[ Come Tuesday, Hua Cheng's feet are sure in the manor - he feels rather at home, even if it's far more rundown than he's used to - so he moves easily, especially when he notices Hikaru is there as well. Something... is off. There's still an obvious sign of life in her, but there's no, true spark.
It's concerning.
Especially as he watches the memory play out, expression a little furrowed while he does. He even moves to get a better vantage, throughout it, to understand what it is that Hikaru had to face - one of the many hardships, undoubtedly, that was used to test her strength, and bolster it further. To see some of the people she spoke of, to see important fragments to make up a whole, certainly gives greater context to what she had faced in Cefiro. But there is - nothing, really, in Hikaru's face that he can see. As if there is no comprehension.
Even if it is a memory she no longer holds, why would that be the reaction? ]
[There's a slight jolt of surprise, but it melts away rather quickly, her smile gentle but genuine as she gives a little bow of her head before walking to meet him.]
Hua-chan, hi -- I didn't see you. [There's no dullness to her eyes, at least, just as vibrant as ever. Really, she looks more relaxed than anything else.] Chijin said you'd really like this sort of place. Have you been in here all morning?
[ Has watching the memory already faded? Hua Cheng feels unease, at the - minimal response, to put it lightly. If she's already found her feet steady, now, after coming to her decision, then... he's proud of her. But there's no spark of despair or anger that he would have expected, at having forgotten something tied to that memory. ]
En, it's quieter than my manor and my city, but it reminds me a little bit of Ghost City. The atmosphere. [ #spooky ] What are you up to, meimei?
Mmn. I guess people think that a ghost has to be scary and empty. But I think a place like this would hold a lot of memories of its own, wouldn't it? Memories the living might not be able to see.
[It makes sense to her, at least, why someone who was so familiar with ghosts would like a place like this. Maybe that's why her curiosity is all that comes through in her tone.
She pauses, thinking for a moment at his question.]
Umm... Exploring, mostly, but... You've seen these little things, right? These things that hold memories?
[She gestures to a cluster of them with her sword, huddled off near a corner.]
For lack of a better word, Ghost City is rather lively - especially in comparison to this. There's so many comings and goings, in a market city, that there's little time for it to be truly dead, despite housing the dead. I think you're right, that there are memories lying in wait here. I imagine they'd be just as lively.
[ And weren't they lively... but for as easily as he leaned into the aesthetics of the pirate's port, this is - comfortable. The manor and the graveyard give him places that he can relax in. So he settles into it, easily.
Even as his gaze lifts to where she directs with that sword (goddamnit Nik), before dropping back to her. ]
Funnily enough, I've been trying to avoid them. How's your luck been so far?
[here lies nik, dead from having yin yu flashbacks]
...I think that would be nice, to have someplace for the dead to keep being themselves. Are you the one who makes sure it's all taken care of?
[At his question, though, there's a flash of something hesitant and frustrated, before it dies away just as fast, replaced with a smile that's almost sheepish.]
...I guess it depends what you mean by luck, Hua-chan.
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It's concerning.
Especially as he watches the memory play out, expression a little furrowed while he does. He even moves to get a better vantage, throughout it, to understand what it is that Hikaru had to face - one of the many hardships, undoubtedly, that was used to test her strength, and bolster it further. To see some of the people she spoke of, to see important fragments to make up a whole, certainly gives greater context to what she had faced in Cefiro. But there is - nothing, really, in Hikaru's face that he can see. As if there is no comprehension.
Even if it is a memory she no longer holds, why would that be the reaction? ]
Shizi-er.
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Hua-chan, hi -- I didn't see you. [There's no dullness to her eyes, at least, just as vibrant as ever. Really, she looks more relaxed than anything else.] Chijin said you'd really like this sort of place. Have you been in here all morning?
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En, it's quieter than my manor and my city, but it reminds me a little bit of Ghost City. The atmosphere. [ #spooky ] What are you up to, meimei?
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[It makes sense to her, at least, why someone who was so familiar with ghosts would like a place like this. Maybe that's why her curiosity is all that comes through in her tone.
She pauses, thinking for a moment at his question.]
Umm... Exploring, mostly, but... You've seen these little things, right? These things that hold memories?
[She gestures to a cluster of them with her sword, huddled off near a corner.]
I've been trying to find them.
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[ And weren't they lively... but for as easily as he leaned into the aesthetics of the pirate's port, this is - comfortable. The manor and the graveyard give him places that he can relax in. So he settles into it, easily.
Even as his gaze lifts to where she directs with that sword (goddamnit Nik), before dropping back to her. ]
Funnily enough, I've been trying to avoid them. How's your luck been so far?
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...I think that would be nice, to have someplace for the dead to keep being themselves. Are you the one who makes sure it's all taken care of?
[At his question, though, there's a flash of something hesitant and frustrated, before it dies away just as fast, replaced with a smile that's almost sheepish.]
...I guess it depends what you mean by luck, Hua-chan.