sunluzhen

[sunluzhen]

"Uhm..." Mk looks around the tiny ass townhome he was assigned this time in Spirale.

"I mean, sure? But, uh. Uhm. I don't know if there's that much space. We can try though!"

Well, there's only one thing he can do now. With a sigh, he takes out his phone-

"Heeeey, kid! Bet you heard the sirens and all. Sooo you would totally not mind if your favourite mentor andalsothewholetroop crashed with you for a while, right?"

@sunluzhen woe monkeys be upon ye

[sunluzhen]

"Ahhhh, this is a language thing. Yeah, absolutely is. Not demon as in, like, that Western stuff. Yaoguai are demons, but demons like uh... honestly, probably like the monsters you're thinking of, it sounds like? This multiverse stuff is weird."

Though, technically, Wukong and Macaque weren't considered yaoguai or celestial — something else entirely. He guesses he'd also fall under that special, eleventh category of being.

He'd rather just simplify it to demon. Thinking about his origins again is going to give him another headache. Or crisis. Probably both.

"Anyways, it's nice to meet'cha Chara! My name's Qi Xiaotian— uh. You can just call me Xiaotian, or Monkey Kid, or MK. Most folks do!"

This kid sure was all serious-like though. Maybe he should humor them a little. "Well, how's about you help me pass the festive cheer around? I think that's pretty fair."

“If you are the wrong kind of demon for deals, what kind of demon are you?”

They don’t sound surprised at the very least about his admittance to being a demon. Chara is staring down at that quite intensely, though… debating the pros and cons.

“My mother said it is impolite to not accept food from strangers,” they say, sincerely. “Monsters put their hearts into what they make, so I suppose demons must be the same way. Maybe. However.”

They look up.

“She always said to introduce yourself when someone offers you food. So my name is Chara Dreemurr, and I will partake in your meal, as long as you allow me to settle the debt for it.”

[sunluzhen]

Despite how many times they do this, MK always let's out the same startled little yelp as he's picked up and carried along.

"Huh— wait, we're just gonna gun straight for it?" Not surprising, but also usually RPG's involve doing a quest chain first before fighting the big monster of the week.

Honestly, that's kinda how his life was before... well.

"Maybe we should test the new magic we got against, uh, smaller things first—?"

He shrugs, seemingly unconcerned about losing his powers again. This was what, sixth time now? Something like that. And he always came out fine!

..Okay, almost always. But that's semantics.

"Good thinking!" Wukong eyes the staff for a moment with that same interest he had for the mace before looking away. The remains of the mace are tossed away, and with a now familiar motion, his tail wraps around MK's midsection and holds tight- "No time to waste now, let's go get that dragon!"

-And up they go, leaping high above the candied treetops.

[sunluzhen]

This is worse than the time he continuously munched down on a jawbreaker. Actually, hold on. Was that candy made literally just a giant one—? Eugh. Eugh!!! MK makes a face, before rolling his eyes and shaking his head fondly.

"Well, we don't have our usual powers... But you're right! You got me. And— because classic RPG parties never have more than one person with the same role..." He holds up his currently rock-candied staff. "I picked the caster class!"

The rock-candy staff pops and sizzles for extra effect.

"Wanted to try how it tastes", he answers honestly through a mouthful of candy. More loud crunching follows that. It takes a good couple minutes for him to finish chewing through all of the candy.. and then he immediately takes another bite.

"Pssh, like I need a weapon to take down a dragon. 'Sides, I have you in my corner, don't I?" A colourful and simple feel-good quest with no depressing connotations is exactly what the two of them need, in his opinion.

[sunluzhen]

MK feels like he chose the wrong time to say hi. That's the most horrible sound to be greeted by yet. That's NOT how you eat hard candy, he stands by that.

"Eugh. Why? Just, why?"

A beat passes.

"How are you going to slay the dragon with a broken weapon?"

He's eyeing the candy mace with a very thoughtful expression, murmuring quietly, "It's a little big... But I wonder-"

There is a moment of silence after that... Which is swiftly followed by the ear-splitting

CRUNCH

and a more quiet: "ooh, tasty!"

[sunluzhen]

QI XIAOTIAN / MK!

PASSION CASTER ("Wow, it's like I'm in a videogame!")

Weapons: Rock Candy Wand Staff, LifeSaver's Book of Spells

Armor "Flavor": Sweet Peaches n' Cream

CHARACTER STATS

Strength: 1

Magic: 9

Endurance: 4

Speed: 6

ABILITIES:

1. BUBBLEGUM BAZOOKA! 2. FIERY CARMEL APPLE! 3. CINNAMON HEARTS! 4. OOPS, ALL BEANS!

[sunluzhen]

oh? What’s this? It seems there’s someone in your apartment. It’s —

there’s a little kid in your apartment with a bunch of blankets and pillows in their hands. They’re — are they STEALING BLANKETS AND PILLOWS FROM THE HOUSE?

Now, Xiaotian might not have retained his supernatural speed just yet -- but he can, however, be two places at once. Which is just the case this morning, as is his habit for getting chores out of the way.

There's one confused monkey entering the living room, and another monkey sitting in the opened window the kid must've used to get in.

"Uhm.... hi again? What- what are you doing."

"Dude, it's kinda obvious-"

"Hey, hey, none of that now, c'mon me."

[sunluzhen]

Okay, now that's a funny response. Xiaotian can't help but laugh, though they're quick to cover their mouth and shake their head in some semblance of manners.

"Bud, I'm the wrong kind of demon for that business! Nah, though, I just got a lot of leftovers from my catering earlier today. I don't like wastin' stuff, so. Plus, it's lunar new year's! Perfect weather for a free hot bowl of noodles too, yeah? It'll warm you right up!"

Chara stares at the bowl of noodles and the offered chopsticks.

The bowl of noodles and offered chopsticks stare back at them.

The child frowns, squinting.

>ITEM >>>>>CHECK

It is a normal bowl of noodles, in a normal bowl, offered with normal chopsticks. There is a slightly spicy smell clinging to the meal, with an average amount of egg and veggies for this particular regional dish

Hm.

Chara glances back up at the stranger. Their expression is as sober as always.

“What is the catch. Am I required to join a cult upon partaking in your noodles.”

[sunluzhen]

Ah. Right. While no time has passed for them, it must've been another story entirely for his mentor. (Nothing he can really do about that, though. Unfortunately.) "Ehhhh... Last night? Today?" They shrug, shuffling past Wukong to place the tower of snacks on the coffee table.

The lack of any other guests and Wukong's disheveled state isn't a surprising one. It leaves a sour taste in his mouth, nonetheless. People really do just come and go from this city without any rhyme or reason to it...

Nothing to do but be present, here and now, while they can.

"Sorry for bein' a little late. Woke up, realized the date on my phone was waaaay different from when I went to bed-- I had to do, like, a lot of last-minute shopping. Man... It's the year of the little dragon already! Ain't that crazy?"

He is still chasing the dream from the other night when he is woken up - rather unceremoniously - by a monkey ripping the blanket off of him and screaming in his face. Wukong groans and turns away, but it jumps on his head and continues bothering him, undeterred.

"What, is someone fighting outside again? Is the house on fire?" He asks, eyes closed and voice still groggy with sleep. Wukong specifically asked to not be bothered in the days coming up to New Years unless there is an emergency and he's not sensing anything off with the house other than the weird ringing noise- oh. The doorbell. "Please don't tell me you woke me up because you ordered something online again and need me to sign for it. I thought we agreed that is not an emergency."

The monkey chitters at him and for a moment the words don't quite register... And then he jumps up in bed, wide awake. "Wait, seriously?" The monkey nods and Wukong swears, looking around frantically before grabbing a decent-looking robe from the laundry chair and hastily putting it on. His tail grabs Mary Sue's hairbrush and drags it through his hair, not accomplishing much other than making his look more frizzy.

"How do I look?" The monkey looks him up and down. And grimaces. "..Yeah, figures."

Well, he doesn't exactly have time to make himself any more presentable. MK is not exactly the most patient person and Wukong would like to keep his doors on their hinges this time. So he opens the door with a smile that is only a little tight and voice only a little raspy from sleep.

"Kid! When- when did you get back?" He looks over the tower of snacks and steps to the side to let his student pass. "Come on in, it's too cold out."

[sunluzhen]

Xiaotian just... blinks, leaning against his cart. His tail flicks casually off to the side. Wow, this is one bitey little kid. "Well, I wasn't doin' much sneakin', but aight bud."

And, clearly, they're also hungry, despite whatever they're hissing and spitting about. "Well, I've been handin' out these nice, hot bowls of noodles for the occasion. Wanna try some?" They offer Chara a bowl and some chopsticks, an encouraging smile on their face. "It's New Year's, after all! Gotta eat some noodles for long life, y'know, that's how it goes."

This place is too crowded.

Chara doesn’t like it. It puts them on edge. There are too many people — too many humans. They crowd around, and it makes the little monarch wish they had just stayed in the woods like they had declared they would.

But their stomach is growling, and over the years of, you know, being dead, they forgot what it’s like to be hungry. So they had set foot for the settlement, determined to buy something quick and leave before being noticed.

The child startles at the stranger, shoulders hiking up as they step back. Eyes narrow, and they bite hard at their bottom lip.

“No. I am not. You should not sneak up on children.”

— and, right as they say that, their traitorous stomach gives a particularly loud growl.

“Fuck.”

[sunluzhen]

@sunsage liked for a starter!

For Xiaotian, not much time has passed since the last time he was in Spirale. But a quick glance at the calendar is enough to inform them that time has, in fact, passed.

Well, crud.

Nothing to do about that, though, other than to just pick up where they last left off.

Or, well, maybe not that. He doesn't remember their last conversation well, but it wasn't a very fun one. (Another strange event caused by the Stars, he's pretty sure. He doesn't think he was entirely there for most of it. He's determined not to think too hard about it.)

There are much more important things — such as waltzing right up to Monkey King's house carrying an armful of snacks and sparklers for the new year's. He could just help himself inside, but it's not his house and that'd be rude. So, he uses his tail to ring the doorbell. And knock on the door. Then ring it again because he's actually not sure if Wukong is home—

"Monkey King! Answer the door already, my arms are full!"

[sunluzhen]

Oh yeah, have you guys seen this design?

I legit thought it was mk for a second

[sunluzhen]

@charadrxxmxrr liked for a starter!

It was a pretty nice day out. Still colder than Xiaotian would have liked, but with a thick coat of fur they don't really have much room for complaining.

At least the weather meant people were more inclined to indulge on a nice, hot meal! Especially with the lunar festivities coming up again soon— why not get a head start on that festive spirit?

So, the little monkey was making their rounds through town, offering up bowls of noodles from the little cart they've decided to tote around for the day.

"Hey there! You hungry? Got some piping hot bowls, on the house!"

[sunluzhen]

Alriiiiight let's get the ball rolling again! New year, new start!

Like for a starter; capped at 3!

(Sun Wukong exempt as always)

[sunluzhen]

Xiaotian really, really wasn't a fan of the spooky cold mist thing going on-- reminded them too much of her. They're not really sure what to make of her reaction though, though at least they get their bowl back.

"Uh," okay, maybe they should not respond with something along the lines of 'you sound like something out of a drama'. Now that'd just be asking to get slapped upside the head or something. (The way the person in front of them speaks definitely reminds them of such things, though, for sure.) "O...kay. Uh, most of my friends just call me MK, but uh, my name's Xiaotian?" An awkward pause. "Uh, what do you go by?"

Uraume noted the thin veneer hiding the simian-featured child, the first irritant that plagued the interaction. They stammered over their words, providing a long-winded explanation to formally address the situation. Second irritant. The prolonged explanation concluded with the third irritant, an insult.

"Tch."

Frozen mist diffused the air surrounding their forms, momentarily shrouding the two from onlookers. The temptation rose to launch the bowl upon the child's head grew, though words seemed to be far more effective considering the child refused to breathe when they spoke.

"Be direct when you speak" they replied, heavily flopping the bowl into the child's unique hands. "Insincerity begets rifts." Uraume tucked their hands into their sleeves, the frigid mist dissipated gradually with Uraume's frustrations. "Child, what is your name?"

[sunluzhen]

"Man, it's winter again already? That's crazy. You think the weather machine here's gonna make another month-long blizzard or what?"

[sunluzhen]

Xiaotian watches Wukong with a blank look, tilting his head as his gaze drifts back to the muddled water once again. All this talk about colors-- but paint was just paint at the end of the day. Before applying color, a common method is to imply the values in grayscale. The sketch comes before line art, before color-blocking, before the final piece...

Nothing had changed. Not really. It only looks that way, framed in a way that exaggerates the pieces. But... "It's still going to be there, though, no matter how hard you try, won't it? Even after the city returns to the way it was."

He doesn't really know what to say to that. Looking down, Wukong watches the paint trickle off of him. Only a few streaks of paint are left on him right now and they are slowly sliding down, leaving him cold and colourless.

It's not really such an unfamiliar feeling, now that he pays more attention to it. It feels a lot like... a bad day. One where moving feels like an effort and he doesn't really want to do much other than sleep. Everyone has those from time to time, he's sure. At least he knows how to deal with it. Wukong smiles a little, trying to project a more light tone now that most of the panic left him. "I can pick a better colour later. It's not actually that hard, I had a few on me from just meeting people."

It's something that he was planning on doing eventually, but in the moment removing the black paint as soon as possible felt more important. Reaching up, Wukong swipes a hand under the bend of his neck and flicks the paint from his hand into the water. "Just not this one. It's not good for me. Or anyone, really. Better to get rid of it altogether."