[ after the execution, xie lian is in the courtyard of the castle, practicing what look to be sword forms, in a whirl of brown hair and white silk. he's breathing harder than he should be - it seems he's been at this for a while, if the slightly pink splotches at his chest of an injury that isn't quite healed under his bandages aren't another indication.
his blade is in his hand, since there's no one around. fang xin is pitch black and seems to absorb the light of the bioluminescent plants around it with each swing - san lang, a qilin, dodges out of xie lian's way, leaping past the point of each strike in a graceful dance, back and forth.
after a moment of this, though, san lang notices the presence of another, and makes a noise - xie lian turns, too, and gently plants the tip of his blade in the ground. ]
[ he has a feeling that's probably not true, but he appreciates it, anyway. rika was very nice in not making him feel awkward about it.... though, he probably wouldn't have anyway. ]
That's quite surprising - I have come to learn there are many worlds far, far different than my own, in my time here.
[ he smiles a little, though, and moves to put the sword in its sheath. ] What sort of dances - what do you have to learn them for?
[ oh... cute!!! very cute. he has no idea what's going on. ]
I don't know what a watanagashi is, but it sounds like a lovely dance indeed. [ ceremonial dances... ah, memories. ] What sort of festival is it - and what is the ceremony?
[ oh.... that makes him smile even further, and he ducks his head, for a moment. ] I see. The gods must enjoy such a thing.
[ and then, tilting his head. ] Now - that might not be true. Here.
[ he reaches for his sword again, pulling fang xin free of the sheath - and then takes the sheath off of his belt, and offers it to rika. it is very tall i'm sorry. ] Show me! Perhaps we can make a sword form of your own.
[ rika's expression just weirdly doesn't change at all at that gods comment! don't worry about it.
... but then it turns to curiosity. she takes the sword. it's very big... and she's just holding it like it's something fragile that she doesn't want to break. ]
Can people just do that? Make their own sword forms?
anyway! he doesn't seem to mind! it's just the sheath, anyway. no sharp edges - it has a pretty, gold filigree design on the top of it and looks very expensive. ]
They can. They do so often, in fact - and that creativity is part of what makes martial arts so fascinating to me. [ there's a genuine joy and passion in xie lian's voice as he says this, propping his chin in his hand. ] It is what you make of it.
[ he brightens at the comparison. exactly! ] It is never the same twice. Every martial artist has their own unique style. Every blade swings a little differently than another. It is an art, in and of its own right, one created and changed by humans. One that is never perfect.
at the end, he claps, very politely. it was cute to watch... ] How lovely, Miss Rika! You're very graceful. [ and then hops to his feet, feng xin in his hand as if it was just a stick. ready to learn. ]
Alright - let's see... Show me the first part again, very slowly.
[ and this time, he will carefully imitate the steps, moving along them with swings of the black blade, following the motions of the dance itself, so sword and sheath move in twain. ]
[ he pauses on a particular move - and then shifts, quickly, turning his weight and slicing with the sword. it makes a shing! noise, the blade cutting through the air with speed. another move after that; another, another, and then he returns to the dance itself, grinning like a kid in a candy store. ]
We'd simply have to combine it, is all. Blend it together and help it grow.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w1, sunday
his blade is in his hand, since there's no one around. fang xin is pitch black and seems to absorb the light of the bioluminescent plants around it with each swing - san lang, a qilin, dodges out of xie lian's way, leaping past the point of each strike in a graceful dance, back and forth.
after a moment of this, though, san lang notices the presence of another, and makes a noise - xie lian turns, too, and gently plants the tip of his blade in the ground. ]
Oh. Miss Rika... how long have you been there?
no subject
Not long.
[ that's probably a lie. ]
... I had never seen anyone fight with a sword, before coming here. It reminds me of the dances I have to learn.
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That's quite surprising - I have come to learn there are many worlds far, far different than my own, in my time here.
[ he smiles a little, though, and moves to put the sword in its sheath. ] What sort of dances - what do you have to learn them for?
no subject
[ rika hops down from where she was sitting, and kind of... mimes... swinging a hoe? ]
I perform the ceremonial dance at the watanagashi festival.
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I don't know what a watanagashi is, but it sounds like a lovely dance indeed. [ ceremonial dances... ah, memories. ] What sort of festival is it - and what is the ceremony?
[ very curious and genuine questions, as ever!! ]
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... But knowing how to do a dance like that wouldn't help me much in a swordfight.
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[ and then, tilting his head. ] Now - that might not be true. Here.
[ he reaches for his sword again, pulling fang xin free of the sheath - and then takes the sheath off of his belt, and offers it to rika. it is very tall i'm sorry. ] Show me! Perhaps we can make a sword form of your own.
no subject
... but then it turns to curiosity. she takes the sword. it's very big... and she's just holding it like it's something fragile that she doesn't want to break. ]
Can people just do that? Make their own sword forms?
no subject
anyway! he doesn't seem to mind! it's just the sheath, anyway. no sharp edges - it has a pretty, gold filigree design on the top of it and looks very expensive. ]
They can. They do so often, in fact - and that creativity is part of what makes martial arts so fascinating to me. [ there's a genuine joy and passion in xie lian's voice as he says this, propping his chin in his hand. ] It is what you make of it.
no subject
very pretty! ]
It's like games. There are bunch of different ways to play them. And how things go will change based on every little decision that both sides make!
no subject
[ he brightens at the comparison. exactly! ] It is never the same twice. Every martial artist has their own unique style. Every blade swings a little differently than another. It is an art, in and of its own right, one created and changed by humans. One that is never perfect.
no subject
no subject
[ xie lian loves
swords
so much ]
no subject
[ and rika loves
games!! ]
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Ah, you understand me perfectly, Miss Rika! I'm glad.
Will you show me, this dance of yours if you can? We could create a whole style of swordfighting. The Rika Style!
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Sometimes I still make mistakes, but I'll do my best.
[ and then performs a careful dance, using the sheath in place of the hoe. ]
no subject
at the end, he claps, very politely. it was cute to watch... ] How lovely, Miss Rika! You're very graceful. [ and then hops to his feet, feng xin in his hand as if it was just a stick. ready to learn. ]
Alright - let's see... Show me the first part again, very slowly.
[ and this time, he will carefully imitate the steps, moving along them with swings of the black blade, following the motions of the dance itself, so sword and sheath move in twain. ]
no subject
It's pretty. But it doesn't seem like something that could be used in a sword fight...
no subject
[ he pauses on a particular move - and then shifts, quickly, turning his weight and slicing with the sword. it makes a shing! noise, the blade cutting through the air with speed. another move after that; another, another, and then he returns to the dance itself, grinning like a kid in a candy store. ]
We'd simply have to combine it, is all. Blend it together and help it grow.
no subject
anyway rika watches, in general awe! sword fighting is cool... ]
That makes it sound like cooking.