winepouring | Overflow Post

Right, or something like that.

[ She sets it on the table. ]

They're more like purses than actual currency, aren't they? We're supposed to hold onto them. Since I got it, I've wondered if there's more to them or not. Little stones like this aren't hard to enchant.

[ ...So she's been wary about actually carrying it from the start. ]

...Ah.

[He understands exactly what she means by that, having come from a world where crystals served similar functions.]

Can they be turned into monitoring devices where you come from? Where I come from... they can be used to change a person's demeanor; and given how they expect us to earn our keep here, I wonder.

[The thought is... repulsive enough for him to want to immediately ditch the crystal, but he can't exactly do that, can he? He's stuck with it.

The people running this show really planned this out quite thoroughly. Damn them.]

It wouldn't be impossible...

[ There were all sorts of spells you could put on something: ones to listen, ones to track, ones to suppress... But the thought of having one that can change a person's demeanor or character makes the hairs on her neck stand on end.

She pushes right on ahead rapidly: ] Do you know a way to test if they have that sort of enchantment? I can test if there's any demonic influence or spells, but the kind of power you're talking about... I'm not sure if I'll be able to.

[ Which is terrifying to think about. What kind of experiences does he have where he's seen such a thing? It isn't that a spell like that can't exist, but more so that if it does, it would need to be powerful, and if it were that powerful, some talismans aren't likely going to be enough to detect it, much less dispel it. ]

I can't, I'm afraid. But there's something I may be able to do to counteract it if it works as a slowly corrupting or mind controlling influence. It's a... rather violent method, though.

[He'd show her, but he's not sure here's the place to do it. It's best to wait until they're somewhere more private, he decides. He doesn't want to attract needless attention to himself.]

[ No way to test, just to potentially counteract... She downs her glass of wine in one go, just vaguely registering that it's drier than what she's used to. ]

A violent method? Would you destroy it?

[ Surely, that's the most straight forward, violent answer? ]

[He supposes that would be the easiest way to solve this, if not for the pesky problem if the fact that they need these crystals.]

I'd have to fight you.

Or, well, the person brainwashed. I suppose it wouldn't do anyone any good if I were brainwashed myself, though.

[What a pain.]

I suppose we'd need to fight each other in that case. [ Her voice is more resigned than anything. ] I would rather avoid fighting, though. If we have no choice, that's one thing, but we can't be rash.

[ Shi Qingxuan thinks, if what they've been told is true, then they'd be manipulated to... She waves her horsetail whisk as she speaks like she's brushing away those thoughts. No, she really doesn't want to think of that! ]

What degree of fighting is necessary to stop the effect? Do you have experience stopping it?

I do. It might be a little hard to explain if there's nothing like it where you come from, but I fight using my emotions - it's a power known as the "Catharsis Effect." Therefore, usually it just takes until my feelings have reached the other side. I've heard people describe it as feeling like their mind has been cleansed.

[...Though...]

Often, it means fighting until the other side is exhausted, but since the power isn't physical, there's no need to worry about it leaving tangible damage or leading to fatal injuries.

[ She nods silently, considering what he said. So the fighting was more to his wits' end rather than to physical exhaustion or worse.

Honestly, she expected something much more fatal, something with irreversible effects. This sounds more...annoying.

Thought that brings more questions to mind. ]

That isn't what I was expecting. I thought you were going to describe a bloody trial. Your power sounds much better.

What would happen if you aren't able to exhaust the other, though?

Then... [He wonders how much he should say here. She doesn't seem like the type who would store this information for later, just in case she wanted to use it against him, but then, she could merely be a very good actor.]

I suppose I'd have to retreat? It's not the world's most pleasant power; you'd understand what I meant immediately if you saw. But there's a limit to how much I can use it.

[He takes a small sip of his wine, mulling on the question. He's seen firsthand what happens when the Catharsis is pushed beyond its limits, and the sight hadn't been pretty.]

I don't think it'd be an issue unless I were fighting against someone very powerful, though.

[ That doesn't answer her question, and makes her feel worse. If it's him against her, she's certainly "very powerful", at least compared to mortal humans...

Ah, but she's not actually sure if he is mortal anymore. She hadn't asked about it yet, but asking someone's status like that is awkward at best... Maybe it's better to be more open about herself first. ]

I don't mean to sound bold, but I'm someone powerful. If this would hurt you, I want to know. There needs to be another way if so.

It... [He lets out a small sigh.] It looks a lot more painful than it is. I really can't explain it without a proper demonstration.

[Even though it looks really bad and he's well aware of that. He thinks, though, that it's probably better to warn her beforehand so she isn't too shocked by the sight.]

I'm a fast runner, if it helps? Say I end up needing to use this power on you and you overpower me - unless you have a way to seal off my exits, I'm quite confident in my ability to get away.

You don't need to show me, I'll take your word for it!

[ Her mind starts going through different ways this could go wrong. Saying it looks worse than it is- just how bad does it look?! While she might be getting worked up over something that will never happen, he made good enough points in favor of this being a real possibility.

She sighs and fills her glass again. ]

All right, I'll believe in your ability to run away. There's nothing wrong with running away if you need to, so please retreat.

[ He already said he would, but she says it again. ]

Anyway, if our positions are reversed, what's the best way for me to deal with it?

[Ritsu doesn't hesitate when he replies.]

Incapacitate me. Break my legs if you have to - I'll heal. If you can't snap me out of it, I'd rather be kept from being able to do anything at all than be forced to dance to someone else's tune.

[ Her eyes go wide, and she immediately snaps: ] Lord Shikishima!

I understand your feelings, but I won't break your legs! If you need to be restrained, I can do that. As long as you'll come to your senses in the end, there's no need for you to be injured like that. I'll keep you in check for as long as it takes.

[He's still getting used to being referred to as "Lord Shikishima," so her reaction catches him a little off-guard, too. He's been held in high esteem before, but not to this extent.]

Alright. I'll trust in your words - but if I pose a danger to you and you're left with no other way of restraining me, I must insist that you take the necessary actions. When I say I'll heal, I really do mean it; I regenerate at a rapid pace, so there's no need to worry too much about injuring me.

Be that as it may, I don't think I can do that...

[ The thought it abominable... He's still human, isn't he?

Now that he's mentioned recovering rapidly, she really has to ask. ]

You mentioned earlier that you're older than you look. If I may ask, are you... [ Is there a way to ask this that isn't awkward? One isn't coming to mind. ] Are you immortal as well?

[Well, he wonders. It's strange; he'd never thought of himself as immortal before, but now that he's sitting here, very much seemingly alive when he knows all too well that he should be dead, he isn't so sure if he can still be called "mortal" anymore.]

It seems I can no longer age, if that counts? As for whether there's anything capable of killing me, that's still up in the air.

[But she's immortal, huh? Interesting.]

[ She didn't know it was possible to answer "I don't know" to that question, but that was certainly not a "yes" or a "no". Maybe he was a ghost and didn't realize it? No, he didn't seem like a ghost... And it was even less likely he was a demon.

Regardless, he isn't one that worked his way to immortality. It seems more like it's something coincidental. ]

Let's not find out if that's possible. Even if you do recover quickly, there's no guarantee that you can recover from everything.

Am I to understand that you can recover from everything?

[Now seems like the best time to ask, so...]

It sounds like you were someone rather important back in your world; I got your name earlier, but how should I address you? I would hate to be impolite.

[Her rank is surely higher than his, but she's referring to him as Lord Shikishima regardless.]

I would also rather not find out. Can we please not joke about such things?

[ The line between "fatal" and "non-fatal" can be rather blurry for heavenly officials. To say she was heartier than a mortal human was true. And to say she was thin-skinned and dealt poorly with pain was also true...

She takes a sip of her wine as she considers the question. Of course she has a title, but she wasn't thinking to reveal her status here. It would be wrong to do so. At the same time, she was cut off from the heavenly realm on some foreign planet, so would it make a difference either way? ]

My title is "Wind Master Qingxuan" or "Lord Wind Master", but you don't need to call me that now—really, there's no need to call me that. You can address me however you'd like. [ Are they on a name-only basis now... She should ask the same to him. ] I never asked how you would like to be addressed, either. I just presumed your title. I apologize.

Ah, my apologies. That was tactless of me.

[He should... probably remember that other people aren't as nonchalant about topics like death. It's been far too long since the last time he really talked to someone, well, normal on that front, he supposes.]

You're free to address me however you'd like as well. I'm fine with anything.

[Lord Wind Master, though... That gives him a few ideas as to what her powerset might be. Would he be able to successfully escape from an opponent who commanded mastery of the wind like he'd brought up earlier?

While he'd like to think he can, he has to admit he's slightly concerned.]

[ She shakes her head and waves a hand. ]

No, but it is better to avoid anything unnecessary, isn't it? I'm not weak, though. If you're in trouble, you can always call for me and I'll be there!

[ While he didn't seem hopeless or defenseless, his power sounded like it had significantly more drawbacks than hers did. As long as it wasn't the two of them fighting, she was fairly confident in her own abilities. ]

If you're fine with anything, then I'll call you Shikishima-xiong from now on.

[ She's nearly positive that he's younger than her, but he doesn't look it...so, -xiong. Now things won't feel so formal. ]

[A last-name basis, huh? That's comfortable enough for Ritsu, so he smiles and decides he'll follow her example.]

Then I'll call you Shi-san. But that's good to know - please allow me to extend the same courtesy to you. If you ever need me, I promise I'll do whatever I can to help. In the meantime, if I find anything out about this place - or how the rules work here, I'll let you know. It's best to be prepared just in case, right? Though I've the utmust confidence in your words, it would prove to be quite troublesome if the denizens of this world had some way of suppressing our powers or, worse yet, turning them on us.

Unfortunately, that is a very real and troubling possibility... I will of course let you know at once if I learn anything new or find new avenues for us to explore as well.

[ All the things that could possibly go wrong with their powers and themselves is going to remain a major concern. It won't stop being one until they can secure some means of protection.

For now, she pockets the crystal again. ]

I'll be depending on you as well. As of right now, I am fairly confident in my powers working as they should, and I don't feel strange.

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