[Closed] May Catchall!

[turmoiling]

Who: Jin Guangyao and others
When: Through Maiuril
Where: Aefenglom
What: Catch-all post for the month
Warnings: Will be updated as needed!


[Prompts in toplevels, feel free to ping me at nanomachinesson for extra starters if you want to do something/anything else and I'll add it on!]

Comments

> Nie Mingjue (Full moon thread!)

[turmoiling]

After a day prior of making apologies for his workplace absence and several long baths to help soak away the chunks of peeling human skin, Jin Guangyao's appearance under the light of the full moon has changed more dramatically this time. A couple feet of snake tail trails behind even the hem of his robe, the normally dull tawny-brown scales glimmering a faintly metallic gold under the moonlight, rings of white-gold and dark bronze running along the top and sides. Those scales have travelled further this time too, covering the back of his hand and up along the side of his neck, with even a few dusted across his cheeks and forehead.

If he's to be a snake, at least the color and pattern seem elegant enough in their own way. And if the urge to hunt exists... well, it still does, truthfully, but with the bond to Lan Xichen, he feels more comfortable with it -- most of that being psychological, no longer trapping himself in a self-reinforcing feedback loop of fear over those bestial urges. Besides, he has "prey" to hunt, this time, to seek out where Nie Huaisang is living. His long black tongue flickers, only just barely covered in time with the flick of a gold fan. But he can taste the air and scents are strong again, at this time of the month. Who knows where this pleasant evening walk will take him?

It's not a fast walk at all. His legs are a little wobbly, and with the growing girth of tail, the whole situation where nether limbs join is weird and uncomfortable. Now a couple feet too long to hide under his robes, and too weighty to pick up and hold off the ground all the time, the snake tail drags behind him, sometimes offering a push forward with a ripple, but Jin Guangyao isn't used to it and has to catch himself from staggering each time. He's in no shape to fight or flee, but track... he can do that.

He's out a good portion of the evening and into the night, criss-crossing through the streets in a deliberate search pattern when he finally catches a familiar scent on the wind. Following it brings him to stand in front of an apartment building, and he stands there for a moment, contemplative behind his fan, tongue flickering once again. He just has to try to stay more... internally controlled, and not let himself become quite so overwhelmed this time

[chifeng_zun]

Nie Mingjue had dreaded the next full moons last month, but when they arrive, he finds that this month, at least, it isn't so bad. His temporary Bond with Huaisang helps, just the fact of having his brother with him helps him feel more settled. So, the changes still come, but the restlessness and agitation are not so bad as they could be.

His ears have... morphed, somehow. The human ears on the sides of his head are gone now, replaced by two furry, rounded tiger ears placed higher up on his head. His jaw has been hurting as, he thinks, new teeth grow in to replace the old ones. The points he can feel are sharper. More human skin has flaked off from the outsides of his thighs and hips now, fresh, leathery crocodile skin taking its place. His senses are going wild as well - everything is much more vibrant, stronger. Smell, hearing, and sight are all sharper somehow.

It is disconcerting, but he promised Huaisang that he would work hard too, to accept his changes and master his instincts.

Huaisang is out, but the Bond hums comfortably between them, letting Mingjue know that he is not in distress. He could find him if he really needed to. As a new scent catches his attention outside the apartment building, though, he will later be glad that his brother is not home. He rises from where he has been quietly meditating, and grabs the hilt of Baxia, marching outside. He doesn't immediately recognize it, but his instincts are going wild: someone new in our territory, must confront, must protect home.

[turmoiling]

Jin Guangyao is just about to step inside the building and see if he can figure out just which door it is when that terrifying figure, with that formidable blade in hand, steps out. Although there are plenty of monster scents in the streets, Jin Guangyao makes an immediate mental bookmark of this particular one, because he has no intention of coming close to it again if he can help it.

And Huaisang had been here not too long ago too. Of course he would find his way to his brother so quickly. Of course.

It's time to go. Now. He knows the streets of the city well enough already, there are several escape routes.

Except Jin Guangyao isn't really in a state to beat any kind of hasty retreat at all. The best he can do is pretend he was simply walking innocently down the street, and Nie Mingjue is hardly going to believe that. Also that would mean turning his back, and although he's not too fond of his tail, he still doesn't want it to be lopped off in pursuit. Instead he backs up a little, tail shifting across the ground behind him. His mouth feels unpleasant as well, in some weird way, so it's better to keep that fan up to half-hide his face still.

One doesn't need to see the lower part of his face to see a bit of that fear in his eyes though.

[chifeng_zun]

No doubt Huaisang's scent is all over, along with Mingjue's. He hadn't given his brother much of a choice, insisting that he stay with him in the small ground-floor apartment. They weren't keen to let each other out of their sights for a little while, but that has eased by now, settling down, especially with the temporary Bond in place. Nie Mingjue's head tilts up and he almost delicately scents the air, his eyes narrowing as he tries to place new smells, as he exits the main hallway to the outside. Definitely someone unfamiliar. He can tell which Monster scents are out of place around here already.

His gaze falls on Jin Guangyao, because of course it does, and his lips twist in a snarl that, during the full moons, is a little more animalistic already. He's locked on now, registering that scent in his mental library like, no doubt, Jin Guangyao is doing for his. Something in him is curling dark and furious in his chest; he never told this man where he lived. Where Huaisang now lives. Did someone else, or did he simply find it? It can't be a coincidence.

"What are you doing here?" He demands, stalking forward with all the grace of a predator. The moonlight glints off the sharper points of his teeth. "Lie to me and you will regret it."

[turmoiling]

Jin Guangyao will probably regret it either way, but Nie Mingjue in particular always seemed to suspect the worst, making it that much harder to deal with. Jin Guangyao continues backing up in the face of that furry fury, on unsteady legs.

"I thought I smelled something interesting," he demurs, and obviously Mingjue will know what he means. So is it really a lie? "Surely you know what it's like at this time, the scents can be overwhelming." And the urge to hunt alongside them was strong. Though if it was perhaps just as strong for Nie Mingjue, frankly that would only makes this confrontation a little more terrifying, because he has the distinct feeling that the hunter has just become the hunted. "You won't see me cross your doorstep again, brother. I swear it."

And that part is true because with Mingjue's protection so close at hand, he's far too afraid to lift a finger against Huaisang.

[chifeng_zun]

For every unsteady step he takes backward Nie Mingjue crosses more ground with one step forward. He has much longer legs, after all. "Smelled something interesting?" He growls, low in his throat, nearly a real growl. He can only think of one thing in this apartment building that might be 'interesting' to Jin Guangyao, whom he already knows hates the other person living with Mingjue right now. "Something like my didi, perhaps?" The endearment is a little strange to hear maybe, but it serves a pointed purpose - to paint the Nie brothers, accurately so, as a united front. He will not be able to worm his way between them with words of venomous hatred.

Nie Mingjue's loyalty lies firmly with his family, regardless of past actions.

"Overwhelming? Is your Bond not helping then?" It's not concern at all, but an admonishment. "I feel settled enough with mine that I haven't tracked you down at your home."

> Gwenaëlle Wynne-York (will match format)

[turmoiling]

That they want someone to look over the books is something that he can't help but take a little personally. He's been honest with his accounting, and had been so even in his former life when he collected funds from the various sects to fund the watchtowers. But at least this had none of the politicking to it, no insults to bloodline whispered behind his back.

And there was an upside as well to it; this was a much bigger family business, with real money, unlike some of the other small jobs he'd taken to start with. A good, regular client... who had enough money to spend on other things and invest in others. It would be good to meet someone with a few more connections, too, if he was planning to move his way up through society.

Of course there were certain individuals in the city who would look askance if they were to hear about it but... they'll just have to deal with it, Jin Guangyao can only think.

He's seated in the back office when she arrives, among the stacks of ledgers, but there is a freshly-brewed pot of very fine tea as well as a few small sweets of dried fruit on a tray nearby, in anticipation of her arrival.

[trouvaille]

Presumably, the young woman shown through must be the anticipated Ms Wynne-York, who looks like more or less no one's idea of a financial consultant but maybe a few people's fairytale librarian sex fantasies; she will not soon be mistaken for human, her cheekbones too high and sharp, her eyes too large and dark with prism slit pupils that dilate briefly, full of stars, as she takes in the room and the tea and Jin Guangyao. Her skin is milk-pale and shines, pearl-smooth and reflecting rainbows where the light catches her, and her curling, dark hair is silken enough it looks wet, almost. But her satchel tucked under her arm is just leather, and the high-necked blouse and corset-waisted skirt are as mundane as she otherwise isn't—

it's quite a first impression she makes. Being memorable is certainly useful when she can only get as far ahead as she can push herself.

“I'm guessing this is mostly a formality,” she says, dryly, instead of something like hello or I'm Gwen, I don't think we've met before, “or I assume they wouldn't let you watch.”

If they thought she was going to catch him out in a hustle, he wouldn't even know it was happening.

[turmoiling]

Jin Guangyao bows slightly to her. He's hardly so human-looking any longer himself, with the golden snake eyes and a light dusting of similarly colored scales across the back of his hand and at the edges of his face, a few feet of a long tawny-gold snake tail peeking out from under his robes. If he's considerably more disgusted with his own reptilian traits, especially when compared to the beauty of the shimmers of this woman's so-called monstrous traits, well, it doesn't show.

"I have nothing to hide," he replies lightly with a smile, as if that wasn't one of the biggest lies he's told in the last week at the very least. But as long as nobody is talking to certain individuals he's known from long before coming to Aefenglom, it's true enough. "I'm sure it's a bit of an annoyance for you. Surely you have better things to do with your time, in such a position. Ah, excuse my manners. Would you like some tea?"

[trouvaille]

Her eyebrows go up during that spiel, and stay there as she arranges herself (fastidiously sweeping her skirt beneath her with one hand as she sits) at the desk, lining up her own notebooks, pen, ink and taking the laid out ledgers and packets of invoices and packing slips to set up her work.

“Sure. Splash some cold water on your naked desperation while you're making it. Or have some tea, you seem really tense and I'm going to need you to bring the energy down a notch if you're staying.”

Like this much, she mimes, pinching thumb and forefinger.

[turmoiling]

Definitely an annoyance. Well, nobody can blame him for not offering, and at least it sets the tone.

He shrugs, quite blase about the sharpness of the reply and does in fact help himself to a cup before settling in another chair nearby, his snake tail just long enough to coil around a chair leg, out of the way of errant feet.

"Some people value such things. But I suppose there's no need to rest too heavily on formality here." If he really did have something to hide, he might be a little more cautious. But he doesn't here, and there's something very refreshing about such casual interactions with new and unfamiliar faces, and with being so unburdened by the past. "Of course, let me know if you see any problems. But since you won't, why don't you tell me how a fellow Mirrorbound found her way into such a comfortable position?"

[trouvaille]

Hm.

Well, if he isn't actually going to make her tea, she'll do that herself; she lines up the first ledger she needs to go through and leaves it open when she stands to do so, pouring a cup with no additions, hovering her hand inquisitively over the sweet fruits as she assesses them and decides she doesn't want one. (A new habit that she hasn't quite noticed in herself, of not quite poking things that interest her; one day she'll make the connection where it came from, but not today.)

But there's nothing pointed about it, either, she doesn't heave a sigh before she stands or make a production out of it—she did want the tea, she doesn't really care who makes it, she'll do it herself. It is of a piece with the work itself, really: an afternoon of easy work and free tea? If she had something better to do, she'd be doing that instead. The only potential annoyance involved is Jin Guangyao, and even that, well.

She can only talk to her dog so much. At least being annoyed by someone is being something by someone.

“You make it sound like I tripped and fell on an accountant,” she says, drolly, returning to the desk. “Turned around one day and whoops, I seem to have a career in the financial sector, who could have foreseen it?”

> Nie Huaisang || > Will Henry (will match format)

[turmoiling]

Jin Guangyao isn't quite sitting properly as he basks in the sun streaming across the patio of Diplomatea. The tail situation is becoming less and less comfortable as it grows longer and interferes with his legs and the whole rest of the nether-region situation. It's entirely too long now, too. He can tuck it under his robes when seated, but it becomes oddly bulky and strange looking that way, too. So he's decided to live with letting in hang from the edge of the chair, the thinner end coiled around a chair leg to keep it out of the way. It was little effort to have a weiqi board made and some appropriate white and black stones found, so it brought it along as well, sitting next to the tea he'd ordered a short while ago.

(> Nie Huaisang)

Jin Guangyao always smiles pleasantly should anyone happen to look his way, but when happens to see Huaisang passing by, his smile freezes and he beckons lightly. "Huaisang, how nice to see you again. You left so suddenly last time, I'm sure you had some very important things to do. But if you're not so busy, I have time for a game now."

Those words are a clear mockery, because they both know exactly why Huaisang ran. But right now Jin Guangyao is hardly inclined to get up, as warm as the sunlight is, and anxious to find out just who else Huaisang has been talking to so far.

(> Will Henry)

He hadn't caught the young man's name, when they'd spoken before, but he recognizes the face passing by... and the same snakelike eyes. Well, that was interesting. He hadn't seen a single other Mirrorbound going through quite the same process as himself. He beckons as soon as he catches his eye.

[headshaking]

[ me, a sucker for brackets eternally.

well! after his near brush with death, nie huaisang's feeling a lot more put together. jin guangyao's "helpful" information had been (shocking) missing several parts, the most important of which being da-ge was here. with a new, temporary bond in place and a heartwarming reunion all complete, huaisang is feeling a lot more grounded in this strange new place.

he'd gone out to fetch a spellbook while his da-ge was away guarding the woman he worked for. huaisang wouldn't hide away in this strange new land, not when there were things to learn and more to discover, and so naturally, his quick trip out led him smack into the snake's mouth. (so to speak.)

the familiar voice with its lilt still makes his blood run cold, but huaisang is ready for him this time. across the bond, nie mingjue might be feeling a sense of apprehension that rapidly shifts into something darker, then something closer to confident. it doesn't even cross his expression where he walks, fan in hand to cover his face. his eyes move down, looking at the table, underneath it, and then back to his once dear san-ge. oh, now he wants to play?

there are plenty of people around. it's broad daylight, and, nie huaisang knows now what to avoid.

game on.

he fans himself, giving jin guangyao a sheepish smile, and a polite bow. ] San-ge! I'm sorry I had to leave so quickly... Da-ge was calling, you know he won't stand for anyone being late, haha....

[ the sheepish, tittering way he laughs doesn't hide the true meaning of what he's said. he went to find his brother. nie huaisang already knows he's here.

so, with that buoyant little victory to lead him, he approaches, reaching for the chair across from jin guangyao and pulling it backwards to take a seat. drawing his feet close to himself and away from that tail, he tilts his head and gives a smile, fanning himself lightly. like a fine summer's conversation between two young masters, not like two men who had manipulated an entire cultivation world to their whims. ] Is this weiqi? Are the rules the same here? You'll have to go easy on me...

[turmoiling]

[Jin Guangyao continues to smile pleasantly, even when he sees Huaisang look under the table. Really? Rude, Huaisang.]

I completely understand. Hopefully he hasn't been too hard on you. [For, you know, all the deceit that Jin Guangyao happened to focus on telling him about, leaving out much more relevant events in his retelling of what had happened since Mingjue's death, in favor of trying to degrade Huaisang in his brother's eyes.

He'd have to be extra careful around Mingjue now, though. Not that he hadn't been before, but this was especially dangerous.]

We can play by the same rules, I don't mind. It really feels like it has been a while, doesn't it?

[When did he ever play weiqi with Huaisang! Gifts, consoling him, yes, but he was always too busy for such a long game. He's only learned the rules as one of the four scholarly arts, hoping he could use it to find favor somewhere, someday. It's not like anyone ever bothered to teach him.]

Hopefully you're settling in well and making some new acquaintances.

[headshaking]

[ well, at least he wasn't obvious about it..... ! too much, anyway.

he merely gives another sheepish laugh at jin guangyao's comment, waving his fan in response. no, no, it's nothing... of course it isn't. actually, it was the greatest moment of nie huaisang's life, easily toppling his vengeance over the very person sitting in front of him. if his brother lives, and his brother is aware, the two of them can be unstoppable together.

so he will be friendly. we're back to this extremely fake game of smiles, again, as he settles back in the chair, comfortable and easily given to social norms. after all, for so long, it seemed like all huaisang ever wanted to do was waste away his time like this, playing little games, having little conversations. ] It's alright! Thanks to San-ge, I was able to find my footing. As usual, I would have been lost without your guidance.

[ winning little games. he taps his fan as he reaches for his pieces, doling out the stones with practiced ease on his side of the board. to let out a little information with the flow of conversation is easy, and huaisang seems to be in a good, relaxed mood. ] It appears I'll be a 'witch', according to the Coven! I don't know much about it yet, and I can't imagine I'll be very good at it, but da-ge would have surely have my head if I didn't practice, so I'm making do with what I can. I never thought I'd have to go back to schooling...

[ haha... ha. no, this is the kind of schooling he's going to enjoy. it might be difficult, but it's no cultivation. this involves enough mental acrobatics that he may well master it. ] There we are. Let's play, San-ge. May the best man win!

[ so you know,

him ]

[turmoiling]

[Too bad his 'guidance' didn't lead Huaisang off so they could spend time alone together... Jin Guangyao does his best to still that thought. That opportunity is gone, and it hurt Lan Xichen too much to let himself dwell too deeply on his murderous hatred. Not that he can quell it completely, but at least he can try to not hurt his bonded so badly.

No, he can focus on playing pleasantly, each piece in turn while they chat, occasionally pausing to have a sip of tea - and no, he's not offering to go get you a cup, Huaisang. Jin Guangyao's golden eyes are unblinking, every so often turning from the board to watch the other man.]

I'm sure they'll keep you very busy with classes, but I hope you'll still have some time to visit old friends once in a while. What sort of magic are you most interested in?

[Not that he really expects anything out of Huaisang's mouth to be true, but tere might be some hints or things to work with, if he can just keep chatting. If Huaisang thinks the same... well, he's confident he can outfox him this time around.]

[indispensabilis]

He gazes back for a moment, head tilting, but then he approaches. He's not so a rude a boy that he would run off from an adult without some kind of pressing reason. So he puts his hands in his pockets and idles over. He does find it interesting to see who is turning into what after that first day though. What does it say about people, if they're a monster like him? That's why he had killed John Kearns, but here in Aefenglom that asshole had been a vampire. What did it all mean. Well, he's not going to ask that.

He just says, "Hello."

[turmoiling]

"I'm sure we met once, didn't we?" he says, as if it's some vague recollection. But even without a name attached, Jin Guangyao doesn't forget a face. "I'm sorry, the name has completely slipped my mind." he adds, a bit sheepishly.

[indispensabilis]

"It's okay," he doesn't really mind if people forget him. It was convenient to be forgotten, but he also doesn't really like when people feel sorry about it either. "I think a lot of us meet each other and..."

A shrug. How many of them had come out of the mirror house all at once, then wandered around with each other, then went about their lives in the city and maybe saw each other or bumped into each other. He gets it anyway, and it reminds him of New York City.

"My name is Will Henry. And it will get harder to recognize people as they change too..."

> Lan Xichen (backdated to shortly after running into Huaisang)

[turmoiling]

After Nie Huaisang ran, and a good few long moment of stewing in hatred and low-key fear -- because he's going to find Nie Mingjue, isn't he? Jin Guangyao can practically sense it -- it occurs to him that he really should make sure things are well with Lan Xichen. He'd thought of inviting him for tea again but since that particularly vivid dream he hadn't been quite sure if he could look at him the same way. Take a day or two to... cool down.

But the first message goes unanswered, leaving a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Jin Guangyao begins heading for Xichen's residence, sending another. Still nothing. He doesn't seem to be at home either, when he gets there, and that's when Jin Guangyao really starts to worry. He can't ask anyone else they both know, surely. They'll only suspect the worst, that he's responsible somehow.

Perhaps he is? Is Xichen hiding from him after whatever he felt through their bond?

Even more reason to ask, if not familiar faces, then at least neighbours, as try to figure out if anyone had any idea where he had gone and walk down every street and avenue, to every place he could think of that he might be found.

[zewu_jun]

Most of the neighbors around Lan Xichen are fond of him. He is quiet, polite, and always ready to volunteer a helping hand when anybody asks, so he has a good rapport with the families around, teaching children music and meditation and telling stories of night-hunts when some of the children need supervision. One of the couples with kids--a refugee pair of monsters that have taken a liking to him in particular--do remember seeing him go out, so when Jin Guangyao asks, they tell him that they think they remember him going out earlier, maybe shopping? No, the forge, most likely. One of them says that he did seem to be heading that way, out of rather than into town.

If Jin Guangyao heads that way, he can probably find an obvious route toward the forge going from the apartment building to the outer reaches where fewer people stay. Lan Xichen is not quite in obvious view once he reaches the Wall: he's lying slumped against it, like he had paused once he got that far and tried to use it for support, only to end up lying next to it like some Shade's forgotten prey, unconscious and face tilted down toward the ground.

[turmoiling]

The forge, then. Jin Guangyao is particularly concerned, for the obvious reasons, even if the path to the forge is well-cleared. Surely Xichen can look after himself but -- when his searching gaze catches sigh of those familiar robes he rushes over, crouching down beside him. "Xichen? Brother?" Even if there had been an awkward dream after the last time they'd spoken, it was only a dream and this was real!

Jin Guangyao turns him over gently, searching for injuries, signs of Cwyld infection, anything, and checks his pulse at the wrist. If there's anything transmitted between them now, it's only fear, worry, panic. "Brother, please, wake up." He almost goes to check Lan Xichen's temperature at his forehead and freezes up a little for a moment.

[zewu_jun]

Lan Xichen doesn't respond to Jin Guangyao's voice or being turned on his back. His consciousness only flickers back when he feels the familiar emotion from the bond that echoes his last sensations before passing out: panic. His body is too warm and damp with fever, but his pulse is there, proving that at least he's not really fading from the world yet. But it is racing. The beats are desperate and pounding through him, trying to push life through despite the feeling that something is trying to steal it away. The dream they shared had been uncomfortable, but Lan Xichen had planned on speaking to his sworn brother about it eventually. Just once they both had time to settle down. But now as his eyes slowly open and he catches sight of the man leaning down over him, the panic spikes with the memory of pain and the usually composed Lan sect leader actually lets out a sound of fear, one that cuts off as he has to roll to his side, choking on bile and saliva as his body tries to expel a poison that isn't there.

Still only half-aware, shaking from cold and the sharp needles of pain still running through his body, Lan Xichen attempts to crawl away, managing only a few movements before having to stop again to heave ineffectively over the spot he's curled at. All he can manage is one pathetic, hoarse whisper that might have otherwise been a yell if he had the air for it, gasping his brother's name.

[turmoiling]

Oh no no no no no no. This looks so bad and Lan Xichen absolutely cannot be allowed to call on his blood brother in a situation like this, because Jin Guangyao will be dead before he even opens his mouth to explain. If he even had an explanation, which he doesn't. He himself might be used to that hatred that he'd felt, but who would possibly imagine it would affect Lan Xichen so badly?

Jin Guangyao catches up with him easily and puts his arm across his shoulders, rubs Xichen's back as if that might help him with expelling whatever is causing this sickness. "Please. What happened? I'll contact a healer for you, but please," he says with concern. "I don't think you should move." And not contact Lan Wangji. Absolutely not.