[Voice]

[flirtatiousdancer]

All these ghostly and festive preparations! Very good!

[ A clap of hands, then a fan snaps out to join the overly cheerful voice. ]

What is the point of it all? I had thought most people were afraid of ghosts. Am I wrong?

[ A bird trills at him, wings fluttering to make him laugh. ]

One might believe they need protecting! Are you among that number?

Comments

[Voice; UN: DemonsandSugar]

[cultivatingsin]

I'm terrified of them! Don't even say that word! [His laughter flies in the face of those frightened cries.]

...protecting? From what? They're dead.

[flirtatiousdancer]

[ He grins. ]

Even the dead can come crawling after you~

[ Another quiet chuckle. ]

[cultivatingsin]

With their rotten hands? Gross!

[But he would like to see it again.]

I bet Death is one of your abilities, hm?

[flirtatiousdancer]

Are they all rotten? I hadn't noticed!

Oh no, no. Back home I am called a Philosopher. What business have I with death?

Unless you're among the wicked. Then we will have to have a talk.

[cultivatingsin]

Your nose must be broken! I would find a healer quick or...don't. Maybe you're better off with it broken.

[He snickers - he can tell a fib from a mile away!]

Philosophers don't worry about ghosts, do they?

[A fake gasp!]

What will you do to me?

[flirtatiousdancer]

Ah! Excuse you! [ Mock affront - but he's chuckling cheerfully. ] My nose is perfectly fine.

Just so.

[ He grins, though if this were a video feed, Xue Yang would see his eyes narrowing just a little. ]

That depends on just how wicked you are. As good a man as I, I could hardly bear to rest before cleansing this place of evil!

[cultivatingsin]

Then you will eventually smell the rot. [There's a downside to everything!

Oh no, someone else is gonna cleanse him? Perish the thought!]

I'm as bad as they come, but...

Someone is keeping me under his watch, so stop worrying.

[flirtatiousdancer]

When I do, I will just have to find and share it with you, won't I? What is your name?

Why shouldn't I worry? Perhaps you will come after me now!

[cultivatingsin]

Please do! There's plenty I can do with souls. [Some of his magic depends on them.] Xue Yang~ What's yours? I'll call you Ghost Philosopher if you don't tell me.

I'm busy right now.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Ah! So you're the one who uses them! [ Someone he really should know. He chuckles. ]

I would answer to Ghost Philosopher.

But my name is Wen. Wen Kexing.

Then I am safe for a little while longer. [ Yeah he's still grinning. ]

[cultivatingsin]

I do! Death magic was given to me by Camelot. [As if it doesn't suit him, right?]

Wen Kexing. Alright, I won't forget. But I might call you Ghost Philosopher anyway.

[He laughs and it sounds like Ying, the raccoon dog spirit is chuckling too? What a strange sound!]

You're never safe. This place can go nuts.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Make sure they don't use you instead. Then I really would have to step in. And then where would we be? [ He tuts, as if this is a sad thing. As if genuinely worried.

Only to chuckle at the additional sound ringing with Xue Yang's laugh. ]

It sounds like you aren't alone. Shall I leave you be, o master of death and ghosts?

[cultivatingsin]

Do Philosophers often tell fibs? [Xue Yang is the type that would think it funny if his soul was used in some disgusting spell.]

That's just Ying. She's my familiar. [A familiar who is now getting ear rubs.] Sometimes when I laugh, she makes that weird barking sound.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Why should I lie?

[ He huffs, pouting at the golden pheasant who's perched beside him, and directs his words to him instead of Xue Yang. ]

Little Phoenix, why don't you laugh with me? You chose me, so you should laugh!

[cultivatingsin]

Because it's fun? [Why else would you lie? Cocking his head, he slowly grins.]

What's Little Phoenix look like? Don't laugh with him, bird, you'll just encourage him.

[As if he is one to talk, part two thousand and fifty two!]

[flirtatiousdancer]

I don't need to lie to have fun. [ Prim and proper, thy name is Wen Kexing!

He takes on an affronted tone. ]

A peacock.

[ That gets an irritated chirp, which makes him laugh. ]

My little Phoenix is a golden pheasant with beautiful feathers. His personality needs some work though. [ s i g h ]

[cultivatingsin]

Tell me your secrets! How does Wen Kexing have fun? [Don't mind him, poking at that prim and proper attitude.]

Really? [Oh no! Poor bird.] Try again?

[Ah a golden pheasant!]

He sounds like the perfect companion for you. It seems like our familiars are well-chosen. There's something in them that's like us.

[flirtatiousdancer]

A young master does not just give his secrets away. What would other people say if I did?

[ More tutting, as if that would be the worst thing he could do.

But he does rub a hand over his familiar's feathery back, smoothing them down with gentle touches. ]

What is your Ying?

[cultivatingsin]

Unless the secrets are juicy, they won't care.

[Aw, see? That's nice. Their familiars deserve affection - for a little while anyway. Ying starts to bite when she's had enough.]

A raccoon dog.

[flirtatiousdancer]

All the more reason for me not to answer.

[ He likes this boldness. ]

Aaaah I see. And does she bite your fingers?

[cultivatingsin]

So they are juicy. Good for you, Lord Ghost Philosopher.

[He huffs.]

All the time. And she steals stuff.

[flirtatiousdancer]

You'd love to know, wouldn't you?

[ Smirk. ]

I like her already.

[cultivatingsin]

I would. I'm not going to lie.

[These two are siblings separated at birth.]

Then get her something green.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Then come find me. Perhaps I'll tell you...some of my secrets then. Or maybe I'll just show you?

[ Absolutely horrible. ]

Green? Perhaps I shall.

[cultivatingsin]

Do I get any clues? You're gonna make me work for it and then stab me in the back.

[Because that's normal.]

She really likes green. I'm not sure why.

[flirtatiousdancer]

No. But I will tell you this: if I decide to kill someone, it won't be in the back. They'll be looking at me as I work. [ There's a deadliness in that earnest voice.

That brightens the next moment as he responds to the comment about green. ]

I hope she likes what I'll bring her.

[cultivatingsin]

Kinky. [He likes that deadliness and he has to respect a man who goes about things in the open.] I'm not sure how I want to die. It's not like it will matter after it happens.

[Ying sniffs the communicator, tapping it with her little clawed feet.]

She's eager~

[flirtatiousdancer]

[ That gets another laugh - yep, definitely liking this guy.

And Ying! ]

Then you'd better find me sooner than later.

[ He'll just have to start looking for all things green, won't he? ]

[cultivatingsin]

Alright! Ying, find him. Bite his foot!

[There is a distinct snort from the raccoon dog. She doesn't bite people at random or on command, thank you.]

Voice; anonymous

[angel_of_death]

[The festivities coupled with recent events have certainly given Walter reason for introspection. He's done so much, and is so physically tired from it, yet he cannot bring himself to rest. As such, he finds himself easily drawn to contemplation.]

Who? The people? Or the ghosts?

voice; un: 14th Moon

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi is definitely still scared of the ghosts.]

Does there have to be a point? I think most of us are all scared of ghosts so it isn't like any of us called them, right?

[Voice | UN: zagreus]

[bloodandlife]

Wait, what do you mean, most people are afraid of ghosts? You do mean shades, don't you? The souls of the dead? They're not scary at all, just ordinary people. Nobody needs protecting from them. Well, most of them. Even I wouldn't want to run into Theseus in a dark alley, though that's really more to do with his habit of running his mouth than anything else.

[Says the pot about the kettle.]

voice; un: lilmonix3

[peninhand]

I think being able to have fun with something makes it less scary. So that's precisely why people do all those things. It makes ghosts a little less scary to us.

Voice; UN: no

[pridefulness]

Being afraid of ghosts is a waste of time.

[flirtatiousdancer]

[ Kexing just chuckles at that snort and ends the connection. They'll either find him, or they won't. ]

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Oh he isn't getting away that easily! Xue Yang isn't exactly quick in finding him, but eventually he does. He points an accusing finger at Kexing and Ying makes a strange squealing sound. Gotcha!]

Found you!