etrayalogs | shroom wars: revenge of the doll

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shroom wars: revenge of the doll

WHO: An Zhe and anyone in/around the monastery
WHEN: Mostly the first half of September
WHERE: Various parts of Garreg Mach
WHAT: An Zhe asked Aurora for a human and got a certain doll from his past instead...
NOTES\WARNINGS: none

[Seeing Clive and Torgal together had given An Zhe the idea that maybe he could get Lu Feng as well. Not having any particular reason to hesitate, he made the request, then came home to find Lu Feng!

...Or the replica Lu Feng he'd once made, anyway.

He stares at that doll in silence for a long moment, before finally moving forward to deal with it.

For the next week or two, people around Garreg Mach might see a new face around the grounds. Maybe you'll visit An Zhe's room and find Lu Feng sitting on a chair staring right at you; maybe you'll see him in the dining hall seemingly waiting for An Zhe to finish cooking; maybe he'll be leaning against a wall in one of the hallways, looking totally nonchalant. An Zhe will always return to collect the doll eventually, but until he figures out what to do with the thing...hey, maybe you can hold a one-sided conversation with the thing.]

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[ It's time for Setsu to upgrade from checking in on An Zhe via messages and instead actually visit his home!

They didn't know what to expect upon arriving, but the place An Zhe lives, it's pretty old-fashioned, isn't it? It reminds Setsu a bit of places they would see in ancient history books. At the same time, it feels pretty peaceful and secure, which suits An Zhe, they think...

Those idle thoughts are interrupted by the sight of piercing green eyes staring them down as they cross into a room. The clicking of Setsu's heels stutters as they take a step back. The owner of those piercing eyes is staring at them blankly and unblinkingly, while An Zhe embraces him around the upper chest to adjust his position in a large, comfortable chair.

Those eyes are completely empty. So that person he's holding...it's a doll, right? ]

An Zhe?

[ Setsu tucks their hair behind their ear. ]

Are you... Okay?

[The doll is heavy—possibly as heavy as the real human being—but having already decided to pose it here, An Zhe continues struggling to pose the thing, only stopping when he unexpectly hears Setsu's voice.]

Oh, hello.

[He looks at not!lu Feng, then back at Setsu again.]

...I'm alright. I hope I didn't scare you.

It's...not that. [ Awkward. What they feel is awkward. ]

—Anyway, do you need help moving that? [ Just kind of pointing at the life-size doll that's larger than the both of them. So An Zhe is into dolls, too... ]

[An Zhe can vaguely sense the awkwardness, though he can't put a name to the feeling. It does cause him to stare at not!Lu Feng again though, silent for a little longer than might be expected before answering their question.]

It's very heavy. I've been trying to decide what to do with it.

[Does that even count as an answer?]

[ It's an answer enough for Setsu. ]

What would you want to do with it? It can't move or talk on its own, can it?

[ This is a normal question to ask about a doll. ]

[Still...staring......]

...I'm not sure.

I asked for Lu Feng, but now I have this instead.

[He wonders for a moment if he can find a hat to cover Lu Feng's face with.]

Hmm... Is it a robotic doll, or...?

[ ...How do robotic dolls work? Setsu peers at the Lu Feng doll as if it might reveal the answers to them...but no luck.

Hm... A second, uncomfortable thought comes to mind. He requested a person and got this...?

They look back at An Zhe. ]

Can I touch it?

No, it's solid.

[Meaning there's nothing mechanical inside it, of course.

He nods at Setsu's request, seemingly unbothered.]

I don't mind. It won't hurt anyone.

Okay.

[ They reach out, just to take the doll's wrist and press their fingers to where the pulse should be. Not only is there not a pulse, but the feeling of the material under their fingers is, in short, a little strange.

At least An Zhe wasn't given a person that can only act as a doll, though. ]

It is solid... Are you sure it can't move on its own?

[ And maybe hurt someone? ]

[An Zhe makes a little noise of dissent as he adjusts the doll's lapels.]

I made it myself. There's nothing in it that could make it move.

[ Setsu looks up, eyes wide. ]

You made it? [ ???? Hmmmm! ] Do you think that's why they sent you this when you asked...?

[Does he think that? Well he's thinking about it now, and...hm...a tentative nod.]

It's...technically Lu Feng...or a copy of him, anyway.

[Still disappointing though...!]

I see...

[ A doll... A non-mechanical doll, so it can't do anything but be posed manually. Why did he even make such a thing? Setsu's eyes narrow a bit in thought. ]

So what do you usually do with him?

[Usually as in here in this moment, or as in back in his own world? Hmm.]

Originally...it was in a suitcase, in the back of my closet. I never expected to see it again. [He pauses for a moment, thinking he should probably explain what he's doing with it now, but at a complete loss as to how to explain.]

I'm not sure what to do now, so I thought I should at least give him a chair to sit in.

... Since you already have it and you don't want to stick it back in your closet?

[ They sound uncertain. They're actually not sure which option would be more unnerving to stumble across. Probably the body in a suitcase, though. ]

Why not move it to a chair in your room?

[He looks at them like they just suggested something super weird.]

Then I'd have to sleep with him there staring.

[ Setsu's face falters. That would be weird... ]

However, this way, everyone else will have it staring at them...

[...True.....he thinks on this for a moment, staring pensively at the doll.]

...I could find a closet to hide him in?

You mean someone else's? [ UH... ] That wouldn't work. An Zhe, consider how someone would react if they saw something that looks human hiding in their closet...

...Then they could move him to another closet?

[Perfectly normal human behavior!]

Like a game? [ ???? ] I guess...

A game...I don't know if it's that.

[So then what is it??]

It's not a game, either?

Then, should I help you put it back in your closet?

I...

[He stares at Lu Feng again.

It's been a long time since he saw real!Lu Feng.......]

....Maybe I could put him on a chair, and turn him around if I need to?

Oh, that's right, you could put it at a rotating chair near your desk. That would look pretty natural.

And if it's in your room, it shouldn't be accidentally damaged by anyone.

[Somehow, he hadn't considered the idea of a rotating chair...he's not sure if that's better or worse, honestly.

But he's also starting to resign himself to the thought that nobody wants to see this fake Lu Feng staring at them. At least he's used to it...so keeping it in his room might be the kindest option? Even if his closet here isn't quite the kind he can stuff a whole colonel into.

But also, despite his rather negative thoughts towards it, Setsu's last comment has him looking up at them with a somewhat worried look on his face.]

Do you think people would damage it?

[ What, you don't want Lu Feng to rotate around to face you due to gravity and a naturally unlevel floor?

Anyway, Setsu shakes their head. ]

Not purposefully, but startled people are clumsy. They might spill something on it or knock it over.

[That sounds especially cursed!?

Also, An Zhe is taking this new thought under serious consideration.]

....I don't know how I'd repair him, or fix his clothes...maybe my room would be safer after all.

[He's getting convinced...!]

[ Don't be silly, it'll be like Lu Feng is really there, inside the doll.

Which Setsu isn't thinking about. They're too focused on An Zhe's actual doll problem. ]

That's true, too... There aren't many stores that sell clothing, and even washing them isn't very intuitive... At least in your room, you can ensure it stays clean.

[ Though...it looks pretty cumbersome for him... ]

Should I carry it over for you? I can move your furniture to make space for it, too.

[ It might be a weird doll, but it's An Zhe's weird doll, and Setsu at least doesn't think An Zhe is weird. ]

[Real Lu Feng, sitting on a spinny chair, staring.....but he ultimately does give the nod to Setsu's suggestion.]

Could you? He's very heavy...it's not a hollow doll.

[As heavy as a real Lu Feng!]

[ Setsu is simply relieved that An Zhe's doll won't be startling people. Their eyes narrow gently. ]

I see. I'm surprised you carried it out here on your own in that case...

[ Considering the doll is clearly larger than An Zhe. They shuffle around to the chair Lu Feng is in, lean forward, and scoop him up in a princess carry like he's a particularly large and unwieldy quilt. His arm and head awkwardly dangle off to the side...but he's up! Setsu has him! ]

All right. So, where is your room...?

[ The dining hall is a familiar haunt for Yuri. He visits the place multiple times a day, either to cook or see what An Zhe might be making. It's become routine enough that he automatically breezes past the figure seated at one of the tables without really giving it any thought.

But that didn't look like any of the usual suspects just now, did it?

He backtracks several paces to get a better look and comes to find that not only is the face unfamiliar, it is unblinking. For that matter, not breathing. Or moving in any way, really. Yuri frowns, wondering if this is some manner of very sophisticated effigy. ]

[The new visitor to the cafeteria, despite his complete lack of liveliness, appears to have also been served a bowl of soup!

After a moment, An Zhe comes out of the kitchen with a second bowl, meaning to sit himself down across from it, only to pause upon seeing Yuri there.]

.............Hello.

[How is he supposed to react...]

Is this... [ Uh. What is it? It looks more like a man than Earth's mannequins, yet clearly is inanimate... So Yuri jerks a thumb at it. ] yours?

[ Is he about to have lunch with it, like a child with their favorite stuffies? ]

[There's another awkward pause before An Zhe looks back at the doll again.]

...Yes.

[He finally puts his own bowl down on the table, with the finality of someone who's decided his only option is to simply tough it out.]

Would you like the other bowl? He—it doesn't need to eat.

Oh, I don't need to steal from him. It'd be easy, but it'd be rude.

[ Instead, Yuri just takes a seat a short ways off to the side of where he assume An Zhe will seat himself. The bowl is indication enough. ]

So, who is he?

[ He simply adopts the way his mushroom friend first referred to their inanimate companion. He, not it. ]

[...Well! If that's how you wanna be!!]

It's Lu Feng.

[Still stubbornly sticking to "it" now that he corrected himself! Also stubbornly keeping his gaze on his food.]

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shroom wars: revenge of the doll

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