[as soon as sloth closes their hand around gu yun's, he begins to float up off the ground, too. it doesn't feel like anything at all really except the absence of his gravity.
from up here, the horn protruding through their hood looks a little longer and sharper than before; the tip is starting to curve back. the same stormy grey color is climbing up the first few spirals of the base.
and in the hood near the shoulders, something that looks like wads of fluffy storm clouds sit.]
[ okay gu yun prides himself (ha) on generally being pretty unflappable - most things don't throw him off! - but people's magic use out of nowhere really gets him, like, every time. so, he's a bit like a startled cat, at first, and grabs onto sloth's hand way tighter immediately when he starts floating, grabbing onto it with his other hand, too before he's able to settle into place again. ]
Ha. This is really - very clever, good thinking. Come back to Great Liang with me and power our Iron Eagles. [ imagine a world where they didn't even need ziliujin, just nice people (?) with a big horn to make you float and also nap. ]
he relaxes after a second, floating a bit aimlessly and freeing his other hand to reach up and adjust his liuli glass so it doesn't like, zero g off of his face or something. ]
It's a suit of armor - with big wings on the back. A bit like Despair's. My soldiers are often called 'black crows' because of the color.
[ the black crows of the black iron camp! the only murder he really cares about (??) anyway. ] Where do you live, if not on the surface, Sloth?
Someday, let's go to the Simulation Room and I'll show you. How about that?
[ how wild, to have never seen a bird... ]
In the Ghostly Realm, or something of the like? Are you secretly a ghost? [ gu yun laughs, leaaaning over like he can peer into their hood, very playful! ]
[there is a partial lower face in the hood somewhere in the swimming, stormy--it looks like hair now? the chin and jaw are angular, but the face is thankfully humanoid looking, and there's a nose! but the mouth that smiles a bit has a set of fangs.]
... We sure have quite the population of those here, don't we...
[ local heathen who spends most of his time insulting monks not sure how to feel
no i'm kidding he's fine. ] You've talked to Shi Qingxuan about that, haven't you? It's rather typical for gods from Great Liang to live, you know. [ pointing... ] "Above", I think.
What sort of god are you? God of a good night's sleep? I might have to start praying between the two of you.
Oh, yeah! Shi Qingxuan, um... Miss Shi Qingxuan is really amazing! We talked a lot, and she brought me again. Uh--anyway! Plenty of gods live on the mountain! But the rest of us work below the mortal world!
that gets him to laugh, and he winks. ] What can I say? A good commander's a scholar, else he never learns from his mistakes. What's working with the dead like?
[ yeah that makes sense. people don't come back from the dead in his world because his world is NORMAL ]
Hmm. [ checking them off the list, though... ] Sounds a bit like the royal palace guards at home, but busy does make sense. I imagine wartime must leave you worked to your core.
How are the dead in terms of personality? I feel like it can't be a very lively bunch. [ ha ]
Yeah, the mortals are always getting into wars soon, or later. I guess that's why my brother isn't around much anymore. He's always working!
[very funny, young gun.]
Haha, yeah, they're, like, dead! They talk a lot when they come in, but, you know? I think that every one of them should get the chance to say their piece.
Speaking as a mortal who spends a lot of time in warfare, I can tell you that most of them are pretty foolish.
[ but they also keep great liang safe and food on his table so like. you know. he's kind of a war hawk. it's fine!! he's reached full just vibing status in this floating, now, absently reaching out to touch whatever surface is nearest. maybe some pretty plants. ]
... That's a nice way to look at it, though - I think you're right. [ he laughs. ] When I'm dead and gone, you know what I'll say? "Ah, at least I didn't die with a lot of wrinkles."
How rare is it, for a soldier, a general on the battlefield, to live a long life? To retire off into glory?
[ he's pretty blase about this, actually, so sloth can continue to white man blinking gif. gu yun doesn't seem bothered, reaching out to absently brush his fingers over a flower petal as they float nearby. ] Men of my family don't live long. It's something of the family curse. I plan to be a firework - loud, bright, and beautiful, but not so long lasting.
To die on the battlefield for Great Liang is an inevitability. I intend to make something of the time I have while I'm living. [ for himself, and for his country. ]
It happens to plenty of heroes! A lot of them even try to go back sometimes by making deals!
[gu yun is being so heartfelt, but sloth always sounds so earnest and cheerful because this is the usual life.]
You would at least be in the place of glory, but--you're from a place like Shi Qingxuan, right? She said you guys do the whole reincarnation thing! Unless you're a ghost. That's kind of crazy to consider!
[ going back by making deals, anyway. quite a few of their little cadre have been dead before, haven't they... ]
And that's true, yes. Though, secretly - I thought perhaps when I die on the battlefield, my name and deeds would be so worthy, that I'd ascend off to godhood and be worshipped for my martial skills and endless charm. Fufu.
Everything's rather cyclical. I'm not particularly focused on it, though - I can't say I did much studying, nor that I'm usually so concerned with what comes after life. Not until I met people like you.
Oh, plenty of mortals are like that where I'm from, too. Um, the legendary name and deeds. They even try to become demigods, too.
[oh, mortals! very funny. they always want the divinity for the fame and immortality.]
Maybe everyone will be chanting your name through time! If not, um, well, you can just try again next time! That's the one good thing about rolling right into a new life with reincarnation. We don't really do any of that where I'm from.
When you're dead, you're dead! Unless someone comes to try to get your spirit back. But the master sure would be angry about that!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ he is never going to get used to magic. ever. in his entire life. ] I'll be sure to use this gift you've given me on a restless night.
[ a beat, and he laughs. ] If I stuck my face in these and swooned, would you catch me, or let me hit the floor, Sloth?
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[they offer the man their greyish, soot-looking hand.]
I guess that depends on how fast I am, huh?
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Well. I guess I'll put my trust in you, then. [ and then places his hand in sloth's grey one! i love homestuck. ]
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from up here, the horn protruding through their hood looks a little longer and sharper than before; the tip is starting to curve back. the same stormy grey color is climbing up the first few spirals of the base.
and in the hood near the shoulders, something that looks like wads of fluffy storm clouds sit.]
Can't fall down if you can't fall at all!
[
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Ha. This is really - very clever, good thinking. Come back to Great Liang with me and power our Iron Eagles. [ imagine a world where they didn't even need ziliujin, just nice people (?) with a big horn to make you float and also nap. ]
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they hold onto gu yun's hand. their grip is pretty strong, surprisingly? kind of icy, but not painful.]
What's an Iron Eagle? I wouldn't mind seeing what's up there, I guess. The prince really made me curious. I've never been on the surface before!
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he relaxes after a second, floating a bit aimlessly and freeing his other hand to reach up and adjust his liuli glass so it doesn't like, zero g off of his face or something. ]
It's a suit of armor - with big wings on the back. A bit like Despair's. My soldiers are often called 'black crows' because of the color.
[ the black crows of the black iron camp! the only murder he really cares about (??) anyway. ] Where do you live, if not on the surface, Sloth?
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[as long as gu yun holds on, he'll float in the air with sloth who has curled a little into more of a floating sit.]
Well, if I don't live up there, where else! Definitely below!
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[ how wild, to have never seen a bird... ]
In the Ghostly Realm, or something of the like? Are you secretly a ghost? [ gu yun laughs, leaaaning over like he can peer into their hood, very playful! ]
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[there is a partial lower face in the hood somewhere in the swimming, stormy--it looks like hair now? the chin and jaw are angular, but the face is thankfully humanoid looking, and there's a nose! but the mouth that smiles a bit has a set of fangs.]
Wow, me, a ghost? Nope! I'm a god!
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[ local heathen who spends most of his time insulting monks not sure how to feel
no i'm kidding he's fine. ] You've talked to Shi Qingxuan about that, haven't you? It's rather typical for gods from Great Liang to live, you know. [ pointing... ] "Above", I think.
What sort of god are you? God of a good night's sleep? I might have to start praying between the two of you.
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[gu yun....]
Oh, yeah! Shi Qingxuan, um... Miss Shi Qingxuan is really amazing! We talked a lot, and she brought me again. Uh--anyway! Plenty of gods live on the mountain! But the rest of us work below the mortal world!
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anyway ] From what I know of you... [ thoughtfully.... ] I think you must work with the dead. Is that right?
[ (sloth voice) haha wow you're dead! ]
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Wow! You might be one of the few smartest here!
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that gets him to laugh, and he winks. ] What can I say? A good commander's a scholar, else he never learns from his mistakes. What's working with the dead like?
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Busy! [which is maybe not surprising if anyone thinks about it.] People are always coming, but never going!
I greet everyone who comes into the House, and I check them off the list!
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Hmm. [ checking them off the list, though... ] Sounds a bit like the royal palace guards at home, but busy does make sense. I imagine wartime must leave you worked to your core.
How are the dead in terms of personality? I feel like it can't be a very lively bunch. [ ha ]
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Yeah, the mortals are always getting into wars soon, or later. I guess that's why my brother isn't around much anymore. He's always working!
[very funny, young gun.]
Haha, yeah, they're, like, dead! They talk a lot when they come in, but, you know? I think that every one of them should get the chance to say their piece.
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[ but they also keep great liang safe and food on his table so like. you know. he's kind of a war hawk. it's fine!! he's reached full just vibing status in this floating, now, absently reaching out to touch whatever surface is nearest. maybe some pretty plants. ]
... That's a nice way to look at it, though - I think you're right. [ he laughs. ] When I'm dead and gone, you know what I'll say? "Ah, at least I didn't die with a lot of wrinkles."
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[the way they are sort of quiet is probably indicative of them white-man-blinking.gif really. gu yun, your jokes...]
Oh. Are you dying real soon?
[are you dying young???]
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[ he's pretty blase about this, actually, so sloth can continue to white man blinking gif. gu yun doesn't seem bothered, reaching out to absently brush his fingers over a flower petal as they float nearby. ] Men of my family don't live long. It's something of the family curse. I plan to be a firework - loud, bright, and beautiful, but not so long lasting.
To die on the battlefield for Great Liang is an inevitability. I intend to make something of the time I have while I'm living. [ for himself, and for his country. ]
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[gu yun is being so heartfelt, but sloth always sounds so earnest and cheerful because this is the usual life.]
You would at least be in the place of glory, but--you're from a place like Shi Qingxuan, right? She said you guys do the whole reincarnation thing! Unless you're a ghost. That's kind of crazy to consider!
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[ going back by making deals, anyway. quite a few of their little cadre have been dead before, haven't they... ]
And that's true, yes. Though, secretly - I thought perhaps when I die on the battlefield, my name and deeds would be so worthy, that I'd ascend off to godhood and be worshipped for my martial skills and endless charm. Fufu.
Everything's rather cyclical. I'm not particularly focused on it, though - I can't say I did much studying, nor that I'm usually so concerned with what comes after life. Not until I met people like you.
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[oh, mortals! very funny. they always want the divinity for the fame and immortality.]
Maybe everyone will be chanting your name through time! If not, um, well, you can just try again next time! That's the one good thing about rolling right into a new life with reincarnation. We don't really do any of that where I'm from.
When you're dead, you're dead! Unless someone comes to try to get your spirit back. But the master sure would be angry about that!