[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

[cultivatingsin]

I have to practice. [Obviously.] A sore head shouldn't stop me!

[fujimaru]

Concussions are dangerous?!

[ Because in the end, that's the part that worries her. She might not be impressed by the existence of necromantic magic, or anything adjacent, but please! Think about your own health! ]

Never mind the rest of it! Shouldn't you be taking more precautions??

[cultivatingsin]

They can be.

[Says the man who has probably had...a ton. He is missing a finger and covered in scars - it's safe to say he isn't the cautious type.]

Like what?

[fujimaru]

Pillows, even if you're lying down... maybe like, a buddy system? Someone who can come check on you if you haven't moved for like an hour or something like that?

[ She has no real experience in performing any sort of magic herself, beyond things that have already been laid out and set up for her; she has her own share of scars because of it. ]

[cultivatingsin]

All of that sounds good to me~! Except... The person I would ask might not agree with what I'm doing. [He could convince him, but there's a chance even if Xiao Xingchen says yes, he would still be upset about all of it.] I'm a little late for both of those precautions, don't you think?

[fujimaru]

Maybe for this time! But you're still alive, so there's always next time!

[ She actually puffs up a little as she says this, like a cat on the verge of being offended. ]

And if there's someone you have in mind... even if they disagree with you, they should care about your well-being, right?

[cultivatingsin]

Are you suuuure? [He pretends to faint, collapsing - with some care - back onto the grass.] I think I'm done for!

[Awww...] Mm he does. Too much for me to worry him about my stupid experiments.

[fujimaru]

That sort of thing goes both ways, doesn't it?

[ Even as she's asking that, she's leaning more into the camera's view, trying to peer at him as best as she can from the angles they're both at. ]

You don't want to worry him, but if something goes wrong, won't that be worse...?

[cultivatingsin]

[She got him there. Xue Yang grows solemn as he remembers being the cause of Xingchen's dread and pain. No, never again. Never.]

I have to protect him. Do you have someone like that?

[fujimaru]

I do.

[ She says it gently, though more thoughtful than anything. ]

...But more often than not, I think I'm the one being protected. I've been on both sides.

[cultivatingsin]

He's the only one that would even think about protecting me.

[It's hard to tell if he thinks that's funny or sweet.]

He doesn't have to bother. I would kill anyone who threatened him anyway.

[fujimaru]

But what if you're the person who's causing him worry?

...I dunno. I just think it'd be better to tell someone who cares, even if they won't approve.

[cultivatingsin]

I don't want that.

[His poor A-Chen. He puts up with so much and keeps trusting and believing in him.]

I'll tell him. And then find some way to cheer him up again.

[fujimaru]

That's the spirit! Be honest, but also don't be cruel about it! Or if cruelty is unavoidable, compensate.

[ Is that really how it works? Maybe. Probably. ]

[cultivatingsin]

The truth is cruel. [Most of the time for him anyway.] How do I soften it?