winepouring | Overflow Post

[ He's game to try, which is why he tries to keep the ribbon in place like Shi Qingxuan suggests. Only then he's saying he thinks it gets matched? How? Repeat the same form? ]

Just tell me what to hold.

[ He'll move his hold as he's directed, but please don't take forever, he doesn't have limitless patience and he'll start zoning out... ]

Right in the center. [ He'll take Shino's hand and gently move it to rest in the middle of the knot. ] You can just keep your hand here until the end. You don't need to worry about the rest.

[ As he can see the lack of interest in putting this together written all over his face. Fine, fine, let this Wind Master take care of the knotting.

But how can he zone out when Shi Qingxuan still wants to talk? ]

Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? My name is Shi Qingxuan.

[ Hey, it's less a lack of interest in general and more of a lack of interest in holding still for that long when he's not the one actively engaged. At least give him something to do!

He blinks and allows Shi Qingxuan to position his hand, tilting his head just a touch to the side as the distraction becomes one of conversation. ]

Are you from the mainland Empire? [ China, such as it is. He looks sideways at Shi Qingxuan as he continues. ] Inuzuka Shino. From the Empire of the Rising Sun.

[ He doubts it matters where within his country, so have the official sounding title that's still relevant and, he believes, something more recogniseable. ]

[ Shi Qingxuan blinks, pausing just a moment in his weaving to go over his words. The names he uses aren't familiar, but Shi Qingxuan can guess well enough what he's referring to. There are many, many kingdoms on what could be considered "the mainland," and to collectively refer to them as an empire... Well, that's fine, he thinks. Kingdoms rise and fall, but the landmass and the people are always there. If they were unified, wouldn't it count as an empire, with so many different people under one rule? That's a pretty fair assumption for someone to make.

And then, "Empire of the Rising Sun"... Is that what the land in the Eastern Sea calls itself? It's rather pretty and poetic, he thinks. More so than simply referring to it by its base geographical location.

There is, of course, a possibility that their worlds are entirely unrelated, but it does sound like Shino is a bit more familiar than Shi Qingxuan himself is. Answering prayers to travel the unruly waters of the Eastern Sea are one thing. Going there himself is another—and something he has not personally experienced. ]

I haven't heard those names used before, but I believe we're thinking of the same places, yes. Though I can't say I've ever been to your Empire...

[ And Shi Qingxuan - Shi Qingxuan has always been good about remembering people's names, but why do so many people have such long names? ]

I'm glad to meet you, Inuzuka Shino. [ He'll still refer to him by full name. ] Even if we aren't from the same place, I admit it's nice that at least our lands are familiar!

[ To be fair, Shino himself doesn't have a strong sense of the particulars in history, having other focusses in a life presumed short by every doctor who'd examined him, and then having catch-up learning for no pointed purpose after he'd turned into a demon container for (in a way) the church and his own survival, to stay with Hamaji and force Sousuke and Yoshiro to stay with them too.

However, all the times that he's known, China has been a mainland Empire, and aside from Russian interests to the north of their archipelago, and smaller nations scattered along the cost, a primary consideration of both culture and just out of reach conflict. ]

Nice to meet you too, Shi Qingxuan. [ He... does seem to get his name right. Shino only doesn't try when he doesn't care or is irritated by the person involved. ] Is it that uncommon?

[ As they work on tying this knot, or more as Shi Qingxuan continues to weave it together and Shino acts as a very dedicated holder of his finger against the knot's center, he's trying to imagine if that's the case. How it hasn't even fully struck him as weird that aside from sharing languages, any number of them may share cultures. Or recognise parts of where each other come from. He hasn't stopped to think about it in the handful of days he's been here. ]

It has been thus far in my experience.

[ He appreciates that Shino is being a good helper when it comes to keeping this knot from falling apart. It's...it's holding together fairly well despite the material being less than ideal! It's floppy, but it's starting to take shape at least. ]

I haven't asked where people are from, but the names alone are a giveaway in this case. I haven't met many people whose names follow a familiar naming convention. Isn't that how you realized that I'm from the other side of the Eastern Sea yourself?

[ Can't be the clothes, or why would he only bring it up once he heard his name? Though maybe with trade, his clothes might not be so unusual? Shino's clothes could be from this place. Shi Qingxuan doesn't understand the appeal, but he's not one to judge! ]

[ Shino blinks, but he nods; it was how, yes, since the cadence and sounds were not from his country, but from one just familiar enough. ]

Yeah, it is. Everything else can be explained by being in this place... but that's the thing.

[ He frowns, glancing sideways at Shi Qingxuan while continuing to play knot holder. ]

Locals have naming patterns like yours. And clothes like yours. You just don't sound like you're from here.

[ More or less, an accent that Shino picks up on because each and every Moonblessed seems to have an accent of some kind, because I'm bullshitting but as a writer you can't tell me they were all given the carbon copy language and don't sound like they originally spoke their own tongues?! Sobs softly... that or everyone sounds like they learned to speak in the same way... ]

Plus, you smell different. Nothing I've run into before exactly, but...

[ Not human. Not demon, either, which leaves other spirits and gods, but he's having a hard time sussing out the scent. He's not lying about it being new to him: so dang much here is, he's becoming overloaded on it all. Shi Qingxuan being closer right now is all that brings him into focus. ]

Not like the Prismals.

[ Scent? The way he could tell was from scent and the sound of his voice?

While it's true that there are a variety of different ways of talking here, to bring up his smell in particular strikes him as strange, and his wide-eyed pause and stare say as much. All of the soaps and oils and lotions he uses are all from this place, and although they're all familiar floral and tea scents, there's no reason that the native Prismals wouldn't use the same. Very strange. ]

Ah, I suppose our lands would have different flora? The fragrances I wear are all very common for me, and I purchased them here.

[ So surely, Prismals - at least some - would have a similar scent? Though he has to wonder, how acute is Shino's sense of smell that he can smell even the lingering scent from his bath now? ]

[ Shino blinks, caught off guard at what is actually the sensible response. ]

Oh.

[ A small pause, and he rubs the back of his head with his free hand. ]

I more meant you didn't feel like most humans.

[ Said nonchalantly, because to him, that's not a big deal. Also stated as like most humans because in his opinion, there are many varieties of what count as human, and Shi Qingxuan also doesn't feel right for a spirit. Nor dead. Thus, he's alive, which is reassuring, but also not standard human.

The Prismals are a whole other strangeness, but also, one that doesn't feel... well, like demons, gods, or spirits he knows back home.

Like he even knows how to talk about all this! It's a familiarity with something different, and it's not one he goes out of his way to use so much as is part of his existence anymore. ]

[ For a moment, that answer is even more confusing.

But Shi Qingxuan has been here long enough to know that there are people with powers that he isn't familiar with, whose skills work passively without any work on their part.

Once he realises this, he smiles in a reassuring sort of way. ]

Ah, maybe it's my spiritual power? I am a cultivator with rather strong cultivation. I'm not like most humans. That may be what's catching you off guard about how I feel.

[ To say he's a god... He may very well believe that, since so far everyone else he's told has also believed him, but doesn't saying "I'm a god!" usually make someone sound crazy? He'll pass on that bit of awkwardness for now! Then again, saying he doesn't smell or feel like other humans is awkward and a little crazy, too... But at least having a skill that lets one sense spiritual power seems fairly believable! ]

A cultivator?

[ He accepts the explanation for differences with a blink, taking Shi Qingxuan's word for what it is at face value. There's no reason not to, even if he were lying, because he can hardly tell the difference. The fact he's not perturbed by Shino is enough in its own way. ]

I haven't heard of anyone like that. What's cultivation? What makes you a cultivator? The monks I know have spiritual energy too, but it doesn't feel like this.

[ That's because normal cultivators still can't compare to fully ascended gods!

Shi Qingxuan laughs, wondering if he should just open up with it. If he's that preceptive, there might be no point in worrying about sounding ridiculous. ]

Cultivation is when a person studies and practices different techniques to let them circulate their spiritual energy and build their spiritual power. It's extremely useful! That's what makes someone a cultivator, but it usually doesn't stop at that. Most cultivators also help people by dealing with malicious spirits or demons that ordinary people can't handle on their own.

[ Which sounds really similar to monks, or priests he supposes, but most priests he knows personally aren't truly related to that cause, and if they are: they're Rio Satomi. And he's the chosen priest of the dog god, which is completely different than his job in the house of the one, jealous God of the Church. ]

The closest thing are probably the monks and priestesses back home. I don't know if the Church's priests really do anything with their spiritual energy.

[ He shifts his arm lower as the bow continues being knotted, watching the somewhat floppy design take increasingly more fine definition. ]

It's prettier than I expected.

[ He figured that much loose ribbon wouldn't quite make something cohesive. ]

[ Shi Qingxuan nods. Yeah, he can see how that would be similar to a priestess or monk. There can certainly be overlap there. ]

Teachers, maybe? I suppose most people in those kinds of positions are focused more on their gods than necessarily traveling to take care of malicious spirits...

[ And not all gods deal in that kind of thing, either! (Or with much at all, aha...)

Back on the topic of the knot— ]

It is, isn't it? It's holding together well! [ Smiling over at him. ] Would you like to do the last of it? It's just repeating the motions I've been doing.

Ah... something like that. Mostly their belief seems to be a deterrent to spirits with mischief or harm in their minds. Or in their energies. A jealous god is a good guardian of all their believers, I guess.

[ He says this with a shrug, because in his experience, it's proven true to an extent. Murasame can certainly break apart those barriers, but that's almost what his existence is meant to be: something which levels demons, gods, and formless things to mortality, technically.

Not that he concerns himself with this for the most part. Shino's not interested in demonhunts, let along godhunts, and is primarily interested in bead hunts back home, because once he repays Rio Satomi for his help five years ago, he'll be free.

To do what is a question he has no answer to yet, other than to be with Sousuke in whatever he does, doing his church work perhaps, and to support Hamaji as she continues toward her goal of becoming a doctor. Even if he has to sneak her all kinds of suspicious books in the process. ]

Hm? Me? [ He finally lifts his finger away, looking at the two bits of ribbon remaining, and reaches out for them... a little tentative. ] Are you sure? If I mess up, you'll have to redo them yourself.

[ He says this, but he's taking those end pieces and repeating Shi Qingxuan's motions with more fumbling, but clearly having paid attention to the other man's work with the intricate knot. It's not perfect, far from it, but it doesn't look as bad as Shino was expecting, so he's pleased... if bothered that it doesn't look smooth enough. ]

[ "A jealous god," hm... That's the first time he heard of jealousy being a reason to protect believers. Well, not all gods have good reputation with their followers, regardless of how faithful that believer base is. In the end, Shi Qingxuan just nods. ]

I suppose if their god is proactive and reliable, many beings wouldn't want to get involved and risk their lives by causing trouble in their domain.

[ Though how many gods do that to a point where the mere belief in them is a deterrent to malicious ghosts... They must be extremely proactive. Maybe they're jealous of anyone that enters their domain at all... Gods are still human, in the end.

It's an interesting thing to think about, and he can't deny he's a bit interested in knowing more about this jealous god, but that's for another time. ]

It's just for fun, it doesn't need to be perfect. [ Shi Qingxuan smiles at him encouragingly as he holds the floppy knot in place. ] This way, it'll be something we made together. I started it, but you finished it.

[ So in a way, it's still a knot that shows a bond! As Shino finishes up the pattern, Shi Qingxuan continues to watch, nodding in approval. Is it perfect? No! But this hasn't really been perfect from the start. To him, it still looks pretty! Oddly folded and twisted parts and all. ]

Ah, you finished it! It doesn't look so bad for its size. [ Proud smile! ] Now we have the best knot on this tree. If the knots represent bonds, then ours must be off to a good start.

[ Who said anything about protecting believers... it's more what protects the church in the Imperial Capitol, but as he didn't clarify, and sees no reason to do so, it won't come up that he sees this one God as jealous about letting any other Gods into His territory.

Instead, with that encouragement, he feels torn between taking the praise and looking for an insult... but it's not in his nature to assume the worst, and so he smiles, rubbing the back of his neck in mild embarrassment. He can see how imperfect it is, and far from being up on the ideal of imperfections being part of an artform, it's more like failing to have lived up to an expectation. Next time! Next time he randomly needs to tie a knot out of ribbons around a tree, he'll get it right! ]

Doesn't mean it looks so good. But it's fancier than a plain knot, so... here's to being fancy friends?

[ ... that makes no sense. He groans as he says it, stomach rumbling, and he rubs his face and shoots Shi Qingxuan a sheepish look. ]

Or maybe food friends? I haven't eaten well the last few days.

[ He makes to start climbing down, his hand coming to rest on top of Shi Qingxuan's foot on accident. He tries to pull his hand away but instead finds..................... it's firmly stuck there? He tries to pull away again, and it's obvious he's leaning away, but his hand just. Stays there. ]

What the—

[ Fancy friends? Food friends?! Now Shi Qingxuan laughs, though it's not derisive. Shino has such an honest face, he can't help but find all of this really amusing. ]

I don't see why it can't be fancy food friends in that case! Since you helped me put together this knot, I'd be happy to treat you to something nice.

[ It's an excuse that he really doesn't need. If he hasn't eaten much recently, he absolutely should feed him...

Those are the thoughts going through Shi Qingxuan's head as he suddenly feels a firm pressure over his boot.

And looks down to see Shino's hand laying over his toes...and the rest of Shino reeling away from it.

Of all the strange magic here, this is the first time he's seen someone stick to another person's foot before. He isn't sure if to laugh or cry at this situation. But he laughs anyway - less warmly and more awkwardly. ]

Wait, wait, wait, don't lean backwards so much! I can take off my boot!

[ Now let's how Shi Qingxuan doesn't lose his own balance by clinging onto the knotted branch with one arm and trying to one-handedly pull his foot free with the other, with Shino's hand getting dragged along for the ride. ]

Don't lean back?!

[ Meanwhile, here's Shi Qingxuan, lifting his foot and boot, which ends up... lifting Shino? He's losing his footing on the lower branch, and then while he's trying to find a new one, making all sorts of panicked wait wait wait noises, his hand brushes against Shi Qingxuan, and he finds a new foothold branch, going to once more pull his hand away.

It almost works, and he finds himself loosening his grip on Shi Qingxuan's foot—except then just as inevitably, he's taking hold of his hand, their fingers lacing together seamlessly, like it's fated.

What's worse is how Shi Qingxuan, without even straining, continues to lift his hand, with Shino attached.

Which means Shi Qingxuan now has a dangling Shino staring wide eyed at him, second hand having come up to grab onto Shi Qingxuan's arm, using that to lever himself higher. ]

How strong are you?! It's not enough you're so tall, you have to have super strength too?!

[ Ah. Aaaah!! Shi Qingxuan stares wide-eyed down at Shino, just as shocked by this whole thing as Shino himself is. On one hand, at least his boot didn't need to come off this way.

On the other hand, he's now holding Shino's hand more closely than he's held anyone's hand, and while, yes, he can just use his spiritual powers to keep him held up, is this really the best way to grip someone's hand?! Not only that, now that he's off the branch and holding onto him, is there really any way to climb down this tree normally!? ]

This is spiritual power, this is my spiritual power! [ If you could see the arm beneath this sleeve you would fully understand that... ] Ah, while I don't mind keeping hold of you, if you can find your footing again, could you let me go? This kind if grip is a little strange...

[ Kind of...dangles him over the branch Shi Qingxuan is shifting to stand on himself? At least standing side-by-side, the position isn't as physically awkward or dangerous for Shino. Now it's just socially awkward. ]

Spiritual power? How does spiritual power do this?!

[ Not that he fights being lowered onto the same branch, but while one hand releases Shi Qingxuan—the hand which he'd brought up to join the one whose fingers laced through the taller guy's fingers—their joined hands remain as they are.

Standing side by side on the same branch, Shino uses his free hand to grab onto whatever branch is closest, which happens to be more or less behind them both. ]

I'm not choosing to hold your hand. [ In fact, he starts shaking their joined hands. ] I'm trying to let go. Will you relax your grip, huh?

[ He tries - and fails - to release his hand. And on one hand, it isn't so bad to hold hands! The flow of chroma is extremely pleasant and as addicting as always! But he's still in his right mind, still fully aware that this whole thing is strange, especially to a newcomer.

Well, not wanting things to stay awkward, Shi Qingxuan starts talking. ]

Ah, it looks like they're stuck. [ He hums. ] Mm, the magic here is so unpredictable and hard to deal with... It's harmless, though.

[ So! Nothing to do but accept yet another awkward situation with a half-smile. ]

Anyway, that was my spiritual powers! Of course I can use them for something as simple as making my arms stronger. It isn't difficult at all.

Spiritual powers? They work like that?

[ He's addressing the "harmless, unpredictable, hard to deal with magic." After having said... or groused, over what Shi Qingxuan's spiritual powers are doing.

Then again, he supposes out of the people he knows who've all ended up bound to demons of some kind, they all have greater powers that are probably energy related? Just not... spiritual? Or are they? Not worth the headache of trying to figure out. ]

And this magic... [ he squeezes their held hands. ] You're so calm about this? We're stuck up in a tree, you know!

[ It's that, not being so close to him, not the fact that they're moonlacing and its flowing up his arm, not even the magic... it's them stuck in a tree. How long are they going to stay like this? ]

Yes?

[ That is truly how spiritual powers work! Part of the point of cultivating is to strengthen one's body as well. Even if he really doesn't have a body built for martial arts, he can still use his spiritual powers to make up for that lack of strength.

Though, ah, that squeeze on his hand feels a little nice... Shi Qingxuan blinks, suddenly just focused on their current situation again. ]

That's right! We can't climb down normally this way... [ And jumping down—maybe he could do it with someone he knows better, but he has no idea how agile (or durable) Shino is, and he would rather neither of them just fall and get hurt. He hums, thinking, but in the end, do they really have many options? ]

I can get us down, but it will involve using the wind, so it will be a little chaotic.

[ Being in a tree surrounded by ribbons and all! ]

That's so much cooler than what that stupid monk tried doing...

[ Congratulation, cultivation is cooler than a monk cultivating demons to attack, well, demons.

Anyway.

He's about to object that they can figure it out if they coordinate efforts, but holds off as Shi Qingxuan proclaims with such certainty he can get them down. Shino blinks, thinking of the brothers and their oni forms, then blinks again. ]

As long as you don't call down a typhoon, we should be okay.

[ He accepts the wind use without much comment, because frankly, he can call down rainstorms, the brothers can call thunder and lightning along with rain, and there are far more mystifying things (like electronic money) to him here. Wind use?

Novel, yes, but much more familiar. ]

What do you need me to do?

[ Hang on to him? Get around him so they can move their arms so he can get on his back? ]

maybe he needs to live a little

does lord windmaster need to help?

actually, that might be the person who needs to live less out there than he has been!!!

how cold, qingqiu!

all out of love, qingxuan!

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