ellipsanet | [Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

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[Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

[Xingchen presents himself as neatly as he is able, his appearance immaculate right down to his horsetail whisk. Said whisk rests on his lap, his hands toying with it nervously.]

Greetings, fellow travelers. I am Xiao Xingchen. [He gives a small bow at the waist before straightening with a soft smile.] I am a Cultivator who is unaffiliated with any sect. For those who do not recognize the title, a Cultivator is one who can combat, silence or exorcise ghosts, demons or other monstrosities.

[Here, he pauses.]

I have heard that demons are present in our number. I mean you no harm as long as you remain peaceful.

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Sure! I can come right over - or no, let's meet at the apartment building entrance.

[Lesson #1: Don't share your apartment number in an open network conversation after possibly having made some demonic enemies!]

Or we can meet somewhere in the city, if transport and whatnot is your priority.

The apartment entrance will do. I have questions about what is inside of my apartment too.

[They best start at square one.]

[After confirming that Hijikata hangs up and heads down to the building's bottom floor - only to run into Xingchen on the way already. He's hard to miss in his white outfit!]

Oh, hey! Are we on the same floor? All the better! Let's see what you've got questions about.

[He remembers how much the older version of Xingchen he met enjoyed simple things like preparing food and tea. He'll blow his mind with the electric kettle, the fridge and the microwave oven - unless he's got those figured out already.]

[His mind is about to be blown! Xingchen perks up and smiles upon seeing his new friend. Hijikata will notice that said smile goes all the way to his eyes, warming the dark brown.]

We must be! How fortunate.

[He moves back to his apartment and opens the door.]

There are...things...I'm not sure how to use. Especially in the kitchen.

[It's really nice to see his eyes... Hijikata hopes that, no matter what happens here, he can somehow avoid his previous fate even when he returns back home eventually.]

I thought so. Kitchen appliances are often electric in technology-rich worlds; I guess you don't have those where you're from. The most important thing is that they can only work when they're plugged in! These are the plugs, see?

[He points them out wherever he spots them in the outlets.]

The simplest machines only have an on-off switch, like this kettle. It'll boil water for you in just a few minutes. You just open it, fill it-- [He demonstrates every step, because hell, why not!] --, set it back on its stand, and press the switch down.

[He's going to walk him through every single appliance if need be! Usually he's about the most undomestic person around, but for Xingchen he'll do it happily. He wants him to enjoy all the comforts of his brand new home!]

[Wouldn't that be nice? No one would look forward to...losing their eyes. Even for a good reason!

Xingchen follows Hijikata, fascinated by what he has to say and show him.]

No... We don't have electric... [He tilts his head and smiles at the plugs. Oh they fit in those holes!]

In...in minutes? [That's amazing! Xingchen can have so much tea! And soup! He loves soup.] I had to build a fire to boil anything in my world!

[Hijikata will have an avid student the entire time. His kitchen is like a magic unicorn! He had no idea!]

[Hijikata finds some tea bags - every apartment seems to come with a box of basic black tea, some coffee capsules, and a fruit bowl - and a pair of mugs. If they're already boiling water they may as well make use of it! He proceeds to explain the microwave oven and the egg cooker, both of which are simple enough to operate, while the water boils, then readies the tea.]

See? It's this quick and easy. Now we just need to let it steep as usual. Let me tell you about the stove in the meantime!

[He covers that along with the oven, and while there are more settings to consider with the latter especially he assures Xingchen that he can just call him over if he needs help again. But now the poor young man deserves a break! Hijikata sits down in the living room with him so they can drink their tea.]

Sorry, that was probably a lot to take in. But your life will be a lot more convenient with all these tools.

[The microwave is just a magical object as far as he is concerned. The egg cooker makes a little more sense, but it too amazes him. Xingchen examines the box of tea and sniffs it, smiling. Someone found a convenient way to steep the leaves!]

I know about wood burning stoves...

[But they are a far cry from what he has in his kitchen. This is his kitchen. Xingchen brushes his fingertips over everything before following Hijikata to the living room.]

I can see that. I am so accustomed to cooking over a fire and these methods seem...much safer! Plus I don't need to gather wood for them.

Yeah, it'll save you a lot of time and effort.

[The tea is just OK, but that's fine for now. Xingchen can choose whatever kind he likes best later. Come to think, maybe Hijikata should accompany him on his first shopping trip, too... but right now he's curious about something else.]

What season did you arrive in? I arrived at the summer beach.

How amazing. [It will take a long time for Xingchen to grow accustomed to new technology. But at least he knows how it all works! (And, yes, please come with him when he shops.)]

Spring. I was in a grove of cherry blossoms.

[With Xingchen's trademark white outfits and cool, collected, graceful demeanour Hijikata wouldn't have been surprised if he'd become a winter power holder, but who knows on what basis the allocation happens? And he has a warm, gentle heart, so spring suits him better, in a way.]

Have you figured out any of your powers already?

[He himself has control over fire and is very happy with it, but at this stage he doesn't know much about the other seasons' power holders.]

[Xingchen was born in January, so yes, he is a Winter baby. But his nature is much gentler; he is much more akin to the snow melting as Spring begins.]

I believe...it is connected to wind? [He smiles a little as the wind flirts with his hair.] I think it will be quite useful.

[Seeing him summon that little breeze makes Hijikata smile too. It suits him so well!]

Wind's always useful. Depending on what really awaits us here maybe we can team up ever so often. You can fuel my fire!

We would be very powerful. [Xingchen doesn't really want to imagine a situation where lots of flames are needed, but...] I'm sure your fire is beautiful.

[Leave it to Xingchen to say something so kind! Hijikata doesn't think anyone else would even think of calling his fire beautiful. He summons a small flame (once Xingchen's wind has been completely dismissed, cautious to not cause an apartment fire).]

Well, let's practise our control of our elements so we can make the most of them. But first--

[He gets up from his seat, dismissing the fire.]

We should get you some groceries. I'll buy some for myself as well.

[This is going such a mundane and domestic activity, but he's determined to ensure that Xingchen knows his way around the most essential activities in Nightwake City!]

[Xingchen smiles at the possibilities, sighing when the little flame is dismissed. Aw.]

Will you take me to the market? [He didn't see one on the street! Where else would it be?] If I know where to find food, I will be just fine.

[The essentials are important. Obviously. He wants to stock up on tea, too.]

The supermarket, yeah.

[There is a difference, and Xingchen is about to find out!]

What are your favorite foods? I must keep some around in case you visit.

[Or so he does visit?]

[Xingchen, that is such a sweet though... but sadly Hijikata will inadvertently make it difficult for him.]

I'm not picky, I'll eat anything... as long as it's not sweet.

[And whatever it is, he'll drown it in mayonnaise. So much mayonnaise. Xingchen will see him buy a dozen or so glasses (they'd have to look around in more niche markets - or in Sunwaning - to find some bottled variants), and nothing else. Hopefully he can get used to it!]

[Difficulties can be overcome! Xingchen is optimistic when it comes to his friends.]

Do you prefer sour or...salty? I find that people are either a fan of one or the other.

[Rarely, both. Also, sir, that's a lot of mayonnaise. Did you know some mayonnaises have sugar in them? Probably to counteract the vinegar.]

[He doesn't know. He's convinced that mayonnaise factories are wonderlands full of mayonnaise fairies on the inside (no, really).]

I like both. Bitter, too.

[Very helpful, Hijikata! But he seriously will eat anything that's not outright sugary.]

You can never go wrong with rice, though.

[The "Hijikata Special" he always orders at his usual restaurant back home is straight-up just a bowl of rice with mayonnaise. This man can be made happy with very simple things.]

[What do mayonnaise fairies look like?]

You have an interesting palate.

[Xingchen will have something his friend will like! He is determined.]

Rice dishes come in many forms. I'm sure I can cook one you like.

[Or so he hopes!]

[To Hijikata, mayonnaise fairies look like this. That's Mayorin, the mascot of his favourite brand. His mind is a strange place, truly.]

You don't have to cook for me! But if it's something you enjoy, then I won't say no.

[He imagined them...cuter. Hijikata, what is that.]

I would like to learn new recipes. My friend is a challenge and I won't give up.

[Xingchen smiles and then tries to explain:]

Food isn't easy to come by in my world. I like sharing what I can get.

[They are cute to Hijikata!!

He finds it concerning that Xingchen apparently has to deal with food scarcity back home. Even in the poor countryside he grew up in things weren't that dire - they didn't have much, but they had enough.]

You should think of yourself more, you know? That aside, what's the problem? Are you just in a bad area for crops, or..?

[There could be so many reasons, from repeated bad harvests to an unequal distribution dictated by the ruling class, or social unrest destabilising rural areas... or maybe it's only hard for cultivators? Hijikata expected them to be held in high regard in their society, but he doesn't really know.]

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[Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

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Should we wrap up by sending them to the supermarket?

Yes yes yes~

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