[Video; UN: DemonsandSugar] [CW: Skeleton/Decomposition/Death Magic.]

[cultivatingsin]

[Someone is working on his skills! Just off-screen there is a skeleton - no, don't question where the skeleton came from, you don't wanna know - and Xue Yang is exuding a sickly green aura. Grinning like he just heard a fantastic joke, he suddenly goes limp, falling gracelessly to the ground. Good thing he had been seated! Though his head made quite a thunk, didn't it?

The bones rattle - only he would think this is a great idea - and then a hand, barely containing enough tissue to be called a hand raises and...

Well. A certain finger is shown to the camera because he is mature.

Then the spell breaks and he returns to his body with a gasp.]

Gross!

[No, really, Xue Yang, that was disgusting.]

Comments

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ That post...makes his heart freeze, then ache, then twist with worry before he forces himself to stay put and...cleans up their little home. Completely. Every little detail is fussed over then put away. Dinner is started.

A bath is drawn when he figures his husband is on his way - or should be. Xue Yang's favorite scents are waiting - both to be bathed in, and to breathe in via incense. Their bed is ready and waiting for them. Along with massage oil and some special chocolates he'd made.

With every last thing ready, Xingchen settles in to meditate, eyes closed as he waits and tries to calm his worry. It's just obvious to those who know him as well as Xue Yang does. ]

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[They have worked together on taming his wilder impulses and as he lays on the ground, recovering, Xue Yang feels...guilty. If - no when - Xingchen sees his little stunt, he will be sick with worry. Growling, he rolls himself onto his side, pivoting himself on his elbow before he struggles to his feet. Brushing his hair back, he waves a hand, manipulating the rotting corpse back into its grave.

No, he didn't kill the person.

He just made use of what was left of them.

The soil is placed back over the body with a shovel and then he, with his shovel, treks back home. He is wary about entering the building and he slips off his boots before he tiptoes inside.]

A-Chen? Are you home?

[Why is everything so shiny and neat?]

[bright_moon]

[ Even though he knows his A-Yang will always always come home to him...he still worries when he sees things like that. But he also understands the necessity of practicing what their new powers can do, and stretching them into doing more. So he doesn't ask his husband not to, only to be careful enough not to die.

Xingchen doesn't even ask Xue Yang not to kill someone just so he can use their corpse - that isn't the man his beloved is anymore. Could be again, yes. But not with Xingchen near to remind him of his heart.

It's still a relief to hear those familiar little tiptap of toes before that familiar voice calls for him. It makes him smile as he unfolds himself from the floor, eyes opening as he moves to meet him. He's just wearing his inner-most layered robe, though it's tied properly at his waist. ]

A-Yang.

[ He holds out a hand to his beloved, no sign of anger, annoyance, irritation or even disapproval on his face. Just a lingering crease of worry in his gaze. ]

You've worked hard. Let me clean you up.

[ He's not really asking. ]

[cultivatingsin]

[Possessing other things, no matter how disgusting, could be useful. The next step is seeing if he can command multiple things! How scary would it be for a foe to face a flock of pissed off sheep? Or just a bunch of rebellious rocks?

But his mind is on sweeter, better, things when he sees Xingchen. His expression immediately softens and he accepts that this is the man he will do anything for; there are no limits.]

Were you meditating? I'm sorry for interrupting.

[His gaze lowers, guiltily, and he looks around for something to make himself cleaner. He shouldn't touch Xingchen directly after a spell like that. However the command makes him grin and he slowly takes hold of Xingchen's hands, hoping he isn't bringing bad luck on them both.]

So you saw.

[bright_moon]

[ Useful, yes. And he trusts Xue Yang enough to know how far to go now. That's what the practice is for.

Later.

Xingchen has plans for them for the night, and he sees the second his beloved recognizes he won't be leaving until tomorrow. ]

I was meditating to pass the time until you came home to me. Now that you're here, there is no need for me to continue tonight.

[ He smiles softly as his hands are taken and he threads their fingers together before tugging his beloved to the bathroom. Once there he sets to work undressing the other man, focusing on his chosen task. ]

I did. I trust my husband.

voice: un:goddessofdeath

[queenofkur]

What was that? What are you doing?

[ Here's a rare sighting of an angry Ereshkigal. ]

None should play with the dead! Have you no shame? Those who died deserves to be treated with respect and to be allowed to rest!

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[cultivatingsin]

Their soul is long gone, don't make such a fuss.

[He lets out a breath and groans, trying to sit up.]

I have to practice. Death Magic was given to me as a gift; I don't want it to go to waste~

[queenofkur]

That body still used to belong to them!

[ Playing with the dead? If that was important and treated with reverence, she'd let it go. But the way he spoke of it so lightly? Unacceptable! ]

As the Goddess of Death and Queen of the Underworld, I demand you cease those necromantic activities at once!

[cultivatingsin]

And? It'll turn to dirt and be indistinguishable from the other dirt.

[In the end, isn't it the same?]

Sorry, I'm practicing. If I don't practice, I won't be any help in battle.

[queenofkur]

T-This is my last warning...!

[ What insolence! Not even showing an ounce of remorse!! ]

If you do not cease at once, I will find you and visit divine punishment upon you for your sins!

video; un: coffeefiend

[ichoosefight]

Everything about necromancy is gross.

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[cultivatingsin]

But it's useful!

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[ichoosefight]

If you can get it to work faster and longer.

[ Necromancy is gross, but getting killed is grosser. ]

Do those skeletons have any durability? It's not worth much if you fall apart with one good whack. I bet that would feel creepy as all get out, too.

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[cultivatingsin]

Details, details. I'll work it out.

[The skeleton had been more for the creep factor anyway.]

I wouldn't pick a skeleton to possess in battle anyway. I think being beaten into literal pieces would suck.

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[ichoosefight]

Yeah, being beaten to figurative pieces is bad enough.

You know, the whole concept of using necromancy in close combat depends on there being corpses handy. Specific kinds of corpses, even. It's not really a great direction to take things.

Video: UN; gonnasqueezeya

[over_the_sea]

[Whaaaat?!] Did you just take over the skeleton?! [There was magic that did that here?] That's so cool! And weird. But cool!

[Floyd is also 100% going to ask where he got the skeleton from. Just you wait. He's curious.]


[OOC: Floyd likes to give sea animal nicknames to everyone instead of using their actual names, but I am very canon blind on your boy here. Just from this alone I was thinking one of the transparent fish that you can see their skeleton, not sure if it would fit him though, so if you have ideas, please let me know.]

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[cultivatingsin]

I did, I did! [He looks worn out from the attempt and he sounds out of breath. Whew, that had been a rush!] Right? Finally someone appreciates it.

[...welp, here comes the truth.]


[OOC: Xue Yang would definitely be a fish like that or like...one of those deep sea monsters?]

[over_the_sea]

What it look like? Can you even see with it? It don't have eyes or anything, right? [And maybe a more important question for Xue Yang to consider, if he hasn't already.] What about your body during it? Someone could just, I donno, like, snatch you up or stab you in the back or something while you're all boney. [Floyd, asking all the important questions.

Including;] Where'd you get it from? [Though it's not clear if he means the skeleton, or the spell itself.]


[OOC: Think going with Blue-bellied Night Wanderer, or Night Wanderer for short. An interesting 'transparent' fish (going to cheat a little as think it's freshwater), but going to guess the 'night wanderer' shortening of it might work well too.]

[cultivatingsin]

Nope, I can't see with it. I'll need to find something with eyes next time. Working eyes. Not... [Decomposed bits.] You're right! It's a risk. I would need to put my body somewhere safe - maybe use some wards. If they kill me when I'm a skeleton or something, so what? I'll go back to my body.

[He cocks his head.] The...magic? Or the skeleton?


[OOC: I love it! What a cool fish.]

[over_the_sea]

[Oh yeah, good point.] Hmm, I was meaning the skeleton, but the spell too! [If he's willing to offer it, however, Floyd letting out a 'heeeeeh' of a laugh.] Though I donno if I could use it, I don't think my magic here does skeletony stuff. [Oh! Wait,] Unless I could make a skeleton out of blood! But that might use too much of my blood. [And that wouldn't be good.]

You think you could use animals too? Like a fish and able to swim, or a bird and fly? [Or was it just humanoids?]


[ooc: Wonderful, and yes, it's very pretty.]

video | un: maruchan

[fujimaru]

[ She winces a little at the thump his head makes hitting the ground, then shakes that off. ]

Is this the kind of thing you do in your free time...?

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[cultivatingsin]

[His head is too hard for him to notice - even if his vision is a little blurry.]

I do all sorts of things in my spare time. [Not really an answer and certainly not comforting!]

[fujimaru]

That one in particularly seems pretty messy... are you okay? Your head made kind of a loud noise.

[ Is he just like this, or is it a concussion? She suspects the former, but she's still a little concerned about the latter. ]

[cultivatingsin]

Now that you mention it...

[He rubs the back of his head and finds a nasty knot.]

My head does hurt! Next time, I'll lay down to do it.

[fujimaru]

Of course there's going to be a next time... Are you sure even that's a good idea?!