[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... ]
... The story says that a monster came to a little village, summoned by a man who had lost the love of his life. You see, the monster said that it could bring that woman back, but it needed a sacrifice. And it wanted children.
The village had no way to fight back. And so they argued amongst each other. They squabbled over who would give up their children to the monster. But before they could come to a decision, a little girl stood up, and courageously offered herself. She went to the monster willingly, with an exorcist's blade hidden away, and stood up to evil, destroying it in a great and fierce battle. In awe of this, the adepti took an interest in her, and took her to their home in the clouds, never to return her to the mortal world again.
[she looks out over liyue.]
But the truth of it is that the little girl was not that brave. It was never her choice to be there.
My father thought that I was the reason for my mother's passing. It was an easy decision for him to leave a cursed child to a monster in exchange for someone he loved much more.
[you are blessed, child goes hand in hand with you are a cursed child - your life brings nothing but disaster to us all, in a funny, awful sort of way.]
I like the story much better. I'd like to learn to be the sort of person that could rescue children from a horrible fate.
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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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Well. Ain't that charmin'.
It's got a fair bit of mystique to it at least.
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Mystique is the right word. They had to make it interesting for an audience somehow.
It is not entirely the truth of what happened, but I suppose that makes a better story.
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... The story says that a monster came to a little village, summoned by a man who had lost the love of his life. You see, the monster said that it could bring that woman back, but it needed a sacrifice. And it wanted children.
The village had no way to fight back. And so they argued amongst each other. They squabbled over who would give up their children to the monster. But before they could come to a decision, a little girl stood up, and courageously offered herself. She went to the monster willingly, with an exorcist's blade hidden away, and stood up to evil, destroying it in a great and fierce battle. In awe of this, the adepti took an interest in her, and took her to their home in the clouds, never to return her to the mortal world again.
[she looks out over liyue.]
But the truth of it is that the little girl was not that brave. It was never her choice to be there.
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He listens in silence. ]
I remember.
[ He remembers that one admission well, her 'secret' that wasn't a secret to her. Hearing the entire context of the story is even more fucked up --
It's like saying, You are blessed, Child. Be honoured. ]
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My father thought that I was the reason for my mother's passing. It was an easy decision for him to leave a cursed child to a monster in exchange for someone he loved much more.
[you are blessed, child goes hand in hand with you are a cursed child - your life brings nothing but disaster to us all, in a funny, awful sort of way.]
I like the story much better. I'd like to learn to be the sort of person that could rescue children from a horrible fate.
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He's fuckin' awful.
[ Not said too loudly or in defiance, but still in a sort of stone-set way that nothing will change his stance. ]
I'm sure you can.
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Yes. [she'll agree with him there! her dad sucks and she knows it.
a pause, and she smiles a little at him.] I'm sure that I can, too. I hope you know that you have helped.
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... I don't really see it, or know how, but. Thanks.
...
Pretty impressive, taking down a monster at five years old.
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