ellipsanet | video; un: calabash

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video; un: calabash

Could I interest anyone in classes for basic first aid?

[The slim, white snake that some people may remember from the last time a post attached to this username was put on the network is looped around the green-haired doctor's neck and looking directly into the camera with oddly human-looking eyes, her forked tongue flicking out now and then.

Baizhu's voice is light, casual. He looks well.]

I'm sure we have people here very talented in healing magic, but with the strangeness of this world you never know when knowing how to correctly apply a tourniquet or treat a burn on the spot might come in useful. We do seem to be being encouraged to expand our skill sets, no?

[The doctor smiles.]

I can be sure to find a location that suits the level of interest but having some people to assist on the teaching side wouldn't go amiss either. Do let me know, and I'll make the arrangements.

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Truly? Was that a power you had before arriving in this place as well?

Oh, not at all. Would you prefer to continue in this way, or in person?

In a manner of speaking.

[The snake on his shoulder lets out a small noise, a quiet 'hmm' that could be interest or disapproval, depending on how one wants to see it. She gives Baizhu a look that he does his best to ignore.]

I would prefer to speak face to face. This manner of communication is awfully impersonal.

I see.

[Hakkai just smiles. Blandly. Internally the curiosity is strong, but... that's probably best to downplay.]

Ah, of course. Where would you prefer to meet?

That may depend entirely upon where you are at the moment. I reside in Sunwaning, on the Solarpeak side.

[It's the best spot for his health, so here he will stay, though he can certainly travel.]

And yourself?

Ah, toward the city center myself. Transportation is little issue - I'm happy to meet you closer to your location.

[His dragon turns into a car.]

In that case, allow me to give you the address of a very pleasant cafe.

[It is closer to where he lives but not so close that he's going to feel guilty about taking Hakkai too far out of his way.]

How does that sound?

Perfect. I look forward to meeting you.

[Listen, he's got nothing better to do. This is a pleasant distraction.]

[It's a pleasant distraction for Baizhu as well, and soon enough he heads out to meet the other man at the place he gave him the address of. It doesn't take him too long to get there, hopefully time enough for Hakkai to make his way there as well, and as he enters the place he looks around just in case his rendevous made it here before him.

You never know. Some people here do have ways of getting about that aren't the public transport.]

[Oh, he has ways.]

[Which include a dragon that turns into a car. And that is precisely what Hakkai rolls up in - a nondescript jeep. What is notable is that once he steps out, the car just.]

[It just disappears.]

[And the little dragon from the video lands on his shoulder.]

Ah! Hello! I hope I didn't keep you waiting!

[If he had not noticed Hakkai's arrival to begin with, he would have definitely seen the way that car just disappears. Baizhu is relatively familiar with much of the technology and magic in Ellipsa by now but that is something new to him entirely.]

Ah, no, not at all.

[Baizhu gets up from his chair (barely settled in, he had not been there long at all) and offers a small, polite bow. Changsheng is looped around his neck, and her head seems to bob up and down as it stays in the same place while Baizhu dips his shoulders slightly.]

Baizhu, at your service. A pleasure to make your acquaintance in person.

[Oh finally, someone who knows how to politely greet people! Sure, he's adapted to handshakes by now, but it's definitely a relief to see someone also bow in greeting again. Hakkai mimics the gesture, though on his shoulder, Jeep just stares at Changsheng.]

[Who are you strange similar-looking friend.]

Cho Hakkai, and I assure you, the pleasure is mine.

[Changsheng returns the stare in kind, her oddly human eyes entirely unblinking, but Baizhu pays no mind to the reptilian mind-games going on from their respective shoulders and instead smiles warmly at his new companion.]

I'm grateful you agreed to meet me on such short notice. Shall we sit down?

[Baizhu will, in any case, and he clears his throat with a light cough as he makes himself comfortable.]

I do not come across many people who use healing methods that sound similar to my own.

[What if Jeep turns his head sideways. Does that change anything? Does it make Baizhu blink?]

Of course. And, think nothing of it, my schedule is quite clear.

[Time to sit, and have a nice chat. He absently reaches up to stroke Jeep's little head in the process.]

Quite honestly, I have never met anyone who could. Not in my world, at any rate.

No, the ability is rare in my own as well.

[He gives Changsheng an idle pet, rubbing his finger beneath her chin, as they sit down. The snake seems content enough where she is though she never takes her eyes off Jeep, clearly finding him interesting.]

Might I ask how you came by it?

How interesting... I wonder why that is.

[Why such an ability would be so rare. It seems as if it would be useful... so useful.]

Ah, that's a long story. [The smile doesn't slip.] Suffice it to say, I developed an affinity for energy manipulation, and with it, healing, using the body's energy to speed it along.

[Baizhu nods in immediate understanding. Yes, yes, he can follow that completely. It's much the same for him. He pauses then, hesitating, casting a glance down at Changsheng who simply meets his eyes for a long moment before giving the shoulderless equivalent of a shrug.]

I'm alwaysssss telling you that you need to ssshare your burden. [The snake says, flicking her forked tongue out in Hakkai's direction.] But it will be your decissssion to trust this one.

[The doctor glances Hakkai's way, looking over the tops of his glasses.]

Hm. True enough. What about it, Hakkai? Can you be trusted?

[... That snake just spoke.]

[Maybe he shouldn't be so surprised. The Omens back in Trench had spoken, even though Jeep never had. He does glance down to his own little white reptile, curiously. Jeep just blinks, same as always.]

If it's something of a personal nature... I stand nothing to gain by telling others. Nor is there anyone here I particularly wish to gossip to.

[There's no one. He's not close to anyone, except the creature curled around his shoulders like a scarf.]

So, it would be your decision, based on that. If it's a secret, that is.

[The snake did indeed just speak. Baizhu watches Hakkai carefully as he answers, briefly glancing between he and Changsheng, and then he leans back into his chair and lets out a quiet sigh.

Well, he's brought it up now, so he might as well continue.]

It is, of a sort.

[It's not that it's a secret, really... at least, it doesn't have to be. But Baizhu has made it into one, in part so that no one has to deal with the weight of his situation.]

My ability to heal in the way that I do comes from a contract that I have with Changsheng here. The contract allows me to use my own life force to heal, but at a cost to myself.

A contract?

[He glances between the other man and the snake, curiosity in the expression. Is the snake then some kind of otherworldly entity? Fascinating.]

May I ask how that came about?

[Though, he supposes, he shouldn't just pry without offering something of his own...] My healing ability is remarkably similar, though no contract was required, is why I ask. [No contract, just a transformation from man to monster, whoops.]

[Baizhu nods in understanding. Since he has opened the door to Hakkai's curiosity it's only polite that he answers some questions.]

The contract was previously held by my master, and his master before him, and so on. When he passed, the opportunity arose for me to take up the contract in his place. Knowing the good I could do with it of course I took it.

[Changsheng says nothing, merely shifts the slender coils of her body around Baizhu's neck.]

As you have no doubt already surmised, Changsheng is not an ordinary snake.

I see... and then, I take it, you'll do the same, should you take on an apprentice?

[Jeep has decided to get into a staring contest with Changsheng. He doesn't speak, but he can stare!]

Aha, I had some idea, yes. May I ask what you are instead, Changsheng?

[It seems polite to address the snake, herself, for this one.]

[Here, Baizhu hesitates, unsure if he should proceed with giving an answer to the first question asked. Luckily for him - for the moment at least - it's followed up with another and Changsheng turns her peculiarly human-looking eyes on to Hakkai as she lifts her head up and briefly flicks her tongue out.]

That is not a quessstion easily answered.

[She feels the soft movement beneath her as Baizhu chuckles lightly.]

My memoriesss of my early life are dim, and I cannot recall much of them... only that I was incredibly weak the firssst time the contract was made.

[Baizhu nods, adding his own comment then.]

The contract sustains Changsheng as much as it allows her to assist the healer she is contracted to. Without it, she would not last long at all.

I see. [He inclines his head to her.] That must be difficult to navigate for you - aside from your companion, that is.

[He means you, Baizhu.]

Forgive me my curiosity. But that is a fascinating sort of connection. In my world, we would say she was a spirit of some sort. Though, for yours, I would hesitate to apply such a label.

You would not be too far off the mark, I think.

[Baizhu has his theories, but Changsheng is unable (or perhaps unwilling) to either confirm or deny any of them. It's likely she was some kind of adeptus at one point but perhaps used too much of her own life force doing exactly what Baizhu now utilises his contract with her to achieve.]

But no, I don't find it difficult. It has given me a strength of purpose that I may not have found otherwise. [He would have always been a healer, to be sure, but with Changsheng it's different.] I have achieved things that most in my position wouldn't be able to imagine.

Ahah, well. Whatever she may be, she's quite charming.

[And adorable. But you probably shouldn't say that to a sentient snake.]

I see. I... do understand such conviction. My feelings on the ability are similar enough. [If he's going to be cursed to be a monster, at least he can get some kind of good out of it. Repay some of the blood he'd shed.] You must be very sought-after, in your world.

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ty for your patience with my slow ass I'm recovering pace after being ill ;;

IT'S NO PROBLEM AT ALL

<3

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