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fracturarpg2019-12-01 08:05 am
fracturamods) wrote in fracturarpg2019-12-01 08:05 am
Entry tags:
intro log.
welcome mingle
( AND SO IT BEGINS. )
There's nothing but the clatter of train tracks, and the odd feeling of almost floating.
When you wake, it's hard to tell exactly what it is that you're missing - only that you are. There are pieces that aren't quite right, even if you're not sure where those pieces would normally be. Pieces of what, exactly....? Well, if you had to put a word to it, it would be - yourself, probably.
The place you've found yourself in is strange, certainly. It's probably worth exploring a bit. Though it just as easily seems that the only form of welcome or explanation that you have, comes from nothing more than a slab of marble.
Well - that, and all the people who seem to have woken up alongside you, lost and also probably Doing Their Best™.
There's no need to fret that much though. It's hard to say exactly where you're going next, even though some places might feel a little bit more like a clue, but what you do know is one unshakeable thing:
There's still much more ahead of you.
When you wake, it's hard to tell exactly what it is that you're missing - only that you are. There are pieces that aren't quite right, even if you're not sure where those pieces would normally be. Pieces of what, exactly....? Well, if you had to put a word to it, it would be - yourself, probably.
The place you've found yourself in is strange, certainly. It's probably worth exploring a bit. Though it just as easily seems that the only form of welcome or explanation that you have, comes from nothing more than a slab of marble.
Well - that, and all the people who seem to have woken up alongside you, lost and also probably Doing Their Best™.
There's no need to fret that much though. It's hard to say exactly where you're going next, even though some places might feel a little bit more like a clue, but what you do know is one unshakeable thing:
There's still much more ahead of you.
no subject
There are usually several. Trains stop at different stations along their route. It allows people to get on and get off.
[Turning to continue, he steps up to open the car door to the rough, joined hallway between their car and the next. He holds the door to let Lan Wangji pass, and then he bobs around to get the other one. The next car is a tad strange--it's a snack car? He blinks a little once they're inside.]
Food...?
no subject
He feels a little like he should be the one letting Haku pass, but he ain't gonna argue with someone who clearly isn't a regular kid, so with a respectful nod of thanks, he walks ahead. He lets his eyes roam over the cart, taking in the change--from the sound of Haku's voice, he wasn't expecting this.]
Is that unusual?
no subject
[Moving by Lan Wangji, he heads farther into the car to look things over without touching.] Eating the food of another world can keep you in that world. It will stop you from disappearing completely. [This has nothing to do with trains exactly, but listen.]
But I hadn't started to vanish after I had woken... so I don't think it matters.
no subject
It's fine, though, he'll take any information he can get. He's also not particularly in a hurry to part ways; despite the obvious differences, Haku's reminding him more and more of Sizhui, and it's hard not to feel endeared. He's being as respectful as he can, but still.]
Perhaps it is related to the writing on the pillar. [If there's something wrong with their souls anyway... and since Haku's apparently comfortable with otherworldly travel--] Have you felt any other significant differences?
[Lan Wangji can tell he still has his own spiritual power, though he'll find out within the day that he's been RUDELY ROBBED of his swordfighting skills.]
no subject
He's felt something. No... he's seen something, and he hates it keeps making him think about being broken. Slowly, he shifts his eyes to Lan Wangji, and then he looks away.]
I am missing something.
[Well, he's missing several things, but he doesn't know that just yet unfortunately. Only the one. But he doesn't clarify.]
no subject
As am I. [Since he has no reason to keep it a secret. Only material objects that he's noticed, so far, but--] They would be difficult to steal. No value to others.
[His forehead ribbon, at least; the guqin is valuable on its own, even without his spiritual abilities, but it's extremely unwieldy. Also, it's pretty difficult to steal from him in general, and he generally looks too intimidating for anyone to want to try... but the thought that they might just be lost is unsettling.]
no subject
More than one? Yours was tangible...?
[Perhaps they are broken, he thinks. Though he's not sure how stealing some kind of belonging from someone would make them--
There's a pause from him.]
They were important to you.
[Not a question.]
no subject
[Concise, but clear, and an answer to both question and statement. Lan Wangji isn't one for wasting his words. There's nothing on his face to indicate how important they might be, but he probably doesn't need to express that anyway, if Haku's asking like this.]
no subject
Yubaba can control those she steals names from. Maybe this place operates by similar rules. If it takes something from us, it can keep us here.
[Make them into slaves, but he doesn't say that because it's a little too personal.]
no subject
That's more information than he was expecting, though. Again, his face doesn't change, but the lack of recognition in his eyes at the name "Yubaba" is telling enough.
He looks out the window again, as he considers Haku's words--and also maybe kind of lowkey checks to see if the dragon is out there, because look, even Lan Wangji is susceptible to curiosity... somehow, though, he finds it doubtful that Haku would stray far from it, so he's not really expecting to see anything. Mostly he's just staring thoughtfully.
It's not impossible (nothing is, apparently, or so he's learning today), but--] The pillar spoke of "rebuilding" our souls, to return home.
[In a very, very odd way... and look, it's not like Lan Wangji is taking the mysterious message at its word, but it doesn't seem like the kind of thing one would mention, if they were meant to be prisoners.]
no subject
That doesn’t mean we aren’t being kept against our will.
[Let him call it prisoners! He can excuse his anger better that way.]
I was fine before coming here. [Ha ha!!] There wasn’t anything that needed to be “rebuilt.” So why are we being made to find the pieces stolen from us in the first place?
no subject
His gaze moves back to Haku, though it's no less considering. Haku, who has apparently lost something important to him, that isn't tangible. Unwittingly, he remembers a quiet conversation, and a painful revelation--something tense passes across his face, but it's gone almost immediately.
Raising his hands, he bows, too formally to be addressing a child. His speech, as well--]
Please forgive my impudence. Is your spiritual energy intact? [He's not going to pretend he doesn't know Haku's more than he seems. That would be disrespectful at best.]
no subject
And then it's washed away afterward.]
Haku is fine.
[Here, he's not sure if he can demand the same kind of title from others, not when being Yubaba's apprentice is so detached from this place.]
It's intact. [Softer:] ...I'm missing my color.
no subject
He doesn't make any comment, or even acknowledge that he's noticed, but it sure isn't doing anything to help him stop comparing Haku to Sizhui. Forgive him if he seems a little softer than before.
And they're apparently outright acknowledging this now, okay. That's fine. HELLO, HAKU THE DRAGON. He'll just be straightforward in his questioning, then, though he maintains the same level of respect as before.]
What does it signify?
no subject
But still, there's some hesitation when answering the question. He doesn't seem worried as much about Lan Wangji as he simply is being recognized here as not human, as maybe dragon.]
Nothing in particular that I know of.
[Though Haku wouldn't be the first to call himself a beautiful dragon. Color was just color. Except, seeing himself all mottled grey... for some reason, it felt disheartening. It felt ugly.]
no subject
Everything has value to someone. [Even colors; Gusu Lan did not choose white for no reason. He's found it difficult to believe that whoever took his forehead ribbon and his guqin were aware of what they were doing, but now... either these things have some underlying significance that they're not aware of, or the culprit knows what they mean to them, personally. Both options are equally disconcerting.]
no subject
We'll get them back. Yours maybe more easily than mine. [Or so he thinks. Physical items should be easy to get back, right? If they can find them, if they can find where they're being kept. He could probably get in and steal them back, he supposes. If only it were so simple.] I suspect the others are also missing things, some way or another.
I'm going to keep searching.
no subject
The person I arrived with--he claims he is not missing anything. ["CLAIMS" because Lan Wangji was too busy having big gay feelings to check him more thoroughly, but he will learn The Truth soon.] Rather, he gained an object he did not have, before we came here.
no subject
He... received something...? [What the fCK. Haku is going to kick Wei Wuxian's ass seven ways from Sunday. He gives Lan Wangji a sort of dubious look.] It was... an item?
Did anyone else receive anything?
no subject
Yes. An item he once owned. [One that he made by hand, as well--and as far as Lan Wangji knew, one that was supposed to be in someone else's possession.]
I do not know. But our most recent memories also differ, when they should not. [And in this case, they agreed that it probably wasn't just because of Wei Wuxian's abysmal memory. He isn't positive they're related, but it's worth mentioning.]