renascinem

[renascinem]

Dan Heng is accustomed to not sleeping well at this point. It's not abnormal for his mind to be chased by shadows, avoiding unseen blades and fighting for his life, all while his body is supposedly, somehow, getting the rest it needs to continue functioning.

(He wishes it did not, and he could just avoid sleeping altogether.)

This one is... he recalls this one, he believes. He has been here before, walking up these stairs, before he reached a floor at the top, where he and some allies brought together by pure chance fought battle after battle. He remembers being trapped in his Vidyadhara High Elder form - just as he is now. And so, he expects foes as soon as he ascends; he can only pray that this time, too, there will be friends.

When he reaches the top, the view of the full moon in the dark sky is just as magnificent and simultaneously ominous as it was the first time he saw it. One would think that he would be well accustomed to seeing celestial bodies around him at all times, and well - he is, but the boy who once spent years staring at naught but stone walls never stopped appreciating the grandiose of the world around him, so much bigger than he could ever imagine it to be.

It reminded him that anything and anyone in the universe was, ultimately, so very small. That even he, the closest being to Permanence, and all his problems and struggles, were not actually that significant.

No more time for appreciation and wonder is given to him, though - the corner of his eye catches sight of moving shadows, and he is instantly on high alert as he examines them. On the other side of the field, a group of figures dressed in clothes he recognizes from his exploration in the deserts of Sumeru. On his side... A boy dressed as a magician, a Fontainian Melusine, and Aventurine of the IPC.

This is certainly a Team.

"The way out of here is through these enemies," he says - partially to Aventurine, partially to the others, and partially to himself.

As the man sets up some kind of protection around them, Dan Heng sighs quietly, before summoning his power within. He has always known that he would have to come to terms with it sooner or later; and if he refuses, fate will find a way to force it out of him anyway.

DAN HENG rolls 3 energy! [1 energy] DAN HENG 10/10HP 1/1SP uses Azure Aqua Ablutes All. DAYTHUNDER 24/25HP. DESERT CLEARWATER 24/25HP. CROSSBOW A 13/14HP. (Roll: 3, 1, 2) DESERT CLEARWATER is inflicted with Imprisonment. DAN HENG gains 1 Squama Sacrosanta. [2 energy + 1 Squama Sacrosanta] DAN HENG 10/10HP 1/1SP uses Dracore Libre x2 and Divine Spear on DESERT CLEARWATER 24/25HP. [Roll: 1d20 = 14, Hit! -1.5HP. DESERT CLEARWATER 22.5/25HP] (Roll: 3, 1) DAYTHUNDER and AXE VANGUARD take splash damage. [-0.5HP. DAYTHUNDER 23.5/25HP. AXE VANGUARD 13.5/14HP]DESERT CLEARWATER is unable to counterattack due to Imprisonment.

The Azure Dragon crashes into enemies in an enchanted wave, leaving one of them particularly weakened and exposed, unable to wrestle herself from the grasp of his power. An opportunity presented, Dan Heng follows up with a spear conjured from cloudhymn to strike again.

However, the enemies are resilient...

@sedena @feliscus

high tide.

spiral abyss ∶⠀team one⠀|⠀floor one.

[renascinem]

Dan Heng nodded in response to Yelan's comment on the boy. By the looks of it, she was just as confused about his quick disappearance as he was - though as she did dismiss it in the end and moved on, he saw no reason to not do the same.

He looked closely at the peculiar stone she pulled out. Lumenstone Adjuvent - he had not heard of that one before. He quickly noted the name at the back of his mind, where it would have to wait until he had ample time to write it down in his notebook.

"Understood, please lead the way." As Yelan motioned for him to follow, so he did, only casting quick glances around as he continued to make sure to watch his step. There existed few places where plummeting down uncontrollably would be more disastrous than here.

As she made her inquiry, Dan Heng chose his words carefully before answering out loud, realizing that he didn't know to what extent she was aware of outworlders. Perhaps he could asses that based on her reaction.

"I'm... something of a traveler. I've been going around the nations of Teyvat, documenting anything I find. Liyue appears to be a land with particularly rich history... so my stay here has also been longer than in some other places," he explained.

"As for the request for help... While I do like to help others, as I said, it was a little too impulsive of me, for sure. It wasn't until after I agreed that I realized exactly what I said yes to," he admitted, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. That was for sure a rare moment of a lapse in his judgment - March and the Trailblazer would no doubt find that very entertaining, if they were here. "It hit me a little too late that Cheng Jun wanted me to actually go underground... While we're walking, could you tell me a bit about the story behind the Chasm? It looks to me that it used to be more active than it is now."

The Depths of the World and Everything Wrong With Them || Dan Heng & Yelan

Commission: Chasm trouble || @muscle-blues || Commission Season: Harmony

[renascinem]

Kokomi forces herself forward, one painful step at a time. Dan Heng supports her weight until she lets go of him, but even then keeps one arm behind her back, ready to support her whenever necessary. She falters and stumbles a few times, at least until they come across some of her people - at which point he watches as the aura of a leader takes over, as if filling her with additional strength that not even she knew was there.

She must have gone through a lot for them, he realizes silently, but refrains from saying anything on the matter out loud. He's not so insensitive as to not realize that doing so here and now would go against her wishes.

Even if what she says tugs at his heart in a strange way. Or perhaps one should say that it's not necessarily only his heart in that moment - the heart of a leader forced into a position he never asked for.

"I'm glad I was able to help. Now, you need to take care of yourself - it looks like you took some serious damage there," he notes quietly, even if he doubts he's saying anything she doesn't already know better than he does. "Focusing on your recovery now would also be part of caring for your people."

To her question, he takes a moment before he answers.

"I haven't decided yet. I travel around Teyvat, noting down any information and observation I find. I have to take some time to process and write down what I learned today, before I decide on where I go next. The story you've told me... it should be recorded as truthfully as possible."

He pauses to think for a while longer, before meeting her eyes and the pain in them.

"... I also believe that I want to return to Fontaine and find the person I spoke to back there again. He was knowledgeable about many things - maybe he would know how to help you."

Every day, Kokomi contends with pain and exhaustion, but this wound, piercing both flesh and soul as it does, is like nothing she's ever felt. She leans heavily on Dan Heng as they climb down from the Serpent's Head, proper healing still utterly beyond her. If the wound would even respond to ordinary healing - she's dealt with all manner of tatarigami-related damage before, but whatever Orobashi's lingering malice has done to her is something far beyond all her studies and experience.

A small price to pay for the safety of Watatsumi Island.

A small price, when weighed against all the lives of her people, but a painful one nonetheless.

One torturous eternity later, Fort Fujitou comes into view. She'd considered his offer to carry her back - and deep down, she'd wanted desperately to agree, especially the few times she'd almost slipped and fallen - but duty, as ever, outweighs her. And so, as she hears one of the sentries announce her return, she lets go of Dan Heng's shoulder - and almost falls, flickers of light and shadow dancing before her eyes - and just barely catches herself. Moment by moment, she calls up every drop of hydro energy she has left, forcing it through her badly-weakened body, all but forcing herself to stay upright through sheer will.

It helps, that she's still soaked to the bone from the rain. She carefully ignores how much of the water dripping down her face tastes of salt.

"The crisis is over," Kokomi tells the first soldier she sees. "Orobashi's remnants are once again sealed. Tell the...send a message to the Shogunate, and the Adventurer's Guild..."

She trails off as another dizzy spell hits, and quickly steadies herself with Dan Heng's help. The soldier stares at her in concern, almost reaching out their hand to help before seemingly thinking better of it. "Your Excellency...?"

"It's nothing," she replies, willing her voice not to shake. "Go. And...call for a boat. I should return to Watatsumi."

She wants to dive into the ocean, to let the water cradle her and soothe her pain as it always does, but instead, duty drags her onwards to the command tent, which at the very least has a cot tucked in the back she can lie down on. And, thank the gods, it's empty aside from the soldier she'd spoken to earlier and an officer quickly sketching out a letter to the others who'd come to aid with the crisis.

"Contingency 3," she tells them, rather breathlessly, and stumbles through into the partitioned-off section that serves as her office. And, on long campaigns, her bedroom. "My officers have procedures in place for occasions where I've worked myself to exhaustion," she explains, and collapses onto the makeshift bed with a pained sigh. "But the rest of the soldiers...they shouldn't see their leader show...weakness..."

It's a struggle to stay awake, but the healer in her knows she shouldn't let herself sleep. Not yet, not until she's been able to at least assess the damage better. "Thank you, friend...truly. What will you do now?"

[renascinem]

"... So you're saying that there really is a janitor missing?"

Idle rumors and baseless urban legends have never really been within the realm of Dan Heng's interest. It's only when they stop being baseless - when there appears a spark of possibility, a theory that can be proven or disproven, some sort of thread to follow to the truth, however disappointing or mundane that truth may end up being - that he starts paying attention, and then he pays all the attention.

"Oh yeah, I swear on my degree! Janie has not been seen or heard of for two days now. Not long enough yet for anyone to notice and seriously worry, but long enough to where it's kinda worrying, don't you think?"

"Mhm." His response is quiet, but nonetheless, one of agreement. "If she was last seen heading to the Seclusion Zone, then I guess that would be my best bet to check out."

"If you could, that would be great! But of course, don't feel pressured," the researcher say with a sheepish smile that clearly conceals a hidden message of Please don't let me convince you. "They said something about remnants of The Swarm lurking in those halls. I don't know how much of that is true, but..."

"All the more reason for me to spare Asta some headache if I can," Dan Heng shakes his head with a light shrug. "I'll let you know what I find."

The researcher nods before taking his leave, visibly satisfied, and Dan Heng sighs quietly before turning to Seele.

"... Sorry. I didn't think there would instantly be trouble the moment I visit the space station again. I'm sure you didn't have this in mind for your trip. Don't feel pressured to go with me - this shouldn't take long."

"So How Okay Are You With Exploding Bugs" || Dan Heng & Seele

Commission: Seclusion Zone || @dream-of-butterflies || Commission Season: Abundance

[renascinem]

"What are you? A cat in a cake...?"

Changsheng tilts her head at it curiously.

"Can you emerge from that... er, shell of yours?"

"Mrrrp."

Unable to answer the question with anything other than a demonstration, Dancake attempts to crawl his way out of the little "house" of his. However, as he does, his body simply seems to... well... stretch? until he loses his grip and it squishes itself back, complete with a funny sound effect.

"... Mrreow."

[renascinem]

“huh? i could've sworn the conductor said that dan heng was still in his room...” wherever he is, though, it seems like he's not around to stop march 7th from crouching to scoop the cat cake into her arms with a beaming smile. “hehe, hey there, little guy! you're soooo cute! are you dan heng's? i didn't know he got a pet... it's funny—you kind of look like him, you know?”

Mrraw?

Mrrow meeow mau

Mrraaau!! MRRRAUUU

MEEEOWW

(WHEN I INSISTED I DON'T LOOK LIKE THIS THING THIS IS NOT WHAT I MEANT—)

[renascinem]

Mrrp

mrrrp, mrrrp, meoowww

(How the heck am I supposed to work on the data bank like this??)

[renascinem]

The appearance of a partner intent on helping as his guide and companion for this mission was unexpected — but, as Dan Heng quickly realized at the back of his mind, not unwelcome. He had agreed to this sudden request much more quickly and on a whim than he normally would, and it wasn’t until after the fact that he realized it would be a tall order for someone like him, descending into the Chasm for the very first time.

So Yelan’s arrival was, in truth, exceptionally well-timed.

“My name is Dan Heng,” he said, the content of his words truly genuine, as he accepted her hand for a light shake. “Thank you for the help. I agreed to this request… a little impulsively, so I don’t mind the ‘forced’ help at all — I believe I would need it.”

And besides, the company of someone who knew their way around would also prove beneficial to his notes for the data bank, without a doubt.

Here however, he paused as he looked behind him to say good-bye to Cheng Jun, only to find the boy had disappeared. “… Where did he go so quickly?” He knew kids could be fast, but all around them were nothing but sharp cliffs — how did he leave just like that?

He looked at Yelan, the look in his eyes evidently a little puzzled.

“Well… should we just leave him to it and go? You probably know a safe way down?”

The Depths of the World and Everything Wrong With Them || Dan Heng & Yelan

Commission: Chasm trouble || @muscle-blues || Commission Season: Harmony

[renascinem]

“An enemy, staging an ambush?” Dan Heng echoes Zhongli’s words, ever thoughtful as he carefully analyzes their content. “I’ve heard here and there that certain parts of Teyvat’s past are not peaceful ones. I am guessing this may be a remnant of those times.”

A statement, rather than a question, signifying that Zhongli is free to either confirm or deny, or simply leave it as is, should he prefer to leave it as a potential candidate for the “reward” he has offered for completing the challenge he has presented to Dan Heng. It’s almost an amusing notion, he would think to himself, should he give himself the time to do so. Solve my puzzle, and I will reward you with the knowledge you seek. A classic premise for the many stories and fairytales told in the teahouses in Liyue and at the Xianzhou alike.

Usually, Dan Heng is not one for games, and needs to be pulled into them by others, but… something about Zhongli’s demeanor and sincerity compels him to play along. He gets a feeling that he, too, has awoken multiple wonders and questions in the other's mind, and in that sense, can understand the need for... a test, if one will.

“Alright… Very well.” He leaves aside the lingering curiosity as to exactly who the man conceals behind the word we.

The reassurance of both the explanation and Zhongli’s simple presence allows him to approach the maze with a newfound peace of mind, and he turns to the reappearing and disappearing pathways, now more calm, collected and focused as he observes them.

… Indeed, just as his guide had said, beside the path he had previously taken that nearly sent him tumbling into the endless clouds below, another one now appears before his eyes, more radiant and vibrant. He pauses briefly, before understanding dawns upon him — and he walks forward towards the next isle, only once glancing behind him to see if Zhongli will follow.

*Record Scratch* *Freeze Frame* Yep, That's Me || Dan Heng & Zhongli

Chance meeting in adeptus abode || @jadeshielded || Commission Season: Harmony

[renascinem]

Dan Heng nods to Welt’s words, for the sake of his peace of mind treating them subconsciously as a command — trying to focus on the task at hand, instead of his still lingering discomfort with Mr. Yang’s presence in the place that should never be visited by any of his friends and companions, not even in nightmares.

The borisin-shaped machines rise slowly as they bend to Welt’s will, and Dan Heng tries to conceal the amazement in his eyes, masking it beneath his usual cold calmness. A few times, by now, he has seen the scope of Mr. Yang’s power, or at least, some of it — he knows, by now, that there is so much more to the man than meets the eye, and he remains the walking proof that the saying about deceiving appearances is very true and real. There remains a lingering thought at the back of his mind, that there is still much he has yet to bear witness to as far as Welt’s power is concerned. Naturally, this goes both ways, but it does not, in the slightest, reduce the deep respect he has for the man who wields such great power with such harmonious demeanor.

He can only hope that, one day, he can achieve a similar level of peace with the power he has been forced to bear.

“Now, formation,” he commands, his voice sharp, yet calm at the same time, in an attempt to convey the confidence and lack of reasons to fear. “You know what you’re facing. You know you have to strike it multiple times to disable the Moon Rage module. Remember its speed and weak points. Now, go.”

On his command, the mock battle begins. The Cloud Knights’s charge is fearless and coordinated; one draws the mech’s attention, the others land their strikes, before the roles switch around. For all of two minutes, it looks promising.

And then, one guy turns out to be just a bit too slow, and the entire formation falls apart just like that as the seemingly well-trained system suddenly jams.

“Get it together!” Dan Heng shouts as, by sheer instinct, the Cloud-Piercer manifests in his hand, as though his mind has forgotten this battle isn’t real. “You can’t get so distracted the moment one thing goes wrong!”

And they try, in their defense they genuinely try, but one wrong move leads to another nonetheless — and before long, the wolf-shaped robot’s hand, armed in purposely dulled yet still dangerous claws, is about to descend upon one of the Knights who completely lost his balance and fell to the floor.

“Stop!”

Well, that could have gone better, could it?

Chained to My Past, I Fall Down || Dan Heng & Welt

Crystallize Commission: Shackling Prison || @secondsovereign

[renascinem]

… Ah.

So, Boothill was at the Xianzhou Luofu. And where Boothill was, there would usually ensue a Situation. And, indeed, he received a confirmation that a Situation has indeed ensued without even asking for one.

The Galaxy Ranger’s entire demeanor shifted on the spot the instant he saw Dan Heng, as though he turned from one person into another just like that. The Vidyadhara, for his own part, gave little in terms of a reaction to it — firstly, he has already witnessed Boothill’s ability to pull off an instant behavior change depending on who he had to deal with, and secondly, Caelus and March still gave him a solid run for his credits in the art of puzzling Dan Heng with their antics.

Which did, in fact, include going into places they weren’t supposed to go, including off-limits allegedly haunted locales. As bizarre as that sounded.

(It’s only thoughts like that that would make Dan Heng realize just how much nonsense the Express has been getting into since those two showed up.)

Anyway,

“The Fyxestroll Garden is currently struggling with some kind of vandalism case,” Dan Heng explained to his, well, newfound companion as it would appear. “The Spiritfarers are on edge because of that, and you probably got swept up in the chaos.” Behind his back, Jingyan quietly nodded in confirmation, while the archivist turned to the one who came together with Boothill.

“We will do our best to investigate and handle the situation. Please try to put your mind at ease and focus on your work…” He paused before continuing after a mostly but not fully concealed sigh. “… And please, don’t hold it against Boothill here. I assure you he’s not the perpetrator, and he meant to harm.”

The Spiritfarer considered the thoughts for a moment, before slowly nodding, albeit with a light wince still on his face.

“… If you say so, Master Dan Heng. Please report your findings to the Spirit Envoy in the Garden.”

With that, he was off, and Dan Heng nodded to Jingyan as a short goodbye before also turning to leave, gesturing for Boothill to follow him.

“While we’re making our way over there… How much do you know about heliobi?”

Have You Ever Tried to Shoot a Ghost || Dan Heng & Boothill

Commission: Fyxestroll Garden || @crackshct || Commission Season: Harmony

[renascinem]

A lot has happened.

Understatement of the millennium, perhaps, but really — how else is one supposed to describe all of that which occurred during those long years, without spending an equal amount of time dwelling on each detail? It is with that thought in mind that Dan Heng lets that statement slide.

Not only would it take forever… it’s also not necessary, plain and simple. Dan Heng has moved on, or at the very least, tried to do so to whatever capacity the life he now has has allowed him; and while he, admittedly, used to think little of the matter, he understands now that for the General, it has not been any easier. Harder even, perhaps, in some ways. He may not have hung in chains of the Shackling Prison personally, but he, before anyone else, was the one left behind by the other four, and put in a position he did not in the slightest desire to pick up the pieces they had thrown all over the place.

It’s a type of prison in its own right, when one thinks about it.

For that reason and more, whatever Dan Heng may have once upon a time held against him has evaporated, akin to a distant memory that used to hold him prisoner in its grasp, but can control him no longer — cast aside just like the rest of them.

If anything, perhaps he’s grateful that the General is willing to share this — brighter, hopefully — future with him, even though he is not who Jing Yuan may have sought for.

And that is why, alongside his answer, also comes a smile.

“Yes, until next time. I will see you around, General.”

— Thread End

General Take the Wheel || Dan Heng & Jing Yuan

[renascinem]

He keeps one hand on Kokomi's shoulder to help stabilize her as she rests, only reaching out with his other hand to offer her the Vision when she asks for its return. The power of Hydro soon envelops them; he remembers it from his meeting with the Iudex of Fontaine, who had demonstrated his element to him, as well. Kokomi's Hydro appears to be slightly different in nature, lacking just a bit of the absolute purity that the Hydro Dragon had displayed; in the context of what he has thus far learned, it makes sense, and so he does not question it, especially since this is absolutely not the time for it.

"It did, yes," he nods to her question, directing her attention to the sky. The ferocious thunder and downpour have ceased, and though some clouds still hang in the sky, they are now more white than before, replacing the dark gray that covered the firmament just a few minutes ago. Even the corpses of the Riftwolves he had killed dissolve before their eyes, disappearing into murky dust that then dissipates in the air.

"... Alright, if you say so," he says in response to her request, although there is an audible note of hesitation and doubt in his voice. "Feel free to lean on me as much as you need. I can also carry you if you can't walk."

He has the feeling that she intends to push herself through it no matter what he says, but the reassurance is still going to be useful, as he wants to believe.

Somehow, he has to later make note of all this in the data bank. Even if he isn't exactly sure just yet where he's going to even begin with that. He has to sort out his notes later and figure it out. She is absolutely not in the state to be answering his loaded questions right about now.

It hurts, fire and ice radiating outwards from the new scar and coursing through this too-frail body, and despite herself, she can't stop the pained gasp that escapes her as she sits up. She should have expected this - there had been little enough information recorded about even the ritual's existence, and nothing about any potential side effects. There is, at least, no blood, which points to the wound being not exactly physical...even if its effects very much are. No Divine Priestess before had ever needed to use it, and what it has done to this body is still very much in question.

"I just...need a moment...and 'my' Vision - ah, thank you-"

She can't quite muster the energy to conjure a Bake-Kurage, but the second the little gem is back in her hand, she calls up as much hydro as she can, wrapping it around the hand still clutching the wound. Slowly, the pain begins to subside, if only slightly. Memories begin to seep back in; the tatarigami, the storm, the trek across Yashiori in the company of a friend from afar, whom she'd told her story. She turns her head in a motion slightly too sharp for any human, and meets his eyes.

Dan Heng, of the Astral Express, who also carries an ancient power within himself...and I am...Kokomi. The strategist. The Divine Priestess, heir to a legacy of protective wrath.

Kokomi shakes her head and squeezes her eyes shut against a sudden flare of pain, feeling something insubstantial loosen its grip upon her soul. The skies seem clearer, but there's still something indescribably aware about Orobashi's lingering spirit. The remnants of an entire pack of riftwolves litter the mountaintop around her, and fresh gashes from both corroding fangs and an impossibly sharp blade mar the surface of the ancient skull. "Dan Heng...? Did it...work?"

She's still disoriented, still in pain - and what little healing she has the strength for is making little difference against this wound of the soul. And, for a moment, she'd felt...different, somehow. Something both more and less than mortal...as though not all of her had come back from that strange domain. As though something else had taken that missing piece's place.

"Help me get back down the mountain? I think I...just need to rest..."

[renascinem]

Leave it to Caelus to create a housing crisis at the Herta Space Station.

At least, that's what Dan Heng had heard in passing at the Space Station, and of course, he's not the kind of person who goes off of hearsay. When he finds a new piece of information, he tries to verify and cross-check it with multiple other sources, to ensure it's authentic, believable, and belongs in the data bank.

This time, his intention to do so is beat by none other than the supposed perpetrator himself. It's curious timing, to say the least, that just as the Station announces the whole adoption situation, Caelus pops into Dan Heng's general area and offers to show him the machine that supposedly creates those... cats. A machine that makes cats. That are supposedly also cakes. Even for the standards of everything else that this universe has put him through, it's weird and he doesn't get it.

That's the main reason why, in the end, he willingly takes the bait and accompanies Caelus to the Secluded Zone in order to see it.

His reaction to his friend's cheesy introduction is his usual stony expression without any major changes.

"I'd appreciate that when you have a moment," is the first thing he says. "The data bank could definitely use to have the name for this device."

He approaches it and for now simply studies it visually, his finger sliding idly across the metal and plastic of the surface. A moment passes like that, before he asks what he has a feeling is the question Caelus hopes to hear.

"So... How does this thing work?"

☆ and then he turned into a catcake! funniest shit i've ever seen

【 harmony commission ── catcake adoption 】

[renascinem]

Sometimes, he really finds it mind-boggling how Penacony's snacks and inventions can be so wondrous and innovative, while at the same time proudly brandishing the lamest slogans as their advertisement.

Well, it's not like he'd come up with a better one. But then again, it's not like that's his job.

Anyway.

"No problem, Miss Lingsha." In reality, while Dan Heng generally accepts just about any kind of food just for the purpose of staying alive, he is not actually that fond of sweet things, so he doesn't exactly expect to find this all that enjoyable... but, well, what she says next is also true. He's probably done worse things for, how should he put this. This is where Caelus would come in and cheerfully exclaim something like "For science!", isn't it?

... Is it a good or a bad thing that he has developed an ability to predict what this guy would do?

Well. He discards that thought for now, focusing instead on the plate of candy before him as it's lightly pushed in his direction. He takes one, a small hint of apprehension easy to recognize in his gesture for someone as perceptive as her.

He pauses, then sighs quietly. He agreed to this, didn't he.

"I suppose nothing's going to come out of just staring at this thing."

And so, down the hatch it goes. "Oh, it really is... obscenely sweet," he mutters as he swallows it with a wince.

At first, nothing special seems to happen.

However, it does not last for long. There's a brief moment where he thinks - is he going to throw up? No, that's not nausea - he's just kind of... dizzy? The world around him begins to go off-balance, buildings, items and his companion losing their proper shape.

"Miss Lingsha, my head hurts..."

He frowns as his thoughts begin to swirl in his mind, his own inner voice starting to mix with someone else's.

Were you not supposed to rejoin your companions?

Huh? Who is that? Who's speaking to me?

Did you not tell me that you had to leave?

Wait a moment, I've had this conversation before—

"So are you still running, or not?"

Dan Heng suddenly snaps back up as he realizes that that voice was no longer in his head. No, it was very much outside of his head.

In fact, it's standing right behind him.

It takes a moment before he finds the courage to turn his head. Indeed, just a few steps behind him stands a tall man with long, black hair. Emerald antlers adorn his head, and white and green formal robes of the Vidyadhara High Elder cover his body.

Dan Feng crosses his arms, glaring at him, seemingly not yet aware of Lingsha's presence.

"Make up your mind, would you?"

storm diver

harmony

[renascinem]

Sunday slowly settles in, and while he takes his time, Dan Heng briefly turns his attention back to mark an important piece of information in the book he had been reading, to ensure that he later updates the data bank with it.

Still, he does find a large portion of his focus has now dissipated. With someone else in the room, simply going back to his reading and studying as though they're not there at all feels somewhat rude... Usually, that is why he is not fond of guests coming in for chit-chat, and the Crew members know that.

(Sometimes, that's what keeps them out, but other times, it's what brings them in. Weird how it works.)

Still, he finds he doesn't mind Sunday's presence, really. Maybe it has something to do with the guy's somewhat peculiar aura... or maybe it has to do with him realizing that he needs it -

(and that, in a way, they are not that different in their circumstances, actually. Both of them have begun a new life, which they spend running away and being hated for their previous one.)

(It's easier for him to judge Sunday for what he had done when he was there to witness it; how many lives did Dan Feng ruin with what, ultimately, were good intentions?)

When Sunday makes his inquiry, Dan Heng raises his head to look at him again. As the question falls, he takes some time to consider it before he tries to answer.

"It's... a little complicated," he begins. "When I boarded, it was just Himeko, Mr. Yang, and another traveler who left later. In the beginning, I didn't really interact much with them - I believed that my stay was temporary." For the time being, he leaves the details of the reason why unspoken. "I spent almost all my time here in the Archives, working on the data bank. If it weren't for the occasional stops on various planets, and Himeko and the conductor dragging me to eat at least some meals with them... I probably wouldn't have left this room at all."

He takes a pause here to shift his position a little, sitting cross-legged the other way around, before he continues.

"Then, we stumbled across March, floating frozen in space. After she recovered, she became curious in just about everything she saw and heard about. The Express began to take more stops along the way, and Himeko would usually make Mr. Yang and me go with her to keep her safe. So... going outside more often just sort of naturally happened on its own."

He pauses again, his eyes drifting off of Sunday and staring into space, as the next thing he says appears to be a realization he himself makes as he speaks it into being.

"... In the beginning, I found it kind of annoying, to be honest. But over time, I realized I mostly stopped minding. I find it hard to say when that happened, or why."

PEACE IN THE ARCHIVES .

sunday & dan heng . @renascinem .

[renascinem]

“… And I will not be hearing any more of our incessant rambling. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

The door slammed behind him, leaving the enraged Preceptor alone, and he leaned back against it, the sigh he stifled eventually leaving his throat in the form of a quiet tch before he stood back up straight, regaining his proper posture before walking forward as if nothing at all happened.

Truly a whole court jester show, these ones.

Well, it didn’t matter. They could have their redundant meetings and idiot arguments without him. What were they going to do, issue another complaint for him to throw in the trash?

Inhale, exhale. Running his hand through his hair to put an unruly strand in place, Dan Feng approached the window. Exiting through such means was rather beneath him, but his patience had been truly exhausted for the day, and at this point he would rather risk being seen by an accidental civilian than by another Preceptor.

With fluid calmness and confidence in every move, as though he was indeed definitely supposed to be doing exactly this, he opened the window, stepped onto the windowsill, closed it behind him — and, lightly and soundlessly, jumped down to the ground.

So much for their control over the Vidyadhara affairs when that was all it took, huh.

From there, all it took was a short walk through the streets of the Alchemy Commission. Dan Feng strode forward, ignorant and uncaring of the curious looks of the few residents he passed by — his eyes set only on the alley leading up to the docks.

Finally, there, he saw the sight he expected: a familiar head of white. A momentary smirk flashed across his lips, accompanied by a quiet huff, both of which were swiftly concealed behind his usual stone expression.

“Told you I’d have no trouble getting away from those fools.”

Once Upon a Time, We Were Whole || Dan Feng & Yingxing

Past AU || @neverendingdeath || Commission Season: Harmony