fracturarpg | [mingle] the space (january).

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[mingle] the space (january).

interim mingle

( WELCOME BACK, TRAVELERS. )

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. Or did you get something back recently?

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. It might've changed since the last time you saw it.

You might have changed since the last time you saw yourself too - perhaps with a new emblem on your clothes, or a portrait on your skin.

There's no need to fret that much though. You've already gone through the ordeal once, and you might be able to see results from it. Even so, it's best that you don't get too comfortable, because there is still the unshakeable feeling:

There's still much more ahead of you.

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I w-was just alive when I arrived here-- this place has... done something.

[He doesn't know what the hell it is that's happened, exactly, it just is. Wen Ning's here, he's living and breathing for maybe the next 5 seconds, and he's trying to back away as soon as Jiang Cheng lets the chains go.]

I don't know where to f-find young master Wei, either.

[He doesn't even know where this is, he hadn't been here before he was unceremoniously yeeted this direction??

-and maybe he at least knows where he last left Wei Wuxian, but he's not about to tell him.]

[Reaching out before Wen Ning gets to far, he grabs a fistful of--

Slowly, he gives Wen Ning a once-over in that GOD AWFUL shirt, from face to shirt, to face again.] What are you wearing?! Nevermind! [He doesn't wanna know. He growls lowly and jerks Wen Ning around to start marching the two of them through the snow, Wen Ning in front.]

Don't lie to me! If anyone knows were Wei Wuxian is, it's you!

[He really doesn't want to know that Wei Wuxian picked this out, which is good because Wen Ning's definitely not going to say it! There's not much he can do to escape, though, without his usual strength; it's all too easy to shove him around now that he's normal, though he's still struggling against Jiang Cheng's hold.]

I don't! I d-don't know what this place is, much less where he'd be...

[Knowing Wei Wuxian, he could be literally anywhere by now, and this area is now one of 2 whole locations Wen Ning has visited.]

[While walking, his free hand swipes along his robes to get any leftover snow off, the other still holding fast to Wen Ning's clothes.] Stop lying! [He jostles Wen Ning some and then gives up and tosses Wen Ning into the snow.]

What did he do? What kind of cursed cultivation did he do this time to give you life?!

He had nothing to do with this!

[Oh. That comes out a lot smoother and more forceful than anything else he's said, and even he looks a little surprised by it; maybe it's just that being in a living body means he'll have to work on his self-control a little more than he's used to, now that he can actually feel the physical response to his own emotions, now that there's tension to settle into his frame and a pulse that can quicken the same way it once did. Maybe it's just that, you know, he's already done this recently and the memory of it is still fresh enough.

Wen Ning shakes his head and exhales slowly, sitting back up, but doesn't bother brushing the snow off himself yet despite the chill he feels from it.]

If you don't think I deserve it, then I- I won't argue with you. [He doesn't. He has no idea why he'd be granted his life back like this.] But don't lay the blame on him because it's the easiest answer.

[WOW, chicken wing got a BACKBONE. Jiang Cheng is slightly surprised, but maybe... not in a terrible way. The Wens are assholes, but he expects this.]

Don't act like you know me or him.

[And then he just promptly starts stalking off, feet sinking into the snow. He gets about a yard or two away, stops, clenches both fists, and then turns back around to stomp to Wen Ning.]

Come on. Don't tarry. If you can't keep up, I'll cut off your legs and drag you.

[For a second, he wants to respond to that, but-- no, it wouldn't do anyone any good. He doesn't think it would make him feel any better, either; he's said what he wanted to say, and he doesn't mind leaving it at that for now.

He also really wouldn't mind if Jiang Cheng actually left things at that, but then he's... stomping back over? Wen Ning blinks up at him, uncertain.]

Keep up- to where?

[Apparently he should have run while he had the chance.]

Be silent. Don't say a word the whole way.

[To which, if Wen Ning complies, they walk along in nothing but quiet for some time. And then, finally, he begrudgingly says,] We're going to find Wei Wuxian. [Look. He spent thirteen years looking for the bastard, and this isn't going to set him back on the same goal just because, suddenly, Wei Wuxian is resurrected in another body.]

Now. [That he's had some PEACE.] Speak. What do you know about this place?

[Ah, he really should have run. But now that he's in this and not getting stabbed, even after that brief outburst-- okay. Okay, he'll go along with it; Jiang Cheng must have just arrived here also, or Wei Wuxian would surely have mentioned his presence.

Luckily for Wei Wuxian, he'd also helped Wen Ning figure out the network, and with his emblem's location it's hard to tell exactly what he's doing when he holds his hands close to his chest after Jiang Cheng declares his intentions. He just looks kind of like that image of the polite pangolin, while he sends a brief thought-message to warn Wei Wuxian he is being Hunted Down.

He looks slightly distracted when he glances back up to him, but quickly focuses again.]

Oh- I was told that-- that this place brings in people from different places and... times, as well. That we're all missing things, even m-memories, and that our souls are damaged in some way.

[Wen Ning, stop being the goodest boy and warning Wei Wuxian that his brother Jiang Cheng is storming the castle looking for him!! He really doesn't think anything of the polite pangolin because he's stupid.

But he's always glaring at Wen Ning regardless, so it's happening when he looks over his shoulder.]

This is ridiculous. That sounds ridiculous. I don't feel any different, and my core is fine.

But this place-- it can definitely change things. I think... I should be proof of that.

[He's here and alive, isn't he? Something is going on.

There are also the memory problems he's already identified, but... he really doesn't want to talk about that with Jiang Cheng, of all people.]

You're only proof Wei Wuxian doesn't know when to stop meddling with the crooked path. Did he finally succumb to his guilty conscience? He looked for a way to somehow return you to life?

[Almost to himself as he stomps along:] What price did he have to pay for that?! [Stupid--stupid weird realm. Why is Wen Ning HERE, and for what purpose?! He's losing it.]

It really wasn't him!

[If he could return people to life, would he have started with me? slips out without him realizing, and the chains attached to his ankles jangle behind him as he tries to keep up with Jiang Cheng's stompy pace.

-he really can't go forever without knowing Wei Wuxian is here, though, and Wen Ning has a way to keep him updated about where Jiang Cheng is without tipping him off, so:]

H-he was... just as surprised as me, to find that I was living.

[The snort he tries to give gets caught in his throat. He jerks his head around again to glare suspiciously at Wen Ning. Wei Wuxian not having a thing to do with Wen Ning’s... revival is only half believable.

Deep down, he thinks... no, he wonders if Wei Wuxian would really even be that powerful at all.]

Because Wei Wuxian is a fool who harbored all of you leftover Wens.

...he did, but that's... it's in the past.

[The reminder makes his voice a little quieter, slows his steps, one hand unconsciously checking the outside of one of his pockets as if to make sure the pouches he'd tucked into it are still there. It's something of the past-- they all are, or at least all of them were supposed to be.

Here he is, though.]

None of us can do anything about-- what we did before.

You would say that as a Wen, wouldn't you? [He only looks at Wen Ning for a moment long before facing straight ahead.] The thing we do, even in the past, are still important.

They still mean something!

They do. I won't forget it- and I won't forget what he did for us, either. It doesn't have anything to do with-- with just being a Wen.

[A little shake of his head, there, another faint clinking sound from the chains as he nervously toys with the scarf around his neck, which was definitely always there.]

We c-can't change them, but... we can try to make up for it. Are you always going to hold it against him?

[The line of Jiang Cheng's jaw hardens, and he doesn't bother looking anywhere else but straight ahead like before. His feet sink a little farther in the snow, his steps heavier.]

I won't let him forget what he's done.

[It was never just Wei Wuxian it affected, was it? They had all been connected like a spider's web, and any vibration on Wei Wuxian's string rattled the rest of them. And he doesn't understand why Wei Wuxian never seemed to understand this. That damn hero complex.]

I don't think he would.

[...that's all he says for the moment, though. Possibly because he's still trying to keep up with Jiang Cheng, and it's been a while since he actually felt any physical exertion.

After a short period of silence from him, though:]

Is it... really necessary for me to come with you? I didn't think you would want me near you for this long...

You believe just because you aren't the "Ghost General" in this place, I'd let you wander around? To do what, cause more trouble?

[At this, he does finally look back again, his dark eyes sharp.]

If you try to run, I'll break your legs and drag you.

[Ah. Well, that's to be expected. Jiang Cheng has to sleep eventually though, right...?

-oh, no. He'll also need to now, won't he.]

Then... wh-what are you going to do with me?

Keep you supervised.

[So no one can see those GOD AWFUL clothes. WEH WUSHYAN!!!! Terrible. Horrendous. Very fitting, but completely stupid.]

Can you cultivate?

...no.

[It takes a moment to answer that, with a brief shake of his head.]

My core is-- it's still gone.

[It's strange. On one hand, Jiang Cheng feels a kind of flare of superior, awful pride at hearing the news. Wen Ning doesn't have a core, even if the flesh is soft and supple and alive again. On the other hand, Jiang Cheng also understands the hopeless, defeated weight of a core being gone.

He's not sure if he should be smug or sympathetic, so he's, annoyingly, both.]

So you'll do nothing but get in the way.

[He knows Jiang Cheng understands what it's like, so that response stings more than he'd like; there's a slight flinch at it, because for all that he thinks being alive is enough, it's still a reminder that being alive is... all he has, right now. No core, no undead strength and resilience, no bow to use-- just this average body.

(But it's one that breathes. One with a beating heart. It's enough.)]

I'll... try not to.

[Wen Ning wants to say he can still make himself useful, but he's also aware enough that Jiang Cheng probably doesn't want to hear it, considering who Wen Ning generally likes to be useful for.]

[mingle] the space (january).

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