heng_like_a_dragon

[Eunie didn't have her other selves casting such a dark shadow. But she still wondered about them. Who they were. What they went through. The friends she made that she didn't expect to ever see again but whose memory she still held dear. But that was by her choice, not a desire to be someone she wasn't.

Even if this Eunie... was a lot weaker. She had people to rely on here, so maybe that was okay.]

Yeah, it was him that told me that. And when he did I remembered someone else saying something kinda like it. It really had me thinking, you know? It was true both times. I like to take things at face value, and you can't really get more simple than that.

Especially with how Zhongli likes to go on and on.

[She loves him, really. A short delay of her own.]

You know? It does. Thanks.

[He kind of smiles a little. A win for Eunie.]

Yes, he does like his tangents. Even in letters he was like that, though a bit less than how he can get in person.

I feel like when it comes to situations like these that are complicated, a simple solution is the best course of action to take. It helps to keep the focus on what's important.

[Dan Heng is a little worried he might've overstepped, but he's glad to see that might not be the case.]

You are welcome.

If you need someone to remind you, my door is open.

[Given how little he sleeps, even the weird times of the night will likely get a response from him.]

Exactly, you totally get it. No sense in getting everything muddied up if it don't need to be.

[She even fell into that string. Of dwelling on every what if possible and losing herself to fear.

She laughed to herself. Bleh, what a Taion move her brain pulled last month. If he ever showed up here he better not say shit about that or she'll have the arsehole's head. But well you tend to not be yourself when backed into a corner.]

Hey, right back at you.

[Oh he will be given shit about his sleeping no matter how sweet she was being now. The reckoning cometh, Dan Heng.]

[Dan Heng's reminded of March and the Trailblazer, in a way. It's... comforting.]

Thank you.

[And he means that sincerely.]

[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.

[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.

In his past life, I used my power to keep it under control. Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury here.

[She's glad, that Dan Heng is in Blade's corner. She's glad this was the case for the Trailblazer, too.]

We team up. If we're both with him, it should keep him grounded.

["Should." She doesn't know if it will work. But it's the best bet.]

[This is a sensible approach to the problem. One that Dan Heng can more easily agree to.]

Alright. If you don't have his address already, I can text it to you. I have regained some of my power, so I believe I can keep him in check if the demon attempts anything.

[If nothing else, he can at least keep himself and Kafka safe.]

I'll head over straight away.

I would appreciate that.

[Kafka doesn't have the full extent of her power, but she'll be able to lend a hand, at least.]

There's something else. Bladie seemed worried--he told us both to run. It might not just be the demon we have to worry about. With the three of us, I'm sure it'll be fine. Safety in numbers, after all.

[Dan Heng texts her Blade's address immediately. When she says there's something else, he listens attentively.]

Hm. We'll need to look at the rest of the post to see if anyone has more information. As it stands, I'm not able to keep my human form. This usually only happens when I'm in a Spirit Realm.

[He's reminded of the reports on Atlantis, which doesn't fill him with good feelings.]

[Blade tries to pretend that his eyes didn't just light up at that. He's a little pathetic and he knows it. ... But his tail is wagging. As always.]

Then we will.

[Dan Heng might be puzzled, but Blade's slight blush says everything. He glances back at Dan Heng.]

Hmm. You would have been great at it. You still could be, but...

I understand our situation doesn't make things easy. And that would be a long commute.

[Dan Heng simply smiles as he sees the way Blade lights up at that. He thinks it's endearing, at least.

The Vidyadhara man gives a slight nod, though he looks down at his tea for a moment.]

Mm... I'm afraid that it's not a career path available to me anyway.

[He thinks for another few seconds before coming to some kind of conclusion. Dan Heng finishes his tea.]

Do you have time for a walk?

[Maybe it seems out of nowhere, but he doesn't want to talk about it in a cafe. He'd rather be outside to tell his partner something this personal. It's more than past time he opens up a little more to Blade, and try to trust him with things like this.]

[Blade tilts his head when he hears that, his ears flopping a little.]

Is that so...

[There's definitely more to the story, here. He takes a long sip of his chai and finishes it as well.]

I do. Let's go, then.

[He gathers their empty cups and pops them into the recycling, and then he steps closer, his bandaged hand not-so-subtly reaching for Dan Heng's own.]

[Stop being so fucking cute, sir.

Dan Heng gets up out of his seat and walks with Blade. As the other man reaches out for his hand, he reaches back to take it and threads his fingers between Blade's. Going out into the autumn chill is refreshing, though he's grateful that being from Boston means he doesn't feel the cold quite as badly. What with having one shoulder bare as it is, as well as some... openings in his shirt.

He doesn't speak for a minute, but eventually he does find his words.]

My parents worked very hard for my little sister and I when they moved here from China. They wanted the best for us, but they also wanted one of us to be a doctor or lawyer. They felt it would be secure as a career, as well as something that would be more rewarding for the hard work put into school.

[There's a subtle squeeze to Blade's hand when he goes quiet for a moment.]

That wasn't what I wanted to do, but my parents had given up much for us and I didn't want to... disappoint them. Plus, I knew that there'd be pressure put on my sister if I didn't. She would've gotten into a big argument with them about it, so I decided to go along with it instead. Try to keep the peace.

What I'm doing now is the compromise we reached. Although I'm not a doctor, a research scientist with a degree in archival sciences does allow me to get into two fields, even if one of them isn't quite as... prestigious as the other.

[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?

[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.]

[bruh.]

[Geez, he knew the guy was kind of insane but goddamn. Also, "second-to-last past life"? Hello?

Know what? Not his problem.]

Right. Uh-huh. Yeah.

I'm guessing you know about his little "problem". But if he's better... that's good.

He's told me, yes. Not that he had much choice in the matter.

Better but no less a danger to himself and others at the moment. It's why I'm here. To make sure he doesn't lose control.

Alright. Maybe you'll get lucky and he won't lose it but if he does, get the hell away quick.

[Ragna was extremely unaware of who he was talking with and only spoke from the perspective of someone who knew how dangerous demons and spirits were.

Honestly he thinks this guy's just as out of his mind for wanting to trifle with one but they're gonna be trifling until they find a way out either way. Lose-Lose situation.]

I'm used to running away from him.

[There is. No further context to that.]

[????????????????]

what the fu

[that's it that's the end of the text. No wonder this guy knew Blade are they both 50 shades of fucking insane??]

[...?

Is...

Is Ragna asking for context? Dan Heng will assume Ragna is asking for context.]

Suffice it to say, he was a man driven to insanity and chased me across the universe in our past lives.

It was messy, complicated, and there was a lack of communication due to several extenuating circumstances, one of which being the aforementioned insanity.

In this life, we have been much luckier in that we were able to talk things through. He has regained enough of my trust.

[...God. No wonder Blade made a memory at the back of Ragna's mind twitch. Having it spelled out just made the crazed glee echo in his mind.

A voice, from family but not. "Long time no see... BROTHER...!"
Another, from his own mouth but not. "I will NEVER forgive you...!"

Straight out of Jin's mouth... "Jin". Not this life's Jin. He was way too old. Way too confident... and the memory stemmed from so much resentment and hatred. That was not Ragna's little brother. Not "this" Ragna's little brother. But from being driven to madness to lack of communication that Ragna never considered in this life or the last it made him ache.

God, what a stupid bastard this guy. There's a delay longer than normal, he's heard enough he didn't need Dan Heng to go further lest he find how goddamn deep this rabbit hole went.]

Whatever you guys are or do in this life is your problem, not mine. If the guy's got someone around to keep his head on straight that's all I need to know.

[Hm....]

Noted.

[Dan Heng's so good at this. Good talk, boys, good talk.]

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