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

[headshaking]

[ tfw you're rich and then suddenly not rich.... what is rent

huaisang doesn't want to hear the answer as much as he does. it's been so long since nie mingjue's death, and going back to those memories is near habit, for nie huaisang. he's relieved them thousands of times, combed every detail, woken up sweating and sobbing in his bed when they haunted his dreams. with the final burial of his brother, safely performed with the proper rites, he'd thought maybe he'd find some sort of closure. instead, he's found some magical place where his brother stands before him, walking, talking, making tea. it makes the entire thing feel more surreal, and a part of him wishes he could ignore it, pretend nothing was wrong.

but, that's a fool's errand, and his brother barreling forwards through the difficult topic is comforting, undeniably, fondly familiar. unafraid of anything as ever. huaisang looks to him for guidance as he used to, leaning against the doorframe and staying silent as mingjue speaks. his expression flickers briefly as he mentions seeing his face (that part of the memory of his brother's death is crystal clear. nie huaisang will never forget the way he stopped. it overwhelmed him in the moment, and years later, he feels a twin surge of love and anger whenever he thinks of it, furious for the unfairness of it all.)

he's been tapping his fan gently against the curve of his mouth throughout the story, and it pauses as he apologizes. slowly, huaisang clicks the fan shut again, turning his gaze down and away for the first time, a frown pulling at the edge of his mouth, expression soft, sad. ] If there were things to forgive, they're long since forgiven. I....I'm sorry too, da-ge.

[ how nice it is, to say such a thing. it feels almost relieving. how many times had they argued in life, only to make up for it later, in their own ways? huaisang picking up a saber when he'd wronged his brother and willingly working through his forms, attending meetings, trying to be the kind of little brother that someone like nie mingjue had always deserved.

he rubs his thumb against the lacquer of the wood on the fan, soothing it over the grain as he speaks. ] I was a fool for so long.

[ was he a fool for not knowing sooner? or a fool for being a silly little boy for so long, taking his big brother's presence by his side for granted? both, and both are egregious. ] It's been ten years since then.

[chifeng_zun]

[This is a hard subject for both of them. There are a lot of hard subjects to cover between the two of them, too many years to cross the bridge of to find each other again. Nie Mingjue is nothing but grateful though, grateful that he has this opportunity and he can be better this time. He wants to leave nothing unsaid, no stone unturned, nothing hidden anymore because they are both different men but they will never stop being each other's only real family.

When Huaisang looks away, he feels that his brother's eyes are no longer on him, and frowns, the well-worn furrow in his brow the same as ever. He sets the tea down and reaches over to pat his cheek, urging him to look up.] There is nothing to forgive. My temper got the better of me often, and I was too harsh. I remember burning your things - I will make up for that. [It hurts to think about, but it feels good to admit his wrongs, it feels good to be able to tell his brother everything that has gone through his mind since he woke up here, clear and alive.

He should have done this sooner, while he had the chance. How different could things have been if he'd only trusted his younger brother with more of his burdens and admitted his wrongs more readily?]

Jin Guangyao fooled us both. [Mingjue releases a breath, along with it the spark of anger that always comes up when he thinks about that little man. Now is not the time (though the fact that he can do that again is a relief).] You have grown, Huaisang. From what I hear, you are certainly no fool now.

[Despite his admittedly mixed feelings on Huaisang's revenge, the smile that touches his lips, while small, is wistful, for all the years he's missed. Even though Jin Guangyao is a whole other can of worms (snakes) to open. For just a moment, he wants to look at his brother and take in what has changed.]

[headshaking]

[ the callouses on the hand on his cheek are so familiar that it's utterly grounding. the little reminders that all of this is real, not some false dream, are best realized here, and he turns his gaze up to look at his brother proper, a little forlorn, still a little far away.

he's tried not to think much, about the argument that preceded nie mingjue's death. it had been so silly, in the grand scheme of things, but he'd been unbelievably hurt by it, shocked by the action--and in a way, it was part of what set his mind in motion that something might have been off. there were so many things to be hurt by that it seemed far away, now, but it brings a small smile to his face, at the thought of 'making up for' it.

....he's also not so altruistic to just say something like "your presence is enough" because he's still nie huaisang, in the end. ] ...I'll have to start a fresh collection, in this place. [ so yea spoil him please.

that lightens the mood just a bit, and huaisang accepts the tea quietly, now willing enough to at least sit down. he waits for nie mingjue to finish before he does, though, still hovering so that he's constantly in sight. it gives him a second to collect his thoughts properly, the smile that started to tug at his mouth closing off again.

jin guangyao. the name makes something dark and ugly rise up in nie huaisang's chest, and -- from the way his brother speaks of him, it mixes with a twist of guilt.

he's thought many times, about what his brother would think of his actions, of his plan. that it was cowardly. that it wasn't how a real man should fight--a nie should face his problems head on with a sword in hand, as mingjue had done all those years ago during the sunshot campaign, as every great leader of their sect had ever done. he was to be the moral center of their ancestral way, burning a great, bright flame until he, like every other nie before him, brother included, was snuffed out by his own hubris.

but huaisang had never done that. he'd avoided his saber, avoided his training, and instead showed the whole world how foolish and stupid he was. over and over, he'd humiliated their reputation, presenting himself as the headshaker, a weak and useless sect leader who could be so easily knocked out, once the other great sects weren't so wobbly at the knees. in the process, he'd taken his seat across jin guangyao and met him at his level, playing mental acrobatics, lying, lying, lying to keep just one step ahead of him. it was dishonest and dirty, and people died because of his decisions--some on purpose, like the half brother mo xuanyu, and others still on accident. not only had he been a liar, but he hadn't even been entirely successful; parts of his plan blew up in his face. he had to improvise more than once, and he lost many hours of sleep to every dishonest little piece, thinking of how he might be able to (maybe) get justice for his brother, but he'd never do so in a way to make him proud.

huaisang has been so guarded and protective of his tale that even speaking to his brother feels strange. if there was anyone in the world he could have safely confided in, it would have been nie mingjue, but he wouldn't have acted in the first place if he hadn't been gone. (and even then: his brother would've hated every minute of it. he knows that for sure.)

tucking his fan back into his sleeve, he settles, quiet, under the weight that he's held for the past ten years. it's strange; he was starting to feel like he could almost breathe again at home, and now everything is all in flux, once more. and though he's certainly grown physically -- his hair grows long past his waist, and most of the baby fat is gone from his cheeks -- the most growing nie huaisang has done is visible in his expression, the weight in his gaze. ] ...I didn't want him to fool us twice.

[ that's the best way he can start. us. there was always an "us", and meng yao was never part of it. ] I couldn't-- I couldn't let him get away with it, but I knew he would kill me too, if he knew that I figured it out.

[ every night, huaisang went to bed with the thought of jin guangyao taking him out before it was all done, too. every day, every action he took, was nie huaisang trying to dance out of his reach. ] ...so, I had to pretend I didn't know. [ he didn't, didn't know anything. his hands curl in his lap, small fists. ] For ten years.

[chifeng_zun]

[That's the response he expected. He probably would have wondered what shapeshifting being had replaced his brother if Huaisang had turned down the opportunity to go shopping for delicate, artistic things. He certainly doesn't have to; Mingjue does not offer that which he is not willing to give, and for his younger brother, he would give him the world if he asked.] You will. Tomorrow I will start searching for a larger residence so you will have room. [As it is, he's going to have to give Huaisang the bedroom and sleep on the floor, but he doesn't mind, because he'd sacrifice a lot more than a soft bed to have his brother here with him.

He finishes pouring their tea and takes the pot to the table. They may make slow progress from the kitchen to the sitting room, because Nie Mingjue doesn't want to let Huaisang out of his sight either, and boy, aren't they a pair? It's been too long, though. A month for Mingjue, ten years for Huaisang. He could not have survived it if their situations were reversed, if a month has felt so desolate already.

Sitting across from him, leaning forward a little, because even the short distance of a small table is a chasm he wants to bridge, he watches his younger brother's face. His expressions. He has never cared to read anyone for political reasons, preferring to be blunt and straight-forward and push for his own way, but he could always read his didi. Not that it had been hard, once upon a time. He had been softer then, sheltered under Mingjue's wing, living life as the spoiled Second Young Master of Qinghe. He will wonder for the rest of his life if he did Huaisang any favors, if he could have set him up for success in life better. That had been his job and from all he's heard, he failed at it.

Who could Huaisang have even turned to, after his death? There must have been a reason he didn't try to tell Lan Xichen, and Mingjue can guess that he wouldn't have been believed. It was him against the man who killed his older brother, and he had to spend ten years pretending to be that same sheltered boy.

His heart aches in his chest. Mingjue lets him speak, and then reaches across the table to clasp his hand tightly.] I do not approve of deception as a tactic, but I am proud of you for surviving, Huaisang. He would have killed you if he'd known. [He has seen the burning hatred in Jin Guangyao's eyes when he spoke of Huaisang, and he knows this in his heart. He would have claimed his brother as a victim as well.]

...He still wishes to. He is here in this city as well, and he is angry about how you outsmarted him. [His expression is fierce determination, protective love.] I will not let him harm you, but I need you to promise me that you will be cautious if I am not with you.

[headshaking]

[ i'm proud of you.

when has nie huaisang done things to truly earn his brother's pride? such a rare admission, and one that he feels that he hasn't earned. it's bittersweet; he has done so many terrible things, all in the name of vengeance and justice. he won, but the victory felt overly hollow. killing jin guangyao let his brother rest, but it didn't bring him back, and as he takes on a position of great power at home, nie huaisang lives with that knowledge, and surely will for the rest of his life. to be placed in such a position, where his brother lives again, is a wondrous blessing, but it comes with a knot of guilt that won't quite untie.

he knows that his brother means it. he doesn't know the extent of all of the things that he's done, but nie huaisang never takes anything he says as less than the truth, because unlike huaisang, nie mingjue is not a liar.

he looks at the hand now clasping his, and stretches his fingers out to return the grasp. his hand looks so small in his brother's--he has long, delicate, inkstained fingers, more suited to holding a brush than a sword, and comparatively, it's like they're little kids again. how many times has nie huaisang reached for this hand in his life, to find it there and ready? when he was lost in the halls of qingghe, scared of his own shadow, when he was barely old enough to walk? it's so natural that the combination of his words and the action make emotion well up in his chest, again, and he has to speak around the sticky way his throat seems to close with it. his fingers gently squeeze against mingue's, thumb finding his pulse and pressing against it like he can reassure himself it's there. ] ...everything was taken care of. [ jin guangyao, but also, his brother's proper resting place. his rites, done correctly, so he could finally rest in peace.

a part of him wants to think that this little life he's created here might be an effect of that. he hopes so. ] I'll tell you anything you want to know, da-ge. I-- [ a soft huff of a laugh. ] --I haven't spoken of it much.

[ which means at all.

but, as mingjue continues, he'll see nie huaisang's expression change, too. jin guangyao being here, in this little paradise, rapidly destroys that hopeful thought. mingjue may still see the childish innocence in his face, but he's just as complicit in such dark emotions; they swirl behind his eyes, clouding over with a similar, black fury. in the years since the death of nie mingjue, nie huaisang has grown in more ways than one. ] ...I promise.

[ tch. he's glad he's here more than ever, now. to know that jin guangyao and his brother have existed in the same space makes him anxious, makes him angry. he won't let jin guangyao ever trick his brother ever again. he'll stay by his side, constant, vigilant. i won't let him harm you either, he thinks, though he doesn't say it.

he's glad he's angry. he hopes he is. anger make people sloppy. huaisang will find a way to take him down, again. ]

[chifeng_zun]

[Nie Mingjue has never been effusive with his praise, but this statement is as true as anything. He is proud of Huaisang for surviving. Perhaps not of how he had to do it, but if his brother had died, if he had fallen to Jin Guangyao... That would be the worst thing he could imagine. Maybe he doesn't know the extent of everything, but he knows enough to pass that judgement, and he will never find his brother lacking again. The contrast between them is great, but the love is greater; clasping his hand like his, it keeps repeating in his mind, a relief when everything else could go wrong: Huaisang survived.

He nods once, believing him when he says that everything was taken care of. Huaisang might have lied to him about where he left his saber or how early he bowed out of practice or that he definitely didn't go drinking instead of studying, but Mingjue knows that he would never lie to him about something so important, about something that matters.] Thank you. [He says quietly, voice a little rough. It's been one of the more selfish worries, having heard that he was sealed in a coffin with Jin Guangyao's body. Not being able to rest. A worry that paled compared to everything else, but he is touched, that Huaisang would take care of him.] I already know much of it. You orchestrated his downfall. [An almost disbelieving huff of a laugh, and he thumbs over Huaisang's knuckles.]

If I had known, I would have set you to studying tactics long ago. Maybe you would have applied yourself to something that isn't saber practice. [Would things be different if he had found a way to let his brother shine at something he's good at, instead of pushing the family disciplines on him? Would he have been able to trust him with his own worsening condition, then? Maybe they could have found a solution together.] I am only sorry that you spent so many years alone. You will not be again, not while you're here.

[Reluctantly, he loosens his grip on his hand, exhaling heavily. It seems his brother hates Jin Guangyao as much as Jin Guangyao hates Huaisang (and Mingjue, but he thinks he hates his younger brother even more).] There are some things you need to know as well. He is changing into what they call a Monster here. Some kind of snake. [He's seen his eyes, slitted and reptilian, but not much else.] And while I do not imagine Lan Xichen would ever purposely harm you- have you heard of Bonding? It is a ritual people undergo here to open themselves to another person. They share feelings and possibly thoughts.

Xichen has Bonded Jin Guangyao. Just to be safe, do not assume that anything you say to Xichen will be kept secret from that snake. [From the irritable look on his face, this is obviously not a warning he wants to give, but he cannot take chances with Huaisang's safety. He will not fail him again.]

[headshaking]

[ huaisang glances back up at mingjue's face to try and get a read off of his expression as he speaks of jin guangyao, nodding his head. the victory is still so new that 'downfall' comes with an unsure wave of adrenaline. how much of a downfall was it, if jin guangyao walks through this place? if he's been here to hurt his brother, to ever try to influence him, did it even matter? was all that he did for naught? he's still so fresh in the victory that the feelings that drove it -- the want for vengeance, the hatred, the anger--are still only a few feet away, easily lifted like a thread. huaisang has had a few nights of rest since the events of guanyin temple where he was finally able to sleep like there wasn't a knife at his back, and that's all gone, again. in the end, he doesn't need praise for it, if only because he still thinks nothing about it was praiseworthy.

for the moment, that doesn't matter so much. he's hesitant to give details, but willing, though if nie mingjue wants to step to business, huaisang is happy to move on. he'll let those questions gnaw at him alone, and instead huaisang keeps it off of his face. he tries to let the soft nostalgia of sharing a moment with his brother wash over him again, mouth curving up in a small, wry smile at the idea of 'tactics' over 'sword forms'. how different things could have been, the two of them working together. a younger huaisang had been frustrated with his brother's lack of understanding, but looking back, he had only been trying to protect him, in a world where swords and violence were the only way to protect yourself. his golden core is strong enough to keep his looks, his meditations keeping him young, but he'd always known he was never going to amount to anything as his brother did. (he was--is--a paragon in the cultivation world, and is a shining star in huaisang's eyes sitting before him.)

he looks down at their hands, that small smile tugging a little more at his expression. to not be alone--he aches with it. they will keep each other safe, this time. huaisang remarks, a bit ruefully; ] I never made it well known.

[ nie huaisang has never wanted anyone to know how smart he always was. at first, it was just to be lazy--he's never been a fan of working hard on much of anything besides his paintings, or catching birds--but then, it became the method for his survival. what a team they could have been--no, what a team they will be. nie huaisang will learn magic in this world. he will learn everything he can, to keep pulling the strings to keep nie mingjue strong, to build up a wall between this newly found paradise and jin guangyao. he's resolutely decided this the moment da-ge says they won't be alone. (he's sure his own safety will depend on that exact factor, as well.)

...something flickers behind his eyes at the mention of xichen, but it's not obvious. reaching for his fan again, nie huaisang opens it to fan himself as they speak, the motion familiar, comforting as he thinks. bonds, monsters.... ] He was already a monster. [ and that comes out first, the quip venomous, before he nods in agreement. ] I would not tell Xichen-ge of anything either way. I know he means no harm.

[ but he's easy to manipulate. huaisang should know, after all. if da-ge doesn't know how the end of their little five act play went, it's probably better that way. huaisang loves the last of his sworn brothers, but he's in no way innocent of any of this tangled web that was woven. his ignorance was part of the problem, and huaisang has only forgiven him because he was the one who made him pay the price. ] Do you know how much they remember, da-ge? [ a beat, and then, a follow up question: ] And, what about you?

[ do you have one of these 'bonds'??? ]

[chifeng_zun]

[It certainly seems like a downfall, even if it feels new to Huaisang. He's seen the sheer hatred on Jin Guangyao's face, unhidden, out in the open for Nie Mingjue to read as clearly as a scroll of battlefield tactics. As satisfying as it is, it also means danger for his younger brother, should the man catch him alone in some unsavory part of the city. But that won't happen. Mingjue will not let it. He has agreed to spare the snake's life while they're here in the interest of not throwing away his budding reputation but even just yesterday he was a man with nothing left to lose by cease-firing. Now, now he has everything to lose, clasping his hand across the table.

They will not be fooled again. There is much to learn and much to do, and he knows Huaisang will not shirk what matters, not after everything he's been through, but still, Mingjue hopes that he can let him be free and happy too. Deep down, that is always what he wanted for his brother, the reason he protected him in silence for his entire life. Even if he was harsh about saber practice, it's only because that was another way to protect him, trying to give him the skills to protect himself.

Turns out he hadn't needed those skills, he'd needed his own sharp intellect and acting.

He huffs something like a laugh.] Yes, I know. But Monster here denotes someone who has changed into something other than human. I am changing as well. [Though not into something as distasteful as a snake, thank all the ancestors. To illustrate this point, he tugs the collars of his own robes down just a bit, revealing a few inches of shoulder, on which is growing a patch of short, soft tiger-striped fur. He can't try to hide it from him so he might as well get that out there.

Letting go of his robes, he frowns again.] They both remember everything. Go easy on Xichen, he has a soft and forgiving heart. Jin Guangyao being Bonded to him will make him suffer enough. [And it's clear he does not approve of that decision, but Xichen hadn't been willing to listen to him.] ...I do not have a Bond. There have been no sound prospects.

Have you discovered if you will be a Witch or if you will change yet?

[headshaking]

[ oh!!! oh!!! his face lights up a bit at the stripe of tiger fur that he's shown, surprise turning into a bit of muted delight as he leans forward to get a better look. it's... strangely cute? (it's not every day your brother is a furry. ) he thinks not with derision as he had of jin guangyao as a snake, but with pride. a tiger is an incredibly fierce animal, one that very well suits the nie family. that suits his big brother, strong and fierce and prideful.

also he wants to pet him. ] How fascinating... [ but, he settles back down in the chair. that request can come later, and having some of the weight lifted off of his shoulders in terms of their reunion allows huaisang to think clearly. he glances down at himself, half expecting to have sprouted some fur or something too...(would he be a tiger? he thinks not. probably a bird. that would be cute--ok, focus.) a lack of response to the part about xichen is agreement enough; he gives a brief nod, but otherwise moves on to the more important matter at hand. ]

I don't think I've changed at all. I feel a bit different... but I'm not sure how. Is there a way to check which, or will I have to wait and see? [ logically, huaisang thinks, he would probably end up becoming a witch. it would suit the type of person he is, much more than becoming a monster, and the idea of being able to work a type of magic that doesn't involve swinging a sword around all the time sounds...

....that sounds right up his alley. he will have to read up on this. ] It must be between a witch and a monster, correct? And it could be anyone?

[ oh yes. his gears are starting to turn already, the elements of a problem laid out before him. one with an easy solution. ]

[chifeng_zun]

[Well that's... a better reaction than part of him expected. It's a little bit of a relief that Huaisang does not seem scared of his new features (though he hasn't seen the patches of gunmetal-grey crocodile skin that litter his sides yet), he seems intrigued and Nie Mingjue is just glad that it doesn't seem to bother him all that much. Being rejected by his brother for this would be... devastating, honestly, in a way that few things could be. Normally he is not a man who cares about the opinions of others all too much, but Huaisang is not others, he is Huaisang.

(Though, when he thinks about it, he knows that nothing could make him reject Huaisang, so it must be the same going the other way as well.)

But there is time to show him the rest of it later, because right now, he's concerned with Huaisang. If he is going to change, then Nie Mingjue needs to know, so he can gather things in preparation to ease the changes. Or if he is a Witch, they should know, to get him some books or enroll him in some classes at the Coven to learn to control it.] They can tell at the Coven. It is an organization of Witches, and some Monsters, that also functions as a school of sorts. They can determine if you have magic within you or not; if not, then you will be something else, like me.

[He pauses, watching the thoughts flit over his brother's face.] It should be between a Witch and a Monster, from what I gather, but yes, it can be anyone. This is also done at the Coven.

[headshaking]

[ well then. a leads to b leads to....

huaisang looks up again from where he was thinking as he finishes, reaching a solution. there are pros and cons to this. huaisang likes the idea of knowing where his brother is, or what he's experiencing. it will make it easier if something goes wrong, and the idea of being able to know what he's feeling means he can keep an eye on him.

if da-ge knows his thoughts.... well, he'll never be able to lie to him about skipping out on hard work ever again....

.......well, his safety is more important. he shuts his fan with a snap. ] Then... if I turn out to be a Witch, it... we should bond, shouldn't we?

[ it feels like a natural conclusion, from what they've talked about. a chance to be open together, to work together, in a place where neither of them are familiar. there's no one else that huaisang could imagine having such a powerful, important relationship with. (well, maybe, but there is no bond stronger than the bond between brothers.). ]

[chifeng_zun]

[He isn't entirely sure what Huaisang is thinking about at first, but he gets it about halfway through that sentence. His brow furrows as he watches his face, his own pros and cons flitting through his mind at the idea. There is no one else he is closer to than his brother, certainly. Bonds do not have to be like the one Wei Wuxian has with Lan Wangji that he likes to talk about so much. Family bonds are important too.

And being able to know where Huaisang is and how he's generally feeling could only be a boon, in a city that also contains Jin Guangyao. He will be able to know immediately if he is in distress or if something is wrong. Hell, even if Huaisang turns out to be a Monster as well, he doesn't think it would be the worst idea, but... some part of him wonders if Huaisang will hate it, feeling Mingjue's temper flare like that whenever it comes up.]

We can form a temporary Bond, a... trial. They have fewer side effects if they need to be broken. If you do not hate it, we can Bond permanently after. [He adds the last part to make sure Huaisang knows that he is not rejecting him, only worried about if it will go well for his didi.] This is new to both of us, and I do not wish to make you miserable with my moods.

[Yeah he's basically just decided on the plan there himself. He's like that.]

clutches my chest dage cute

[headshaking]

[ it doesn't really feel like a rejection. it's a solid point, the coming together of a plan. huaisang knows less about this place, less about these 'bonds' than he would really like. a temporary one would give him the chance to feel out the limits and test a few variables until he had a more stable grasp on what was going on. nie huaisang has a lot of work to do, to survive this place as he has at home.]

Alright. [ so, an easily made agreement! he would've found a way to make his brother agree eventually probably, so the fact that they've settled on this is... it's nice. it feels nice, to work together. like things could have been at home. he's optimistic for this situation, despite all of the trials--the two of them will put on a show of force that will put jin guangyao in his place.

the thought makes him smile, and he moves to fan himself again, picking up a tease to his tone. ] Perhaps I will simply make da-ge want to laze about, instead.

[ what a funny mental image that is. ]

no u

[chifeng_zun]

[The agreement comes easily and Nie Mingjue rewards him with a small smile. This can work. They will be stronger together than they were apart, in this new place, this new life. He doesn't know what will happen next, but he does know that distance between them will not help them at all. It didn't the first time, so it's time to try something new. (And this way he will be in a better position to protect Huaisang. He can come running if he feels the slightest distress from his brother and he can slice apart whatever has caused it. This will settle his own nerves.)]

Not on your life. [He responds sternly, standing up and dusting off his robes. The plan is made, they should carry it out now. There will be time for tea later. (There is time now, for taking him shopping, for talking, for getting to know each other all over again in the here and now. He is so grateful.)] If you are a Witch, you will need to study and practice to control your magic. Even a temporary Bond will help keep you even- [Keep him from overflowing with too much magic, from suffering a fate too close to a qi deviation for Mingjue's comfort.] -but you will have to put in the work. I will will work hard as well to accept my changes and control my instincts.

Let's go. The sooner it is done, the better.