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[See he was halfway through looking up maps.ipc.com. After all what else was one supposed to do when one moment you were drowning (finally) in the sea that was the first thing you willingly walked into in centuries and you were in the saddest excuse for a server room you had ever seen the next.

He wrinkles his nose. He is so tired. Why is he here.] Do you really want to swing that in here?

[The question throws him off, and he actually pauses rather than actively proceeding with murder.

That's... way less imperious than the usual vibes of Nightmare Dan Feng.]

...What?

[Spear definitely super pointed at him, though.]

This place is already a mess without you accidentally slicing through the shelves.

[How one manages to sound extremely done and extremely judgmental at the same time is a mystery.]

I like the flooring at least.

[Honestly, he's a little insecure about the floor? For all he's been running from his past as hard as physically possible until, like, this week, he is aware that he programmed the floor in opposition to that whole concept. His only comfort on the subject is that no one else has has a reason to know that, until recently, and they're still walking on eggshells about the whole thing for now.

So of course this manifestation of his anxiety is calling him out about it, now.

Clearly the only correct response is to stand up straight and eye Dan Feng critically.]

I don't want to hear that from you.

[Neg him, Dan Heng, that will definitely make up for how you're still living out of a beat up suitcase.]

Well, why am I here then?

[He sounds unphased by your petulance, sorry. He squints, even though Vidyadhara have excellent night vision. He had recognized Cloud-Piercer immediately, and the artifact floating lazily in it; he could recognize his face too - the same face every High Elder wore in death - which was the only reason why he had not taken back his own spear.]

No, really? Of all the High Elders you could ask after?

[They'd better, with the literally glowing eyes. Showoffs.

His horns and tail are all neatly tucked away, of course, but it's not like his disguise is very good in a more personal context. Ssssslowly lowering their spear.]

Let me go ahead and assure you, I did not invite you to gatecrash my dreams. Again.

[??????]

I am not in the business of haunting my successors.

[can we not. he was literally just executed. dan feng's eyes flick to the futon that was just recently vacated and he just- starts ambling over. free bed!]

Is this a dream? [there's that nose wrinkle again.] You are terrible at dreamwalking. Who taught you? Do they still teach it? Which successor are you?

[it is fully not a dream. unfortunately getting to the futon, given the dimensions of the archive, does kind of demand Dan Feng walk at Dan Heng, and Cloud Piercer jerks back up really quickly.]

You're kidding.

[venomously.]

[dan feng, because a) he's exhausted, and b) he has ran out of fucks to give, keeps on walking towards him, lifting one finger to rest gently on cloud-piercer's blade.]

What was the joke? [eugh.] Where are your horns? Shameless.

[dan heng is a pretty even-tempered guy! usually. this is A Lot, though, and he's teetering on the edge of exploding into actual violence, because it's not like his nightmares aren't always combative, bloody or threatening it (except for when they're soft, friendly, but those are almost worse.)

this is unfamiliar ground, and it leaves him near-shaking with containing the urge to just get stabbing, because unfortunately his life has also kind of trained him into facing his past with a spear to the chest. weird, that.]

Is this fun for you?

Answering questions with questions is extremely rude, little successor.

[what is his Deal? is he ok? dan feng absently lifts his hand and looks surprised to see the answering orb floating over his palm. huh??? what kind of weird summoning dream situation is this? this feels way too real.]

Put that down, you'll hurt yourself.

[snapping:]

It's Dan Heng.

[which is at least slightly less bratty than the reflexive DON'T CALL ME THAT which almost slipped out.

his eyes flick to the orb and get caught there. which begs the question: is it still in its place in the spear as well? or did he just yoink it? but yeah, no way in hell is he lowering the spear, orbyoinked or not. not even dignifying the order with a response.]

[there are now two of the orbs of abysm in this glorified broom closet, which should alarm dan feng a lot more, but now he is just like hmm that's interesting and is that dirt on mine?]

Dan Heng. [he rolls it around his tongue. considers it. the corner of his mouth tilts up in what people have told him is an extremely irritating way.] I am Dan Feng. I was executed in around... 7300? I think. I don't remember much. How far removed are you?

[how is his face so punchable? is his own face that punchable? why is his face more punchable in a dream where they aren't even technically fighting??

quashes the urge to go a step further and throttle him. for now.]

You became my egg.

[flatly. maybe if he kind of plays along, the man will be less insufferable. he hopes.]

What?

[that wakes him up a little bit. he leans... in. just on the edge of dan heng's currently extremely pointy personal space.]

Was that the joke? It's not funny.

[NOPE! TOO CLOSE! immediately bringing his knee up to try and jam it into Dan Feng's belly. look at him, not aiming for shanking, what a good boy.]

[????????????????????????????????????????

dodging back and floating gently, tips of his feet barely grazing the ground. wow. hello?]

Slow. [he sounds disappointed :(]

Quick enough.

[mostly. he's alive, after all.

(once again, very maturely not either flipping him off or saying something bratty.)]

It's not a joke.

[dan feng tilts his head to the side, in the way large animals consider small prey. hmmmmm.]

I don't know if you heard me correctly, but I was executed by exuviation charm, Dan Heng. It is impossible for my reincarnation to become the Imbibitor Lunae. [pause...] Unless you are not, but you have the Orb of Abysm...

[oh. he hates THAT. angling his own head defiantly.]

Do I look like the High Elder to you? Don't ask after my horns and then conveniently remember the circumstances of your execution.

[he sure do have the orb tho]

Edited 2023-09-21 21:36 (UTC)

Don't get uppity with me. [you are so. annoying.] The magic required to awaken a previous High Elder's consciousness is, surprisingly, only in the domain of High Elders.

[he sighs.] Who are you really?

I told you who I am.

[flatly.

...but he can maybe be sliiiightly less of a brat. maybe.

he can already feel himself regretting this.]

[sighs in the MOST put-upon way. and lets his horns and tail and hair all bubble into being. luckily he was wearing pajamas, so he's not breaking his jeans or anything, because he is NOT busting out the fancy clothes for Dan Feng.]

[there you are. dan feng smiles, fangs and all, and it makes him look several centuries younger, and his own tail curls up behind him happily.

wait.]

Your horns look terrible. [frown :(] And your tail. Have you been taking care of them?

[sorry, what, kind of thrown off by CUTE? SMILE? WITH FANGIES?

that is fucked up and should not be allowed. the frown right after is somehow worse.]

...No?

[he sounds almost confused. they're hidden all the time, but it isn't as though they don't exist, just because he's masking them with cloudhymn. at the same time, horn and tail care were not exactly on the minds of the few teachers he got to see in the Shackling Prison.

ya boi absolutely washes his horns and tail with combination shampoo/bodywash.]

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