heng_like_a_dragon

[ 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??? ]

[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.

[ he spares a very brief glance at the stack of documents before focusing squarely on dan heng, mouth curving into an apologetic smile. ]

It is, apparently that was the only color they had left. [ gil did say that he'd get whatever they had left and well... ] That was nothing you need to thank me for, with everyone that was going on regaining contact with your allies was of the utmost importance.

[ the dragon does not miss his notice and jing yuan moves closer to the window to aid its attempt to sniff him out. ]

Ah, I visited the Goodwill myself before returning. I received an interesting looking pot, an apple, and this... [ he holds out the dragon ball toward dan heng. ] I will admit I hold little knowledge of how these work.

I see... and... he was fine with spending this much on me? [He is extremely aware of how much this must have cost.] I'll thank you anyway. ...I don't want to take what you do for me for granted.

[The pink dragon stretches his neck out a little more. He's clearly delighted and curious by whatever he's smelling on Jing Yuan. Maybe it's the apple. Who knows?

Dan Heng looks intrigued by Jing Yuan receiving a Pokeball with an unknown Pokemon in it.]

Is that so? [He takes his glasses off and puts them in their case. Setting aside the documents, he says:] I do know how that works, but we'll need to be outside to more safely check it. The chances of it being dangerous are somewhat low. The real issue is that I don't know how big the Pokemon inside the ball will be.

According to him, it wasn't even an amount that matters. [ but that is what happens when you have more money than god. ] You are welcome.

[ maybe it is the apple, jing yuan is going to pull the apple from his pocket and offer it to the beast while dan heng looks at the pokeball. ]

I see, I wasn't aware they could get larger than dear Cirrus.

[ or maybe he did but whatever, he is curious to see what is hiding in the ball. ]

I... see. It seems you know some interesting people.

[Not that it surprises him, really. Jing Yuan's always been good at forming connections. It's a skill he can admire.

The dragon sniffs delicately at the apple before butting his head under the man's hand. He desires pets more than strange apples, despite the curiosity from before.]

Mm. Some can be as small as a fingernail while others can be as large as sperm whales.

[Dan Heng stands up from the bed, though he's careful to go slow. His regeneration and Lapis' healing have done wonders, but he doesn't want to push it too soon yet.]

I could use a walk. Why don't we head onto the dock and see who your new Pokemon partner is?

As do you, my friend.

[ okay it isn't the apple, that is fine. jing yuan decides to put the apple down in favor of giving the dragon a scratch on the bridge of its nose. only when dan heng begins to stand does he stop, leaving the window to fall in at the dragon's side offering his arm to steady himself with. ]

Very well, but feel free to lean on me if you don't feel steady.

[ even if dan heng doesn't he sticks close by, matching the other man's speed as they move from the cabin onto the ship's deck. only once they hit the dock does jing yuan stop moving, turning to face his friend with the pokeball in hand. ]

So... How exactly does this work?

[The dragon makes a sound like purring, and then sighs dejectedly when Jing Yuan stops. Still, Dan Heng doesn't think about it when he takes his friend's arm. He may be proud, but he knows when to accept a helping hand. Blade's done this, too, but somehow both of them make him feel like he's a noble lady being escorted outside.]

I will, I promise.

[Dan Heng's caused enough trouble that he's not about to add to it for a little while. His pace isn't as fast as it normally is, making a conscious effort to take his time. He stops and closes his eyes for a moment to take in the fresh air. However, Dan Heng's attention turns back to Jing Yuan soon enough.]

It's quite simple. You just need to throw it. Allow me to demonstrate.

[He takes a Pokeball out of his pocket and then tosses it. From the ball emerges an Espeon, who yawns and stretches before trotting over to sniff curiously at Jing Yuan's feet. The ball flies back to Dan Heng and he catches it with practiced ease.]

That's Xing, an Espeon. I volunteered with my cousin, Zhongli, to knit some sweaters for the baby Pokemon and they let me adopt him.

[ that may be because he is the shortest of them, or simply because of the extreme care they both seem to share for the vidyadhara man-- after all, they desire nothing more than dan heng's full recovery and take every step possible to make it happen.

the dock looks like an entirely different place in the day time, he notes, observing the way that dan heng tosses the strange ball from his pocket. all thoughts of that night vanish like smoke in the face of the creature that emerges, elegant like a cat, and a soft shade of purple. he would not mind a creature like this one, he thinks looking down at the ball in his hand. ]

A pleasure to meet you, Xing. [ sharp gold eyes flick to the shorter man beside him, mouth curving into that resting smile of his. ] He is a beautiful creature.

[ in much the same manner as dan heng, he tosses his own pokeball. however, unlike dan heng, it is not an espeon that emerges but something much, much larger standing at eleven feet tall is solgaleo.

and jing yuan looks absolutely delighted. ]

[...This feels like when Blade flirts with him, which begs a few questions. Not the least of which being if Jing Yuan and Yingxing are cut from the same cloth. Or if Yingxing had been more an influence than any of them thought.

Xing looks delighted by the compliment as he sits down between them all prim and proper like a proud gentleman.]

...He is the Sun Pokemon. It felt like we had a piece of you with us, in a way.

[All other thoughts are driven out of Dan Heng's mind the moment Jing Yuan tosses the ball and reveals the Solgaleo hidden within. He stares, rendered completely speechless for a solid thirty seconds.]

That... is not what I expected. [He'd been thinking maybe it would be a Pyroar or Luxray, not a mythical Pokemon!!!] Ahem... congratulations on your Solgaleo. It's also a Sun Pokemon.

[With the shock wearing off, he's looking more and more interested in getting a closer look, but he doesn't dare approach just yet.]

This Pokemon is typically genderless, but I recall some theories that Solgaleo might be a male evolution and its counterpart, Lunala, the female evolution. There's been no definitive proof one way or another. Together, they're "the beast that devours the sun" and "the beast that calls the moon."

[Dan Heng may not have the same outwardly passionate hyperfocus Blade does, but biology has been that quiet passion of his.]

Edited 2024-03-17 05:18 (UTC)

[ each one of them influenced him in his younger years, each of them helped mold him into the man he eventually became. from his speech, to how he conducted himself, to his interactions with others, and how he led the luofu for all those years-- all of it was a testament to each and every one of them. perhaps now, freed from the responsibilities of leadership, yingxing's influence bleeds through more clearly.

his mind spins, both from dan heng's words (in particular "it felt like we had a piece of you with us, in a way.") and the large beautiful lion before him, mouth partly open in a genuine surprise. of all the creatures that could have been in the ball, he had not though it would be something like this! ]

Solgaleo, is it? [ he glances at dan heng before looking back at the creature, almost as if understanding solgaleo pads towards them, lowering its massive head to their level. without hesitation the arbiter-general reaches out, resting his hand on the beast's muzzle, amazed by the softness of its coat. solgaleo rumbles contentedly at the attention pushing its head further into his touch. ] You must be a ferocious beast to be known as such, a fitting companion for a man once known as the Divine Foresight.

[ another low rumble ending a chuff. ]

There was a story I once heard about a snow white lion owned by a great general. One day the general was called out to war and had to leave the lion behind, wishing only to be reunited the lion patiently waited the day the general would return. It waited days, then months, then years, until three hundred years later the general returned triumphant. The lion was old and withered by then, using the very last of its life to greet the general upon his return, drifting off to sleep in his arms. Apparently, the lion's name was Snowmoon.

[ tilting his head jing yuan looks dan heng. ]

I think my new friend here looks like a Snowmoon, don't you?

Edited 2024-03-22 01:41 (UTC)

[Dan Heng is silent as he listens to Jing Yuan tell this story. He meets the former General's eyes. There's a significance behind the story, a personal one, that he can sense from his old new friend. 'Snowmoon,' huh....

Arms behind his back, the former High Elder nods.]

Mm. I can think of no better creature to inherit the name, and I think that Snowmoon's spirit would agree.

[The dragon looks to the Solgaleo and steps forward slowly while holding out his hand.]

May I?

[ jing yuan only smiles as the former high elder meets his eyes, notably pleased when the other agrees with his choice of name. most would look at him oddly for it and question why he would choose such a name for a creature that is supposed to be the embodiment of the sun, but dan heng doesn't do such a thing. dan heng seems to understand, to some extent, even if jing yuan himself does not.

he turns his attention to the newly dubbed snowmoon, then back at the dragon. as if reading its new master's mind snowmoon breaks from jing yuan, padding a few steps closer to dan heng and pressing its large head into the man's hand. ]

You already have yourself a fan, Dan Heng.

[Dan Heng looks surprised for a brief second when Snowmoon doesn't hesitate to headbutt his hand a little, but a rare warm smile lifts his lips. He has to use both hands to give the enormous lion a good scratch behind its ear. At Jing Yuan's comment on having a new fan, he looks over at the former general.]

Only one? Then I suppose I'll have to work harder.

[His tone is dry as he lightly teases the other man.]

[ snowmoon appears to thoroughly enough the scratch that dan heng gives it, lowering itself down to ensure that the man can get the right spot. jing yuan, for his part, pays little mind to how quickly snowmoon falls for the vidyadhara's charms far too caught up by the smile on dan heng's face. so much so that the comment throws him off a little, his eyes widening to blink rapidly. ]

Now, now, what a terrible thing to say. [ dan heng is teasing him and he could not be happier for it. ] You know I have always been one of your biggest fans.

[He's delighted that Snowmoon seems to like him so much already. Naturally, Dan Heng obeys the demand for the correct spot to get scratched. Yet this doesn't distract him from catching the way Jing Yuan looks at him. Thinking on it, he's strongly reminded of how Blade would look at him. As if he hung the moon, stars, and sun from the sky.

The dragon makes a thoughtful hum as he looks at Snowmoon. There's a familiar kind of warmth that blossoms in his chest, though he'll need to examine that more later.]

Then I will simply have to work hard to keep Yuan as my biggest fan. Right, Snowmoon?

[Either that's too forward or... Jing Yuan won't pick up on it at all, kind of like Blade didn't. Still, Dan Heng has another matter to discuss that he doesn't want to forget.]

Ah, by the way, that weird Goodwill that gave you Snowmoon has also given me the deed to a fully paid house. I'll be talking about it with Yingxing as well, but I wanted to know if you would be alright moving in with us, too?

[ as if understanding every single word dan heng said, snowmoon chuffs in agreement bright blue eyes looking from dan heng to its partner. all of a sudden he feels as though he is being ganged up on, as if both his dear friend and snowmoon have somehow managed to join forces in the span of a few moments. hmm.

he laughs a soft sound and shifts his weight, arms crossing comfortably across his chest. ]

That should not be too difficult for you, just shine as brightly as you always have.

[ did he notice? mayhaps, it is difficult to tell with the way that he smiles at dan heng─ a smile that lasts mere seconds once that question leaves the others mouth. would he be alright moving in with them? jing yuan had already accepted that his time with them would be brief, that once the danger has passed he would return to his barely furnished home alone. that he will leave them to their happiness and take his place on the shore once more.

the possibility that dan heng and blade may very well want him to stay never once crossed his mind. ]

If you would have me... [ he begins trailing off. ] I would be alright moving in with you both.

[Dan Heng's eyes flick to Jing Yuan when he hears he laugh and quickly looks back to Snowmoon with a thoughtful sound.]

That may be difficult. In terms of brilliance, the sun is brighter and more welcoming for it.

[He gives a last scratch behind Snowmoon's ear before turning his attention more fully onto his friend. He keeps a hand on the big lion's head, absently petting it.]

And we would be happy to have you living with us. But if you are concerned, we can call Yingxing now to ask him.

[Though, Dan Heng has a feeling he doesn't even need to ask to know Blade's answer.]

The sun only shines so bright because it has the moon and the stars there beside it.

[ it feels as though he is made of little more than glass and dan heng can see right through him, laying bare his worries despite having never spoken them. perhaps some part of him is concerned that they would have little want for him when all is said and done, even as dan heng stands before him and tells him otherwise. even after all that has been said to him these last few days.

what right does the sun truly have amongst the moon and stars? ]

If we are to make the decision now it is only right that we involve Yingxing.

And the moon would have no light without the sun. The stars would lose their sparkle without the dawn of a new day.

[Dan Heng nods at that and pulls out his... pink phone. After using matte black phones for over a decade, it's going to be an adjustment to get used to the new color.]

Shall we see if he can hear us calling his phone, then? Otherwise, we may have to go hunting for him.

I surrender, you have me beaten.

[ if only because he can feel himself getting too close to speaking truths he thinks would be better kept close to his chest.

his gaze flicks towards dan heng's phone, lips pressed together to muffle a laugh. perhaps he should have given gilgamesh a specific color rather than allowing the man to choose whatever was present, but alas. ]

It will not be too difficult to hunt him down should he not answer, I am quite the skilled hunter these days.

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