catch-all | OPEN

[rootstalks]

Who: Jin Ling, Jin Zixuan, Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, and HOUSEGUESTS (that's you!).
When: All times
Where: The Jin-Jiang classy house in the Haven
What: Catch-all for household events and visitors! Bolded sections are intentional prompts, but wildcard as you like!
Warnings: Probably some drama at some point. Also monster transformation body horror (harpy, turnskin, merrow). Definitely at least 2.5 discussions about murder. One really, really uncomfortable dinner party.

Entrance Hall

Now that the house’s new residents are more settled in, they’re ready to accept visitors. The first thing you will notice as you enter the door is the art hung on the wall: Intricately crafted wood carvings of the Jiang lotus and the Jin peony emblems, bookending a framed photograph of Jiang Yanli and her two brothers, only one of whom actually lives there, from the day of Wei Wuxian’s wedding the previous month.

There is room on the wall for more pictures to be hung, as now that Jin Zixuan has discovered the wonders of photography, he intends to immortalize all his loved ones in living color as often as possible. The Yunmeng Jiang clan is already honored, so the next step is to commission a father and son portrait to represent Lanling Jin.

In a small, round room off the entrance hall, memorial tablets have been set up for the Jiang parents, carved from a lacquered wood and set into a cabinet.

Courtyard

The spacious courtyard in the center of the house provides a perfect place for the cultivators in the house to continue their training. Sure, they don’t have golden cores anymore and are all turning into different kinds of monsters, but that is no excuse to allow their skills to deteriorate from lack of practice. Archery targets are set up along one wall, and there is plenty of space around the central fountain for sparring with swords or other weapons they may acquire. Of course, as the courtyard becomes repurposed into a training ground, the genteel furniture, ornate chairs and potted plants, get moved into storage in the basement to provide more room to move around. It may not give off the same level of elegance as other classy houses in the neighborhood, but for the cultivators? It begins to make this feel more like home.

Sometimes, and to her mild distress, Yanli is herded out into the courtyard and set in front of an archery target. There, she practises spells, mouth thin with nerves. It’s easier, as might be expected, when she’s accompanied by either a member of the household, or another witch. One target bears the scorch marks from her first and only attempt at evocation, but it’s clear she’s developing a preference for defensive spellcraft. With it being nearly impossible to convince any member of the household to shoot an arrow at her, there is now a small stack of little beanbags under one awning, in a wicker basket.

When she isn't required, or her master is working or training, Fairy the spiritual hound can be found lounging around the courtyard, keeping an eye on things, and barking.

Kitchen

The kitchen is walled with cabinets and shelves, the room airy enough that some storage is too high for Jiang Yanli to reach comfortably. Sometimes, when she feels brave, she plucks the ingredient or tool she wants with a polite gesture and a flick of magic. Mostly, she resorts to a short iron stepladder that doubles as a stool for casual visitors (or opportunistic scavengers).

It’s not what she’s used to, but working in the bakery is a crash course in the average Aefenglom kitchen, and it only takes a few days for her to arrange everything the way she likes it. The novelty of cooking in a kitchen of her own, rather than invading the space of the cooks, and apologising to servants as she got in their way (or, not apologising, because one shouldn’t, but smiling in a way that allowed it to go unsaid)... it’s heady. She prepares too much, spends her wages on interesting ingredients; one shelf at shoulder height fills with scraps of paper and borrowed books. If she finds herself looking over her shoulder before she carries a pile of bowls into the scullery… well, at least everyone is too polite to mention it.

And that much food means she has an easy excuse to do what she does best: feed her loved ones. Either by arranging a family meal, refamiliarising herself with their tastes and spending an enjoyable evening offering this and that into their bowls, basking in conversation, or by inviting a friend home, and spending an evening in conversations about other worlds, about magic, about the workings of the city and the developments of the mirrorbound.

'Music Room’

The upstairs loft is a large studio room with tall windows along the front wall to let lots of light into the space. Where normally one might expect to see a grand piano or other instruments (the space was obviously intended to be a music salon), there is instead a haphazard mess of materials, mostly branches and straw that have been pulled in from trees outside, mixed with some pillows and thick blankets. For a long time, it just looks like a mess, like whoever has gathered these mismatched items has a hoarding problem. But slowly, surely, it begins to take shape into a massive nest that takes up a good third of the room. Little by little, more pieces get added to the nest. More wood to expand the walls-- including several chairs stolen from the dining room-- more soft things to line the interior. As far as Jin Zixuan is concerned, it is a very respectable collection, not a nest, and the more refined he can make it look, the less embarrassed he is by his compulsion to build it.

(All the other members of the household know that it is a nest and call it such behind Jin Zixuan’s back, but to allow him to save face they refrain from mentioning that particular word in front of him.)

Bedrooms

Generally the bedrooms, all in the central floor of the house, are architecturally similar and decorated much alike, but each has begun to accumulate the detritus of their lives. Souvenirs, gifts, laundry, half-finished projects and belongings from home now set on the walls or on stands to be secured. And, occasionally, other things.

In Jin Ling’s room, the general paraphernalia of a teenager, along with a large dog bed, usually covered in kittens and their canine general.

In Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli’s room, on the day of the full moon, they awake to a truly alarming amount of feathers. But generally, their room is impeccable, a mix of pale woods, brass and soft furnishings - especially since they’ve started to spend time in the nest instead.

In Jiang Cheng’s room, it is for the most part neat and everything in its place, with most decor items either being purple or light green in color. The bed is usually occupied by a calico kitten with the ability to teleport.

Basement

The basement of the home comes equipped with a wine cellar, a dusty bottle or two of cabernet left over from the house’s previous occupants. However, the family now inhabiting the residence prefers rice wine or other grain based alcohols over wine made from grapes or other fruit. So as time goes on, the shelves of the wine cellar accumulate ceramic jugs of báijiǔ and other more familiar liquors. Until such time as they need to break out a bottle or five.

Comments

Jiang Cheng | OTA

[lotus_of_rage]

Courtyard

[It had always been Jiang Cheng's fashion to practice swordsmanship at least once a day and he still did that, standing out in the courtyard with Sandu practicing.

Of course, with all things there, somethings did change. Because of his transformation into a merrow, he had to take better care. For example, not getting too dehydrated as this was beginning to mess with him more and more. If he began to feel this way, he had to stop. No option.

The other part of it now was that he had to be far more cautious of water. Because he had recently hint the point where being in water now activated the transformation into a merrow.

Sure, he could survive it, but three cats in the house always seemed very curious when he did change...]

Jiang Cheng's Room
[It was a quiet sanctuary, having a room to himself. As was apparently normal for merrow, he had begun a collection of odd trinkets in the room. Shiny things that he had bought - and maybe in one case just taken even though he wouldn't admit and he would never say which one it was. Zidian was included in this. But he still wore Zidian even though it didn't work as it should have.

He left the door open for Li Mei and any other animals or people to come wandering through as he sat in his room reading with the window open for the sounds from outside]

his room

[disasterstraight]

[ After speaking with Jin Ling in the courtyard, it occurs to Zixuan that he hasn't properly thanked Jiang Cheng for raising his son after his death. He hadn't appreciated all the work his brother in law had done to ensure that Jin Ling grew up to be a fine young man and a strong cultivator.

He goes to find Jiang Cheng in his room, knocking on the open door frame. ]

May I come in?

[lotus_of_rage]

[Jiang Cheng glanced up at the knock on the door. Li Mei, who was currently taking up more space on the bed than a cat her size should have been able to, mewed happily and rolled around for a moment until Jiang Cheng gave her attention as well, petting her after closing his book]

Yes, of course. Come in.

[disasterstraight]

[ Jin Zixuan steps inside, tucking a strand of now green hair behind his now pointed ear. The changes to his body are taking some getting used to, as are the changes to his senses and behavior. Thanks to his enhanced eyesight, he can read the words of the book Jiang Cheng is reading even from all the way across the room.

He clears his throat, clasping his hands behind himself and standing tall. ]

I saw A-Ling practicing archery in the courtyard earlier. He's become quite good.

[ Something of a non sequitur, maybe, but he's getting somewhere. ]

He said you taught him most of what he knows.

[lotus_of_rage]

[Jiang Cheng was having the same problem of adjusting to these changes. His hair hadn't changed colors, but he did have scales and spines, most of which were hidden by his clothes. The spines at least stayed mostly flat until he changed. And completely opposite to Jin Zixuan, his eyesight was worsening, at least out of water. So he had an even better chance of reading it from a distance since the print was a bit larger than normal]

He has been very good at archery for quite some time. Of course, the changes here seem to be making that skill difficult for all of us.

[Not just Jin Ling. Himself included]

I did. Since he was able to hold a bow, I was teaching him.

[disasterstraight]

[ Jin Zixuan looks down at his own now talon like hand, and the beginning growth of feathers spouting from his wrist. ] Yes. We all have adjustments we need to make.

[ But that's not why he came into Jiang Cheng's room. ]

I need to thank you. I mean, I want to thank you, properly, for looking after A-Ling after we...

[ He can't quite say it. They both know the fate that awaits for him and Jiang Yanli back in their world. But he can't being himself to speak the words.

He clears his throat. Tries again. ]

I'm sure you were more than busy with your duties as Sect Leader. That you still took the time for him... I can never repay you.

[lotus_of_rage]

[He had a feeling that wasn't the reason he had come in so he didn't continue on that train of thought. Besides, it was just another challenge to overcome and they'd figure it out. He's certainly overcome his share of them...

He certainly didn't need clarification about what Zixuan was referring to. He knew it all too well, had been for far too many years, but it was a necessary thing in his opinion]

I would always look after him. He is my nephew - yours and my sister's son. That was just as important.

[Just as important as being sect leader]

[disasterstraight]

[ He knows. He knows how important raising a child is. He had vowed to devote as much energy as he could to giving Jin Ling a better childhood than he himself had had. Making none of his father's mistakes, creating a healthy balance between raising his son, caring for his wife, and leading his sect.

But the sect would never become his, now. It will be Jin Ling's someday. If and when he ever returns to their world. Part of him wonders if it's too late for him to have an impact on his son's life. Has he already grown too much for Jin Zixuan to affect him?

Better not to dwell on worries like that. He's here on a mission of gratitude, not concern. ]

All the same. You led him to be a fine young man. My thanks will never be enough.

[lotus_of_rage]

[Jiang Cheng hadn't been Jin Ling's father, but he had tried to do his best by him. Whereas his other uncle spoiled with trinkets and things like that (Fairy being perhaps his best gift), Jiang Cheng had always tried to make sure he was prepared as a cultivator, offer him somewhere to go. While he wasn't the best at being comforting, he had taken care of Jin Ling]

Thank you. He is my family as much as you were. I wanted his life to make you and my sister proud.

[disasterstraight]

It has. I mean, it does. I am.

[ He's not good at this. And this conversation is bordering dangerously on sentimental. He clears his throat, looking around awkwardly, unsure how to step back from the vulnerable position he allowed himself to fall into. ]

We are both very proud of the young man he's become, and grateful to the role you played in making him that way.

[lotus_of_rage]

[Yes, it is very close to sentimental, which... made sense. As Jin Zixuan cleared his throat, Jiang Cheng reached over to pet his cat. Distraction]

Of course. And... if you need advice on things to get him- [Or advice in general, but he wasn't going to say that because it was weird to say that to the boy's father] I am willing to share.

[disasterstraight]

[ Jin Zixuan's first reaction is that Jin Ling's birthday isn't for another several months. He has plenty of time to think of a suitable present. But then it occurs to him-- he's missed so many birthdays, so many new years... Should he be making up for lost time? ]

What should I...? [ Ah. Hm. He isn't sure how to navigate these waters. ] What would be a good present to make up for having missed most of his youth?

[ Is there even a gift that would make up for such a thing? ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[That is true that his birthday is not for some time, but that was something to consider. When Jin Ling got beyond being appeased by grass butterflies and trinkets like that, he had spent more time considering birthday and new year's presents for his nephew. He might have been a strict uncle, but he still provided his nephew with suitable presents and some of those took time for craftsmen to make]

To make up for missing his youth? You. If you find something here that would have a sentiment to you back home or reminds you of it, buy it and tell him the story behind why it does. There was only so much I could teach him about his parents, about his father.

[He had known far more about Yanli for obvious reasons, but beyond a few times, he had never spent a great amount of personal time with Jin Zixuan. It had been a disservice, but he wouldn't make stuff up either]

courtyard

[weatherscience]

[ it's not the first time she's visiting, and not the first time she brings with her a companion — an orange kitten who is likely li mei's sister, one nami has given the name tangerine.

as it is, jiang cheng is informed of her arrival not by nami herself, but rather li mei and tangerine suddenly teleporting in the middle of the courtyard in a tangle.

running footsteps follow, high heels clicking against the floor of the house, and then nami too bursts out to the courtyard. ]

Sorry, sorry! I tried to keep them inside, but you know how that goes... [ marching up to the two kittens, she lifts both up. ] You two! Playing is fine, but be more careful than this!!

[ the kittens blink... and then meow rather pitifully. nami huffs and lets them go, turning to jiang cheng, sighing. ] I didn't mean to interrupt your training.

[lotus_of_rage]

[Jiang Cheng looked up from what he was doing, which was luckily practicing by himself and not very quickly, by two kittens suddenly teleporting having a kerfuffle and practically rolling around the courtyard together. He definitely recognized the orange cat, as close to Li Mei's sister as they'd ever figure out.

Soon followed by Nami]

It's fine. They are cats. There are two others here so we are used to teleporting cats.

[He smirked slightly, watching her picking up the two cats]

It is good to see you again.

[weatherscience]

Yes, but the sooner we train them to be mindful of where they teleport, the sooner they'll stop causing trouble!

[ whoever said that you can't train cats? nami certainly doesn't believe in that.

as soon as she's let the kittens go (and continue their playing), she skips over to jiang cheng with a grin as she winks and asks, with a mischievous edge, ] Did you miss me?

[ and then, regardless of his answer, she laughs, ] It's good to see you too!

[lotus_of_rage]

That is true. I'm sure sister would like to be able to stop tripping over three teleporting cats, occasionally four.

[Including the visiting Tangerine]

Though, I think the cat named Sizhui is too well-behaved for that.

[It seemed to only be Li Mei and the cat named Jingyi people tripped over.

Jiang Cheng sheathed his sword as she released the two kittens, who continued playing, smiling as she skipped over to him]

Of course, I did. It's more exciting when you are around.

[Less predictable in a good way]

[weatherscience]

[ privately, nami thinks that if yanli wasn't wearing twenty layers of clothing, she'd probably be less likely to trip over cats... ]

Well, at least one of them is! [ being well-behaved, that is. she glances at tangerine and li mei, both of whom pause in their playing, as if feeling her accusation...

then, upon his response, she lifts her hand and places it against her cheek, beaming at him. ]

Aw, you know how to compliment a girl!

[ she's only being about 50% faux-modest, the other 50% is actually her being genuinely pleased. ]

I guess I still disturbed your sword practice, though... do you want to keep going? I don't mind! I can keep an eye on those two. [ pointing at the terrible duo. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[If she had said, he'd have pointed out that she had been wearing those layers all her life so she was used to moving in them. But she hadn't so he would never know the thought had crossed her mind]

Yes. He lives up to his namesake it seems.

[He chuckled as the two cats stared at them. They seemed to know...]

What? [He asked the cats]

Of course I do. I am a gentleman after all. [He just didn't do it all the time...] I was nearly finished practicing. I am not too concerned.

[weatherscience]

[ a namesake...? she files that away as an interesting fact to be asked about later on.

meanwhile, the kittens stare at them for a while longer, and then, as if in an answer to jiang cheng, they go back to rolling on the ground with increased vigor. ]

Mm, alright then! Well, what should we do? [ tapping her cheek, ] Maybe you could help me train! Or we can supervise the cats... [ sitting down and talking while watching that the cats don't destroy anything doesn't sound too bad, either. then, glancing up at the sky: ] In any case, we should be outside for as long as we can. It's going to rain in an hour or so.

[ the sky looks..... entirely clear. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[Well, that certainly told Jiang Cheng. He just shook his head slightly watching the cats before turning his attention fully back to her]

If you would like to learn, I'd be happy to train you.

[Don't do it]

Is it?

[He looked up at the sky]

[weatherscience]

Ah — [ she ends up shaking her head, laughing lightly. ]

No, I don't think I've got any sword skills in me! See — [ grabbing her clima-tact, she squeezes it and it extends into a long staff that she twirls rather effortlessly. ]

I can use this to block a sword, but that's it!

[ then, answering his question, ] Ah, yeah! Can't you smell it in the air? It's definitely going to rain! [ best just believe her sixth sense about the weather... the one thing this world didn't take away. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[Good. That is for the best. You didn't want to be on the side of having to learn from him. He was a very serious teacher when it came to swordsmanship.

He couldn't help but be surprised and impressed when she suddenly pulled out the clima-tact and showed it off. Also he didn't fight with a staff so he wouldn't have been able to teach it]

Well, then if you would like to practice to see if you can block, I can grab one of the practice swords or I can use Sandu.

[He thought about it for a moment as though he might be able to tell based on smell too] Hmm... perhaps. I am curious to see.

[weatherscience]

Hmm... that might not be a bad idea! Usually back home I never train, we just end up in fights so often that it's not really necessary, and there I'd be able to create lightning and all that. But here this is just a regular staff, so —

[ really, practicing at least a little would probably be a good idea. what if she tries to rely on spells and messes up? it's been a long time when the only weapon she had was a regular bo staff. ]

Right, a few rounds won't be too bad! No time like the present, right? [ before it starts to rain.

she turns to face him, fully intending to fight in her high heels, gripping the clima-tact with two hands and positioning it in front of her. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

Training when you get the chance is always good. Hopefully you don't end up in as many fights here.

[Create lightning though... that sounded impressive! That was a heck of a talent]

Exactly. If you are going to, you might as well.

[He raised Sandu into a starting position and then beckoned her to make the first move. Since he had never seen her fight, he wanted to get an idea of how she fought]