kaisou | the price of immortality

Entry tags:

the price of immortality

WHO: Guizhong and you! Open to all!
WHERE: Network, then around Brick Alley or Blue Fish Park
WHEN: Evening of January 17th...the full moon
WHAT: Guizhong's contract price needs to be paid.
WARNINGS: None anticipated.

post from: encheneer

[8:44 PM] My work has finished late. Would it be too much to ask for an escort back to my apartment near Blue Fish Park from Brick Alley?
[8:53 PM] Never mind!
[8:54 PM] I'm sure I'll be fine.

[9:06 PM] Have you ever seen such a beautiful full moon? I regret missing moonrise tonight.
[9:08 PM] I could chase after her forever.
[9:11 PM] I can reach her this time, I know I can.

fly me to the moon

[If you happen to be around Brick Alley or walking around Blue Fish Park, you might see Guizhong. She's not exactly the gentle, clever woman she usually is. Instead she seems almost ghost-like, wandering forward, stopping and staring off into the sky, spouting poetry and praise before continuing on. It'll be very evident that she's following the moon...completely disregarding anything that might stand in the way of her quest.

Try to stop her, or save her from whatever impending doom coming her way, whether it's bumping into people, wandering into traffic, or even walking off a cliff somewhere. She's not really in a great position to do any of that herself right now, and the only way to fix the situation is to block her view of the moon.]

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[She doesn't even startle when he touches her. Guizhong's gaze remains rapturous on the moon, and when she eventually speaks, it's with an indulgent sigh, the mist forming and dissipating in the chilly air exactly the way she might, if not for his effort to keep her grounded.]

More than alright. I'm wonderful. [The toe of her shoe teases at the edge of the lake, and the tiny motion travels out and out, the moon's reflection at the center rippling and shivering with her. Yearning.] The full moon is out, and I've never felt closer to her.

[So close, and yet still so far away. Though she doesn't tug her hand away, Guizhong takes a step away from her friend, turning her body toward the moon and the lake.]

She's waiting for me. Listening. By thy pale beams I solitary rove / To thee my tender grief confide... Oh Abel, I want to go to her side so badly. Right now.

[ he's a little afraid she's under the influence of some kind of drug-- not that he had ever pinned her as the sort to indulge in such things, but... she doesn't seem herself in the least and absolutely detached from reality. this fixation on the moon, the dreamy, distant quality of her eyes...

he keeps his hold at her wrist like an anchor, both for his own peace of mind and to halt her from stepping any closer to the chilly water. ]

...It's beautiful tonight, isn't it? [ should he get her medical attention...? he's sincerely afraid there's something wrong with her. is she feverish? sick? ] Would you... come with me? Please. Look at me, Guizhong-- we'll go and get something warm to drink. There's a nice view of her atop the building at home; we can go up there if you'd like. How does that sound...?

[At the command, Guizhong turns to look at him. She blinks slow, and there's the slightest crease in her brow as she takes him in, as if she weren't expecting him to be there.]

To the roof?

[She's adverse to the idea of moving away from the moon, much less going inside. Her journey is a pilgrimage, after all, and detours are sacrilege. But the roof would offer a good viewpoint of the city. It might reveal a path to her. And if not, she could just fly to the moon directly, just like the moon goddess did herself. She's is sure she can manage it this time.]

...alright, Abel. Let us go and pay homage to her from there.

[ Abel, naturally, has no intention of taking her to the roof. but it's enough to get her out of the cold and perhaps stall for time to figure out what's come over her; he hopes she'll forgive him for the misdirection, but he rather ask for forgiveness than permission, presently... s-sorry, Guizhong...

so he is gently, carefully, releasing his hold on her wrist... and offering her his hand for her to take of her volition instead. ]

Mm, I think that sounds like a lovely way to spend the night. You come with me, okay...? We're going to head home.

[Abel has always been a friend to her. She has no reason to doubt him, setting her hand in his without hesitation and trusting him to lead the way.

She is quiet the way back, continuing to glance over her shoulder to look at the moon. But perhaps the rational side of her is fighting back, or not looking at the moon constantly is helping her return to herself. By the time they arrive to the apartment complex, Guizhong is following him dutifully, not glancing back at all.

She is tired, though, and lightly tugs on his hand to signal him to stop.]

Abel.

[She's not sure what to say, exactly. And so she stays silent, waiting for the questions to come.]

[ though Abel, normally, is the sort of man that can rattle off a disgusting amount of inane chatter at a mile a minute-- their trip is a decidedly quiet and subdued one. Guizhong may be sending the occasional longing glance over her shoulder to the moon, but in contrast... Abel's glances are sent in the direction of his companion, soft knit of concern seemingly a permanent fixture at his brow.

but there's some relief as the further they go from the park, the more she seems to become... rooted; that floaty, dream-like daze is slowly but surely lifting, though the concern in his gut does not. the pressure of a small squeeze at his hand has his footsteps immediately stalling-- ]

Oh-- yes! Yes; we're here, so--

[ she has his full attention, and he looks like he is fully prepared to Fret if it's necessary; she looks... weary. drained, maybe. to say he's worried about her would be something of an understatement... maybe she really had caught ill? ]

Are you okay...?

I think so. For now, at least.

[She scrubs at her face, hating how small and exposed she feels, but unable to wipe away the afterimage of the moon from her mind's eye. The past half hour feels like a foggy dream she can't remember properly, and now that she's 'awake', it's hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. It was never this bad before, so why...?]

Thank you for escorting me back. I'm not sure I would've made it on my own.

No, no-- of course, you don't need to thank me... I could hardly leave you out there like that, so--

[ ...well. he trails off, uncertain whether or not he should press. the look on her face isn't so much one of illness as fatigue, and perhaps something almost... dejected? if he had to give a word to it, maybe that was the right one.

but after a moment's heavy pause, Abel is taking a breath... right. standing here isn't going to help matters, certainly. ]

...You know, it's terribly cold out there, and... if you aren't feeling well, maybe that cup of tea will help? Get you warmed up... maybe clear your head a bit? [ maybe he's simply afraid to leave her alone, or maybe there's something in his chest-- some little voice of worry-- that tells him leaving her wouldn't be wise. either way... ]

[She swipes at her bangs to wick away her cold sweat, letting out a small huff of breath. Not quite laughter. But she feels lighter at the suggestion. Teatime with Abel is normal. Warm and safe. She desperately needs something normal to calm her nerves and the chill in her blood.]

The universal solution to all problems.

[Guizhong takes the last few steps into the apartment complex, the building's walls obscuring the moon from her sight. Her shoulders relax minutely.]

That sounds lovely. What tea do you have in mind?

[ she takes a few steps inside, and it's as if the last of some unseen spell has begun to break in earnest. it doesn't manage to diminish the worry in his gut, but... at least she's seeming cognizant of herself and her surroundings again, and the glazed look in her eye has gone.

Abel's gently beginning to meander toward the stairwell that leads to his floor, making sure to keep his pace a bit slower and leave an eye on her as he goes. ]

Ah, well... I was thinking that this is the sort of situation that calls for chamomile, you know? Nice and soothing~! It's my favorite for bedtime, so you'll have to forgive me if I go and start nodding off halfway through the cup, alright?

[Guizhong is all too aware of him watching her, but where she'd be fondly exasperated at his fussing any other time, right now it feels like a protective aegis against her bizarre condition. She meets his gaze each time to reassure him that she's alright and still with him.]

I'll be sure to tuck you into bed if that happens, [she teases, a bit of mischief sparking in her eyes.] I would hate for Jun to fuss over you for sleeping in your chair all night.

[ good... good; it's a relief to hear her teasing him in her very Guizhong way, and the chuckle that leaves him is equal parts grateful and amused. ]

Oh, please, as if he isn't used to me nodding off in all manner of places... It's a life skill, okay? I could sleep right here and now if I were determined enough~! Impressive, right?

[ yeah so impressive, being a lazy dog....... smh.

it doesn't take long to reach his door, and he's holding it ajar for her to come inside and make herself comfortable. ]

...But, maybe I'm dwelling on the wrong part of this. You'd tuck me in, Guizhong? Really? Read me a bedtime story and everything?

Impressive indeed. Insomniacs across the world would pay money to know your secrets.

[As an occasional insomniac herself, she's half-serious here.

Stepping into the apartment is exactly what she needs. The familiar setting is a balm, cozy and quirky and filled with evidence of the Nightroads' comfortable life. She feels safe here, perhaps safer than being by herself in her own apartment. Hopefully Abel won't nod off too quickly so that she can stay for a while...]

If you wanted me to? [Guizhong smiles as she unwinds her scarf from around her neck, draping it over back of the couch and curling up in her usual spot.] I've been told my voice is quite nice for ASMR.

[ oh, it would take at least five full doses of elephant tranq to knock this man out while she's visiting... he is Worried, alright? he might be professional at putting on a cheery face and masking over discomfort, but perhaps he tips his hand anyway; it's in all the little glances he's sending her as she makes herself cozy on the couch in that spot that might as well have her name on it.

the apartment isn't terribly large, so it won't be hard for her to hear him as he wanders for the kitchen to get the kettle going. ]

Ha... you know what? Next time I find myself in need of tucking in, you'll be the first person I call! I'm very curious what sort of story you'd weave me to see me off to sleep... fairy tale? Something cute and charming~?

[A quiet laugh.]

Perhaps. Though something tells me you might end up too invested in the story. You'd be too excited to sleep if I did that. No, I was thinking poetry instead.

[She's loved poetry ever since she was a child, and it would be unsurprising to her (if she remembered properly) that she made several recitations in the middle of her odd, moon-obsessed condition. She recites one now in Chinese, but her voice crests and falls, restrained passion instead of the dreamy quality she spoke in earlier.]

Gentle breeze on grass by the shore,
The boat's tall mast alone at night.
Stars fall to the broad flat fields,
Moon rises from the great river's flow.
Have my writings not made any mark?
An official should stop when old and sick.
Fluttering from place to place I resemble,
A gull between heaven and earth.

[She ends with a contented sigh.]

I can do it in English too, of course. But maybe if the language was less familiar to you, the recitation would be more soporific.

[ Abel's hands slow, then still in their ministrations as he listens to her recitation; it's clear from her delivery that poetry is more than just a passing flight of fancy. something about it tugs as familiar, or... maybe that's simply something in her tone of voice. either way, he finds himself staring at the tea cup he had been placing on the counter instead of finishing his task until she's through.

it isn't the far-away inflection she'd possessed out by the lake-- but it leaves him feeling a little dreamlike instead. the silence lingers in its wake before he seems to come back to himself, taking a quiet breath as if, indeed, waking from a pleasant trance. ]

What is it about, Guizhong? The poem.

It's a reflection on age. The famous poet Du Fu is traveling by night, and the scenery he observes sinks him into a melancholic mood. Have my writings not made any mark? He is wondering about his legacy, implying that it may be best to leave things to others now that he is no longer young and healthy. He ends by comparing his transient self to a gull, flying halfway between the physical earth and the nebulous heavens.

[She turns to crane her neck in his direction, cocoa brown eyes curious.]

Did it strike a chord with you before I explained it?

Edited 2022-02-07 23:15 (UTC)

[ there's the soft clink as he sets the spoon in the tea cup, and before he replies... Abel strays from the warming kettle to lean against the kitchen doorway. blue eyes are warm-- if thoughtful-- where they rest upon his guest. ]

There's something about it... though I can't say if I can attribute it to your recital or the poem itself, truthfully. A sort of feeling, almost like deja vu?

[ an odd ache, but not the unpleasant sort. nostalgia? ]

Does that sound strange?

Not at all. The mind works in strange ways, as you've seen with me. The oddest, most random of connections can trigger our memories.

[She straightens in her seat, all attention on him now.]

Sometimes it's best not to think too much on it, so that the recollection comes to you more easily. Shall I recite more poetry to help?

[ maybe this distraction would be nice. if not for him (though to suggest he isn't enjoying would be a lie), than for Guizhong-- and to those ends, whatever brief moment of hesitation he had erodes, and Abel's nodding in agreement. ]

I think I'd like that, actually. Maybe it'll turn out your poetry is more therapeutic than tea, in the end?

It may well be that they work better together than apart.

[She searches her mind for another poem, and this time her voice is low and wistful.]

Alone, in silence, up the west tower I go:
The moon is like a sickle;
That desolate phoenix tree, this clear, cool autumn,
Locked deep in the courtyard below.

O threads I can’t cut through,
In a tangle I can’t undo!
Such is my parting sorrow-
A taste that tastes so odd, so strange that my heart
Ne’er ever before did know.

[ even if he might not be able to understand the words, it's uncanny how an image is painted into his mind's eye regardless as she speaks. something vaguely forlorn, giving the impression of yearning or a want he can't identify. the written-- and spoken-- word is powerful; even in a language he should not be able to speak, read, or understand... some part of the message gets through. ]

...This one is quite sad, isn't it?

[ and no small part of Abel might be quietly ruminating on her choice of verse to recite tonight. does it speak to something inside her, too? maybe it's more than Guizhong repeating well-loved poems. ]

It is. Li You laments the loss of his friend, left lonely and forlorn at their absence, and yet the evidence of their relationship remains, a tangle of fated threads that can never be undone.

[Later, when she writes in her journal about the poetry she recited to him, as she sketches out a mountain to replace the tower and a field of flowers as the courtyard, she'll have her own flash of deja vu, deep and heart-wrenching. She'll wonder which friendship she was forced to leave, which person suffered greatly for her own absence. Guizhong can't think of a single person. So the feeling will stay locked away, and she will warily regard it as part and parcel of her awakened 'condition'.

For now, though, Guizhong easily follows the train of his thoughts, and offers him a reassuring smile, patting the seat on the sofa next to her.]

Please don't look so worried, Abel. My choices were random; I promise I'm not feeling particularly old or lonely right now. Come here and have tea with me.

[ though he might be loathe to admit it, such a message resonates a little too close for comfort-- if not entirely in ways he understands. the city has been a strange place to live as of late... even stranger than normal, and given its propensity for being odd on a good day, that says a good lot, doesn't it? maybe that's where he can attribute some of this... ah, whatever this is, to.

there's more important fish to fry, however.

Abel accepts her invitation to the couch, sinking to sit with something of a tentative smile. the tray with two cups of chamomile tea are soon settled on the coffee table; he's already forgotten them. ]

Good. ...Good, because having you feel old or lonely definitely won't do, and I'd certainly have to see about fixing both if that were the case!

[ that's right. it simply wouldn't do at all. ]

...I'm sorry if I'm--

[ ugh. what is the right word--? he feels overbearing, but he can't seem to shake his disquiet. ] I don't know... fretting, I suppose. But are you sure you're feeling alright...? You seem much better now, but... at the lake-- it was almost like you were... lost, somehow.

Abel, you needn't apologize for anything. I'm grateful you found me when you did.

[Perhaps Abel does a tendency to worry overly much. But she will be the first to admit that she occasionally needs a minder, if not for her tendency to work without stopping, then for nights like this, when she's susceptible to...lapses in sanity. So she's never bothered by him and the care he shows for her.

As for how she's feeling...]

Mm, I've no idea what to make of it, no matter how many times it happens. Could one even call that sleepwalking? [She smiles with a sliver of self-consciousness, then it drops along with her gaze, staring down at her lap.] I've never felt such a strong pull to it. Even now, with a roof above my head and knowing you'd stop me, there's a quiet part of me that thinks I should go back out there.

Edited 2022-02-16 05:44 (UTC)

the price of immortality

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