[Hilariously, when Rin finally makes it to the world Hua Cheng is from, it's not entirely to visit Hua Cheng. Xie Lian is also in that world, so there's the promise of visits to his favorite god that keep Rin going too. But even besides that, there's another reason Rin ends up going to that world. One much more personal.
The kiln itself is beyond his reach, dormant as it is right now. This annoys Rin, but he decides not to linger, as the ghost he's looking for won't be found there if he can't get in anyway. And waiting around for ghosts to be pulled in by the kiln's calling doesn't seem like a good use of his time either. Even if Rin will live for centuries, he doesn't want to leave his friends to age without him in hopes of finding one ghost that might not even be in this world. So his attention turns elsewhere.
Rumors of a 'Ghost City' are what draw his attention eventually. While Rin's time in this world has taught him that ghosts here aren't quite the same as the ghosts he's used to back home, he's still confident that he will find the person he's looking for in this city. Shiro always preferred life in a city anyway, so surely he would go to one specifically for ghosts, right?
If he's still anywhere to be found, Rin reminds himself. So much time has passed, maybe Shiro hasn't lingered. If that's the case, then...well, that's a problem to think about later, if his searches turn up nothing.
Rumors of Rin's presence reach the city long before Rin himself does, though. Tales of "bright blue flames, hotter than even a volcano's lava" and "the young man who extends his sword hand in friendship" spread like wildfire, filling the market stalls and the various buildings of the Ghost City with exited talk of a foreign boy who has come looking for someone. No doubt these rumors reach even Hua Cheng, warning him of Rin's appearance long before Rin sets foot in Ghost City.
...he's carrying Rinkou tied in a sling on his back, allowing her to travel comfortably over the many miles they've had to walk to reach Ghost City. That certainly gets some stories too. Have these ghosts even seen a wolverine before? Google says they're in the northernmost parts of China, so.
Guide your idiot son to your place, Hua Cheng. He's walking around gawking like a tourist and several ghosts are definitely sizing him up as a possible meal, even if he doesn't know it yet.
(Also I can't find a good spot to put it narration-wise but Rin has black hair right now for Reasons.)]
with such great distance possible between them, sometimes the huli jing acts as eyes and ears for hua cheng, much like his butterflies. the daemon is almost the size of a wolf, and those who call ghost city home - or visit often enough - know not to touch him. so he makes his way easy down the streets, tails flicking slowly, muddy colored paws leading him along on an absent patrol.
he hears the rumors. they both do. so it's better that tanhua goes to intercept them, fleet-footed as hua cheng sends orders for yin yu to quell them as best he can for the time being.
rinkou catches his eye, first. tanhua lifts his head up higher from his prowl, and then, while approaching -
in a voice that doesn't see much use, low like hua cheng's, but still lighter and rougher at the same time: ] Rin. Rinkou.
[Rin had been at one of the food stalls, breathing in the scent of spices and meats that mix and mingle in ways that make Rin feel absolutely famished. He does not notice the way the ghosts running the stall are eyeing him hungrily, or now they're preparing some rather large knives.
Tanhua's approach warns them off immediately though. Even as Rin jumps and wheels around to face the large daemon, the ghosts- similarly startled- are tucking their knives away and trying to look completely innocent. They were absolutely not about to eat this half-demon teenager, nope!]
Shit! I didn't know you could talk!
[Rinkou, strapped to Rin's back, whines and wiggles in her sling. She wants to get down and sniff at Tanhua! But Rin will keep her up there for a moment, as his surprise changes to a smile. Of course Tanhua can talk, NPCs get special powers for their daemons. It makes sense to him.]
Good to see you. Is your partner around?
['Partner' instead of 'human', because Hua Cheng sure isn't a human.]
[ tanhua lashes all of his many tails, turning his attention to the ghosts, lip curling in a silent snarl. even without his right eye open, he's still intimidating. he's hua cheng's familiar. once they've backed off, his attention returns to their guest, expression returning to something more neutral, now. ]
Always could, just only to Watchers, before. Do you and Rinkou talk, now?
[ post-game privileges. can't wait for what the CRAU2 mods decide to do with that.
anyways.
he comes closer, sniffing at him, as if inspecting to make sure he's alright. it lets him nip at rinkou's tail where she's suspended in the sling, a brief moment of attention and playfulness like when he was able to take on the form of a tiger to sit on her. ]
We heard rumors about you. I came to find you, so come with me. Why are you here?
[Rin glances over his shoulder to the wolverine strapped to his back.
Rinkou makes a disgruntled noise.]
...you know, I think I do most of the talking.
[Is it because she doesn't have much to say? Or is it because neither of them have tried it before? Who's to say.
But Rin smells like someone who's been traveling on the road for a few weeks without stopping for a good rest. Traces of dirt, sweat, and blood can be smelled on him, as well as the usual scent of sulfur that lingers on him at all times. He definitely could use a bath.
Rin lets Tanhua smell him, and Rinkou will swat at Tanhua with her tail. Playtime will have to be when she has freedom though. Even if she's smaller, she will be the one to sit on Tanhua this time. She is Determined to win that battle.]
I'm looking for someone. Or...three someones, I guess. Two of 'em should be obvious though.
[Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. Both are important to Rin, and he does want to see them again. The third person is a bit of a long shot, but he'll explain that situation to Hua Cheng when they meet up.]
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This is going to be several months post-Chasma btw
The kiln itself is beyond his reach, dormant as it is right now. This annoys Rin, but he decides not to linger, as the ghost he's looking for won't be found there if he can't get in anyway. And waiting around for ghosts to be pulled in by the kiln's calling doesn't seem like a good use of his time either. Even if Rin will live for centuries, he doesn't want to leave his friends to age without him in hopes of finding one ghost that might not even be in this world. So his attention turns elsewhere.
Rumors of a 'Ghost City' are what draw his attention eventually. While Rin's time in this world has taught him that ghosts here aren't quite the same as the ghosts he's used to back home, he's still confident that he will find the person he's looking for in this city. Shiro always preferred life in a city anyway, so surely he would go to one specifically for ghosts, right?
If he's still anywhere to be found, Rin reminds himself. So much time has passed, maybe Shiro hasn't lingered. If that's the case, then...well, that's a problem to think about later, if his searches turn up nothing.
Rumors of Rin's presence reach the city long before Rin himself does, though. Tales of "bright blue flames, hotter than even a volcano's lava" and "the young man who extends his sword hand in friendship" spread like wildfire, filling the market stalls and the various buildings of the Ghost City with exited talk of a foreign boy who has come looking for someone. No doubt these rumors reach even Hua Cheng, warning him of Rin's appearance long before Rin sets foot in Ghost City.
...he's carrying Rinkou tied in a sling on his back, allowing her to travel comfortably over the many miles they've had to walk to reach Ghost City. That certainly gets some stories too. Have these ghosts even seen a wolverine before? Google says they're in the northernmost parts of China, so.
Guide your idiot son to your place, Hua Cheng. He's walking around gawking like a tourist and several ghosts are definitely sizing him up as a possible meal, even if he doesn't know it yet.
(Also I can't find a good spot to put it narration-wise but Rin has black hair right now for Reasons.)]
no subject
it's tanhua.
with such great distance possible between them, sometimes the huli jing acts as eyes and ears for hua cheng, much like his butterflies. the daemon is almost the size of a wolf, and those who call ghost city home - or visit often enough - know not to touch him. so he makes his way easy down the streets, tails flicking slowly, muddy colored paws leading him along on an absent patrol.
he hears the rumors. they both do. so it's better that tanhua goes to intercept them, fleet-footed as hua cheng sends orders for yin yu to quell them as best he can for the time being.
rinkou catches his eye, first. tanhua lifts his head up higher from his prowl, and then, while approaching -
in a voice that doesn't see much use, low like hua cheng's, but still lighter and rougher at the same time: ] Rin. Rinkou.
no subject
Tanhua's approach warns them off immediately though. Even as Rin jumps and wheels around to face the large daemon, the ghosts- similarly startled- are tucking their knives away and trying to look completely innocent. They were absolutely not about to eat this half-demon teenager, nope!]
Shit! I didn't know you could talk!
[Rinkou, strapped to Rin's back, whines and wiggles in her sling. She wants to get down and sniff at Tanhua! But Rin will keep her up there for a moment, as his surprise changes to a smile. Of course Tanhua can talk, NPCs get special powers for their daemons. It makes sense to him.]
Good to see you. Is your partner around?
['Partner' instead of 'human', because Hua Cheng sure isn't a human.]
no subject
Always could, just only to Watchers, before. Do you and Rinkou talk, now?
[ post-game privileges. can't wait for what the CRAU2 mods decide to do with that.
anyways.
he comes closer, sniffing at him, as if inspecting to make sure he's alright. it lets him nip at rinkou's tail where she's suspended in the sling, a brief moment of attention and playfulness like when he was able to take on the form of a tiger to sit on her. ]
We heard rumors about you. I came to find you, so come with me. Why are you here?
no subject
Rinkou makes a disgruntled noise.]
...you know, I think I do most of the talking.
[Is it because she doesn't have much to say? Or is it because neither of them have tried it before? Who's to say.
But Rin smells like someone who's been traveling on the road for a few weeks without stopping for a good rest. Traces of dirt, sweat, and blood can be smelled on him, as well as the usual scent of sulfur that lingers on him at all times. He definitely could use a bath.
Rin lets Tanhua smell him, and Rinkou will swat at Tanhua with her tail. Playtime will have to be when she has freedom though. Even if she's smaller, she will be the one to sit on Tanhua this time. She is Determined to win that battle.]
I'm looking for someone. Or...three someones, I guess. Two of 'em should be obvious though.
[Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. Both are important to Rin, and he does want to see them again. The third person is a bit of a long shot, but he'll explain that situation to Hua Cheng when they meet up.]