dianxias | pc catchall | redacted

Yes.

I was born an immortal... but given some complicated circumstances, I willingly gave it to the gods, and was then immortalized in the sky as a constellation, forever remembered in legend.

[...]

However, as I was apparently very famous in my youth, the planet copied my essence so that I could be summoned during times of duress and war.

[This is the easiest way he can explain the bullshit of Fate/]

I know the feeling, more or less... [ "complicated circumstances" included. but!! despite for a moment not being sure if he wants to laugh or cry, he nods. ]

...That is quite valiant of you, though I'm not sure I understand the second part entirely... you don't have to explain more, though, it's alright.

Although - [ he's more interested in the godhood part than the fate/ bullshit don't worry ] I've never known someone to be born immortal. That's fascinating... What were you a deity of, if you don't mind my asking?

[me weeping in gratitude]

While I was not considered the God of Medicine, I trained that god myself and also was known for having developed the many medicinal practices that gave way to healing and physical enlightenment.

[Which is why I always laugh at anyone who is like "Chiron's not a doctor"

He's the reason doctors exist in Greece]

How wonderful.

[ and he means it, truly. xie lian gives a little bow of his head, respectful. god to god: nice. ] Medicinal gods are truly irreplaceable; there are few like them in my realm, and they are highly revered by many.

I am humbled by your praise.

[With a slight bow to accompany it. Chiron is always dutifully polite to other gods, after all.]

Though I must admit, I am... surprised to hear that the method of immortality is different on your world? Most immortals where I hail from are born into the role. Only a few acquire it through other means.

Mm... I wonder if those few are similar. [ how curious...

xie lian takes a careful breath before he starts, so he doesn't end up overstressing his ribs for a long story, but! it's interesting! he's never met a god from somewhere else before! so. ]

In our realm, humans make up the gods, though many of them have been around for even longer than I have. There are a few different ways one can ascend - the less common and usually less powerful gods often ascend because they reach a state of immortality through cultivating their spirits. The most powerful ones tend to ascend because of acts of great intelligence, battle strength, or sacrifice, or because someone in the Heavens saw their potential.

The most famous of these are the four great tales. [ he counts off on his fingers: ] The General Who Broke His Sword; The Princess Who Slit Her Throat; The Young Lord Who Poured Wine; and lastly, The Crown Prince who Pleased the Gods.

[Mmmmf Chiron gives the other's neck a quiet look. Just because he isn't sorry doesn't mean he wishes the other any pain.

But regardless, there is a fascinating story to listen to, and Chiron is all ears given the differences in their worlds.]

Humans make up the gods... It makes a certain amount of sense, actually.

[Though he will not go into a whole thing about Fate/ mechanics right now. Instead, he has questions]

Are any of these great tales you?

[ chiron is quite clever. xie lian likes that about him, a lot; he offers him a small crook of a smile and an honest answer. (if he notices him looking at the bruising on his neck, he doesn't say anything; he feels a similar guilt about chiron's everything, currently, but he doesn't regret any of the injuries that were put onto his own body in exchange.) ]

En. The last one.

...though, I don't think anyone would recognize that as me, anymore. It has been a long time since I was called such a thing in anything but old stories.

[A quiet hum at that, considering, before:]

Were you? A prince who pleased the gods? I know often that tales and titles do not always reflect the truth of things.

...I was.

[ once upon a time. ] I can tell you the tale, if you'd like. Perhaps it was please the Realm.

[With a quiet, respectful bow from one immortal to another]

If you are comfortable sharing, then I am honored to listen -- and yes, perhaps we can appease the Realm at the same time.

I don't mind. [ he returns the favor the best he can, a little twinkle to his eye as he bows back. one immortal, one god to another; chiron has certainly won over xie lian's respect. ] It is a tale that is commonly woven in the human realm, anyway, and my account of it is not much different.

[ it's funny, a little, to think back on xian le, after the events of earlier today. the xian le he knew the day of that parade was so different than the one of his nightmares - than the one, indirectly, he made fall apart. ]

...A very long time ago, as the crown prince of Xianle, I was chosen to play the part of the God-pleasing martial warrior in a parade for the Lantern Festival, a day in which humans show their appreciation and ask for blessings from the God. The parade itself is sacred; each lap that the parade makes is said to represent a year of blessed and peaceful reign for the royal family of Xian Le. In the parade, as the God-pleasing warrior, I was to fight with another combatant, dressed as a terrible ghost, for each lap of the parade, while wearing the ceremonial costumes of the kingdom.

...I was a bit late. [ he laughs, a little. ] But, I leapt down from a ten-meter tower, and supposedly, it looked as if I had descended from the Heavens.

Once it began, we were only supposed to be fighting with a seventh or so of our strength, but the person playing the ghost, at the time, was rather competitive. [ that's a fond, old memory, soaked in something bittersweet; and considering the circumstances, he's glad that it's one he still has. ] So, he gave it his all - and so did I. It turned into quite the martial battle, instead of a play.

Around the third lap, our routine was interrupted. While I was fighting against the other combatant - I remember there was a terrible scream.

I looked up from the ground, and a child was falling from one of the city walls - hundreds of feet in the air, to his death, in the middle of the parade.

[ and xie lian's gut instinct -- well, what do you expect from him, at this point? ] ...So, I jumped up from the ground, and I caught him before he could fall any further.

[ and now, he can recall that too; the dirt streaked, tiny little thing, clinging to the front of his shirt for dear life. the tiny child, hong-er, who sobbed and screamed weeks later when the whole world turned on him - and xie lian protected him then, too. he remembers whispering hold on tight as he landed, and faced mu qing once more.

maybe he didn't change the fate of xian le, but he likes to think maybe, at least that day, he helped change the fate of that child for the better. at least a little. ]

I finished the rest of the fight with him in my arms.

Mm...

[At least at first, that is all that Chiron says, listening to the tale. He of course does not know the finer details, can only digest what pieces are given to him, but he thinks of his own mythology -- the Gods who made up The Greek system --

So many of them messy, cruel, petty, desperate... and wonders if they would have been moved by such a performance.

Chiron likes to think that he would have been]

And so? Was it that your potential was note by the gods? Or was your battle prowess so very moving to those who witnessed it? I could believe either tale.

Ultimately, that was just what caught their attention. I don't think it had much to do with the child - it was more the hours of fighting that went along with it.

[ which... well. that's just how the heavens are. it is rare that acts of kindness - although xie lian didn't consider it that way, at the time only immediately acting to save the life of someone who was in danger - are what inspire the gods. ]

I didn't actually ascend until a month or so later, when I fought a demon on a bridge. So, it was related to my martial prowess - when I have been a god, I have been a martial one.

[ the end!

there's a brief pause, and he lets that settle in, looking down at the river. ] ...You know, Archer, I'm quite glad that it was you that I faced down like that, today. I think... perhaps you and I may have a different perspective on the situation that we encountered than many others might have had.

[ the idea of a warrior - the simple idea of it is what needs to be done. xie lian knew even then he could trust chiron with the task he put upon his shoulders, and he wasn't proven wrong. ]

I see.

[Yes... then it's as he suspected, since Chiron would agree with Xie Lian's assessment -- the gods aren't moved by kindness like they are by strength and wisdom. Regardless, Chiron still finds himself returning to that little detail, of his fellow immortal protecting the child as if it were as natural as breathing.

He's pulled out of his thoughts, however, eyes flickering to the other's face while Xie Lian looks to the river instead.]

... Yes, I agree with your assessment.

[Perhaps because they are long-lived, immortal, have seen and experienced death more than once... knowing what must be done is simply the way they have lived their lives for a very long time.]

Ochako... I had meant to kill Soo-Won before she had. She is young, and optimistic -- even if this is a lesson she must learn, to experience it here seemed cruel to me.

[He would have taken both of their lives to spare the child of that misery.]

[ hurt flashes across xie lian's face, but it's not at chiron - it's for the situation they were just in. he's always been a bleeding heart, and as they made their way through that horrific nightmare and since, ochako has been his number one priority, too. ]

...She is so, so very young. [ he adds, quietly, looking down. ] And very capable, but capability doesn't mean anything in terms of the way we experience and learn lessons. I agree with you entirely - it is cruel.

So many of our companions are mere children. [ shigeo, hikaru, usagi, zuko... even alphonse, though he doesn't seem like it. ] I understand, to some degree, why I may have been brought here to complete this task, but I will never understand the whims of the Realm for that.

...at any rate, I would have sooner finished the job myself, if I could have. [ if he'd been able to maintain consciousness for a little while longer. if his heart had been just a little stronger. ] So I appreciate that you were able to - you are a truly fine combatant, Archer. To handle both of us at once like that, and protect Miss Ochako as much as you have... it was truly impressive.

Edited (sighs) 2020-10-12 12:39 (UTC)

[Xie Lian offers him too much grace, Chiron thinks -- it is earnest and perhaps even truthful to a degree, but the smile on the centaur's face isn't entirely satisfied, either.

Because in a way, he still failed, and failure will always sting no matter your age]

I can only hope with time, the Realm's reasons for bringing so many children amongst us will be clear. Though... [A pause, and then some of his smile softens into genuine amusement] I cannot pretend I am not constantly learning from them, either. And they are optimistic in the way only youth can bring them.

[Perhaps that's reason enough: the bright-eyed optimism of their lives will catch fire to those who might have experience, but are burdened with age. Chiron can already think of one such example who might need some prodding to participate]

Regardless, I am honored by your words. [Another slight smile] Under different circumstances, I'm certain we both would have enjoyed the chance to test our strength against each other.

...They are, aren't they?

[ xie lian's expression softens a little, and he smiles. ] To close yourself off to learning from others is to live a life led by blinders. The children that have been put through this place all live such tremendous lives, and have many lessons to offer even old men like you and I. It is something hopeful, as we tread through this place.

...It means very much to me, to keep that hope alive. [ here, his voice softens a little. xie lian is a hopeful person by nature - and he knows what it means, to have your hopes smashed into pieces, especially when you're young, and idealistic. ] I can only hope that the lessons that this place teach will not break them, but help them to be forged stronger.

[ and for the last bit!! xie lian nods to chiron's comment, warming up a little further. ] Perhaps when we're feeling better, we could spar for real, hm? I'd quite like that, if you would.

Can I ask you a bit about your godhood as well, Archer? I am admittedly quite curious about this "true name".

pc catchall | redacted | chiron

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