aubins | SHI QING XUAN

[ (escha voice but it sounds suspiciously like sqx) coworkers! ]

His... highness? Which one was he?

[ tell him about no money only celibacy ]

Ah, so you're just one of those social butterflies wherever you go then. Here, there, anywhere.

His Highness, the Crown Prince of Xianle! [she smiles] The one who was sitting with me. Do you know, he's ascended to the heavens three times! He was banished twice, but ahaha, that didn't stop him from doing great deeds in the mortal realm and ascending again!

I'll say it again - what a guy!

[she looks fond! xie lian is just genuinely good. one of the few gods she'll probably never want to shove into a ditch.]

I just like people. They're so interesting, don't you think?

-- So... ascending, like... from mortality to god hood or...? Literally just ascending and moving ... up?

[ explain ascending what is this. ]

Sometimes they're absolute assholes, honestly. But I guess that's interesting to someone.

Mmhm, from mortality to godhood. It can come from hard work, or when your brave deeds or potential get recognized by the heavens. Gods can die in battle, or if they fail a heavenly calamity, or if they lose their worshippers and lose their divinity as a result... but if we do our jobs right, we'll live a really, really long time.

[so, like. functionally immortal.]

Ahaha... I guess that's true, too. But I think there are more nice people out there than there are assholes.

... You're not, like... born into it, or just divine and that's how it's always been? When broken down to a base level, anyone can be a god if their deeds are deemed "good" enough to catch the eye of the heavens?

[ ... what a concept for the guy who's been living in a religion-run continent where the head of the church got there through mommy issues and godly nepotism? ]

Guess it depends on where you're looking and who you tend to attract.

No one is born a god, no. Not everyone can be a god, necessarily - if their foundation and their skills aren't a high enough level, they won't be brought up to the heavens. And some people just aren't fated to be able to ascend, they don't have the natural talent for it or the determination to work hard enough to bring their skills to that level... it's rarer than I'm making it sound.

[she taps her chin.]

...I guess that's true, too! But I think if you look deeply enough, you can find wonderful people anywhere. It's just buried deeper down in some cases, ahaha!

A small chance then, but a chance. And all gods are made this way? There aren't any that are just born, made and always lived as gods...?

I guess that makes someone pulling it off three times closer to an impossible miracle than anything.

[ ... still sounds like So Much though, when he thinks about it. ]

Really, really, really deep.

Even my brother and I aren't like that! ...well, the Heavenly Emperor is older than anyone, so maybe him...? But there aren't any other gods who were never mortal that I can think of.

[...she giggles a little.]

Sounds like you're thinking of someone specific, Yuri.

... So what you're saying is no one knows, at least when it comes to that Emperor of yours. [ mystewious. ]

I have met some people who really, really like hiding their good parts, what can I say?

He's the oldest and most powerful of us all. It's not like we can just question him!

[haha. anyway.]

...that's too bad. I hope you're meeting more people here who don't keep them hidden so well.

Why not? Age and power doesn't mean you can't answer questions.

[ haha... ha ]

Aside from the whole murdering thing? I'd say my opinions of most people here are on the positive side. I'm sure some of them might reverse that, but for now it could be worse.

Most wouldn't dare! And I'd be in for a year-long lecture if I tried to, I'm sure. I can hear my brother now! Qingxuan, mind your manners, that's the Heavenly Emperor, you'll bring dishonor to our name, blah, blah...

[she looks cheery enough as she says this, though, waving a hand.]

I'm hoping that now that we've been rid of some of the more volatile personalities, things will be a little more peaceful! ...although that's probably unlikely, huh.

... Okay, buuuut that still doesn't answer why the most powerful person there with all the knowledge can't answer a question.

[ just saying. ]

[ LOOKS AT THE DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT ] Maybe...? We won't know until the end of the week.