Personality [Serious / Irritable / Reliable / Starer]

A serious, hardworking and utmost reliable individual, Song Zhen treats every task with equal value and does not appreciate any sort of slacking in his presence. If one wants to slack off, it’s best to get out of Song Zhen’s sight, or be subject to a rather intense glare and cutting words.

Song Zhen may be cold, rough and harsh at times, still, he cares deeply about those close to him. Even when he complains and grip shoulders rather painfully, still always tries to help. Unless they’re being stupid, then they’re on their own.

No doubt intimidating in nature, his rbf (resting bitch face) doesn’t help either (which he doesn’t even bother toning down). Golden eyes that seem to stare into your soul and appraise your every movement, Song Zhen is very convenient to have around when someone is making a scene. A simple annoyed look and the common low-life will usually scurry off. However, his rbf does incite...difficult customers. His difficulty in hiding his annoyance has definitely set off more than a few customers. But then his extremely annoyed stare (or is it a glare) comes out and they usually quiet back down.

Despite his seriously lacking sense of humour, Song Zhen does enjoy...some dad jokes, just some. Even then, there hadn’t really been any that made him laugh, simply made him smile/chuckle.

If one couldn’t tell, Song Zhen is pretty uptight, though not as bad when compared to his younger self. A stickler for cleanliness and order, Song Zhen can’t stand when people don’t clean up after themselves, and most importantly, don’t clean up after themselves right. He often takes it upon himself to make things right, grumbling and judging the entire way.

One could say he’s also stoic, able to endure hardship without a complaint, if not for how easily he is annoyed. There are things he can look past, even if he doesn’t think it’s right. He’s willing to listen, if it’s not stupid. If it’s not stupid. If he has to tell you twice, annoyed. If you’re loud, annoyed. If you’re—annoyed.

Of course, when it concerns children, he is completely different. Patient and understanding, Song Zhen doesn’t mind answering the same question twice, five or even ten times, though, his smile may get just a tad strained at ten. A common sight at the local orphanage. Song Zhen often spends his weekends volunteering with anything they might need help with. He may not be the most fun of uncles, but Song Zhen tries his best.

Other

- acts disinterested, but can't help but turn an ear towards idle gossip
- has a tendency to stare...intensely
- chinese-styled tea shop, serves sweets and sometimes simple meals depending on his mood/season
- left eye has worse eyesight
- flowers at his ears are skeleton flowers! Turn transparent when touched by water

Skills

- Can teleport objects using his peony flowers over long distances, as long as the flower is there; also a way for him to track people/objects
- Petals can become razor sharp
- He can “infuse” others with his flowers, cutting away at their insides
- By stabbing them with his peonies, he can forcefully make their bodies sprout. Pretty depending on your pov lol.
- Specializes in martial arts and handles various weapons with ease

Before the tea shop, Song Zhen was an ex-mercenary and part of a pretty talented group of mercenaries. They joined many expeditions and took on plenty of jobs. Some dangerous, and some just plain weird. Nonetheless, money was money and how money was important to those that had so little. Somewhere along the way, this haphazard group composed of seven very different individuals became a family.

Their leader had been the first to retire, his injuries from a battle having ended up affecting his health long term. Song Zhen soon settled down with Hua Ying. And life became even more beautiful when his daughter came into the world. But it seemed fate wouldn't be so kind to them.

Sadly, his ragtag family of seven slowly dwindled to three. A disappearance and three deaths (he would later find out their group had been targeted). It had been hard for Song Zhen to recover. Especially after Hua Ying. And even more so after his daughter passed.

Song Zhen had tried his best to find a cure, but it had been to no avail. No matter how much money he made, no matter how many jobs he took, there had been nothing he could do to prevent death from taking her away. He could only slowly watch her wither away, and so he withered away too.

Turning to alcohol, Song Zhen tried to drown the pain away. Everyday was a drunken blur, always drinking and always trying to drown. He turned away from what was left of his family and isolated himself, flying into a rage when they tried to comfort him.

Then rage was met with rage, fist with fist and tears with tears. And finally Song Zhen was reached.