Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[gunsmithed]

[ All things considered, the fact that Percy relaxes slightly as a red dragon emerges from the foliage might be a bit strange. But he's had his time to get used to dragons here, and honestly the color is one of the least worrisome things about it at the moment. He tips his head at the rumbling noise it makes, only for his eyes to suddenly shoot wide as the dragon's jaws part -- no amount of socializing can take away certain instincts.

He throws himself to the side as the burst of fire goes past, but the shrill screaming has him scrambling to face the noise, rather than the dragon itself. And that certain is a shade, on fire or not, and Percy's instincts take over again. Bad News comes up and fires, at much closer range than it really should, but the arachne's scream cuts off as suddenly as it started.

Breathing a bit faster now, Percy keeps himself facing the arache, gun at the ready just in case, though he glances back over his shoulder towards the dragon. ]

Thank you. [ Assuming that was meant to be an assistance. Percy's going to err on the side of politeness. ]

[zewu_jun]

[He does actually give the disgruntled vendor a small nod out of courtesy as he takes Sae away, although for anyone who knew him the gesture would be considered uncharacteristically cold. Once they are further away, he shifts his hold slightly so he can look down to her, confused by the question she asks.]

Why should that matter? You deserve kindness as much as anyone. Don't be afraid to ask me for anything. I promise that nothing bad will happen.

[hypomeneo]

It's a pleasure to meet you again, Endiku.

[Some of tension leaks out of Waver as he reaches out and takes their hand and gives it a firm shake as his lips relax into the wannest and smallest of smiles. He quite pointedly doesn't wonder if Gilgamesh is around. There is a List of things to wonder and be very concerned and possibly frightened about, frankly, starting with just how he got here. And maybe why Endiku, terrifyingly skilled warrior they are, is missing a few fingers.

Though it appears now there's no immediate danger at least? There's a silent sigh - he's in no condition to deal with that, in more ways than one, and it bothers him. It was going to end up this way, of course, but the universe keeps finding new and creative ways to shove how little he's able to do about anything in his face.]

I would love to hear about it if you have the time. Where are we exactly?

[gunsmithed]

[ One of Percy's eyebrows lifts slightly as he pauses, not really sure what to make of being thrown philosophy in the middle of what are essentially hunting grounds. He watches the man for a moment, then shifts to hang the rifle back on his shoulder, his own version of showing non-hostility. It's still in easy reach just in case, but. ]

At the moment, no. [ On a more metaphysical level, who knows. But it doesn't stop Percy from giving him a rather sardonic look. ] This may not be the safest place to be mesmerized.

[ He may be new, he may be unaware. He may just be very confused. In any case, Percy does not feel terribly comfortable leaving him out here on his own. ]

[chifeng_zun]

Because it's unsettling. [He says simply, blunt as ever, seeing no reason to beat around this bush. Nie Mingjue is not terribly fond of magic, or terribly fond of this place yet, and these new developments are even stranger than he thought imaginable.

As he leads the way to a small inn, after he's asked the proprietor for some towels, he sends Jiang Cheng a small, grim smile.] Then we are in agreement. [On the fact that Jin Guangyao should have stayed dead and that he's a lying liar who lies. The woman comes out a few minutes later with an armful of towels for Jiang Cheng, obviously trying and failing not to give them a strange look.] Apparently fate had further plans for the both of us dead men.

At least you are less stuck than some of us. Supposedly you will be able to leave the way you came, at some point. [He breaks again to get them a table in the small dining room and order a pot of tea as well. At this hour, it's basically empty.]

[moneytwin]

Indeed. I have a friend who can transport people via plants. It's proven quite useful. [gods, she misses Keyleth right now] I'm surprised there haven't been reports of broken mirrors to go along with it. Or has there? [she honestly doesn't know]

[ Trust Percivals whatever the world to work at a forge.

You would not think a name on its own would feel like a punch to the gut. But Vex can feel her throat close, and she swallows thickly; it's not her Percy, she knows that, she knows exactly where he is.. And Hiccup is a stranger. He can't know what that name means to her. So she clears her throat, and fixates on something closer at hand: ]

A terrible terror? How did something like this little guy earn so big a name? I can see how useful a creature his size could be next to a fire, though.

[ Once they're at what she judges a safe distance, items are pulled free, and casually offered to Hiccup; two blue tinged bottles, and a charm shaped like a cresent moon ]

This one heals wounds, that one curses any manner of poisons, and the amulet supposedly 'improves chances of finding someone to bond with'. All far too over priced, but.. [she winks, then. she's far too pleased with herself for getting a good deal.] I was planning to use them as barter with someone else in the market.

[sandu_shengshou]

[ don't even fucking think about it. though when he finds out about the whole wedding fiasco he will probably willingly place himself between Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun. not because he doesn't trust them but-- who the fuck is he kidding.

it is thanks to years of knowing Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng knows trouble brewing when he hears it, no matter how innocent the guise. which is the only reason why he didn't flinch when his wrist is grabbed. his fist curls inwards and there is tension in the line of his shoulders but he doesn't immediately yank his hand away. he does try to keep some distance between them though, which allows his own confusion at the comments about potatoes. it forces him to take a closer look at Wei Wuxian, eyes sharp.

surely, there are differences, changes that are similar in some sense to Jiang Cheng's own; the teeth, the sharpness to the fingertips wrapped around his wrist. but there are other changes too, ones that are not as obvious if you don't know to look for them.

it makes Jiang Cheng's chest tightens and he stumbles.]

Home? What-- where the fuck is home Wei Wuxian?

[ there is bitterness there in the bones of the words, the notion of home that has felt off-kilter and incomplete for years even when he didn't want to admit it.]

i dont have premium paid, so you get the super cute wink instead of the sly wink icon

[moneytwin]

[ Her hearing is much more acute in this form, yet there's no denying that gun is exactly what she thinks it is. If there are any other shades close by, they don't follow after their now charred and exploded kin, and Vex turns to regard Percy as he looks over his shoulder at her.

The dragon turns her head, and answers his thanks with a clear and unmistakable wink.

Then she's off, partially bounding, partially gliding as much as the trees will allow: there are so many. But the den she'd claimed for shelter is not far, it won't take her long to double back once she changes. She stops only once to look back, and give a second wink he's unlikely to be able to see.

Now she knows he's here, Vex'ahlia is certain she could find Percival anywhere in these woods. ]

[arturiarex]

[ That's OK, so is Saber. She starts after him after a moment. ]

Wait - are you new? From the mirrors?

[shinkunochou]

[She looks equally as confused back; her world view had been terribly limited and sheltered. The fact that things can work entirely different from outside her village is not a thought she’d ever spent much time on before.]

Because... I’m one of the Twin Shrine Maidens... We’re the guardian deities of the region. The village worshipped us as gods, but... [But they had been awed and terrified in equal turns by them. She was much more used to being feared for just existing.]

...I don’t need anything. Just my sister. [She says that, but then her stomach growls loudly and her face turns pink.] M-...Maybe something to eat...

[zewu_jun]

[ The smile is friendly and seems peaceful enough, and Lan Xichen is just the type to take someone at their word most of the time, so despite wearing a sword and flute at his side, he shows no sign of being aggressive at all. ]

I suppose I might have seen some of nature, but I wouldn't want violence to come to anyone if it can be avoided. Even if it is normal, it seems harsh.

[ But the suggestion gets a light laugh out of him. ]

Only if it were practice. Sparring out here is a good way to learn how to manage new abilities and instincts, so it seems like it could be fun. I have seen a few who were challenging each other as well as hunting Shades. Have you heard about those yet?

[ If he isn't sure what is going on, then he might be at risk for infection, so Lan Xichen holds onto a bit of his concern. ]

[meteodrives]

I don't know.

[ No, she does know. At least, Tifa has well-known the context of what happened that day. The great General Sephiroth lost his mind, slaughtered the people, killed her father... Until she'd seen it through Cloud's eyes and known more, that was all she'd known. And even Cloud, he'd known just the same. Sephiroth had come to Nibelheim, had gone to the reactor, and had come out to kill anyone who stood in his way.

Because of Jenova, because of some obsession with her. And because of Shinra, in a way, she guessed. ]

I didn't know you. We barely spoke. But you went into the reactor and that was the last I'd seen of you until you came back to the town. I don't know what you found or what you saw before then--

[ Her fists tighten at her sides. ]

But it was you.

[finesseblade]

This guy has to be a dragon, right? But the more Felix looks, the more he thinks, no, that's not right. No scales or wings to speak of. He's seen enough strange things here—has a friend who's twenty-three and looks like a toddler, and there's a guy around here who's just a deer in a suit—to think, maybe this is just something new.

His ears perk forward at the mention of death, though, betraying curiosity beneath the casual indifference he's trying to effect.

"Congratulations. You don't look dead now," he says with a shrug, and he thinks. Lorenz was dead, but that's an odd case of two different Lorenzes, not Lorenz coming back to life. The only person here he's seen die and come back is—

Ah. Golden eyes narrow sharply.

"...I can show you where to get food," he ventures after a moment, frowning. Another moment, and he sighs and shrugs out of his cloak, tossing it unceremoniously in Molly's direction. He's not going about the city dragging a half-naked purple man behind him, not even to the Salty Seadog. It's dry, at least. "But for saints' sakes, wear this."

[gunsmithed]

I'd imagine not.

[ From what he's seen so far, there isn't much to be found in terms of anything useful, and she doesn't seem to be the type to be hunting for the less-than-legal. Though he could be wrong, who knows. Percy shifts a little to take in the chaotic spread of the rest of the market, head tipped to the side thoughtfully.

Even with as little as they've spoken, there's something to this woman that reminds him with a pang of Cassandra, even if he tries not to look for it very hard. But that flash of his younger sister might be enough to make Percy unusually helpful, ]

Are you looking for something specific?

[fabrications]

[ The living room definitely isn't any sort of Japanese aesthetic, but it's still... kind of cute, actually, with a gingham couch and handmade wood furniture and polished wood floors. Most tellingly, it doesn't have the odd atmosphere or unusual physical traits associated with the Metaverse. It just looks like someone's living room, circa a hundred years ago.

Akechi's ready to explain, but when she makes her demand he shoots her an unimpressed look over his shoulder. Not angry or irritated, just tired. He kind of wants to tell her no and kick her out, but... well, he can't fault her for being confused or upset, he guesses. ]

This isn't the Metaverse, but it is another world. We're in a city called Aefenglom, but I've already been here a few months.

[ He takes a seat on his couch, suppressing the urge to yawn. He probably shouldn't sit down when he's so tired, but he really needs Ann to relax and he's not sure how else to make himself seem less threatening. ]

It runs on magic, not technology. So your phone won't work, the Navigator won't work, and you won't be able to use your Persona.

[gunsmithed]

Percy's eyebrows lift, and then climb steadily higher as he listens. He's heard of more and more Mirrorbound appearing, but coming through the baths is certainly a new one. That explains a little, if not all, of the tiefling's current predicament, though the specific mention of meat is also interesting.

"Aefenglom," he says to begin with, "is what's it's called. You're not the first to arrive unexpectedly, I'm afraid. There are restaurants and the like, but you may be a bit, ah, underdressed at the moment." And bloody. That should really be the first concern, and Percy's eyes narrow a bit.

"Are you hurt?"

[knowledgeordeath]

[Oh. The tiny human is following. He looks down at her then nods.]

Yes. That seems to be unusual.

[zewu_jun]

[If carrying a god like that is disrespectful, Lan Xichen has decided to continue his blasphemous path. Sae might be a god, but she certainly looks like a young god, and he is committed to protecting her.]

If that is so, then please consider this my gesture of worship. I won't allow a god to injure herself on the street or else heaven might punish me for neglect.

[He can feel the sadness of missing a sibling, though. That reflects into his smile even though the expression remains gentle. Some things he cannot give and he can only feel sympathy for her loss. At least there is something he can do for her, however small it is.]

Don't worry. That much I can at least accomplish.

[And if Lan Xichen decides that his destination has to be a vendor selling something resembling strawberry tanghulu, well, that is probably just coincidence, right? He does have to set her down to make the purchase, but he only does so when he finds a nice seat with a proper table.]

Here. If you have something you'd like to eat, just let me know.

[shikomizue]

[A puff of smoke escapes Takasugi's lips, betraying the silent dismissal he gives Isaac's refusal. He doesn't buy it - this man's hands aren't clean. But he'll let the subject pass, this time.]

Then what sort of stories do you like?

I'm not picky. [He settles against the corner, back arched slightly as if he could fold into the building itself. Idle fingers tamp the tobacco in his pipe, embers beginning to fade.]

Arrival - I'm dying because of https://images.plurk.com/20gMYe9Qtz04MiNTQiMIiP.png

[stopfen]

[Mikasa still wasn't used to all of the 'big city' things that were here. She'd grown up in a simple cabin in the woods, then in the poorest district, then the ever changing military barracks. So there was a lot of novelties.

Like the fountain. Just shooting little jets of water up into the air, small mirrors around it's base and dangling on chimes to reflect the light in a myriad of colours. So she was just by, watching the little rainbows reflect.

Then some guy just. Suddenly. Bursts out. Making the fae jump back hissing at him. Antenna flicking forward for a moment to sniff, then back behind her head to keep them safe. Pupils thinning until they were just slits on her dark eyes.]

[ex_pathway290]

Markus' eyes faintly narrowed. That was strange. Connor had never denied being a machine. He had never looked distressed over words - and Markus caught that flicker of red as well. It was enough to capture his interest, but not quite enough to prove his intentions weren't hostile. Not yet, anyway. He needed to see more.

"The past year?" He repeated, throwing a glance at Hank. "But.. I just saw him a few hours ago." His look shifted to Connor, "How could you have been here for a year...? And how could you have experienced the memories that you showed me when I don't remember them happening? It doesn't make sense."

Wang Lingjiao | The Untamed | Arachne | OTA

[dis_arming]

a) an unusual arrival

"How dare you! Just you wait! I'm going to come back with many strong cultivators and then you'll be sorry!"

The door of the house Wang Lingjiao had popped up out of remains stubbornly closed. She kicks and still, it remains closed. She sniffs, scowling, before giving up and starting to walk down unfamiliar streets.

She hugs herself as she walks, pouting fiercely and looking quite miserable in her fine dress and garish jewelry. She doesn't understand how she has ended up here but she figures it must have been some cultivation accident. Transportation techniques exist, after all, though they are well past her level of skill. Maybe she got caught up in someone's training accident. There will be hell to pay once Wen Chao finds her, she promises herself, she will have all his men who were with them today executed. But for now she is stuck in some very unfamiliar, foreign city and there is exploring to be done. She might as well have fun while she waits to be retrieved.


b) the goblin market

So the fun has passed. This is awful. Wang Lingjiao is turning into a monster and that just won't do! How is she supposed to charm the powerful and rich man on whose favor all her fortune depends if she is some ugly monstrous spider creature? She is turning into something gross! No, this isn't simply awful, it's the worst. Ever.

Her change has already started, she has a second pair of arms though still a way to go to the full eight, and her hands and wrists are covered by the beginnings of a chitinous armor, still soft and malleable right now.

"No!" she shrieks at a merchant of the goblin market, glowering at him, flashing her budding fangs and hissing at him. "I need a cure! Don't you know anything, you stupid wretch?! I'm going to get hairy if this continues! I can't be hairy and ugly when Wen Chao finds me!" She stabs a finger at the disgruntled but unimpressed man. You'll be sorry! Just you watch!"


c) a wilde hunt... in the woods and in town

People had laughed at her when she threatened them in her early days. Now they wouldn't be laughing anymore. Jiaojiao's change has progressed extremely quickly under the full moon, she has quickly transformed into a right proper Arachne... and she is eager to test out her new powers.

She hunts in the wilde at first, stalking the forest as an eight-limbed and many-eyed monster who is perfectly attuned to hunting in the dark, incredibly fast and agile with excellent night vision, and a poisonous venom that will petrify her prey so she can take her sweet time to weave them into her web.

But hunting Shades is boring, she has never cared much for being a hero, and the other hunters are the skilled and martial among the new arrivals. Wang Lingjiao has always preferred easy prey, and so she soon takes to weaving her webs in the darker, seedier corners of the city, prowling the Harbor District for amusing toys. It's not that she wants to eat them, though she does once catch herself devouring a particularly juicy rat that got tangled in her web, but she is bored.


d) wildcard

[ex_pathway290]

Being a new person himself, he couldn't really say much to the contrary. The fact that she could point him in the right direction at all was progress compared to what he knew. Which, in comparison, was probably very little. He'd apparently come to a vendor who was selling fakes, after all. "Actually, I think you're doing pretty good if you're able to know where to shop and what to avoid."

Markus strode past so he could make way for the stand that she had indicated before. "Would you mind if I called you 'Sae'?"

[hypomeneo]

[Waver drops slightly to get a better look, hands falling to Flat's shoulders. He's younger, the hair different, he wears the clothes and moves like one of the inhabitants here. Flat has been here for some time. The hand, though... don't think your professor hasn't noticed.

His instincts and intuition - which Waver will deny are very much of anything, he is just an analyzer of facts and no real detective - are starting to clamor in alarm as he sees that shifting expression. What's there to be frightened of? Waver's eyes widen very slightly and shift to that hidden hand just a fraction.

He suddenly pulls Flat into a fierce hug.]

It's me.

It's going to be okay.

[weiward]

[if he's going to do that, at least do it horizontally. then they'll have one pre-wedding ritual complete.

wei wuxian's eyes are gold instead of brown now, but his vision is perfectly fine, and he's missed jiang cheng enough to drink in the details of him in no time at all. his brother also looks different. older, in a way that's more noticeable than it was with lan zhan. he died and his pain ended, but people that he cared for continued to bleed. it's no wonder jiang cheng is still pissed off at him. wei wuxian's pissed off at himself too sometimes, and he looks a little abashed as he answers.]

This way.

['home' exists in a direction, but also in the familiar pale ribbon tied around his wrist. it exists inside his brother too, in yunmeng and in gusu. it's no wonder that he could even make a home in that cursed place in yiling.]

Do you need some water along the way? [wei wuxian arches a brow as he looks at him.] To keep you, er - moist?