You...took the game off the shelf, right? [oh my god. oh well, that's someone else's problem now. anyway!]
So it's like a ghost allowance? [that sounds very cool actually, and it's a nice thought.] It's nice to know that their loved ones can still help them out.
Does that mean you've been to the Ghost City? What's it like? [also? how? he follows along but he looks pretty eager to hear about all of this.]
Mmn. I did. I felt like it was important - I know that the world does not work the same here, but it seems wrong, to not pass rites on their deaths.
[ he at least did move the game, yes! but, to sora's question, xie lian nods, taking on the teacherly tone he sometimes does. ] It is like that, yes. As a ghost is not forgotten, they are able to spend the money given to them by those who remain behind as much as they like.
The Ghost City is... [ xie lian tilts his head, thinking of the right word. ] ... fascinating. It is really like nowhere I've been before. Imagine the busiest market you've ever seen in your life - stalls line the streets, and they are filled to the bursting with ghosts, demons, and all kinds of creatures. Some are humanoid, some are not - some slither along the ground like shadows, and some are the height of you and I combined. Many wear masks to hide their true faces, either because they are ashamed, or because that is simply the custom. Some have multiple limbs, some teeth as sharp as daggers, some with the heads of animals like pigs...
All of the ghosts and demons are loud, and they go about their lives as normal; they work, they sell things, they busk for money, they gamble, they live, for as much as they can. The residents are a little odd, to say the least, but they are well-meaning, and many of them are kind. They love the city as fiercely as anything, and they love the city's master even more so - it is a home, for wayward souls.
[ he's smiling, now, getting into it a little as they walk and he tells the story. ]
There are red lanterns that line the city, so the whole place seems to glow with that cast, and above all of it, a massive manor rises out that you can see almost anywhere - Paradise Manor, the residence of the city master. It too is bright red, and is full of treasures beyond your wildest dreams.
[sora tends to have two modes when people start to explain things. he either finds himself in over his head and bored out of his skull, or he's latched on to every single word eager to understand everything. as xie lian explains and even as they walk, sora can't seem to keep his eyes off of him while he remains completely entranced with the descriptions of this place.]
I wish I could see it myself. It sounds really cool...[let! him! go!] And it sounds familiar to a couple of other places I've been, too. I bet the ghosts are happy there, having somewhere to go even when things seem final.
[...but...] Could they ever leave if they wanted to? Or is that the last stop for them? [...double-wait.] And how do you get there if you're not a ghost?
They can. [ he nods, smile softening a bit. ] You can think of the Ghost City as a stopping point. In my realm, death is but a natural part of life - when you pass on, you simply begin the life cycle anew. Sometimes that happens immediately, but sometimes for beings who are lost, or who may have too much negative energy in their souls, do not reincarnate right away. Sometimes, they choose not to move onto the next life, because they would rather remain in the Ghost City. It is a very transient place; always changing, always growing.
But, it is a home for those who have nowhere, too, as you've said. [ xie lian sounds fond; he touches his heart. ] I really like it, too. I think it's a wonderful place.
Anyone can visit the Ghost City - even humans. It is a place on the edge between the underworld as we know it and the mortal realm. It is sort of taboo, really, and certainly a place that can be a bit... erm, sinful, and very dangerous, but anyone can go. Humans spend time in the gambling dens there quite often, I've heard.
The trick for humans is to wear a mask - it helps them blend in among the demons and ghosts who are more human than not. The ghosts of my world are very solid, especially if they have great attachment to the world.
[ xie lian pauses, and turns to look at sora, and there's a knowing twinkle in his eye. ] -- In fact, you know one of them.
[this all makes sense, and he's very much /chinhands at the way xie lian seems happy to talk about it. i've also just realized this is probably why yin yu has a mask isn't it. anyway sora knows nothing about that so he continues to paint this picture in his head.]
So sort of a "go at your own risk" sort of deal. Okay. That makes sense. But if people know what they're doing I guess that's not so bad.
[...give him a second to just. process that. ponder it over. and then:]
Really? [NO ONE TELLS HIM ANYTHING.] He looks pretty good for a ghost.
anyway, sora's comment makes xie lian brighten. ] He does, doesn't he? [ that's gay. ]
It takes a great amount of strength for a ghost to form itself into one as powerful as he is; they usually are not skilled enough to perfectly replicate human forms. It's easy to pick one out by fine details, such as individual hairs, or lines on their palms... but San Lang has all of that! If you didn't know it, you would think he was perfectly human.
[ he leans in a little, almost conspiratory? he loves talking about hua cheng. ] Next time you see him, you should ask if you may touch his hands. His skin is always cold, no matter where we've been - even in the desert.
Yeah...it's the same for Heartless and Nobodies where I'm from, too. Only those with the strongest wills can take on human appearances. And...considering I did not really know it until you just said it? He's pretty human-passing.
[but oh? hm...that's wild.] You don't think he'd mind? Isn't that uncomfortable for him? The cold's not the best thing.
I don't think so? [ DOES it bother him? he's never even thought of that. ] It's not particularly like touching a block of ice, or anything, but it is quite chilly... hm. I've never asked...
[ wow what a terrible.... really good friend.
he clears his throat. ] -- um, I'm sure it should be fine, though! Tell me, what is a "Heartless" and a "Nobody"?
And they're monsters, mostly. Heartless are creatures that are born when someone loses their heart, and Nobodies are what's created in the body and soul that's left behind.
[ oh! interesting... xie lian's turn to be curious, now! he tilts his head. ]
The heart and the soul are not connected, in your world? Fascinating... If they are monsters, do you have to often fight them? Or are there some that simply live and walk in the world that you live in?
No, they're separate. I'm not entirely sure why that is though. [he lifts his hand and wobbles it in a so-so sort of motion.] I guess it's both. The Heartless are what we fight across all kinds of worlds because they invade the minute they sense any sort of darkness they can feed on, but there're a few Nobodies that exist as themselves. They're friends of ours. Others, we've had to fight and beat to defeat them.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
You...took the game off the shelf, right? [oh my god. oh well, that's someone else's problem now. anyway!]
So it's like a ghost allowance? [that sounds very cool actually, and it's a nice thought.] It's nice to know that their loved ones can still help them out.
Does that mean you've been to the Ghost City? What's it like? [also? how? he follows along but he looks pretty eager to hear about all of this.]
no subject
[ he at least did move the game, yes! but, to sora's question, xie lian nods, taking on the teacherly tone he sometimes does. ] It is like that, yes. As a ghost is not forgotten, they are able to spend the money given to them by those who remain behind as much as they like.
The Ghost City is... [ xie lian tilts his head, thinking of the right word. ] ... fascinating. It is really like nowhere I've been before. Imagine the busiest market you've ever seen in your life - stalls line the streets, and they are filled to the bursting with ghosts, demons, and all kinds of creatures. Some are humanoid, some are not - some slither along the ground like shadows, and some are the height of you and I combined. Many wear masks to hide their true faces, either because they are ashamed, or because that is simply the custom. Some have multiple limbs, some teeth as sharp as daggers, some with the heads of animals like pigs...
All of the ghosts and demons are loud, and they go about their lives as normal; they work, they sell things, they busk for money, they gamble, they live, for as much as they can. The residents are a little odd, to say the least, but they are well-meaning, and many of them are kind. They love the city as fiercely as anything, and they love the city's master even more so - it is a home, for wayward souls.
[ he's smiling, now, getting into it a little as they walk and he tells the story. ]
There are red lanterns that line the city, so the whole place seems to glow with that cast, and above all of it, a massive manor rises out that you can see almost anywhere - Paradise Manor, the residence of the city master. It too is bright red, and is full of treasures beyond your wildest dreams.
no subject
I wish I could see it myself. It sounds really cool...[let! him! go!] And it sounds familiar to a couple of other places I've been, too. I bet the ghosts are happy there, having somewhere to go even when things seem final.
[...but...] Could they ever leave if they wanted to? Or is that the last stop for them? [...double-wait.] And how do you get there if you're not a ghost?
no subject
But, it is a home for those who have nowhere, too, as you've said. [ xie lian sounds fond; he touches his heart. ] I really like it, too. I think it's a wonderful place.
Anyone can visit the Ghost City - even humans. It is a place on the edge between the underworld as we know it and the mortal realm. It is sort of taboo, really, and certainly a place that can be a bit... erm, sinful, and very dangerous, but anyone can go. Humans spend time in the gambling dens there quite often, I've heard.
The trick for humans is to wear a mask - it helps them blend in among the demons and ghosts who are more human than not. The ghosts of my world are very solid, especially if they have great attachment to the world.
[ xie lian pauses, and turns to look at sora, and there's a knowing twinkle in his eye. ] -- In fact, you know one of them.
no subject
So sort of a "go at your own risk" sort of deal. Okay. That makes sense. But if people know what they're doing I guess that's not so bad.
[...give him a second to just. process that. ponder it over. and then:]
Really? [NO ONE TELLS HIM ANYTHING.] He looks pretty good for a ghost.
no subject
anyway, sora's comment makes xie lian brighten. ] He does, doesn't he? [ that's gay. ]
It takes a great amount of strength for a ghost to form itself into one as powerful as he is; they usually are not skilled enough to perfectly replicate human forms. It's easy to pick one out by fine details, such as individual hairs, or lines on their palms... but San Lang has all of that! If you didn't know it, you would think he was perfectly human.
[ he leans in a little, almost conspiratory? he loves talking about hua cheng. ] Next time you see him, you should ask if you may touch his hands. His skin is always cold, no matter where we've been - even in the desert.
no subject
Yeah...it's the same for Heartless and Nobodies where I'm from, too. Only those with the strongest wills can take on human appearances. And...considering I did not really know it until you just said it? He's pretty human-passing.
[but oh? hm...that's wild.] You don't think he'd mind? Isn't that uncomfortable for him? The cold's not the best thing.
no subject
I don't think so? [ DOES it bother him? he's never even thought of that. ] It's not particularly like touching a block of ice, or anything, but it is quite chilly... hm. I've never asked...
[ wow what a terrible.... really good friend.
he clears his throat. ] -- um, I'm sure it should be fine, though! Tell me, what is a "Heartless" and a "Nobody"?
no subject
And they're monsters, mostly. Heartless are creatures that are born when someone loses their heart, and Nobodies are what's created in the body and soul that's left behind.
no subject
The heart and the soul are not connected, in your world? Fascinating... If they are monsters, do you have to often fight them? Or are there some that simply live and walk in the world that you live in?
no subject
It's a little complicated, I guess.