[Everyone who has met Xie Lian so far would tell you a different story, but one that most people can agree on is the fact that he tends to be kind and congenial most of the time, even when others might get angry, and that he tends to try and defuse situations rather than escalate them.
But ever since the whole ceremony when they arrived, he's definitely been more reserved and keeping to himself, and when people come to find him, they might be met with a rather colder gaze than they're used to from him, and a rather curt 'What do you want?.
At least, he seems to realize that he shouldn't act like that, because he will immediately straighten up, and force a smile.]
Sorry, did you need something?
B. LET'S CLEAN THIS PLACE UP
[If there is one thing that Xie Lian knows better than anyone else, it's that altars to the gods should be well tended. These aren't his gods, but that doesn't mena he can allow any altars or temples to be in a sorry state like this, and it just so happens that cleaning up is a thing he can do very well.
So if anyone wanders to the area of the Ancient Temples, they'll more than likely find Xie Lian there, scrubbing and sweeping and dusting. It also helps that he doesn't really want to be around anyone these days, and especially as the gashes have started appearing on his skin. he's kind of on edge, and he's not liking it, because a lot of memories keep flooding back to him and none of them are pleasant, and it makes him not nice to be around. he's aware of it, but he can't seem to help himself.
Still, if someone else wanders in, he'll make an attempt to be pleasant.]
Sorry, I didn't hear you arrive. If you'd like to worship, I'll leave you be while you do it.
C. FOX WEDDING
[Before he's quite managed to understand what exactly is going, he's found himself dressed in red again - and just his luck, the wedding attire is quite clearly meant for a female bride. how exactly they managed to strap him into it is anyone's guess, but no one seems to be listening to his protests, and once he is locked into the room, of course, it doesn't take him long to understand the other person in here is not a person at all, but a spirit.
He sighs, and kneels down, and bows his head slightly.]
I'm very sorry, but there must have been some kind of mistake. You see, I can't marry you. I am already married.
[The fox squints at him, and looks unconvinced, so Xie Lian insists and pulls out the diamond-like ring on a chain that he wears around his neck.]
See? My husband gave me this ring to show it. I really can't be marrying other people.
[He doesn't know if it's that, or maybe some of Hua Cheng's power that can be felt even though he is not there, but the fox spirit's eyes widen, and Xie Lian finds himself unceremoniously dragged to the door and thrown out, sprawling out to his hands and knees in the wedding dress into the hallway.]
... Ouch. There was no need for that, I could have gone out on my own!
D. BE KIND TO THE FOX GODS
[Xie Lan doesn't really like solutions that immediately go towards eliminating spirits. After all, it's not like the fox spirits are really doing anything wrong. They come because they're being called, and of course if their altars are neglected or broken, they will cause mischief because that is what fox spirits do.
So while some people are definitely hunting for fox fur, Xie Lian himself sets to clean up the altars. They're relatively easy to spot once you know what you're looking for, and not very hard to clean up either - remove the moss, wash the stone in river water and reassemble them, add a few wildflowers...
But of course, some of them are guarded, too, and he tries to placate the spirit who surprised him mid-clean.]
It's alright, it's fine. Let me finish this and it'll be all better, you'll see.
Xie Lian
[Everyone who has met Xie Lian so far would tell you a different story, but one that most people can agree on is the fact that he tends to be kind and congenial most of the time, even when others might get angry, and that he tends to try and defuse situations rather than escalate them.
But ever since the whole ceremony when they arrived, he's definitely been more reserved and keeping to himself, and when people come to find him, they might be met with a rather colder gaze than they're used to from him, and a rather curt 'What do you want?.
At least, he seems to realize that he shouldn't act like that, because he will immediately straighten up, and force a smile.]
Sorry, did you need something?
B. LET'S CLEAN THIS PLACE UP
[If there is one thing that Xie Lian knows better than anyone else, it's that altars to the gods should be well tended. These aren't his gods, but that doesn't mena he can allow any altars or temples to be in a sorry state like this, and it just so happens that cleaning up is a thing he can do very well.
So if anyone wanders to the area of the Ancient Temples, they'll more than likely find Xie Lian there, scrubbing and sweeping and dusting. It also helps that he doesn't really want to be around anyone these days, and especially as the gashes have started appearing on his skin. he's kind of on edge, and he's not liking it, because a lot of memories keep flooding back to him and none of them are pleasant, and it makes him not nice to be around. he's aware of it, but he can't seem to help himself.
Still, if someone else wanders in, he'll make an attempt to be pleasant.]
Sorry, I didn't hear you arrive. If you'd like to worship, I'll leave you be while you do it.
C. FOX WEDDING
[Before he's quite managed to understand what exactly is going, he's found himself dressed in red again - and just his luck, the wedding attire is quite clearly meant for a female bride. how exactly they managed to strap him into it is anyone's guess, but no one seems to be listening to his protests, and once he is locked into the room, of course, it doesn't take him long to understand the other person in here is not a person at all, but a spirit.
He sighs, and kneels down, and bows his head slightly.]
I'm very sorry, but there must have been some kind of mistake. You see, I can't marry you. I am already married.
[The fox squints at him, and looks unconvinced, so Xie Lian insists and pulls out the diamond-like ring on a chain that he wears around his neck.]
See? My husband gave me this ring to show it. I really can't be marrying other people.
[He doesn't know if it's that, or maybe some of Hua Cheng's power that can be felt even though he is not there, but the fox spirit's eyes widen, and Xie Lian finds himself unceremoniously dragged to the door and thrown out, sprawling out to his hands and knees in the wedding dress into the hallway.]
... Ouch. There was no need for that, I could have gone out on my own!
D. BE KIND TO THE FOX GODS
[Xie Lan doesn't really like solutions that immediately go towards eliminating spirits. After all, it's not like the fox spirits are really doing anything wrong. They come because they're being called, and of course if their altars are neglected or broken, they will cause mischief because that is what fox spirits do.
So while some people are definitely hunting for fox fur, Xie Lian himself sets to clean up the altars. They're relatively easy to spot once you know what you're looking for, and not very hard to clean up either - remove the moss, wash the stone in river water and reassemble them, add a few wildflowers...
But of course, some of them are guarded, too, and he tries to placate the spirit who surprised him mid-clean.]
It's alright, it's fine. Let me finish this and it'll be all better, you'll see.