Lessons and memories

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Who: Da Qing and open (with a closed prompt for Shen Wei)
Where: Library, around the Far Shore, Shen Wei's temple.
What: Cats are great at research and also spells. Also Da Qing remembers something.
When: 20th and 21st May

20th May: Library

He's been putting this off for a while. Or less putting it off and more he had found more interesting things to do and so had forgotten it. But D2 had suggested he look through different books to see if he spoke any languages other than Japanese.

So on a table there is a mess of books, spread around at various pages. In the middle of all of them is a cat, paw flicking a page over as he sighs. "Not this one either. This is probably a waste of time."

If he inches over just a little... There yes. A good patch of sun for him to lie in. A much better use for library tables than reading books in languages he doesn't even understand.

20th May: Around the far shore

Another thing he has been putting to the back of his to do list for a while is learning spells. So he read a book on that too and he thinks he gets the idea. It's just the shinki name, the spell and then they can't talk for ten minutes. Sounds great.

But he needs to practice and he gets the feeling that he will be in trouble if he practices on Yeye. So he needs a volunteer. So he is hanging around areas that get a lot of foot traffic, in human form this time.

If he spots anyone he thinks is a shinki he will wave at them, "Hello, have you got a moment?"

It's not always easy to spot shinki, especially if their names aren't visible."

21st May, very early morning. Temple. Closed to Shen Wei.

Cats are great at sleeping and his room in Shen Wei's temple was a very comfy one indeed. Full of cushions for cats and humans, so he was comfy at all times. He usually woke up quite late unless he had to be up for a reason.

Not so tonight, it wasn't even light when he woke up the intensity of the memory just clinging to his mind.

Yunlan... It had been Yunlan. He had looked strange, but it was him. No doubt about it. A memory from the time before, when they had been alive...

He got up and padded out of his room, barefoot he moved down the stairs and into one of the smaller rooms, probably meant for studying. Once there he found the drawer where he had hidden his project.

The project was for Shen Wei, he had found all the photographs he could of Yunlan and was in the process of sticking them into a book for him.

He hopped up onto the table and opened the book, staring at the man who had disappeared not all that long ago. His master? Someone he would follow...

His hand came up to hold the bell around his neck, moving it through his fingers as he stared at the photo. "This doesn't mean I forgive you for the supersoaker..."

Comments

Around the far shore

[unlucky7]

Depending on how much Da Qing pays attention, he may or may not recognize the four dressed in black suits and dark green ties as shinki. At the very least, he'll recognize Ginia and when he calls out and waves, she pauses and waves back. Conferring quickly with the other three, she separates from them and heads over.

"Sure, what's up?"

[thetopofthefoodchain]

He recognises them, he is pretty aware of his surroundings in general and finds himself picking up details and storing them without even really thinking about them.

If nothing else he picks up her scent, he knows her well enough. Ginia is bound to be good with spells!

"I've been learning spells, I was looking for people to practice with. If you're not busy."

[unlucky7]

Ginia quickly checks the time. Things are pretty busy right now, but sparing a few minues can't hurt. She can take the time out of her break later or work later into the night. Helping out other shinki is important too.

"Sure, though I'll warn you I'm pretty hard to catch spells on. Which one do you want to practice?"

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Da Qing smiled at her, he had known he could count on Ginia. He has no doubt she's a tricky one to catch out, but he has faith in his own, still untried, ability.

"I found one in a book, the spell of silen..."

He catches himself, laughs and raises a hand to scratch at his neck sheepishly. "Uh. I guess. Maybe not the spell to try on you..."

Oops. He hadn't even thought of that when he had called her over.

[unlucky7]

Silence, huh? Ginia grins a little, understanding entirely why Da Qing stopped himself. She waves a hand dismissively, not at all bothered.

"Would it surprise you to know Silence is one of the spells I know? Believe it not, it does have an effect on me."

She looks him over with a bit more of a discerning eye. Learning spells from a book is a good way to learn, but only if there's a good foundation.

"How much do you know about shinki spells already?"

library

[reloves]

[ Honestly, Minako usually wouldn't want to be caught dead in a library. If there's any place that doesn't suit her, it's that. But today she just happens to be in one. Zelda seems to be feeling rather down, after all, and so Minako is ready to try just about anything to cheer her goddess up. Including picking up books in a library, if that's what's necessary.

.. Except it's pretty easy to get distracted when you're somewhere you don't particularly want to be. Especially when said distraction is a cat - Minako loves cats, after all. And this one is sleeping so cutely!

Don't mind it if you get woken up by Minako cooing about how cute you are while staring at you, Da Qing.. ]

Re: library

[thetopofthefoodchain]

[He does get woken up by someone close and cooing. Cooing is a bit annoying but he knows that humans can't help it, cats are just that great.

Also, now he is more awake, it's Minako!]

Hello Minako! I didn't think you'd be one to spend time in a library.

[He stretches dramatically and nudges her hand with his nose in greeting.]

[reloves]

I know right! I'm usually..

[ Suddenly her tone drifts off as Minako grows quiet. She answered naturally, but something about this situation feels weird. She can't quite put her finger on it for a moment or two, but then it slowly starts to dawn upon her.. ]

Wait, you know me! [ Sure, the talking cat part is also slightly odd, but she's met talking cats here. Chikusa has talking cats! That idea somehow doesn't feel as weird to her anymore. ]

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Of course. [Minako you wound him.] You're my best friend, remember?

[Wait. Wait. Has she?

He forgets who has seen him in what form at what time.] It's me! Da Qing!

[reloves]

[ Hey, back home the whole "cat transforming into a human" thing might have been super normal to her, but it's a little harder to understand when she totally lost all of those memories. It's slowly clicking in her mind that he does sound like Da Qing, but.. wow. A cat? That's so weird! ]

You're a cat?! But last time you totally looked like a guy! You know.. a human guy!

may 21st

[cloakedinruins]

He was use to being the only one up at this time. Shen Wei had often found himself up long before other people, and used it to go over his plans for the day and to ground himself as to life, such as it was. Often he spent his time reading one of his books or sorting through the kitchen while making a male plan, though this time he was in the long practice hall, re-acquainting himself with his sword form.

Which was why he was surprised to hear someone moving about at this time. Thinking that maybe one of the more smarter of the temples many animals had gotten into the main building, Shen Wei finished a slash through an invisible enemy and placed his sword back on the rack before moving to trace the origins of the sound.

And found Da Qing in one of the empty rooms, frowning down at something in his hands. Shen Wei frowned as well and took a step inside.

"Da Qing?"

Re: may 21st

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Da Qing had been so deep in thought he hadn't even registered the footsteps he had heard. He looked up sadly at Shen Wei before glancing back down at the bells and the photo.

"Shen Wei. Sorry I hope I didn't wake you, I tried to be quiet."

But sometimes it seemed like his god was the one with cat senses.

[cloakedinruins]

"You didn't wake me," Shen Wei said with a soft smile, entering the room completely.

Usually Da Qing would be a little more cheerful, or he would be a little more loud, but the way he looked now was... sad. Shen Wei wasn't sure exactly what would have caused such sadness, but he knew there were ways to comfort Da Qing. He had seen Yunlan do so in their interactions, and while he wasn't Zhao Yunlan, he could attempt.

So he reached over to Da Qing's side and put a hand on his neck, just letting him know that he was here.

"Is there something wrong?"

[thetopofthefoodchain]

The touch to his neck relaxed him, tension easing out of his shoulders, tension he hadn't even known was there. He sat quietly for a moment, just looking at the bells and the picture before he spoke.

"He was my master for all time he said... But then we forgot and now I don't know where he is."

He missed Yunlan before this memory had come back to him but now missing him hurt.

[cloakedinruins]

Oh. That. Shen Wei looked down at the picture of Zhao Yunlan and remembered that moment, when Da Qing had been so young and he gave Kunlun his bells. He had promised Da Qing, just like he had promised Shen Wei, and then he had left and it had hurt.

But now it must hurt worse since before there was a hope he would return. He had promised back then. He didn't this time.

Shen Wei sighed, rubbing soothing circles along Da Qing's neck, trying to ease the tension without letting the cat know that Shen Wei was still upset as well. It wouldn't help, not right now.

"He will always be your master, right? I doubt him being gone now would ever change that."

library

[kokuyoyo]

With how much nonsense he's had to deal with considering Ayumu coming back, Hakkai's own brand of stupidity, and really anything and everything to do with the whole cult... Chikusa hasn't been able to spend as much time at the library as he usually does. However, he's well aware that, if no one keeps watch over it diligently, then the whole thing falls apart into even more of a clusterfuck than it is at its base core.

Still. He's here today, and Chikusa lazily pushes a cart around, pausing to investigate books that don't look like they belong or anything someone has left. It's dull, tiring, trivial work... but Chikusa doesn't get excited about a lot of things, so, you know, whatever. Pausing when he sees the cat, he silently reaches over....

...to put it on top of the book cart.

He doesn't know where cats go, but probably not in the middle of a bunch of books.

Re: library

[thetopofthefoodchain]

What? Da Qing lazily opens one eye as he is lifted and looks around as he is placed on top of a book cart.

"Hey! I was busy reading those!"

Or sleeping on them. Same thing really. He looked round to see who had dared move him and was surprised to see it was Chikusa.

[kokuyoyo]

Oh, shit, a talking cat.

...Which actually isn't that surprising in all honesty. At least, it's certainly not surprising to Chikusa, who lives in a house full of them. However, after a mildly surprised blink, he reassesses the cat. There's no split tail... and, soon after, he realizes that he knows the voice, too.

"...Da Qing?" Huh. Pausing with a book in his hand, he stares down at the cat before addressing the truly important matter. "You were sleeping."

[thetopofthefoodchain]

"Not sleeping." He sounds almost insulted, he was doing important research work. He wouldn't fall asleep during something like that, what kind of cat did Chikusa take him for?

"Just resting my eyes for a moment."

[kokuyoyo]

Chikusa takes him for a cat. Which means he was almost definitely sleeping. Chikusa doesn't say as much, but there is something to his blank stare which hints as such.

"...Deeply."

around the far shore

[incinerators]

[ pyrrha steps into one of the food districts nearby. it's crowded around this time of day and the sidewalks are filled with people making their way to the various restaurant stalls. her stomach grumbles, just before someone calls out to her.

she turns to look at the one who called out to her. pyrrha greets him with a smile. ]

Oh! Hello, of course I do. How can I help?

[thetopofthefoodchain]

You're a shinki right?

[He doesn't know her, but he thinks he has seen her around. Hopefully she is. Spells can't be used on gods, sadly.

There are some gods he would really like to be able to cast silence on.]

[incinerators]

Er- yes! Yes, I am.

[ she's assuming he must be one too? or a god. either way, he's no ordinary human. ]

Did you need something?

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Oh good! [His grin grows as he nods.] What do you know about spells?

[incinerators]

I...only have a simple understanding of them, unfortunately. But if you need help with forming borderlines, I can do that.