[ xie lian is here on the couch in the lobby! he has a cup of tea in his hands, though it's still full, and is looking out of a window, a bit distracted. thankfully, it seems his injuries have been treated, and bandages are visible through the open seam of his robes.
he seems to snap out of whatever he was thinking when flat calls out to him, though, and offers him a smile and a dip of his head. ] Hello, Flat - I'm alright, thank you for asking. I've always healed quite quickly, so, I shouldn't be down for long.
[ he's?? never been chided before like that? xie lian ducks his head a little bit, surprised by it, but he nods... if he has anything to say about that, he doesn't say beyond that, just looking a little sheepish. right... sorry..... he is successfully chided!
the slightly lighter mood fades a bit, though, and the second question has him look away, running his hand over san lang's head. ]
...He is my family. No matter what sort of person he is. And - even before that, after everything, he is a person, too.
…That’s nice, to still care about your family, despite everything.
[ flat smiles, but there’s not much warmth behind it. it’s not cold either, though. it is an absence of heat, muscles pulling mechanically into the shape of a smile.
jack, as a ferret, chitters softly, and flat releases the smile into a neutral expression. ]
Why did he hate you so much anyways? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.
...mm. [ that is an interesting facial expression, though xie lian files it away for later, for now, focusing instead on the question at hand. ] ...I am not entirely sure. Qi Rong is eight hundred years further in the future than me - as such, I don't know what sort of interactions we could have had leading up to that time.
...But, when I knew him as a prince, he didn't hate me. Resented me, maybe, because he felt that I failed him - to make a long story short. But not like this.
after a moment of silence, flat gives him a rather sheepish expression. ]
I’m sorry, Xie Lian, I’m not really good at comfort. But um… I think you’re really strong. And smart! So I think that maybe you’ll find a way to improve to make sure that things aren’t so bad, once you get home.
[ a beat. ]
I told Master Rev about this, but I don’t think there are evil people. Just people that do bad things. But if enough people think that they’re a monster…then that person will think they’re one too.
[ he laughs softly, with a hint of nervousness, as jack buries its head in flat’s shirt collar. ]
But I might be wrong about that. I’m usually wrong about that sort of stuff.
[ flat, buddy. he - laughs, a little bit? like it's startled out of him, and nods. ]
Thank you, Flat. [ is that true? can he do that? well.
it's fine. whatever his thoughts on it are, they don't read on his face. everything flat's saying is hitting somewhere incredibly close to home, so he's glad for the second part of his explanation, voice soft and calm. accepting. ] ...I think I see what you mean.
And [ with more confidence: ] I agree with you, too. [ san lang chitters, softly, climbing over to xie lian's shoulder and sticking out towards flat and jack, sniffing. hello? it's okay other noodle :( ] There are all sorts of people in this world and any other, aren't there? And the things that have happened to those people make them who they are, as much as those actions that they take, too. I like to think that everyone has the capability to be the type of person that they want to be.
Similarly, the opinions of others can shape and change who we are, as our experiences with others do, too.
That’s way better than I could have ever put it, Xie Lian.
[ flat nods, smiling warmly. jack on the other hand, sticks its head back out, sniffing san lang before settling back on flat’s shoulder. ]
But don’t feel like it’s your fault either. You did everything you could here. And you shouldn’t have to take responsibility for whatever your future self did or didn’t do. I mean, eight hundred years is a lot of time for things to happen! You could be a totally different person too, y’know.
[ what a fascinating statement! san lang chitters happily as jack comes out, cocking his head. hello new friend. ]
I hope for better, than for worse, at least. [ his future self probably...well...it can't be worse than it is at home now, right? (haha!) ] That's a very optimistic way to see things, too - I quite like it.
What would you like the you of the far future to be like, Flat?
I’d like to still be “myself”. [ he nods, softly patting jack on the head. ] Surrounded by my friends and those that accept me and treat me like a human.
...People don't treat you like a human? [ FROWNS? who does he have to fight. he will fight them. justice for flat 2k21. ] Why would they ever treat you not like one?
[ he laughs sheepishly, scratching his cheek softly. ]
It’s always been that way. I just… I just see things differently from other people. So my parents and other professors… well, it’s a bit complicated and a really long story.
But I think that’s why I wanted to trust in Qi Rong. It didn’t work out, but I don’t regret it either.
[ flat smiles at him warmly, nodding to himself. ]
My current Professor...he's the first person that treated me like a human being. I think he was able to save me and my other friends from becoming good-for-nothing monsters. You're kind of like him, I think!
[ his smile grows as he thinks about his professor, waver velvet. ]
Magically, he's probably the weakest person I've ever met. It causes him a lot of insecurity, actually. But he's also the smartest person I've ever met and everyone respects him, despite those weaknesses! Even those that hate him! He took us all in when we didn't have anywhere to go, and he doesn't see us like tools like the other professors do. He sees potential in everybody, no matter how weak or weird they are, and would do almost anything for any of his students.
[ jack chitters happily. ]
I'll be honest, Xie Lian, I'm not really that good of a person, and I don't mean it self-deprecatingly either. But my Professor is a very good person, and I'm afraid of doing something that will disappoint him, especially when I owe him so much. So I want to make him proud, even when he's not watching me. [ he glances at xie lian, his expression meek. ] Is that weird?
[ first of all - it's sweet, to hear flat talk about this professor like that. xie lian doesn't know him, but as flat talks, he becomes more and more animated, and his enthusiasm makes it easy for him to picture it. the kindness of such a motion from his professor makes his heart unbelievably warm, because that is the way xie lian has always tried to live his life, too.
(he thinks, not for the first time since arriving here, of a little child with a bandaged eye, staring up at him as if xie lian was the first person to ever show him kindness. if you can't go on living for yourself, then live for me, as he'd said, once upon a time.) ]
...I think your professor would be very happy to hear so, too. Making him proud is a way of developing your own path, too - and sometimes, it is the best when you can walk that path forward side by side with others, who will help guide you, or help you up if you stumble. And, in fact - I think wanting to make your professor proud even when you aren't watching is one of those actions of very good character, indeed.
[ xie lian's smile softens a little, and he gives flat a little bow. ] You honor me, by saying that I remind you of someone so important to you. Thank you.
[ flat, again, laughs. it's awkward and sheepish, and he rubs the back of his neck with his hand as he tries his best to accept the praise. it's not easy, considering all the trouble that he has given said professor...but deep down he hopes that waver would feel the same way. ]
Ahaha... you don't have to bow. But...it is nice to tell someone. Even in this weird place, I think that we can still make friends.
[ his expression changes, to something a bit more resolute. ]
It might sound dumb, but I want to work together with others to find a way out of this. I don't think think there's gonna be any other way. So, I want to be your friend, Xie Lian.
[ it's may look out of place for xie lian, but flat gives a small bow of his head in return. it's an imitation of xie lian's bow, but it's because his feelings are similar. he wants to put his trust in someone, in as many people as he can, despite the harrowing events that they had just witnessed and experienced.
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he seems to snap out of whatever he was thinking when flat calls out to him, though, and offers him a smile and a dip of his head. ] Hello, Flat - I'm alright, thank you for asking. I've always healed quite quickly, so, I shouldn't be down for long.
Are you alright?
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[ flat chides him the same way that a parent might chide their child…which might be strange to xie lian, but not for flat.
he smiles, sitting down on the couch—but giving xie lian enough space. ]
I’m okay. I didn’t have to fight Qi Rong or those spectres, after all.
[ … ]
You cared about him, didn’t you? Until the end.
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the slightly lighter mood fades a bit, though, and the second question has him look away, running his hand over san lang's head. ]
...He is my family. No matter what sort of person he is. And - even before that, after everything, he is a person, too.
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[ flat smiles, but there’s not much warmth behind it. it’s not cold either, though. it is an absence of heat, muscles pulling mechanically into the shape of a smile.
jack, as a ferret, chitters softly, and flat releases the smile into a neutral expression. ]
Why did he hate you so much anyways? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.
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...mm. [ that is an interesting facial expression, though xie lian files it away for later, for now, focusing instead on the question at hand. ] ...I am not entirely sure. Qi Rong is eight hundred years further in the future than me - as such, I don't know what sort of interactions we could have had leading up to that time.
...But, when I knew him as a prince, he didn't hate me. Resented me, maybe, because he felt that I failed him - to make a long story short. But not like this.
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[ oh.
after a moment of silence, flat gives him a rather sheepish expression. ]
I’m sorry, Xie Lian, I’m not really good at comfort. But um… I think you’re really strong. And smart! So I think that maybe you’ll find a way to improve to make sure that things aren’t so bad, once you get home.
[ a beat. ]
I told Master Rev about this, but I don’t think there are evil people. Just people that do bad things. But if enough people think that they’re a monster…then that person will think they’re one too.
[ he laughs softly, with a hint of nervousness, as jack buries its head in flat’s shirt collar. ]
But I might be wrong about that. I’m usually wrong about that sort of stuff.
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Thank you, Flat. [ is that true? can he do that? well.
it's fine. whatever his thoughts on it are, they don't read on his face. everything flat's saying is hitting somewhere incredibly close to home, so he's glad for the second part of his explanation, voice soft and calm. accepting. ] ...I think I see what you mean.
And [ with more confidence: ] I agree with you, too. [ san lang chitters, softly, climbing over to xie lian's shoulder and sticking out towards flat and jack, sniffing. hello? it's okay other noodle :( ] There are all sorts of people in this world and any other, aren't there? And the things that have happened to those people make them who they are, as much as those actions that they take, too. I like to think that everyone has the capability to be the type of person that they want to be.
Similarly, the opinions of others can shape and change who we are, as our experiences with others do, too.
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[ flat nods, smiling warmly. jack on the other hand, sticks its head back out, sniffing san lang before settling back on flat’s shoulder. ]
But don’t feel like it’s your fault either. You did everything you could here. And you shouldn’t have to take responsibility for whatever your future self did or didn’t do. I mean, eight hundred years is a lot of time for things to happen! You could be a totally different person too, y’know.
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[ what a fascinating statement! san lang chitters happily as jack comes out, cocking his head. hello new friend. ]
I hope for better, than for worse, at least. [ his future self probably...well...it can't be worse than it is at home now, right? (haha!) ] That's a very optimistic way to see things, too - I quite like it.
What would you like the you of the far future to be like, Flat?
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[ … ]
I’d like to still be “myself”. [ he nods, softly patting jack on the head. ] Surrounded by my friends and those that accept me and treat me like a human.
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...People don't treat you like a human? [ FROWNS? who does he have to fight. he will fight them. justice for flat 2k21. ] Why would they ever treat you not like one?
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[ he laughs sheepishly, scratching his cheek softly. ]
It’s always been that way. I just… I just see things differently from other people. So my parents and other professors… well, it’s a bit complicated and a really long story.
But I think that’s why I wanted to trust in Qi Rong. It didn’t work out, but I don’t regret it either.
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-- well. [ and there's some decisiveness to this statement. ] You and I have had very similar mindsets so far, my own context with Qi Rong aside.
So, if anyone here says anything strange about the way you choose to see things, they can certainly answer to me.
[ :T ]
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[ flat smiles at him warmly, nodding to himself. ]
My current Professor...he's the first person that treated me like a human being. I think he was able to save me and my other friends from becoming good-for-nothing monsters. You're kind of like him, I think!
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What's he like? It sounds as if he is very kind.
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[ his smile grows as he thinks about his professor, waver velvet. ]
Magically, he's probably the weakest person I've ever met. It causes him a lot of insecurity, actually. But he's also the smartest person I've ever met and everyone respects him, despite those weaknesses! Even those that hate him! He took us all in when we didn't have anywhere to go, and he doesn't see us like tools like the other professors do. He sees potential in everybody, no matter how weak or weird they are, and would do almost anything for any of his students.
[ jack chitters happily. ]
I'll be honest, Xie Lian, I'm not really that good of a person, and I don't mean it self-deprecatingly either. But my Professor is a very good person, and I'm afraid of doing something that will disappoint him, especially when I owe him so much. So I want to make him proud, even when he's not watching me. [ he glances at xie lian, his expression meek. ] Is that weird?
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[ first of all - it's sweet, to hear flat talk about this professor like that. xie lian doesn't know him, but as flat talks, he becomes more and more animated, and his enthusiasm makes it easy for him to picture it. the kindness of such a motion from his professor makes his heart unbelievably warm, because that is the way xie lian has always tried to live his life, too.
(he thinks, not for the first time since arriving here, of a little child with a bandaged eye, staring up at him as if xie lian was the first person to ever show him kindness. if you can't go on living for yourself, then live for me, as he'd said, once upon a time.) ]
...I think your professor would be very happy to hear so, too. Making him proud is a way of developing your own path, too - and sometimes, it is the best when you can walk that path forward side by side with others, who will help guide you, or help you up if you stumble. And, in fact - I think wanting to make your professor proud even when you aren't watching is one of those actions of very good character, indeed.
[ xie lian's smile softens a little, and he gives flat a little bow. ] You honor me, by saying that I remind you of someone so important to you. Thank you.
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Ahaha... you don't have to bow. But...it is nice to tell someone. Even in this weird place, I think that we can still make friends.
[ his expression changes, to something a bit more resolute. ]
It might sound dumb, but I want to work together with others to find a way out of this. I don't think think there's gonna be any other way. So, I want to be your friend, Xie Lian.
[ it's may look out of place for xie lian, but flat gives a small bow of his head in return. it's an imitation of xie lian's bow, but it's because his feelings are similar. he wants to put his trust in someone, in as many people as he can, despite the harrowing events that they had just witnessed and experienced.
when he pulls his head back up, he's grinning. ]
If you agree, of course!