TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 7

[avalonmods]

✨ Greet new players on the OOC intro while apps are processed HERE! ✨

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, helping to rescue any wayward travelers who look like they're struggling in the water. This month's helpers are giant pillow jellies, a species of jellyfish that is capable of ballooning itself at the surface to create bouncy pads for characters to hop across to the shore, should they choose or not be able to swim. They come in a variety of bioluminescent colors, but do not seem to be very talkative even to animal magic users. Those who try may find themselves being ignored, even if they hear the jellies talking amongst themselves about this and that. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly. *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of special ear buds (the supplier was out of the regular ones) and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. After the new arrivals come in, they'll find that this month they came in on the middle of a rather tumultuous time... people are arguing and debating about a future decision to be made. King Arthur recently tried to negotiate with Celliwig's people to open the doors to Camelot, but they refused, and the people have been left with a decision: 1. attempt long-distance, slow wooing of Queen Elphame via the Elphame Traders of the next couple of months, 2. attempt to prove a balanced and deeper understanding of the need for both pure and impure hearts by suggesting an acceptance of trials from Celliwig, or 3. band together under Camelot's flag to invade Celliwig. Celliwig is a place of communication between Elphame and Camelot that bypasses the need for weeks of dangerous, often fatal travel, so the choice is very important in regards to how Camelot both presents itself to the fae people in the future. To that end, people with strong beliefs about particular choices have arranged gatherings to draw people in to hear their perspectives on what the choice should be. A ⦿ Honey Over Vinegar A wide variety of people have sided with this group, including the Elphame Traders, as cutting Celliwig off from them would mean a much harder journey each month to the city of Camelot. (Though commerce always does find a way.) This group is hosting a Tree-Picking Tournament! Of course, the trees to be picked are out in the farmlands, and members of the lobbying group will be giving people free one-use Farm Totems to get to the tournament. The trees in this grove are a little different than normal trees, however. For one, they don't bear fruit. This is Camelot's cookie orchard, composed of special fairy tree hybrids that grow a variety of sweet treats on their branches instead of fruits. There are your usual chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, but also little puff-like wedding cookies on bushes or checkboard cookies blossoming out of stems instead of flowers. There are even some trees that have clusters of miniature French macarons! The best part, at the end when you turn in your cookies for the count and get your participation prize (and bonus pamphlet about how slow and steady wins the race), you can totally keep and eat them, so be careful not to drop them! How you get them down from the tree is up to you, of course. Try some magic, or maybe just some regular old tree-shaking will do the trick.. just be careful you don't accidentally knock down any wasp nests. Those stings will hurt bad! B ⦿ A Balanced Approach The party of people who want to try to woo Celliwig over to smooth things over see this little political gathering with cookie-based bribery and quickly fashion their own event to make sure the fanfare isn't all for just the one idea. To gather people in to hear their side of the story, this group has decided to host a bug catching contest! Head out into those flower fields between Camelot and the Red Springs that are now thriving thanks to April's plentiful rains. Whether you use a net or figure out how to use your magic to get the bugs, it's how many you catch, not what kinds you catch that count-- so make it fast and make it plentiful! And at the end of the day, what you choose to do with your captured bugs is up to you. Crush them or free them, keep them or eat them, whatever it is you want to do... ultimately, all moral choices are valid, right? So let's go along with what Celliwig wants! Don't forget that May is the season of the frog, however, and you'll be in competition with a variety of sentient and wise members of the Frog Tribe, a group of bipedal frogs who live in the southernmost part of the lake and come up to the flowerfields to stick their tongues out for some delicious bug treats. They have no problem sticking their tongues right into your captured bug nest, hopping on heads to steal your catches, and do all kinds of crazy interferences like snipping belts and tonguing ankles to trip people. You may want someone to watch your back for this event, lest you get done in by a hopper. C ⦿ A Show of Strength The more war-hungry citizens of Camelot seek to go to war. This whole issue will be over if Celliwig itself isn't the one in charge of communication and it's just made directly between Elphame and Camelot, rather than having a mediator who refuses to mediate. They believe that a show of strength is the only way to solve this problem, and as such, they'll be demonstrating that the greatest rewards come from strength by organizing an expedition to a cave at the base of the Ash Mountains. Taking a path squarely between the Dusklight Woods and the edge of the Lands of Rot to the base of the Ash Mountains, this expedition will lead into a cave known as the Giant Cave. It's a pretty on-the-nose name, since it really is a big cave. One of the cool things about this cave is that it's filled with geodes. Those who have enough strength can use provided pickaxes and drills to dig up their own crystals and gold, both great for jewelry and enchanting. In particular, there is a large amount of: • Rose quartz: dark mages can make their love spells much more powerful and healers can use this to enhance spells that soothe anxieties and self-doubt • Amethyst: siphoners increase the potency of counter-curses and light mages will find this stone makes their hard light shields stronger than ever • Agate: strengthen cognitive abilities like post-cognition for a clearer picture of what happened by enhancing perception, and death mages will find they're able to extend their possession times by about 30 minutes by using an agate to stablize their aura • Moonstones: will increase navigation as a traveler's protection for kinetic users-- no longer will you risk tripping over a rock while going at enhanced speeds, or can be traded to fairies to potentially bring down a steep price to something more reasonable • Black tourmaline: a crystal that shields from opposition/negativity-- for technomancers and elementalists, this means that technology is more likely to side with them over another technomancer, or elementalists will find that when using opposing elements, theirs will come out stronger-- like water vs fire, electric vs rock, etc. • Hematite: can soothe blood, leaving it a good tool to enhance animal and blood magic-- animals may trust you more readily by having a calming effect on them, and blood mages may find that they heal more readily after using their abilities • Boji stone: alchemists will find that this is a good stabilizer for for particularly volatile potion combinations, and the properties of this stone leaves green mages to sense new types of plants they haven't yet encountered in passing, even if they're not looking at them It's not particularly a contest in this case-- you can keep and use what you want, and this show of strength has given you more power than ever, so why not consider the same concept for how to deal with our unneighborly neighbors in Celliwig? It may be sweaty business, but surely hitting some rocks will show you the value of strength! With the surprisingly tame day in the Giant Cave, one would think that the Ash Mountains were something of a safe place. No one really bothered the travelers, but that's because no one had been home at the time. as it turns out, the Giant Cave is home to a giant... douchebag of a minotaur. Not a giant, despite the name. His name is Simon and he doesn't like to share, and now that a bunch of people have gone and taken his rocks (he didn't even know there were crystals inside, nor does he do anything with them). Now he has to take his revenge, regardless of not knowing who actually took the crystals that were never really his to begin with, they just happened to be in rocks near where he sleeps. A ⦿ A Stone's Throw from Revenge The minotaur is a very instinctive creature, and his instincts say that the people of Camelot, the nearest settlement, are the ones who need to be punished for this. He uses his superhuman strength to drag huge rocks and boulders all the way to the north-east edge of Camelot, seemingly for no reason, until he's got practically a wall built. At which point he starts picking them up, spinning, and then vaulting the rocks into Camelot's buildings. You may find yourself inside of one of those buildings and scrambling to check if everyone and yourself is okay, or perhaps you're rushing out to stop the minotaur from throwing another. Either way, it's a sudden attack and you're going to have to act fast. Trying to attack the minotaur will be difficult, since it has superhman strength and durability, sharp horns atop its head, and can smell you coming from a mile away. Get creative, and stop the minotaur before it's too late! B ⦿ There's Safety in Numbers Once the minotaur's attacks stop, it flees to recover its wounds, promising it will come back to destroy Camelot once and for all. It's a time for reprieve and to help clean up the damage. Use your magic to help clean up broken buildings and structures, or heal and help others who were injured in the sudden, mostly unprovoked attack. Many of the uninjured citizens will be going around town and providing drinks, towels, and cups of noodles to those who are helping out. Because of the impending threat of the minotaur's return, it's recommended that otherworlder's use the (Recipe) Buddy System spell. The way they explain it, it's a spell designed to alert your buddy if you're in danger and lasts about an hour. The way it actually works is you must be touching your buddy in any way at all times for the next hour. Unfortunately, it seems like the volunteers sharing the recipe may have missed that it was created in a kindergarten class, not for adults. C ⦿ Gross Thankfully, the Buddy System wears off before the Minotaur is back for round two. When the Minotaur returns, the castle has since gathered forces to the edge of town to defend it from another attack. It's unclear where the Minotaur went to get healed, but whoever he went to apparently had some advice, however, and the instinctive minotaur gave into a different instinct for part two of his revenge. Rather than go right back to his pile of rocks, he instead travels the day to get to the southernmost part of Camelot and barrels into town unopposed, as most of the troupes are where they had thought he would come from again. After all, minotaurs are not known to be big thinkers. Instead of violently destroying this time, however, the minotaur instead heads straight to lowertown's well-- and takes a pee in it. It turns out, not only does he have a giant-- ahem, but he is a giant dick as well. Now the entire lowertown has to be evacuated due to contaminated water up to other areas of Camelot. Many people who live there are relocated to live in extra castle rooms. After all, Minotaur Urine is known to be incredibly potent and stinky. Mages who are able to handle the smell are asked to come help perform a ritual of water purification for the lowertown's water system. This ritual involves multiple groups of people performing synchronic magic, a magic type that requires you to be in perfect sync with your partner. Draw a special ritual circle with four candles at equidistant points. Chant a spell in sync with your partner, and blow a special powder made of ground jasper, charcoal, and rosemary into the center of the circle. It will be drawn into the candles' flames and with enough people doing this, all impurities will be removed from the lowertown's water and dissipate into the atmosphere. KEY POINTS New arrivals drop into the lake and have to climb up a cliff to the Rent a Ride, where they are given their device and some headphones and can retrieve their personal materials. They travel to Camelot, which is a multiple day journey, so they stop at the Red Springs along the way and stay at an inn there. There is a vote pending for Camelot and each side of the issue is trying to engage otherworlders to their side of the vote. The slow/steady approach is hosting a cookie harvesting tournament from a grove of cookie trees, the middleground group is hosting a bug-catching contest, and the group that wants war is hosting a mining expedition. The mining expedition aggros an asshole of a minotaur, who throws rocks at Camelot. Driven away, the townspeople try to help by distributing a spell called "Buddy System" which binds two people together, not realizing it was intended for kindergarteners. (Oops.) The minotaur returns and pees in the lowertown's water, so a ritual of water purification must be performed because it's gross and stinky. The minotaur is still at large. **** The above key points are a new feature we're going to start including on TDMs and Events. Since it's new, the format is still fluid, so please let us know if you have any feedback for this section here. It should just include brief summaries of each prompt to make parsing information easier and more accessible. The original prompts should still be read and referred to for complete information and details. **** MOD NOTES: • All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. • If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities. • A poll will go up a little later this week regarding the mentioned voting, which should be answered ICly by each character you play. The poll will remain open through the 15th so that newly accepted characters may also vote if they choose to. •If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Comments

[wukuiyuxin]

Lan Wangji had been in the library when Wei Ying's message reached him. Blurry and half obscured by what appeared to be leaves and insects, the picture was still recognizably Sizhui. He'd already tried to accept that he would not see his disciple again until whatever task he has in this world is concluded, had kept him in mind as one of the people he was here to save from some calamity, but who would not have to suffer concern for him in return. To find out he was here after all... He'd vacated the library so hurriedly, even his furry study companion could do nothing but scatter.

But even as he instructs Wei Ying not to leave his side, the weight of their meeting overshadows his relief. This isn't something he could have ever anticipated. The joy of being able to introduce Wei Ying and Sizhui after all this time wars with the anxiety of how either of them would react-- Sizhui hasn't asked after his family in a long time now, he is sure of his place in the Lan clan and as sure of who he is as a teenage boy can possibly be. Would this stir up a conflict or memories that are better left in the past? Is it Lan Wangji's responsibility to reveal to him the truth of the cruelty and injustices done to his first family, to put the burden of being the last surviving member of an extinguished sect on his shoulders, and his personal connection to the Yiling Laozu-- or to shelter him from it? And... would he resent him, for whichever choice he makes?

As for Wei Ying, the choice isn't any easier. He's shown little interest in news from home, seemingly content to live his second life far away from his first. Would it even be a comfort to find out the child he cared for had survived, sixteen years too late? Would he be able to look at Sizhui with the same hope and pride that he does, or would he only see a reminder of the tragedy that befell them? The idea that Wei Ying and Sizhui might reject one another twists in him far worse than all uncertainty, and it's only reinforced by Wei Ying's emphatic refusal to share his name with the boy.

By the time he's flagged down someone with a portal talisman to the orchard and is briskly walking through the rows of trees, he hasn't gotten any closer to an answer to any of these questions. But when he spots the two of them picking cookies out of the grass like mushrooms, collecting them together in their basket, he has to stop in his tracks for all the affection and gratefulness in his heart. Whatever he decides to do, he cannot endanger this.

[raveyardpatriarch]

Unluckily for Sizhui, Wei Wuxian is no stranger to the sensation of people very deliberately Not Arguing, and he laughs before he can stop himself for fear of offending any delicate teenage feelings. It's nice that the boy has spirit, anyway. Even if in this instance it did get him partially flattened. And he's being sensible about ground cookies, which is nice since his valiant sacrifice will not be in vain. "Sound reasoning," he says, and sets to gathering with a will. Despite everything, he can't resist poking a little fun at the rules. "Besides, wouldn't want to waste food, right?"

As though reminded by the rules (or possibly just needing to give his mistreated back a break) he straightens up and scans for the help he'd summoned, trying not to look like someone who has recently fallen from a tree. Spying Lan Zhan is no surprise, but based on the yelling and flagging it could pass for one. "Lan Zhan! Help with your hands, not your eyes, eh?"

[yunxiguang]

Despite his feelings about his companion's laughter, it doesn't sound as if the man means it maliciously, so Sizhui can tolerate it for now. Another's good mood would be a poor thing to take offense to. In a situation like this, it's much better to simply allow a person their harmless bit of humor, he thinks... A conclusion that has nothing to do with the small smile on his own lips. And if there's a shake to his head, it's barely noticeable.

It helps greatly that his companion is willing to assist with collecting the spilled cookies. But the comment about wasting food does get a curious glance thrown in his direction; and it's about that time that Sizhui thinks he might have been remiss in not asking after the stranger's name sooner. Is he aware of the reference that he just made? Or was it nothing more than a passing comment?

Sizhui is a hair's breadth away from making his inquiry when his companion stands up straight. He doesn't get a chance to do so as well before a name passes his lips that locks Sizhui in place. Time itself seems to freeze, stretching half a second into an eternity. Eyes wide and mouth slightly parted in speechlessness, he stares at the man, barely daring to breath for fear that it might break whatever spell he cast.

Lan Zhan? Those words are at the same time impossibly familiar and outrageously foreign--a name that everyone knows, but no one dares to use. Even more impossible is the man attached to them, someone that Sizhui has thought about at least once every hour for the past several days, but with no recourse to actually find him. Or with any indication that he was even here. Being cut off from the rest of the Gusu Lan clan was like being set adrift in a dense fog--given a boat and a paddle but no direction and no shore in sight. Hearing that name, even spoken that casually, feels like catching a glimpse of that shoreline.

Hope rushes in to fill his disbelief, and the spell breaks. Time speeds up, and he rises abruptly, breaking eye contact with his companion to turn and look in the same direction. To verify that his hope is not in vain.

And a smile breaks across his face as bright as the sun.

"Hanguang-jun!" The tension that melts away from his heart is subtle in physicality but enormous in spirit--overwhelming to the point that he forgets himself for a moment, as well as everything else around him. The basket, the cookies, his companion--they're all left behind as he sets off at a running pace to quickly close the distance between them. It's only as he approaches that he seems to remember himself, slowing his gait and coming to a stop at a proper distance. But it doesn't change the way that he looks near to bursting with joy.

"I hadn't realized that you were here as well. When did you arrive?" With so many questions on his mind, it's a miracle that one makes it to the forefront, but that one feels the most important in establishing a context for everything else.

[wukuiyuxin]

As always, Wei Ying can be trusted to shake him out of any reverie, his shouting and waving reminding him that he is expected to interact with this scene and not simply bask in the delight of observing it. Though of course, if he hadn't, Sizhui's unrestrained approach and beaming smile certainly would have. All his concerns and even Wei Ying's presence are momentarily forgotten at the sight of someone so familiar and dear to him, with a joy so contagious.

Right now, rules and propriety are the furthest thing from his mind and he closes the rest of the distance with his long stride to place a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Sizhui," he says in greeting, his own smile softening his features. It's a little strange to think back and realize that in the past thirteen years, he's never been away from him and Cloud Recesses for this long; even when he set out on night hunts too dangerous for the juniors to participate in, he'd only be gone a week or two. No wonder, then, that Sizhui's appearance brightens a place in his heart that he hadn't quite realized was cast in shadows.

"Nearly a month ago. And you?" He squeezes his shoulder before removing his hand to take a proper look at his disciple.

[raveyardpatriarch]

Wei Wuxian's first impulse on having no attention directly on him in this situation is to make a quick getaway. Neatly solve the problem of if this seemingly well-mannered boy is going to turn on him the instant he knows who he's been gathering desserts with unawares, perhaps accusing him of murdering his parents or the like, AND leave these Lans to their shockingly emotional (if you know how to look) reunion. Wouldn't that be best for everyone? Even if the worst this boy has suffered as fallout from the Yiling Laozu is essay-writing about the dangers of unorthodox cultivation? Lan Zhan has it from here, he's done his due diligence in making him aware of the boy, he is at best going to get in the way innocuously and at worst going to form the epicenter of A Scene, etc.

Then again...how often is he going to get to see this? Can't believe he missed out on this, being dead. Not that he would ever have expected anything less of Hanguang-jun than being a great and upstanding caretaker and role-model to the younger members of his clan, and not that he would expect anything from them than to be as enamored of that as they ought to be, of course. But no part of those unexamined assumptions counts for nearly so much as actually witnessing this serene but profound rejoicing. Apparently this is his good deed done for the week at the very least, if the kid's overjoyed response is anything to go by. Not that Wei Wuxian is in a place to judge; it IS pretty great that Lan Zhan is here. So what can it hurt to just observe for a bit, leaned here against a bizarre cookie tree with a faintly mesmerized look? Escaping was never an option. Besides, it doesn't look like the boy will be going anywhere any time soon, and the notion that he would avoid Lan Zhan even for the sake of social ease is laughable, of course. May as well face the music. Or, wait for the music to remember he's here, anyway.

[yunxiguang]

Sizhui's position in the Gusu Lan clan has always been something of a balancing act for him, pitting his affection for his guardians against his sense of propriety and fairness. Despite his love and gratitude for Hanguang-jun, it would have been inappropriate in many cases for either of them to acknowledge a relationship deeper than that of disciple and mentor, and Sizhui always did his best not to expect any favoritism to come into play during their interactions.

But in moments like these, when that social awareness can be set aside for the sake of something more private, those are the moments that Sizhui treasures. The hand on his shoulder. The supportive squeeze. His gaze breaks downward for a moment, briefly embarrassed by the obvious expression of affection from Hanguang-jun when he wasn't expecting it--before he looks up again with a softer kind of joy in his expression. A love for someone as close as family to him.

Sizhui's expression, for all of its unspoken significance, doesn't last long. It shifts quickly to surprise and then furrowed confusion, when Hanguang-jun mentions having been here for a month. That couldn't be right.

"Only four days," he responds, adding afterwards: "I was sure that I saw you just before then. It wasn't nearly as long as a month..." Unless the man by the cliffs was telling the truth about time being stopped in their world. It sounds impossible to imagine that a whole world's time could be stopped, and that time could pass here while they were unaware of it elsewhere... But what lends credibility to that man's story is that Hanguang-jun would not lie. If he says it's been a month since he arrived here, then Sizhui has to believe him about that much.

He's so busy trying to work out this conundrum that he doesn't fully notice Hanguang-jun taking account of him in the process. There's no cookie crumbs or bits of grass left on him, thanks in part to his companion's fussing; but the green and brown stains on his right sleeve are unmistakably grass and dirt, as are the ones on the back and leg of his usually pristine uniform. His hair is likewise out of place, a number of strands not as neatly tucked up into his hair piece as the others.

"Is time really frozen in our world, then?" he continues his train of thought after a small pause. That has such troubling implications--ones that are already weighing on Sizhui's mind. Could time have been frozen even longer before Hanguang-jun had arrived? Would any of them have noticed otherwise? "What could have the power to do that?... And how long has it been that way?"

[wukuiyuxin]

Sizhui's softer smile inevitably finds its match in Lan Wangji's, a warmth in his eyes and ease in his bearing that he only ever seems to manage as a mirror to this boy's affection. He feels a little more at peace already, the joy of their reunion silencing his worries at least for a moment.

But of course Sizhui's mind is as sharp as ever, already working on the nearest problem. And Lan Wangji, too, takes Sizhui's contribution to their shared timeline as the first real confirmation he's seen that what the people here say about a worlds spanning calamity is true. He'd already assumed it was, of course, since he'd rather act as though people are in harm's way and be wrong than the reverse, but this certainly makes it all the more troubling.

"Not a meaningful question, without the passing of time," he points out calmly and then adds, "What could have that power, and how to reverse it, is for us to find out." So say their familiars, after all. Has Sizhui met his already? And which paths has he been set on? How has he handled the loss of his cultivation? These questions are on his mind as he assesses the state of his disciple, and then gets slightly derailed as he takes in the stains and general air of slight disarray so untypical of him since he'd grown out of tussling with the rabbits and the other children.

Which is the point when he remembers Wei Ying's presence as well as his influence and his gaze shifts from Sizhui over his shoulder to Wei Ying. Is that... a twig in his hair?

[raveyardpatriarch]

There's no censure in Lan Zhan's gaze (that any normal person could detect, at least) but there may as well be, for how Wei Wuxian straightens up from his station at the tree and grins sheepishly, eyes pushed into half moons with the force of it, before schooling his expression into something properly chastened. Though whether that's due to his own state of dishevelment or just the sentimental nature of the scene he's just witnessed is a coin toss. Lan Zhan clearly cares for this disciple, which makes him feel all the worse for having knocked him down a little; already bad, for how earnest the boy is, these Lans are just too adorably serious, already comparing notes like this is night hunt. That is absolutely a twig in his hair, though, and he's just living with this for now. At least it isn't a wasp, should be the takeaway here.

Since escaping is probably no longer and never really was an option, he makes his strolling way over like he's being carefully reeled in, hands behind his back. Harmless! Uninterrupting! Still the reason Sizhui looks a little like he rolled down a hill! Was any Lan ever allowed to do that? Probably too unfair to the laundry workers. He looks to Lan Zhan from under raised brows as he stops at a still respectful distance, a little expectant but trusting nonetheless, willing to play to whatever cue he's given. Though notably unwilling to explain anything that happened before Lan Zhan's arrival; that's Lan Zhan's math to solve.

[yunxiguang]

Not a meaningful question... Sizhui seems to contemplate that remark for a moment, and then nods in understanding. With time being stopped in their world, the only metric they could measure by is this place--but they then have no means to verify that time passes with the exact same measure back home. Even if it were like this for a year, could they be sure that a year would have passed in their world? If time has stopped, then no, maybe not... And that in itself is going to take some getting used to.

As for the rest, Sizhui can only assume that Hanguang-jun doesn't have an answer to those questions. Of course, there have been times where he might withhold his answers so that his disciples could form their own; but if this is "for us to find out" as he put it, then this is something Sizhui assumes they're meant to work on together. And as such, something that he has already resolved to do his best with.

It's only then that he notices Hanguang-jun's gaze drift over his shoulder, and Sizhui suddenly remembers the man he left--and the name he had used. He turns, looking startled and then sheepish to see that his companion had already approached. He takes a step back and to the side to make room for one more in the circle of conversation.

"Apologies for leaving so quickly, when we were in the middle of a task." Without even bothering to excuse himself, either. While he might have been excited to see a familiar face, it doesn't entirely excuse the lapse of manners. It especially doesn't excuse the fact that he only feels a little sorry, but he'll keep that to himself.

He does wonder for a moment if he should make introductions--but on one hand, he doesn't know this man's name. And on the other hand, he already seems to know Hanguang-jun? Sizhui glances uncertainly between the two men. "Are you familiar with one another?"

[wukuiyuxin]

Does Wei Ying think a devastatingly cheerful grin will get him out of whatever happened here? Because if so, it works perfectly and Lan Wangji can do nothing but stare as if entranced. At least until Wei Ying takes on a slightly more appropriately sheepish expression, reminding him that he is surely the culprit of something. He recalls the way Sizhui's picture had been framed by branches and his gaze briefly flicks up to the tree, a mental image beginning to form. What was he doing in the-- Did he drop onto--

Unfortunately whatever conclusions he arrives at will have to go uncommented on, as both of them now demand his full attention. Two of the people most dear to him in life standing shoulder to shoulder and he is questioning if he should be wholly honest with them. The trust in Wei Ying's eyes, implicit in his silence, is a responsibility he isn't sure he wants or deserves. And Sizhui, just as expectant, waiting to be told how to treat the man who used to hold and play with him, saved and protected him--

However much the truth matters, he can't risk their second chance at knowing one another, at playing together in the grass. His gaze moves between the two, finally drops to meet Sizhui's as he nods once, finding at least some truth to offer. "You can call him Wei-qianbei." If he can't tell them the whole truth, he can at least ensure Sizhui looks to Wei Ying as someone to learn from, still.

Then his eyes lift to meet Wei Ying's again, as if to ask if this much is acceptable.

[raveyardpatriarch]

Acceptable and more than, says his encouraging nod to Lan Zhan, lips pressed in some determination to deserve this title (though also suppressed amusement--how could this not be a little funny? Now the baby Lan has nearly the highest permission to find him respectable, and Wei Wuxian is surely going to put that through some stress-testing despite his best intentions.) But really, truly, all hilarity aside, he understands this disciple is important to Lan Zhan and he definitely will take this responsibility to heart, while also being glad to not be outed as a revived scourge of the cultivation world. Really complex stuff, here.

The look he turns to Lan Sizhui is more gracious, but still a little on the sprite-ish side, would be conspiratorial if only the boy were actually in on anything going on here, besides getting squashed. So quickly the storm of uncertainty and identity-concealment has passed, with Lan Zhan's complicit support and absolutely no stabbings or other drama resulting, how could he feel slighted? How could he do anything but bring out his best attempts at both sincerity and nice-making? Everyone has to understand He Gets It. "No apologies needed! I am indeed familiar with your Hanguang-jun, so I understand. This place is a lot to take in at first. Especially on your own! I hope as your senior in this place I can also help you feel more at ease, though I perhaps haven't made a good start."

[yunxiguang]

Wei-qianbei. That surname gives Sizhui reason enough to pause. Between all the major and minor clans, he's certain that there isn't a single person alive that wouldn't recognize that name. Even Gusu Lan with its aversion to gossip and hearsay would be hard-pressed to ignore the turmoil that Wei Wuxian had caused the cultivation world. Truly one of the most infamous cultivators of his generation. A creature of legend. A boogeyman for children and adults alike.

His eye contact with Hanguang-jun breaks for half a second, darting downward as he quickly sifts through those various thoughts. Sizhui could easily call to mind a number of outrageous stories that he'd overheard throughout his youth, and it's only through steadfast self-control that he's able to set them all aside in this moment. If this unlucky man is unrelated to this persona non grata, then he deserves the utmost sympathy for carrying such an afflicted name. And if not...

Sizhui's gaze comes up to meet Hanguang-jun's, searching in one moment and then resolute in the next. He sets his jaw and returns a determined, almost-eager nod. If his mentor is unbothered by the ill that hangs over that name, then Sizhui resolves to be as well. Stories aside, this Wei-qianbei has been kind and well-meaning to him, and thus far Sizhui has nothing but the same to offer back.

So it's with a smile that he returns Wei-qianbei's attention, growing even wider at the mention of their unconventional meeting. There is perhaps a small conspiracy here (and a spot of sheepishness on his part), if only to avoid having to explain said unconvention in the vicinity of Hanguang-jun.

"Wei-qianbei has done much already to make this Lan Sizhui feel at ease," he responds, offering both an acceptance of the other man's name and his own name in return. It's not simply a pleasantry. He has been enjoying this small bit of camaraderie, a few moments of familiarity (in spirit) amid a world that has been exceedingly unfamiliar the past few days. "I look forward to any further expertise you have to impart."

Maybe not expertise involving trees, though. Their skeletal integrity has been through enough.