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赤燭遊戲 (@redcandlegames.bsky.social)
https://bsky.app/profile/redcandlegames.bsky.social/post/3macnwnkpds2d
"How long would it take to cook a Sean green dragon?" ShuanShuan looked towards the giant sphere known as Abacus, "Like, the whole thing, perhaps simply sear the meat and eat?" ShuanShuan raised both his hands, pointing in the direction of the dragon in the yellow water. Before Abacus could even say anything-
"It would normally take a year to remove all the scales from the meat, nearly two years to remove any unwanted diseases and bacteria as this species homes numerous ravenous and deadly invasive deadly micro-lifeforms, a couple of months to cook all of it and it'll be able to feed you for approximately 4 years. Of course, these assumptions are only accurate if it is you alone." (y/n)'s voice rung out from a much smaller cube right beside Abacus made of Taoist energy.
"Last I checked, he didn't ask you (y/n)." Abacus' voice had a hint of agitation in it. "Perhaps not but he got his desires answers, perhaps to a much more precise degree than what your dingy calculations can come up with, and in a much shorter time frame." (y/n) appears to be just as agitated.
"As if. You run on simple predictions while I run on hard computing logic and simulations."
"Hm, seems like a hassle to go after one but perhaps it could be worth it...? How does a Sean green dragon taste?" ShuanShuan raised his head to the ceiling, thinking to himself. "Why, young master, it would taste like old copper and spices far beyond what ape-man could withstand. The meat is naturally toxic so that's why it houses so many deadly lifeforms as it's a free rein to all of them." If Abacus could make it known, he'd look at (y/n) with a smirk, "(y/n), you didn't even let the master know the meat was toxic. Are you faulty in safety regulations?"
"My regulations are running just fine; it was just a matter of answering the young man's question." Abacus and (y/n), if they could, threw glares at each other.
"Wow, you guys remind me of a couple I saw back at home! They'd always bicker such with each other before they'd make up!" ShuanShuan's voice rung out as Kuafu could be heard laughing from the background, "WHAT?!" Abacus voice module and (y/n)'s tao synergy wavered as they yelled.
"I would never ever compute with Daoist ideology incarnate."
"As if I would ever connect with a synthesized personality!"
ShuanShuan not minding their bickering, it being normal in the hub, "I wish Yi were here..."ShuanShuan seemed to have been a little disheartened. "Do either of you know when Yi will come back? I want to see him." ShuanShuan looked down at the floor with a frown on his face.
Outside of Yanlao's vital sanctum, Yi stood in place, finally obtaining Yanlao's sol seal. Abruptly, Yi flinched as not one, but two calls were pinging. Reciting both calls into one, Yi closed his eyes and raised his hand to his ear, "Abacus? (y/n)? Why're you both calling me?"
"Master Yi-" before Abacus could continue, "Master Yi, ShuanShuan requests you!"
"Huh...well then, extend my voice to one of your speakers." Yi's shoulders sagged, relieved nothing has happened back at base. "As you request, Master Yi.", "Of course, Master Yi!"
Unfortunately, (y/n) lacked a speaker function, a technological feat that doesn't fit their spiritual outlets. Knowing they were beat this time, they backed down, letting Abacus redirected his audio to his speakers. "ShuanShuan, can you hear me?" Yi's voice came from the speakers, "Loud and clear, Yi!" ShuanShuan got up from his sitting position to get closer to the speakers, a grin on his face.
"...Did you need anything?"
"No, I just wanted to hear your voice...it's been some time, and I was getting worried." ShuanShuan's voice lowered to a whisper at the end. "I see......if it's any consolation, I'll be heading back soon. I got a virtual reality headset for you." ShuanShuan's face brightened at this, a huge grin at his lips, "REALLY?! That sounds amazing!" Yi hummed and bid his brief farewell before hanging up.
(y/n) knew better than anyone that Abacus was throwing a smug 'look' their way...and yet they knew they couldn't retort against him this time.
"Do you know what my parents were like? If they're happily serving our tradition?"
A heavy pause persisted between both intelligent lifeforms as they processed the young ape-man's question. It was definitely something they wouldn't have guessed but anyways, "your parents?" Abacus' voice rung out to which ShuanShuan nodded eagerly, a hopeful look on his face. "I'm afraid I can't provide an answer to that. I haven't any kind of scrap of intel." Abacus replied, tone almost disheartened.
"Oh."
ShuanShuan looked disappointed for a split second before he forced a smile, "At least I know." Before ShuanShuan could walk off, "Do you not remember them?", Abacus' voice came through. ShuanShuan looked back at Abacus with an almost offended look on his face, "I remember them, sort of. I just wanted to know if there was something that I could look into to know them more. Maybe even see them again."
"I could project an image of them.", (y/n)'s voice butted in much to the surprise to ShuanShuan and Abacus but more so what they said. "Since when could you project images?" Abacus asked, "I could always share snippets of memories and feelings preserved in and out of the Tao. All curtesy of my creator Lear from all those decades ago." (y/n)'s tone held a subtle smugness to it, "But why not mention it after all of this time?" Abacus asked, "It was never needed before-"
"You can show me my mother and father...?" ShuanShuan's voice came out as a whisper, if the two weren't listening, they wouldn't have heard him. Turning their attention away from Abacus, they 'looked' towards ShaunShuan's rather vulnerable form, clutching at his ceremonial gown. "Of course, master ShuanShuan. I can dig up any memory I can scavenge from your village as they're in close proximity of the Primordial Roots."
Taking a moment to scurry the vast memories, feelings and even the Solarians that inhabit it, (y/n) looked and looked. ShuanShuan took tiny steps towards (y/n), sitting in front of them with barely any space between them, twiddling his fingers together as he waited anxiously.
"Found some!" ShuanShuan jumped and immediately looked at (y/n) with batted breath, "You know, I was mostly fortunate that their......ascension with tradition was only two to three years ago and not a decade ago!"
Conjuring up a vast amount of energy, pieces of (y/n)'s cubical form took on the shape of two ape-men, the colors a saturated dark green and blue, the color of Tao. The shapes fluctuated a bit, adding a pulse along the image every other second "I apologize I can't make the colors accurate, and my showcasing isn't too solid. I hope this will suffice, master ShuanShuan"
ShuanShuan didn't respond as his full attention was on the image before him. The image was of his family seemingly frozen in the midst of walking, the one who he figures is his mother was holding his infant self in her small hands caringly, a big smile on her face, her hair almost reached her waist, but it covered her face. Looking at it further, he noted how his father towered over them, he was built decently, he had a bag of supposed goodies slung over his shoulder as he held a basket in one hand. The rough outline of his face was reminiscent of a faint smile, his face covered by his hair.
(y/n) didn't say anything as they watched ShuanShuan marvel at the sight, taking it all in. A sudden electric pulse beside them reminded them of Abacus who hasn't said anything in a while. If they could, they'd throw a questioning look at him, but they couldn't. It's not like he was paying attention anyways, seemingly occupying himself with something else.
"Can I see their faces? An up-close look at them?"
Without a word, (y/n) deconstructed the image they conjured and reconstructed a shot of the mother's face, doing their best to emphasis as much detail as possible. ShuanShaun took it in and even reached out a hand to touch it only for his hand to go through and mess up the image, causing a gaping hole to appear in the face. shuanShaun pulled away in panic as (y/n) pulled the image back together. He was disheartened by this but was happy to cement the memory of his family in his head.
Pushing pass this, (y/n) showcased more and more images to ShuanShuan and he happily studied them.
annaxmalina
titsay
gummygunk
germansingergirl
