[mingle] world three: claws & fangs.

[fracturamods]

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world three:
claws & fangs.

With the Space at your back, your next step lands on the soil of a winding footpath. It seems you just missed a sunshower: light shines through the raindrops clinging to the lush canopy overhead, dappling the ground and your fellow travelers in midday sun. Trees are in full flourish everywhere you look, filling the air with the light fragrance of fruit and flowers. Fresh breezes contrast with the warming spring air, and birdcalls overlap softly with a burbling, full stream. In the distance, the sound of wooden wheels shake down a packed dirt road. If you peek through the vegetation, you may be able to make out ornate carriages drawn by oxen or horse. Smaller wooden rickshaws weave through the traffic, and if you're lucky, you may spot one of the rare cars (not a seatbelt in sight!) puttering its way through.

As Original Individuals take inventory of the world around them, they'll realize that there's a letter in their pocket...?

Or Are You Just Happy to See Me? (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)

(*´ω｀)o Here we go again! This might be a refresher for some of you buuuuut!

If you want any chance of going home again, to your family, friends, loyal dog or whatever, you're all gonna have to try to put yourselves back together! The easiest way to do that is to regain the pieces of yourself that you've lost - and those pieces are gonna be more likely drawn to your soul the more you feel.

That's right! Feelings! You lone wolf types are probably shaking! (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ )

The same is true for all your sweet ol' friends who have tapped into the alternate version of themselves here. (」゜ロ゜)」 They have to experience meaningful moments in order to regain pieces of themselves too! So laugh! Cry! Question your meaning for living! Don't lose sight of the goal which is to just like, experience stuff really. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ All you've got is each other!

Don't get too downtrodden if they don't recognize you right away though - your bonds will never be broken, true friends are never that far apart, kyahhh. o(*≧□≦)o .... aka they're more likely to want to talk to you than you think.

And besides, you'll only all be able to make it home if you all collectively regain enough pieces of yourselves. ヾ(o✪‿✪o)ｼ

Yayyyyyyy. (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Teamwork. Make use of Home Base to touch base with each other if you can!

(*･▽･*) A. Ny. Who.

Welcome to Kōun, the Blessed Country. Look out overhead. （・□・；）

Original Characters will then find themselves with a semi-brief summary of what their Remixed life would have been - and this time around it includes a helpful sentence blurb for each of their relationships to others, as well as the climate of the town around them, recent politics included. For those of you who haven't crafted possible Remixed lives, you'll only get:

( ⚆ _ ⚆ ) Um… Backstory not found?

Just do yourself a favor and don't wander onto the wrong side of town. Kind of a big deal around here. Whoa! Deja vu!

The tiny country of Kōun, so named for its lucky and prosperous lands, sprawls out before you. A few steps in and the path splits off, leading in two directions. One branch goes toward the oceanside town of Umite, while the other heads up to the mountainous town of Yamate.

Umite offers a vivacious scene. The weather here is warmer with very little cloud coverage most days, but the sun is tempered by a constant, cooling breeze. The ports are noisy and hopping with business. Bars and restaurants are always full, and parties and gatherings often spill out onto the streets. Here, humans and demons thrive together with minimal conflict. You're just as likely to run into demon employees and patrons as you are human ones in any given establishment. Houses and businesses are often only one or two floors tall and closely packed together, made primarily of bamboo and sturdy woods. Many locals take to decorating their places with wind chimes, colorful fortune kites, and banners. Modern amenities like electricity and plumbing are also common.

Head out to the white sand beaches and you'll find a large and popular bonfire area used for picnics, sunset drinks and fireworks after dark. Up the boardwalk is a small aquatic history museum for those who need a break from the liveliness of the town. It offers intriguing displays of fossils and preserved specimen of ancient, long-gone creatures. Clusters of boating merchants gather around docks and ports, waving and giving a jovial holler to people who pass by. They sell everything from deliciously fresh fruits and fish to hand-crafted pots to exquisite jewelry from their floating shops. From sunrise to well after sunset, Umite is alive and bustling. But surely there's more to these towns than meets the eye.

Yamate provides a stark contrast. With the forest's canopy so thick in the mountains, the sun offers less heat the deeper you travel. The light here is thin and the temperature is on the cooler side year-round. There's a tendency for fog and mist to gather around its peaks. Locals to this area have not had as much exposure to cultural blends as Umite, so tension between humans and demons is more palpable here, and people seem a little more likely to keep to themselves in general. The businesses and homes of Yamate are much more spread out and spacious, with the building materials of choice being white marble and stone. Residents seem to favor pristine appearances and clean aesthetics, along with open-air designs and high ceilings. It's quite common to find a shop or home with glass-less windows and patios that open directly into the surrounding forests.

One of the biggest draws of Yamate is an enormous meditation chamber. It offers patrons the chance to calm their minds in times of stress, clean their energy, and center their spirits. Another popular destination is the acoustics hall located between the two oldest trees in the forest. It's a perfect place for any musically-inclined folks to practice their instruments or de-rust their pipes, as it offers perfect resonance. Further up in the mountains, an expansive bonsai garden is open to the public. In addition to rare species of trees and a legendary sakura that blooms off-season, there are many unique sculptures donated by a local famed volcanic glass artist before their passing. You may also hear some stray rumors about cursed castle ruins. Hidden high on a forgotten mountain peak, this castle supposedly devours anyone foolish enough to enter its walls, with a preference for newborns... but it's probably nothing to worry about. Unless you want to take a peek inside?

Connecting both sides of the country from the mountain peaks to the ocean are a network of rivers that vary in size. Some are barely large enough to be considered rivers, while others have fast-moving currents and are tens of feet deep. Buildings along the waterfronts here are often raised on stone walls or stilts in the event that the rivers swell, which they often do during the rainy seasons. Networks of much smaller streams branch off between rivers, cutting paths through the forests and towns. At the halfway point between Yamate and Umite, one river leads to a gorgeous, mid-sized waterfall. Rumor has it that this waterfall has magical properties.

On each side, there is a small post office that you can drop letters and parcels off at for delivery. Strangely, the sole deliveryman and two overseers of the offices seem to bear an uncanny resemblance to each other... You can also find one single ancient computer nestled in each town's respective library. Despite the fact that there are only two in the whole country, they don't seem to be very popular just yet. Maybe that has to do with the fact that you can only use them to play Pong. Every now and then, they may also serenade you with The Dial-up Screech™. Enjoy!

Beyond that, regardless of where you travel and what you get up to, both sides of Kōun seem to be bustling with a little extra energy lately. There's plenty of buzz about the upcoming Demon Market Grand Opening from stall owners and prospective customers alike, and some people may pull you over to poll you on what you want to see out of it. More food stalls? Less unruly foot traffic? The world is your oyster! The Night of Demons Parade that will happen several weeks after it also seems to be generating a lot of excitement.

You might also catch wind of a meteor shower set to light up the sky at night - but you know what they say about curiosity and cats, don't you? Anyone outside when this shower hits may find that it's much larger than anticipated, with several flashes and flares of light rocketing straight toward the ground. Though no one is killed and mass destruction doesn't seem to be the goal, one thing is clear... This tiny country is in for some big changes. The gods presiding over it have decided to test its dedication to peace and coexistence, and with this, they offer the start of their challenge: Humans (OU and AU alike) who are too close to these falling meteorites may find themselves transforming into demons. Some change all at once, while others transform slowly over time. That same night, three demons among you will develop unusual physiological differences and abilities, chosen by the gods to become Maou.

That evening, everyone will share the same dream. A swirling darkness that will begin to encroach on their most beloved places - where they might have grown up or shared in vulnerable moments with friends. A shadow that begins to envelop their loved ones until they're disappeared into dust - or an image of their corpse flashes before their eyes, withered and rotten. When they wake up, even though they might not knowhow to fix their problem, they'll know that they are meant to search for the Maou. Any additional answers might take a bit of investigating.

With the stage set, it's time to see if Kōun can live up to its name.

---

Welcome to your world hop - World Three: Claws and Fangs! Please utilize this post, as well as the AU Plotting Post for all your reference needs. Questions are also welcomed to be sent to Dana (and Aki and Francy) at any time via the Discord!

Comments

LOCATION CRAFTING.

[fracturamods]

This thread will be used to collect player-made locations throughout the AU world that everyone can use in their roleplaying.

All players are invited to submit their own places, regardless of whether their characters are AU or OU. This is purely OOC oriented! The idea is to allow players the chance to creatively put their own pieces into the setting, giving more opportunities for prompts. This can be done as many times as desired. And while we encourage thinking outside the box, just remember to stay within the guidelines for the world: Meiij Era aesthetic and limited technology.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop a line in the #questions-for-mods channel on the server, or DM Dana, Aki, or Francy.

<b>NAME OF ESTABLISHMENT/BUSINESS HERE</b> <b>Location:</b> <b>Appearance:</b> <b>Notes:</b>

UMITE LOCATIONS.

[fracturamods]

[selfimmolates]

senri's shrine

[does it have a name idk

if you happen to drop by the shrine, you'll come across ray, sweeping the grounds. anyone who comes by often will likely recognize him, given that he's been a live-in worker for a while; even if you don't, you might recognize him as a worker at taka's bakery. he's a busy child, apparently.

without looking up, and in a monotonous tone—]

Welcome. You've come to the right place if you're looking for medical assistance, shelter, food, a place to pray, or just some peace and quiet.

But if you're looking to talk to the loudmouth [he means senri], he's probably on another quest to find his new best friend. If you're looking for Sasuke, he's probably setting the bakery on fire, and if you're looking for Takaomi, he's probably putting the fire out. Try again later.

[also if you happen to be senri, sasuke, or taka, then yeah, he's still saying this because he can throw shade at people's faces

assuming you're not one of those three, he taps the back of his hand. if you're original, you get a bonus!]

And if you haven't lost your mind, then seriously. You're welcome here.

[EVERYONE AROUND RAY IS CRAZY AND HE HATES IT]

shops

[in either umite or yamate, ray isn't picky even if travelling to yamate makes him nervous because he's afraid of how much trouble senri can get into if left alone for longer than a day... though regardless, he's armed with a bow and arrows, just in case.

anyhow, ray is peering at the wares, and even if you're just another browsing passerby, he speaks.]

Hey. What would you recommend as a souvenir?

shops!

[givethemhell]

[Welcome to hell Ray, HE TRIED TO WARN YOU!! He's not going to be able to help this time either, since it's obvious on sight that he's assimilated here, given the set of four crow's wings on his back. They flutter and puff a little as he considers the question, glancing over the products on display.]

Depends on what kind of person you're shopping for! But you know, it's really hard to go wrong with food... [Maybe his stomach is doing the thinking for him?!] Have you taken a look at the floating shops yet? They're the best for the freshest local treats!

[givethemhell]

i - rivers;
[Wei Wuxian isn't exactly a boating merchant, but he does spend tons of time on the rivers. His ferryboat is mid-sized and seats six people comfortably. Rumors abound that he also keeps it well-stocked with food and drink to share with patrons he likes - though with its stern-to-bow black paint and a ferryman with four crow wings at its helm, you may have also heard rumors from a superstitious few that spotting him at night is bad fortune. No name is scrawled on its side, but he fondly refers to it as simply Six Mon.

Either way, if you need a lift, he's your demon! He has a reputation as one of the chattiest ferrymen around with a pristine mental map of the network of rivers. Beyond that, he's also known for his easy acceptance of both demon and human passengers. Whether you're a boisterous human merchant from Umite or a reclusive demon scholar from Yamate, he'll provide a speedy and comfortable ride. Just step right up!

And heck, even if you don't need a ride, that doesn't guarantee you'll be able to escape this fuck.]

Catch—!

[A ripe persimmon comes zooming your way through the air... He waves from where he sits at the bow, bamboo pole in the other hand.]

ii - bonfire area;
[On the nights he's not busy boating around from place to place, he enjoys hanging out near the bustle of the bonfire area. Sometimes he sits near the fires, passing around stories and snacks. Other times, he can be found laying on his docked boat's small roof, a bamboo flute in hand. Anyone who meanders close will be gestured on over!]

Here, come here! Tell me - what songs do you like? Let me play one for you, free of charge! Though I won't say no if you happen to have a cup of sake to spare.

[winkwonk]

iii - kumou shrine, meteor boogaloo;
[Wei Wuxian is quick to react and quick to adapt. In the days after the meteors strike, he'll still be conducting business as usual, for the most part - but throughout the night after the shower, he can be found in the shrine he and his siblings grew up in. First, he's scouring the grounds to make sure no serious damage has been done. THANKS FALLING ROCKS. After that, he seems to be heating something up in a bonfire in front of the main building, but anyone who approaches gets his immediate attention. Clearly he's a little on edge, it's fine.]

Ah— Are you okay? Come a little closer to the fire, would you?

[HE'S READY TO HELP. After putting this fire out, maybe. Fire safety, kids.]

wildcard;
[You know the drill! Hit me up for anything and everything. Plotting comment's over here!]

rivers.....

[stressweets]

[ wei wuxian giving food to people he likes means that tsukasa definitely just hitches a ride to get said food, and the bakeneko - in his large cat form, his long tail draped over the boat's edge in a mockery of fishing (but primarily to keep it wet so it doesn't set the ferry on fire) - stretches out very comfortably on two of the seats.

he isn't really sure where he wants to go today - what shrine he wants to meow cutely at for hand-outs, or what shop he wants to try for a job at, or maybe it's just one of those days where he wants to wander... even if he's an old cat, he's young at heart!!! ]

Wei Wuxnyaaaan, [ finally piping up after being quiet for like ten minutes probably, ] isn't it boring ferrying nyathing all day?

[ he's probably asked this before. he probably asks this every time he rides the ferry. ]

[suddenlybees]

i. coin-op laundry
[ Welcome... to Coin-op Laundry. If there is anything you need, please give Kano your money. He can be found at the store in Umite from 10AM-1PM all days of the week, but the store is staffed by a small handful of other humans or demons in order to be open 24/7. On weekends from 7PM-midnight, a girl can be found manning the counter, with the same ashy blond hair as Kano though now wavy and tumbling past her shoulders, a bright customer service smile on her face for anybody who enters through the metal chime door and a mellower one for the wooden chime door. She introduces herself as Shuuya. Kano remains Kano.

Rather than on a chair behind the counter, Kano (or Shuuya on weekends) sits on top of the counter when you arrive, the other end of the cup on the string on his lap. ]

Hihi~ Whatcha lookin' for today?

[ When he's not in the shop, Kano's out there living the cat life, a scraggly black cat picking his way through the street to gather up scraps for dinner, finding hapless animal lovers to curl up on their laps and sneak a paw into their pockets, and try to find what sunny spots he can around town. ]

ii. Kano @ acoustics hall
[ Perfect resonance. Sometimes you gotta take advantage of perfect resonance to gather up a bunch of street urchins and make them all stand inside at the very center of the hall and

SCREAM AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS

The voice is nature's most perfect instrument, after all. ]

iii. Shuuya @ meteor shower
[ If he were a cat, his fur would be standing all on end watching the meteor shower that night; when the first meteor streaks across the sky, he steps out of the shadows, lashing tail tucked under the train of Shuuya's dress as "she" smoothes it over her legs, putting on a look of wide-eyed innocence as she clasps her hands behind her back and takes for the streets. ]

Wah~! I've never seen something like this before! How beaut—-

[ Her mouth snaps shut as the flaming ball of molten rock starts to become larger and larger and maybe she doesn't want to stand out in the open in the middle of the town. ]

Ah... Hm. We never had these sorts of drills, huh...? Where do you think is the safest place to shelter? Gotta be that castle, right?

iv. cat @ aftermath
[ Where there are destroyed buildings, there is a small black cat picking its way through the rubble looking around for anything small enough to pocket, occassionally sneezing from the soot and steeling itself to leap through the flames here and there to enter one builidng or another. We take opportunities as they come. ]

wc.
[ Kano's plotting post is here. He is a bakeneko who can shift between the forms of a black cat, a teenage boy (Kano), and a teenage girl (Shuuya) which I decided just now bc his account got renewed and I discovered he has girl icons uploaded for some reason. ]

iv

[disreguarded]

[ in one of those destroyed buildings, there is a girl with fiery hair and wings to match, all ablaze. she has hands though, don't pay attention to that last picture too hard. anyway she should be a familiar girl to kano. she's picking through rubble trying to make sure nobody is hurt - which is why when she hears the sneeze, she peers over in the direction it came from.

she squints, and then, holding onto a wall, leans over to scoop the black cat up off the ground and peer at him. ]

What are you doing.

[compendiem]

i. river, Yamate-side
[ It's the night after the meteor shower when Minato finally emerges from the mountains, pushing past the last straggling wall of trees into the clearing the opens out to the view of the rivers between the two towns. His clothing is singed and covered in blood on his left side; the moment he gets to the water, he drops to his knees and cups his hands to dip beneath the surface, splashing water on his face, his arms and torso. The blood and water runs off his skin, damp but entirely unbroken, but his breathing is shallow and labored and the entirety of his neck down to his chest is blackened, skin cracked and smoking slightly, as if of extinguished coal.

As he draws a sword out to wash the blood off the blade, a little ball of white-blue light dances around his head, his eye-lids drooping a little before he shakes his head to snap himself out of it, but inevitably starts to nod off again anyways. Busying himself with getting cleaned up, it's easy enough to approach— especially from behind- though the air seems to drop several degrees colder the closer you get to Minato and the ball of light, and you can feel your energy being sapped little by little if you take too long without speaking up to make yourself known.

If you do speak, though, Minato lifts his head and turns to glance over his shoulder, eyes a little wide in surprise although the slowness of the reaction suggests otherwise. The sword slips out of his hand and plops into the water, starting to be carried off by the current as he opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out but air. ]

ii. Umite & Yamate
[ HE NEEDS TO FIND SHINOBU. SHE IS SOMEWHERE IN THE MOUNTAINS. He has no idea how to get there and any time he thinks he's getting close, Lan Wangji comes and turns him around and shoos him away... But, touching a finger to his neck and pulling his hand back to rub the ash off on the side of his pants, he really does need her this time, more than just to talk.

If he can't get through the forest despite his best attempts, maybe somebody else can help. It's time to do what he does best: wander everywhere and talk to everybody. Literally anybody he comes across who doesn't look busy and makes the mistake of making eye contact with him, he approaches with a small smile on his face and both hands raised.

He places the tips of his fingers together, tented with his palms apart. Then, keeping his thumbs touching, he opens up his hands so that his palms are flat and facing outwards, fingers spread. With the third and final gesture, he touches his throat, before dropping his hands and looking expectant. ]

wc.
[ Minato is a human and his plotting comment is here. Through bonus tokens, Minato has lost his ability to speak for the duration of this world. Here is your chance to play charades! I heard some of you guys want to suffer. Alternatively, he is always in possession of paper and ink and can communicate through writing. ]

ii - yamate!

[souheki]

[You summoned me

By which I mean GUESS WHO IS HERE to see their friendly mountainside stalker... that's right, it's Lan Wangji. Again. Why does Lan Wangji have nothing better to do than chase Minato away from his sister.

He's frowning by the time he shows himself, though, landing gracefully in front of Minato from wherever he flew down from. He folds his wings back as soon as he does, but his tail can't seem to stay still, sweeping from side to side.]

Minato. You are back already?

[WHY.]

[souheki]

Yamate - meditation chamber

[I'm obligated to put this one

To absolutely no one's surprise, Lan Wangji can be found at the meditation chamber very often. When he's not letting himself be dragged around by someone, or taking care of various (/waves hand vaguely) tasks for the residents of Yamate, he's very often seen kneeling here. He can sit, perfectly straight-backed and still, for hours--really, he could do it for days, but doesn't want to get in the way of the caretakers.

If you call out to him here, he'll probably either 1. ignore you or 2. glare at you, at least until he's done meditating. If you're annoying enough, he may or may not get up and use them big ol' horns on his head to menace you out of the chamber entirely. DON'T DISTURB THE PATRONS, he's looking at you, gremlins.

If you're polite enough to be patient, he'll eventually get to his feet and sweep out with a polite, but totally silent, bow of greeting.

Please don't step on his tail.]

Yamate - acoustics hall

[The other place Lan Wangji spends most of his time is most definitely the acoustics hall. Catch him here playing slow or fast music on his guqin, some infused with spiritual energy, but most simply for the joy of making music.

If you are there to play as well, feel free to accompany his music with your own! If he arrives when you're playing, he'll wait patiently, listening if it's welcome. The acoustics hall is probably the place where he's most approachable; whenever the song(s) come to a natural end, he may or may not offer a small smile. Or, uh. Something vaguely like a smile. HE'S NOT RBF-ING AT YOU, IN ANY CASE.]

Lovely instrument.

[--THAT IS, OF COURSE, unless you're here making a ruckus??? It's probably a pretty quick way to summon him, honestly. If you're just here making noise, he'll show up so quickly it's like he teleported, noticeably displeased. He'll also just get straight to the point--]

Stop.

[PUT YOUR OTOMATONES AND KAZOOS AND VUVUZELAS AWAY]

Umite - floating shops

[Since Lan Wangji's a Yamate native, a demon, and a loner, he doesn't really get out to do a lot of shopping. The Umite floating shops, in particular, are always a little overwhelming. It's not as bad as it was when he first came down the mountain, but he still probably looks pretty out of place. It's that ~ethereal~ vibe. Very floaty, very spiritual, very easy to swindle.

THAT'S RIGHT, this is the dumbest prompt, because Lan Wangji is absolutely just standing here letting shopkeepers press things into his hands. He made the fatal mistake of saying he was looking for a "gift", and that means he's ended up with an entire basket of persimmons, three bolts of fabric in blue, green, and pink, and a carved figurine of something that's probably supposed to be a bird. HE DOESN'T NEED ANY OF THIS STUFF please take it off his hands, or come rescue him from the shopkeeper who's currently trying to bully him into buying some Very Questionable Literature. (Is it questionable in quality, or content? YOU DECIDE.)

Alternatively, if he knows you and sees you on the streets, he might just come right up to you and hold out all of his, uh, gifts. He didn't haggle for any of it, what a damn fool.]

Please take one.

wildcard

[Hit me up with whatever!! His AU plotting post can be found right over here /o/]

meditation chamber

[obsessiveness]

[ izumi doesn't really go out of his way to leave his precious domain, but yamate is all right. and whenever he does feel like going into town, the meditation chamber is usually his first stop.

oh, lwj is here. but he's a civilized youkai compared to - well, everyone else, so he'll watch him do his thing from afar, and when lan wangji wraps up, he returns the polite bow of his own. ]

Wangji-san. It's been a while.

[bywolves]

i. the cabin in the mountains

[ though royce does try his best to not let anybody know where his cabin is, it does exist, and can be found! it's a tiny thing and is really only functional for sleeping in, but he doesn't seem to mind. this is where he is most times. knock on the door and see what you get! is he inside? is he outside, lurking in a tree? is he eating? hope he's not eating, that's awkward for everybody involved. ]

ii. the meteor shower

[ well, look, he's super not interested in becoming a demon barbecue, so he goes right for the closest shelter. and if you get anywhere close to him, he - hisses? he hisses at you, an almost snakelike sound. ]

Get away. [ do not touch. actually - there is touch, but only because royce reaches out and shoves whoever it is out of his space. ]

iii. kara's restaurant; hunting

[ there is a man in a cloak. he is sitting in the corner, hood up, lounging. maybe you feel drawn to him - there's something alluring about him, something mysterious that makes you want to talk to him. if you concentrate enough, you can shake off that feeling, but - it is there. a lure.

but if you don't shake it off, well. that man glances up, yellow eyes glittering under the hood. ]

Can I help you? [ he asks, soft. ]

iv. wildcard

[ plotting post here! hit me up at fluorescentness#1929 on discord if you wanna plot out something specific or literally just hit me with whatever!! ]

i!

[givethemhell]

[Wei Wuxian doesn't knock on the door like a normal human being-- demon being? Because he learned long ago that Royce can easily ignore knocking unless he's very persistent about it. And he can't be persistent about it right now, because as he alights on the ground with a flap and flutter of his four wings, it's clear his hands are full! He's carrying... an enormous wicker basket??

At least it doesn't seem to be moving, shaking or making strange noises. That's more than can be said for the shit he brings, sometimes.]

Roooyce... Royce! Royce, are you here? You're in now, right? Open the door, I have something for you!

[stressweets]

( i. the cat returns )
[ tsukasa's just minding his usual business, pawing his way through either town in his true vagrant cat fashion. did the food you were about to purchase just go missing? sorry - a cat's got to eat.

when he isn't stealing treats - specifically from humans, but demons aren't spared completely either - he'll be just be... generally roaming around. looking cute. pawing for pets. don't mind that he's larger than your average house cat, and don't give him reason to use those claws, humans. ]

(ii. kimi no na wa )
[ the meteor, predictably, scares the shit out of him; he's first at the kumou shrine, hiding beneath the stairs - he'd come by to visit the two remaining siblings and watch the meteor shower from okuni's lap, but.............

well, he totally ditched That.

eventually he'll be out in umite to look for kano and make sure he's okay, but once he's managed that, he'll be back in yamate to snoop around and check on people there, too. while he's in yamate though, he'll be human - his little five-foot-nothing form, his tail curled around his leg beneath his clothing.

...despite his human looks, he's only openly helping out fellow demons - newly turned or not. humans, on the other hand, get a wary look and a quiet inquiry of: ] Do you need any help?

(iii. princess mononoke )
[ in the days following the meteor shower, tsukasa can be primarily found in the forest - usually at the edges of it, peering inside hesitantly (as a human). when prompted, he'll flinch a little in surprise and tuck his hands into his sleeves, shoulders hunching slightly. ]

Ahhhh, well, I was just... thinking of going in, but it's a little scary, isn't it. [ a little cough into his fist, before he goes back to hiding it. ] Especially now... Who knows what sorts of creatures were stirred up by those falling rocks.

[ he doesn't know if any actually WERE BUT........... who knows. ]

(iv. wildcard)
[ literally anything else. plotting post is here, or hit me up on discord @ Bella#4429 for something specific. ]

iii

[obsessiveness]

Ehh, that's funny.

[ sena's always around whenever someone's about to intrude into the forest somehow, though that isn't part of his repertoire of abilities as a snake youkai. he's sitting on one of the tree branches, chinhandsing at tsukasa like he's the most interesting thing he's seen for a while now. ]

Did you hit your head hard on one of those falling rocks, or did you already forget what you are? Poor, poor Kasa-kun. If you actually turned into a boring old human, I might just refuse you entry.

[ why is he gatekeeping this entire forest. though to be fair, he does have a reason why, especially when that meteor shower started fucking things up around here. ]

[carrotkeeper]

Yamate

[It's a simple routine. Day after day she assembles her small stand at the edge of the market, sells her carrots, and brings the money home to her family. Some days she detours to do errands around town, other times she doesn't, and-

It's a nice life. A safe one. Her family is a staple in this town and her parents, her siblings-they rely on the money earned here. If she gets enough, a little extra, then maybe-

Well, it doesn't matter right now. She has a job to do and with a bright smile and the determined air of someone who doesn't want to drag a thousand pounds of carrots back home, she immediately starts a conversation with anyone who walks by.]

You're looking pretty hungry-want a sample? There's no catch, really. Just give it a try.

[And in her hand, there's a single coin sized piece of carrot. That's it. It's only carrots. There's only carrots.]

Meteor shower

[Like any other good member of Yamate society, she had been thrilled, excited, delighted by the thought of seeing the shower. She stayed up all night, drinking as much tea as she could to keep awake, spending hours finding the best spot in town to watch the sky and-

Something's wrong here and she turns to whoever's beside her her with a nervous, forced smile.]

It kinda looks like they're heading for the ground, right? I mean, not that it would happen, but-

[Boy, that sure is a loud boom and wow that light is bright. Maybe this isn't good??? It's probably not good and she hopes that didn't hit her family's farm just now.]

Let's go take cover.

Wildcard

[Hit my whole butt up with whatever hip hoppin shenanigans idc throw any kinda thing in here.]

yamate

[souheki]

[Maybe someday Lan Wangji will unlock her deep carrot lore

But for now it's just a regular ol' day!! Whatever the reason Lan Wangji's in town, it's clearly not that important, because he stops when she speaks to him. He doesn't smile at her, but he bows politely, which is about as much as you can ask for when it comes to him honestly.]

Perhaps later. [It's not a no!! It's a "guess who doesn't want to walk around town holding carrots, it's Lan Wangji". Even he has priorities. He seems willing enough to keep her company for a minute, though.] Is your family well?

[deadened]

at the farm-

[well, that meteor shower sure was something, as was the strange dream after-- wen ning fortunately wasn't at home when it happened, but on traveling back he's discovered that one of his carefully-tended fields has a nice little dent in the middle of it. he's tired both from making the trip back and from sleeping poorly the previous night, but it's right to work for him, as it always is.

whether you happen to come across the farm where it's tucked away a bit (though not too far from a river to travel) or whether you're someone who knows wen ning stopping in, he looks up from where he's inspecting the field to offer a bow, quickly wiping his brow with the sleeve of his robe.]

Oh- h-hello, sorry, I'm a little busy with this... I'm afraid I can't invite you in, but if you don't mind staying out here to talk...?

[he won't ask you to help fix the field back up, but he's not going to say no to offers either.]

in town-

[this can be either before or after meteors tbh. wen ning stops into nearby towns every so often with whatever excess produce he happens to have; this time it's extra radishes, after a particularly flourishing crop. then again, every crop of radishes seems to be that way? wen ning won't complain!

the thing is that he's really bad at... selling them.]

Um, e-excuse me...

[he tries, but he exhales a little breath when nobody glances over, shaking his head. he's a little too quiet and unassuming to actually get much attention. wen ning has had more luck trading with them, but he's a soft touch for anyone who seems to need food too, so while he does have some supplies he's bartered for... he has gained very little money.]

in town

[bywolves]

[ he is... very bad at selling them. which is why royce is settled behind him, in his typical cloak. he's mostly obscured, save for his hands, which are holding a book that he's pretending to read.

a human stops dead in his tracks in the middle of the road, looking over at wen ning, and then makes his way in a daze towards him. only to stop, blink, and look very confused at wen ning. oh. uh... he guesses he'll buy some... ]

[illhearted]

( i. business as usual )
[ well.

like any good student, elizabeth attends classes, takes notes, and does the work assigned to her wherever she likes. usually, she has food with her. she's grateful this is a role she knows how to play - it's been years since she was one properly, granted, but it's easy enough to slip into. the fact she's foreign as well will definitely help her.

she can afford to be a little clueless, after all.

the most interesting part of this place to her are the shops, though she'll be primarily sticking to yamate's - she started here, she might as well make herself familiar with this area first. catch her peering over some fun items, or don't mind as she catches sight of something you're looking at. ]

Does that have anything interesting going for it?

( ii. business as not-usual )
[ well.

she can't be the only normal one, but it feels a little weird to just reach out and try to. talk? to people?? she barely tries such a thing in the space, given the sensation sends shivers down her spine, so she's leery of doing it here.

instead, she'll broadcast how Not Suited To This Time she is by hanging out by yamate's computer. she watches people play pong for a long time before she tries it herself, humming short notes when she fails. ]

...This is far more difficult than I imagined it would be.

( iii. wildcard )
[ her plotting comment is here, or you can hit me up on discord @ Bella#4429 but more specific plotting!! i'm so tired... that's why she has only two prompts... end me ]

i!

[souheki]

[HELLO ELIZABETH.

Unfortunately, as the horns and tail probably indicate, this is not the Lan Wangji she's familiar with. Apparently his personality isn't terribly different, though; he gives off the same cold aura he did before, but when she speaks to him, his expression isn't angry, just stoic. HE'S POLITE OKAY he's just not... a people person.

As it is, he simply glances at her, then back at the incense burner in his hands. It's bronze, shaped like a dragon, and while the craftsmanship isn't terrible, Lan Wangji doesn't hesitate to shake his head.]

It appears not. [Lan Wangji don't say that in the middle of the shop you shithead]

[disreguarded]

( okay before anything, beau has hair like this, wings like these but in the same color scheme as her hair plus regular human hands. her eyes glow the same color as her hair. her tattoo glows like this and her aesthetic is this. thank you for coming to my ted talk. )

i. the wright wine

[ the wright wine is open! it's a day after the meteor shower, and beau is working. covering, actually, for one of the employees that had a house in the crossfire of the meteors. beau looks exhausted, but she's doing her best to keep spirits up. ha. spirits. she's out in front of the building, hair tied back and mask tied to the side of her head. in her hand is a bottle of wine, and she's waving it at the closest person aggressively. ]

Hey - hey. C'mere, I've got a sample I want you to try. [ no, she doesn't care how old you are. ]

ii. floating shops.

[ catch beau jumping from ship to ship like a fucking madwoman, pissing off every single shopkeeper. she's got a lot of money to spend, though! which means when her glowy ass lands right next to you, she peers at whatever is in your hand. ]

You gonna buy that?

iii. meteor shower

[ of course she's out here, looking for injured people. mostly she's going to pick up people who got burned and take them to shinobu, or even try to help them herself. burns are something she's familiar with. she's out late, her hair and eyes providing light for humans to follow. ]

You're fine. [ beau says, crouching down in front of a crying little boy. beau looks hopelessly out of her element. ] Uh. It's okay? Come on, tell me what you're crying about, kiddo.

iv. wildcard

[ plotting post here! hit me up at fluorescentness#1929 on discord if you wanna plot out something specific or literally just hit me with whatever!! ]

i!

[souheki]

[Why am I doing so many shopping tags

(answer: because Lan Wangji is stupid and gay which is the reason he does anything)

BUT ANYWAY here he is, and while he doesn't look at all impressed by her aggression, he does stop. His tails swishes back and forth for a moment before it settles.]

No thank you. [HE WILL NOT DRINK. He will, however, eyeball the wine bottle.] What sort of wine?

[bachagain]

i. sighs deeply - umite/yamate

[ near, far, wherever you are— no, really, no matter where you are, there is the distinct sound of a koto, crisp and serene, in the breeze. perhaps your first thought is "oh, that sounds nice". perhaps it's "where is that coming from?"... or perhaps it's "oh god, not this shit again".

the reason that the latter may be a thought is quite apparent soon. you see, the music - it stops, and starts again. this time, the chords seem to match your very movement. looking pensively around for the source of this sound? have some thinky music. approaching quickly? that sound sure speeds up!

and if for some reason you want to search and destroy the guilty source... that is, an older looking koto hidden away somewhere in the open... it's gonna grow some legs (???) and.

run.

otherwise, if you seem to be completely fine with the background music... it'll play as is, matching your day and mood. and perhaps if you approach it without i'm-going-to-throw-you-out-a-window intent, it'll even say hi? ]

ii. sighs deeper - yamate

[ those outside near the acoustics hall will catch sight of leo, his hands tucked into his sleeves and looking quite pensive. he doesn't seem to be intent on entering the hall, yet he lingers around it for... some reason.

for anyone who may approach or be near the area, he's just going to offer the following with a tiny wave: ]

Ahh... It's kinda cold, huh! I almost can't feel my fingers!

[ it's. probably not even that cold but, ugh, his poor umite heart can't take it no matter how much he drops by. ]

iii. sighs deep...est - umite

[ this is his punishment for being a little shit. leo's normally out at this time to pluck some strings and alternate between making too much noise and not enough noise, but his focus was on the meteor shower this time around.

... and then it's terrible. anyone outside, please excuse the usual troublemaker who's, as usual, running around... but is now doing vague little hand gestures to whoever stumbles out of a building, urging them to go back in.

and then he's also making his way in. to your house. or, wherever you are. anyway- ]

It wasn't me this time! [ tHE NOISE, HE MEANS. ] Let's stay in here for now, okay?

iv. wildcard

[ hit me up with anything and everything! find this koto knocked out in a street corner sleeping, find him just playing some random tunes, etc... if you have any specific ideas or want a specific starter, feel free to contact me up at kosy#0299! here is leo's plotting post. ]

ii!

[givethemhell]

[Somehow he keeps ending up in Yamate... Even though he could rely on their top-of-the-line postal service to deliver his things, why do that when he has two perfectly functional pairs of wings! Which is to say, he just drops down to the ground by Leo, a cloth bundle tucked under each arm.]

Haha, it is pretty chilly up here, isn't it? [HE'S ALSO AN UMITE BABY WHO CAN'T HANDLE THE COLD.] You didn't bring any gloves with you? Come on, then - let's get inside already. At least it's warmer in there than it is out here.

[rateup]

MEDITATION CHAMBER

[ to become more well-adept in the ways of the onmyoudo, one must be in the clear state of mind in order to perform such crafts. which is why itaru is here along with a group of people who are also here to relax and clear their mind through meditation. itaru's even folded his legs together and closed his eyes as he inhales and exhales, ridding his mind of impurities and distractions and such --

ah, but maybe he's a tad too distracted. his breathing looked too even as well, as if he were sleeping while sitting up... which was exactly what's going on here. it isn't noticeable at first, but itaru will soon wobble in place, head tilting precariously to one side before his eyes snap awake. or maybe he can be heard snoring lightly?

either way, please wake him up - it's embarrasing. or if caught he will look at them with a finger up to his lips, accompanied with a wink. shh. ]

PONG

[ fuck yeah, technology. even as an au, itaru will always gravitate towards it, especially in a world that barely has any. but itaru's looking at the ancient-ass computer like it's the latest iphone, so now...

well, he'll be found mostly at the computers at either umite and yamate, hogging it all to himself as he tries to play pong with single player. but that's fucking boring, so-- ]

Here. [ he hands you the other controller, now that he's finally acknowledged your existence. ] Don't say I didn't warn you, though. I just wanna beat that high score real bad.

[ it's a really really high score? OP must be cheating... ]

meteor shower

[ what's supposed to be a once-in-a-blue-moon moment became a disaster in a blink of an eye. quickly, itaru springs into action as he jumps into the fray, dodging incoming space rocks and people running for safety. he has pretty good endurance now compared to his flimsy ou self, and he'll gladly show it off by getting in front of anyone who would be pelted by a meteorite, draws a cross in the air with two raised fingers to summon a barrier that'll protect the two of them for the time being. ]

Stay close to me. It's better if I guide you on your way home.

[ ooh, so smooth. unbeknownst to itaru, he really is living out his own dreams here. ]

WILDCARD

[ y'all know what to do. plotting comment for reference!! ]

pong

[stressweets]

[ mreow.

tsukasa perks up, staring at the controller in his hands -- he's never actually played? he tries not to go to where too many people are at a given time, but it'd seem pretty deserted today... itaru aside. um. ]

...How long is that going to take?

[huanhua]

i. in umite: pre-demons

[ a fresh faced young cultivator named luo binghe is not at all an unusual sight around the city. dressed in the same whites and jades as his master, binghe is a fixture around the ports and buildings, keeping himself busy. it seems this evening he's running errands for his beloved shizun; there is a large basket made of bamboo affixed to his back, and he's moving from boat shop to boat shop, greeting merchants and purchasing food for dinner. a generally affable young man, he's starting to come into his own in the town where he and his shizun have settled.

though he's never outright rude, curiously, if you're a demon, he tends to step out of your way. it's nothing personal, but flashes of self conscious behavior appear on his face at the sight, turning his head a bit to the side. his bangs aren't nearly long enough to cover the red mark on his forehead that's been there since he was a child, and today, his mission for shopping for dinner has also come with a quest to find....well, cosmetics. something to cover this unsightly thing. he'd read about it in a magazine in shizun's shop, and it seemed like a good idea.

the problem here is that he's not sure where to go, or who to ask. so, you can find the white lotus of cang qiong hovering a bit outside of a demon-run beauty shop, like he's trying to decide whether he's allowed in or not. a great sitting duck. ]

ii. meteor shower

[ traveling from town to town as a cultivator, luo binghe has seen many things, and a meteor shower is not unusual. one charged with this much energy is, though, and if it is his duty to help, then he'll help because he is a Good Boy. (and also because that's what shizun would be doing.)

getting people to safety and cover seems like the right thing to do. so, if you're cowering in fear or freaked out in an obvious place, you may see a handsome young man with a sword strapped to his back, offering his hand. ] Come. [ because the nito shrine where he spends most of his time has so far been safe, and he's happy to be a guide to take you there, away from the meteorites and the chaos reigning on their heads. ]

iii. demoning.

[ of course, in the aftermath of the meteor shower, things start to feel... very, very wrong.

there's something dark to access in his qi that he hadn't noticed before. it's powerful, the kind of thing that could send his magic into destroying trees in a single bound, into making his swordwork sharper, crisper, his strikes stronger. each time he uses it in a spell or an attack, it feels like it's getting stronger, and it's sort of -- it's bad. there's a conviction to do more and tap into it, to try harder, harder, get stronger and do more, but it rings with the faces of the angry, terrified people in his home village by the ice river, and binghe freezes at the thought.

...but, were he stronger, he could help shizun more. he wouldn't have to know that he was using this, right? if it came to him, he should make use of it. shouldn't he?

the more that he accesses the gifted demonic energy -- uncontrolled, though not overwhelming-- the more it has an effect on him, something he has only come to realize because of this situation. this situation is binghe, skulking around umite with his gigantic, fluffy hair drawn low down to his back instead of a ponytail, and a pageboy cap pulled on top of his head. he's holding onto it with one hand, and it looks like it's going to pop off at any second. maybe it's because of his giant hair?

oh no. it's because of a pair of dog ears. one black, one white, they're currently "masterfully" (no) hidden underneath this hat, the matching tail tucked into an outer robe. what does he do. he needs to look into this demonic energy and controlling it and no matter what happens shizun absolutely, absolutely, absolutely cannot find out. ]

iv. wildcard

[ britney spears voice hit me baby one more tiiime ]

iii

[twitter]

[ ah

well, the meteor shower was a bit of a mess, and hajime is taking time to run around and check on everyone to see if anyone hadn't gotten injured. it doesn't seem like it, even if things are... odd.

in any case, she spots him, and-- oh what cute ears. she'll just walk over. ]

Hi! How are you?

[voidbreaker]

i. yamate - book shop

[ If you live in Yamate, you may or may not have already visited this place. Or at the very least heard someone praise the fact that the owner can and will find you any book you want to get your hands on... or maybe grumble and curse the fact the same owner never puts up opening times or warns shoppers when he's going to be closing the shop for travelling.

Still, it's not difficult to find the shop. Or see from a distance that it's open - right now there are tables with books outside the entrance, and the glass doors seem to be thrown wide open.

The owner is only visible once you get to the entrance; sat at the counter with his feet propped up on the wood, flicking through a large, old-looking leather book. His eyes are already on the door like he knew you were coming. Spoopy. ]

Fiction's to the right, non-fictions to the left. Anything in the locked cabinets is off-limit unless you ask for it.

[ His book is more important than you, apparently. ]

ii. meteor shower

[ Ash had only gone to look outside the entrance of the shop out of curiosity, but when it had become apparently this was larger and more intense that something like a cute number of falling stars dropping aesthetically out of the sky, he'd opened up the entrance doors for people to duck into the shop.

Although he himself stays at the front of the shop, partially to yell out to people who might go scurrying past obliviously looking for shelter. ]

If you move to the back of the shop you'll be less likely to hurt yourself if one of them crashes into the entrance. Stop panicking and start moving!

[ But also he just looks kinda... tired? As the shower's going on? There's a little crease in his forehead that only grows deeper the longer the shower goes on and seems to stay put in the hours, and even over the next day once it had all seemingly blown over.

The shop's open again the next day, but the owner's just flat out not bothering with good customer service -- moreso than usual. His heads just straight up on the counter and he's not even pretending to read. ]

i

[twitter]

Uwaaah! There's so many here!

[ yeah. because it's a bookstore.

but she'll salute after his explanation, and then immediately start to snoop around. non-fiction is that way... she waddles over there to squint at the titles. ]

[lqg]

(.o1 the meteor shower)

[ it's been a long time since liu qingge's seen anything like it - there were shooting stars back home, but this is bigger than that, it feels like the heavens themselves are moving. the view from the yamate mountain path is surprisingly nice too, high above the trees and just far enough from the town that you can see everything with ease. and then they're literally crashing down to earth and liu qingge jolts into action, years of training for insane things going on preparing him to handle the well, unexpected.

he rushes to get away from the falling stars, but if he sees anyone who looks like they might be stuck, or in need of aid from walking around at night, liu qingge is not about to let them suffer alone out here. he reaches out, face tight with worry: ]

Are you alright?



(.o2 meditation chamber)

[ he came here to meditate, honest. being thrust into a strange world after strange world has made him a little more rattled than he wants to admit, and liu qingge needs to clear his head lest he snaps and rips someone's head off.

in between attempts at meditation, you'll probably catch him reading a letter on some odd looking stationary. he looks super annoyed with the letter, like liu qingge can't quite figure out what's on it, or why he has it. well, either way, he's distracted, which isn't entirely fitting for a meditation hall, but there's no where else he's been able to really read and reread this stupid thing. ]

[ he's grumbling to himself, and you can probably hear him mutter under his breath: ] Insane.



(.o3 around yamate)

[ meandering through the town is somehow both familiar and incredibly strange all at once. familiar, in that the street stalls selling food and the outdoor shops and the running around of common folk remind him oddly of home. strange, in that there's a scent of something different in the air, something magical and something dark and something that tugs on the empty spots in his head that makes him nuts. but liu qingge does his best to taper that down, and just... explore. this new place is way bigger after all, and if he has the freedom to roam then he will.

it's how liu qingge has now gotten himself at a yakitori stall, buying a small bundle so he can eat delicious, spicy grilled meat. it's worth it, both for the food and to listen in on the local conversation to see if he can figure out more about this weird, weird place he's in now. ]


(o4. wildcard)

[ go wild go crazy here's his ooc plotting post]

2

[goldenrepair]

[Neither of these fools should be in the meditation hall.

It doesn't seem like Jiang Cheng is here exactly to meditate. He's quiet and respectful, but his steps are solid, and he's walking around like he's... on the hunt? A man with a mission. A man who... doesn't seem to be any kind of demon.

But the talking does get him to pause and glance in Liu Qingge's direction.]

Excuse me?

[alitaba]

I - Here, There, Everywhere ( Umite/Yamate )

[ Given her relationship with a certain ferryman, it’s not hard to find Futaba running around both towns, causing mischief and chaos as she goes as little foxes can’t be left alone on their own devices without gremlin cackling eventually.

There’s no shortage of sightings of this small redhead running away from the screams behind her. Catch her using whoever’s closest to duck behind (or climb upon if she's familiar) and putting a finger to her mouth, shhing as she beams ]

Don’t let them see you!

II - Kumou Shrine

[ there’s a fox asleep on the shrine, completely sprawled out in complete bliss in the middle of the stairs. were you to come poke, or pet them away, there’s a sudden pon! and a puff of colored dust before a cackle happens behind you. ]

Gotcha!

III - THE SKY IS FAlLING ( either )

[ so much for enjoying that dose of Nature is Amazing! huh?

wherever you may be, there’s Futaba gunning it for you as meteors come far too close for comfort and she yips rather loudly, protectively clutching her tail ]

Come on, come on, come on, we gotta go!

i

[supremity]

[ Considering the nature of their relationship, Hua Cheng isn't even a little bit shocked to suddenly find himself being climbed upon. He's an awful lot of fox to climb, too, so it works out well in Futaba's favor to keep her hidden from whoever it is that's pursuing her.

All of his fox traits are hidden, but it's one of the rare times that it's his true face out and on the streets of Umite. Immediately, he gets a hand under the younger demon and hums his understanding. Especially considering the screams of the properly trolled coming from behind them.

A finger comes up to mirror Futaba's, there's the implication of a wink (even with his eyepatch), and then he's taking brisk steps to disappear from line of sight with his new cargo. ]

[glooming]

i. this is not zen

[ Anyone who walks by or comes to the garden this day will find Utsutsu staring into the distance. The light in her usually inexpressive face is dimmer than usual. Her hold on the rake in her hands is listless.

Following her line of sight will bring into view a mischievous demon or two ruining all the beautiful lines in the sand and overturning some rocks. It doesn't seem like they're going to stop any time soon, and it doesn't look like Utsutsu is going to try to stop them either. ]

... I'm gloomy.

[ She's not equipped for this. ]

ii. shops

[ The way she looks blankly at some of the goods makes it seem like she usually comes with someone who's much more forward with making purchases.

She gravitates between looking at hats that won't suit her at all and at pots that would be perfect for a mini zen garden. She's the picture of someone lost and in unfamiliar territory, but she's aware enough that she gets out of anyone's way if they're coming to look at whatever she is. ]

iii. wild card

[ hmu for whatever! her au comment is here. ]

ii

[suddenlybees]

[ Would Utsutsu come to Kano's shop? She's in Kano's shop now, a cramped enough place that there's little room to duck away, especially when it's a clerk who approaches her instead of another patron. ]

Hihi~! Do you have money? Something to trade in?

[ Lost and hesitant are great patrons to have, actually, much better than those who come in knowing exactly what they want and will leave as soon as they get it.

Moving quickly and without waiting for an answer, Kano starts to move hats off the shelf and starts stacking them on top of Utsutsu's head with no care of sizes- whether to fit her or to stack properly without being unbalanced one way or another- and since there are no mirrors readily on hand, he picks up a vase that looks shiny enough and holds it up so she can see her distorted reflection on the surface of it. ]

So! Which five are to your liking? We can wrap 'em right up for you!

[wisterin]

i. waterfall

[ Is the waterfall magical, or is it just that the people who come to it that are? Shinobu walks out from underneath the waterfall, looking like she's glimmering? Glittering? Sparkling? Is that natural?

Oh, wait, it's just the sun reflecting off the water. Probably.

She catches the eye of anyone nearby and smiles. ]

Hello there. Isn't it a lovely day to meditate?

ii. post meteor

[ Well! That meteor shower certainly was something, wasn't it. It was a bit worrying and ominous followed by an equally worrying and ominous to go with it.

The next morning, Shinobu goes place to place, location to location, Yamate, Umite, everything in between, checking on the damage. From the state of nature to the well being of any person, she wants to examine it all. It helps that she can walk on water and on top of vegetation without crushing it.

Shinobu approaches anyone anywhere. It could be a shop, a shrine, or she can just be crossing paths somewhere on the beach, the forest, the river, wherever— ]

Are you all right? Is everyone you know safe?

[ People first. Property later. ]

iii. wild card

[ i'm down for whatever! her au comment is over yonder. ]

ii!

[givethemhell]

[LOOK even though he is absolutely not on the best terms with Lan Wangji's sister, he's still perfectly cordial (for him) and perfectly respectful of her skills as a doctor. It's why he approaches first, before she asks the question, footsteps light and wings tucked carefully up behind his back.]

Ah, good - I heard you were out making rounds. [From Lan Wangji the night before but no one needs to know it's fine, it's fine. Word tends to get to him quickly one way or another, anyway.]

How is it looking out there? You've probably covered more ground than I have at this point. I've heard there haven't been many injuries...

[But he seems a little tense despite that, for some reason. Probably because of the other things he's heard in the hours since daybreak.]

[supremity]

I. wu ming; umite on the surface

[ The hustle and bustle of the ryokan spills out from beyond its doors and out into the market, the port, all across Umite. Hua Cheng has enough people working for him that are enticing or exciting, bold or bashful, that any advertising ploy will do just fine. They're more than happy to approach any fool that gets too close or shows even a little interest in what's going on, and they announce their services and prices cheerfully. A perfect view of the night sky! Are you here in preparation for the opening of the Demon Market? Please, stay a while, take a load off! Looking for accomodations for the upcoming Night of Demons Parade? They're offering specials - discounts, party prices, and their doors will be more than open in celebration!

Of course, there's the normal business, too. Hua Cheng doesn't bother with trivial nonsense like the street hype, or greeting customers that come, and can instead be found around Wu Ming ... when you least expect him, but are probably looking for him (or are a guest of the ryokan minding your goddamn business). Those close to him may wind up seeing his true face while wandering through the halls, but most times he's shifted to a fake face - or even a completely different form. His dark eyes and dangerous aura usually give him away, though, if you're looking for him.

To anyone that he knows, he's more than willing to announce himself out of the blue with a - ] And to what do we owe this pleasure? [ - which can either be casual enough, or extremely condescending, depending on your CR.

Alternatively, there's a very thin smile (that is not actually a smile) towards new faces that happen upon him. ] Lost? Guest services should have given the tour.

II. wu ming; umite in the dark

[ Come nightfall, though, Wu Ming is at its busiest: while many people visit during the daytime for all of the ryokan's services, the cover of darkness brings out those looking for shelter... or for business.

While anyone with the password - or blanket permission, depending on Hua Cheng's word - is allowed access to the secret entrance to the private rooms throughout the day, this is the time of day when it's easiest to find the proprietor coming and going from them himself. The lavish red of the upstairs bleeds more dramatically into the dimly lit rooms here, where there are tables set up for whatever your gambling poison is, drinks and food are always serviced by the immaculately beautiful of every persuasion, and deals are made over goods, services, and sometimes lives. Beyond the lounge are the private rooms, where secrets are better kept and shelter is offered to those who need to hidden sanctuary.

Hua Cheng has his own seat in the main lounge, where he's absently stacking gold foils up like a house of cards. (Which he subsequently knocks down with a childish amusement, because he is secretly fucking five years old.) Mostly he's dismissive of people approaching him - so few do, anyways - but familiar faces get his attention, whatever their business might be.

If you need to go somewhere more private to talk, he sends the attendants away to occupy other patrons and will take you to another room.

Here, at least 90% of the time he has his true face - eyepatch and all - and all of his fox traits visible, including all of his tails in all of their glory. ]

III. yamate; puji shrine renovations

[ And here is Hua Cheng, "disguised" as San Lang, his red robe hanging freely from where it's tied at his waist, white shirtsleeves rolled up as he does some... well, cleaning up. His fox traits are hidden, both of his eyes visible and dark, and his hair is tied in a braid as he goes about his business here on the other side of the country. What business is that, you might ask?

Why, chopping wood! Sweeping paths! Raking leaves! Reinforcing the structural integrity of this shitty, humble little shrine. He's here pretty often to do these kinds of things, actually, and has left offerings for the shrine to use as it sees fit - for the owner, for those that visit, for those that the owner might be trying to help. There's a lot of things from Umite, of course, but also many from Yamate due to him having business often on this side, too.

Greet him! Ask him what the hell he's doing over here! Inquire after his craftsmanship, because it's actually rather good, especially considering his primary project appears to be making a door like this is Animal Crossing: Claws and Fangs.

But when he's not working... ]

Watch it. [ ... visitors aren't rudely scrutinized, but he's leaning on his broom at one point just observing, eyes narrowed as he assesses whoever it is. ] I just swept here, no need to make a mess again already.

IV. wildcard

[ Have at me! hc is around and pretends he doesn't care, but will help people during/after the meteor shower as well. Can be seen in both Umite and Yamate, whatever your fancy. Hit me up on folklorist#9385 or folklores for whatever you need. ]

ii... i changed my mind

[dianxias]

[ the other version of xie lian has always been a bit bemused by hua cheng. since arriving in yamate to stay for good, he's seen the huli jing in a number of different places across town. he seems the very picture of a powerful young demon, like ones he's seen over and over in his travels, and surrounds himself with luxurious things in his luxurious bathhouse. whispers on the street make him sound terribly dangerous, and xie lian, a priest and never one to be tempted by much of anything, would have rarely if ever found himself in or near the bathhouse. but, he liked the company of hua cheng, who he'd met perhaps even earlier than he remembers, and so, they had started up a fast friendship that didn't involve the ryokan even a little. san lang came to work at puji sometimes, or played harmless little tricks to make xie lian smile, or to have discussions or debates with him late into the night. he'd been quite fond, but still guarded.

but! this is not the xie lian of yamate. this is the xie lian of xian le, the god and former crown prince, who knows hua cheng like the back of his hand. so, when the little friend (?) of the pillar informs him of hua chengzhu, the owner of wu ming, xie lian is quick to seek him out.

early one evening, xie lian waits outside of the reddish building himself on the other side of the country from where he started, looking up at it with his mouth a bit open, as if taking the whole thing in. it's very...well, it's very hua cheng. it seems they aren't so different than their normal selves here, are they? and he'd like to see san lang very much! a huli jing is certainly a unique creature, but it's not anything unfitting of his ghostly friend. what if he has cute little ears and tails? the mental image is enchantingly cute!

so! surprise, san lang. as the curtains part into the busy main lounge in the early evening, there's no shady gambler or strange demon here to be doing business. amongst this wild crowd--and really, they're quite wild, aren't they--is daozhang xie lian, dressed in all white, holding the beaded curtain above his head as he looks on with unhidden surprise at everything in the room and looking so wildly out of place there's almost a halo over his head.

what an interestingly strange place.... ]

[unfriendliest]

i. what's in a name

[ not enough for kara to consider giving one to his own restaurant, that's for sure. it's open today, screens up and tables out in the garden for anyone who wants to enjoy the lovely weather with their food. the wait staff is perfectly friendly and welcoming, a stark difference from the owner.

kara is in the kitchen today, long hair tied into a braid as he cooks. he keeps to himself most of the time? but there is a serving window, for those daring enough to approach him themselves. if that's you, don't be offended when he ignores you, because he's a busy dragon!

once he's done with the dish he was cooking, though, he'll finally acknowledge you. ]

Do you want something?

[ wow. don't you feel at home already? ]

ii. after a hard day's work

[ the lights in the restaurant are dim, the kitchen door is closed. the screens haven't been pulled, though, so it isn't hard to see the one light left - a dim lamp on the western engawa, near where ookurikara sits listening to the stream burbling softly. there's a small tray beside him, holding a small plate of zunda mochi, a single red cup, and a small jar of sake. a matching cup is currently in kara's hand, as he lifts it to his lips to take a sip.

it's a nice night. he doesn't mind spending it alone, but maybe someone will join him...? ]

iii. the night it rained meteors

[ as the meteors begin to fall, and it's clear there's more going on than the usual shooting stars, one dragon throws open the doors to his kitchen and waves people in. it's not a huge space, but it will be good enough. ]

Oi - get inside! It should be safe in here.

[ kara himself stays by the entrance to let people in, and will direct them somewhere else if the kitchen runs out of space.

some time after the meteor shower is over, after everyone has left and gone on their way... the kitchen is locked back up, and the screens are drawn all around the restaurant. it's very obviously closed, and does not open again in the next few days. ookurikara himself is nowhere to be found in town, not even in the small home he keeps nearby. if anyone goes looking, they'll find him deep in the mountains, curled up and resting on a boulder in dragon form. ]

wildcard.
[ kara will be around yamate, generally minding his own business! plotting comment here if that helps a bit, but whatever strikes your fancy, hmu! ]

ii.

[voidbreaker]

[ yeah? yeah.

hope he wasn't wanting all of that mochi because ash is just immediately appearing behind him -- literally, just because he doesn't normally use his abilities doesn't meant he won't sometimes, right? Especially when it gets him in prime position to Potentially Tick Off Kara in 0.2 seconds -- and grabbing one of the mochi and popping it in his mouth whole.

Then he just drops down next to Kara and sprawls himself out without a greeting because who does that. ]

Good thing I didn't take a bet on whether you'd actually be here or not today.

plague one.

[fracturamods]

[A week has passed since the sky began to fall - and now comes another challenge from the divine.

A plague of the emotional variety has begun to descend upon the land, though none may realize until they've already gone to bed on the night of May 1st. As soon as they fall asleep, they will all receive the same message in words that shoot straight into their heart: 'The first trial shall commence.'

While times may be stressful, it still might be alarming to suffer the types of nightmares that they suddenly find themselves gripped in, night terrors that stick with them. In each of these dreams, they will find themselves the victims of some great loss. They witness the murder of all of their friends and family; they will find themselves persecuted until their entire livelihood is gone; they are suddenly tricked and swindled until their reputation is so shattered that everyone they love leaves them behind. All their greatest fears are realized and manifest in these nightmares. The dreams continue each night, a new unfortunate tale playing out with each slumber. As the week goes on, however, people might suddenly find visions of dreams that aren't their own.

Dream walking comes randomly and without much choice in the matter, and characters may visit someone else's nightmare completely in control of their own actions. However that is very rarely enough to alter the course of the nightmare itself - but perhaps a startling helping hand might be enough to shake someone back into consciousness, jolting them out of sleep and saving them at least briefly.

Nightmares will persist for one week, and people will be suffering the effects of a lack of sleep as a result. Surely no one can be blamed for feeling a little strung out. Enjoy your first plague!]

[dianxias]

i. a dream walk from a far off memory.

[ maybe it's a trick of cruel fate that xie lian's nightmares are just reflections of his old reality.

the first dream you might get placed into is a beautiful kingdom of marble and gold. there are rich, beautiful tapestries on the wall of what must be a palatial hall, and a young man stands in the center, wrapped in the finest of whites and golds and reds. it is the costume of the festival of the gods parade, and the young man in the golden mask is none other than xie lian, a sword at his hip, looking positively regal as he stands facing away from you. there are few other people standing facing the thrones in the center of the room. two are clearly the king and queen, elegantly dressed. to their left and right, respectively, are two men who must be guards--one slight, with pale visible skin and lighter hair, the other almost the complete opposite, dressed in armor. they're both around xie lian's age.

the final figure is more slight than the guard, dressed in silks, pale white hair. he's the only one facing forward, hands laced together, and his expression is calm, but there's a sternness in his expression.

"You've chosen your path, your highness.", he says. xie lian straightens, and starts to say something, but the man in the silks shakes his head. "You've chosen your path, and they have paid the price."

each person in the dream turns, revealing their faces. xie lian says, "Mother--" and, slowly, their faces start to change. contorting, twisting, until the grotesque sores of the human face plague (image kinda gross) begin to appear, one by one on their faces. xie lian staggers backwards, reaching for his sword, reaching for anything, as his mother starts to cry and the plague spreads and spreads -- "save us, save us--"

beyond that, there's a strange glitch, in the dream. like something is supposed to be there. a voice echoes over the top of everyone in the dream, deep and smooth as honey. "Xian Le.

I am the only one who will stay by your side." (and xie lian reaches for his face, touches at the mask, which has gone from gold to white -- ) "I am the only one who understands you. Do as I say, and cure their suffering." (and he pulls at the edge, pulls and pulls as the mask covers his face--) "Aren't you tired of seeing them suffer at your silly hands? How easily you could stop it, if you'd give in. Take revenge for Xian Le. Save your family. Save your kingdom. Couldn't you? But he won't. Ah. Poor, poor Xian Le."

the strange, glitchy echo-y voice fades out, and xie lian drops to his knees. he seems to be struggling with the mask on his face, grabbing onto the edge, his voice breaking into a hiccup, an angry, panicked noise that turns into something small-- the tiniest help me you may have ever heard. ]

ii. the guoshi of yong'an.

[ a second dream brings you to a banquet hall. in similar fashion, the table is lined with gold--gold plates, gold goblets, gold chopsticks, gold everything. but, unlike the first dream, there's no instant sense of home.

there are bodies in the banquet hall. faceless bodies, and their blood drenches the gilded table, mixing with knocked over glasses of red wine. at the end of the table stands a man dressed in black, his long hair down, and holding a tree branch in his hand. his shoulders are lifted, as if ready to strike. he stands over the table at the end of the banquet hall--behind him sits a man who must be another king.

the sound of voices mix into the room. they're unidentifiable. "This is revenge! The kingdom of Xian Le had fallen, so he had to ruin Yong'an, too! Yong'an killed his royal parents, so he killed the royal parents of Yong'an! An eye for an eye, it's pure vengenace!"

And here I thought the Laughingstock of the Three Realms was a fool, but he's quite the aggressive character. Going undercover as a royal tutor in an enemy state, slaughtering the monarchy in one go... Incredible."

The door to the banquet hall slams open, and a teenager comes bounding in. dressed in the same golden fineries, a smile on his face as he starts to call a name--but it quickly turns to horror at the sight before him. the queen slumped over the table. the guards, dispatched with expertise. the tutor, standing over the king.

the tree branch in the tutor's hand is a sword, in a blink, long and thin. pressed into the heart of the king, who spits up blood and reaches for the young teenager, whose horrified scream for his parents echoes. the dream abruptly goes black, and a voice that sounds like xie lian's (a kind, soft voice, used for apologies and comfort, praise and warmth) says, "you all deserved it."

when it comes back, you stand in an open expanse of grass. there's nothing, here. burnt land. blood on the ground, and, eventually, turning to your right reveals a coffin. it's dark black, sealed with talismans.

there's a "thump" that comes from inside. thump, thump. Hm. maybe go figure that out. ]

i

[suddenlybees]

[ The kingdom is beautiful, and it's that fact alone that makes Kano's hair stand on end, at the wealth and splendor surrounding him when he's so used to being nothing but a scraggly house cat, a feral stray, a boy clutching the clothes around himself while he takes a step back and hardly dares to breathe in a place like this.

Perhaps that is smart, when the voices speak up and Kano tears his eyes away from the tapestries and snaps to attention- watches in abject horror as the faces around him start to melt and twist and he instinctively brings a hand up to touch his own face— can't quite bring himself to do it- and layers on illusion over illusion to make sure his face is his own and won't change like everybody else's.

A terrible dream. Terrible. This place is too bright, too shiny, he can't even look at the floor in fear of seeing his own reflection. ]

Revenge...? What does that- hey?!

[ The call for help has him leaping forward towards Xie Lian, but as Kano takes hold of either of Xie Lian's wrists, he neither helps pull the mask away nor forces it to stay. What is he to do here? The mask is not coming off, and if he tugs any harder, Xie Lian's face will come off with it. ]

here be fires and corpses

[souheki]

nightmare 1

[When you grow aware of your surroundings, you'll probably notice you're in Yamate. High up in the mountains, beyond where the humans normally venture, where the trees are normally thick and the air is almost always pleasantly cool.

Tonight, it's sweltering--because everywhere you look, there's fire.

It's nighttime, but the smoke pouring from the forests blocks out the stars and the moon, making it impossible to tell what time it truly is. It's a cacophony of collapsing trees and roaring flames, and beneath it all, the sound of someone's panicked shouting.

If you dare to brave the fires and follow the sound, you'll eventually spot Lan Wangji, frantically searching for a way back up the mountain.]

Shinobu!

nightmare 2

[This one takes place in Yamate, as well. Nighttime, again, but fortunately, nothing's on fire.

Lan Wangji's much easier to find this time--but that's because it's quickly obvious that you're trapped in a short tunnel, the entrance of a cave apparently blocked off behind you. A stream of water leads the way further in, and it seems to continue further, into a deeper cavern. But before you can get all the way inside, you'll notice there's a very small, very weak fire going, nestled on the outcropping of rock near the stream. It doesn't look like it's going to last much longer.

Lan Wangji's sitting cross-legged beside it, his usually pristine hair looking damp and tangled, as if he'd gotten it wet and hasn't combed it in days. His gaze is oddly hollow, and he's staring, unblinking, into the fire.

There's another body laying by the fire, covered with Lan Wangji's outer robe. The fabric is pulled up to cover most of his face, and his hair is down, but it's probably obvious even from a distance that it's Wei Wuxian.

He's not moving, though. Funky.]

dream-walking

[The wildcard option!! If you want Lan Wangji to stumble into your dreams, hit me up o7 PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR ALL]

please i couldnt resist the ventriloquism

[givethemhell]

[Too bad this scene is too depresso for Wei Wuxian to immediately bust out the absolutely horrific jokes. THEY'RE COMING, THOUGH... They're on the way.

But first... hah. He knows this tunnel well, and the flicker of a dying fire draws him over just as much as the familiarity of this cavern. He knows what waits ahead - or knows in part, at least. The body on the ground gives him pause, but only for a brief moment. Funky. Death has never been something he's feared for himself; his nature as a crow, maybe, or just his nature as Wei Wuxian. He steps over his covered corpse, moving to take a seat beside Lan Wangji. His hands are gentle as he reaches out to stroke his cheeks, voice soft but heavy with emotion.]

Oh, love...

[What a frightening thing, to be rooted in someone's heart strongly enough to feature in nightmares like this.]