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WHO: Xie Lian, Wei Wuxian, Eleven, Alina, anyone who stumbles on them?
WHEN: After this whole thing.
WHERE: A small area just off the farm so there's some room in case of a power burst.
WHAT: We're testing arrays and power transfers.
WARNINGS: Smooching. because this is how we roll here.

[Xie Lian wishes he had told about the whole power transfer thing before Wei Wuxian came up with volunteers, but he is so used to having other Heavenly Officials or Ghosts around for that - or doing without - that he did not even think the two possible options would be Eleven, a child, and Alina, a woman.

Just his luck.

But Maybe Wei Wuxian is right and there's another way he can do this. So they should test it out.

This clearing is far enough away from the house they probably won't disturb it, hopefully, but close enough they can run for shelters if wolves or other unsavory creatures come back.

Xie Lian sits on a tree stump and rubs his face, sighing.]

This is why you shouldn't get involved in human matters.

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[If it hadn't been Xie Lian, Eleven tells himself for the tenth time, this would far easier. If it were anyone else... well, it would still be awkward, but he wouldn't be so nervous. Just a quick-

No. A tiny part of his dignity shrivels just imagining it. Compared to a God as beautiful as Xie Lian, he is the Lips back at L'Academie. Or worse.

Eleven drags a hand down his face, then swiftly drops it the moment he makes out Xie Lian's figure. He's not ready- he won't be- Goddess, he hasn't even thought of what to say, had forgotten he'd need to. He clutches his baldric between both hands, but manages a small smile at least.]

..Ah, good afternoon.

Edited 2021-05-22 19:48 (UTC)

[Xie Lian looks up at the greeting, and gives Eleven a slightly weary smile.]

Hello.

... I'm sorry, I should have told Wei-gongzi about the method before he asked people. I just didn't realize who he was going to ask. This is...

[It's embarrassing. For everyone involved.]

[His heart clenches, and Eleven hastens to reassure, albeit clumsily]

It's okay. I don't- it isn't- I'll be fine.

[All of that, in a rush. Goddess, will he ever not feel stupid around Xie Lian?]

..I just want to help.

Master Wei suggested maybe using the wrist meridian, and it seems it can work with qi, but I don't know if your type of power would be compatible...

Maybe we can try once with the... the way I'm more used to, and if nothing bad happen, we'll see if the wrist works?

[He nods shortly and makes himself take a step closer deapite the writhing mess of nerves in his gut.

Surely, it'll be fine. There's nothing at all to worry about. The worst that could happen is it doesn't work]

Is there anything I should..? I mean, I've never tried to give someone power before.

Nothing in particular.

[Normally, if the power is similar enough, Xie Lian should be able to draw it out on his own.]

... You can close your eyes, if that makes it less embarrassing.

[There's no helping the dust of color across his face, but he does consciously straighten.

He inhales sharply, gathering his wits, then nods]

I'm okay.

[The touch of lips on Eleven's is soft, just a small press, and Xie Lian demurely keeps his hand behind his back to make sure nothing inappropriate is happening.

The power is not exactly like the one he's used to, but similar enough that drawing it out is not that complicated. Xie Lian keeps it short, just enough to feel a bit energized, and pulls back.]

... That feels like it worked. Let me try.

[He holds out a hand, palm towards the ground, and a glowing array appears on the ground. It flickers away after only about ten seconds, but it's still more than what Xie Lian has been able to do with his own power since he's arrived here. Arrays are not his specialty.]

[The kiss he'd worked himself up about is little more than a featherlight touch he finds himself swiftly distracted from. In theory, Eleven had known what to expect, but neither had he been prepared for it.

The energy pulls from his chest and drains dry- a flicker that's there and gone; a subtle presence that leaves him achingly breathless now. The rest... is as expected, as though he's overused his magic only without the physical exhaustion that accompanies the demands of a prolonged battle. He blinks through the sudden bout of powerlessness to observe the beautifully bright array that disappears too quickly.

Eleven presses a hand to his chest and stares at Xie Lian through heavy breaths; a mixture of surprise and alarm in his eyes.]

That's- it worked, but.. my power isn't enough, is it?

Edited 2021-05-28 06:02 (UTC)

... It doesn't look like it will help for more than about ten seconds, but it's still more than I can do on my own.

[Sorry, Eleven. He doesn't mean to put your magic down in any way. The power is just different and it doesn't persist for long.]

In an emergency, it can help. Are you alright? You should probably sit down for a few minutes.

[Eleven sinks to his knees on the ground without further prompting. Ordinarily, he would be disappointed that his power is so limited as to be very little help, but now he's mildly grateful for it, bothered now by what feels like a hollow recess beneath the curl of his fingers]

Yes, I'm okay. [Probably] ..With rest, the power you borrowed should return, right?

Of course. I only borrow temporarily, and I don't keep it. It'll replenish itself the way it normally does when you overextend yourself a little.

[Ah, but we can't have you kneeling on icy ground, Eleven, here, let him take your elbow to lead you to the tree stump he was sitting on earlier.]

How long does it usually take for you?

[Eleven follows his gentle urging and settles with a relieved breath. He'd never thought Xie Lian malicious, but it's a comfort to hear that low-lying fear is baseless]

Overnight, usually, for my magic. I should have known it wouldn't be enough.

[Not that he looks terribly broken up about it. He searches Xie Lian's face for.. something- for once, not distracted by his beauty]

Did you feel anything.. different from my magic, at first?

[Something more spiritual, like a quick breath of light before it vanished, meager]

Well, we wouldn't have known without testing it. At least now we're sure.

[The questions makes him think, looking at his hand and flexing his fingers.]

It did feel a bit different to what I'm used to, but i'm not sure how to describe it. Like a different taste?

it seems to mostly behave the way I'd expect it to... but I don't think I could use it the way you do. Just as a source of energy.

[He breathes a steady exhale and nods, eyes lowering. Eleven turns his concentration inward, reaching deep in a pull for vestiges of power. Flickers, drying up in much the same way, then shivering over his skin. He shudders and blinks back to attention]

You'll need someone more powerful then. [There is one person he can think of, but given the method, it feels like asking a bit too much] Sorry I couldn't be much help.

It's fine, it's fine, don't worry about it. I've worked around having limits on my powers for hundreds of years. This isn't half bad in a pinch.

[Ten seconds at almost full throttle is still better than zero.]

The last person to give me power like this was a ghost king, so I don't think you can compare. There's no need to be sorry.

What, are immortal affairs any less tangled?

( Weighing in is Wei Wuxian, tromping to this clearing with his cloak pulled tight around him. )

That I find hard to believe. Now, hah—where will we start?

( Coming to a stop near him, he holds up his arms, looks between them, then pulls back the sleeve over his left arm. )

Mah, you know cultivation, yes? I can direct qi to you, but for the sake of those who might not have that control, we can see what you can coax free without my help, yeah?

... No, not really.

[Xie Lian gives him a weary smile, then bows his head a little.]

I'm sorry, I should have told you about the method of transfer before you went and asked people.

We'll try it out this way I guess.

[He takes Wei Wuxian's wrists between his fingers, feeling for the pulse and the energy, and then puts his lips over it. Hm. This looks like it might work, qi being close enough to his kind of power, but very soon, Xie Lian hits a hurdle he did not anticipate. This man... is human, and he has very, very little qi compared to what he is used to and he needs to stop. Right now.

He gives what he thought was a light push to Wei Wuxian to sever the connection, forgetting about his own strength for a moment and sending the man flying. His eyes widen when he realizes it and he immediately throw his right arm forward.]

Ruoye!

[The white silk bandage flies out, wrapping around Wei Wuxian and pulling him back before he crashes into a tree.]

I'm so sorry! Are you alright?

Edited 2021-05-23 09:14 (UTC)

( The sound of surprise torn out of his throat as he's shoved back through the air matches the look in his eyes, right up to when he's caught. The air's taken out of him either way, Ruoye trussing him up and near giving him whiplash as he's pulled back toward the god holding the other end of the prehensile ribbon, and if any limbs of his are free, he flails them in the process of being pulled forward again. )

Waah!

( ... Congratulations, he's still in reaction mode. )

[And he'll crash into Xie Lian, who by a miracle of some sort manages to stay upright and wrap his arms around him.]

Are you okay? Why did you say I could test this on you? You don't have nearly enough qi for this to work! I could have killed you!

( Now he's getting hugged and still wheezing even as he's reactively clutching on too. )

I thought... you said... you had... control!

I do. That's why you're still alive.

[But that was very, very foolish to propose when you barely have more power than a normal human, sir!]

The last time I did this, I completely drained the energy of a Ghost King. You barely have anything to take. You can't go around offering it like that!

( Still wheezing: )

I said test. Test! Didn't I already... say I wasn't the one? For a full pull!

( Thanks for the unexpected exhaustion and re-introduction to bondage. )

What did you... call this, anyway? ( Glancing down as he can toward the bandage. ) Ruoye?

I didn't do a full pull!

[Because if he had, you would be dead.]

I can't take energy from normal people. That's not safe. You don't have enough for me to try this with you, even just a little.

[His gaze falls on the silk bandage, who is coming back to wrap around Xie Lian's wrists, but keeps an extremity up, like it's a particularly proud snake. Or puppy. OR both at the same time.]

Yes, that's Ruoye. It's... my spiritual weapon, I guess you could call it. I used to have a sword, but it didn't make it here with me, apparently.

That kind of disclaimer would be useful! Besides, I'm not a normal person, I'm just not overabundant, I have no way to be!

( He's annoyed, but also exhausted, and feels his knees giving out on him just before he starts to fall. Nice to meet Ruoye, but he's got other issues, and other missing swords, to accompany him down, down, down. )

I told you I was borrowing power. It sort of implies you have power to give, Master Wei.

I didn't really feel anything different between you and a normal human, so if you have some power, it doesn't seem to be compatible with me.

[Ah, but he's falling down. Xie Lian's arm around Wei Wuxian's waist tightens and he hauls him back up, holding him close and tight enough he won't fall. But this will be a problem.]

I'm going to have to carry you back. You'll need to rest before you feel back to normal.

[he would attempt to give the power back, but honestly, he can't even feel it inside of him anymore, already, and he's not sure giving some of his own would be a good idea.]

Maybe Master Lan can give you some qi to help.

I think you have an issue with scale.

( He grumbles, because he is offended; Xie Lian has all the gentle touch on energy of a thirsty horse coming up on a trough and shoving its nose right in to slurp it down.

It also means when he attempts to stand, again, and his knees give out again, and he grits out: )

I'm sure he could, but it'll be fine, he doesn't need to be disturbed!

... Why not? He has a lot and he takes care of you all the time.

[Guess who Wangji hired to renovate your 'room', Wei Wuxian? that's right, this guy is why you don't have leaks in your roof.]

Because I don't need someone's qi if I'm not injured, I just need to rest.

( Though he frowns, more annoyed at all this as a situation than anything else. )

What do you mean, takes care of me all the time?

( He knows Lan Zhan takes care of him in many ways, zero of them presently financial, but he's not sure what Xie Lian thinks that entails. )

Well, he made sure you had that room away from th dog, since you're afraid of it?

I helped him clean up and patch up the roof.

[He didn't mind, he's good at cleaning.]

( .................. he sighs )

I wondered who helped with that, it was too much to think Lan Zhan really knew how... thank you, for helping him with all of it.

( Ignoring the dog thing because it's just. Just gonna be like that. )

That's alright! I've done these things a lot, and I'm pretty good at them!

[Look how proud he is of that, too. A god, proud of their DIY skills.]

... Are you a handiwork god?

( ask this in the god's arms, as you do. )

... You can set me down, hahaha, I'll be, ah. ... Fine off the ground.

You're not heavy. I can carry you back to the house.

[And besides you could barely stand a few minutes ago, Wei Wuxian.]

And I guess I'm a god of whatever people want to call me these days. I haven't been called the Flower Crown Martial God in centuries.

Huh.

( Flower crowns? Martial gods? They're not much of his life personally, though the many different gods are ones he's heard of in some villages in his travels, as he brushed more firmly against non-cultivation circles, and different aspects of the ones following teachings of older times. Where it's not simply bodhisattvas, which he's more familiar with. )

Why flower crown?

( Him asking as he doesn't try to haul off Xie Lian is his tacit acceptance for being helped back to the house. )

Ah.... Well, I guess it's because of who I was before I ascended.

[Which... he hasn't told anyone here before, because haha, who cares.]

Back then, they also called me Tài Zǐ Yuè Shén, His Highness Who Pleased the Gods. I was...

[He sounds vaguely embarrassed.]

I was the Crown Prince of Xian Le Kingdom.

( ... Never heard of it before. He does try to think, and it remains an unfamiliar kingdom name. Not that there are many kingdoms in their regions: it's part of why the cultivators oversee the area, defending the peoples who don't have their skillsets from the creatures which cause such disastrous havoc otherwise.

Not to mention, people generating their own chaos that slips its leash to run out of control. )

Ah, so that's it, then.

( A curious detail, and then he smiles, a touch amused. )

Makes you one of at least two former royalty here then! Lee Chang is another, from the teasing Mingyu's put out on the stone communication network.

( ........... it's not much of a reaction, all things considered, because being a god is more incredible, and being nobility is functionally unimportant to a man who didn't live under a monarchy. )

[Xie Lian didn't really expect We Wuxian to know about it anyway. The kingdom itself disappeared hundreds of years ago, and the only people who remember it are ghosts or gods.]

Oh, is he? Well, he has the looks of it, to be honest.

My kingdom is long gone. But when I ascended, people got into the habit of calling me Tài Zǐ Diànxià as a sort of shorthand because that was what they called me when I was still among them, even though there are a lot of Crown Princes and Highnesses among ascended heaven Officials. And I guess it just stuck, even though my temples said 'Flower Crown Martial God'.

[Also, yes, he said 'ascended'. And has now mentioned a lie before godhood, so, you know. These things happen to people.]

( He also said there's a lot of royalty in the heavens, which to Wei Wuxian, sounds more and more like a heavenly scam. But hey, it just reaffirms the disconnect despite understanding Xie Lian better than those of other, more visibly different worlds.

He turns to look back toward the farmhouse. )

Doesn't sound like any of you were really cultivating much before ascending. As far as I know, if you're so many royalty, you're not really in cultivation circles anyway, human rules and cultivation sects tend to not cross paths.

( A pause. )

Wait, you were human! And you haven't mentioned any cultivation sects--people ascend just like that?!

Well, there are cultivation sects. I studied cultivation as a child, with a master, and I know some people do ascend like that, but it takes years. Usually, it'll happen if you do something that is considered a great merit by the Heavenly Emperor.

[Hahaha, let's not talk about that.]

So, no, not just like that, but it happens.

... I don't see how that isn't still just like that? If one person's deciding for his own reasons?

( He snorts, hard. )

How old were you when you did this great meritorious deed, ah? Is there a list of what qualifies? Are people required to continue to prove merit after they ascend?

I was seventeen.

[Hence the looks. Ahem.]

I don't know if there is a list and yes, you should try to keep accumulating merits after ascending since they're used almost like currency. And the more believers you have, the better your standing in Heaven. Honestly not that different from a human Imperial Court, of you ask me.

Having no concept of an Imperial court, I'll take your word for it.

( Wrong context for him, and not the kind of novels he read. Empires aren't uncommon in certain eras; they just had fewer notable ones in the time he was from, and not in the regions where the major and minor clans held sway. )

What an exhausting sounding popularity contest... what about the gods in charge of all the things no one's fond of? There are gods for those things too, right?

Well yes.... they're just not very popular.

.... I'm not very popular either, really. Most of the humans don't even really remember me as anything else but the Scrap Immortal.

Humans are fickle enough by nature, they're remembering you at all, it's a compliment of some kind? I have no idea, being popular in established social circles is something I'm a little less known for the last, oh, twenty years or so myself.

( This is so conversational. Watch him smile after. )

I can think of you as the Flower Crown Martial God, if you'd like. Is there anything I'm supposed to do? Is remembering enough?

There's no need for that! I might be a god, but I'm not your god. And well...

[The one person who still thinks of him like this is not here, and a blush touches his cheeks.]

It's fine, really. Here, I'm just Xie Lian, and it's alright. Here, we're at the house. Can you stand now?

I'm fresh out of gods, so I don't mind. You seen a friendly enough sort! Though--how long have you been human?

( but he does keep his feet when set down, and while he's lightheaded, he can handle it. )

Thank you, I'm definitely going to reach that house just fine now!

( walking... slight drunken looking... away )

Well, I was human for my first seventeen years, and then since my first ascension it's been... about eight hundred years, I think?

[But well, who's counting but now...]

Get some food and some rest!

He's an immortal teenager...

( Wei Wuxian tosses a wave back at him, and a smile, before he disappears... into the house, stomping snow off his boots in the entryway. )

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