[ rude. this pulls a more real smile, though, so there's that. ]
If we go by proportionality of lifespans, I'm younger than you are. I'm only twenty percent into mine compared to twenty-seven. We'll have to perish into dust together.
Hmm, I suppose that might be true. The average lifespan in Japan is late seventy- to eighty-odd years, but murder rates might bring that average a bit lower. Either way, I'm past "twenty percent".
I guess I am, too. Or a hundred, if you look at it that way.
[ haha! he has to joke about that. it's fine. her joking about it makes him huff a laugh. ]
Not at all. Hell's not always other people. [ he leans over a little to give her a brief, light nudge with his shoulder. eto you're so small but thats ok. ] ...Thanks, Eto.
[ Huh... that's a first if she's ever heard one. Her barely restrained glee wasn't outside of her cognition; she's aware how unhinged it might have been. ]
he considers the question for a moment, thoughtfully looking out at the lava sea again. ]
...Well. Increase my tolerance, for one. [ a little lighter, joking. ] And I'm going to try and keep an eye on as many people as I can, and help where I can help. Beyond that...
[ a little huff, as he considers. it's an interesting question. ]
I guess we'll see what the future holds. I know that I want to live - and I know that I want to keep the Commander safe. Whether that's live here and win a contest to go home, or live here as a dead person, I know that I don't want to die, and I don't want to lose him again. [ lu bixing tilts his head, smile returning to something a little sad. ] Maybe that's a little too selfish of me.
[ because isn't that the truth? it's the same conversation he had with a man called a prophet, what feels like centuries ago. ]
...I think so. I think that's what I have to do. [ a little laugh. ] I've reinvented myself enough times that I'm not sure if I have the strength to do it all over again. I might actually turn to dust!
Haha. Well. I've gotten closer than I like, but I've always pulled myself back from the brink. Rise up out of the ashes - like a phoenix. If you fall six times, you stand up seven.
[ the way he says that makes it sound like a mantra, maybe. like something he's told himself before. he doesn't explain, though, keeping the mystery of that little remark to himself, and instead just letting out a little laugh with the wobble. ]
Starving, huh? We can't have that! What do you like to eat? I bet we could scrounge something up.
[ I'm innocent? Honestly after I've played three vore canons/adjacent characters and I'm still not the vore guy, I'm basically immune and unstoppable. ]
It's a popular proverb. Shichiten Hakki, or "fall seven times, get up eight". Though of course, there's also Shichiten Battou, meaning basically the exact opposite...
[ But she sighs, shaking her head. ]
The food here really doesn't cut it. I hope we get something better sooner or later; still, something is better than nothing. Shall we?
anyway, he smiles, pleased. bixing's not surprised that she knew the reference, but it always makes him happy, nonetheless. friendship ] That's the one. Someone said it to me, a long time ago, and I've tried to keep it in mind.
[ to say the least. as for food - ]
Yes! I think we might be able to doctor up something decent with enough experimentation, huh? I don't know about you, but I could use the distraction.
[ I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING AND YOU CAN'T PROVE IT ]
I just know some people who perhaps take the proverb a little too seriously.
[ Seriously, some people just never fucking die in this canon, I really cannot emphasise this enough. ]
It'll certainly keep me focused. I warn you, I'm not a particularly talented cook...
[ Who knows, maybe her little mania near end of trial was just because of a little hangry on top of the utter absolute insanity they all just collectively went through. Folie a... thirty (in French). ]
That's okay. I'm still learning, but, we can figure it out, right? If nothing, let's just think of it like an experiment! And if we make something terrible, we can bring it to the demons and they'll get a kick out of it.
[ it sounds like he's joking, at least, brightening up. eto you really did help. ]
No, but I'm just too busy to get familiar with the kitchen. Easy-serve or raw food is just better. Besides, grease and paper or keyboards don't exactly mesh well.
Alright, now. Enough standing about in all this warmth. Back inside.
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If we go by proportionality of lifespans, I'm younger than you are. I'm only twenty percent into mine compared to twenty-seven. We'll have to perish into dust together.
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And in fact, I am currently at zero percent.
[ Because we're hecking dead. ]
It's not bad company.
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[ haha! he has to joke about that. it's fine. her joking about it makes him huff a laugh. ]
Not at all. Hell's not always other people. [ he leans over a little to give her a brief, light nudge with his shoulder. eto you're so small but thats ok. ] ...Thanks, Eto.
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She's nudged, and there's brief silence, first. ]
What for?
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[ as much as one can, after those events, anyway. ] As terrible as things are, I'm glad we've met.
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[ Huh... that's a first if she's ever heard one. Her barely restrained glee wasn't outside of her cognition; she's aware how unhinged it might have been. ]
You're weird, you know that?
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Not the first time I've heard that one! I mean it, though, I really do.
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You are.
[ She's a curse upon this world. Not one has ever told her, I'm glad to have met you. ]
... What are you going to do, from here on?
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he considers the question for a moment, thoughtfully looking out at the lava sea again. ]
...Well. Increase my tolerance, for one. [ a little lighter, joking. ] And I'm going to try and keep an eye on as many people as I can, and help where I can help. Beyond that...
[ a little huff, as he considers. it's an interesting question. ]
I guess we'll see what the future holds. I know that I want to live - and I know that I want to keep the Commander safe. Whether that's live here and win a contest to go home, or live here as a dead person, I know that I don't want to die, and I don't want to lose him again. [ lu bixing tilts his head, smile returning to something a little sad. ] Maybe that's a little too selfish of me.
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[ She says that, plainly. She finds it to be a fact, not damning and not belittling.
Everything in the end is a justification to one's own mind first; reason still drives the most mad of men. ]
So basically, you'll proceed as you've ever done.
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[ because isn't that the truth? it's the same conversation he had with a man called a prophet, what feels like centuries ago. ]
...I think so. I think that's what I have to do. [ a little laugh. ] I've reinvented myself enough times that I'm not sure if I have the strength to do it all over again. I might actually turn to dust!
What about you, Eto? What now?
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As long as in the process of reinvention, you don't end up losing yourself.
[ That, perhaps to her, is true madness -- to lose who you once were, in your entirety.
She thinks, tilting her head back with a sigh, letting the drink in her hand wobble a bit playfully. ]
Well.
I'm starving!
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Haha. Well. I've gotten closer than I like, but I've always pulled myself back from the brink. Rise up out of the ashes - like a phoenix. If you fall six times, you stand up seven.
[ the way he says that makes it sound like a mantra, maybe. like something he's told himself before. he doesn't explain, though, keeping the mystery of that little remark to himself, and instead just letting out a little laugh with the wobble. ]
Starving, huh? We can't have that! What do you like to eat? I bet we could scrounge something up.
[ i hate this ]
no subject
It's a popular proverb. Shichiten Hakki, or "fall seven times, get up eight". Though of course, there's also Shichiten Battou, meaning basically the exact opposite...
[ But she sighs, shaking her head. ]
The food here really doesn't cut it. I hope we get something better sooner or later; still, something is better than nothing. Shall we?
[ Anything but the Weedy's. ]
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anyway, he smiles, pleased. bixing's not surprised that she knew the reference, but it always makes him happy, nonetheless. friendship ] That's the one. Someone said it to me, a long time ago, and I've tried to keep it in mind.
[ to say the least. as for food - ]
Yes! I think we might be able to doctor up something decent with enough experimentation, huh? I don't know about you, but I could use the distraction.
[ let's go doctor up some fast food ]
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I just know some people who perhaps take the proverb a little too seriously.
[ Seriously, some people just never fucking die in this canon, I really cannot emphasise this enough. ]
It'll certainly keep me focused. I warn you, I'm not a particularly talented cook...
[ Who knows, maybe her little mania near end of trial was just because of a little hangry on top of the utter absolute insanity they all just collectively went through. Folie a... thirty (in French). ]
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he laughs, though, at that. ]
That's okay. I'm still learning, but, we can figure it out, right? If nothing, let's just think of it like an experiment! And if we make something terrible, we can bring it to the demons and they'll get a kick out of it.
[ it sounds like he's joking, at least, brightening up. eto you really did help. ]
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I'm not so bad that I'm going to set the kitchen on fire, young man.
[ She's like LET'S MAKE ONE THING CLEAR SIR. ]
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snortlaughs ]
I didn't think so! Are you trying to set the bar that low for expectations already?
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Alright, now. Enough standing about in all this warmth. Back inside.