voidtreckernet | merriment 16 ; video (before platform stop)

( Hey, if the train's helpful, then it sounds like "fox demon/devil," which here applies to various people on train, potentially, and on your perspective on what Jingyi himself counts as, given his shapeshifting and dragon soul.

He does, however, lean in toward the ICP with a curious sound. )

We'd use talismans for that, but I won't lie, that's fascinating! I wonder if we could do something... similar? You should ask Wei-qianbei, either of them. I could help them, but they're the inventive ones.

( ... he's more the guy willing to try most anything. )

I'll show any of you, if you want. I've got some of the gear from Spira too - shields, some brooches and the like.

[ But he guesses he can talk to that troublemaker Wei....Wuxian. He hopes that's referring to Wuxian. All he hears is 'real old man'!!! ]

But the talismans - they're the paper with the words on them, aren't they? A Wei gave me a few. You can just put magic in them?

( Jingyi sighs, but it's the sigh of someone trying to figure out how to frame things instead of an exasperated or tired one. A whole language of Jingyi sighs, please no one bother learning them. )

Magic means something different to you, I think? None of it's magic to us, it's use of natural world rules and processes and spiritual energies. Talismans are more, ah... stupidly seen as lesser than other forms of cultivation? 'Cause it makes those processes held and usable by more than cultivators, in some cases.

Soooo no, we don't put magic in them exactly, but we do give them instructions of something to do. Fire's a useful one, yeah? You can say what kind of heat, the kind of intensity of fire, the length of it lasting. You can store energy in one, or you can have it pull on the world energies around it. They're passive until activated in most cases, or they're like the spirit attracting or spirit repelling ones, working as long as you're not binding them to not. Talismans are really just the paper ones, most the time, the ones that you use once. You can have protective talismans carved in jade or other stones, or wards carved into wood or stone for an area, or...

( He pauses, rubbing his forehead. )

Okay, sure, basically we can. The clans with their noses stuck too far up their own self importance think it's too tricky to be honest, but they're useful, not everything's a direct fight blade to blade, you know?

[ That...was a lot more than Tidus was expecting. A lot more than he feels like he can process, but not because Jingyi isn't explaining it well. He wears a frown that's puzzled, waiting until he's spoken. Biting for a second on his inner lip. ]

Is...calling it magic rude? [ He sounds cautious, like ultimately, he's not trying to be rude. ] I guess for me, that's just- I mean, everything what you said is magic to me. Using energy to make things happen, mixing stuff into potions, anything with stones with fire in 'em - I don't know any better.

[ He makes a flat palm with one hand, and then points the fingers of his other hand towards it. ]

But- so that's what you do: You put energy into the talisman that makes it do what you want to. Basically? And it can be fire... or whatever you make it be. But the writing, uh - decides it?

[ He's sure that's what Jingyi just said, but he's making sure! ]

Yeah, basically it is. So if you write it wrong, things don't work, or do something unexpected.

( His brow furrows a touch, because rude is a question he turns over. )

... As far as rude, it would be to most my elders. We train and study for years; magic is in folktales, not cultivation. But to the people who tell folktales, we are magic.

( He reaches up, tapping a finger against one of his horns. )

Not that any of the other people I know are actually from my world, but on mine, how else would you understand someone both human and dragon, both equally true? Our souls are different, tangibly, but most people will never feel that. All you see is someone look like a human, look like me, or be a dragon way bigger than anything else you've seen walking around, and we talk, we control the elements, we fight civilly with swords and not tooth and claw. So... maybe yeah, I don't mind as much, though my 'magic' is changing form, not the seals or talismans or other cultivation techniques I perform.

( He snorts, then offers Tidus a shrug. )

Makes sense that to you, it's all magic, 'cause to me what you said means you've all got another form of talismans, wards, and the rest. We get what we get based on what we knew, right? Like trying to figure things out here and getting them wrong because it isn't familiar where you thought maybe it kind of was, annoyingly enough.

...Magic makes my head hurt. [ Is the conclusion Tidus comes to after all that, letting out a sigh and rubbing the side of his head. Less because it actually hurts, but just - his head feels full, a lot of concepts being spoken about he barely brushes against in life. ]

To be honest, I didn't know anything about magic 'til about a year ago. So things like types of it or what people believe - I know the basics where I'm from enough to use it, and that's about it. But I know there's different ways of doing it from the different people that've been here. It's just, hearing a lot about it...

[ He rings his hands around one another. It's like his head's turned into a washing machine. ]

Yeah. [ Yeah. He'd be repeating himself otherwise, so he leaves it to that. Rolls his lips for a moment, before- ] Sorry. Uh, it's a lot for me to take in - souls and dragons and that. I used to live away from things like that. Stuff like...souls. Or more fantastical.

[ He's struggling here, evident in his expression, the way he bumbles in trying to speak.

He is too simple for the supernatural. ]

Huh, then you're pretty fast at adapting.

( Which might seem offbase, but he means it as a compliment: one year is new, very little time to be wrestling with concepts one had nowhere in their life before. He smiles at that, at least. )

Most people back home are supposed to live away from it all too. That's why we, ( a hooked thumb at himself ) tuck away horns and tails going into most towns. We come in to deal with all the stuff most people can't, so it stops hurting whoever it's hurting, and leave again, so they can keep living their lives like they plan. Demons, devils, imps, ghosts, curses, possessions, rumoured resurrections, that's what cultivators are for.

We weren't even like that. [ That's still close - where those things exist, where in Zanarkand.. ] Imagine somewhere... like Jinnjar, right? But take away the powers- [ ah, powers! He clicks his fingers, a side-thought: ] Powers - let's call what you do your powers, not magic!

[ anyway, anyway! ] --So, none of that! Just a city with machines in it, and that's where I'm from. No stories, no folklore - none of that. We weren't just humans, so you could do whatever you wanted with your bits. And that- that was Zanarkand for me. My home.

[ Essentially, Tidus realises, or really already knew: ] The total opposite of where you come from. Can you even imagine it?

[ It must sound...empty. ]

Only 'cause of Jinnjar.

( If that's going to end up their incidental line, he can roll with that. The train for him is that same microcosm, minus the concept of multiple species; Jinnjar had considered itself all human. He leans against whatever surface is convenient, arms crossed over his chest loosely. )

Usual people, living usual lives, in a place of insanely tall buildings, with all this "technology" and these inventions I've never heard of, let alone seen in action. Sounds kind of fun, really.

( A small shift from his more general resting face of neutrality or irritation; Jingyi in repose has a tendency to look serious in spite of himself. Which might explain something about why he's so often talking. Like now, with the curl of his lips up at one corner. )

Like someplace worth seeing. I can't recommend my home the same ways—most of you would hate it, you'd all stand out far too much, and with everyone's shorn hair, you won't even look filial. Gusu Lan would be polite, we always are, but even our guests live under our precepts in lightened form. Yet there's nowhere as beautiful as our mountains, our waterfalls, the forests, the rivers on one side, the sea on the far side. No impressive machines, no cities that build so high they're in the skies, and... ( he pulls himself out of the nostalgia that's bordering on homesickness from just one month, shaking his head. ) ... And frankly, only shades of black and brown hair, mostly black and brown eyes. Do you have any idea how overwhelming the train is, let alone Jinnjar, with how insanely different people look from each other here? It's like a... a... ( uncrossing his arms to gesture, searching for words. ) Like a field of vibrant wildflowers dancing in the wind on a blinding spring day. Who can look away?

( He sounds mildly annoyed by this. )

[ He could fight Jingyi on his certainty of beauty, but that's a fight without a winner, only an outlook Tidus can sympathise with. A homesickness too, from the different sides.

But it's the last that he says that gets a scoff out of Tidus, a grin that turns playful. ]

You know, I'm starting to think I can guess everyone from the same kind of world as you by the people who talk about the hair. [ Hair, always hair! ]

And every time it comes up, I say you can change your hair too! But you won't either, huh? Don't want to try a blond? This brand's staying in pretty well.

[ He gestures to his hair. ]

( A firm shake of his head. )

No, no, this is the body I was born with, wasn't it? You say that, but it's disrespectful to my parents to cut my hair, let alone change colours, without their permission!

( Which is a moot point. He couldn't ask even if he wanted to, but he looks vaguely... offended? No, yes, he looks offended after that, nose a touch wrinkled. )

Besides, I look good like this. Why alter perfection?

( and then there's a s m i r k; he's not serious, but he also does think he looks perfectly fine. conceptually, changing hair colour is so weird to him he just decides to be amused by it over anything else. )

Though hey, hey, what's your born colour, then?

I mean, if we let your parents know about these colours and got some permission...

[ He frames it as a joke, nothing serious, a slow note aiming for mischievous that lasts only a beat after he trails off, then disappears with an airy chuckle off his lips. ]

But, it's brown! You see? [ He nods his head, keeping it lowered to show his roots ~~and :O face~~ for a moment to the ICP's screen. Time has given him more hair to show the colour more. ]

Got it done a year ago - 'cause I'm not afraid of having some fun!

[ Look, he's got to say that. To defend his honour and changing his hair colour! ]

( Jingyi snorts at the joke, shrugging his shoulders with a carelessness that isn't affected. )

More luck asking my sect leader.

( He's aware of the dead being brought here, but as far as he knows, that hasn't included either of his parents, and he would never bank on that changing. Nor, if he's honest, would he recognise them on sight. It's not a thought to linger over. Though why Xue Yang gets to live again while here is something he won't touch on. So! Rude! Train! )

Hah, so that's fun, huh? When're you getting it done again? 'less you're growing it out for the sun-touched look.

( Reminds him of some fur, the colour gradation right now. Darker at the base and lighter at the tips. )

[ The suggestion had been far from serious anyway, so Tidus doesn't linger on the reasoning, of any implication. Who knows who's around, here or back home, and in the world of the living? A dumb joke before moving onto another.

Which leads to a shrug from a single shoulder. ] Eh, I don't have any plans for now. I like it, but when you're stuck on a train and all you do is go out and fight-

[ He waves a hand. ]

Who cares about your hair? ...well, you care about yours. [ Right? So he figures. Safe to make that exception in his point. ] But no one's got eyes on me these days, so let's see what happens.

( ... Man, he hates knowing things sometimes, because he should not start laughing at that, but he definitely does. )

Isn't you liking it reason enough? Not sure what you mean when you say you don't got eyes on you these days—( literally, was this a thing from back home, is this related to the forever lady love in his heart that Jingyi Definitely Does Not Know About No Sir, is it some completely different social concept Jingyi's missing because he's not Zanarkandian, who knows? )—but I'm sure at least some people care if you like your hair.

So what's the name of the stuff you use?

[ What's that worth laughing about! He just rolls his eyes, an exasperated scoff- nothing actually frustrated, but really! ]

I'm just saying, I was a celebrity back home - I had more attention on me! It makes you more conscious, you know? [ Pah. ] But I'm not that bothered anymore.

[ Ugh. There's a lot of reasons, but none he's going to get into over a public network, or to this guy! ...but mainly the public speakers part. ]

Why? You want some now? What, the brand, or just what people call it?

( It's funny, okay, but he waves a hand in response, still grinning. )

You know, before a week ago I wouldn't know what that even meant. You do you, it's just funny you say you do it for yourself, and now you don't, because now you're just let out to fight. Maybe it'd be a good breather if you did. Stuff you decide for yourself instead of when the train stops and opens its doors to tell us "go forth and do something."

( He knows what celebrity means in his world, within his realms of that world, and that his childhood hero is the man who is... weirdly here three times over, but still. Hanguang-jun didn't act or perform to public eyes. He followed his own sense of justice, he was swift and decisive and amazing and this is Lan Jingyi's essay on why Hanguang-jun is The Best and Most Impressive Cultivator of their Senior Generation, tied with Wei Wuxian, for similar reasons. )

Curious more than anything else, I don't feel like spending the next few months in train-seclusion or in handstands all day.

Messing with my hair's not a good breather for me. [ It's wryly stated, for what the guy is advising, and how, and he waits a beat before reassuring: ] I'm not the kind of guy you need to worry about doing nothing 'til the train lets us out. Just 'cause I'm not worrying about my hair.

[ He could explain what he means, but it's itching into a point of being needlessly fussy that he doesn't want to, would rather just get away from the subject than explain what he means, how he speaks.

Or why he should, when he can't see what knowing about hair dye helps with his reasons given. Regardless: ]

Well, I can't tell you my brand - I didn't do it myself. Just ask for hair dyes and you'll get something. Big universe, or- void, I guess.

( Briefly, he wonders if that would work on a rabbit—but wow, not, practical joke aside, he wouldn't do that to poor Hanguang-jun's bunnies... or at least Little Radish.

Wavign a hand at the screen again, he's relaxed whatever furrow might have been on his brow away again. )

Sure, sure, at least you're taking care of yourself.

( That's totally what that means, right? Good. On it! )

Guess that would work for "large item" too. "Hey Voidtrecker Express, one large item. Surprise me!"

...I am not spending that many points on a surprise. [ Uggghh. ] That's like half the books I try to order. And the clocks.

[ The clocks. A part of his soul just left his body even speaking the word. ]

... What happened with the clocks?

[ Just give him a moment to make a face - not at Jingyi, but at the very memory of what happened. Twice. Twice. Eyes are trying to roll into the back of his head.

Sigh. Okay. Okay! ] The first one told the time in colours, and it's not the same every day. And the second one I got split the time between...subjects.

[ He points in directions, not really caring for distance. Voice as flat as British pancakes. ] Study, sports, food, fun. [ He's going to inwardly groan himself out of existence, even as he admits: ] To be honest, that one wouldn't be so bad to set up around the place...

[ A part of him has still been drained by his fight with the train over clocks. He hates clocks. He doesn't want to even look at a clock again anyway. ]

( He's sorry, but not really sorry, because that has him chuckling at the idea. Look, clocks aren't a thing for him except in very specific ways: sundials, moondials, incense to count time, and twelve "hour" segments for a day. )

The other one sounds useful for painters, maybe, like a 'colour inspiration' thing. Could put it up in the uh... former 'science' lab in the Quiet Car, where the one young miss was asking to move art stuff into.

( And yeah, he thinks there's a theoretical use for the other one like Tidus says, but this is just amusing to someone who works on schedules and falls asleep each night at the same time, to wake up exactly when the train stops enforcing 'sleep' every day. Even on train, so far, that's been incredibly consistent. )

So exactly what are you expecting when you were ordering a clock anyway?

[ He sighs, shrugging, even the sound suggesting it. A replacement for a 'I GUESS' that- ] I guess! [ ...he does say. But also, isn't really thinking too hard about.

His mind is still in exasperated mode. Over clocks. His life is hard, Jingyi. ]

I just want-- well, something like the two of the clocks together! [ He brings his hands 'in', as if smushing two invisible clocks! ] Something that runs off numbers, or - colours, even! So we can give times when we do stuff. Any kind of stuff! Have sports club at red o'clock, have a meeting in the gym at purple o'clock in two days!

That kind of thing!

... What about incense?

( Look, ancient timekeeping. )

The real big coils of it burn over so many hours, so you'd be able to mark the progress by checking where it's burned to. Not high tech or anything, but it works, and between me and, uh, the rest of the Lans, you'd have someone up first thing to light it every day-start.

merriment 16 ; video (before platform stop)

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