Work Text:
#general
Jackal Today at 03:02 PM
Got a little bird good. Today is a great day.
Raven Today at 03:05 PM
???
Jackal Today at 03:05 PM
Different bird.
Raven Today at 03:05 PM
[sus.gif]
Jackal Today at 03:06 PM
Can’t you support me at face value? My victories are your victories where our Sire’s affairs are concerned.
Gray Serpent Today at 03:09 PM
I am starting to be concerned.
Gray Serpent Today at 03:09 PM
What did you do?
Jackal Today at 03:11 PM
I repelled a certain Anti-Entropy chick with an experimental poison of mine.
Jackal Today at 03:11 PM
It’s very unlikely to be lethal, but it scared her off.
Gray Serpent Today at 03:13 PM
Good job.
Gray Serpent Today at 03:17 PM
Why are you so smug about it.
Jackal Today at 03:18 PM
…I was expecting her to punch me anyway, but she ran off with her tail between her legs.
Jackal Today at 03:19 PM
Too bad I lost sight of her, I would’ve loved to study the effects on such a unique biology firsthand. I could’ve collected data if she’d run into a Honkai Beast…
Jackal Today at 03:20 PM
The results of the tests I ran on them were truly fascinating.
Raven Today at 03:22 PM
@Raiden Mei @Raiden Mei @Raiden Mei
Jackal Today at 03:22 PM
I’m trying it on you next.
Mei closes Hisscord. Hua… is in trouble. She’ll have to thank Raven for notifying her later.
“Are you addicted to your phone, lightning rat? Kids these days.”
Oh, great! Look who just levitated into the lounge specifically to be an inconvenience! Device quickly forgotten on the red cushions, Mei crosses her arms.
”You look much younger than me, Mobius.”
“We both know that I’m not.” Mobius hops onto the couch with startling grace. She doesn’t seem to be in the mood to play mind games today. Did something happen? An experiment of hers failed, perhaps. “The oldest I’ve looked… I could’ve almost been mistaken for your mother.”
Hm. That’s older than Mei expected. “Hardly, we don’t look alike at all.”
The snake’s expression… with these words, it becomes unreadable. Some emotion is playing out behind those shimmering eyes, but Mei has no idea what kind it could be. She couldn’t possibly wish she looked like Mei. The Herrscher is self-aware enough to know she’s pretty, objectively, but this scientist isn’t vain like Elysia makes herself out to be.
“True, you don’t look like me at all.” She wears a slight scowl, but only for a moment. “I would say you were adopted. Would you like to be my daughter, jie jie ?”
“No thank you.” Mei stands, brushing away the snake’s mischievous expression. “I’m leaving.”
She stalks out from the lounge, not even bothering to float, but the lull of the snake’s hiss follows her out.
“Did I upset you, little mouse?” Mobius taunts, “Do you miss your real mother?”
Mei stops dead in the middle of the hall.
Conflicting emotions well in her chest. Two different, two very different faces are brought to mind, neither of them alive. She toys with the idea of throwing some sharp words back at Mobius, but she can’t find anything sufficiently scathing to guarantee shutting her up. Better exit the stage than put her foot in her mouth. Hua… Mei should make sure she’ll be alright.
“Hold up, you’re leaving the realm?” Mobius caught up with her while she was thinking. There’s something off in her tone, but Mei’s mind has already shut her poison out to focus on Hua’s predicament.
“I have something to do outside. If Elysia asks, tell her I’ll be back here as soon as I’m done.” Mei finds no reason to hesitate. Back turned on the Flame-Chaser as she crosses the threshold, she abandons the rich glimmer of the golden courtyard without looking back.
@Raven
Raven Today at 03:32 PM
Mei, was that lightning bolt you? the coffee machine is busted now.
Raven Today at 03:32 PM
nvm dumb question ofc it was you
Raven Today at 03:32 PM
bet it’s going to be taken off your salary.
Raven Today at 03:32 PM
[srlsy.gif]
Raven Today at 03:33 PM
I get that you’re worried about your friend Hua, but don’t go and bust some important computer when you’re hurrying around, alright? you herrschers need to mind your damn manners and not break everyone else’s stuff.
Raiden Mei Today at 03:33 PM
Don’t worry, that won’t happen again.
Raven Today at 03:34 PM
…holy shit you’re fast. did you get there already?
Raven Today at 03:35 PM
wasn’t Jackal in Austria?
Raiden Mei Today at 03:35 PM
Lightning bolt… the speed of light, give or take. Basic physics.
Raven Today at 03:35 PM
oh yeah
Raven Today at 03:37 PM
no one’s been giving you trouble while in the realm, right?
Raven Today at 03:37 PM
haven’t visited you for a few days. i’ve been busy, sorry.
Raiden Mei Today at 03:38 PM
I’m fine. Elysia being annoying as usual.
Raven Today at 03:38 PM
ouch… don’t let her hear that.
Raiden Mei Today at 03:38 PM
She can’t hurt me.
Raven Today at 03:38 PM
I just mean she’ll be sad.
Raiden Mei Today at 03:39 PM
Why do you care about her feelings?
Raven Today at 03:38 PM
…oi
Raven Today at 03:38 PM
I
Raven Today at 03:38 PM
I don’t
Raven Today at 03:39 PM
I mean I do but
Raiden Mei Today at 03:42 PM
“Raven is typing…”
Raven Today at 03:42 PM
SHUT
Raven Today at 03:43 PM
Do I bully you for YOUR questionable taste in girls?
Raiden Mei Today at 03:43 PM
…
Raven Today at 03:43 PM
urgh. sorry
Raven Today at 03:43 PM
that was out of line
Raven Today at 03:44 PM
don’t stab me in my sleep.
Raiden Mei Today at 03:45 PM
What do you like about Elysia?
Raven Today at 03:45 PM
uh?
Raven Today at 03:45 PM
why
Raiden Mei Today at 03:46 PM
Call it… curiosity.
Raven Today at 03:46 PM
mm
Raven Today at 03:46 PM
ok I figure you’d be confused, miss ride or die
Raven Today at 03:47 PM
since I’ve barely interacted with her and all
Raven Today at 03:47 PM
I guess I find her charming?
Raiden Mei Today at 03:48 PM
Charming?
Raven Today at 03:48 PM
yeah
Raiden Mei Today at 03:48 PM
What makes her charming?
Raven Today at 03:49 PM
uh… her looks, her voice… I haven’t heard her talk a whole lot but what she says is
Raven Today at 03:49 PM
poetic? smooth?
Raven Today at 03:49 PM
she seems really nice and well-spoken and of course she’s very strong
Raiden Mei Today at 03:50 PM
What makes someone seem nice?
Raven Today at 03:50 PM
idk, taking other people’s feelings into account, or taking interest in their lives, i guess
Raven Today at 03:50 PM
even if you do care, if you don’t show it, it doesn’t matter to others. they can’t tell
Raven Today at 03:50 PM
you get that, right?
Raven Today at 03:50 PM
so i appreciate someone who goes out her way like she does with you
Raven Today at 03:50 PM
…
Raven Today at 03:51 PM
this is embarrassing. your turn now
Raven Today at 03:51 PM
supposedly you’re the “horny” one
Raven Today at 03:51 PM
what’s so good about your Kiana mhm?
Raiden Mei Today at 03:51 PM
Uh
Raiden Mei Today at 03:53 PM
I need to go
Raven Today at 03:53 PM
SERIOUSLY?
Tap.
Mei lands on the ruined roof almost silently. The slight tap is nothing more than courtesy; she is not here to startle the prostrated figure hiding behind the rubble.
“Hua.”
The girl is older than civilization. Mei knows this now. She goes through the complicated feelings coiling in her guts like snakes, but finds none resembling fear. The apprehension she feels is born only of the remnants of her sense of shame…
Mei kneels down. Hua looks feverish, trembling uncontrollably, but her eyes are steel when they land on the Herrscher of Thunder.
“...Jackal bragged about this to me. It shouldn't be lethal. I’ll carry you back to the Hyperion so you can be given medical attention.” She slips her arms under Hua’s shoulders and knees, meeting no protest when she stands up again. It seems that the warrior is focusing on regulating her breathing. What did Jackal do? Something that affects the lungs, perhaps? No… motor control?
Mei stares at the girl’s tinted cheeks, a new, strange emotion welling up in her belly. There’s the Hua back in the Realm, and then there’s the flesh Hua in her arms; now that the real one is flush against her chest, she feels like she’s been intruding into her intimacy. After all… she’s looked deeper into Hua’s past than most.
“You’re… not coming home… are you.”
“No.” Mei doesn’t hesitate. There is much, much more that she can squeeze out of World Serpent before she snaps the snake’s neck.
“I already sent… a distress signal.” …that’s good. Mei realizes she forgot her phone back in the realm. She nods, but the girl in her arms isn’t done, her eyes insistent. “Kiana… she’s coming here.”
Hua needs to pause to breathe every few words… she needs to get her to the Hyperion. Still, Mei has to briefly fight off nostalgia.
“...I’m glad you’re there for each other.” She can’t afford to smile. In fact… she shouldn’t speak too much. Her will won’t be shaken, but it’ll cause more pain if she gives them hope. The Herrscher refuses to say any more, flying towards the large airship far in the distance, but Hua has no such thing in mind.
“...you’re not calling me… class monitor anymore,” she observes, and Mei realizes the Realm affected her habits more than she thought. “Kiana… she still hasn’t dropped that nickname.”
Class monitor! The ghost of Kiana’s carefree voice rings in her ears. Mei can imagine it perfectly. She ignores it. “Nothing is like how it used to be,” she lies. “We’re not in school anymore.”
“I suppose… that’s true…” Mei frowns. Jackal’s poison might be stronger than she thought. Hua seems to be struggling more and more to keep talking. She won’t need to bring her to World Serpent instead, will she?
“CLASS MONITOR!”
There it is, another ghost given flesh.
The Herrscher of Flamescion materializes from a portal, alarmed, only to stop dead in her tracks when she recognizes who exactly is carrying her precious companion.
“Mei-senpai?”
She’s gorgeous, her hair worn in a ponytail, straighter than it used to be— a painful red streak adorns her silver hair. Her eyes… they’re more piercing than Mei remembers, blue like a translucent sky in winter, the mark of a fully realized Herrscher evident in her pupils.
Mei needs to leave as soon as possible.
“Jackal poisoned her. She needs medical attention. Take her home right away.” She drops her precious cargo into the other’s arms almost unceremoniously, but she knows her beloved Kiana will take care of it.
“Mei-senpai, wait!”
Kiana clutches Hua close, but her eyes stay trapped by Mei’s shoulder blades. Even without turning around, Mei is certain of it. “You don’t need me here… Kiana.”
She needs to leave… right now. She needs to be a bolt of lightning again, to cleave the sky and be gone from this place. Mei stays rooted in her spot, just as trapped as Kiana’s eyes are by her.
“Mei-senpai… are you… alone, there?”
Faces flash through Mei’s thoughts, more faces than she thought would come to mind. Raven, Hua, Eden, Sakura, Elysia… there are more bonds than she thought she would recognize in this place, in this moment, people who connected with Mei in spite of her stubborn solitude.
“No. Not at all.”
“...I’m glad.”
“Thank you. Take care of each other.”
“You too. Stay safe.”
Thunder roars and lightning flashes, blissfully joined only for this brief moment.
Mei makes it back to the Elysian Realm a couple hours after she left it.
Taking a short break wasn’t too bad of an idea. It had been too long since she’d seen sunlight. Maybe she’ll do so again once in a while, in less dire circumstances…
“Finally. You’re back.” Ah. Mobius is still in the lobby. Sulking, perhaps. Mei can’t imagine that the Flame-Chaser would be worried about her. “Your phone. You forgot it here.”
Between the pointed green claws lies Mei’s forgotten device.
“Thanks.” Mei probably made a mistake here. The sims can’t be allowed access to the outside world… Mobius had two hours to search through Mei’s personal files. Cautiously, she stares into the snake’s slit eyes, searching the darkness for a clue.
She finds nothing but the murky depths of this Mobius’s soul.
“Are you scared that I went through your secrets, lightning rat?” Mobius sneers, raising an eyebrow. “Your personal information is useless to me.” Mei wouldn’t keep anything compromising on a work device. It’s the information of the outside world she’s worried about…
Sighing, Mei crosses her arms. “What did you do with my phone?”
Mobius shrugs, insolent smirk keeping her expression into shadow, mute.
Mei glares at her. It’s fine, she can check the device herself. She’s fairly confident that even if it’s a bomb now, she’ll get out of this relatively unscathed. The sim can’t do anything nefarious to her physical body here.
It looks pretty much normal… ah, she has a string of messages from Raven.
Raven Today at 04:20 PM
look… i’m sorry if thinking about your kiana makes you upset
Raven Today at 04:21 PM
world serpent isn’t a great place to hang out, i’m aware
Raven Today at 04:21 PM
but
Raven Today at 04:23 PM
i hope you’re still a little happy
Raven Today at 04:23 PM
you know?
As she reads those words, a smile haunts the corner of Mei’s lips. She snorts and clicks on the notification, typing up her reply.
I know. Thanks.
She locks the device and stores it away. When she raises her eyes again, Mobius is still hovering nearby. How unusual.
“Is there anything you want to say to me?”
Mobius tilts her head, humming like she’s thinking about it. Something about the flicker of her gaze tells the Herrscher that the sim has a lot on her mind, but seconds pass and she hisses out nothing— until a tiny voice flicks from between her lips.
“Was Hua alright?”
Every single one of Mei’s muscles tenses, the innocent-sounding question heavy with implications. This… this is bad. Mei is certain she didn’t say why she’d left. This isn’t knowledge Mobius is supposed to have.
“She will be,” Mei replies nevertheless, unwilling to show how tense the predator’s meek words made her.
“That’s a relief.”
Is she sincere, or is this another mind game? Does she care that her old companion is alive and safe, or does she simply envy her freedom? Mei can’t tell. Could anyone? Could the sim herself?
Mobius turns away, slinking back into the shadows.