the price of immortality

[dustodust]

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.]

Comments

[whiteshroud]

Guizhong....

[That's a harrowing and troubling story. First because it's horrible to think about her getting hurt like that. Guizhong has always been so kind to him, so to think there were people that'd go after her like that...

But also....well, after you grow up in Krusnik, what she describes sounds way too familiar to him. A possession. But...did she have any idea?]

So...you think your fixation on the moon is tied to your recovery?

[dustodust]

That voice I heard, she offered to help me live. Or more specifically, she offered to extend my life. That offer and my nightly episodes were the only oddities that I could go on. I dove into research after I recovered, and I have no definitive proof, but...yes, I believe they're related. I—

[She makes a helpless gesture with her hands, feeling ridiculous as she says it.]

I think a moon goddess saved me that night.

[whiteshroud]

A moon goddess...

[He goes quiet, unsure of what to say. Not because he thinks Guizhong is crazy. No, quite the opposite. It's because he knows what she's talking about, but he's not sure it's okay for him to say that. So many years he's kept such things a secret. For his and his dad's safety.

But even so....Guizhong was always kind to him, and was opening up. And she was clearly suffering too.

In the end, he decides to...keep it vague. A nice compromise]

I've...I've heard of something like that happening before.

[dustodust]

Have you? To think that other poor souls have gone through this, too.

[She sighs and closes her eyes, leaning back against the bench.]

I would like to reach out in solidarity, but I think it would be best to prevent any future serious consequences of my nighttime activities before that.

[whiteshroud]

[he gives a little nod]

Mm. People who have near death experiences, but are saved by something otherworldly ... a spirit, a god... They make a miraculous recovery, but are occasionally compelled to do strange things they can't explain. Speak in rhyme, commit arson, chase the moon...

[Or drink blood. But he's going to leave that one out, for the sake of his dad]

Yeah...there's got to be some way to keep it in check so you don't endanger yourself.

[dustodust]

The simplest solution would be to stop taking late hours at work and limit my evening socializing. [She scrunches up her nose.] Though the thought of doing that for the rest of my life isn't appealing in the least.

[whiteshroud]

[He scratches his jaw]

Yeah, I can see why that'd be unappealing...but you said it's only on nights with a full moon right? So that's just a few days a month.

[dustodust]

It's every night there is a moon, save the new moon. The full moon is the worst. [She smiles wryly.] Like I'm a werewolf.

[whiteshroud]

Oh...

[Yeah, that does make it more complicated.]

...Well, you're very nice looking for a werewolf. And not hairy at all.

[dustodust]

[She surprises herself at the snort of laughter that escapes her, but it does make her feel better. Guizhong leans over and, though the angle is a bit awkward, winds her arms around him for a hug.]

I'm glad my being a werewolf wouldn't put too much of a dent in our friendship.

[whiteshroud]

[Ah, a Guizhong hug! He'll turn a little to adjust the angle and return the hug. ]

Of course not. You're precious to me, and to Dad too.

[dustodust]

Oh, you're going to make me cry.

[So she says, but it's already happened, her eyes squeezed shut and her voice all wobbly with emotion and exhaustion.]

You and your father are two bright lights in my life, as well. I feel better having you two around again.

[Guizhong squeezes him once more before pulling back, rubbing at her face with the sleeves of her oversized sweater.]

I should go rest before I embarrass myself further.

[whiteshroud]

Guizhong...

[Oh she's crying. He wasn't much of a crier himself, but he won't say anything about her tears. It sounds like she's been through a lot, much more than he had known...

As she pulls away, he'll do the same]

You're not embarrassing. [Jun is Abel's son, he has seen embarrassing firsthand. This is nowhere near that] But I'm sure you're tired. I'll walk you to your apartment.

[He knows she knows how to get there, but, manners!!]