daozhangs | ic inbox, ryslig.

No, I have not. I suppose that is one way to express emotion over this bothersome network. Are there only the two?

I can. Though if you know of the tree house that Jiang Wanyin lives in, it will be even easier. My home is not far from there, and it would be better if I lead you through the forest.

I don't see why there wouldn't be more, but I haven't yet learned them.

I have not yet paid his home a visit, but I can certainly bother him for directions to find it if that would be easiest. When shall I be there?

There is no need, I can give you the directions. You will need to take the road that leads south out of Bavan and...

[He goes in further to explain how to get to the treehouse.]

I can meet you there in a couple hours. Though how will I recognize you?

Thank you, that's very helpful. I should be able to find it easily enough.

As for identification, my robes are white. Such a thing seems fairly uncommon here.

You would be right. I shall see you then.

[And true to his word, one nymph Jedi, wearing a purple robe that Jiang Cheng gave him, will be waiting for Xiao Xingchen just before the treehouse that their mutual friend lives in.]

( the man who appears down the road is indeed dressed in white robes, though he failed to mention the soft white bandaging tied across his eyes. his steps are confident but measured, the movements of a man navigating carefully by sound and touch but without letting it properly slow him.

he has yet to recognize that the man he seeks is here - obi-wan's robe (or at least its color) would most certainly be of note, were xingchen able to see such a thing. between offering his given name of 'jiang cheng' to daryl and the gifting of sect robes, it would lend even more evidence to the notion that jiang wanyin has found more camaraderie here in this realm than in his many years leading yunmeng jiang sect thus far. but alas, that detail slips past him.

upon hearing any sign of a human being, a smile curls xingchen's lips and he greets, ) Pardon me, I'm seeking a man named Obi-Wan Kenobi?

[Those white robes are indeed hard to miss, and Obi-Wan perks up when he sees the man coming his way. Though there is an odd detail about him that gives the Jedi pause, namely that bandage that’s covering his eyes. He stood there quietly, observing, and judging by the careful movements the man takes, he can only deduce that Xiao Xingchen can’t see. Or at least not very well.]

That would be me, my friend. It’s a pleasure to meet you, though I confess I’m not quite the man I used to be.

[Despite this revelation regarding Xingchen’s sight, Obi-Wan is cordial and polite. Yet at the same time glad that he is here to guide this fellow as he could have very easily gotten lost in the forest.]

( the smile broadens, and while he doesn't sweep into the formal circle-armed bow that much of the cultivation world is so fond of, his head does dip respectfully in greeting. )

How opportune, ( he says, ) It's good to finally meet you face-to-face. I'll admit, I've been thinking about this tea blend of yours ever since you mentioned it.

( all the while, he closes the remaining distance to step up beside the man - though not quite close enough to imply he needs led by the elbow, he has long since learned about that particular misstep. with a slight tilt of his head, ) Lead the way?

It's good to meet you as well.

[He then paused as Xingchen suggested that he lead the way, unsure if he should physically do so or not.]

Forgive me friend, but I did not realize that your vision is impaired. The forest can be dense, and I would not want you to trip. If it would help, I can offer you my arm.

[It was an option that Xingchen could take or leave. He honestly didn't know how the man managed to find his way here as it was, so he didn't want to assume he was completely incapable. Either way, Obi-Wan would extend his arm to the man, allowing him to take it if he wished.]

( honestly, xingchen is quite surprised that jiang wanyin hadn't mentioned it. it's perhaps a subtle gesture of the man's own esteem for the former daozhang, that he trusts in xingchen's ability to be largely unimpeded by his sightlessness even without his qi to guide him.

and while he would normally decline such an offer, the practicality of navigating a dense forest unaided is... admittedly not ideal. and so he hums an acceptance, stepping in just enough to reach out and find the offered arm. rather than grab it or link his through it, xingchen rests a light hand above the man's elbow. )

You can relax your arm, if you'd like. This should be more than sufficient. ( with it, he'll be able to feel both direction and any sort of obstacle-navigating that obi-wan seems to be doing. and surely enough, once they do start moving, xingchen moves alongside the man with deliberate but confident steps.

a question strikes him less than a dozen steps into their journey, one which he considered along the road here. ) If it's alright that I ask - you mentioned having trouble with heat. Is that a part of your changing? ( to this day he knows precious little about the forms that other such 'monsters' take, having relied exclusively on brief descriptions and audible cues so far. )

[All right, that will work. Xingchen will feel the cotton material of his robe, though it seems to be a normal elbow underneath.

Obi-Wan starts walking, knowing the forest very well and taking the easiest path back to his place. For the sake of his guest of course. With the nymph having to duck now and then to keep his antlers from getting tangled in branches. The question though draws faint smile. Of course, it wouldn't be obvious to Xingchen than someone who could see what he was.]

This might explain it.

[Reaching over with his other hand, the palm feeling normal enough, he takes Xingchen's hand and places it on top of the one attached to the arm he had been holding. It's there that things are different. His arm and hand having the feel of smooth tree bark on the top, with it ending in pointed claws at the ends of his fingers.]

I'm what they call a nymph, a plant creature. Fire is especially harmful for me. I can't get near it.

( it might, perhaps, be just a bit comical: though obi-wan ducks to keep his antlers from being snared, xingchen is not yet aware that his guide has antlers and ducks quite similarly each time he feels the man do so, thinking perhaps that branches hang low overhead. he seems to sort this out on his own after two or three times, but he doesn't seem particularly embarrassed about it, engaging instead in the topic at hand.

quite literally 'at hand', in fact. obi-wan has collected xingchen's hand from his arm and sets it instead on the back of his rough-gloved hand. no - no, that's not a glove at all, is it? it feels too much like tree bark, and xingchen's fingers brush at the texture for a moment to confirm before it occurs to him that he's being rather impolite. the hand withdraws before it quite reaches the clawed fingertips, setting again at his touchpoint above obi-wan's elbow with an intrigued knit of his brow.

'i'm what they call a nymph, a plant creature.' that actually has a recognition dawning in place of the intrigue, the slightest grin tugging at the corners of his own lips. ) You're the second nymph I've met here who grows their own tea.

[It is a bit comical but Xingchen is also a couple inches taller than Obi-Wan so it isn't entirely without merit despite the fact that his antlers reach higher than the other man's head. Thus he saw no need to comment on it.

Whether Xingchen thinks that touching his arm is impolite or not, the Jedi doesn't mind at all since he put his hand there to begin with. When he moves his hand back to his elbow though, Obi-Wan lowers his arm once more and starts walking again.]

Really? What other nymph have you met? There isn't very many of us here.

( and so xingchen walks alongside him as before, minding obi-wan's steps and movements in order to guide his own. )

Are you familiar with Hyacinth House in Bavan? The proprietors are both nymphs, though I've only had the chance to meet Miss Elsa. ( and he most certainly wasn't presumptuous enough to touch her, so feeling the bark along obi-wan's hand was quite enlightening. )

[Obi-Wan walks along as before. Being mindful of which directions he takes as they pass through the brush. It makes their going a little slower, but it still won’t take them much longer.]

Oh, yes, I’m well acquainted with Miss Elsa. She is a very kind young lady, and I believe the other nymph is her sister. I’m glad you were able to meet her.

Oh and you don’t need to duck.

[This said as Obi-Wan does do himself.]

I have branches growing from my head you see, and I don’t wish to get too personal with the other trees.

( the kind words about xingchen's first nymph acquaintance earn a smile, and an affirmative hum and nod at mention of her sister. he had heard of miss elsa's sister - in fact, it seems she was the one who came up with the idea to use their capabilities as nymphs to run an apothecary. xingchen would certainly like the pleasure of meeting her one day, whenever it happens to work out.

meanwhile, he's already mid-duck when he's told he doesn't need to, at which point he exhales a light laugh-breath, brows knitting in puzzlement. why is it that obi-wan keeps ducking, if not for something to duck under? the answer comes before he has time to ask, and his expression (what can be seen of it) fades to something closer to intrigue. ) 'Other trees', ( he echoes, caught by the phrasing of it. ) Do you feel like one of them? ( another invasive question, but obi-wan has proven quite amenable to sharing and explaining so far, so he resists the urge to preface it with a pardon or polite caveat. )

[He doesn't mind the questions at all. In fact, someone taking interest is more than welcome as many don't understand what it's like to be a nymph. It was a bit different from some of the other monster species that were around.]

In some ways, yes, I do. I can feel their presence, every one of them looks unique to me. Plus my body functions in similar ways to them. I need sunlight, water, and clean air just as they do.

[It had definitely been quite an adjustment going from an entirely animal being to a half plant being.]

I even turn into a tree when I am sleeping or deep in meditation. ... Ah, here we are.

[It was then that they came upon a shaded clearing where his little hut is located. A table made of a tree stump with a few seats around it was placed outside as the hut itself was too small for entertaining. Obi-Wan would lead Xingchen to one of those seats.]

Edited 2020-09-10 13:53 (UTC)

( it sounds fascinating, to be so connected to the forest around them. he can't even entirely picture it, the concept of feeling the trees' presence as some sort of life form rather than simply a facet of the landscape.

xingchen hardly has time to process the last bit (obi-wan turns into a tree?) before they've arrived, and he allows himself to be guided until the hem of his robe catches on something raised to about knee-height. he bends, fingertips finding what seems to be somewhere flat to sit, and he takes his hand from obi-wan's arm with a grateful flicker of smile, sinking neatly down into the offered seat. )

It sounds lovely out here. ( which isn't just a platitude. xingchen has truly missed the sounds of the forest, even after so short a time in the city. )

[It definitely sounds like a forest. What with the singing of birds, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, even a squirrel fussing above them at these people intruding on his space.

Once Xingchen has seated himself, the nymph moves away to begin making the tea. Obi-Wan having already set everything outside so he wouldn't have to leave his company alone. The sounds of him rummaging around and setting things up are clear as he speaks.]

Yes, I really enjoying living here in the forest. The city is just too loud, busy, and dirty for my tastes. Especially now that I have become a nymph. It is just more comfortable for me here.

( and xingchen thoughtlessly tracks the sounds of rummaging with his 'gaze', a habit he never quite lost despite no longer quite having a reason to do so. the words get an appreciative hum, and - ) I've thought about leaving the city, myself, but it seems foolish to do so when I've only just started to get my bearings there.

( and before the conversation gets much further, xingchen chimes in with, ) Just let me know when you'd like me to help with the fire. ( he definitely hasn't forgotten the request. )

[The rummaging eventually gets closer and there are the sounds of something being set up next to Xingchen. It is in fact a portable gas stove among all the other things needed to heat water and make tea.]

I admit I’m a little uneasy without you being able to see. If it is all right, I will guide your hand so that you won’t hurt yourself either.

[The nymph then opens a box of matches and will put it and the match in the man’s hands.]

Do you know how these work?

( in truth, given a moment to examine the stove's features with his fingertips (with the gas turned off, of course), he could actually light it quite safely - but this is obi-wan's home, and xingchen isn't so quick to overstep a man's level of comfort within his own space, even if such a thing leads to him being coddled for his blindness.

the match and box are placed into his hands, and he does indeed know how such things work, using the outer two fingers of each hand to tug his billowing sleeves back down to his elbows to ensure they're kept clear of any fire. then the match is struck, held aloft with his arm well in obi-wan's reach for guidance. ) At your leisure.

[Obi-Wan watches as Xingchen strikes the match and is actually a bit impressed as he manages to do it so easily. Though he wastes no time in moving Xingchen’s arm toward the stove and pulls it back again once it ignites. His hand then releasing the other man’s arm.]

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that it took me several tries to learn how to light matches.

[This said as he moved away to sit across from Xingchen. A bit sheepishly as he wonders if he has underestimated the man’s ability to maneuver despite his blindness.]

It’s not something we use where I’m from.

[Thus he hadn’t wanted to assume Xingchen would know either.]

( as his wrist is released, xingchen brings the match in to blow it out, then flicks his wrist once for good measure. the confession has him smiling, shaking his head. ) It took me just as long, I assure you. Had I not found need for incense, I might never have learned. ( funerary incense, to be specific. it was quite fortunate that he took the time to acquaint himself with matches before he and jiang wanyin began the rites. it would have been equal parts embarrassing and disrespectful, to flounder with such a thing when paying respects. )

My homeland has something quite similar, but few cultivators have need for it. ( but seeing as it's still held between his fingertips, he asks now - ) Where might I discard this?

Ah, there’s a box right next to the stove. You can place it in there.

[He will then watch Xingchen closely, making sure that he found it and making note to only offer help if the man truly seemed to need it rather than assuming.]

Jiang Wanyin has told me a little about cultivators and your golden cores. Though I’m still not clear on how your abilities worked exactly. Do you mean to say that you were able to make fire yourselves?

Edited (Freakin autocorrect) 2020-09-14 03:41 (UTC)

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