime soon - especially because its always been his goal. as gu yun takes another sip, regarding their reaction, his smile warms up a bit, too, pleased to be delivering that particular bit of information and nothing at all about himself. ] It's the truth! I've heard there've even been playful [ ? ] threats that we all be nice to you. Not that I would dream of anything otherwise; I agree with their assessment that you're very sweet, indeed.
I like to think so! You can't really be something people aspire to be without giving it your all in the first place.
[they finally take a sip of their tea, legs slowly swinging under the table.] That's sweet though...a lot of the others are really good friends, and I'd make threats for them, too. [this is so casual.] We've known each other for a long time, so I'm not that surprised either.
[ he can see it! no wonder everyone loves them so much. the casual threat makes him smile, amused, into his tea. ] It seems you all have quite the bond, so I thought as much. Time here is a bit odd, though, isn't it? How long has it been, as far as you can tell?
Hehe, something like that! I'm still working hard, but I'm getting there.
[that's vague, lust.] It's been...a while. I wish I knew but I think a lot of us stopped keeping track after some time. It didn't seem to matter anymore.
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[ gu yun teases, affectionately, and pats the box of tea sitting on the table. ] Is there a particular kind of tea that you like? I'll pour you a cup. I can't say I'm as good at it as Gluttony, perhaps, but it's not unfamiliar.
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[ he picks absently through the teas, before eventually selecting something with fruit notes -- popping the top off, it smells like apples, so. that'll have to do for now. ]
The differences between the people here is astounding, sometimes, Avatars included. I think if you said that to someone from Great Liang, they may faint from shock.
[ that comes with a wink, teasing. time to make them tea, though!! he nudges the sugar over towards them in case they want it and sets about setting the leaves to steep. ]
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But come on. You didn't think we'd all be similar to each other, did you? What's the fun in that?
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Though, I had never thought that there were other worlds before I came here. Imagine my surprise, the first moment I walked in and saw Molly. [ who is like his brother from another tiefling mother (?) apparently. so hey! gu yun can roll with it. he just wants to know it, learn as much of it as he can.
he stirs his own tea in the process. ] Is your home more - ah, from the future, Lust? Comparatively.
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But yup! Definitely from your future, at least. The place I was before is pretty modern. I guess that's why I don't mind being here.
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[ but it's just playful, teasing as he grins mischievously and nudges the cup of tea over to them now that it's done steeping. ] What a fascinating life you must have lived, to have learned such a thing! I'm very curious, you know.
That's why I can't say that I mind it, either, in terms of things like that. There's no limit to learning, is there? [ how wise of you, marshall gu. ] There's no sense in digging your heels in and not trying to master it when it's placed right before you because of tradition or stubbornness.
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You're not wrong! It's really important to try and learn how to adapt, but do you think there's a lot of people here who're gonna be stubborn about it?
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tea passed, though, he picks his own back up, and considers their question, thoughtfully. ] Not particularly - maybe slower to pick it up, though. I don't believe I'm anywhere near the furthest behind of the people here.
[ considering how old sqx and my are. also, pride is definitely more ancient than him, so ha ] I've at least seen machinery, though, so I have a bit of an advantage, in that case.
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[ to their question, gu yun hums, taking a sip of his tea, slipping into the easy mode of a storyteller. ] In my home, the majority of machines are powered by something called ziliujin - an extremely rare purple substance found underground. It's even said a nation that sits on a natural ziliujin deposit sits upon more than a mountain's worth of gold. Typically, it is burned as an energy source, and the combination of it and steam powers much of the technology in my realm, from the smallest of lamps, to the largest of Giant Kites and Dragons - ships for the air and for the sea.
There aren't necessarily things like the phones you all have given us, or any of the technology like the refrigerator or the screens, but we aren't so far behind that the world still lives completely by candlelight.
Though... it is not necessarily an easy material to obtain, so, the transition from candlelight is a bit slow. [ he laughs, a little. ] The extraction and distribution of ziliujin is taken care of by the government, and used for its assorted needs, typically related to the military. I have a small supply I am granted, for the use of Armors and the like.
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It sounds like you could make all kinds of stuff if it was powered by something like that. But what happens if you run out? Does the energy just go away and the machines stop working?
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his expression gets a little more serious, then. ] It would. What we have is plentiful, but the supplies dwindle, and the Emperor chooses how anyone may use it. It's why it is so imperative, not only not to waste ziliujin, but to continue to evolve our use of technology in order to make the nation not so reliant on it anymore. The faster we can pull ahead of our neighbors, the better it will be for Great Liang as a whole.
[ lust will get the sense, just as he's talking, that gu yun... really, really loves his country. there's a moment of determination in his assessment, there, though it's brief. ]
It's starting slowly. It can be diluted, and there are substitutes to make up for what is left behind - it's why the common folk can even have any at all. But... for now, we just have to make do with what we have, and keep finding it.
[ a beat, and then, he grins, a little sneaky. ] Or, keep our neighbors from finding it, first. [ sounds like a job for the marquis of order! ]
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Even substitutes can only go so far though, right? And if it's a resource that has to be protected for the greater good...no wonder you want to do what's best for Great Liang. It must be hard.
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[ . . . ]
Though, I do wonder. [ gu yun tilts his head. ] Do you say so because you assume I would? Or because you already know the wish I made that ensured my arrival here?
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It's maybe a little of both though? You seem like someone who's very passionate about everything you really care about. Everything and everyone.
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[ there's. a little irony in lust's very good point, though they probably don't know it - it is only recently that the black iron camp has been restored to its current splendor, and it is only because gu yun was the one who made it possible. emperor yuan he had been the reason for the camp's initial decline, after all, more interested in the pen than the sword, and great liang had suffered for it, but gu yun invested his time and his resources into making the black iron camp the force it had been in the years of his father long before him. it would be impossible for yuan he to ignore how useful the black iron camp would be to the betterment and protection of great liang as a whole, and gu yun had been the one to make it a fact instead of just an opinion.
he's been fighting for its relevancy ever since, and since li feng took charge, the process has begun anew. with the black tiger seal in his hands, gu yun holds all of the military power by land and air, but li feng is a different leader, and one he has yet to truly suss out.
of course, he'll never say any of that - just leave it at the mysterious, wry smile he gives them and move on to their second question. ]
That's very kind of you to say, though - I am an awfully passionate person! [ fufu. back to his usual easygoing cheer, now. ] You all have information on all of us, so I won't pretend otherwise - I'm here for my homeland - but I like your intuition, and will gladly take such a compliment.
[ lie back and thank of great liang,
he bows his head, playing it up just a little, but he is honest. ] You seem quite big-hearted yourself, Lust. The others speak very highly of you.
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it's easier for the both of them to just slip into another conversation.]
You should! It's a really, really important skill to have in a place like this. I think it'll help you get what you came for if you can always remember what you're passionate for.
[there's a slightly surprised and please pause then.] ...they do? I like all of them, too.
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anyway!! he clearly is paying it no mind! so. ] Passion and Lust do go hand in hand, don't they? [ much lighter and teasing! ] I'll keep your expertise in mind.
[ he has no intentions of losing sight of that goal, anytime soon - especially because its always been his goal. as gu yun takes another sip, regarding their reaction, his smile warms up a bit, too, pleased to be delivering that particular bit of information and nothing at all about himself. ] It's the truth! I've heard there've even been playful [ ? ] threats that we all be nice to you. Not that I would dream of anything otherwise; I agree with their assessment that you're very sweet, indeed.
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I like to think so! You can't really be something people aspire to be without giving it your all in the first place.
[they finally take a sip of their tea, legs slowly swinging under the table.] That's sweet though...a lot of the others are really good friends, and I'd make threats for them, too. [this is so casual.] We've known each other for a long time, so I'm not that surprised either.
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Oh? Are you something of a revered figure, Lust?
[ he can see it! no wonder everyone loves them so much. the casual threat makes him smile, amused, into his tea. ] It seems you all have quite the bond, so I thought as much. Time here is a bit odd, though, isn't it? How long has it been, as far as you can tell?
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[that's vague, lust.] It's been...a while. I wish I knew but I think a lot of us stopped keeping track after some time. It didn't seem to matter anymore.
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I see. Has it always just been the eight of you?
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