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mothercetrion · 5 years ago

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A New Beginning

Summary: The Shirai Ryu and the Lin Kuei would be allies as long as they both should live.

Characters: Scorpion (Hanzo Hasashi), Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang); brief appearances from Johnny Cage, Takeda Takahashi, Sonya Blade, Cassie Cage, Bi-Han and Saibot, Cyrax, Sektor, Smoke (Tomas Vrbada), Raiden

Word Count: 6418

here it is... subscorp wedding!! it’s really long but i poured my soul into this. i hope y’all like it. [crossposted to AO3]

———

Kuai Liang and Hanzo Hasashi got married in the spring.

They decided that the season’s weather would likely permit for an outdoor ceremony, no matter if they knew the weather for the date or not, as well as allow safe plane travels for any guests that should come.

They agreed on choosing a random location for the ceremony; neither wanted to pick one temple over the other. They ultimately decided on California, upon Johnny’s suggestion. It was a place that neither had much association with, they had open options in both setting and general weather, and Johnny agreed to pay for the location they wanted as a part of his wedding present. Many pluses, they realized, so that was their final decision.

Their wedding planners, a tag team of Johnny, Sonya, and Takeda, decided that they should walk down the aisle together. Neither of them had parents to walk them down, and it would allow for everyone to see them at the same time. They would come in from two different sides in the back, meet in a middle aisle, and walk down together, arm and arm. They both agreed that the idea was splendid.

They sent invitations to everyone they knew, everyone who had ever helped them both before and after they got together. The Cage family, a handful of Shaolin monks, members of the Special Forces and the police department, Raiden, Fujin, and the entirety of the Shirai Ryu and Lin Kuei clans, of course, all received an invitation in their mailbox.

The one person that Kuai Liang feared would not attend was Bi-Han. He was freshly revived, three months before the wedding, and his mind had not fully healed from his death and time as Noob. He and Kuai Liang spoke frequently, and they had a good relationship, but Bi-Han often found himself struggling to be near Hanzo. It was not that he hated him—he had healed well enough to forgive him for believing Quan Chi’s lies, as he would have done the same thing if Quan Chi told him something similar—but seeing him made him think of his death at Scorpion’s hands and led to his mind to deteriorate. He was making progress, but Hanzo desired to give him space so he could heal; the last thing he wanted was to upset Bi-Han in any way. They decided to send an invitation to him. If he could come, they would be more than happy to see him there. If he could not come, there were no hard feelings. They understood.

The men pondered as to whether or not they should stick to the traditional marriages of their past or break away from them. Of course, they were marrying into one another’s clans, which was deeply important to them; however, it was the first documented same-sex marriage since either of their clans began, and they were marrying from the “enemy” clan.

They decided that they had broken tradition when they had become lovers. A little more brokenness—tuxedos instead of their clan uniforms—would be okay.

They were not overly picky about most aspects of the wedding decorations, such as flowers and table tops and chairs. Music was a different story; both wanted a traditional instrumental band to play during the ceremony, but they gave Johnny, their unofficial DJ, permission to go “hog wild” during the reception. They figured that they could allow themselves to have more fun that way, dancing with their friends and loved ones. Hanzo found himself mildly afraid of what Johnny would play.

They were picky about two things—their suits and the wedding cake.

Kuai Liang, surprisingly enough, preferred to wear bowties during the ceremony. He felt that they added an extra layer of fun to the ceremony and would differentiate them from every single other guest, who he was sure would wear the traditional long tie. That was the exact reason that Hanzo preferred the long tie. He did not want to stand out too heavily (to which Kuai Liang replied, “everyone will be focusing on us because we are marrying, Hanzo,” which Hanzo did not like to hear) and felt that bow ties were too silly. They flipped a coin, where Hanzo called heads and regretted it. They were not there for one another’s suit fittings; some element of surprise was needed for the ceremony.

Deciding on a wedding cake flavor was easily one of the harder decisions in the beginning. Kuai Liang was fond of sweets in moderation, but Hanzo very rarely ate sweets at all. They tried several different cakes recommended by Johnny, and at first, Kuai Liang liked a few, but Hanzo did not like any of them. But then they tried red velvet, and Kuai Liang loved it very much, and he turned to Hanzo who had eaten the entire slice offered to them. He was immediately embarrassed and apologized, but Kuai Liang found it beyond sweet. They decided on red velvet then with vanilla icing, a three-tiered cake so Johnny would hush about how “every wedding needs a big cake.”

And then… the day of the wedding arrived.

It was chaotic in the beginning. Hanzo and Kuai Liang had stayed in a hotel near the reception area in the days before the wedding. Johnny had wanted them to be there for rehearsals, final changes, anything else that they would need to be there for. They woke up at the crack of dawn to Johnny busting into their room, three coffees in his arms and a grin on his face. How he got in there without a key was a mystery. “Future husbands! It’s time to get our butts in gear!”

Kuai Liang rose up immediately, glaring at Johnny with a deep frown. “It is early, even for us, Cage. The wedding isn’t until this evening. Why are you—”

“Because it’s the most important day of your entire life, Subs!” Johnny jumped into the room and pulled on Kuai Liang’s arm, pulling him out of bed and handing him his coffee. “It’s your first marriage, yeah? I know you two will stay married a long time, probably forever, if I had to guess. It’s a big deal!” He gestured to the lump of blankets that was Hanzo. “C’mon, Spicy, get up! It’s a big day! Gotta get a move on!”

Hanzo sat up slowly then, suffering from bed head and wearing a tired scowl. “I am awake, Cage…” He paused, looking at the front door and back to Johnny. “How are you in here?”

Johnny snickered and passed him his own coffee. “I have my ways.” He went to the door and swung it open, stepping into the hallway. “I ordered room service for the husbands-to-be. Eat your breakfast, get showered, celebrate one another, I don’t care. I’m picking y’all up at, uh… 11 o’clock to get to the venue and get our suits on. It’s a long drive. Be ready by then, okay? Okay! Love ya!” With that, he blew them a kiss and closed the door behind him and left Hanzo and Kuai Liang alone.

Kuai Liang stepped over to the bed and sat down, failing to keep his smile contained. “Good morning, my dearest. Did you sleep well?”

Hanzo smiled softly in return. “Good morning, my love. I slept the nicest in weeks… And you?”

“The same.” Kuai Liang lifted up a hand and worked to tame Hanzo’s long hair. “It hit me this morning.”

“What did?”

“We are getting married today. We will be spending the rest of our lives together, expanding our clans and growing further as individuals… together. Side by side.” Kuai Liang felt himself grinning, looking fondly into Hanzo’s eyes. “I never imagined that this day would come, but now that it has, I’m beyond excited.”

Hanzo’s cheeks reddened with a blush. “You are a sap, my love.” He lifted a hand to Kuai Liang’s cheek, cupping it in his hand and tracing his thumb along his beard. “I am also excited. The second time… It is just as thrilling, but it produces more nerves within me. It is mostly because of our plan team.”

Kuai Liang snickered. “He is merely passionate. He cares. Sonya and Takeda care just as much.”

“Takeda planning my wedding is the only thing that brings me ease… that, and you being my groom.” Hanzo glanced away briefly. “I am trying to save my love speak for my vows. Forgive me.”

Kuai Liang lowered his hand from Hanzo’s hair and gently grabbed the hand that rested in his lap. “It is always a good time to hear you speak your mind… I love hearing your thoughts. Confide in me, my dearest.”

Hanzo leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to Kuai Liang’s lips, his eyes closing. “Lay with me a while. Let me hold you for the last time before our forever begins,” he whispered, remaining close to his lips.

Kuai Liang smiled and kissed him once again. “Anything for you.”

They turned on a nature documentary and just laid next to one another, holding one another and exchanging pleasantries and kisses. After a while, room service arrived with a large breakfast for the two to enjoy and a written note from Johnny: “For the lovebirds on their special day! Stay neat.” They sat in bed and enjoyed their food to the best of their abilities. They laughed over jokes and kissed even more and had a pleasant, peaceful morning, simply enjoying one another’s company without stress or a care in the world.

It was time to get ready for the day then. They opted to shower together, but they decided to keep it tame; they helped one another wash their bodies and their hair. They hugged one another close and stood under the hot water for what felt like an eternity, simply living in the moment with one another. They wondered if they could ever have a more relaxing time together. They deserved the break after weeks of wedding preparations.

After that, they got dressed in casual clothes and brushed their teeth and prepped themselves for the onslaught of the people that they were about to encounter. Once ready, they met with Johnny in the hotel lobby, where they went outside to the limousine nicknamed “The Fire Ice Wedding Mobile” and rode to the wedding venue. Johnny rambled the entire way there to further confirm any small details of the wedding with the grooms. He spoke to Sonya and Takeda both during the ride, both of them already at the venue and occasionally yelling at those who were making the venue perfect for the occasion.

The venue was decorated in honor of the Shirai Ryu, covered in yellows and oranges and reds. It was to honor Hanzo and his past with his clan, as well as his steps forward in the years since his family and clan’s demise and rebuilding.

They decided on a wooded area, far from any buildings or nosy strangers to intrude on their special day. Green trees surrounded the area and were decorated with beautiful lights, hand picked by Hanzo and Kuai Liang themselves. The bulbs were round and emitted a soft yellow glow over the area. A white alter was sat in the middle of a rounded out area; it was also decorated with lights, as well as red flowers—red orchids, just like the ones that Hanzo laid out on the day that they proposed to one another.

The men shared a final kiss before their marriage still in the limousine. Sonya and Takeda insisted that they hurry to get dressed for the wedding, since it was beginning in a few hours and guests would begin to arrive soon. Kuai Liang went with Sonya to one tent to get ready, where Johnny followed them, and Hanzo followed Takeda to their own tent.

Once in their tents, the two men were prepared for their wedding. Their hair was messed with to look its best, and they were put in their tuxedos with the most careful of hands. They were sat in chairs while Johnny, with Sonya, and Cassie, with Takeda, took photos of every photographable moment to be sent out to all guests in attendance and those who could not attend. Neither of them liked the constant taking of photos at first, but they quickly grew used to them.

Both men were drinking tea in their tents when it was nearing time for the ceremony to begin. Johnny was in charge of getting all of the guests to their seats in a timely and organized fashion. He turned serious as the ceremony time came closer, and he ran around the entire venue to get everyone in their place.

Sonya sat in a chair across from Kuai Liang, watching as he sat in his own chair and sipped on his tea. “Are you nervous?” she asked after a few minutes of silence.

“Of course,” Kuai Liang answered. He placed his tea down on a table and let out a sigh. “This is my first marriage, hopefully my last. I want everything to go perfectly.”

“That’s how I felt about my wedding.” Sonya sighed with a smile. “Johnny’s family paid for everything. It was a big ordeal, with a bunch of guests I didn’t even know and a huge venue and a lot of stuff that his family kinda pushed.” Shaking her head, she fiddled with her long hair. “He called me and noticed that I was a little overwhelmed. It was about two hours before our ceremony, and he took me to the courthouse and asked a complete stranger to wed us. Right there.”

Kuai Liang laughed. “Of course he would do that.”

“Heart of gold. Always cares.” She chuckled to herself. “We went back and got ‘married’ in front of our families. It wasn’t the wedding I imagined, but… it was perfect in my eyes.” Sonya found herself grinning. “I know you and Master Hasashi will have a perfect wedding. Johnny will bend over backward to be sure that everything goes well and that you two are happy with everything.”

Kuai Liang smiled back. “I have no doubts.”

Right then, Takeda popped up in the doorway of the tent. Dressed in a nice suit, he looked good, and he looked excited. “Grandmaster!” he greeted, walking around to stand in front of his seat. “Looking dapper. Master Hasashi looks good as well.”

“I’m sure he does.” Kuai Liang rose to his feet. “Is it time for us to get in position?”

“It is. Just like we rehearsed, a Shirai Ryu and a Lin Kuei will meet and walk down the pathway, then you and Master Hasashi will follow suit, arm in arm.”

He ushered him out of the tent and to a part of the woods around the venue, hidden away from everyone by trees. He could see someone with long hair in a suit standing a good distance away hidden by several trees, most definitely Hanzo, as well as a Shirai Ryu. He met with a Lin Kuei warrior and bowed to him respectfully, and Takeda saluted him with a hand. “Five minutes. We’ll signal and then you two will walk down the path after. Good luck!”

With that, Takeda was off down the path to the venue. Kuai Liang watched him go and shook his head. He was far too thrilled.

He noticed the Shirai Ryu across the woods next to Hanzo, watching as Hanzo paced around the cleared area they were stood in. Kuai Liang tilted his head in confusion and excused himself from the Lin Kuei, and he stepped around several trees and bushes and up to the Shirai Ryu and asked to talk to Hanzo alone.

Hanzo looked up and immediately ducked behind a tree, a deep frown on his face. He looked nervous. “Kuai Liang, what are you doing? It’s bad luck to—”

“I don’t care.” Kuai Liang grabbed his hand pulled him out from behind the tree. His hair was out of its bun, and it was long, past his shoulders and straightened, likely by Cassie. The suit fit him like a glove and made him look more spectacular than usual. Kuai Liang found himself smiling like mad. “My dearest, you… you look amazing.”

Hanzo rose a hand to hide his lower face in embarrassment. “As do you, my love.”

“What troubles you?” Kuai Liang asked. “You look nervous. I came as soon as I saw.”

Hanzo hid his eyes then, squeezing Kuai Liang’s hand. “I… I am so nervous about this… Butterflies plague me.”

“You’ve seemed fine with everything thus far.”

“That was before I saw all of those people. I know all of them, of course, but it’s… it’s still larger in comparison to my first wedding. Much more worry of messing up or looking foolish or—”

“Who cares about them?” Kuai Liang grabbed his other hand and pulled it away from his eyes. “It is our day. They are simply bystanders to the greatest event of our current lives. Do not worry about them.” He smiled sweetly and stretched up to kiss the taller man’s forehead. “Focus on me and me only, my dearest. All will be well.”

Hanzo smiled back at him and wrapped his arms around him in a hug. He rested his chin on his shoulder with a deep sigh. “Thank you, my love.”

Kuai Liang kissed his neck and pulled away. “Anything for you.”

Minutes later, the Shirai Ryu and the Lin Kuei met in the opening of the cleared area, in the sight of every guest in attendance. They bowed at one another and walked down together to the sound of traditional music played by a musician hidden away by trees. They separated at the altar at the end of the path, standing on either side of the altar with calm expressions. The music picked up, and then Hanzo and Kuai Liang began to move through the clearing behind the trees.

They appeared at the same time and came into view to the guests at the same time.

Kuai Liang found himself just as blown away the second time he saw him. Hanzo was still nervous in appearance, but a smile was on his face. The two grabbed one another’s hands and kissed briefly. It wasn’t part of the rehearsal, but… they could not hold back.

They linked arms then and began the walk down the pathway. Both of them glanced around at all of the guests, smiling at them all and nodding at some. Johnny gave them a thumbs up when they passed his seat, which made both of them chuckle under their breath.

They reached the altar and were met with Raiden. Both of them were more than happy to give him the honor of marrying them when they learned from Takeda that he wanted to do it. He was one of the few select people that had known them both before and after their deaths, as well as their revivals. It was a pivotal piece in their current state of mind, their acceptance of their pasts and excitement for the future. He was beyond excited when he heard of their engagement. It was so special an occasion, he had ditched his hat and wore his long silver hair down.

Hanzo and Kuai Liang smiled at him briefly before moving to stand in front of one another at the altar, hand in hand.

Raiden closed his eyes briefly and opened them, a warm smile on his face. “I welcome all friends, all family, to the most joyous occasion in much of our lives.” He looked down at the two men with a gentle nod. “Today, we gather to bring these two men, Master Hanzo Hasashi and Grandmaster Kuai Liang, together in eternal harmony and eternal marriage. Today is the beginning of a new future for these men and both the Shirai Ryu and the Lin Kuei. History is being made, and all of you are witnesses.”

He looked up at the sky beyond the trees. “I have known Hanzo and Kuai Liang for what feels like an eternity. Their revival was one of the most miraculous things I have witnessed in my many years of life, and it still blows me away to this day. These men have grown to be kind, generous, and so beyond their years in gratitude. Their minds healed, alongside their hearts, where they were able to find love in the least likely of places.

“I have witnessed the impact that these men have had on one another. Speaking to them privately, I am simply blown away at their changes. They are both more able to joke, more relaxed and beyond pleasant to be near. They are more open to new experiences and are able to take on new challenges. Coexistence has strengthened them beyond what anyone could dream…”

Hanzo and Kuai Liang grinned at one another.

“Perhaps that is the result of true love that no heart can turn away.”

Raiden went on for a while about their impacts on one another and the beautiful results that could come from being in love. He recited a few wise quotes from their clans’ histories about the result of lifelong alliances, both friendship and true love, that can only make a man stronger than he was before. He told ancient stories of seeing alliances blossom in the least likely of places in the many years he had been alive, but nothing could top the alliance that bloomed between them.

Finally, he reached the point of the ceremony that everyone was both excited for and dreaded the most—the vows.

“I do not know who will go first during the vows. No one told me.” Everyone laughed at Raiden’s attempt at humor. “Do we have a volunteer?”

Instantly, Kuai Liang piped up, “Me. I want to go first.”

He readjusted his footing and squeezed Hanzo’s hands. “Hanzo, I… I never once believed that finding someone that loved me was possible. At a young age, I knew that I was unlike those around me, and the thought of living my life without a romantic partner… it was something I did not want.” He looked down at his shoes, turning sheepish. “I held up hopes for years that I would eventually find a man to accept me for my imperfections and way of life. I dated, and none of them made me the happiest I believed that I could be.

“My cyberization and later death halted those hopes. My restoration made those hopes so small that a grain of sand was larger. I gave up for many years, not pursuing anything with the poor excuse of lack of socialization time. I focused on restoring my mind and my clan, and then, with the help of a dear friend…” Kuai Liang looked back up at Hanzo then, ignoring Johnny’s quiet cheer at the discreet mention of him. “I met you.”

His cheeks reddened slightly in a blush. “Our relationship was, of course, rocky and filled with bumps in the road. Once we got past that stage, I admittedly fell for you very hard, very fast.” He smiled sheepishly. “You were so strong. You had been through so many horrid things, and yet you still tried to maintain a strong outlook on life. You did not let that hold you back. I admired your desire to be the best you could be. It helped me grow as a person and realize the importance of having a close relationship with my clan. It made me realize that you could find inspiration and people to admire in the strangest of places…

“Getting the courage to ask you on a date is the greatest decision I have ever made. Away from our clans, you were so kind and generous to every need I desired. You smiled around me and made jokes and made me so nervous… and for no reason. It was the fact that the most handsome man I had ever seen had given me the chance to be his lover. When we began being serious, I had never been so at peace with myself, never so blissful and excited to be alive. You make me feel young and full of energy and ready to conquer the world.”

Kuai Liang paused, closing his eyes with a shaky breath. He opened them and tried to blink his tears away, but he failed. “You are everything to me. Everything I am, everything I do, is to honor you and the chance you have given to me to be in your life. My heart is so full that I could tell you every day that I love you and it would never be enough to properly convey how I feel.” He squeezed Hanzo’s hands as a tear cascaded down his cheeks. “I love you so much. I cannot wait for our lives to begin together. It will be the greatest.”

Hanzo stared at him in shock for a moment, and he let out a nervous chuckle. His eyes were filled with tears. “I… I will never be able to top that.” Everyone laughed, and Hanzo wiped his eyes free of tears. “I can only begin where I know best. Long before I met you, long before our individual rivalry began, I had found love. I had a family. They meant everything in the world to me. They still do. But after my demise and theirs, after my manipulation and life as a wraith and then my restoration…” He paused, and his eyes squeezed shut. “I never thought I would find love again. I gave up so quickly and went into such a dark place in my life. Everything felt… meaningless. Pointless. Even after the slow rebuild of my clan, I could find nothing to make things seem worth it.

“And then the same dear friend forced me to give you a chance.” He looked right at Johnny then, nodding at him. “I am glad he did.” He looked back to Kuai Liang. “Drinking tea with you at your temple was easily the best experience I had in several years. I laughed for the first time in months, allowed a genuine smile on my face. I saw color in the world for the first time, vividness and color and happiness, and it was because of your beautiful heart and endless kindness.

“I soon realized that I liked you, and I was admittedly scared. I felt… guilty. I could not move on from my wife, I could not have feelings for another person, and then it hit me.” Several tears fell down his face at once, and he did not try to wipe them away. “It was my second chance. She would not want me to squander a chance at happiness, which is what you gave me.”

Kuai Liang allowed tears to fall then. Quiet sniffles were heard from the guests, but they were ignored. “You became the most important person to me very quickly. Your patience has helped me find inner peace, an inner balance that cannot be matched. My broken heart was healed by your beauty and kisses and love. Your smile gives me goosebumps. Your touch sends chills down my spine… literally.” Both of them laughed at that. “You are the greatest gift I have ever received. I love you so much. You are the one person I know I can count on for the rest of my life. Our lives are only beginning, and with you by my side… I know things will only get better from here on out.”

The two hugged then, ignoring wedding traditions and rehearsals and everyone around them. Words were unable to describe how either of them felt at that moment. Blessed, perhaps. In love, definitely.

Raiden ushered for the rings then, and the Shirai Ryu and the Lin Kuei passed them to their masters, where they exchanged rings. A traditional tea ceremony, linked to the Lin Kuei past and any other marriages in Kuai Liang’s lineage, was celebrated. Raiden presented one large cup of tea for the two men to exchange sips of. Drinking from the same cup symbolized their dedication to one another and eternal love for the future.

Raiden passed the cup to Kuai Liang, who held it in shaky hands. “Kuai Liang,” he began, “do you take Hanzo Hasashi to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you accept his deepest flaws and promise to stand by him, cherish him, and love him for the rest of eternity?”

Kuai Liang nodded assuredly. “I do.” He took a sip of the tea. He passed it to Hanzo and looked him in the eye with a gentle smile.

Hanzo gripped the cup in his hands as Raiden spoke. “Hanzo Hasashi, do you take Kuai Liang to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you accept his deepest flaws and promise to stand by him, cherish him, and love him for the rest of eternity?”

Hanzo returned the nod. “I do.” He finished off the tea and passed the empty cup to Raiden.

Raiden looked at the two men with the happiest smile he had probably ever worn in his long life. “I am extremely pleased to pronounce you lawfully wed in the eyes of the Elder Gods. You may kiss your new husband,” he said to them both.

They did not hesitate. Kuai Liang and Hanzo stepped closer and pulled one another in for a deep kiss. All of the guests were cheering for them, some of them standing and all of them clapping. The men pulled away and grinned at one another in delight, and they turned to their guests then, maintaining their delighted smiles. They were ushered to the limousine then, which would hold them and allow them to relax out of direct attention until the wedding reception.

The reception was a few miles down the road, in a different part of the woods. The reception was decorated in honor of the Lin Kuei, covered in various shades of blue. It was to honor Kuai Liang and the rebuilding of his clan, his past of cyberization and his death and his steps towards a life of peace.

The reception area was decorated in lanterns of light blues. White flowers were placed on tables and in trees, making the area smell fresh and inviting to all guests. All gifts for the newlyweds were placed on a table in a gazebo on the edge of the woods. The wedding cake sat in another gazebo nearby, decorated in white flowers. Johnny had set up a speaker system next to the gazebo, where instrumental music was playing. Everyone stood around, drinking refreshments or eating the food laid out for them.

The limousine pulled up once everyone had arrived. Kuai Liang and Hanzo stepped out, hand in hand and grinning, and Johnny spoke into a microphone that was connected to the speaker system. “The newlyweds have arrived, everyone!”

Everyone began to cheer, and Hanzo and Kuai Liang waved at everyone in excitement. Johnny continued, “Before everyone starts swarming them with ‘congratulations’ and stuff, we have Hanzo’s family’s tradition of drinking sake. Can we get the sake laid out please, Sonya?”

Hanzo’s family’s sake tradition was similar in a way to Kuai Liang’s clan’s tea tradition. Hanzo’s mother believed that sharing a drink with a loved one was the closest that two spouses could be. She firmly believed that if a spouse could not handle their loved one after they drank, then they were unworthy.

Hanzo and Kuai Liang were handed a single cup of sake, and both of them quickly shared a sip of them. Each time one of them sipped, the guests all cheered in delight. When they finished sipping and finally kissed one another, everyone whooped in excitement, including Johnny into the microphone. “Yeah! Alright, it’s officially time for the after party to begin! Eat some snacks, socialize, dance a little. Congratulate the happy couple! We eat dinner in an hour.”

He put down the microphone and put on some song that neither Hanzo nor Kuai Liang recognized, but it was danceable and not vulgar and… nice. Johnny leaped off the stage and approached them, pulling both of them in for a hug at the same time. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you guys.”

Hanzo immediately returned the hug. “Thank you, Cage. Thank you for planning the wedding and the reception. It all looks amazing.”

Kuai Liang returned the hug then. “He’s right. It’s better than we could have ever dreamed. Thank you.”

Johnny chuckled. “Anything for two of my best friends. You guys deserve an amazing day.” They all pulled away then, and Johnny looked around at all of the guests in attendance. “I think everyone who was invited showed up, so lots of gifts in your favor.”

“…Everyone?” Kuai Liang asked. Hanzo squeezed his hand. He knew who he was thinking about.

Johnny let a grin fill his face. “Yeah, everyone. See for yourself.”

Hanzo caught sight of Bi-Han first, who stood near the drinks and held a glass in his hand. He was speaking with Cyrax, Sektor, and Tomas, and all of them looked happy. Saibot was nearby, hovering next to the table with their eyes looking around at everyone. They were more open to new people than Bi-Han, being independent and not being plagued by horrible memories as bad as Bi-Han. They looked over and suddenly disappeared into the ground, and they reappeared right next to Kuai Liang. Johnny cheered in delight and wrapped an arm around their shoulders with a grin. “Shady! How’s my favorite shadow?”

Saibot gave him a thumbs up and grabbed Kuai Liang’s wrist, pulling him towards the drink table. He grabbed Hanzo’s wrist as well and soon had them both next to the drink table. The first to notice them was Tomas, who turned himself around with a mischievous smile. “Bi-Han, look what your shadow dragged in: a married man!”

Sektor and Cyrax immediately stepped over, and they and Tomas moved to hug Kuai Liang, lifting him off the ground with cheers. Kuai Liang found himself laughing and attempting to hug them in return, but his arms were only so large. Tomas pulled away first and quirked a brow at Hanzo. “Can’t forget you, Hanzo! Bring it in.” He pulled Hanzo in for a deep hug, whispering in his ear, “Welcome to the Lin Kuei, my friend.”

Hanzo grinned at him and returned the hug, nearly losing his balance when Cyrax and Sektor moved to hug him too. “Thank you all,” he said kindly. “I am honored.”

Kuai Liang watched them with a smile. He eventually turned to look at Bi-Han, who looked vaguely uncomfortable. He approached him and gently poked his arm. “You came.”

Bi-Han let a smile form on his face. “I wouldn’t miss it. Congratulations, brother.”

The two brothers hugged briefly, and Bi-Han ruffled Kuai Liang’s hair. Kuai Liang attempted to swat his hands away but stood laughing instead. “Are you well?” he asked after a few seconds of ruffling.

“I’m well. Not used to being around so many people, however.” Bi-Han let Kuai Liang out of his grasp and looked around the area. “They’re all very kind though.”

“The kindest.”

Tomas, Cyrax, and Sektor released Hanzo from their group hug right then, and they went back to their drinks. They knew that Hanzo needed to speak to Bi-Han at least a little.

Hanzo walked up to Kuai Liang and Bi-Han and smiled softly at him, though it was definitely forced. “I’m glad you came, Bi-Han.”

Bi-Han went tense, but he took a deep breath and took a step towards him. “Master Hasashi… I’m glad I came too. I always knew you made my brother very happy, but today further confirmed that.” He held out a hand for a handshake. “I am very happy for you both. Take good care of him for me.”

Hanzo returned the handshake quickly and smiled at him. “Of course.”

The three of them exchanged some more pleasantries before Hanzo suggested that they speak to some of the other guests. They walked around the venue and spoke to everyone in attendance at least once, hugging some and laughing with others. Music played loud on the speakers, and Johnny encouraged everyone to dance. Kuai Liang and Hanzo danced briefly with some of the other guests and had a grand time.

Soon enough, it was time for dinner, and everyone settled down at tables and ate the food prepared by someone that Johnny hired. It was a good time for Hanzo and Kuai Liang to settle down and relax some, as well as eat some food. Hanzo didn’t realize how hungry he was until he saw food in front of him. Then it was time for cake.

Hanzo and Kuai Liang were blinded by camera flashes when they worked together to cut into the first slice. They cut a large slice and worked together to put the slice on a plate. They then cut the slice into two smaller slices, ready to eat.

Hanzo remembered his first wedding then. Harumi had hit him in the face with the first slice of cake. It was the highlight of the reception.

He picked up the slice of cake and moved to feed to gently to Kuai Liang. He opened his mouth, and with a giant laugh, Hanzo smacked the cake against his open mouth. The guests went into a riot, all of them cackling like mad at Kuai Liang’s shocked face. Hanzo turned his body away then, laughing even harder when some of the cake fell on the ground. He felt a hand on his arm and turned around, and he was met with cake to the face and even more laughter from their guests. Kuai Liang was grinning and laughing, and Hanzo felt his cheeks blush, though it was not visible due to the cake he wore.

He used his clean hand to grab Kuai Liang’s shirt and pull him into a kiss. He tasted the cake on his lips and kissed deeper, humming into his lips. Kuai Liang returned the kiss as the guests cheered at their tables. Hanzo felt more in love than ever before.

To say that their wedding day was the greatest of their lives was a vast understatement. It was beyond unforgettable thanks to the help of close friends and rebuilt hearts.

They wouldn’t trade that feeling for the world.

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hey-michael-young-history · 2 years ago

Text

Oz, Part 2

TW for past abuse, abusive relationships, Bi-Han being a teenage dick. January 2nd, 2022 3:40am

Kuai Liang stayed quiet through dinner. He hadn’t spoken since Bi-Han told him to stop accepting gifts. Bi-Han was yelling at him and threatening him more and more often. He couldn’t exactly ask him to stop. The only time he remembered successfully asking Bi-Han to stop was ten years. He had been crying. For their mother. For warmth. For the sting of his face, where his father had just smacked him. Bi-Han yelled.

Father had yelled right before he had hit him, so Kuai Liang promised to stop crying if Bi-Han stopped yelling. His brother hugged him for a long time and let him sleep with him.

He stopped being so forgiving as they grew older. Kuai Liang did manage to stop crying and was trying not to while he was in heat. But Bi-Han never stopped yelling.

He usually sat with Bi-Han’s friends at meals but rarely spoke to them. Sektor didn’t like him and ignored him completely. Cyrax used to talk to him. Kuai Liang wasn’t sure what he had done to offend him, but Cyrax didn’t say much beyond “hello” anymore. Smoke still spoke to him but his pheromones always intensified when they spoke and his scent made him light headed and dizzy. Sometimes it seemed like he noticed Smoke’s pheromones right before his heat cycle started up again.

He didn’t touch his food until Bi-Han demanded that he eat. He wished that Bi-Han wouldn’t be so aggressive in front of other people.

Every so often, he’d reach under the table and touch the container Oz gave him. He thought about Oz’s curly hair under his face and quickly redirected his thoughts before he lost control of his pheromones in a common area. He was told during training that that would lead to an automatic meal restriction punishment. And when it came to punishment, sometimes it was just the offender punished, sometimes it was everyone within a certain radius. He didn’t need Bi-Han any more upset.

Fortunately, Smoke didn’t show up at meal call. Bi-Han and his friends ignored Kuai Liang. The cryomancers went back to their room and Bi-Han went to bed.

“Good night, Bi-Han.”

“Go to fucking sleep.”

He got into his blankets and pulled them over his head. It was dark but he had gotten pretty good at reading without light. He pulled Oz’s gift out and examined it.

It was a little glass jar that read “peanut butter”.

He opened it and was surprised by how strong it smelled. He turned it upside down but the contents didn’t come out. So he touched it, then curiously swirled his finger around. It was thick and stuck to his finger, getting under his nail and coating his skin.

It was food. I heard you like sweet things - but we don’t want to rot your teeth out. Try this instead.

He took in the rich scent and licked it.

God.

It tasted as strong as it smelled, a savory earthiness that was so smooth. He stuck his finger in his mouth and sucked the rest of the peanut butter off.

It was so tasty. He kept dipping his finger in the jar and eating it. So tasty. He couldn’t contain his pheromones and could feel himself relaxing. It was just Bi-Han here. He would be okay.

He thought so.

His blankets were ripped away right as he stuck his finger back in his mouth and Bi-Han was standing over him. Ice was beginning to materialize on his arms and it was making Kuai Liang’s ice react. He clenched his teeth as he felt ice solidifying on his scalp.

“Are you purring and humming? Why are you making so much goddamn noise over here? I-” He narrowed his eyes and sniffed at him. “Is that food? Are you eating something?”

Kuai Liang didn’t move. Ice was covering the jar and once Bi-Han spotted it, he ripped it out of his brother’s hand, leaving his palm bright red.

As he tried to ice his tender skin, Bi-Han inspected the jar. “An Alpha gave you this.”

“Yes.”

“Do you even know what it is? Where it came from? It could make you sick.”

“It didn’t, I like it. Try some.”

Bi-Han threw the jar against the wall, shattering it and splattering the little peanut left. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I eat anything from any one of these fucking animals. I told you. Don’t accept anymore gifts.”

“I don’t understand, Bi-Han. You complain when I ask for extra food and they bring it to me without my even asking.”

“They’re not doing this to be nice, you dumbass. They’re going to want something from you in exchange,” Bi-Han snapped.

“What else can they take from me?” Kuai Liang asked quietly.

“You know how I make you hide when you’re in heat? You’re supposed to go to the elders. Do you know why?”

Kuai Liang didn’t answer. He had known why since his very first heat. His brother wasn’t always there when they were triggered.

Bi-Han rolled his eyes. “Fine. Whatever. Be the good little slut the Lin Kuei wants you to be.”

Slut. He had been called a lot of things but that one hurt the worst. Hearing it from his brother, the last person left who cared about him, twisted his stomach. Be the good little slut the Lin Kuei wants you to be. The sentence burrowed into his brain and he couldn’t stop hearing it.

“What’s wrong? You like taking their gifts, you like the attention, but you don’t want to be labeled as a whore?”

Yes, he’ll make a fine breeding whore. We haven’t had a stable cryomancer breeder in centuries. Excellent work, Vortex.

Look at you. Crying while your body is begging for it. You’re a good little slut, aren’t you?

“Seriously, are you about to cry? You’re a sensitive slut-”

“STOP IT!” He screamed. Ice spikes burst from his arms and his back. The temperature in the room fell and frost appeared on their belongings.

He squeezed his eyes shut and dug his fingers into his scalp. Why was Bi-Han saying this? Calling him that?

… everyone knew. Omegas were only good for one thing. And that one thing made him untouchable, disgusting. It was the last thing his father had told him before he stopped acknowledging him. And now Bi-Han was saying it.

They disagreed about the gifts the Alphas were giving him, sure. Bi-Han had been a little more stressed, ever since he got his code name. He yelled and they fought sometimes but he never looked down on him like this.

Or maybe he was. He was like all of the other Alphas in the Lin Kuei. All Alphas were the same.

“Please stop,” he begged. “Not you, big brother, please.”

Arms were tugging at his, but he could feel the ice shards coming through his scalp. This was why the grandmaster wouldn’t send him on missions. He couldn’t even control the ice he was born with. He had no discipline over his pheromones. And everyone thought he was only good for one thing.

“… breathe…”

Bi-Han’s hands were on his shoulders. He was using his ice to calm his brother’s. Kuai Liang had asked his trainer about this technique, after the first time Bi-Han had used it. Only skilled cryomancers could do that and it was supposed to take decades to learn. Their great grandfather had apparently developed it and their father was the only cryomancer left who could use it, after their grandfather died. Bi-Han didn’t tell anyone about it and made Kuai Liang promise to keep it a secret when he asked why.

Bi-Han pulled him close and pressed their foreheads together. “I don’t think that about you. You are my little brother, Tundra. I was simply trying to make you aware of how dangerous it is to entertain so many Alphas.”

They were sending Bi-Han away more and more. Tundra was getting older, his body maturing and sending out signals he didn’t even seem aware of. The other day, someone was pestering him and Bi-Han had to fuck him up for it. The Alpha claimed that Tundra had been pelting him with pheromones being for impregnation. He couldn’t even bring himself to ask.

He had already suspected that Tundra had been… used. The fact that someone touching him had triggered his powers to fully activate so early was proof enough. He tried to explain that to their father, who, in turn, explained that if he killed another Alpha, even in self defense, the Lin Kuei would lock him away and forcibly breed him until his body gave out.

“I know that I may seem cruel, little brother. But listen to me. Do not engage with any Alphas outside of your instructors, the elders, Smoke, or Cyrax. Do you understand?”

Kuai Liang barely nodded before pulling away and retreating to his blankets.

——

“Hey.”

Kuai Liang buried his face further into his knees.

It was yard time, but he was alone. Bi-Han was on a mission and Smoke and Cyrax were on some other duty. He suspected that this was purposeful.

He was back out in the yard but this time, he was in the center.

In a cage.

Releasing pheromones.

They had done something to him. Injected him with something that made his heart beat faster and his lungs heavy. He struggled to breathe and immediately, he was suffocated by his own smells.

It almost felt like heat.

They had pushed this cage out and the Alphas surrounded him immediately. The same Alphas who talked to him and gave him gifts were now yelling at him and bombarding him with their own pheromones.

It was too much. He was overwhelmed, but there was nowhere to go. He couldn’t escape any of it.

“Can you hear me?”

It was Oz. He recognized the soft voice through the raucous chorus and slowly, his voice became the only one.

“It’s okay. Go ahead and take a breath.”

Kuai Liang’s fingers curled into his arms. He just needed to exhale.

“It’s okay. It’s just us. Look.”

Bi-Han had told him not to engage with any Alphas. But Oz made him feel warm. Through his own ice, his frigid body, and Arctika’s unforgiving freeze, there was Oz, making him feel warm.

Slowly, he lifted his head. He opened his eyes and looked around.

The Alphas who were at the bars of the cage, trying to get in, were now doing their assigned trainings and ignoring the cage.

Except Oz.

He had his arms around a couple of bars with his face pressed between. When Kuai Liang looked at him, his dark brown eyes lit up.

“Hey, ice boy.”

#mk omegaverse #mk omegaverse oz #my lin kuei stories are never happy #kuai liang #bi han being a teenage shit #bi han #big brother bihan #tw: the horrible cycle of hurt people hurt people #tw: assault #tw: abusive relationships

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cienie-isengardu · 3 years ago

Note

Not only do I not regret asking you to "RELEASE THE RAMBLES!", I'm sending you requests for more. Below is a list of questions that I asked @bihansthot , and enjoyed their answers, but because you are so thorough, and answer in such depth, I'm re-asking them to you.

Brace yourself, it's a list. I didnt have time to sort thru them, I just copied and pasted, so if any are questions you already answered before, please feel free to include the links.

"LET US BEGIN!"

---------------------------------------------

In the spirit of potential future writing, I'm trying to find a building that would make a good substitution for Lin Kuei temple.

I've tried looking up ancient Chinese military barracks/forts, and have found some stuff, but is all exterior. Anyone know of any locations (or several I can cobble together) that would make good inspiration fodder?

---------------------------------------------

So, uhm, religion? What's the Lin Kuei's take on that one? I know they are aware of Gods, they team up with/ encounter Raiden all the time, and have literally worked for/against Shinook, so I know they recognize higher powers... but I guess the question is, do they care?

Do they have a religion, or spiritual practice that resembles religion? Or do they have a more practical approach "gods exist, but we just consider them very strong people"?

Which segues into... do they recognize and participate in holidays, or things like birthdays? Or are all their celebrations work related (I.E. successful missions or levels of combat mastery)?

---------------------------------------------

Food. What foods do they normally eat? What foods do they like? What foods don't they like? What foods do they absolutely love so much they'll stop what they're doing to get it?

---------------------------------------------

If you had to match the Lin Kuei with a dynasty, what one would it be? (I know the 2021 movie has the opening in the Ming dynasty, so the Lin Kuei is at least that old, but given that movie Bi Han hasn't aged in 400 years, and was taken is a child, its probably much older) (and also know the game probably cherry picked random Chinese things it liked).

What do you think the Lin Kuei's view on artistic culture (probably not the right word) is? I know they are heavily militaristic, but in the game, Kuai Liang offers Hanzo tea and he properly prepares it the Japanese way, that says they have something of an education other than just related to fighting?

Lastly, in the movie, everything Bi Han does is "for the Lin Kuei", but the Lin Kuei is on Earth (assumedly), and he is working for a guy who wants to enslave Earth, so what do you think the deal is?

---------------------------------------------

Question about the Cryomancers. I know the game lore says that they are supposed to be rare, but I also know that the Lin Kuei have had at least 5 (grandpa, papa, older, and younger Sub Zero, and Frost). 4 of which are part of 3 generations that inherited it even with mixed blood (I'm assuming Mama Sub Zero wasn't Cryomancer since they left her alone).

That's a lot of generations in a row for a rare trait... So do you think the Cryomancers as a group have figured out they're being hunted and have chosen to live in hiding?

---------------------------------------------

Lin Kuei society question? I like writing so I also like world building and I think about these things.

Is Lin Kuei society ever covered? I know there is a Grandmaster, a handful master assassins (Sub Zero's, Sektor, Cyrax, etc) and the movies always have a bunch canon fodder lesser assassins.

And they live in the very isolated Lin Kuei Palace/Temple in Arktika (or wherever it used to be)

But is Lin Kuei (we'll call it "village") ever covered? Do they have willing servants, kidnapped slaves, or a mix of both? Are there women (non fighter women, I know there's Frost) or do they employ strictly male help? If there are women, what's their role, and are there children born there? What about Elderly? What about resources, is everything (from food, clothes, weapons, and the raw materials to create them) grown or manufactured on sight by skilled laborers or do they import/interact with the outside world? How vicious or civil is this society, could you be killed for looking at Sektor wrong or do they value your services to a degree? What's the degree? This is obviously a combat culture, but is everyone expected to know martial arts of some variety, is it optional, or do they prohibit it among the servants/slaves? How strict are they on things like clothing, food, alcohol, drugs, "luxuries", or pleasures? Money? If they interact with the world do they recognize and use $$ currency, commodity currency, or a mixture? Internally are the Lin Kuei payed or just provided for? What about illness or injury, if you're not a master and it a serious injury/illness are you taken care of or do they just give you a quick death?

Etc. That's all the questions I can think of, but please feel free to answer questions I didn't ask, if you think of anything else.

Thank you for this wonderful list to talk about! I’m gonna split the answer into smaller parts, for better focusing on each aspect but also so I don’t feel bad for keeping you waiting for ages, lol. For now let’s focus on asks about the religion!

So good questions! I do think they have some spiritual practice(s) because in martial arts the state of a mind is as important as the physical body and religion is one of many ways to shape someone’s mindset from a young age. I do, however, think that Lin Kuei does not worship the gods. They are aware that the gods exist (with Raiden as the thorn in the side) and may even respect their supernatural powers and battle skills but it never has stopped Lin Kuei from desecrating holy places, murdering people and stealing stuff for the best price. So, it seems to me that whatever religion the members of the clan follow, by nature it is rooted in nontheism.

Of course, there is also a chance that Lin Kuei worships some forgotten deity or deities (as a remnant of their ancient connections with Outworld / realms conquered and destroyed by Shao Kahn?) or may even practice ancestor worship which seems like a good way to uphold a widely understood tradition that plays an important role in the discussed community.

The closest thing to religious practice was seen in Mortal Kombat X, when Sub-Zero and his warriors seemed to pray together before statue of god / deity / ancestor / legendary warrior / personalized thing they value the most (sadly, my knowledge about Asian religious practices or faiths is very limited so I don’t have idea if the statue is supposed to represent any real god/religious symbol).

At the same time, it could be just a bluff since Grandmaster was aware of Cage’s team infiltrating the Lin Kuei territory and used this moment to lure them into a trap. Additionally, Mortal Kombat X comics presented once Kuai Liang sitting before the same statue albeit in a completely different (devoid of reverence?) position.

Of course, if we take into account Mortal Kombat Armageddon, the game states that Lin Kuei Temple placed in Arctika was actually once the Temple of Delia (the great sorceress & wife of god Argus) that at some point get abandoned and re-used by Sub-Zero’s clan.

(In the background, we can see a statue of Delia that Lin Kuei does not worship but did not remove for whatever reason. Mixing both old and new games, we can only wonder if MKX!statue is also the remnant of someone else's faith/religion?)

Beside that, Kuai Liang was pretty vocal about Lin Kuei not worshipping the Elder Gods, what was seen in MK11’s intro dialogue with Cetrion

Sub-Zero: The Lin Kuei do not worship the Elder Gods.

Cetrion: We seek gratitude, not worship.

Sub-Zero: I see no distinction.

and personally did not have any reason to pray to the goddess:

Sub-Zero: Why should I pray to you?

Cetrion: Why does a bird flap its wings?

Sub-Zero: I asked a simple question.

In all fairness, in MK11 Kuai Liang seems the most passive-aggressive toward the Elder God while Frost is focused on her ambitions and Noob!Bi-Han just wants to be left alone when bothered by Cetrion. Similar thing happens toward Raiden. Despite gratitude for saving him, Kuai Liang does not spare the god criticism (can’t serve both Elder Gods and Earthrealm, isn’t fit for his role of protector) and in MKX outright says he does not fear divine beings:

Raiden: Sub-Zero...

Sub-Zero: I fear no gods, Raiden.

Raiden': That's why you shall lose.

Surprisingly, Kuai Liang’s interaction with MK11!Fujin sounds less accusing than with Raiden and Cetrion and it is connected closely to their ties with Bi-Han. And maybe Kuai Liang did seek in the past Fujin and other elements to make a peace with them, like he planned to do so in Mortal Kombat 4 Limited comics?

"I came here to make peace with the gods of the elements that you fought [...]"

Anyway, the accusingly behaviour toward Raiden and Cetrion could be just Kuai Liang’s personal dislike for gods and serious authority issues, which makes sense considering how much he suffered because of their meddling and conflicts.

But honestly?

The available examples of Lin Kuei attitude toward gods, demigods and supernatural beings suggest how little the warriors - especially cryomancers - care for them.

Like, we have Bi-Han in Mythologies, who asked Quan Chi about details of mission:

Sub-Zero: If it's so precious, why don't you get it yourself?

Quan Chi: I cannot enter the temple until the four elements within its walls have been defeated. And I am not on the best of terms with the gods of your realm... especially your god of thunder.

Sub-Zero: Tell me about these elements.

Quan Chi outright said he and earthrealm gods weren’t friends and Bi-Han, reading between the lines, could get the idea that he may end on bad terms with Thunder God. Yet he was interested only in elements (lesser gods than protector of realm?) guarding the temple.

Then Bi-Han beat down four demigods and met a displeased Raiden after Quan Chi got the Shinnok Amulet. His reaction? No fear, like meeting an angry god was a normal occurrence.

Rayden: Do you realize what you've done??

Sub-Zero: I was just earning my living.

Rayden: Your clan's ignorance and greed will cost this entire realm. You must now set things straight.

Sub-Zero: Quan Chi could simply be a lunatic sorcerer. I've never heard of an elder god named Shinnok or of a place called the Netherrealm.

Rayden: Well, you'd better start believing in both, because you're going to the Netherrealm and you're going to bring the amulet back. We must act quickly. I have no dominion in the Netherrealm... You are reality's only hope.

Sub-Zero: I'll do it, Thunder God... but only because I have no choice.

And once he came back from Netherrealm, where he was fixing what he messed up in the first place on Raiden’s order, his abrasive attitude did not change much:

Sub-Zero: Here... the amulet.

Rayden: Impressive, Sub-Zero. Perhaps you will reconcile your reckless past after all.

Sub-Zero: That's it? Not even a thank you?

Of course, to some degree Raiden’s words did have an impact on Bi-Han but even the god’s warning about his soul tainted with evil did not stop him from coming back to Lin Kuei. Bi-Han’s attitude and/or approach to gods seems to change somehow once he was reborn as Noob, but that is a different matter for different times.

Anyway, Mythologies!Bi-Han and MK11!Noob act less aggressive toward gods than Kuai Liang. But then we have Sub-Zero from from the MK novel by Jeff Rovin, who not only is not afraid of gods but outright insult them:

“Wait! Be warned, Shang Tsung. He is cursed!”

“Cursed? By whom?”

Ruthay wailed, “By the immortal Yu.”

Shang Tsung felt cold spiders crawl up his spine. “The demigod Yu?”

“Yes… he who is said to dwell in the underground caverns of Horse Ear Mountain… which is sacred to the goddess Kuan Lin. He who protects the canals… and the tunnels… and looks after all who use them, human and animal.”

“What did our brash friend do to Yu?”

“He… killed a man,” said Ruthay.

“What man?”

“A toll-taker… one who had given up a life of crime… one who had been a partner of the man… you… seek.”

“And how did that crime come to the attention of the spirit of Yu?” Shang Tsung asked.

“The man was killed… slowly disemboweled with a sword… while accomplices forced his wife and his son to look on! After his murder… the man’s remains… were dumped into a canal!”

Shang Tsung raised an eyebrow. “Is that all? I was expecting something truly terrible!”

“It was!” Ruthay shrieked. “When he disposed of the body… in that way … he profaned one of the sacred waterways… of Yu!”

Shang Tsung smiled now. “Then he is definitely the man I want,” he said. “Anyone who is impudent enough to insult a demigod won’t be afraid to attack a member of the White Lotus Society, or the gods who watch after them. I will send Hamachi, Ruthay. When he nears his goal, see through his eyes and guide him!”

Book!Sub-Zero was impudent enough to insult a demigod which is why he was one of Shang Tsung’s favorites. And to be clear - book!Sub-Zero did not regret insulting the demigod at all. Even more! He found humor in it!:

He dwelt in a cave two hundred feet up the face of a cliff by the sea. The mouth of his home was barely wide enough to accommodate a slender adult, and was accessible only by climbing the sheer wall of rock, a feat that was impossible for most adults and daunting even to the few arachnids and marsupials that tried it.

Maybe some of them were even sent by Yu, he thought with a smirk, little assassins who would chastise me for having spilled blood in his precious canal.

The less abrasive attitude toward gods was shown by Cyrax, who talked a bit with Raiden over Bi-Han’s remains. He wasn’t outright antagonistic but wasn’t overall respectful either. He talked with Thunder God like he would talk with any other human being that wasn’t actually Scorpion. Frankly, from the named Lin Kuei only MK9!Smoke actually addressed Raiden in respectful manner, with proper bow and the name of lord

albeit did he do so because he respects the divine beings or just out of gratitude for saving him, hard to tell for sure.

So yeah, it seems like no matter what kind of timeline or age or medium of the story, Lin Kuei does not fear gods nor pray to them. And the clan has a long history of dealing with Raiden, so the Lin Kuei had first-hand experiences with supernatural beings. Somehow, cryomancers are the most impudent warriors when it comes to dealing with or criticizing the gods.

Interestingly, as much as Lin Kuei warriors don’t care for gods, most of the known to us named characters believe to have - and to care - for their own souls. Sektor and MK11!Frost embraced the Cyber Lin Kuei idea but Kuai Liang, Cyrax and Smoke were opposed to C.I. project out for concern for their souls among other things. Even Bi-Han, to some degree became concerned about his soul after trip to Netherrealm.

Believing in souls is usually a sign of belief in the afterlife, albeit after all of them went through (the change into cyborgs, death and change into Revenants) this is less a matter of faith (religion) and more first-hand experiences. And let's not forget that regularly dealing over the centuries with Shang Tsung who steals people's souls on a daily basis makes it really hard to not believe spirits are real.

Also, an interesting matter of Lin Kuei practices that could have a religious/spiritual ground and/or be an example of ancestor worship is the clan’s funeral rites. I don’t think we actually saw any Lin Kuei to bury their own (especially after warrior’s failure?) and for sure MK9!Cyrax and Sektor did not bother to take care of Bi-Han’s remains. However the sources provide examples of Lin Kuei keeping corpses, most likely of their own leaders or warriors.

And so, we could see human remains:

put in two coffins on each side of statue

hidden / kept in a block of ice(?) in chamber of Fallen Lin Kuei in which Frost’s frozen body was also laid, but on the altar

Cyrax’s cyber body was kept and guarded by Sub-Zero (and this is like the only thing that Kuai Liang and Cyber Sektor so far agreed on)

and even Cyber Sektor’s remains, even if just for pragmatic reasons, are kept in what seems to be respectful manner:

It could be just Kuai Liang’s good nature to honor fallen of his clan (I’m still not sure if Lin Kuei Palace is the new place for Sub-Zero’s clan or the ancient hideout) but even in MK Conquest TV series, after Grandmaster was killed by then-currently-Sub-Zero, there was the farewell ceremony with clothes on display (cause there was not much left of body after freezing and shattering) while new leader gave the speech promising to punish the guilty.

Which makes me think that Lin Kuei did honor their fallen warriors (especially those exceptional, deserving). Such custom and apparently common belief in soul could also support the ancestor worship - both as some ancient, mythical ancestor(s) connecting warriors into one clan (family) and tradition to follow in the footsteps of forefathers (Bi-Han taking place of his father [old timeline] or grandfather [current timeline] or Kuai Liang taking Bi-Han’s place as Sub-Zero).

My general conclusion about Lin Kuei is that its members believe in souls, have respect and use of spiritual matters (meditation?) and maybe ancestor worship. Whatever the religious / spiritual practices they have over the centuries, it is not something they will share, as the Lin Kuei by nature are secretive people who keep personal things mostly for themselves. The people that joined the clan (Cyrax and Smoke) maybe kept their old, eventual religious beliefs but overall, Lin Kuei warriors did not fear, care for nor pray to gods. They may respect god (Raiden, Fujin) as a person but not because of their divine nature. And even that would not stop them from criticizing said god. Which is pretty much how Kuai Liang and Raiden’s relationship looks like. Grandmaster is grateful to Thunder God for saving him but he won’t blindly follow his authority.

(Kuai Liang has serious authority issues, hasn't he?)

As for holidays, I can’t really see Lin Kuei to follow any specific religious (theistic) special day cause they don’t care much for gods in the first place. Unless they worked undercover and needed to act as normal human beings, religious holidays would mean nothing to them. The warriors may however celebrate their mission success, combat mastery or promotion between themselves or in secret, I think. Like, Lin Kuei did forbid friendship because it was considered warrior’s flaw yet we know some members either were blood-related (Kuai Liang, Bi-Han, previous Sub-Zero - father or grandfather, depending on which timeline is correct) or considered each other a family (Kuai Liang and Tomas Vrbada) and most named characters worked in duos so they have both opportunity and knowledge about each other to celebrate important matters. If they managed to remember anything from previous life, that is. Because from ancient to at least Great Kung Lao’s times most(?) adepts were kidnapped from biological families at a really young age (something around 6 years old). And Mythologies: Sub-Zero takes that even further:

Its warriors are chosen at birth to be raised apart from the workings of day to day civilization and are stripped of their former lives. Only the clan knows their existence. Each of them posses certain skills and abilities that set them apart from normal men. These abilities are passed on from generation to generation and honed throughout the experiences of life.

So, celebrating birthdays doesn’t sound like happening much, unless those with family around could allow themselves such luxury. The clan may however celebrate the day of becoming a fully trained and sworn warrior? Or the fallen warriors? Who knows.

Also, something worth thinking about: in Mortal Kombat Conquest TV series, when the Grandmaster presented newly appointed Sub-Zero to the rest of the clan, he “celebrated” the cryomancer's first official performance as the execution of two men who failed their mission. So, yeah, celebration of something special in (old) Lin Kuei does not necessarily mean anything nice.

(The next part of answer most likely will be focused either on food or architecture / origin of Lin Kuei. Let's hope I will get it written sooner than later)

<><> EDIT <><>

RELIGION <> ORIGINS / ARCHITECTURE <> FOOD <> FOR THE LIN KUEI <> ART <> CRYOMANCERS <> LIN KUEI SOCIETY <> MONEY & MATERIAL GOODS

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cienie-isengardu · 3 years ago

Text

Lin Kuei: food

RELIGION <> ORIGINS / ARCHITECTURE <> FOOD <> FOR THE LIN KUEI <> ART <> CRYOMANCERS <> LIN KUEI SOCIETY <> MONEY & MATERIAL GOODS

The continuation of the morgianesffs-blog’s awesome list of questions about Lin Kuei. I initially divided them into smaller categories and the food will be the subject of the essay.

For the formalities, the original questions:

Food. What foods do they normally eat? What foods do they like? What foods don't they like? What foods do they absolutely love so much they'll stop what they're doing to get it?

I guess the Lin Kuei take on food may be stricte pragmatic one - they eat what is available. Preferable something that will keep them in top shape but everything will do, if necessary. Self-sufficiency and the art of survival are part of training so Lin Kuei would not have any second thoughts about eating stuff that people normally would not even think about. At the same time, there is a big chance that every adepts to some degree suffered from hunger and thirst, either as a part of punishment or test for endurance or a simply lack of skill to catch (steal) the food. I doubt the clan cares to feed warriors any fancy food, even more since the Lin Kuei headquarters (Temple / Fortress) is usually located in a harsh environment in which food is hard to grow to begin with. Because of this natural disadvantage, hunting seems like a good additional food source. It fed the clan but also gave opportunity for adepts / warriors to show their skills and gain experience (or in case of coming back with empty hands, bring them shame?). MK: Armageddon had the ice beasts marauding through the Arcika region - killing them could provide: food, furs, maybe some magic ingredients and safety.

Also, Lin Kuei knew about and used portals leading to Outworld - one of old comics, Battlewave #5, outright says the clan had a hidden passageway.

So the Lin Kuei could also get food from different realms, either by stealing the necessary stuff or as payment.. I kinda think that Lin Kuei has a system of related villages that serve the clan and satisfy the material needs like food and clothes. Maybe they pay tribute to the clan out of fear or maybe it is a more symbiotic deal?

Anyway, I don’t think the clan would spoil their people with any fancy food to keep the rigorous discipline in check - albeit the clan could put on a suitable feast in honor of a respected guest/client like Shang Tsung if the occasion required it. At the same time, I don’t think it is forbidden to taste new dishes once the warriors were on mission. Especially not on a long-term kind of job when clan members must pretend to be normal human beings.

Because of that I suspect that those warriors who work undercover in various parts of Earthrealm and/or Outworld may indulge in eating all sorts of food, from expensive to the cheapest trash food. Whatever the budget / occasion would allow them, at least. And who knows, maybe the warriors like to challenge each other to eat the weirdest possible food, as some sort of courage test? Or just for personal fun? You know, like many young people do taste the freedom once they are on their own, far away from a strict “family”?

At the same time, in times when there is not enough food, I can see the best parts or full portions being given to the most useful / essential members so the position in hierarchy may influence what and how much warrior is allowed to eat. Because let's be real here, (the old) Lin Kuei does not have a good track with empathy for weaklings.

Now, I’m gonna head into headcanon-ish territory, so keep that in mind, please.

I know it is a pretty popular joke (included even in the game itself as part of “friendship” finish moves) that Sub-Zero likes ice cream but honestly, I do think that cryomancers in fact prefer cold food over anything else.

(Human hybrid) Cryomancers are said to develop their powers as an young adults(*) and growing the freezing skills with passing time (which Bi-Han being the exception to the rule because he developed ice ability earlier than usual), so the older they get, their bodies are more and more adapted to hold the toll of cryomancer nature (like temperature dropping to negative degrees?). So getting inside them anything remotely warm sounds more like torture than feeding.

(Of course, it could be the other way, as needing the hot food to keep cryomancers from freezing from inside but the drastic temperature differences are not human-friendly. First aid in case of frostbite even cautions against heating the body too fast with too high a temperature to avoid negative effects. Which is why I’m sticking to cryomancers preferring cold food over anything warm)

The cryomancer kids may be less sensitive to the difference between temperature of their bodies and eaten food / drink - though I suspect cryomancer genes should not be dismissed even at such young age - but in all fairness, I can’t imagine Bi-Han or Kuai Liang eating anything else than raw food, preferably not touched by fire or at least deep-frozen / cold and ice-creams are both cold and can provide necessary minerals / calories to keep them going.

So yeah, I can totally see Bi-Han and Kuai Liang buying dozens of ice-cream boxes for breakfast, dinner and supper like it was the normal thing in the world. And probably keeping various deep-frozen foods in the fridge and eating it raw. To Tomas, Sektor or Cyrax’s horror, whoever was unlucky to be stuck with cryomancers on an undercover mission. Okay, I lied. Bi-Han would probably just send others to do the shopping so he would not need to deal with annoying people.

Bi-Han and Kuai Liang are capable of eating and drinking hot food because they were forced to learn that. That is why Kuai Liang was capable of brewing tea and why he used such a ceremony as a sign of good will toward Hanzo Hasashi even though drinking hot tea is, by nature, painful.

As for taste, I think both Bi-Han and Kua Liang like plain flavors. Especially Bi-Han with his minimalistic nature. Kuai Liang seems more willing to taste different food and drink under Smoke’s challenge or suggestion. Ice creams may be the exception but less because cryomancers care for taste in itself and more because they are okay to eat any flavor as long as it is cold and available. Otherwise, they may just freeze various liquids (water, milk, juice) and eat them as ice creams. Something that actually could be pretty frustrating for other warriors if they left a carton of milk out of sight for a moment only to find Bi-Han or Kuai Liang freezing it and eating its content with a spoon. Because of that, the idea of coffee or tea with milk could be problematic (controversial) matter. Bi-Han accepts only Hydro’s need for milk added to coffee or tea - once Hydro gets it, the rest of milk is a fair game. And Cyrax seems to be bold enough to guard any open carton of milk or juice and keep it out of reach of Bi-Han, especially if he was the one responsible for shopping.

(Also, if Bi-Han even decided to smuggle the outside food for young Kuai Liang, I think it wouldn’t be anything sweet. More like frozen french fries just to tell his little brother how earthrealm people eat it heated up. Just imagine the shock and outrage of little Kuai Liang at the human stupidity!)

Comics!Hydro, as a close companion of Bi-Han is the most used to weird cryomancers eating habits. Because of water-related powers, Hydro likes everything liquid or with liquid consistency - soups, broths, jogurths, smoothies, everything will do. Somehow not really into meat. Also, the one advantage of such power is that Hydro can feed on water if necessary.

In contrast to cryomancers, I imagine Tomas actually likes deeply fried or smoked stuff. Because without a fire there is no smoke and I like to think Enenra draws energy from fire / heat. Except the moments when Tomas is triggered by something from his past - then the smell or taste of burnt / burning meat (skin, hair) disgust him completely. May actually not like ice creams. Otherwise, he likes Czech food or in general, Central European / Central Eastern European cuisine because its taste is one of few things he remembers from his previous life. This is Tomas’ comfort food.

For me, Sektor with his obsessive behaviour is the one that tries to balance his food and reject the idea of eating anything for fun or out of curiosity. He wants to be in perfect shape and does not care for taste at all. To some degree, he also worries about how the foreign food will affect his strength, weight or body shape when on a long-term mission. The same as Bi-Han, Sektor is the last person that should be sent on shopping. However in case of the older Sub-Zero the problem lies in his abrasive nature and how he doesn’t conform to social norms (thus standing out too much) while Sektor won’t buy anything unless he reads the whole ingredients list and all additional information put on the package. Which means a shopping trip that takes like 10 minutes at best for other warriors usually takes Sektor around two hours, at least. You send him alone to shop for food and you are going to be hungry for the next few hours.

Considering how Cyrax is the most normal (balanced) Lin Kuei, he probably has the most healthy approach to food. Will eat anything that looks good, including fast foods ‘cause why not, it is cheap, edible and takeaway. And trust Cyrax to convince Sektor to eat that damn food too (the trick is to not let Sektor read what is - or is not - inside his meal). I don’t think Cyrax has a favorite kind of food because he doesn't like to limit himself. The same as Smoke, he may miss cuisine from his homeland but the general idea is to enjoy small pleasures like eating good food with companions.

Also, Cyrax is the only one that should be trusted with a shopping list if the Lin Kuei group for some reason ends in a shopping centre. A shopping list and the control over the trolley.

(Frost, like Bi-Han and Kuai Liang is all about cold / frozen food)

(*) From Mythologies Sub-Zero: “Sub-Zero learned of his ability as a young adult [...]. The ability to harness the element of cold is one that takes years of practice. It's full potential realized only by those who've mastered it at the latest stages of life. Sub-Zero's skills have the ability to develop much faster than those of the other Lin Kuei.” The fact that Bi-Han A) learned of his ability as a young adult and those B) develop much faster than usual at least suggest most modern cryomancers get their ice powers rather as grown up.

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