So a god walks into a bar...

[scrapgege]

WHO: Xie Lian, Ignacio Varga, Stephen Strange, maybe more?
WHEN: In the second phase of Alem's siege
WHERE: Around the arkets and near the Hellgate
WHAT: Xie Lian has some existential conversation while feeding stray kids and investigating the gates to hell, as you do.
WARNINGS: It's Xie Lian, so he might offhandedly mention some of his past which includes suicide and torture, and a whole lot of people dying.


[Starters in comments]

Comments

Igniacio Varda - The markets

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[With food becoming more and more scarce, Xie Lian has bene giving away more of his already meager rations. This is, once again, strangely familiar, and Xi Lian ends up just ignoring his own hunger pangs or feasting on whatever doesn't look too old or moldy when he can.

Given his kind and gentle disposition and propensity for giving out food, he's gained a small gaggle of children who usually follow him around, laugh at his small misfortunes, marvel at some of his 'magic tricks' and ask for more food, and today is not exception, except...]

... We can go to the markets if you want, but I don't have any money to buy anything.

Stephen Strange - The Hellgate

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[Xie Lian initially stayed away from those gates of hell, whatever they really were. between his bad luck and his power, it seemed more dangerous to go closer than to stay away.

But then he noticed the fluctuation in spiritual levels, and Lan Wangji suggested it might have to do with the reinforcements of the seals... and if anyone is equipped to go investigate and not die from it, it's probably him.

It's not actually that hard to get close. The guard has definitely thinned, most men diverted to defense of the city after two of the towers fell.

The paper talismans look familiar even though the signs on them aren't. And the energy... it also feels familiar.

Xie Lian has, after all, been to hell before.]

I wonder if my talismans would work...

[nachocheese]

[The kids are kind of scared of Nacho. Most of them, anyway. He doesn't blame them. He's spent a lot of time developing skills of intimidation, and not a lot of time learning to be nurturing. Hey, it's not like drug cartels famously value someone's ability to be Mary Poppins, alright?

But that doesn't mean he doesn't care about those who are starving, those who are going without.

Especially the kids.

So when he overhears someone nearby, he turns, and catches Xie Lian's eye.]

It's okay. I've got some money. [And more importantly, ways of getting things without money, but he's not going to say that in front of a much of impressionable children.]

What do they want?

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[Xie Lian looks up surprised, and then gives a grateful smile. he's been too poor and too hungry to look at a gift horse in the mouth.]

Ah well... food mostly. A little something to nibble on would be nice. They haven't had anything since yesterday and I don't have anything left.

[The children clamor in assent until Xie Lian shushes them gently.]

Now now, nothing too fancy, alright? We'll get you something to fill your stomachs and last a bit.

[Unless, of course, their benefactor feels like buying sweets.]

I don't know if we've met over the crystals. I'm Xie Lian.

[rehandle]

[ It's inevitable that he should find himself here eventually. Body sleeping in the aftermath of a hard day at battle, it's not necessarily wise of him to stray so far when he leaves himself unconscious in the very tower where battle still rages... but curiosity calls.

He needs to know if he's going to be needed down here too. Needs to see it for himself so he can weigh where his efforts are best spent.

So down he comes, free of the weight of corporeal existence to instead float as if through water, making light work of the thick stone floors and walls of the fortress until he finally passes into the Room of Seals.

He isn't alone, as it turns out. Another - of their number? seems likely, the people local to Alem have been living through this siege for long enough to all have the same air and the same look to them, and on closer inspection he recognises this man in passing from their crossing of the desert - stands paying attention to the talismans that ward the place. Moving closer, Stephen comes to a halt hovering at his shoulder, keeping just enough distance to not accidentally make contact as he peers over to take a look and listen in. ]

[nachocheese]

Don't think we have. Nacho.

[He extends out a hand for Xie Lian to shake, if Xie Lian is amenable to such things.

His eyes travel to the kiddos and his expression melts. Part of him is tempted to buy sweets, but they need real food. Sustenance. Dessert won't tide them over for long.

...and okay. Maybe one sweet or too, if he can sugar talk the merchant into throwing it in for free.]

Come on. [With that, he'll lead Xie Lian and the children to one of the stands, before glancing sidelong at his new companion.] You want anything?

[scrapgege]

[The hand is met with... a slightly puzzled look and an awkward nod. Sorry, Nacho.

He'll turn back to the children with a smile.]

Alright, we're getting food for everyone so be reasonable, ha? We'll get something for everyone.

[The little troop is happy to follow, with whoops of joy. One of the smaller kids is holding onto Xie Lian's hand and after they struggle a bit to keep up, he just picks her up to carry her on his hip.]

Oh, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Not having food won't kill me.

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[Xie Lian ponders the talismans for a few seconds longer... and then fully turns around to face the apparition, giving them a smile and a nod.]

Hi! Anything familiar to you? Apart from the writing on the talismans, this really looks like something you'd see to conjure an evil spell or create a barrier where I am from. And this place does have dark energy but...

[rehandle]

[ — Wait, what? For a second he just stares - then twists to look over his shoulder. There's nobody there, so... ]

... You're talking to me?

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Hm?

[Xie Lian cocks his head to the side and looks around for a second.]

Well, I don't see anyone else here for now, so yes?

[nachocheese]

[Nacho frowns to Xiè Lián's insistence that not having food won't kill him. He's tempted to shoot back something about, well, actually not eating any food does eventually kill people, that's kind of how it works...but who knows, maybe this guy is a god or a ghost or some shit like that. So it might be true.

Still, Nacho insists. Maybe he just wants to be useful where he can or maybe it's just the sight of Xiè Lián holding the little girl warms the inside of his chest. So he says only:]

Gotta eat something, man.

[Food is scarce during the siege. Nacho beelines to one of the merchants he knows, a pretty young woman who's made it clear she likes his eyes and who he's not above flirting with to get his way. More importantly, he knows by now who is easier to deal with and who isn't...and who can be manipulated by the sight of a dozen hungry children and who can't be.

He gets some bread for everyone, some dried cured meats, dried fruits...nothing fresh, though. The merchants haven't had anything like that since he's been here, as far as he knows. He does look over his shoulder, almost conspiratorially, at Xiè Lián and the little girl and although he drops his voice, it's not hard to hear him saying, "Two pastries? For them?" as he makes a 'number two' symbol with his hands.]

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[Everyone is glad to get their treats and Xie Lian has to admonish a few of the children to eat slowly and take their time, and maybe keep a little for later, because who knows when they'll next have a feast like this.

He hears the order of pastries, and happily gives one of the pastries to the girl he is carrying, encouraging her to eat, while holding onto the other and... not eating it.

And then, of course, there are more eyes looking at it with envy and he's never going to resist that kind of thing so he holds it out to one of the older kids.]

Here, share it with everyone, a bit each should work.

[And then, back to Nacho.]

Thank you. It's been hard finding food. Foraging is getting more and more dangerous.

[rehandle]

[ Huh. That's... interesting. Stephen takes a second to wonder whether he might have come through the veil without noticing, but even if that were the case he's not a usual sight. He should be more of a shock to behold.

Present company is accustomed to this sort of thing. ]

I see. [ Hell is pressing, but first this mystery. ] Are you a medium? A sorcerer?

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Ah, no, not really.

[Xie Lian scratches his head, looking a little embarrassed.]

I'm a Heaven Official. I guess you could say a god?

You're not a ghost but I didn't realize anyone among us could do astral projections like that.

[rehandle]

[ A god. Well, at least this isn't the first time he's run into one of those. With the revelation provided, Stephen settles a little, eases into the interaction. ]

Surprise. [ A brief jazz hand - here he is, astral projecting. ] Nothing as impressive as a god, I'm a sorcerer.

I wasn't expecting to be spotted. Sorry for sneaking around.

[ He's doesn't sound that sorry really, but it's the thought that counts. ]

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It's alright. It's not like you could have known.

[he tends not to trumpet the fact, after all. And he is significantly crippled by the cursed shackles at the moment, even if that doesn't impede on his ability to see spirits and sense qi.]

Did you see anything familiar ?

[nachocheese]

[Nacho looks questioningly at him when he doesn't eat.]

You weren't kidding about not eating, huh?

[He looks at the collection of little ones that form Xie Lian's impromptu entourage.]

So I've heard. Sorry 'bout it. [He sighs a little.]

[scrapgege]

I've gone without eating for much, much longer than this, and it can't kill me.

[It's the second time he's said that, and in a strange, pointed manner, and the 'much, much longer' doesn't seem like he's exaggerating for comical purposes either.

Xie Lian shrugs at the sympathy.]

It's a siege, and they've been living this way for months. It doesn't make it easier, but people actually adapt pretty fast. That's why they survive.

At least thanks to you they'll have had one good meal today. They'll remember that. That's what's important.