HUA CHENG

[chanteuser]

Comments

w2, sunday, post-execution

[supremity]

[ Here we are, in the plaza. Hua Cheng steps out of the inn, now that all of this execution business is over with, and - pauses, when he sees Alex. In one hand and against his shoulder is one of the rolls of tacky gift wrap, and he spins a pen through his fingers on the other hand absently, but he still will make his way over to where she's vibing.

Just to check in on her, really. ]

[chanteuser]

[ the gift wrap is a surprise. it earns him a blink. ]

... Are you making something?

[supremity]

[ A huff of a laugh. ]

Something like that. There's loose paper here and there, but this makes for a bigger surface. The inside is blank.

[chanteuser]

Are you going to be cryptic if I ask what it’s for?

[ he’s not wrong about the gift paper being bigger though. ]

[supremity]

Mmm...

[ Like he's considering not answering her at all..!

... but he does. ]

Portraits.

[chanteuser]

Like in a gallery?

[supremity]

Like for a shrine, actually. And for my own personal reference.

You can join me, if you'd like.

[chanteuser]

[ a shrine...? ]

Um, yes. If that's alright, I'd like to.

[supremity]

[ dw about it, you'll see. ]

It's fine. I don't mind the company, and I've got quite a few to get through.

[chanteuser]

[ curiouser and curiouser... ]

Sure. Do you need a hand carrying anyway?

[supremity]

Mn, it should be alright. I was planning on heading to the Emporium, though, in case my ink ran out. The counter there is a decent place to work, as well - more space to roll it out with less traffic than the inn usually.

[chanteuser]

Alright then. I'll tag along.

[ she just no idea exactly what he's planning on doing, but she'll follow along. ]

[supremity]

[ Leading the way! And unrolling the makeshift scroll across the counter, once he gets to it. A random Melissa keychain gets snatched up, to use as a weight on one end, before he sets down a tacky castle snowglobe on the other end. ]

This works out, actually, having you here.

[chanteuser]

[ she's probably just hovering in the background trying to figure out what he's doing. ]

Oh, really? How so?

I'm just sort of... hovering and watching what you're doing.

[supremity]

We can talk, while I work. [ Actually offering that, because he does enjoy Alex's company. ] And I can start with you, anyways.

[ clicks pen ]

[chanteuser]

[ that is so ominous, the pen click. ]

I... okay? I'm still not sure what it is you're actually doing, Hua Cheng.

[supremity]

[ he laughs? ]

Don't act as if I'm going to interrogate you, Alex. I'm just drawing you, and I can multitask with conversation.

[chanteuser]

That sounds like something someone about to interrogate me would say. [ it's fine, she's joking. ]

[supremity]

[ He points the pen at her, serious.

And then he click-clicks it at her with a smirk. So threatening. ]

What is the best dish that you can cook?

[chanteuser]

[ she draws a sudden and complete blank ]




I don't know?

[supremity]

[ That - makes him laugh a little, a bit surprised himself. ]

Have you forgotten, or did I put you on the spot? [ click, he starts to sketch on the blank paper. ]

[chanteuser]

Mmm... honestly I don’t remember who does and doesn’t know this by now. But I had amnesia before I came here so...

There are some things I already didn’t remember.

[supremity]

And the Realm saw fit to take the rest of your memories with them. Funny how that works. [ His tone implies "funny" here means "fucked up," tbh. ]

What do you remember?

[chanteuser]

Not a lot. Maybe... the past few months with any real clarity?

Those memories will come back. It’ll just take time.

[supremity]

At least you have that - and the knowledge that they'll come back.

[ He clicks the pen again, and starts doing long, sweeping strokes, working through the motions. ]

Perhaps, also, the comfort of making new memories in the meantime.