ellipsanet | [Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

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[Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

[A white dove is addressing the network, fluffing his feathers and only succeeding in making himself look soft.]

I have achieved a third form! [He stretches out his wings and toddles towards the camera, peering at himself.] I think I am...a dove?

If you are having trouble with your transformations or the elemental magic, I'm happy to help. My cultivation seems to have given me a strong basis for these skills.

[It also helps that he is a hard worker.]

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[A white animal again... Xingchen truly always transforms into something suitable to him. Hijikata can only tell it's him from his voice and username; he looks less elegant and more adorable like this!]

Nice going! Have you practised flying yet? Also I must've missed your second animal form between the stag and this one!

[He wants to know!]

[White suits him, it seems, though his second form is technically black and white~ Xingchen's eyes sparkle and his head bobs excitedly.]

I thought I should wait until A-Yang is home to try. If I fall, I'd rather be caught.

[He coos happily.]

I turn into a panda!

[A panda... after that panda baby quest, they've become even cuter to Hijikata. But is it a matter of Xingchen choosing endearing animals to transform into, or is it his own kindness shining through? Probably a mix of both.]

Well, congratulations on mastering three different forms! I usually just do partial transformations, but you make me want to practice full ones. And yeah, it's probably better to have someone there with you for the flying practice!

[He himself just relied on his flying experiences from Avalon when he threw himself into the wind here, but he wouldn't recommend that to anyone who hasn't flown before.]

[He hasn't openly chosen his forms; rather, he has let them come to him naturally. The stag was first, the panda was second and now...a dove. Each form suits different parts of his personality. The stag is protective and graceful, the panda is sweet and a little mischievous and the dove is innocent and fragile.]

I like partial transformations too! But giving into my animal nature feels good. You can move in ways that were impossible before.

Edited 2023-10-25 20:40 (UTC)

[That's right - Hijikata still remembers how Xingchen couldn't really control his stag transformation at first! The animal forms, in this case, really do choose him well.]

I reckon I should give it a try. I always worry about falling prey to mother nature, but all it takes to prevent such accidents is a safe environment, really. And full animal forms are definitely great for stealth! So far, I managed to sneak past enemies in the form of a snake and a swan.

[He just always struggles to transform his head along with the rest, but at least for the snake form he figured it out!]

[He wouldn't have managed it nearly as well without Hijikata's help! Their friendship is so very dear to him.]

Do you want company? I can watch over you. And if it helps, I've never lost a sense of myself in those other forms. I know who I am and how I feel. The animal instincts usually align with my own desires.

[But now he is very curious!]

You turned into a snake? What color?

[That feeling is mutual. Even if they live on opposite ends of the city now, the calmness Xingchen instilled in Hijikata is something he can still call on when he needs it!]

A black adder.

[His swan form is also black. Back home in Edo, there's a more elite police force, the Mimawarigumi, and there's no way Hijikata would choose their white uniform colour for any of his animal forms! His approach is different from Xingchen's in that he tightly controls what animal he turns into.]

If you've got time, I'd love to meet up for practice! Should I come to your place?

[Meeting in the middle mightn't be the best idea in this case since it'd leave them in the busy city centre, and Hijikata doesn't want to make Xingchen journey all the way to his home in Sunwaning - but if he'd prefer to come (they might disturb his housemates, after all!), he'd be most welcome.]

[In return, Xingchen thinks about his friend often and hopes he is living well in the season of his choice! Of course his cozy home in Winter is always open for Hijikata if he needs a place to stay.]

How lovely.

[Black is a color he finds quite charming - especially since Zichen and Xue Yang have a preference for it.]

Do you mind making the trip? A-Yang and I would love for you to visit. The view out here is really beautiful and I have a nice fire going to keep us warm.

[Of course Xingchen has something nice to say even about the darkest of colours!]

I'll come over, yeah! I rarely get out into the winter districts, and I'm overdue for a housewarming visit.

[He checks how long the trip will take him - Nightwake City is a sprawling place, after all, and on foot it might take him all day to get to Xingchen's home - and decides to take an airship taxi to avoid having to change transports multiple times. I'll be a bit expensive, but he has accumulated more than enough money from questing and doing his police work, and he wants to arrive at Xingchen's well-rested and in a good mood!]

[With the travel time reduced to a few hours and Xingchen advised of his estimated arrival time, Hijikata sets out into the nothern half of the city. When he eventually knocks on his friend's door, he doesn't stand there empty-handed: He bought a modest bouquet of flowers on the way - white tulips and white and blue baby's breath -, and he has a small wrapped package too!]

You didn't promise too much, Xingchen. You've got a cosy home.

[There's pleasant warmth coming out through the open door!]

I will reimburse you for the trip. Make sure you travel comfortably. [The snow and ice can make walking short distances difficult. He prefers to travel on his mare, but Hijikata is probably accustomed to the new technology. Xingchen does well enough in his little clinic to have money to spare - and this is a good use for it in his book.

Preparing tea and snacks, Xingchen beams at the knock and scoops the flying hound he and Xue Yang had adopted into his arms. She howls adorably, giving Hijikata yet another welcome!

Once the door is open, he sets the little pup down and embraces his friend.]

It's so good to see you! Come in, come in... [He has a nice fire crackling in the sitting room and there are plenty of comfortable chairs and cushions seated around a tea table.]

Are these flowers for me?

[Reimbursement? He won't have it!! But they can fight about that later (and Hijikata frankly hopes that the transformation training will make Xingchen forget... but knowing him and his own gentle brand of stubbornness, he may just reimburse him sneakily).

He gives the little pegasus dog a smile, willing to let her sniff and inspect him - he got used to it due to many friends having pokémon -, but Xingchen's warm-hearted hug takes priority. It would be invigorating even without the energy exchange between them! As he follows him inside, leaving his shoes and coat by the door, he's content to see how truly comfortable the place is. Xingchen deserves nothing less!]

Yeah, they are. Well, I guess your housemates can enjoy them too.

[So generous!]

Who's this little one?

[The dog, he means.]

[He won't forget! His friend made the journey to see him - and he will completely ignore the lessons as some form of payment. Besides, as much as Hijikata wants Xingchen to live well, Xingchen feels the same about him.

The happy, wiggly fairy dog does sniff him, inspecting his face before she gives him a big kiss on the cheek. Then Xingchen gets his chance to welcome Hijikata too. He tugs the man into a hug and leads him inside.]

Ah...one housemate, that is. Song Zichen went home.

[All the same, the flowers are taken and put into a vase of water. Xue Yang will enjoy them, he knows.]

She is our little Ling. Every time we come home or have a visitor, she sounds the call.

Ling... that's a cute name for her.

[He pets the friendly dog. There are so many wondrous creatures in this world, little can surprise him anymore at this rate. Hearing that Zichen is gone, though, has made his smile fade into a sombre expression.]

I'm sorry your friend went home. A friend of mine recently left this world, too. There's a chance they'll return, but I guess it's for the best if we don't get our hopes up too high.

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[Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

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