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[Hey, Xie Lian! There's a kid out on the beach, happily building a sandcastle in the sand.]
[Wait no, that's not a kid. That's Herlock Sholmes. His daemon, Irene, is sitting in hare form next to him, just watching as he builds it up. It actually sort of looks like the tower in the middle of the city? He's humming to himself.]
[Wait no, that's not a kid. That's Herlock Sholmes. His daemon, Irene, is sitting in hare form next to him, just watching as he builds it up. It actually sort of looks like the tower in the middle of the city? He's humming to himself.]
[ xie lian is out for a walk today, enjoying the beach - it's been a long time since he's seen any sort of seashore - so, when he spots sholmes building something, it does catch his curiosity. he's never even seen anyone do anything like this before, so...?
after a moment, he pauses in his walk, and calls out, careful not to startle - ] Excuse me. What are you doing...?
[ san lang is still in ferret form, curled up around his neck, though he does look up curiously at sholmes' creation. ]
after a moment, he pauses in his walk, and calls out, careful not to startle - ] Excuse me. What are you doing...?
[ san lang is still in ferret form, curled up around his neck, though he does look up curiously at sholmes' creation. ]
Ah! Hello!
[He's so surprised he puts a whole hand through the tower and it partially collapses!]
.....Oh, dear.
[He's so surprised he puts a whole hand through the tower and it partially collapses!]
.....Oh, dear.
Ah, come no, don't apologize. A sculpture like this is mean to fall, after all.
[And he nods, moving to build it up again.]
Yes, indeed! The tower in town. Would you like to help me build it up?
[And he nods, moving to build it up again.]
Yes, indeed! The tower in town. Would you like to help me build it up?
[ ah... the corner of his mouth lifts, a little. ]
...Alright. [ and he will come sort of crouch in the sand! xie lian doesn't just plop down. san lang remains around his neck for now, eyeing sholmes's hare. ]
I've never built one of these out of sand, before, so I hope you'll forgive my ignorance on how.
...Alright. [ and he will come sort of crouch in the sand! xie lian doesn't just plop down. san lang remains around his neck for now, eyeing sholmes's hare. ]
I've never built one of these out of sand, before, so I hope you'll forgive my ignorance on how.
Oh, my dear boy, its elementary. Sand is a particulate substance that binds easily with water. All one needs to do is, well, add water and mold it to one's desires.
[Though he has obvioualy places some sticks within the structure to keep a framework in it.]
Have you ever been to a beach, before?
[Though he has obvioualy places some sticks within the structure to keep a framework in it.]
Have you ever been to a beach, before?
I have, yes. I've done quite a bit of traveling.
[ even at this young age! but wow, this is a very neat activity from this definitely very normal man. xie lian squats down and frowns at his hands for a moment, before starting to build up a little sand pile? he's watching sholmes curiously. ]
And... I've built towers, but - well. There was a game I used to play, when I was much younger, that involved something quite similar, is all.
[ even at this young age! but wow, this is a very neat activity from this definitely very normal man. xie lian squats down and frowns at his hands for a moment, before starting to build up a little sand pile? he's watching sholmes curiously. ]
And... I've built towers, but - well. There was a game I used to play, when I was much younger, that involved something quite similar, is all.
You seem like the type, somehow. You seem like someone who would be restless staying in one spot. Not unlike myself! Haha!
[At least he's aware? Also wow I can mobile tag spell words.]
Oh? And what game is that?
[At least he's aware? Also wow I can mobile tag spell words.]
Oh? And what game is that?
Mm.... something like that. It would depend on the spot, I suppose.
[ he smiles, though, and the look on xie lian's face shifts to something more nostalgic. ]
It was with golden foils. The goal was simply to build the tallest towers possible - the foils were very delicate, and it takes a very steady hand not to break the or destroy your tower on the spot. I liked it quite a bit when I was little.
[ he smiles, though, and the look on xie lian's face shifts to something more nostalgic. ]
It was with golden foils. The goal was simply to build the tallest towers possible - the foils were very delicate, and it takes a very steady hand not to break the or destroy your tower on the spot. I liked it quite a bit when I was little.
Golden foils, hm? Like sheets of paper?
[A hum, as he molds some sand into what looks to be a misshapen blob of one of the angels on the tower.]
That sounds like quite a game of patience and skill. Is there a reason you don't play it anymore? Surely age can't be a factor.
[A hum, as he molds some sand into what looks to be a misshapen blob of one of the angels on the tower.]
That sounds like quite a game of patience and skill. Is there a reason you don't play it anymore? Surely age can't be a factor.
Exactly.
[ oh... is this...well. maybe it's still in progress? he's working hard. xie lian will continue making his very tall tower piece. ]
-- And... well, I simply had other interests. Age is the factor, really, as I no longer had the time or interest to devote to it anymore.
[ oh... is this...well. maybe it's still in progress? he's working hard. xie lian will continue making his very tall tower piece. ]
-- And... well, I simply had other interests. Age is the factor, really, as I no longer had the time or interest to devote to it anymore.
Edited 2021-09-28 16:59 (UTC)
How sad. The follies of youth are so fleeting. Which is why I never try to lose sight of them, myself.
[A wink.]
But in the case of many adults, I assume it was the power of responsibility that put its iron foot down on such matters?
[A wink.]
But in the case of many adults, I assume it was the power of responsibility that put its iron foot down on such matters?
...
[He looks almost appalled.]
You threw away your childhood for what? Just because?
[He looks almost appalled.]
You threw away your childhood for what? Just because?
Martial arts, you say? That is an interesting term for it, but...the cultivation of one's body instead of a field of crops....hm. I suppose the logic is in order.
[He's nodding to himself.]
Is it difficult, this "cultivation"?
[He's nodding to himself.]
Is it difficult, this "cultivation"?
You sound like a sincere fan, my dear fellow.
[Patting at the tower of sand.]
What's the goal of it all? To be the best "you" you can be?
[Patting at the tower of sand.]
What's the goal of it all? To be the best "you" you can be?
When you put it like that, I suppose so.
[ he's never thought of it that way before, but, sholmes has a point. he can't help it... martial arts are cool...
and, to the goal question, he says - ] For some, to cultivate to immortality. For others, to ascend to godhood. For even others, to show devotion to a god of some kind. I suppose it depends on the cultivator.
[ he's never thought of it that way before, but, sholmes has a point. he can't help it... martial arts are cool...
and, to the goal question, he says - ] For some, to cultivate to immortality. For others, to ascend to godhood. For even others, to show devotion to a god of some kind. I suppose it depends on the cultivator.
Pardon? Godhood? You can do that through the training of the self?
[That sounds fake, but Sholmes will entertain the young man for now.]
And you? What sort of cultivator are you, in that regard?
[That sounds fake, but Sholmes will entertain the young man for now.]
And you? What sort of cultivator are you, in that regard?
Yes, though, only a middle official.
[ like this is normal??????? anyway. he pauses where he's stacking up the tower even taller, glancing down at it, his expression softening.]
... I think, now to just put it to good use. And to help people with it, where I can.
[ like this is normal??????? anyway. he pauses where he's stacking up the tower even taller, glancing down at it, his expression softening.]
... I think, now to just put it to good use. And to help people with it, where I can.
Ah. A hierarchy?
[Is what he assumes, in that descriptor.]
That's very noble of you. Though, martial arts assumes fighting...are you off fighting criminals for the sake of the innocent?
[Is what he assumes, in that descriptor.]
That's very noble of you. Though, martial arts assumes fighting...are you off fighting criminals for the sake of the innocent?
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