I find it to be something of a compliment, too. Being old simply means we have survived. [ with a softer smile. ] Look -- even without memories, we still yet can learn things about ourselves. It's those little moments I spoke of, before. Perhaps we should keep a list, hm? Brother Goat is old, most likely older than eight centuries, and something not human.
...That doesn't narrow it much, but that's alright. We've only been here a week.
[ xie lian does seem a bit heartened by this. some of the cloud from his expression has disappeared, though he's no less serious as he returns to their original topic. ] ...As for the Realm itself, I hope that that means death isn't the only way forward. It sounds as if there are still many mysteries to this place, your alls identities notwithstanding.
Ah, I'm fairly certain I'm older than eight centuries. We seem to remember our ages, at least... but mine has been lost to the years.
[ so that's a thing. ]
Yes. Though killing seems to be a way of regaining one's memories... I would like to still believe that it's not the only means, though it may be the quickest.
Chaos may spring forth, but we must endure--for the good of all.
[ xie lian repeats, quietly, and his small smile remains. for the good of all, indeed. ] I am glad, that I've ended up on your team, Brother Goat.
[ and then, sheepishly (haha get it) he adds: ] ...Although, I can't help but wonder if perhaps that's part of why we're in last place. I do apologize, if we've been cursed with terribly bad luck.
Well, not killing people is certainly a start! Tell me, do you know anything about these "rankings" yet, either? They have to do with the amount of nova that we gather, right? And we gathered nova helping you all find those items, and then...so, logically, Virid probably belonged to the Wolf team?
[ tapping his fingers against his chin... he's thinking out loud. ] Would Miss Yona have gathered nova for participating in that, as well...? Hm.
I'm not sure... It seems plausible that that child was with Wolf, but it also may simply be that Wolf's team did very well. All of you have been gathering nova even without us always being aware.
But you're correct in that the rankings should reflect how much nova each team has gained.
So...any kind of emotion? [ i really almost wrote "making life" instead of dying but this isnt that kind of game!
xie lian bops his fist gently against his open hand. ] Say, is there a way to measure how much nova comes from something, that you could do now? Are you able to check it quickly? [ Xie Lian Has A Questionable Idea ]
Um... I don't know if I can measure it on the spot. We mostly get a sense after the fact that nova has been obtained, but not the means by which it was done.
Brother Goat, I think you're a very wonderful team leader. You have been very helpful to me, and I'm sure to many others, and I feel very lucky that I got to meet you a little before some of the others did. You are very wise, and you all have worked very hard to help us, and I appreciate you and your efforts very much.
goat seems alarmed by all these compliments? what's going on? no one has ever praised them this much (in the, like, two weeks' worth of awareness they have)!
I haven't given a hug in a while! Let's see...here goes nothing!
[ how tall is goat. it doesn't even matter. they are getting a big, warm, strong arm xie lian hug that will probably lift them off of their feet a little bit.
[ yeah they're absolutely getting picked up off of the ground a little bit with this hug then. nice and warm. nice and cozy. very strong arms, very good for huggin.
he sets them down properly once the hug feels like it's lasted an appropriate amount of time - anything else would probably embarrass him - and then smiles, clasping his hands together. ] So?
I see, I see! Well, you'll have to let me know if it does, alright? I'll spread the word to the others, if I can.
[ as he steps back, some of the brighter, more playful energy fades off of him. ] I do mean what I say, Brother Goat. Thank you.
[ there's a beat. it seems like he might be ready to say his goodbyes, but, xie lian pauses. ] ...Say, you remember our exchange, right? Would you be willing to trade a memory with me, again?
Well, you've told me your age - or something close to it. I think that's good enough.
[ the last bit of cheer fades from xie lian's face. ] ...The thing that I will share with you, is something that almost no one knows. I thought...until today, even, I thought I was the last person alive who knew it.
[ his mouth twitches up a little. ] Well. I suppose in some ways, I still am. At any rate.
...This is not the first time that I have dealt with something like this, Brother Goat. At least... like what we dealt with over this past weekend. The memory I would like you to hold onto for me is simply a sentence, if that's alright, and not a pleasant one. If something happens, and I forget everything that I know - or, if something else happens to me in my time here, then I don't want the knowledge to disappear.
It may not make much sense without context, but that, I think, is for the best. [ he takes a deep breath, loosening the stone at his chest he's held onto since his first descent. ]
"The human face disease can only be cured with shed blood."
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...That doesn't narrow it much, but that's alright. We've only been here a week.
[ xie lian does seem a bit heartened by this. some of the cloud from his expression has disappeared, though he's no less serious as he returns to their original topic. ] ...As for the Realm itself, I hope that that means death isn't the only way forward. It sounds as if there are still many mysteries to this place, your alls identities notwithstanding.
[ yeah xie lian its only week 0 chill ]
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[ so that's a thing. ]
Yes. Though killing seems to be a way of regaining one's memories... I would like to still believe that it's not the only means, though it may be the quickest.
Chaos may spring forth, but we must endure--for the good of all.
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[ xie lian repeats, quietly, and his small smile remains. for the good of all, indeed. ] I am glad, that I've ended up on your team, Brother Goat.
[ and then, sheepishly (haha get it) he adds: ] ...Although, I can't help but wonder if perhaps that's part of why we're in last place. I do apologize, if we've been cursed with terribly bad luck.
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No, it's fine. All I want is that all of you do what you think is best and makes you happy...
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Well, not killing people is certainly a start! Tell me, do you know anything about these "rankings" yet, either? They have to do with the amount of nova that we gather, right? And we gathered nova helping you all find those items, and then...so, logically, Virid probably belonged to the Wolf team?
[ tapping his fingers against his chin... he's thinking out loud. ] Would Miss Yona have gathered nova for participating in that, as well...? Hm.
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But you're correct in that the rankings should reflect how much nova each team has gained.
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[ if only... ]
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Strictly speaking, there is nothing that says it doesn't. Nova is drawn to emotions, but those not need be negative, necessarily.
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So...any kind of emotion? [ i really almost wrote "making life" instead of dying but this isnt that kind of game!
xie lian bops his fist gently against his open hand. ] Say, is there a way to measure how much nova comes from something, that you could do now? Are you able to check it quickly? [ Xie Lian Has A Questionable Idea ]
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Um... I don't know if I can measure it on the spot. We mostly get a sense after the fact that nova has been obtained, but not the means by which it was done.
What are you thinking...?
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[ said with a smile!!!
and then. ]
Would it be alright if I gave you a hug?
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goat seems alarmed by all these compliments? what's going on? no one has ever praised them this much (in the, like, two weeks' worth of awareness they have)!
but. ]
O-Okay...?
[ they hold out their arms? ]
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[ how tall is goat. it doesn't even matter. they are getting a big, warm, strong arm xie lian hug that will probably lift them off of their feet a little bit.
congrats you're being hugged by god ]
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but yay... hug...? they do their best to hug back. ]
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he sets them down properly once the hug feels like it's lasted an appropriate amount of time - anything else would probably embarrass him - and then smiles, clasping his hands together. ] So?
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???
...
!!! ]
Oh! You want to know if that gained any nova... Er, I'm not sure yet. I don't think it's always noticeable immediately.
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[ as he steps back, some of the brighter, more playful energy fades off of him. ] I do mean what I say, Brother Goat. Thank you.
[ there's a beat. it seems like he might be ready to say his goodbyes, but, xie lian pauses. ] ...Say, you remember our exchange, right? Would you be willing to trade a memory with me, again?
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All right, though I don't have many more memories to speak of, as I can't reveal my interactions with others...
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[ the last bit of cheer fades from xie lian's face. ] ...The thing that I will share with you, is something that almost no one knows. I thought...until today, even, I thought I was the last person alive who knew it.
[ his mouth twitches up a little. ] Well. I suppose in some ways, I still am. At any rate.
...This is not the first time that I have dealt with something like this, Brother Goat. At least... like what we dealt with over this past weekend. The memory I would like you to hold onto for me is simply a sentence, if that's alright, and not a pleasant one. If something happens, and I forget everything that I know - or, if something else happens to me in my time here, then I don't want the knowledge to disappear.
It may not make much sense without context, but that, I think, is for the best. [ he takes a deep breath, loosening the stone at his chest he's held onto since his first descent. ]
"The human face disease can only be cured with shed blood."
That is all.
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I will hold onto that, then.
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Thank you, Brother Goat. I apologize, that I cannot explain much more beyond that.
[ xie lian gives a polite little bow. ] This has been very helpful. I feel a little more at ease than I did before.
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