farsickooc | test drive meme #2

SCENARIOS

01. Settling In

It's been a couple of days since you have arrived and once the fatigue from that multiversal travel has been fixed there is a town that you should probably get acquainted with. At least well enough that you don't get lost every time you venture away from the inn where you are likely staying for the time being.

Down the narrow streets to the south where most newcomers first enter Gazin, the tradespeople have set up their shops. Armourers, blacksmiths, bowyers and carpenters can all be found there, as well a few shady types who cannot pass up the advantage of ripping off an unsuspecting person.

Heading east, one can find the two apothecary shops, a bakery, a herbarium, seamstress and shoemaker. There is also a medical clinic set up and is equipped to care for anything up to moderate injuries.

The northern part of town is the district that most people tend to avoid. It's smelly and dark and trouble lurks in every corner. It's hard not to get an uneasiness that feels like someone is watching you. If asked, most civilians will explain why it is called The Devil's Mouth.

In the west district, it is bright and cheerful and generally happy. Music and celebration seem to happen twice daily, every day of the week with Saturday being the loudest. During that day, the marketplace comes to life with vendors selling their fresh food or wares. In the evening, there's typically a firework show and maybe a drunken fistfight or two that ends with more drinking and some laughter. Sometimes, but not often, trouble from the northern district trickles into the west. Those slow festivities but not for long.

02. Exploring

You have heard people talk about the places beyond Gazin and now you find yourself itching to get out and see them. Be it Vasari Forest or Roselake, you and your trusty legs (or horse) plan to be gone for a week or more. One must always be cautious of the dangers while travelling, however. Bandits and rogue soldiers often cannot pass up the chance to take what isn't theirs. There are also creatures and monsters hiding in wait to curiously check you out or worse, hunt you for their next human-shaped meal.

But, that's all part of the adventure! Take someone along with you and maybe some weapons, too. Make sure one is made of silver.

03. Quest

The Druid known as Bhalris has contracted you to head into the Oren Mountains to find and pass a message along to the dwarf known as Brazmas Steelbelly. What Bhalris doesn't exactly explain is where Brazmas can be found, only giving approximate directions to a certain landmark where a series of clues will be revealed that start an interesting, though perhaps frustrating adventure.

Pay attention to the white raven and other animals along the way. They may be there to help with your journey. How do you tell them apart from the other wildlife that may or may not be dangerous? You can't.

Good luck!

04. Celebration

Impromptu parties are quite the norm in Gazin and it doesn't matter what the occasion is or who it is for. There's music, plenty of drink, dancing and good times to be had.

Let loose and have some fun!

05. Wild Card!

Want something else? Feel free to choose your own adventure or mix and match to create something completely different!

NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wangji was at the stall next to the one that the other long-haired man was at, and his tone, cheerful but at the same time slightly sharp, caught his attention. So he glances over, before completing his own transaction.

Then he steps a little nearer, though not too much.

"Is that wine good?"

If so, he will bring some to his husband...

Kexing tucks his little pouch back away, settling his purchases under an arm in a useful basket he's also purchased along the way - where's Gu Xiang when one needs her? Oh well. The question from a handsome man has him look over with that smile - too sharp still, more mischievous.

"Care to have a cup with me to find out?" Admitting point-blank that he has no idea if it's actually good is just...no. He'd rather sit and enjoy a bottle with someone than not.

"No." Wangji's response is mild, but absolutely certain. "It would be for someone else."

That is why he is asking.

But he doesn't seem outraged or hostile at the question. Merely not interested.

What he thinks of this is pretty obvious in the raise of an eyebrow and incredulity in his gaze. But only for a moment before he shakes his head and smiles again.

Pushing aside the wistfulness of another having someone to buy liquor for.

Then shrugs and pulls out one of the bottles and uncorks it to take a sip, deciding to be cooperative. Helpful, in this new world. He considers the taste for a moment before the smile brightens.

"If your friend likes good wine, they'd probably enjoy this one."

The disdain does not seem to even come close to touching the white-robed man, as though it has not happened.

However, the next part of what the man does gets the jade-carved face to soften very slightly.

"Thank you." A beat, then he cups his hands properly.. "Lan Zhan, courtesy name Wangji." He will get some of the wine in a moment. But propriety first.

Aw. He'd been hoping for something interesting. But he brushes the lack of most of a normal reaction aside, closing the bottle back up and setting it back in the basket.

Kexing notes the propriety of that introduction but only inclines his head in answer, fan snapping back out to waft up over him. That name means nothing to him - not yet. He'll remember it though. "I am Wen Kexing."

Ghost or human, he wonders. Leaning towards human, but there's something noble and strong about this Lan Wangji.

"A pleasure," he adds, perhaps a beat too slow.

Sorry, you will have to watch for microexpressions that are even subtler than Zishu's. With less eyerolling, to boot. It's fine, his husband makes up for that in liveliness.

Right now, there is the tiniest tightening of his eyebrows.

"Qishan Wen?"

It's important.

He'll adapt...if he cares enough. At least Wangji is easy on the eyes~

"Qishan?" His brows narrow a little at that, both perplexed and wary. "I'm not familiar with them." How unlucky must he be for someone here to know his father's birth name?

Wangji observes that for a long moment, though eventually nods slightly.

"Mn." After a moment, he adds, "it could be a different time. Or a different world. People come here from very different places."

Oh, look, he actually used words.

He's amazed!

Kexing nods, expression smoothing to one more thoughtful, fan absently continuing it's movement. To retreat so he can observe or stay glued to Wangji's side...

Choices, choices!

"I have a feeling you are not fond of these Qishan Wens. It makes me glad I am not one of them!"

Wangji doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave him behind, he maybe a small amount of curious.

He nods slightly and holds up a hand, then takes... four jars of the wine, tucking them neatly in his sleeves - and moving as though they don't weight a thing.

Then he motions the other man - he might not be about to drink wine, but there is tea, and a rather nice places to drink those outside in the nice weather.

"Sect leader thought they should rule every other sect. Many people died. Not everyone agreed with him, but anyone might desire revenge."

He's sparse of words, but he thinks it is fair to explain why his question. And no, he does not paint a gentle picture. It was not a gentle time.

He'd do the same if he didn't have quite so much - but despite the heavily laden basket, he moves as if it weighs nothing. And doesn't think about it being strange, either. Kexing blinks at the invitation before smiling and nods, following at Wangji's side to wherever the other wishes to take him.

And listens, a frown growing before he smooths his expression to disinterest, if a bit colder than the average disinterest. The familiarity gnaws at him.

"There's a sect like that where I'm from too. It's human nature to be greedy and evil. Very few manage to rise above that." He knows one, really. Only one, precious man. And even he has been touched by human evil.

Wangji can count a few more, among his husband, his brother, young madam Jin, and Sizhui and some of his friends... Xiao Xingchen and Song Zichen daozhangs too. He frowns slightly.

"Only among those with power does greed and evil flourish so. Most people... only wish to survive."

Granted, cultivators and martial artists definitely are those with power, but their number, in the end, is not that great. Nor is the number of those in the emperor's court. Not compared to the common people.

He looks down. "All the more reason to be kind."

test drive meme #2

Settling in

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