[Open - Catch-all]

[cultivatingdisaster]

⌛ Who: Xie Lian
⌛ What: Just doing his thing.
⌛ When: Now.
⌛ Where: Several places.
⌛ Warnings: Unknown. Will edit if needed!



I: Scrap Collecting God Returns.

[This world became stranger and stranger, it seemed. It was only a blink of an eye since he was last there. He had returned home only to find himself within the same time loop and soon thrown back.

It was odd to say the least.

But now Xie Lian sat under the beautifully green leaves of a blossoming tree with a steamed bun in hand, contemplating his next move.

Beside him was a straw hat and a blade, a long and slender with a black mirrored finish. A silvery line ran through the centre of the blade. It seemed to hum with an old power. Xie Lian seemed not to notice, or care, as he bit happily into his bun.]


II: Is this scrap?

[Xie Lian, for all his years, was a surprisingly innocent soul. By way of his cultivation method he had avoided all worldly pleasures, drink and sexual encounters being the main. That didn't mean he was without knowledge!

So when he approached a shop to enquire if they had any scraps to offer him, he was surprised when he was offered what could only be called a phallus!]

Uhh this is... this isn't really what I was asking for...?

[But the elderly woman was already walking away from him, leaving Xie Lian stunned, holding a male shaped object in his hand, and blushing bright enough to put a tomato to shame.]


III: Feeling a certain kind of way.

[It had started off as a strange thought, at first. Just a mild urge that was easily pushed away.

But as the day went on, Xie Lian was undeniably in a bad spot.

There was something very wrong with himself and he knew it could only be caused by the strange world he now lived in. However what the cause was, he had no idea. All he knew was that it made him uncomfortable and, as strange as it would seem, craving of human company. He had just enough presence of mind to not go and attach himself to any old person, however, and instead found himself desperately attempting to make his way back home.

If he managed, he could barricade himself inside. Not that he thought for a second that might stop him should his urge grow in strength, but with luck...

Xie Lian took a shaky breath and wiped sweat from his brow.]

Why must this happen now... haha can anyone have worse luck than me?

Comments

[cultivatingdisaster]

Months...

[That was something of a surprise. Xie Lian looks genuinely surprised. Had it really been that long? He supposed he would have to take Maglor's word on it since time had blended together for himself.]

Hm? No, not inconvenienced... [Just a stress. The inconvenience wasn't the return but the point at which he'd left. If it had been on a lazy day doing nothing at all, that would have been fine. But to pull him away at such a critical juncture was really just his poor luck at work again.]

It's good to see you again. [A smile.] You enjoy fishing?

[bythewaves]

Aye. [ He is visibly counting in his head ] At least two, probably three, I think.

[ He laughs ]

Not so much enjoy as have found it useful for survival. I... lived a long time by the Sea, and had to learn to find my own supper, in time.

[ It had taken a very long time, in truth, and he has Strong Suspicions that in the early days when he was more than a little mad that he was... cared for. In some way. He's still a terrible fisherman, but he can keep himself alive, at least ]

[cultivatingdisaster]

[Really, even before the time loops, time didn't mean much to Xie Lian. Three months was a blink of the eye in the grand scheme of things. It didn't bother him so much as surprise him.

It made him wonder though, if time moved differently here, or where he was from?

However those were thoughts for a man far smarter than himself. So he switched gears and focused on the immediate. Fishing.]

So you aren't fishing for fun? Are you hungry? I have a meat bun... [And then there he is, ruffling around in his sleeve for the bun he had placed there earlier, as well as its twin. It had come in a pair! It was the whole bun he offered Maglor. The bun was still quite warm, too.]

[bythewaves]

Oh! [ He shakes his head ]

Thank you, but no - I am staying these days with my... fosterling, and his Captain of the Guard, and my father has but recently joined us. I had thought to see if I could bring some fresh caught fish home for supper, but tis not as if we are going hungry. [ He assures ]

[cultivatingdisaster]

[Xie Lian just smiled and placed the bun back in his sleeve. They were, after all, spelled to hold much larger items. And he used it to hold his meat buns!

He smoothly moved past the embarrassment of having misunderstood. It had been easily done, after all.]

My mistake. Fresh fish would be a delightful meal for your family.

[bythewaves]

Tis of no concern. [ Maglor assures him ]

I hope so! Provided I manage to catch some, of course - I am unfamiliar with the waterways here.

[cultivatingdisaster]

I'm not familiar myself. I haven't managed to make my way down this way before.

[Xie Lian admitted with an honest smile.]

But I am free and willing to explore and familiarise myself with them.

[bythewaves]

Do you enjoy fishing yourself? [ Maglor offers ]

I would not object to company!

[cultivatingdisaster]

It can be relaxing.

[Xie Lian smiled. Truth was he didn't always catch what he wanted. Even something as simple as fishing could be clouded by his misfortune.]

I'd be happy to keep you company. And maybe you can tell me about that song you were singing?

[bythewaves]

Then you are welcome to come.

[ He smiles ]

Ah, that? It is one of the Hobbit's walking songs - specifically, it was written by one Master Bilbo Baggins, who was somewhat notorious for being a bit odd amongst his kinsfolk, but had a keen touch for rhyme.

[cultivatingdisaster]

A Hobbit walking song? And a Hobbit is a creature from your world?

[Having never heard of them before it was just a word. A creature who could sing songs. It was an interesting story. An odd creature, maybe it was odd because of its ability to sing in the tongue of the people? Xie Lian was fascinated hearing about other worlds so different from his own.]

[bythewaves]

Aye, they are. They are a little people, perhaps standing about half my height - hence the Westron name for them - "Halflings".

[ Maglor gestures about his waist ]

But they call themselves Hobbits, and that is what they prefer. They are a simple folk, farmers mostly! Who love best the comforts of home - a warm hole, a good meal, a drink and a good tale or two alongside a pipe. They don't much like us Big Folk, who they consider live far too exciting lives.

[ Which. Fair. ]

Master Baggins, however, is the Grandson of the Old Took, and the Tooks have always had what most Hobbits consider a Highly Disreputable and Suspicious Sense of Adventure.

[ And yes, he managed to convey capital letters for that ]

[cultivatingdisaster]

[Oh, so not creatures but people? Xie Lian felt silly for assuming, but his smile never faltered. He listened as attentively as always, doing his best to remember all of this information.]

They seem a peaceful people.

[And then he laughed. "Highly Disreputable and Suspicious Sense of Adventure", was it? A mouthful, but amusing nevertheless.]

Adventure would go against that peaceful, homebody nature, ah?

[bythewaves]

Very much so.

[ He agrees with a laugh ]

It's not unusual for folk even in my world to have never heard of Hobbits, let alone met one, as they seldom venture from their lands, and avoid strangers. To have a whole family who have a reputation for Adventures, and Travelling?

Scandalous!

[cultivatingdisaster]

[To live a quiet life, undisturbed by the world around them, it sounded very much like bliss to Xie Lian.

At least... maybe in the past. These days things were getting very muddied. Though his life in Nippon he had mostly kept to himself, it was still a great deal more social than he was used to.]

There has to be one in every family, I feel. The exception to the rule. But they sound like a wonderful people.

[bythewaves]

They are indeed.

[ Maglor hums, eyes going soft and fond in memory ]

They don't like Big Folk, but hospitality is almost built into their culture. There is no inn or pub with food and drink so good as a Hobbit one, and they will take in even someone so odd as I, provided one makes no trouble.

[cultivatingdisaster]

Are you considered odd where you're from?

[Xie Lian honestly looked surprised by that. Aside from the fact he was objectively a very attractive man, he seemed relatively normal. Which wasn't saying much, honestly. Xie Lian's ability to tell what was normal had failed him time and time again. He himself was considered an oddity at best. A blight at worst.]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor laughs ]

Hobbits consider anyone who isn't a hobbit to be odd! Why, they consider some of their own Great Families to be odd!

[cultivatingdisaster]

Strangely I feel I can understand that way of thinking.

[He laughed right along with him. Xie Lian had the strangest desire to go and visit this world... He wondered if it was even possible?]

[bythewaves]

[ Xie Lian would doubtless enjoy visiting the Hobbits! ....Maybe not so much Maglor's earlier years. ]

Hah! Well, you might fit right in with them then - although you're a tad tall!

[cultivatingdisaster]

Is that so?

[Well that was unfortunate. There wasn't much he could do about his height but to kneel.]

We all have our faults.

[bythewaves]

Hobbits.

[ Maglor says cheerfully, and with a good deal of fondness ]

So do we all! And banging one's head on the doors and ceilings of hobbit holes is a known hazard for any Big Folk visiting.

[cultivatingdisaster]

Then that is just more reason for eating outside and enjoying the sunshine. Wouldn't you agree?

[He smiled up at Maglor, amused and quite delighted by the conversation. It was so interesting learning more about the world his friend was born from. So far removed from his own.]

But I have spent a time or two living in small caves and the like. Crouching to avoid brain damage is something I am very familiar with.

[bythewaves]

Oh, most definitely!

[ Maglor hums ]

Although when the winter storms close in, a roof over one's head, even a short one, is very welcome!

[ He laughs and then hums another brief snatch of verse ]

When winter first begins to bite
and stones crack in the frosty night,
when pools are black and trees are bare,
'tis evil in the Wild to fare.

There, that's another bit of Hobbit wisdom for you!

[cultivatingdisaster]

[Xie Lian listened attentively, the little poem was pretty to hear though the words seemed rather dark to his ears. Still he laughed and nodded along.]

You do make a very good point. Winters can be hard.

[And yet he had somehow survived them time and time again. He was used to the pain of cold by now, it didn't bother him in the slightest.]

There isn't much the body can't get used to over time.