heng_like_a_dragon

[It seems he's done something right, judging by the look on Blade's face. He's just going to ignore the warmth he sees there for now. Dan Heng's really not ready to look too closely at that today.]

I suppose I can suffer through pizza, but I'll pay for half of it.

[That is also a bit of levity in his voice. A dry kind of humor. He turns and starts to head back inside.]

I don't think that rice wine is going to pair well with it.

[That humor is dry as hell, but it gets a snort out of Blade so that's progress. Probably.]

It doesn't have to be pizza. I know how picky people get about the style.

[Well. If Dan Heng wants to stay a little longer, Blade isn't going to turn him out onto the street. He can try this... starting over thing. Dan Heng is trying and he's just as much a victim here as Blade is.]

... There's a Cantonese place about a mile west. They deliver.

Edited 2023-09-10 03:51 (UTC)

If it's not the style, it's the toppings.

[He doesn't have the heart to say that he doesn't have a preference. Pizza is pizza and he'll eat it regardless. However, Dan Heng does show some interest in this Cantonese place Blade mentions.]

I'd like to try that, then. I'll keep my expectations below that of my grandmother's.

[And possibly Zhongli's, now that he's thinking about it. His cousin is probably as judgmentally passive-aggressive as his dear grandma.]

Pineapple is still on the table as far as I'm concerned. I know that can make or break some people. [Which is why he's fine just ordering his own damn pizza at work.]

Hold on, then. [He pops into the kitchen to grab the menu out of a drawer. It's in both Chinese and English. He unfolds it and offers it to Dan Heng.]

I always get the char siu. [A pause, and then:] I can share.

[Dim sum with the reincarnation of the guy who tried to kill you/did actually kill you a few times? Sure, fuck it, why not.]

It's not my favorite topping, but I'll eat it if it's there. My limit is sardines, personally. [Something about the way most pizza places do that makes it absolutely disgusting to him.

Dan Heng takes the menu and looks through it. He glances up with a faint look of surprise on his face at Blade's offer to share his food. Looking back down at the menu, he decides to compromise.]

Mm... I'll take you up on that, but I also want to try their egg fried rice. I don't mind if you join me.

[The face Blade makes at the mention of sardines is expressive even for him. It's safe to say he's not a fan, at least in this life.] Sardines don't belong anywhere near pizza whatsoever.

[He grabs his phone off the living room table and pulls up the number for the Cantonese place. He pauses for a second when Dan Heng offers to share.

It's just a favor done in return, but...]

... Sure. It's probably good.

[And it's hard to fuck up fried rice, but somehow, Blade has done exactly that.]

Do you want anything else?

[He is in his own house but this feels like... god, is this what a fucking date feels like? Is that why he's so nervous suddenly? No, he's not going to think about it. He's not.]

[Dan Heng manages to hide his smile at the face Blade makes.] I agree.

[He shakes his head.]

No, that should be more than enough for me.

[There's no stopping Blade from ordering more food, of course, but this is good enough for him personally. Perhaps it's fortunate that Dan Heng isn't even thinking about this like it's a date.

He takes a seat at the couch and only now takes his first sip of the rice wine from what feels like hours ago.]

Hm. This is quite good.

They're usually generous with the rice, anyway.

[He dials up the restaurant, because it's so mom and pop it doesn't have a doordash listing. He orders in a mixture of English and Mandarin, which appears to be pretty normal for him; the lady on the line can clearly be heard laughing and reminding him what the Cantonese word is.]

Half an hour, [he says, and rubs at the back of his head.] I understand more Cantonese than I thought, but I don't think I can speak it.

[noooooooot making eye contact]

... Auntie teased me.

[Anyway... He'll sit down and grab his drink, too.]

I tried to pick out something nice. I usually drink something off the middle shelf, if I drink at all.

[It's interesting listening to the conversation on the phone. From what he can hear of the lady, she reminds him a bit of his sister. Dan Heng raises an eyebrow when Blade says he'd been teased.]

... Because you ordered with another person?

[He can see what's happening and he's kind of amused, but mostly... wow. Just more reasons why Dan Heng will never order food.

He gives a nod at that, though he looks subtly skeptical.]

I didn't think I'd be a top shelf occasion today.

[Sir, this is looking way more suspiciously like a date, now that they've addressed some of the emotional baggage between them.]

[Oh god. How did he know?]

I said the Mandarin word for something instead of the Cantonese one. [A looooooong pause.] ... And she noticed I was ordering for two.

[He sips the wine and hopes his face isn't too red.]

... I knew I'd be telling you some upsetting things. The least I can do is provide something good to drink.

[He swirls the wine in his cup for a moment.]

Besides... you're the first person I've shared a drink with since the accident.

[It's not a date, but it is a milestone... Maybe he's learning to live, little by little.]

Edited 2023-09-11 01:49 (UTC)

[Dan Heng scoffs softly, but it's out of amusement.]

Good thing you didn't let her know I speak Cantonese.

[The teasing would've only gotten worse. He's certain of that.

Ah... that's something Dan Heng can empathize with. It's been a long time since he's shared drinks with friends, too. Another tangle of emotions that can be tricky to separate between his and his past lives'.]

... Then I'm honored to share this with you.

[Yet another reason he couldn't speak Cantonese even if understands some of it. It's easy to become tongue twisted when he's being teased...

He's feeling a similar tangle of emotion, but rather than talk about it, he's going to be like Dan Heng and just drink through it. He tops off their cups, then picks up his own for what appears to be a toast.]

To new beginnings.

[He blinks when Blade tops off their cups and holds it up. Then, Dan Heng smiles a little at the toast and picks up his own.]

To new and old friends.

[And he'll drink to that.]

[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.]

[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?

[Blade realizes about a second too late that maybe he should have given Dan Heng heads up? But he wanted to keep it a nice surprise... ah. And he's armed.

There is very real alarm in Blade's body language as he flinches back, almost as if he's been stabbed. Oh, in his past life, he'd been killed by that thing several goddamn times and was no longer fazed by it whatsoever. But Blade in this one hasn't 'died' more than once, and he certainly hasn't been stabbed by a spear. A sword? Other things? Sure. But death by a thick spear like Cloud-Piercer is agony, and it's a vivid memory that comes rushing back to him as he sees it.

Dan Heng looks very cute but Blade will take that in later because first he's having to dodge both his demon acting up, and the phantom pain from his memories. He swallows hard and straightens up after a minute.]

... I brought you something. [He holds out the boba first, and follows it with the scabbard and sword.] These are for you.

[... He's looking at the spear.]

When is the last time you had someone else look at your weapon?

[Maybe he should've made a different gift, thinking back on it.]

[Dan Heng sees the alarm and the flinch, and misinterprets the subsequent staring at Cloud-Piercer. He... can guess which memory just made itself viscerally known. With a soft sigh, he dismisses his spear. It seems like they're both going to have to work on not scaring the hell out of each other.

He takes the boba first automatically, looking openly surprised.]

Oh.... [Dan Heng then carefully takes the sword being held out to him.] Thank you. I... wasn't expecting any of these.

[Now he's feeling a bit guilty about his kneejerk response.]

I'm sorry for scaring you like that. [... Another soft sigh.] Come in, I still need to pack up my things for the night.

[Dan Heng keeps the door open as he heads back to his desk and places the sword carefully on top. He'll give it a proper look in a bit. Right now, it seems like a good idea to get Blade out of the hall before someone runs into the guy.]

I haven't let anyone else touch it, to be honest. I researched and practiced maintenance for spears to do it myself.

[He won't say that it's because he feels very distinctly unsafe without Cloud-Piercer near him. He also won't say that he gets a strange longing whenever he lets his mind wander as he maintains it.]

Of course not. I wanted it to be a surprise. [A BAD IDEA, IN RETROSPECT.] I was focused on getting it to you, rather than how you would interpret the gesture. ... I am sorry.

[He'll accept that invitation, though, and closes the door behind him.]

I didn't realize you had done the research. You're as meticulous as always. [He sounds vaguely impressed.]

... I'm a blacksmith. Would you allow me to see it?

[Even with all the bad memories, he isn't going to pass up a chance to handle a relic like that.]

[It's... kinda sweet with how Blade explains it, but good Lord. Flowers would've been a better start.]

I see.... You're forgiven. It was very kind of you.

[Dan Heng puts away his tutoring materials with a soft hum.]

It felt important to me, and the craftsmanship was superb even to my eyes. The very least I could do to show respect to the weaponsmith was to make sure I maintained proper care of it.

[He pauses, hesitating at the question. His kneejerk response is to say no like a protective parent over his firstborn child. However, glancing at the sword that Blade gifted him... he relents. Dan Heng holds out his hand and summons Cloud-Piercer again, holding it out horizontally with the blade pointed to the side.]

The last time I took care of it was last night.

[Ah, there's that word again. Not something he hears often. His cheeks burn a little, and he glances away, looking instead at literally anything else in this classroom and hoping the blush isn't terribly obvious.]

It... was nothing.

[He thinks he might have been convincing if not for the stammer. Uggghhh.

He listens attentively, though, as Dan Heng talks about the spear. It's clear that it means a lot to him, and Blade has some idea as to why. But should he... tell him? That he's not sure of.

Then he glances over and sees Dan Heng holding it out to him. Blade hesitates... then he nods, and reaches out to take the lance like someone being handed a famous painting.

Once it's in his hands, though, Blade forgets about everything else. He first checks the length of the thing, then tests the balance. He barely resists the urge to twirl it, partially because he's afraid he'll drop it entirely. Then he combs over it with the discerning eye of a craftsman, checking first the socket of the sharp blade at the end, then the smaller one at the opposite end. The very last thing he does is flick the pole and listen to the noise it makes.

... By all accounts he probably looks insane.]

It's exactly like I remember. Elegant and strong like its master. Cloud-Piercer... Do you know who made it?

[He offers it back to Dan Heng.]

You've maintained it perfectly. I have nothing to add.

[Dan Heng lets it go, at least. Clearly, Blade's embarrassed by something he's said, and he'll let the man retain some of his dignity this time.

He sips at his boba only so that he doesn't fidget nervously. His eyes are on Blade, watching his movements with the spear. Dan Heng's not lying when he said this weapon is important to him. He doesn't think Blade's insane, just a craftsman appreciating a beautifully made weapon, but he doesn't hesitate in taking Cloud-Piercer back. Though, that "elegant and strong" bit does have Dan Heng blushing faintly.]

I almost can't believe you said that with a straight face.

[As he remembers, though.... He suddenly has an idea of who might've made it. However, Dan Heng's going to keep the suspicion to himself until he can confirm it.]

To answer your question, no. All I have are feelings instead of a full memory. [He raises an eyebrow at Blade.] Curious how you know the name when I haven't told you what it was.

[Blade blinks at Dan Heng. ???????] Is there some reason I wouldn't? [This isn't even shameless, really-- just a fact, seeing as Cloud-Piercer had originally been made for Imbibitor Lunae, who Blade still holds in his heart despite being a life removed from that situation.

He starts to fold his arms but then... oh shit.

Dan Heng never said the name of the thing, did he.

Uhhh, fuck.

... Out pop the dog ears again, and they are back. If that's not a look of vague panic then nothing is.]

[Curse his big mouth. He may as well come clean, then.]

... It was Yingxing, [he says after a minute.] The Furnace Master. He made weapons for everyone in the High Cloud Quintet: a sword, a recurve bow, a devastator glaive, and this lance... Cloud-Piercer was created to work with Imbibitor Lunae's powers of both destruction and rejuvenation. It won't ever respond to anyone else the way it responds to you.

[He leans on a nearby desk.]

I... remember. I... he worked on it for a week straight without sleep. The metal alloy's components were not common or easily obtainable, and it resisted the usual methods.

[...]

It's good that it found its way back to you.

Edited (English is hard) 2023-09-14 19:39 (UTC)

[Dan Heng almost chuckles at that, but instead Blade gets a tiny smile. He's getting wise to the man's ways.]

Don't worry about it.

[Oh, and there are ears again. This is now a vaguely panicking dog man. He hides his amusement with a cough and by putting his papers carefully back into his bag.

Still... now that he knows that Yingxing is the one who made it, a few pieces fall into place. Dan Heng's starting to suspect that Dan Feng cursed his later relations to be the protagonist of a danmei for the rest of time. If he gets in the middle of a weird love triangle, he's requesting an immediate transfer from Professor Oak. That it's supposed to work with his rejuvenation magic as well... that saddens him. He gets the feeling that neither he nor the previous Dan Heng gained that knowledge over cloudhymn.]

... I'm glad as well. I hadn't realized how wrong it felt to be without it until Cloud-Piercer suddenly appeared before me.

[Dan Heng will just casually not get into what other feelings he gets from the weapon. Yingxing has left his mark on him for three lives. A constant, shining star that's still bright even when he doesn't fully remember the man. It's just a pity that Yingxing's next life continues to be plagued by tragedy.

Instead of focusing on that, he dismisses Cloud-Piercer and moves to examine the sword more closely.]

Yingxing truly had been a remarkable craftsman, and it seems that's passed on to you as well. You have your work cut out for you if you intend to do better than Cloud-Piercer.

[Dan Heng then glances with a sharp shrewdness at Blade.]

And how many days straight did you work on this?

[Dear god that smile is almost enough to take him out. Blade nevertheless persists because he can always have his gay panic in the comfort of his own home where his gunpla won't judge him.

It felt wrong, huh... Just like it felt weird not having a sword with him when he went somewhere.]

I'm not going to do better than Cloud-Piercer. [He crosses his arms.] I'm going to surpass that other Yingxing entirely.

[How does this arrogant craftsman get worse with every incarnation?

—Although, Dan Heng's pointed remarks appear to have struck true, yet again.]

Less than that, [he says evasively.] I prototyped it first.

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action; about a week after the alexandria talk

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