[ He looks and sounds like he's struggling, an open hesitation allowed because of his ridiculous love-arrowing and it's kind of like having a wound on display that's normally invisible to all else.
It's like something about what Shenhe says both somehow comforts and hurts him at the same time and not even he knows why or how to deal with it. ]
...Okay.
That's -- okay.
Okay.
[ It feels like grasping at a slippery marble, him trying to grasp onto her words. ]
[ It's more a matter of he didn't expect to feel the way he did when she said something as simple as I want to exist -- not verbatim, sure, but a similar enough gist. ]
[ He sits there quiet, ruminating over those simple words. Is there anything more powerful than hearing another person say 'hey, I want to live after all'?
they are brought a come and get it, which just. copies the description: A dish made out of a luxurious variety of ingredients. There is no great refinement in the making of this food, and it appears in Liyue often during festival season. Whenever this dish is served up, the person at the head of the table will invite everyone to dig in, saying "Come on, eat, eat," hence the name.
shenhe looks as excited as she ever can be to get it. she likes food a lot, just in general.
she also takes a picture of it. idk if this works because it's a virtual reality but she tries.]
[ He actually perks up a little when it arrives and seems kind of pretty interested in it? He likes noodles! And Chinese-based food. He prods at it a little with simulated chopsticks to take a look at what's all in it, and it all seems highly appealing. He's particularly interested in the shrimp because, you know, he's never seen one. It kind of looks like a sandworm but also not? But he's under the impression that telling people something looks like a worm is apparently a bad thing for people not-of-No-Man's-Land.
He snorts a bit when he sees Shenhe trying to take a photo though. ]
Don't be disappointed when it's just a white floor you're seein' later.
[she would think it's funny if he said it looks like a sandworm honestly, because yeah. shrimps are funky little guys. also i can't imagine she's never eaten a bug in her life, she lives in the mountains. she is simba.
when he snorts, she huffs, disgruntled.]
... Ah, right. I forgot. [she forgot for a second they weren't in liyue for real] Hmph.
At least you can come back and look at it as much as you want later.
[ He feels... well, he feels stupid because the logical part of his brain wants to remind him this isn't real, but he'll be damned if this technology isn't impressive regardless. And he does want to try to immerse himself proper if just for Shenhe, so he'll take a mouthful of soup.
One of the smallest joys in life is good eating!! ]
It's good. How do I eat this thing? Do I gotta peel off the shell?
[she seems a little amused at the question, but not in a mean way. she nods, leaning a little closer.]
Like this. [she will break off the shell! carefully.] I'm glad that you like it. I've found not everybody likes seafood. Fei Du refused to eat the shrimp.
[ He mimics this flawlessly. The first shell is a bit unclean, the second shell comes off without cracks, and by the third, it's neat and comes off in one piece. ]
[she huffs out a little noise that's almost a laugh, hiding it, and also busies herself with her food. she wishes she was actually eating, but it's alright - this is good enough.
she's happy to sit in companionable silence for a while until he's finished, though like, she does hum to herself here and there.]
[ I HAVE TO GO FIND IT and it's JP only but it was basically like, Wolfwood having a hums to himself habit that he picked up from the orphanage because it's a tune Aunt Melanie did for him a lot whenever he was scared as baby... ]
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[but. she understands.] I like existing. I'd prefer to stay here as long as I'm able, which is why I haven't given it more thought.
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It's like something about what Shenhe says both somehow comforts and hurts him at the same time and not even he knows why or how to deal with it. ]
...Okay.
That's -- okay.
Okay.
[ It feels like grasping at a slippery marble, him trying to grasp onto her words. ]
...Good.
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... Hm. [she says, first, and then:] Is it okay?
[just, gently pushing again, to see if he wants to talk. wondering.]
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[ It's more a matter of he didn't expect to feel the way he did when she said something as simple as I want to exist -- not verbatim, sure, but a similar enough gist. ]
I'm... it's good that you feel that way.
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I didn't, for a while. I didn't care. But I do now.
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Lets their food arrive, show me the cookin'. ]
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they are brought a come and get it, which just. copies the description: A dish made out of a luxurious variety of ingredients. There is no great refinement in the making of this food, and it appears in Liyue often during festival season. Whenever this dish is served up, the person at the head of the table will invite everyone to dig in, saying "Come on, eat, eat," hence the name.
shenhe looks as excited as she ever can be to get it. she likes food a lot, just in general.
she also takes a picture of it. idk if this works because it's a virtual reality but she tries.]
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He snorts a bit when he sees Shenhe trying to take a photo though. ]
Don't be disappointed when it's just a white floor you're seein' later.
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when he snorts, she huffs, disgruntled.]
... Ah, right. I forgot. [she forgot for a second they weren't in liyue for real] Hmph.
Try it, then. Tell me what parts you like.
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[ He feels... well, he feels stupid because the logical part of his brain wants to remind him this isn't real, but he'll be damned if this technology isn't impressive regardless. And he does want to try to immerse himself proper if just for Shenhe, so he'll take a mouthful of soup.
One of the smallest joys in life is good eating!! ]
It's good. How do I eat this thing? Do I gotta peel off the shell?
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Like this. [she will break off the shell! carefully.] I'm glad that you like it. I've found not everybody likes seafood. Fei Du refused to eat the shrimp.
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[ He mimics this flawlessly. The first shell is a bit unclean, the second shell comes off without cracks, and by the third, it's neat and comes off in one piece. ]
Easy. [ Holding a naked shrimp like, ta-da. ]
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You learn fast. [she says, pleased, tilting her head.] I'm impressed.
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Gotta learn fast to survive and all.
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You are not surviving, here. You are enjoying yourself. [well okay don't be bossy about it]
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Just applying existing skills to other parts of life.
[ BUSIES HIMSELF WITH THE COME AND GET IT ]
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she's happy to sit in companionable silence for a while until he's finished, though like, she does hum to herself here and there.]
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[ He breaks the companionable silence to ask. Once he's finished with their imaginary food. It was very good. ]
A song you like?
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The last time I was here properly I saw a performance of that song, so it was on my mind. It's a story.
... I wonder if I could replicate it here, somehow.
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It sounds good. Those kinds of things stay with you, songs.
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Yes. [she agrees, and then, just a little hesitantly:] It was particularly important to me, as it... was about me.
[she seems slightly embarrassed by this.]
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Someone writing songs about you, huh?
[ That is a tease. ]
...It's cute.
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she looks like, a Touch flustered. not in a bad way, just like, oh no, he said that's cute and i need to hide under the covers way.]
Hm. [embarrassed!!!] Yes, I suppose. Though I don't think they knew it was about me.
... If I can't figure out how to show you here, I can at the very least let you look at the transcription. It was in the library, when I looked last.
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Didn't expect it to actually be here. Yeah, show me it...
Next time.
[ Second date... unless...? ]
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It's called the Divine Damsel of Devastation. [a beat.] And no - I didn't name it.
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