deercountry | Settling In Whilst Unsettled (June Catch-all)

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Settling In Whilst Unsettled (June Catch-all)

deercountry

Who: Shen Yuan and anyone else who'd like to jump in, unless otherwise noted.
What: Xiu Ya's intro, dealing with June nightmare event, trying to make

blessedwithlove house more liveable
When: June, after the TDM
Where: Furthest Shore and Lumenwood, more tbd

Content Warnings: Nightmares will include depictions of torture and dismemberment.

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Outsiders called the disciples of Wan Jian Peak "blacksmiths," or "metalworkers" if they were feeling particular. It was true that the mundane weaponry made on Wan Jian was the best in the world, of exceptional strength and quality -- and it was also true that the peak's foundry was top-notch, capable of turning out ore of excellence so pure that some might have called it divine. But outsiders never saw the peak's top-quality ore, and the disciples of Wan Jian did not consider themselves blacksmiths.

They called themselves gardeners.

It was said that in ancient times, Wan Jian himself, the immortal who gave the peak its name, made his heavenly ascension from its highest pinnacle -- but ere he left this mortal coil, he unsheathed his spiritual blade and plunged it, tip-first, into the stone of the peak. The stone rippled and parted around the blade like water, and once it had vanished from his followers' view Wan Jian smiled and said, "Rest here, my friend. Sleep and be fruitful."

Nearly a thousand years passed before the descendants of his disciples' descendants understood what Wan Jian had done, but when they did...

The peak was alive -- not in the physical sense, but the metaphysical. It didn't possess a heart or blood, a voice or a will of its own -- but it had a soul. A multiplicity of souls, in fact it brimmed with them -- and each one had been born to follow the way of the sword. It was for the sake of these spirits that Wan Jian Peak refined its ore, the cast-offs of which was used to make its fabulous weapons for the sake of the sect, that it might increase in wealth and prestige -- but the best of the ore went into the peak. Literally: there was a certain cave, a natural pool of spiritual energy, where the ore was interred, and from this offering grew the famous spiritual swords of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. They sprouted from the cave walls and floor like glittering stalagmites, some long and thin, others short and stout. Some bore intricate, jeweled hilts, while others were as plain yet piercing as a sunbeam -- but all were spiritual weapons, made to be carried by a righteous cultivator into battle. And of these blades, only one bore the name Xiu Ya.

It was both label and explanation: "Xiu Ya" means "elegant and refined," and that was the sword's nature, its guiding principle. It would not settle for anything less than a master who understood the value of appearances, who would combine aesthetics and strength into an unassailable defense, a wall that could be neither scaled nor broken. It felt neither eagerness nor impatience to meet such a person, because a sword feels no hunger, nor thirst nor fatigue, and it was cradled besides in the qi of its peers; Xiu Ya knew it could easily wait for all eternity until a particular person worthy of its regard happened by. Nevertheless, it was pleased when Shen Jiu at last entered the cave and pulled the sword from the wall -- and this too was a mark of the differences between sword spirits and humans, the qualities that set spiritual weapons apart from all other forms of life.

Xiu Ya did not care that Shen Jiu's spirit was bent nearly double under bitterness, nor that he was wont to turn his inner pain on those that should have been his peers or people who could count on him for protection. The sword did not turn on him when he became first a teacher on Qing Jing Peak, and then its lord, and began to beat and degrade the children under his care; it did not care that he fit the definition of "righteous cultivator" only on a technicality. It was not within Xiu Ya's nature to care about these things: it was not a shield or a house, but a sword. It was a weapon. It was an object of beauty. And in that sense, Shen Jiu wielded it very well -- until the day he died.

What else to call it, when Shen Jiu -- by then called Shen Qingqiu -- when Shen Qingqiu's very soul vanished from his body, and another soul took its place? The new soul wore Shen Qingqiu's flesh and qi like a mask, and Xiu Ya would surely have taken offense if another entity, another spirit of unprecedented power, had not sunken its qi into Xiu Ya's being and forced it to obey. The sword was resentful -- how could it not be? -- but it was inelegant to rail against a situation it could not change, and so risk self-destruction. Xiu Ya refined patience, and watchfulness, and in the fullness of time it realized that its situation was not in fact so bad as it had first believed.

Shen Yuan was no Shen Jiu, but he too understood the power of appearances. He knew how to wield a carefully-chosen word or a flick of his fan like a blade, and he too refined patience and watchfulness. Not so well as Shen Jiu had done, but humans were not like swords: they were never really finished. Always they had retained the option to better themselves, and while Shen Yuan was perhaps a little too inclined to rest on his laurels for Xiu Ya's taste, still he possessed a well of potential, and the will to use it under the right pressures. Xiu Ya began to accept him as its master in truth, and not merely by force -- and then, once again, the world changed. And Shen Yuan disappeared.

But this time, Xiu Ya followed its master. The sword fell through a dark, spiritual sea, and washed up on a black, rocky beach. It did not care for these accomodations in the slightest; its spiritual energy could protect it from rust, but it would also need that spiritual energy to prevent beasts or the unworthy from carrying it off. Once again it would have to be patient, until Shen Yuan came to wield it once more. But he would come, Xiu Ya was sure of it...and this time, it would ensure his worthiness before it gave him access to its strength.

[OOC: Xiu Ya will prevent itself from being picked up by exuding "angry" energy and burning cold, but that doesn't mean there's nothing passerby can do with this odd, silvery sword! Want its wielder to owe you a finder's fee, or possibly a favor? Take a picture and post it to the network! Shen Yuan will see it and pay through the nose if he has to to get the blade's location; this world isn't so safe that you just turn down a spiritual weapon! He has no idea what it has in store for him, poor dear ;3]

Wei Wuxian often walks the beaches and along the rocky shore, waiting and watching for newcomers. There might be the hope that a familiar face will appear upon those rocks, whether it be friend or foe. At this point he can't possibly be picky about who might show up. He's been in this place for almost a year, and the other world for a year before that. So it has been quite some time since he has seen a familiar face. But that doesn't stop him from keeping some hope alive as he wanders the shores.

He is well aware what a spiritual weapon looks like. He also knows the chances of his being able to wield someone else's sword to be quite low. But it still surprises him when he happens upon the weapon upon the rocks. He kneels down carefully, reaching out to touch the blade. He knows he could very well be rejected from even touching it and so he has to be cautious. As fingers touch the blade, he can feel the cold and basically see the energy. He is no stranger to 'dark' energy.

He pulls chenqing from his belt and brings the flute to his lips. Maybe if he can temper some of that energy he might be able to at least take the blade to a safer place. He figures the owner has to be nearby. He doesn't recognize the blade so he isn't sure if it is a cultivator he is familiar with. But that won't stop him from returning it to its master.

The notes flow out from the flute in an attempt to calm that energy. If it doesn't work there are other options for collecting the weapon but he might as well put his skills to use. They have been getting a little rusty as of late.

Xiu Ya does not appreciate being touched by a stranger -- but the flute playing is a different matter. One spiritual weapon can recognize another (albeit a younger one of less exalted lineage) and the musician is highly skilled. The sword's energy pulses in time with the melody of the flute, its anger slowly abating. It's still not fond of the idea of being touched by anyone other than its particular person, but the air around the sword begins to warm and it seems less furious with the world. If the cultivator is serious about offering his help, the sword is listening.

[OOC: wow, Senior Wei noticed me ^_^ Or would that be Junior Wei since Scum Villain came first...Anyway! Glad to see you, we've got a couple different options for proceeding depending on what you're interested in doing. If you'd like to have Wuxian continue to interact with the sword for a bit, that's cool, or you could try contacting its person over the network...or, if you'd like to interact with Shen Yuan directly, I can say he was already on the beach and have him come over to see who's playing a spiritual flute. It's your call, I'm just happy to be here XD]

[OOC: I was so excited to see more MXTX when I was scrolling through my reading page! How about WWX takes the sword to a safer location first and then Shen Yuan can stumble upon him if you want!]

When he senses the shift in the energy he lowers the flute down from his lips. He looks down at the sword, "Feeling a little better now? How about we find out who has lost you. I'm sure they are wondering where you are." He reaches down and carefully picks the sword up, prepared to be rejected if the sword continues to have any sort of ill will towards him. He doesn't know that talking to the sword is particularly necessary but might as well show it the respect it deserves.

He stands up, ready to carry the sword away from the danger of the waves and the rocks and make sure it won't be swept back out to sea before he can find its owner. He figures he has a couple options for finding whomever has lost it. If the person is in this world then he should be worried and looking for it already. Shouldn't be hard to find someone frantically hunting for their weapon.

He'll be heading up to the walkway so that he can sit on a bench, making sure to carry the sword gently just in case it decides to fight back.

Being a sword, Xiu Ya does not and cannot communicate in words -- but being addressed directly is an unexpected novelty, one it rather enjoys. Xiu Ya is beginning to develop an appreciation for this strange cultivator and his manners, and wonders whether he could be persuaded to tutor its unpolished wielder. As the young man picks Xiu Ya up and carries it -- gently! respectfully! -- away from the rocks, Xiu Ya finds itself largely preoccupied with wondering how to communicate such a complex concept with the admittedly rather limits means of communication at its disposal...Swords usually aren't called upon to communicate anything more complicated than "die!" or "submit to my authority" after all...

The problem becomes moot, however, when a familiar energy signature comes within the range of Xiu Ya's perception. The sword's energy pulses with impatience -- it's about time! -- as Shen Yuan comes closer, and silently tuts over his spiritual and physical appearance. His qi signature feels exhausted, has he not been sleeping at all since they came to this world? And he's dressed in an eclectic mix of cultivator robes and what Xiu Ya supposes must be the local style -- those stiff trousers he's wearing might be comfortable, but they do nothing to lend him a necessary sense of dignity -- and his hair's braided down his back like a child getting ready for bed. Ridiculous! Juvenile! Xiu Ya can see it has a lot of work to do.

[Translation: Shen Yuan sold off the silver guan he brought with him from his world to buy an actual pair of jeans and comfortable shoes, and he's wearing one of the basic black robes given to newcomers under one of his own green silk robes, both belted around his waist with a green sash. He also has huge bags under his eyes and appears stressed out and exhausted, thanks to the nightmare event. He's doing his best, but there is a LOT he's dealing with right now!]

Shen Yuan stops a polite distance from the stranger with the silver sword in his lap, eyeing both uncertainly. He's only out here in the first place because he'd sensed a piece of his own qi still lingering on the beach, and gathered from the notes in the journal he was given that this meant there was still something to belonged to him out here, but...he wasn't expecting to find a sword. And he doesn't know what it means to find it already in the arms of another cultivator.

He bows deeply. "This humble one greets the young master," he says, using the formal pronouns and turns of phrase an independent cultivator would use while greeting a member of one of the Great Sects. Xiu Ya sighs internally. It's not inaccurate; Shen Yuan did not earn his title of Peak Lord, and pretending to be more powerful than he is could so easily backfire disasterously -- but such a large demotion still comes as a personal blow. "If the young master does not find it too presumptuous, this one wonders if he might ask what the young master is holding there?"

Wei Wuxian sees the other cultivator coming, noting the rather rough appearance of someone who clearly isn't used to the world and what it can throw at them. Wei Wuxian has spent far too long enduring the endless nights and the brutal days that can come with being apart of these worlds. Having been in the dream world before arriving here meant he has more experience then most. Two years removed from his own world and doing his best to endure it while helping others who aren't so accustomed to what this place is like.

It almost makes him laugh when he is greeted so traditionally. It's been a long time since he's even been in the presence of another cultivator. Hardly one to be called young master any longer and certainly not part of any sort of prestigious sect. Well...at least not any more and hasn't been in quite some time. Perhaps if he had gotten the chance to go back to his home world with Lan Wangji he might have been adopted into Cloud Recesses but...well it does no good to think about that now. He almost has forgotten what it is like to be around the more formal speech patterns and traditions. But he isn't one to be that rude, so he stands up and returns the greeting. The sword still held in his hand as he does so. If this isn't the owner then he isn't going to give it up to a random stranger so easily. Not that he expects that there are very many exhausted looking cultivators just randomly walking the beach.

"A treasure that seems to have washed ashore without its master." He stands up straight and looks at the sword in his hand. It would be easy to tell if the owner is standing before him. The angry energy of before isn't there and he can almost feel the connection between the two. He is fairly certain that the master has arrived but he might as well wait for some sort of confirmation.

"And the name is Wei Wuxian. It's been a long time since anyone has called me young master and it hardly seems to hold true still in this place." He smiles, warmed by hearing the term used again. Even if this cultivator isn't from his world, it feels familiar and pleasant to have someone who actually seems to share some similarities to a world like this own.

'Wei Wuxian' isn't a name he recognizes, which is almost a relief to Shen Yuan. He hasn't yet made up his mind what he'll do if someone from PIDW turns up, and a not-insignificant part of him is hoping it just never happens. He's got a fresh start here that he doesn't want to lose -- which is definitely contributing to the trepidation with which he eyes the sword in Wei Wuxian's hands.

"This one greets you, Master Wei," he says with an attempt at calm. "I'm called Shen Yuan." He sidles closer. "If -- may I?" he asks, reaching for the sword's hilt. He barely even needs to look at the characters engraved on the blade: this is definitely Xiu Ya.

The sword, for its part, is eager to be back in its particular person's hands. It radiates satisfaction, and if Master Wei should hesitate it will give him the emotional equivalent of a grateful pat on the hand. He has been most generous with his time and care, but it's all right now. This is where it's supposed to be.

Which is extremely startling for Shen Yuan, when he wraps his fingers around the hilt and picks up on the tail end of all those feelings, as well as the exasperation and judgement with which Xiu Ya greets him. "Oh," he says blankly, staring at the sword. "So, you're different here too? Or..." Was it always like this, and the System was just keeping him from seeing it? Frankly, that's fucking terrifying.

And he's still got an audience. "Thank you, sir, for looking after Xiu Ya," he says politely, bowing again to Wei Wuxian. "I didn't, that is, this one had no idea that my bonded blade had made the transition to this world with me. This one is not typically so careless with his possessions, he assures you."

Xiu Ya seems amused by that for some reason, but at least it's not trying to kill him or whatever spiritual swords do to people who've pissed them off. He'll take it.

Wei Wuxian knows all about swords that have a turbulent spiritual connection to their masters. And also ones that can be dangerous to their owners after awhile. All one has to do is look at the history of the Nie sect. If he senses the different emotions during the pass off he doesn't mention it. No reason to question the man's connection to his spiritual weapon. Not when Wei Wuxian has his own issues in the past.

"I'm just glad I was able to keep it safe until you could be reunited. It was just luck that I happened upon it."

Not that Wei Wuxian feels like he has a lot of luck on his side most days. But it is clearly meant to be that he encounters another cultivator on this day. "These worlds can take things away or give things back in the strangest of ways. It's no fault of yours that you got separated."

His own sword was reunited with him on the other world through odd methods. Sometimes items from their worlds just randomly show up, or are given in payment of a good deed. He hasn't quite figured it all out yet but he has obtained a few items from home over his time away from it.

"Is that so?" Shen Yuan asks, interested but half-distracted as he takes his sash off and wraps it around Xiu Ya's blade in a very makeshift scabbard that he can hold in his arms without cutting himself. He doesn't need a sword nagging at him to cover it up in public, thanks! Good thing his black robe closes in the front, so he's still just as covered up as he was with the sash on.

That done he turns his full attention back to Wei Wuxian. "Master Wei seems to be speaking with the voice of experience," he says, with all necessary courtesy but a great deal of curiosity behind it. "This one cannot help but be envious; this is his second time being dragged into another realm without advance notice, and the first time he was not permitted to bring any personal items with him at all, nor were his belongings restored to him in all the years he spent in the second world."

Some might argue that being plunked into the body of a fully developed peak lord would make up the deficit, but those people probably weren't internet addicts. And that wasn't even going into genuinely personal stuff that Shen Yuan himself preferred not to spend a lot of time thinking about, like not having any keepsakes of his family. The System might have technically saved his life, but it still screwed him over on multiple levels.

"Ah..another world traveler? This is also my second time being pulled away from home. I haven't been home in two years." He sighs unhappily but waves it off with his hand. He has long since accepted that he is in this for the long haul. It's obvious that he has work to do in this place and won't be allowed to escape it until it is over. Even if he isn't fully sure what it is he is supposed to be doing...

"My home from the world before this was brought into this world, and items from home where given to me on the previous world whenever I happened to succeed in doing what the world wanted." It wasn't often but it did happen. The fact that his sword is here is proof as well as the fact that he has a supply of Emperor's Smile that doesn't ever seem to diminish.

"There are many powers at work, but very few answers to how." But since he is definitely the senior member of this world, he will be happy to answer any questions that SHen Yuan happens to have about it. At least as best that he can...even he doesn't know everything despite his efforts to find out as much as he can. The more he knows, the more chances he'll have to be able to get home.

"Be careful of some of the quests this world will give you to get those items though. They aren't easy."

"So Master Wei got to transmigrate along with his entire house?" Shen Yuan asks, not quite able to keep his surprise and less diplomatic emotions off his face. He sighs, easily shifting Xiu Ya into the crook of one arm and pulling his fan out of his sleeve with his hand. "Fate has ever been unsubtle about displaying its favorites," he quips, but with half his face decently hidden behind the fan it's easier to play it off, even to himself, as a wry jab at the heavens instead of an expression of actual envy. What was the point of feeling such things, much less expressing them in Wei Wuxian's direction? It wasn't like Master Wei had been the one to give him food poisoning!

"Could Master Wei explain what he means by quests?" he asks. "Were these missions given to him by someone in authority, or perhaps a more esoteric entity? Perhaps something like an invisible voice...? This one has experience with such things, and would appreciate forewarning if he must face them again." If there's a System here after all he's going to cry. Or scream. Something like that.

"I still came from the water like everyone else but when I went hunting for housing...I didn't have to look very hard. It honestly was a surprise." He thought if something or someone would come with him it would have been his husband. The fact that the house arrived but nothing relating to the man he married in Deerington did...it hurt a lot. But he has had almost a year to deal with that. Now he just continues the work that they were doing there and he does his best to help people anyway that he can.

"Maybe it was payment for enduring the world before this." He says this more to himself despite the fact it was aloud. It is his first time really considering his fortune. Lil' Apple, his horse and the rabbits...all of it just like it was in the other world. He wonders how many others were actually that lucky.

He snaps back to the question asked of him. "I would say it is the world itself that makes the decisions but that hardly seems to make sense. It's just that sometimes you will find yourself in a different place, or you will encounter something that will change you until you manage to figure out something about yourself that you don't like to admit."

Concerning! Dangerous beasts or environmental hazards are one thing, but the emphasis on personal growth is giving Shen Yuan a horrid suspicion that he's left a world that ran on novel logic only to find himself in one that runs on video game, or something similar. An entire world determined to make him face his inner demons and grow as a person, like the System writ large. He finds himself breaking out in a cold sweat at the thought.

"Thanking Master Wei for his advice," he says respectfully. "Although this one isn't sure he fully and accurately understands, this one suspects that may be a result of this world's dangers and complexity, not any failing on Master Wei's part. Sometimes the esoteric must be experienced for one's self before enlightenment can be achieved, is it not so?" At least Xiu Ya seems excited. Although why it would be so gung-ho to see Shen Yuan face some heart demons when Shen Qingqiu had been riddled with them, Shen Yuan had no idea. Maybe it just really wants to fight something.

"In truth it would probably take much more unpleasant news to kill this one's enthusiasm over meeting another cultivator, let alone one of such clear and obvious skill," Shen Yuan adds, with a humble little cough. "This one heard Master Wei's flute-playing as he approached; it was truly impressive. Are we the only cultivators here, or does Master Wei perhaps know of others?"

"I'm sure you will experience it sooner rather then later. But...I admit I understood this place a lot more after going through some of the trials myself." He doesn't wish those trials on anyone but unfortunately they don't really have a choice in the matter. Considering he had been randomly tossed into a jungle that wanted to kill them a month ago...and had to play a game in order to get out...It was a lot to try and explain.

But he does smile at the fact that it is true...it is good to meet another cultivator in a place like this. It has been quite some time since he has conversed with someone who knows at least slightly what cultivation is and understands what it is that they do. It gets exhausting having to explain it to everyone he meets. Especially since he is hardly a model example of a cultivator...

"As far as I know we are the only ones. You are the first I've encountered since being here." And he has been here for a long time... "A few from my world came to the last world I was on but this one doesn't seem to have the same desires to draw them in." Or else he is simply being put to the test to see how he can fare without familiar faces. One can never be sure with these places.

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Settling In Whilst Unsettled (June Catch-all)

Xiu Ya's Introduction (Furthest Shore, Open) CW: child abuse apologism, character death

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