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[heng_like_a_dragon]

This is Dan Heng. Unfortunately, I'm unable to answer your call right now. Please state your name, callback number, and a brief message about your issue. Thank you.

POKEGO group chat

POKEGO group chat (2023)

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text; un: blade; forward dated to early-mid september

[unreachableside]

[Like most of the younger generation he doesn't like using the phone, so text it is. It's early afternoon when he sends this message.]

We need to talk. In person, preferably.

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Well. This is unusual. Dan Heng isn't expecting a text from Blade. He's in the middle of homework, but given what the man's texted him....

In-person. Dan Heng thinks about that. Zhongli most likely won't appreciate him inviting Blade to the apartment right now, especially when Xiao might be nearby. He's very mindful of the trust his cousin has placed in him.]

I can meet you, but not where I'm staying. Preferences?

action; about a week after the alexandria talk

[unreachableside]

[Blade's been hard at work since getting access to a forge again. Combined with the prototyping of his weapons, he finally thinks this is ready... Though it won't be perfect until he learns how to harness his magic better. He's aware of that.

He doesn't know where Dan Heng is staying right now, and he supposes that's probably better for all involved. He knows he's a tutor, though, so he shows up at the university one afternoon. He figures his workaholic... acquaintance???? probably won't come out until evening unless he says something, so he knocks on the door of the biology classroom Dan Heng tutors in, and waits. Classes are out so hopefully he's caught Dan Heng before he heads home.

There are some mixed signals going on here. For one thing, Blade has a motherfucking sword and scabbard in one hand. The other? Holding matcha boba, half sweet, of course.

He's also made an effort to look more put together than a goth who just rolled out of bed, with his ridiculously-long dark hair swept around a delicate hair stick, and something like dark eyeliner to match his sleepless look. Funny enough, he's still wearing the sunglasses. It seems someone might have beaten some fashion sense into him in the interim.

... The vibe is definitely confusing, and he's so grumpy-looking on a normal day that one of the students passing by asks if he got lost on his way to the emo concert.]

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Blade isn't wrong about where Dan Heng is, as it turns out. He's stayed in the classroom to finish up his own homework after his students left. It's quiet and the night class got canceled for today according to the professor. Dan Heng has just put his laptop back in its bag when he hears the knock on the door. He frowns a little and goes to answer it, thinking it's maybe a student who needs something.

Instead of a college student, there's a goth with a real sword that he sees first. Instinctively, Dan Heng summons Cloud-Piercer to his hand. His brain fortunately catches up to the time, place, and the boba held in Blade's hand.]

... Blade.

[Now that Dan Heng's looking at him properly, the man cleans up nicely. When he bothers to put effort into his appearance. It's just a pity that Blade looks like a grump about it.

Meanwhile, he himself has a more semi-professional look going on right now. He's wearing a light green polo shirt, black slacks, and what looks like a silver, long dragon clasping onto his left ear. Dan Heng also seems to have forgotten to take off his glasses before answering the door.]

Did you need me for something?

taking over your inbox yet again; text; un: blade; end of september

[unreachableside]

I have something for you.

[Look at him not actually dropping by unannounced this time.]

that's pretty normal LMAO

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Look at that. A bitch can learn. Dan Heng finishes up his notes before texting back.]

Where do you want to meet?

voice; un: blade; forward dated to 10/11

[unreachableside]

Dan Heng... Are you unharmed?

[Blade sounds... unwell. The mild surprise of being alive again has given way to the realization that he's still possessed, still in debt to this damned demon. He's so tired. He's so tired, and there's only one thing he wants right now.]

Can I... see you? Even if you don't want to be alone with me...

[The microphone picks up a car laying on its horn as Blade, half-delirious, steps into traffic without looking both ways.]

... As long as you're all right...

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[It's been extremely strange and disconcerting today. For the past few days, Dan Heng has written off Blade's absence as being called away on a big project and being no contact for the duration. Looking back on it now, that's not like Blade at all. Even worse is how he still believed that, even though it had been out of character for the man. And now?

Now he's worried as he checks his phone and hasn't seen a single message from Blade. He hasn't even seen the man these few days. He's just been helping to take care of his Ralts while he was 'gone.' Honestly, Dan Heng almost calls him himself, but Blade mercifully beats him to the punch.

Gods, but Blade sounds like he's been through a war. Something in Dan Heng's chest tightens to hear how pathetic and... lost he sounds. He tries to keep the panic out of his voice and stay calm. Yet, his words come out a little sharper than he intends out of worry.]

Of course I'm unharmed. Why would—[No, that's not important.]—where are you? I'll come get you, I just need to know where you are.

voice; un: blade

[unreachableside]

[For once he's not texting.]

... Let me know when you have a moment to talk. I decided on something.

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Huh. This is unexpected. Dan Heng pauses in his work to give this his full attention.]

I have a moment right now. Would you rather we spoke in person?

text; un: fortuneclovers

[medicgunner]

So Blade

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Ah.

The day of reckoning has arrived. Dan Heng saves his paper for his marine biology class and... prepares some tea for this text conversation.]

?

What about Blade?

voice; un: Arachne

[adtendo]

[The call comes in unprompted. There’s an edge of strain to Kafka’s voice that’s typically absent.]

It’s Kafka. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what this is about.

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng knows it's bad when Kafka has to call him.]

Blade.

[If there's one flaw he's kept across countless lifetimes, it's that he'll do anything to protect the people he loves. Whatever deal he has to make, he'll do.

Besides, he remembers the brief flashes of Kafka helping Blade. He has to put his trust in her right now.]

What do you need? I will help.

11/2 text; un: nope

[centralfiction]

[Hey, Dan Heng. You know how you just be saying shit without context in a text? Well here's context but some rando behind it. Well "rando" but he's the only asshole here with Nope as a username and he seemed to know Something as shown in the "Zodiac" post but he also saw this dude reply to Blade worried and he did not mcfreaking want to deal with Kafka, so.]

You know Blade, right?

[A delay, as he was only working with one hand right now.]

How is he?

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Oh. This is new. Considering this guy knows Blade and seems to be sincerely worried, Dan Heng decides to extend some trust to him.]

Yes, I know him. I'm staying with him at the moment.

He's doing a little better today. Yesterday, he told me he was going to fight my cousin and my second to last past life, and then passed out.

[The look on Dan Heng's face right now as he recounts this.]

action; after the fall of orochi

[unreachableside]

[Today has been a long, long night. He still looks like he came down a chimney upside down and then got shoved into a dryer, but that doesn't stop Blade from stripping his coat and shoes when he and Dan Heng walk into his condo.]

Somehow the yokai didn't break in. [He eyes the appliances in his kitchen from around the corner.] Doesn't look like anything moved, either.

[He stifles a yawn and realizes he's more tired than he thought. Maybe some... food will help...]

... Let me clean up and I'll make something.

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng is also tired from the battles and nonstop stress, but it's not on the same level as Blade's. That said, he hasn't changed to his human form. It's just too much energy to keep it up, and so he remains as Imbibitor Lunae.

As they step inside, he slips off his boots and goes to put on the slippers he's left in Blade's condo. He hums softly in acknowledgement as he notes that the place hasn't been broken into, which is a blessing. Though, when his partner says that, Dan Heng decides that it's time to have the man pay an overdue price. He reaches down, takes one of his own slippers, and lightly swats Blade's shoulder with it. His mother would've been far less gentle about it, but Dan Heng isn't her.]

That was for scaring me with that explosion.

[His tone is stern as he then puts on his slipper and steps further into the condo.]

I'll make something. You clean up. The Shadow's dominance may have weakened me, but not enough to where I can't make food for both of us.

[He steps in front of Blade for a moment; his light green eyes gaze up at his face. Dan Heng hesitates only for a second before putting a gentle hand on Blade's sooty cheek. His voice softens as he says:]

You have have done above and beyond enough, Yingxing.

text; un: wisteria

[reenforces]

[Mikleo sends over a link to the Zodiac post.]

Come collect your man. He's doing things.

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[There's a pause before Dan Heng answers.]

He's always doing things.

I'll handle him.

text; un: wisteria

[reenforces]

[Attached is a picture of a Rice Dumpling eating leaves off a park bench.]

Congratulations on being a parent, by the way. Usually couples wait a few months before moving in together and adopting children, but I'm happy for you.

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng wants to become a hermit in the woods. Why is this happening again?!]

...

No.

Hm... I'm having déjà vu.

But that is not my child. If it was... [He sends a photo of a Mikleo-themed mochi cat. It's just napping away in a corner between some bookshelves in the college library.] Then you have some explaining to do with Rosewood.

action; after the mara post;

[unreachableside]

[An appointed time.

When the moon is high.

An appointed place.

The duck pond where they had their first sort-of date.

The terms in the note were clear despite being written in blood. Perhaps that made them more like a contract.

'Blade', or rather the creature that has taken him over, waits by the surface of the water. He cuts an eerie silhouette, wearing neither the trenchcoat that Blade prefers nor his old armor from his past life. He wears, instead, a full black suit, because demons all dress like Lucifer apparently.]

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng doesn't hesitate to leave for this meeting. He knows his friends will be upset and cross with him, but... Yingxing is in danger. He has to at least try.

When the man arrives, he's hardly even winded from his sprint to the duck pond. Cloud-Piercer is already in hand. He stops far away from 'Blade'—no, Mara. Though he's in a relaxed stance and the point of his spear is pointed to the ground, that doesn't mean Dan Heng won't be ready to defend himself.

It's so eerily familiar. Yet another repeat of their previous lives. Yet another event in this hellish samsara they're currently trapped in.

Dan Heng will make sure it ends differently this time. They'll make a new samsara if they can't free themselves from it.]

Well? I'm here, 'Blade.' Or should I call you Mara?

action; forward dated to jan 27th;

[unreachableside]

[Blade wakes up clear-headed for once, for the first time in a long time, and discovers that the date written on the dry erase board in his hospital room is about two weeks later than he last remembers. At first he wonders if what happened was one big long nightmare, but then he becomes aware of the IV in his arm, and the bandages everywhere, and that there's someone else in the bed next to him who looks terribly familiar.

He doesn't feel the usual burning malevolence of Mara in the back of his mind but he also isn't thinking about that right now. Instead he's flailing around trying to get closer. Unfortunately, he trips himself up and rips off his blood oxygen monitor in the confusion, causing the monitor to beep quietly.]

Dan Heng? Dan Heng! Da—

[He manages to get one foot on the floor, but the wheels on his bed spin out from underneath him and he goes crashing to the floor.

Now there are monitors going off. The nurse is probably going to come in a minute.]

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng has technically been discharged before Blade, but after explaining to the nurses that his partner was highly likely to rush out to find him if he wasn't in the room with him, they allowed him to stay overnight. He's absolutely exhausted, though, and sleeps longer than normal. Hell, he's asleep by the time Blade wakes up. His eyes fly open as he's startled awake by his boyfriend's frantic call of his name. Dan Heng can't get out of the hospital bed fast enough when he sees Blade's awake.

He barely manages to catch Blade before he fully falls to the floor, at least. Gods know that might have been disastrous in his current condition. Still, Dan Heng's arms are around him protectively, and he's trying not to hold on too tightly and hurt him, but it's so hard with how relieved he is. His mind is still muddled with fatigue and sleep and a sharp adrenaline spike after Blade's stumble, so he just starts speaking Cantonese instead of English.]

A-Xing, I'm here, I'm okay, but you shouldn't be up and about like this, you could've hurt yourself!

action; end of january; you may as well just call this the Blade Containment Zone

[unreachableside]

[Blade is learning to get around with one crutch, since his other arm is still pretty messed up from all the stabbing. Despite being two weeks out from the encounter, spiritually he seems back to his usual self. He's finished his second Gunpla kit (and ordered a few more), and he's left unattended briefly in the kitchen while Dan Heng goes for a grocery run.

It only takes a half hour for this to become a mistake.

When Dan Heng returns, the condo smells pleasant, with an edge of... burning? Blade is in the kitchen hunched over the counter, with a bunch of small hard cookies laid out on the cookie sheet in front of him. The kitchen is thoroughly trashed with multiple attempts at making cookie dough, dirty bowls and measuring cups and an empty package of butter.]

Again? Why didn't they spread out? Why are they so—deformed?

[He grabs one and smacks it against the counter. It makes a hollow noise like hardtack. His fuzzy ears droop.]

It's the recipe. It has to be.

THE BLADE CONTAINMENT ZONE

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng has fallen into domesticity with a swiftness that would make a Trad Wife jealous. This is just meant to be a quick grocery run since he has a mind to make xiao long bao or sheng jian bao some time soon. A nice little celebration of Blade's good health.

When he returns to the condo, he almost calls out that he's home like normal, but the scent of baked goods that are slightly burnt hits his nose first. Dan Heng's a bit confused as he toes off his shoes and heads into the kitchen to see that Hurricane Blade came through. ... It looks like he's going to be cleaning the kitchen before doing anything else. On hearing what his boyfriend says about the recipe, Dan Heng takes a peek at the cookies. The sound of the cookie smacking against the counter confirms what he already knows.

The dragon puts the grocery bags onto a countertop miraculously free from mess. Then, he wraps his arms around Blade's waist from behind.]

You didn't put in enough butter, there's too much flour, or the ratio of brown sugar to white sugar is off.

[Dan Heng reaches out to swipe one of the cookies and fearlessly takes a bite of it. After a moment of thoughtful chewing, he swallows it.]

Mm, a combination of not enough butter and the oven's heat was a little too high. Your oven runs hot, so I have to adjust by about 25 degrees when I bake. [He then eats the rest of the cookie.] The flavor's there. It was a good try on your own.

[Dan Heng looks ups at his boyfriend.]

Perhaps next time I'll order groceries if this is what you get up to half an hour after I've left.

UN: hikari-vi | text | After Teresagate

[whiteshroud]

Edward has offered us refuge on the Jackadaw. Mikleo and I will be staying there until the situation changes.

The Captain has also agreed to allow you to join us. I recommend taking him up on this offer.

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[He's glad to get this text from Jun, honestly.]

Understood. Will the Captain be alright if I bring my partner with me? He still needs help moving around.

I... also saw what transpired between him and Teresa. I'll make sure I talk to him. This was....

[Dan Heng doesn't have enough words to describe this whole thing. It's been a lot.]

blade containment zone; action; at some point after teresagate

[unreachableside]

[Blade hobbles over to the dining room table. They're in the midst of packing so they can go hide out at the Jackdaw and August's teapot, but Blade is... Blade. He unrolls a big sheaf of paper.]

Dan Heng. I need your help with something.

[These are schematics for some kind of device, no less detailed than the scrolls he would put together at the Artisan Commission in another life.]

I know some Pokemon evolve when exposed to stones. Is there a kind of stone that can stop that from happening?

[He puts his pencil momentarily in his mouth so he can tie his hair back up, and then flattens the blueprints.]

This device could seal someone's powers without resorting to the ritual that the Black Order uses. I made something like this in my past life, but that person had every resource at his disposal. If I want to surpass him, I need to make more with less...

[He looks over his calculations again.]

And then I can turn it around... and maybe prevent our people from being Sealed. Nullify, protect, reflect. Nullify, protect, reflect...

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng doesn't mind Blade being Blade. For as much as the man can sometimes drive him crazy with his recklessness and arrogance, he still loves Blade being Blade. When his name is called, he glances up from packing clothes into their suitcase.]

Mm?

[He finishes with the shirt and walks over to take a look at the schematic. Due to his past life memories and by genuinely being interested in Blade's craftsmanship process, he can follow along competently. On listening to the explanation, Dan Heng makes a soft sound of interest.]

Yes, there's a stone that can prevent evolution. We call it an Everstone. As long as a Pokémon holds it or has it somewhere on their body, such as inset in a collar, it will prevent the evolution process.

[The biologist thinks for a moment. Reflect magic, huh....]

Hm... reflecting magic is trickier. I know more about resisting or nullifying it. However, there are Pokémon that have specific moves that can reflect magic back onto an opponent.... Perhaps we have catalogued an item that can do something similar. I can see about pulling any relevant research notes from the archives.

[This could be the safer option to Sealing, and Dan Heng can absolutely see the value in that. It'll be even better if they can have protection from it, just in case.]

blade containment zone; action; on the boat

[unreachableside]

[Caffeine and pain medication is not a great combination. After several hours, he snaps out of it and realizes the project in his hands is far too small for normal people. Oh, it's a work of art all right; a table and two chairs, carved intricately with sturdy joints and the perfect maple finish.

The only thing is, it's made for someone half his height.

This won't work in the teapot at all.

Dan Heng is almost certainly used to him making all manner of things at this point, seeing as it's the best way to keep Blade busy, but the silence is deafening. He looks over at Dan Heng sitting within earshot. Pauses. Looks back at the furniture. Pauses again.

He's sobered up and now he's regretting it. He rubs his temples and goes for his water this time.]

Tiánxīn?

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng has been working on grading the first test of the semester while Blade constructs furniture. His boyfriend is a master of his craft and, quite bluntly, a mad genius about it. The IKEA furniture that came without instructions has been the best thing he's gotten for his partner from that weird Goodwill.

However, the sudden silence has him pausing for a moment. When Blade calls for him, he saves his work and sets his laptop aside so that he can give the other man his full attention.]

Yes, A-Xing?

text; un: captainkenway; backdated 02/27

[jackdawvision]

[Attached to this message is a selfie with what looks like a Kingler and a curly-form Tatsugiri. Only the very top of Edward's head, and his eyes, are in the frame.]

The crab is Charles and the fish-riceball-thing is Bellamy.

Now how do I feed them?

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Huh, interesting. He hasn't seen many people with Tatsugiri as one of their Pokemon partners.]

Bellamy will eat any bird. However, Tatsugiri can't hunt by themselves. They act as bait for a Pokemon known as Dondozo to lure in food, and they can get very stressed and anxious without one to bond with. If you notice that behavior with Bellamy, I suggest finding a Dondozo that can bond with him. Anyone from POKEGO can help you with this, including myself.

Charles is a Kingler, which means that he's a scavenger. They'll eat what washes up on the shore or scavenge for carcasses on the ocean floor. Also, Kingler are highly territorial, so make sure you take care in raising Charles to not attack indiscriminately.

action, prior to the move.

[pranas]

[ he hadn't been gone very long, only ducking out to collect a few things (mostly supplies, the replacement phone he has asked gil to organize, and a quick stop into the goodwill) before returning not long after. as he had promised. although he returns with a lot more than he had left with; a new hoodie, a box tucked under his arm, a bag of assorted food supplies, and a strange red and white ball in his hand. ]

Dan Heng. [ putting down the supplies he takes the box with his now free hand and holds it out. ] I organized a replacement for you phone. I apologize that it did not come with a case or any other accessories. [ a beat. ] And for the color.

[ because well... it is pink. anyway, at least you don't have to borrow everybody else's phones for a bit??? ]

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng is currently reading what looks to be a... contract or some stack of important documents. With the focus he's giving it, it seems to be confusing him somehow. Still, the shorter man is looking quite comfy with the jacket casually hanging off of his shoulders. He looks up when he hears Jing Yuan enter the room. Dan Heng blinks at the color of the phone, but he takes it.]

It is... pink. [He clears his throat gently.] Thank you, Jing Yuan. I really appreciate it. And thank you for letting me borrow your phone for as long as you did.

[By this point, Jing Yuan might notice that the window is open precisely because there is now a dragon's head poking through it to sniff curiously at him. The dragon is about the size of the average horse, but that still makes it damn huge for what looks like a carnivore. Dan Heng glances over at the dragon for a long couple of seconds before looking back at his friend.]

...The Goodwill sent me some packages as well. He was one of them.

text; un: midnightfishing

[illucesco]

hey, this is noctis. caleb’s cousin.

you okay? he was pretty worried about you.

[heng_like_a_dragon]

Hello, Noctis.

I'm recovering well, all things considered. I'm already back to teaching virtual classes.

nebulous after talking to jing yuan time point. voice; un: yiling

[conseqweinces]

[You know what spells disaster? The following tone:]

Maple~! [Oh no.mp3] Why didn't you tell me you and Yuan'er knew each other in your past lives?

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng hears that tone and hears the trouble that it will bring him if he answers. However, he does have tricks of his own to avoid said trouble even if he answers. So... he's cautious when he picks up the phone to talk to Wei Wuxian.]

You never asked. I also didn't know you knew Jing Yuan.

some nebulous time before shit goes to pieces; text; private to lunae and jingnyan

[unreachableside]

[Attachment: biteu.jpg]

UN: lunae

[heng_like_a_dragon]

Yes, I'm well aware. You have bitten not only my arm, but sometimes my ears if you're feeling particularly amorous.

That's why my rabbit ears went straight into your nose, after all.

action, shortly after the mid-month post

[reignitions]

[Shio probably isn't a totally new face, for what it's worth. Shio's probably swung by a time or two back when Dan Heng still lived at Casa de POKEGO, not always with food in hand, but definitely with it this time.]

Hey. Yuuki sent me.

[There's a note attached to the order of the food requesting Dan Heng's presence at Gen on an upcoming date and telling him to feel free to bring friends. It's for getting off Libra.]

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng does recognize Shio's face, even if they haven't spoken. He just assumes the man is one of Yuuki's friends. He's feeling quite surprised, but it doesn't show.]

Is that so? Please tell him I'm grateful for the food.

[The food will definitely be eaten, and he's going to be interested in joining this meeting. This is quite the clever way of getting word out, too.]

text | after Dan Heng's drag performance

[actnormal]

[As promised here are a few photos of Blade and Jing Yuan utterly entranced by the beauty that is Ying on stage.]

You were gorgeous! (★‿★)

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Caleb is a good bro and Dan Heng appreciates him greatly. He's saving all of them to his phone immediately.]

Thank you. I'm glad that my nerves didn't get the better of me during the performance.

voice | un: fairylights | gemini dm

[vanescere]

[A bit after midnight and not all that long after she messages Blade, it's Dan Heng's turn to get her worried voice message over the sound of fireworks -- and possibly worse?! -- in the distance.]

You're okay -- you're all okay right? Please be okay.. I heard things that are definitely not fireworks.

[The next words are so quiet and she didn't actually mean to send them.]

I need people to be okay...

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng... isn't used to people worrying about him, even though he really should be at this point. Still, he answers her quickly since Faye sounds so distraught.]

Yes, the three of us are safe and alright. They don't know where we live, and we intend to keep it that way. Jing Yuan and I will make sure that Blade is safe.

[He hesitates, uncertain of what to say now that he's heard something he probably shouldn't have.]

...If it will help, you can stay with us until we get more news. I don't know if you have anyone you can stay with right now, but you shouldn't be alone, just in case.