intro log.

[fracturamods]

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.

Comments

[amberspirit]

[You can't ever be too sensible, Wei Wuxian. Trust him. He stays in a bathhouse full of morons.

As expected, he immediately gives Wei Wuxian a Look at the comparison. His face isn't so bad... damn! Though it's true, Haku and Lan Wangji kin when it comes to being tired of dealing with everyone around them. They suffer.]

How he looks isn't any of my concern. He's respectful and doesn't waste time filling the air with useless chatter.

[givethemhell]

[Let the morons run free and senseless, it's fine.]

Unlike a certain someone, hm? [HAHA.] This is why I said you remind me of him!

[He didn't actually clarify who it was before?? BUT THERE WE GO. Yeah, Haku is like a tiny hime-cut Lan Wangji... Which is hilarious because apparently Lan Wangji also had hime-style hair when he was a tiny lad.]

He's a cultivator too, you know! You should talk to him about it sometime - you'd probably appreciate what he does.

[Since he's an ORTHODOX CULTIVATOR and not a fuckin demonic cultivator.]

[amberspirit]

[YEAH, unlike SOMEONE else. Does Wei Wuxian wanna go?! Haku will square up! He's got a small wild streak in him! Which is to say, he's still giving Wei Wuxian a very skeptical and mildly exasperated look.]

Which is dealing with angry sword spirits or the vengeful wandering dead?

[Unlike someone else.]

What makes you think I would appreciate those who interfere in a spirit's business?

[givethemhell]

[He's got a TWINKLE OF AMUSEMENT IN HIS LIL DEMON EYE... He'll fight a dragon COME AT HIM. Not really though he's delicate? He's fragile. No bully.]

Haha, I think you've got it a bit wrong! It sounds like the realm of spirits and humans are distinct and separate in your world, but that isn't the case for us. If we weren't around to interfere, we'd have entire villages wiped out by snake demons, plagues of the undead, lost souls constantly rattling your windows while you're trying to sleep at night - you know.

[Zombies flooding the streets....... Sometimes these things happen.]

Lan Zhan's great with a guqin, though! I get the feeling you might like some of his songs.

[Haku seems like The Type who'd enjoy all of the gentle spirit-soothing tunes Lan Wangji can play...]

[amberspirit]

Spirits exist in the human world. [It's a gentle correction under that god forsaken demonic twinkle.] Humans just have forgotten how to see them.

What ails your world that causes so many disruptive spirits?

[Fishy. His brows pull together under the bottom edge of the straight fringe. He'll definitely probably maybe shed some tears about the tunes once his entire spirit is done being rattled by the thrum of them. He's a spirit, too, dammit!

A great way to make him behave and sit entranced for future reference. If you can catch him, suckers.]

An instrument? Is it one of the things he's missing?

[givethemhell]

[Another difference! His spirit world is a nebulous ??? that spirits come and go from but he isn't explaining that so i, aki, don't have to try making sense of mdzs world mechanics!! He's more interested in the bizarre shit Haku is saying, anyway.]

How strange, to think there's a place out there where humans can't see them. Even people who aren't cultivators know when they're looking at a spirit, you know? Generally speaking. [FUNKY.] Wouldn't say we're ailing, though. That's just the way things are.

[Can't believe he's going to have to literally wrangle Haku into being Lan Wangji's audience too, damn.]

But yes, right on both counts. It's a shame! We can't play duets like this.

[Also he's kinda unnerved by something just snatching the guqin right off Lan Wangji's back but y'know, considering what he's missing himself, it ain't that wild.]

[amberspirit]

[Wei Wuxian is so nosy. So damn nosy!]

Not all spirits are without bad intent, but they are few and far between where I'm from.

[Not that he was there when No-Face kind of made a mess of bathhouse, but, like, No-Face is a generally subdued spirit until people started indulging it!! Anyhow.

He wrinkles his nose gently. Already, he's feeling like maybe he should drop his poor basket of charms and melon and flee. A DUET. Bad vibing. BAD VIBES.]

...You have one also?

[Please don't play it. Please don't play the flute.]

[givethemhell]

[Hell YEAH HE IS.]

Life would be much easier if it was like that everywhere! [Why DO they have so much evil shit in his world, god. No-Face would fit right in even at its least subdued.

Also wow no bad vibes!! ...Yes bad vibes, it's fuckin Chenqing. Nowhere near as evil as some of the stuff he's created but it was still made from bamboo growing on a corpse mountain. Speaking of, it's hanging from his waist, blending in with his million layers of black robes! Helpfully, he lifts it up a little.]

Not a guqin - a dizi! Haha, shall I play a song for you? It isn't as refined as strings, though.

[amberspirit]

And it isn't a normal instrument, is it?

[Oh no. He is definitely not sure about any of this. Lan Wangji, well. He surprisingly trusts Lan Wangji so far, but Wei Wuxian? No, there's some suspicious stuff he thinks Wei Wuxian isn't telling him.

That little resentful energy twirl was enough to raise his hackles.]

I think I'll pass.

[It's clear he's nervous for some reason. Even more clear when he very quickly turns around to start walking away with the basket without even pursuing more Wei Wuxian entertaining. Help, he's being bullied by the spirit flute!!]

[givethemhell]

Hey—!

[HEY!! HEY. As if he can escape that easily?? Undeterred, Wei Wuxian abandons his melon cart and trots after him, along with Chenqing The Bully.]

It isn't, but I can still play it like a normal dizi, you know! I wouldn't play it any other way without warning you, that would be rude.

[He's respectful to spirits!! Mostly.]

[amberspirit]

[Wei Wuxian rushes to catch up and, after a few seconds of realizing he won't be allowed to escape so easy, he slows down to a stop. A curt look is given to the flute and then up at Wei Wuxian.]

I'm supposed to trust someone who doesn't respect the boundaries of this place with my own boundaries?

[It's so obvious he is not a simple young boy, but he won't ever commit to admitting it.]

[givethemhell]

[Why won't he just admit it, good lord!! Anyway, shamelessly and without any hesitation:]

Yes! [He didn't even try to deny that he tramples all over boundaries... But he'll sigh somewhat sulkily, pulling back a little to give Haku some space.]

I haven't been able to play a proper dizi in a while, is all - but if you really don't want to listen, that's fine. I'll just ask for your audience later when we've become proper friends!

[He has Decided this now.]

[amberspirit]

[Is this how Jiang Cheng has felt all the days of his life?

Again, he regards Wei Wuxian and then the flute, looking dubious. For gods' sakes. He wonders how Lan Wangji puts up with this man really. (Don't answer that.)]

Fine. Play. But I'm going to continue looking around. [A pause. His eyes narrow.] Do not play anything out of the ordinary.

[He has a feeling it might still be a bad time--for him.]

[givethemhell]

[yeah welcome to Jiang Cheng's specific hell. i'd say Lan Wangji's too but he enjoys being subjected to Wei Wuxian's wildass whims and doesn't count.

In any case, being 3 years old at heart, he's also very easily mollified!]

I won't, I promise! You can tell me to stop whenever and I will, too! Haha, indulging me now isn't going to get you out of being my friend, though.

[In case he thought he was being SLY... Anyway apparently Haku's just going to have a traveling bard accompanying him while he shops, playing a theme song for him. He does keep any energy out of the song itself, true to his word! And he's quite good at playing because gremlin as he is, Wei Wuxian is unfairly talented. He plays a light, jaunty, folksy tune - something he'd probably picked up by ear listening to other musicians by the lake on those lazy summer days in Yunmeng.]

[amberspirit]

I don't understand why two of you have already insisted on being friends.

[This is the worst traveling bard. Well, not in the ability to play, just in being Wei Wuxian. Irritatingly, the man is very good at the flute, and Haku is lacking in what he thought was going to be an excuse to yell for Wei Wuxian to stop. Ugh. The initial worry of whether or not he was going to bust out in dragon form dissipates.

He carries on like he said--first, placing the basket down so he can squirrel things back to it if he finds anything; second, wandering. Occasionally, he keeps giving sort of sour glances in Wei Wuxian's direction. He still wants to be annoyed by the flute, but there's...

Honestly, the tunes are pretty good, and he hates that. Anyway, there's one way he knows already to get Wei Wuxian to stop playing, and that's to give Wei Wuxian an opportunity to talk.]

Does every cultivator learn to play an instrument?

[givethemhell]

[Because FRIENDSHIP. Not that he responds to the statement with more than a grin. He's too busy toot tooting the (not so magic right now) flute!!

Though wow yeah Haku's got his number already. He pulls Chenqing away at the question, twirling it lazily between his fingers.]

Not every one, but it's common. Instruments are one of the spiritual tools that are easiest to use. There are entire sects who base their cultivation around music! The Lan, for one.

[Also the knock-off Lans, who we don't talk about.]

[amberspirit]

[Hmm. In the moment of reprieve afforded to him, he gives Wei Wuxian a sort of long, studying look. It's not really questioning, just... thoughtful.]

Spirits can feel the sounds. Some are attracted to it. Even where I'm from. Bells supposedly, like the ones found at shrines.

Most humans have forgotten how to see spirits, but some of them use music to communicate.

[givethemhell]

Huh! Is that so? Makes sense, makes sense. We have a lot of bells in our range of tools, too.

[He thinks very briefly of one in specific, and moves on just as fast.]

What about you? Do you like music, bells, things like that? We usually play with a purpose in mind - to guide a spirit home or ask questions or whatever else, but it would be nice if some of them just enjoyed listening to a good song now and then.

[amberspirit]

[Stop, don't regale him with your good cultivating deeds. Let him steep in his suspicion!!]

Have you ever asked? The spirits who come to the bathhouse usually enjoy song and dance. The workers sometimes have to provide it at the spirit's request--if they pay. [Haku, this is not answering Wei Wuxian's question at all. Or doing any more than teasing about being a spirit.] Across the river is a small town with food vendors and other things.

If they aren't eating at the bathhouse, they eat there, and then they take the ferry over to relax.

[givethemhell]

[LOOK!! CULTIVATORS ARE FINE NORMAL PEOPLE except for the demonic ones.]

I haven't, nope. Unfortunately I'm not very well-versed in the language they speak. [Certain ones anyway?? He can't Inquiry for shit he can only talk to the undead.] I'll have Lan Zhan ask them the next time he plays!

[Despite the fact that Haku is dancing around all of his questions like a wee footed punk, Wei Wuxian doesn't seem all that bothered by it, either.]

It sounds lively! Reminds me of Lotus Pier! There really is nothing better than a good street vendor and some nice music in this life or the next, haha.

[amberspirit]

[Lan Wangji would die before summoning spirits for inquiry and off-handedly asking them if they liked and enjoyed music, wtf. Haku will simply never know the answer, it's fine.]

Lotus Pier?

[They haven't even exchanged names yet?? and here they are, holding a handful of random information about each other. Unfortunately, Wei Wuxian is stuck never knowing any names of Haku's land because Miyazaki doesn't believe in real life.]

[givethemhell]

[CONSIDER ALSO THOUGH, Lan Wangji has a very hard time telling him no.

Tragic that Wei Wuxian will never know this mystical bathhouse by its name, he's just gonna call it Yubaba's Mystical Bathhouse now. But like the stupid scrub he is, he definitely sounds a little softer, a little fonder, when talking about his old home. It helps that he was just yoinked from his favorite tree in Lotus Pier...]

Mm, in Yunmeng! It's where I grew up. Lakes and rivers as far as you can see! The entire city was surrounded by water, so we would get all of the best foods from the other cities. We also had our fair share - fresh watermelons and the fattest pheasants you've ever seen! Almost every lake was full to bursting with lotuses, too, of course.

[amberspirit]

[Haku is already mostly "stopped," but he really does stop at that. It's not a very sudden motion. The usual straight-faced or sometimes sour expression is replaced by--amazing--gentle surprise. He stares in Wei Wuxian's direction, but through the man at something else.

Wow, for a moment there, it felt like the pinprick of something he can't recall was there. Almost like when a word is on the tip of your tongue. Must be indigestion.

He blinks it away a few times and then again keeps going as if he hadn't stopped at all.]

The land near the bathhouse is covered by water, and it stretches on forever. Taking the train is the only way to travel unless you know how to swim or fly. At night, the only dry land between the town and the bathhouse fills with water. You can only be cross by ferry. Anyone human who doesn't leave before nightfall will disappear.

[givethemhell]

[He watches Haku experience memory indigestion in quiet curiosity, but doesn't pry, perhaps surprisingly. Sometimes you gotta know what things to be an irritant about and what things to just let go... for the time being.]

Hm! So even the spirits in your world have a train... We really are a bit behind, haha. [He's gonna go home and invent trains, no one can stop him.] Pity for the humans who get tangled up in that, though. Imagine going to a bathhouse only to disappear! Not very relaxing.

[He hop-skips a step, sliding Chenqing back into place. Conversation is more fun, even if he does love a receptive audience...]

What about the spirits at the bathhouse? Do you ever get to go into town? Is it fun on that side? Humans can be tedious, so maybe not - especially if you already have your own night markets and food stands!

[amberspirit]

[Well, the look of indigestion is a thousand times better than the look of emotional constipation he gets shortly after. This time, he doesn't stop walking along, but he glares ahead of him like he can't recall something important. He murmurs, "Someone..." but then that's it.

Hm!]

No. The stairs leading to the river is as far as I can go as Yubaba's apprentice. [Suspicious.] I'm allowed to travel to other places on the bathhouse side. The places the train can go, all the way down to Zeniba's swamp.