Hu Tao Open Post

[whotao]

77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor at your service!



[OOC: This an open post for Hu Tao from Genshin Impact! If you want to plot, feel free to PM this journal or message me at bronnichiwa!]

Comments

[searingwing]

Aether had brought Diluc along for the strange journey of helping a spirit over to the other side. Why? Well, his power helped them during the puzzles needed to cross over. He gives them space once they reach the place they need to be and looks out at the pale green space he can only partly see.

He can’t admit to himself that he felt relief and some small amount of disappointment not to see either of his parents waiting on this side. They had no regrets. That’s good. But deep, deep down...he misses them and wishes he could have said a lot of things.

He tenses when he hears footsteps and turns to face the director with a calm look on his face. “Sorry, lost in thought. You’re ready to go?” There is something less about him. Like the aura of power and command took a hit.

[whotao]

Does Hu Tao recognize the subtle changes in Diluc’s expression? If she does, she doesn’t make it obvious. Being a funeral director means she deals with death on the daily; it’s part of her life.

She’s seen the many faces of those grieving, and while she may not know who (or “Hu”) it is for, she may very well recognize one of those faces in Diluc. If she does, her expression doesn’t show it, though. She seems just as non-plussed and energetic as ever.

“Heh heh, of course!”

She pauses, but her expression stays upbeat.

“You know, I was kinda worried when Aether said he was bringing someone else along, but you took it all in stride! A lotta mortals get real creeped out around here.”

[searingwing]

“It’s unsettling but there’s many odd places in this world. It makes sense the other side would share that.” Diluc says as he crosses his arms over his chest. It also unsettles him how relaxed she is about it all but it reminds him faintly of the god of Anemo. Maybe all those of great power have their quirks.

“...and it’s comforting to know that it protects itself like this.” He adds as he looks back out over the waters ahead of them. “It isn’t something I thought about that heavily.” It was better not to. That way lay his demons and he can’t afford to look at them too closely.

He glances back at Aether talking with the ghost then back at her. “Why didn’t you voice your concerns at the start?”

[whotao]

“Isn’t it obvious?” She chuckles. Should she be chuckling? The fact that she’s currently holding her arms slightly over her chest to mimic a ghost probably doesn’t help her cause.

“If you tell someone there’s gonna be a bunch of spooky stuff ahead, they’re gonna start thinking everything’s caused by ghosts. Of course they’re gonna get freaked out.”

If the way casual way she speaks is any indication, it’s a topic she has a lot of experience in.

“It’s like possessions. Of course, when the Yaksha were around, possessions and stuff definitely happened. They’re not as common now.”

She pauses again, making another “ghost-like” gesture. Who is in charge of this child?

“But if you go around saying that possessions are a real thing, suddenly every bump in the night is gonna seem like you’re haunted by a ghost.”

[searingwing]

He takes a second to think that over. Given what he’s seen on the mortal side of things even from a political perspective... “I see what you mean. And you don’t know me, so better to err on the side of caution.” Something flickers in his eyes and then he sighs.

“And more fun. Right?” He adds with a raise of his eyebrow. “Anyway, all that aside. ... hear things but I haven’t caught a lot of Liyue’s ancient history. What does the funeral parlor fit into all of that? Other than guarding this gateway between.” Any information he can learn could help him learn more of what to expect. “...you have my word I won’t reveal it anyone. This is strictly for my own curiosity.”

[whotao]

More fun? More fun indeed. Hu Tao doesn't know much about Diluc, but he seems like someone who would be fun to mess with. Not that she'd do so here of course; Hu Tao is many things, but first and foremost, she is someone with respect for the dead.

She is also someone with respect for tradition. She doesn't make it a point to go explaining the history of the Funeral Parlor to anyone who will listen, but Diluc seems trustworthy enough. She's already guided him here, after all, so there's little harm in him knowing.

"Of course, but before I start, how much do you know about the Yaksha?"

[searingwing]

Diluc leans back a bit on his heels in thought. "About as much as I think most of the public knows. I'm aware that they were tasked to face down demons by Rex Lapis. The task...broke them. Only one remains. Whatever is true about that I don't know. My investigations have been focused...elsewhere."

Into the Abyss and Fatui. He will admit while he's been investigating things he hasn't dipped his fingers into every thing he probably should have. Especially with the Traveler going far from Mond. "Given...the strange things going on. I assume all you're about to tell me peels back what is story from what is truth."

[whotao]

So he knows something, then? That certainly helps.

"Nah, nothing so serious as that. See, a long time ago, when the Yaksha fought the gods, they emerged victorious. But that didn't mean the people were spared the gods' wrath."

Her expression drops. She doesn't seem sad as much as she is reserved. For all that she's willing to be carefree, she takes her duties seriously.

"At that time, a plague spread throughout the land. The bodies of the dead continued to pile up, until they were like a small mountain. Eventually, someone realized that in order to rid the world of the sickness, the air would need to be purified, and the dead would need to be put to rest," and with the last line, her expression perks up.

"And that person was the founder of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! Pretty impressive, right?"

[searingwing]

Diluc shuts his eyes too. He can picture it. The gods terrible wrath bringing suffering and death that the gods couldn't thwart. Davlin had fallen to such. The Yaksha themselves one by one going dark like candle flames snuffed out.

"They never are." He murmurs and that serious air he'd carried when she first met him is back as if it never left. "...but yes, it is. Seventy seven directors have guarded and protected the border and done their duty. It's something to admire."

He glances about again then looks back at her. "Maybe one day, all the air will be purified everywhere." Many places still bear the scars of that old war even now. "In the future, if you need any assistance and the Traveler is busy. Call on me. I'll do what I can."