#xisha

I’ve recently redesigned my lovely skullie and wanted to share the finished product and the timelapse of the process! Total time was about 8-10 hours.

Was it worth it?? Let me know what you think!

I sighed, leaving my stylus to hold my page while I prepared myself for what I would see. At this point, I still didn't know much about Dante past the point that he was a graduate student researching a theory on Alchemy to prove his mettle. He didn't talk about family, his past, his friendships which were few. Much less why we were close. So, I wasn't shocked or confused or even laughing when I saw a dress on a mannequin in his bedroom.

'What is this?'

'It's a dress. I think. Does it look like a dress?'

'Dante, yes it's a dress.'

'Oh good. So then, it's a dress, ahhhha.'

'..This is what you want me to wear?' He nodded, then he blinked and smiled with sudden embarrassment. At this point, I was undecided on how to respond and I wasn't sure how to approach this. Until I remembered he wanted to explain it.

The mannequin was impressive in that, without character features or color, it looked like my figure. The pose was decidedly in the form of looking down at something held in the left hand, the right hand pressed against the lower back. And once I was closer, the dress was more than impressive, it looked oddly practical, like something a Hunter would wear for a festival.

He didn't say anything as I examined it, but became more antsy the more I lifted and played with it. I could tell he was trying to contain himself with how much my opinion mattered, which was slightly uncomfortable because I was internally just a little indifferent. The piece was connected at the sides, with a hem that extended down to my knees and sleeves that became tight at the wrist. The fabric was soft and not that elaborate. The more I looked at it, the more I imagined that a Hunter who dipped into politics, an image that kind of seemed interesting.

'I'll wear it.'

'Yes! Hurry, put it on!'

'Why!?'

'I won't say until you're wearing it.'

'Dante, I'm not.. I am not sure I want to wear it.'

'I've already decided that you must. And I think once you are wearing it, you'll agree that it is good.' I felt a whine begin in my throat, but there was always something about the mix of Dante's invisible accent and his inner world that made it impossible to say no. The truth was that I was too interested and in full honesty, I was already wearing something slightly similar. In the comfort of his private room that no one ever came into, I wore flowing sweaters and caps that kept my hair up from my eyes indoors, courting the look of Doyann the Highest cartoons from my childhood. And even if this wasn't something he knew, it was something I knew, and I couldn't know that he wouldn't see that in me. So, there was a lot of risk on my mind as I started to undress.

'Thanks..' I muttered as he helped me put on the dress. There were parts beneath the outer layer that were fitted to my body and I needed careful instruction when putting my head in because of some unnoticeable lacing between my neck and shoulders. He zipped the back up and asked if I wanted to wear anything else before he looked. When I turned around, I saw that he was closing his eyes tightly AND covering them with one arm.

'Um, no, an explanation will be fine.'

'You're sure you are fine?'

'I mean, I'm wearing it. I'm dressed. Why are you covering your eyes?'

'I'm just excited.'

'Well..' I sighed, but then I noticed two things. First, I felt kind of professional. The dress was definitely a performance outfit, like a dancer's. But, the person in the mirror looked held together. Fancy. To put it differently, my mother would have approved of the dress if it were on herself or another woman. And as I combed my hair a bit, I saw a little bit of that beauty in myself. I did a pose the mannequin was doing and I immediately thought of Anitia Astrygyg, the Xenizoran doctor who made advancements in worldwide health care technology every year since I was born. My breath left my body and I smiled with excitement and adoration.

'I hear good things!'

'Its just a really good dress, god!'

'I can probably look then.'

'Yes, like I am so ready for you to explain this to me.' I looked back to him and saw that he was smiling with just as much excitement. His unused hand was clenched and fidgeting. After struggling, he lowered his hand grinned even harder before taking a deep breath. I could see his lips move, muttering some kind of hard reminder to himself. Finally, he opened his eyes, and dramatically pointed a finger at me before groaning angrily, folding his fingers into a fist.

'I wish I had spoken before I did this to myself. I forgot you were already out of my league.'

HAIKOU, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese archaeological team has wrapped up its underwater excavation in the Xisha archipelago in the South China Sea, with scores of relics uncovered and several surveys conducted, local authorities said Monday.

The team returned to Qinglan Port, Wenchang City, Hainan Province, on Monday after a 40-day mission, according to team leader Deng Qijiang.

A Chinese archaeological team has embarked on its journey to excavate a shipwreck near Shanhu Island in the Xisha archipelago in the South China Sea, local authorities said on Monday.

The 25-strong team left Qinglan Port, Wenchang City, Hainan Province, on Sunday for its 45-day research mission, according to the provincial cultural heritage administration.

China remembers 'The Battle of Xisha'

Forty years ago, 18 Chinese soldiers were killed in a battle with Vietnamese troops in the South China Sea. 

Prior to the conflict, Vietnam had controlled some islands within the Paracel Archipelago, known in China as the Xisha Islands.

While it might not fill history books and light imaginations like World War II or China’s revolutionary struggle, the small naval engagement has reverberated over the years.

For the veterans who were there, it was a transformative engagement and one that must never be forgotten.

"The extraordinary experience of the war against the invaders at the Xisha Islands will always stay clear in our minds. We have spilled our blood and sacrificed our lives to safeguard the country’s sovereignty," said veteran Huang Ben. 

Huang and his comrades are older now, some have even passed away, but they have never forgotten the struggle. 

Almost every year, they gather to commemorate the historic event, and pay tribute to those who were killed at sea.

Believe it or not though, none of the Xisha Battle veterans have ever returned to the islands they fought for. Many, however, yearn to return.

"We miss Xisha so much. We’d like to go back to see it, live in a tent, light an oil lamp, drink the island’s water, sing a song for it, and recall our glorious past when we were the Xisha soldiers," said Huang.