numbertwohero | Prisma Overflow

[[from here:]]

[Food allergies is probably a good way to look at it. Just food allergies, things to get through, and definitely an object lesson to learn for the next time. After all, this is a strange place. He's definitely got to learn to keep a cooler head, and really consider his actions.

Not that that's stopping him from following a stranger onto a magic sword. But then, is this really the weirdest thing he's ever done, or seen? Not in the slightest. Honestly the weirder part is how nice holding that hand feels, how natural and easy it feels to wrap his arm around the waist of the stranger when his hand is placed there. He doesn't really do things like this, has never done something like this, and while he feels a little awkward about it--what's the polite distance to keep, after all, where does his other hand go--it still feels nice enough to keep doing.

And then they take off, and Shoto forgets all about awkwardness in favor of the view. The city looks amazing from up here, and he holds tightly to Shen Qingqiu's waist, easily keeping his balance as he looks below them. The wind should be much stronger than this up here--maybe there's something else he's doing to keep it from being too much. Either way, Shoto's definitely not regretting this, and he's not missing a second.]

It looks amazing from up here, doesn't it?

[He doesn't sound afraid in the slightest. More like exhilarated.]

[ Shen Qingqiu's conclusions go along the lines of something like the following:

1. Chroma is not all about skin contact, and in fact, doesn't need to hold any licentious intent. He's already suspected as much, but when his feedback right now is hyperaware of contact, it's comfortable, nothing else. The kind of pleasant buzz one might have for stepping out under warm spring sunshine on a crisp, clear day.

2. He's a good kid, which was already something he was inclined to believe due to how polite he was being over the vision gaffe. Fruit, what the fuck?

3. He's enjoying this way more than Shen Qingqiu did the first time he had to fly his own sword, but that might be key: he had to fly his own damn sword. This is part of why he went into seclusion! Must! Increase! Cultivation! Must not end up getting himself killed due to a lack of proper awareness! That includes falling out of the sky!

Which leads to point 4. His qi, entangled as it may be with what he senses as chroma now, is flowing without obstruction. Shen Qingqiu is keeping a close watch on his own meridians, because it's not just his life if the poison decides to flare up for no damn reason right now. The chances are very low, but they aren't zero, and he'll have enough time to get them down safely in one form or another should that come to pass. He's not that kind of irresponsible. Just the "arrange your death, transfer your soul, and live your life without the threat of death by protagonist" kind of irresponsible.

See, this is also why they're higher than any of the flying vehicle lanes. Responsible flying. ]

I imagine at night the view would be all the more compelling.

[ Which is true: he does imagine seeing all those neon lights at night from above would be lovely indeed. One has to take into consideration the heights of each city level, and the dome? The shield? Whatever protected the city in a kind of bubble both similar and different to what an array might do.

Still, that tone of Shoto's voice prompts Shen Qingqiu to smile, small, and look over his shoulder at the teen. These are the kinds of moments kids should have. Ones where new experiences are fun and harmless and enriching. Not getting transmigrated to a world and having heavy demands laid across their shoulders.

Ah, life. Never fair. ]

Enjoying yourself?

[Honestly, his conclusions aren't far off, at least as far as Shoto goes. He does his best to be polite and follow the lead of whoever's helping him, even if he's a little stiff and awkward about accepting it. It helps that Shen Qingqiu is older; he can at least transfer some of the manners he'd aim at an upperclassman or teacher to their interactions, even if the physical contact feels much more...well, friendly than that.

Maybe it's also the feeling that comes with moonlacing that contributes to the pleasant tones of his voice, and also makes returning that smile with a small, almost furtive smile of his own a little easier. Life isn't fair, he's always known that, but some experiences make all the rest worthwhile.]

Ah--yeah, thanks. I've never flown like this before, it's amazing. You're right though, it would probably be even better at night. Is this how you get around normally?

[ Reception is in intent! He tells himself this firmly! Also because as much as he's admired growing young women's forms before, he doesn't find them attractive; he's too old! Not happening, not happening. Ergo the positive feedback loop here is shoved unceremoniously into the category of familial affection.

Still weird, but much more palatable. Perhaps this is how he'd feel if he had his younger sister around, or if he'd ever had a younger brother! ]

No, no, too conspicuous. Perhaps less so here.

[ He adds, gesturing with a closed fan toward the moving vehicles flying through the air below. ]

We go by foot, by horse, or by carriage. Flying like this is a matter of speed.

[ Implying it's a matter of using sword flight when speed is necessary. He's moving far faster than the vehicles below, and it's not hard for that to be extended into believing great distances can be managed in shorter periods of time moving like this.

No, it's not equivalent to airplane flight, but who the hell wants to fly that fast! The ground below would be sickening to see if not flying high enough to prevent it from becoming a blur, and imagine running into migrating birds? No explosions of blood and guts and feathers! He doesn't have a technique for cleaning his robes like high magic cultivation worlds otherwise seem to have!

The apartment block where Shoto's address indicated he lived approaches quickly, and Shen Qingqiu circles around before decreasing altitude with a sort of floating elegance that keeps the stomach from dropping too fast in the decline. Offhand, he wonders if people might be able to arrange sky diving from swords in a weird hybrid of modern and ancient. He promptly dismisses the idea as exceedingly silly. ]

[Honestly, if he'd had a healthier relationship with his family, or been closer to his siblings, maybe it would be easier to lump this kind of contact into that category. But he'd spent so much of his childhood isolated from his siblings, and affection from a parental figure had stopped dead after age 6, so as it stands, it's just...maybe it's like his teacher putting a hand on his shoulder after he's done well in an exam. Or like Midoriya, dozing off on the school bus against his shoulder on a long trip. It's still weird, but it's not bad, at least. And the view? Definitely helps to keep his mind from focusing on it and overanalyzing.]

Ah--so you must be from a world with less advanced technology. We haven't used carriages in most cities in over a hundred years, where I'm from.

[Tact. Maybe that's something he should focus on learning here, too. Hopefully Shen Qingqiu doesn't feel overly offended.

As they circle in for a landing, Shoto shifts his balance easily enough to accommodate the decline. Unfortunately, though, as they start to sink lower, he's gotta do something about his eyes, just in case--which means closing them, and holding just a little tighter to his waist to make up for it.]

I appreciate you choosing the fastest option to get me back. Hopefully it didn't put you too far out of your way?

[ Shen Qingqiu benefits from a first life with an affectionate, if not overly demonstrative, family, especially with his siblings, and then the fondness between himself and his disciples, and himself and his fellow Peak Lords. When you ask your martial junior brother to give you a sword lift often enough, you get used to certain kinds of casual contact.

Meanwhile he doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. Yes, surely! Carriages are very out of date! Now only good for taking on a date! Except they're the top form of luxurious travel in his most recent world! And his preference, but here, he's...

... wow, he can ride in car-like vehicles again! Truly luxurious! What amazing potential!

(Like he's not flying right now.) ]

What form of transportation has taken over?

[ Cars. He bets anything it's trains and cars. Betting chroma on it! Ten chroma!

The sword stops a few centimeters above the ground, a light gust of wind sending dust and small stones skittering away as Shen Qingqiu brings them to a stop. He'd registered the tightened arms, guessing at the cause. Once he's brought them to a stop, he glances back and—yes, he's closed his eyes again. ]

This one has been idly walking around to understand the ways of this new city.

[ Meant to imply it doesn't put him out of his way to have explored it also from the air. He's not quite so motivated to have tested out his rental sword inside the city limits otherwise, but with no alarms raised, and nothing that felt like an array to notice, he guesses the things to worry about would be the Moon Knights. Does he need a license to fly in the city? Can he just get away with it because he's Moonblessed? Mysterious thoughts he can answer later on. ]

Seeing it from above brings another level of appreciation.

Cars, mostly, and trains for longer distances. And airplanes, for even longer ones. Nothing like this, though.

[Right in one, SQQ. At least he doesn't seem to mean anything by it! It's just gonna take some getting used to, is all. Learning how to speak to different cultures, and to not make assumptions based on his own world.

He does seem a little relieved that he didn't put the other man too far out of his way. If he was already walking around exploring, then maybe it's not too bad. Still, thanks are in order. His manners aren't that bad. Which means once he's off the sword, Todoroki's bowing to him, a polite gesture.]

That's a good idea. I think after this wears off, I'm going to go try the same, again.

Thank you again. I appreciate your help.

May it be before too much longer.

[ He says with a nod of his head once Todoroki straightens out of his bow. ]

You're welcome. Until our paths cross again...

[ ............................ did he really forget introductions, did this teenager really just jump on a sword with a guy who didn't even introduce himself, IS THIS A FAILURE OF HIS PROPRIETY ]

... Ah. I am called Shen Qingqiu.

[If it is, it's a failure on both counts, honestly. Todoroki just kind of...doesn't really think about things like introductions?? Maybe he should be better about this, it's kind of rude to just impose on a stranger like this without even asking their name. He seems to realize this all at once, bicolored eyes opening wide for once, then shifting off to one side as he nods, looking somewhat chagrined.]

Ah--Todoroki Shoto. Sorry, I should have said, earlier. Thank you, Shen-san.

[ Somehow the whole "I see through clothes" and "teenager distressed about seeing through clothes" things weighed heavier than an exchange of names. He'll have to forgive himself, considering he's not holding Todoroki Shoto responsible for the same lapse.

With a small upturn of his lips, and a moment of pause over the Japanese honorific that he doesn't actually know the nuances of himself, let alone as the man he appears to be. ]

It is equally this one's fault, Todoroki Shoto. You're welcome, and may your symptoms pass soon.

[ With a tip of his head forward, Shen Qingqiu takes his leave... feeling some pity for the poor teenager. He's respectful, but he can imagine how that same ability would be misused by more than a few disciples he can think of offhand. Thank goodness he doesn't have to worry about wrangling them all here. ]

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@peerlesscucumber, June TDM

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