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text; un: ᴊᴜᴇʏᴜɴ ᴄʜɪʟɪ (open to all clans)
My family say that birthdays are big days for Tianheng Thaumaturges and that we should never take them lightly.
I had planned to go up the mountain to perform prayer rituals with the elders of my clan this year ... that no longer is possible. Still, I'm left thinking about how it would have been, as well as what I would have listed for my wishes. I know that I would have prayed for my cherished friends, and those that I've met. Since I can't climb Mt. Tianheng for the ritual now, I'll say it this way.
I wish you all pleasant journeys, safety, and peace.
Aside from that ... one great wish I have this birthday is to learn more about the spirits and supernatural of other worlds.
Since we have all come from different places, I was hoping — will you tell me of your experiences with the otherworldly, when you were back home? I'd like to hear true stories, but I do also really enjoy a good hair-raising story or legend if you know of any.
( spooky stories for september! ♥ feel free to threadjack as you please. )
I had planned to go up the mountain to perform prayer rituals with the elders of my clan this year ... that no longer is possible. Still, I'm left thinking about how it would have been, as well as what I would have listed for my wishes. I know that I would have prayed for my cherished friends, and those that I've met. Since I can't climb Mt. Tianheng for the ritual now, I'll say it this way.
I wish you all pleasant journeys, safety, and peace.
Aside from that ... one great wish I have this birthday is to learn more about the spirits and supernatural of other worlds.
Since we have all come from different places, I was hoping — will you tell me of your experiences with the otherworldly, when you were back home? I'd like to hear true stories, but I do also really enjoy a good hair-raising story or legend if you know of any.
( spooky stories for september! ♥ feel free to threadjack as you please. )
>action
The young exorcist takes a moment to respond because he's emotional over this, okay. Matoba really is a gentle and kind person! Much too kind. Finally, he nods, resting his hand over his heart. He's a bit flustered, with cheeks turning pink. ]
I do. I like it very much. [ HE MIGHT EVEN BE A LITTLE TEARY ... listen, he's not used to things like this. he is a soft boy with a soft heart. ] Thank you.
[ He smiles, not sure how else to express his happiness. Words don't seem to be enough! ]
I hope you'll enjoy it with me.
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[Not one to show emotion himself, Matoba merely watches the boy's reaction with his unmoving, small smile, letting himself lament this a little. Ah, it wasn't good, was it... Neither to allow himself to slip into fancies of affection, or to encourage it from others. But in a way, he couldn't help being glad that Chongyun found successes in his role despite that kindness.]
[It had been the same tug of war between frustration and admiration many years ago.]
[He tears his gaze away to unpack the plastic utensils and paper plates that the employees had hastily shoved into the plastic bag, peeling a plate off for Chongyun first, and then himself.] I'd be delighted. Ah, the flavor, they said, was "birthday cake". I wonder what "birthday" tastes like?
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None of them have the balls to come over and tell them as much, though, and Chongyun doesn't notice their gaping looks at all. He happily takes the plate from Matoba and some of the plastic flatware as well. ]
I suppose we'll find out. I've never had that flavor before. [ he studies the box and the cake, clearly fascinated, ] So it's ice cream and a cake in one? How ingenious.
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[And so Matoba and Chongyun are free to have their little makeshift birthday party in the middle of the cafe. Perhaps if they are thirsty, they can each buy a soda.]
Yes, isn't it? It's a concoction that you can only obtain in the big cities like this, or so it seems. Truly, the city has everything one could think of.
Would you like the honor of cutting the first slice? [Matoba pulls a nice, clean knife from inside his sleeve- not his ofuda-wrapped tantou, made for assassinating spirits, but a more utility-oriented one that looks like it could cut rope.]
[Of course, he just thought to bring this for the cake.] Take your favorite piece.
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[ He takes the knife and opens up the box so that it's flattened, making it easy to position over the cake with the knife. It's delightfully cold, he can sense it just from hovering his hands over it—so frosty, he's tickled pink. It really is a marvel. Is this something they can import to Liyue?
The "piece" he cuts off is just a literal third of the cake. A huge chunk. But hey, he's a young man in his prime and young men in their prime can eat. Plus, this is ice cream. Aside from cold soba noodles from Inazuma, it's his favorite thing.
He dumps the huge piece onto his plate. The poor paper plate can barely hold it all. ]
Would you like me to cut a piece for you as well?
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[And anyway, of all people, who's going to shame him for it. Matoba?]
Oh, please. [He's certainly not concerned about the portion sizes, here- although he does consider that perhaps he should have gotten a slightly larger cake. Or bigger plates, at least. Matoba pushes his plate forward cheerily, as the still-miffed employees of the cafe watch one of their tables become an ice cream parlor.]
It's really fortunate that you like ice cream so much, on account of needing to eat cold food, [Matoba chatters, procuring a fork for each of them.] Is your homeland also a cold place? I could imagine that if hot foods are a problem, the summer heat was, as well. The city gets much hotter than the countryside.
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No, Liyue isn't cold. There are seasons where it's cooler and the harbor has the breeze from the sea, but generally the climate is temperate or warm. I couldn't go outside on sunny days, or if I had to go out, I would bring my parasol. [ he takes a generous bite of the cake, chewing it down before continuing on, ] I take all my meals cold, wear light clothing, and avoid gatherings with too may people. Often times it's easier for me to isolate inside, especially during the summer or events like festivals or parties. Hot springs and hot baths are also a no go, I can only bathe in cold water. Even getting heated during quarrels can trigger some of the negative effects of my condition. Many times, it was better to be alone.
[ He cuts off another generous hunk of cake, ]
It's ... difficult at times, having a body that disagrees with so much by virtue of an innate trait, but I've gotten used to maintaining it. I always have to be vigilant.
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Oh? I see, so it is a warm coastal town... [Matoba's eye flutters shut for a moment as he nods, a peaceful expression crossing his face.] My hometown is quite warm most of the year, as well. We still experience snows in the wintertime, but it is pretty humid even then.
Ice cream is one of the few respites from those humid summers. Haha, when I was your age I would have practically an ice pop a day, even on school days.
[He happily scoops a big piece of cake into his mouth, listening to Chongyun talk about his affliction. All this trouble, to ward off ayakashi... If Matoba was honest, even if it was its own sort of prison, it was still a step up from his own. Guaranteed safety, in exchange for Chongyun's freedom. But at least he had that much.]
[With a small sigh, Matoba represses away the jealous thoughts. It was no good... The grass was always greener, he supposes.]
Perhaps you should try living in the mountains. [He grins.] --Joking... Well, it would be easier to manage, but I suppose relocating an entire clan is nearly impossible.
...May I ask, Chongyun-kun? It is your aura which repels ayakashi, isn't it? Perhaps it is selfish of me to say so, but I suppose I don't see what's so bad about letting it run free.
[If it could repel even that monster...]
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[ He contemplates that last question, realizing that perhaps he hadn’t been clear on exactly what all those efforts are meant to suppress. He nods, slowly chewing his piece of cake before continuing. ]
Why not leave your enchanted parasol at home, or remove the ward over your eye? [ he stabs his fork into a crumbly bit of cake, mixing chocolate with a party blast of colors, ] My efforts aren’t to suppress the warding effects of my energy—it’s too strong for that and the very nature of my spirit won’t change. They’re to suppress and manage the negative side effects for my own sake. The physical and mental tolls can be extreme if I don’t.
To say … if you had a flame, you could stoke it in a fireplace or use a candle to nurse it. The nature of my condition is that I must hold wildfire in my bare hands. The flames can’t be quelled, but I can try to ease the burns.
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[When he leaves this realm, he will have to leave Chongyun behind. He will be able to handle himself just fine, Matoba thinks, but it will still be a shame to lose that connection.]
[Stickin his fork into another big chunk of ice cream, Matoba listens as Chongyun describes the nature of his condition. An inability to suppress one's aura had nasty drawbacks, such as being unable to conceal one's presence, but he supposes that overwhelming might meant that you didn't need to choose stealth. Perhaps it wasn't such a loss. But the burden of such an aura on the physical body must be immense. His own aura was strong, but it wasn't that strong- and it was evenly distributed.]
[He wonders if Chongyun wasn't always in pain, and hiding it with an excellently trained suppression. It makes him pause, and look at the boy anew for a moment.] ...I see. [He thoughtfully works at another small bite of cake.] ...Haha, my constitution at your age would have been put to shame.
Perhaps even now. [Such gloomy birthday talk. Such was a party with exorcists, huh? He almost has to laugh.] I still have to remind myself even now, sometimes, that I am slipping.
[Let's just. Hide that admission in more cake, shall we.]
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It's something that Chongyun wants to question, but he can sense the vulnerability there. Maybe it's a thread better not picked at ... which is why the young exorcist just nods and reaches across the table to pat the top of Matoba's hand. A touch of reassurance. Even if he may not fully understand what the older man is dealing with, he can offer his support as a friend.
Happier thoughts. Which is why Chongyun steers the conversation in a different direction now that Matoba understands the purpose of his efforts to surpress his condition's side effects. ]
May I ask when your birthday is?
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[The confusion isn't the boy's meaning- he's not that stunted, despite everything about him which was burnt out from him. That still didn't make it easier to process the application of that empathy towards him.]
[He's still somewhat distracted by the motion when Chongyun decides to move things away from the gloom, glancing up at his question.]
Hm? Ah... The first of November. [He cracks a grin.] Not too far away. Perhaps this will be the first one where I am not besieged by clan attendants and can enjoy it on my own.
[He can imagine that perhaps Chongyun, too, was used to a fuss being made about his birthdays.]