{Text; UN: scraps}

[disgracedprince]

I'm looking for a specific type of flower. It's small and white and it gives off a delicious scent. Maybe it's something like jasmine? I'm not sure. Its been awhile since I had any.

I think the butterflies will like it. {Granted they aren't real butterflies, but surely phantom butterflies love sweet scents too?}

I remember them blooming for most of the year or maybe I'm mistaken? It has been so long. My mind is getting old.

I was definitely spoiled back then. If I asked for them, someone would grow them even if it was the wrong season.

I know better now.

It's just the memories that I miss.

Comments

[disgracedprince]

Xianle could experience all seasons, but I wouldn't say the seasons were harsh. Not until the drought and the famine.

Yes, that sounds nice! Are you up for visiting me or should I come to you?

[wrotetheworld]

Spring might be your best bet then. Probably would be for most flowers anyway.

And I'll come to you!

[disgracedprince]

Spring is a good time for all plants, I presume. I don't mind searching.

Let me give you directions. {He sends them, highlighting the location of the little cottage.}

[wrotetheworld]

Good luck! If I see one, I'll send you a picture so you can see if it's the right one.

I'll be right over. And I'll bring us some snacks.

[disgracedprince]

I would appreciate that very much, thank you!

The tea will be nice and hot. I hope you like the flavor.

Text>Action

[wrotetheworld]

I'm sure I will!

[About five minutes later, a portal of shadows and demonic qi open up just outside Xie Lian's house, dumping out a load of snow and one immortal cultivator mid-yelp before snapping shut.]

Not what I meant!

Action

[disgracedprince]

{What's...that? Xie Lian's head perks up and he hurries outside, eyes wide. Demonic qi! And...a little Cultivator. He softens and rushes to his new friend's side, reaching out to help him.}

Did your king transport you?

Action

[wrotetheworld]

[Shang Qinghua let himself be helped up, brushing the stray snow from his robes.]

Thanks. And yep, though when I asked him to I thought he'd open a portal I could walk through, not one right under my feet.

[Huffs. Serves such a brat.]

But hey, it's good to finally meet you in person!

Action

[disgracedprince]

{He checks over his new friend thoroughly before ushering him into the house to warm up!}

Mischievous demon.

{He tuts and smiles brightly.}

Welcome, Qinghua. Did you find a home to your liking?

Action

[wrotetheworld]

[A thousand times yes to the warming up. He shed his cloak (yep, still the one too big for him) once inside.]

With an awful sense of humor. Well, I guess a guy can't be completely perfect...

Anyway, yeah. We grabbed one in Frostreign. I'd have gone for somewhere warmer, but ice demons aren't comfortable in heat. It's a nice house though! Especially after I got my desk from home back.

Action

[disgracedprince]

{Xie Lian wraps a blanket around Qinghua's shoulders and leads the way to a small table surrounded by cushions. Hot tea is waiting for them!}

Tell him to be more gentle with you.

{Goodness. Tossing people through portals is a dangerous idea!}

Try to keep at least one of the rooms warm if you can. He won't like it, but you might need it if you get stuck in the cold.

[wrotetheworld]

[What is this? Care? Clearly, Xie Lian is never going to get rid of him.]

It's fine. We've been working on it, and it's already a lot better than it used to be!

[Is... kind of used to it at least? It's not the first time. It won't be the last.]

If I get too cold, I've got some perfect temperature potions. Or my king can kind of... take the cold away from me? He's done it before.

And I'm pretty good at avoiding frostbite. I need my fingers after all!

[disgracedprince]

{He doesn't want to be rid of him! He needs friends.}

I'm glad to hear it! Otherwise I would need to talk to him.

{A long discussion about being gentle with humans would follow. Even if they look like ants to gods and demons, each one is precious! Each one should be protected!}

Clever. {He pours tea for them.} Yes, you do. Frostbite is painful. I've experienced it.

[wrotetheworld]

[Believe him, they're in the same place on that one.]

I really don't think that'll be necessary, but it's nice for you to say so.

[Honestly, a friendly chat about the soft and squishy humans might not be the worst thing? Not that Shang Qinghua really has room to complain.]

I've gotten pretty close. Job hazard when you work part time in a place called the Northern Desert.

[disgracedprince]

Sometimes immortals forget what it's like to be fragile. We forget to fear death and pain.

{Or you know...those in reverse. Usually if you're dead, you don't hurt anymore.}

Oh I lived in a desert too! The nights were freezing.

{Which is how he ended up looking after at least one homeless child. And feeding them.}

[wrotetheworld]

I sure haven't, but I guess that's the difference between different levels of immortal? Never gonna grow old versus never actually dying. Wouldn't mind the latter. It'd sure lower my stress levels.

[Not sure if he buys the whole death equals no pain thing, all considering. Buuuuuut... Gives him a smile over his tea, burrowing further into the blanket.]

Probably a different type of desert. Mobei's Northern Desert's always freezing. Not a lot of rain because it's just always frozen. I've got warming spells sewn into so many of my robes, will still be bundled up, and he's out there with his chest bared to the world perfectly comfortable.

[Might be just a little jealous.]

[disgracedprince]

Mm sometimes death is a mercy; a mercy that is denied upper level immortals. I don't always see it as a bad outcome.

{There's pain and then...if all goes well...there's a release. But Xie Lian knows that isn't the case for everyone. Vengeful ghosts are obviously still in pain.}

I've never been to a frozen desert. He is certainly in his element there!

[wrotetheworld]

Eh... I don't know if I'd really say that. Sometimes death just doesn't stick and you end up in even worse situations.

[And maybe he sounds like he's got some experience himself in that one. Not the same kind as the ghosts he's run into, but experience all the same.

The Northern Desert's a much nicer thing to think about.]

He really is. Probably why his clan took over the area. Unless the weather's a side effect of them being there for too long? Never actually thought about that one. Either way, ice demon, frozen wasteland, it fits.

[disgracedprince]

If someone truly dies, it should stick. {Otherwise it was just another tragedy in a long line of miseries.} Have you died, friend? Even temporarily?

{What's it like?}

Could be. An ice demon would be able to change the environment to a certain degree. Though your ice king must be powerful to transform a whole desert.

[wrotetheworld]

He is! But it wasn't just him, but his ancestors too. The Mobei line consume the power of their predecessor when the last one dies, so they get more powerful each generation.

[He ignores the other question for a moment, clutching his tea cup just a little more tightly.]

And... yes.

I guess Meng Po's soup must not have been to my liking.

[disgracedprince]

They are a force to be reckoned with in that case! Soon they will rival Heavenly Officials in power.

{Does that frighten him? No, not really. He is much more interested in the next part.}

Oblivion must be accepted by a soul, I believe. If you utterly rejected it and your spirit is powerful enough, you could not be reborn.

But what became of your body?

[wrotetheworld]

Ha, doubt there’s anything special about my spirit. I was practically a shut in with how much time I spent at the keyboard.

[Grimaces, holding back a shudder.]

I don’t know. Probably burned? Electrical surges usually start fires, especially with whatever cheap wiring job my apartment had.

[disgracedprince]

Keyboard? {Whatever it is, it must be interesting!} We all have our hobbies, but it is important to go outside and see the world too.

How awful. Burns are difficult to heal.

[wrotetheworld]

Ah, it's a thing we write with where I was originally from. They've actually got them here too! I bet you've seen them if you've been by the research center. Bunch of little tiles with characters on them. I used to be so fast with one, because that was how I kept a roof over my head.

[Clears his throat.]

Yeah... Thankfully didn't have to deal with it. Got a new body when I woke up again. Sure, growing up again sucked, but I obviously made it!

[disgracedprince]

Oh yes! I have seen those. So that's their name. {Keyboard. How strange!} Tile-board makes more sense to me. Or letter-board?

{Not the point. He clears his throat too, apologetically.}

Writing with one would take practice and skill. I would be very slow even if I recognized the characters.

{Xie Lian nods thoughtfully.}

You re-entered the wheel. It is remarkable that your memories remained intact. Usually they don't - as we discussed. Your fate must be unavoidable; thus an exception was made for you, friend.