catch-all for shang qinghua.

[selfimmolates]

Comments

[selfimmolates]

[nothing... at all...]

Do you think I dunk myself in water for fun?

[nosediving]

[some people do. but he gets the feeling that that's not the case here.]

Why don't you simply change clothes?

[selfimmolates]

Because it's stuck to my skin and hair and I can't just skin myself!

[nosediving]

You should at least change into something dry.

[selfimmolates]

I'll do that on my own time.

[nosediving]

[right . . . of course.]

You don't have to do everything by yourself. If you're ever in need of help, you can ask me.

[selfimmolates]

[uh.]

We're complete strangers.

[nosediving]

Isn't that the case for everyone here?

[selfimmolates]

Exactly.

[nosediving]

So we should look out for each other. If we don't, who will?

[selfimmolates]

Myself, for one.

[nosediving]

But you're . . .

[covered in feathers and sparkles.]

[selfimmolates]

What?

[nosediving]

[never mind.]

Ah . . . nothing.

[selfimmolates]

That's what I thought.

[mrrrgh.

before he does anything else, though, he's going to retrieve his rifle and bow & arrows from where he's stashed them. don't mind the armed twelve-year-old, shang qinghua.]

[nosediving]

[uh.

bow and arrows, okay. but when his gaze lands on the rifle, he can't help but to blurt out a question.]

What . . . is that?

[selfimmolates]

A gun. Geez, how many of you here have never seen one...?

[nosediving]

A gun. What does it . . . do?

[selfimmolates]

Fire bullets. [a beat.] Projectiles.

[nosediving]

I am curious to know what these bullets look like. Would you be able to show me?

[selfimmolates]

[he blinks.]

Bit of a weird request.

[nosediving]

I-is it?

There are many devices that I don't recognize in this temple. Several kind participants have taught me on their functions. Is it wrong to be curious about something that does not exist in my world?

[selfimmolates]

I'd think the average person isn't curious about weaponry.

[nosediving]

Average?

Ahem . . . My name is Shang Qinghua. Back in my world, I handle logistics for the Twelve Peaks.

While I do not dabble in weaponry, knowledge, as they say, is power. A weapon does not have to stay a weapon. The engineering genius behind a piece of equipment can give rise to something new—and in this case, perhaps something safer as well.

[selfimmolates]

[wow. you know how much he cares about shang qinghua's title?

not at all.

but fine. after staring for a moment, he wordlessly fetches a bullet cartridge and tosses it at him.]

I'll be expecting that back.