test drive meme #2

[fernwehmods]

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

Comments

[eternallywandering]

Of course it is! Zishu would never...ever...let it out of his sight. Kexing gave it to him and he treasures it.

The arm around his waist feels good, but something isn't right and he hurts. For a moment, he sincerely considers hitting the other man, but he needs to know the truth first.

"I can walk." maybe. Zishu relies on Kexing more than he would like, a cold sweat making his hair stick to his temples. He quickly finds a seat once they are in Kexing's rooms, scowling.

"What happened? I..." he closes his eyes, "thought you were dead."

[flirtatiousdancer]

As he knew his soulmate would.

Kexing would let him! Zishu could do pretty much anything and he'd accept it. He raises a brow and pouts a little at the short comment, but doesn't pull away. And since Zishu ends up leaning on him anyway, he keeps to the other's pace, helping him up those stairs in the inn and to a chair. He sets his little basket down to deal with later, focus more on fussing over Zishu with that same worried little frown.

Then those words have him perplexed again and he shakes his head. "What are you talking about? I haven't done that yet. I was just about to go after them, but..." That doesn't matter. Zishu had believed his eyes, and when that sets in, Kexing clicks his tongue and sits back on his heels at the other's feet, looking up at him with one hand on Zishu's knee.

"You believed it all? It was set up, A-Xu." Had he miscalculated by not making sure Zishu knew...?

[eternallywandering]

What good is hitting Kexing if he doesn't know the truth? Zishu has given up his most precious commodity for him - time. He thought he would be reunited with Kexing in the afterlife. He had longed for it. Now he is dying - rapidly - and Kexing is better than ever?

I was just about to go after them... Those words stick in his head. Along with I'm a fool. He lied. He tricked me. Zishu's hands curl into fists in his lap and his eyes burn. It was a set up. The laugh he releases isn't sane and his tears fall.

"So I'm the idiot."

[flirtatiousdancer]

That laugh lashes out where fists don't. Sinks in and chills him to the bone, making it impossible to speak, impossible to do anything but tighten his grip on the fabric at his soulmate's leg. Zishu had fallen for the same trick everyone else had. He'd been so sure it wouldn't fool someone who knew him.

Wrong. He'd been wrong. And had hurt the person who is so important to him. The one person...he should never hurt.

Kexing forces himself to move, pain swirling with confusion as he scrambles to find a way to fix this. He shakes himself and forces himself to breathe, then reaches for those fists to rub at them - those tears terrify him for a reason he can't name.

"It...wasn't intended to hurt you." Which is the closest he's ever come to an actual apology.

[eternallywandering]

His laughter can't last; he doesn't have the energy for it. Pushing Kexing's hand away, Zishu pulls open his robe and reveals that the nails are no longer embedded in his chest. Once he thought Kexing had perished, there had been no other choice. He drank enough wine to numb himself and expelled each nail, causing himself enough pain that he nearly passed out and shortening his lifespan to...

Weeks. Months. Years are only a dream now.

"I meant to join you." he murmurs, "I didn't want to be without you and I didn't want the one who killed you to go free."

He had meant to kill Zhao Jing himself. What punishment could the sects impose on him? Nothing long-lasting! And if they wanted to torture him, that wouldn't be anything new either. He would just focus on his Kexing, smiling and waiting for him.

Except his Kexing is alive. Zishu grabs his soulmate's hands, frowning.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

[flirtatiousdancer]

Horror settles over him, naked and sharp as his gaze is drawn to that bared chest. His hand is pushed away but he barely even notices, his limbs go limp and numb as he stares. His heart almost stops.

He'd done this. He'd caused this. A tear slips down his cheek at the magnitude of how he's fucked up.

He swallows heavily as his hands are grabbed, and shakes his head, drawing in a shaky breath through wretched lungs that don't want to work right.

"I...A-Xu..." Nothing he could say would be right, and he knows it. "We'll find someone to save you. This is a new world."

[eternallywandering]

Zishu is angry and hurt, but even in this state, he can't stand to see Kexing crumble. He lets go of those limp arms and drags the other man into his arms, offering his lap as a place to perch. It feels good to hold him; to know his body isn't in pieces somewhere, ravaged by men who are following an evil fool.

"Shhh..." he is the master, the teacher, and he won't let someone he loves suffer, "It's done. I'm relieved you're alive."

Any world without Wen Kexing isn't complete.

[flirtatiousdancer]

He gasps for breath as he's tugged into those arms and he immediately moves to press against Zishu. Forcing life back into his arms, he wraps them tight around his soulmate.

But a tremor remains and there's still that look of desperation on his face as he looks at Zishu. "Yes, but now we must find a cure for you." Without the nails, the precious time he has with this man is even less.

This is not acceptable. Because he realizes now that any life without Zhou Zishu isn't worth living, or even existing in.

[eternallywandering]

He is able to find a faint smile as Kexing settles against him. Zishu's hands both keep his soulmate steady and rub over the other man's back. Remaining angry just isn't possible; he loves Kexing too much. Even if he only has a handful of weeks or days, he knows how he wants to spend them.

"Nothing is going to happen to me today." he reassures, at peace because his Kexing is in his arms, "I'm sorry I ruined your celebration."

[flirtatiousdancer]

Kexing rests their heads together and tries to soak in the comfort and peace his A-Xu gives him. The reassurance has his shoulders suddenly shake in a almost silent laugh despite himself. Despite the terror that threatens to drag him right back down.

"No. Not today." Never, he promises them. A helpless smile tugs at his lips at the apology and he shakes his head a little. "It was meaningless without you. Now we can drink and eat together."

[eternallywandering]

His eyes close for a different reason now and he takes comfort and strength from being near the other half of his soul. Kexing came back to him. Zishu can't help but turn his head just enough to kiss away that laugh, being very gentle.

"What have you learned about this new world? The villagers were generous with their food and drink, I noticed." and he presumed it was good based on how it looked. His sense of taste is failing him faster than his other senses.

[flirtatiousdancer]

The kiss steals his breath away all over again, but this time for a much nicer reason. Kexing immediately presses into it, just a little, letting it linger to show yes - when he calls them soulmates, he means in every way. Not only platonic.

And it settles him better than just words, or even warm arms holding him close. He sighs and settles his cheek against Zishu's shoulder, eyes half closing. "There is magic here, different to what we're used to, as I am sure you noticed if you met that odd man who gave the gift of the local language. The name Wen may not be a safe name here, with some of those who have been brought here - but I can handle that. The man I met was amiable enough to talk without attacking first."

The mention of generous villagers makes him grin a little. "Food, drink, and stories seem to be what they like most, since I've been here there's been a celebration every couple days. And most of what I've tasted has been good." He looks forward to when his A-Xu can taste and enjoy food and drink again.

[eternallywandering]

Wherever Kexing's breath is taken, his goes with it. The weight of what they are can't be avoided or ignored. He won't. Zishu has always tried to face the truth, no matter how difficult or heart-breaking it might be. But this truth is a joy and he smiles when they part, peering into Kexing's eyes to let him know where his heart stands.

"Tell me your new name and I will be sure to use it." he smooths a hand across the other man's cheek, happy to keep him tucked right here. For always.

Even if that might be a ridiculous wish.

"I thought it must be given how people were reacting. Even so... Be careful. We don't know why we were brought here or what they intend us to do."