[Voice; Nebula 19th, evening]

[salutosinedelectat]

Good evening, fellow passengers,

I hope this message finds you well.

Foremost, you must forgive me in any mistakes I may make in sending this address to you all, as I'm certainly not used to sharing my thoughts in such a way. I'm most definitely more of a fan of the classic handwritten letter.

I was going over the upstairs library collection, so generously donated by other passengers - and you're welcome add to it yourself), when I found myself wondering about the extensive possibilities of literary works to be found in the countless worlds we not only come from, but the ones we visit.

Since there's scarcely a chance to explore such things in the worlds we stop at, wrought with conflict as they tend to be, I figured the easier option would be to simply ask:

What are your favorite literary works from your world? What are they about? Which are considered timeless classics?

I eagerly await your response.

Your curious fellow passenger,
Aziraphale


Oh, also, if anyone's interested in submitting anything to the library, I have provided clean notebooks and writing material in the far right nook in the upper floor of the library. I'm also available to provide custom book binding services.

--

[Edit: Edited into a voice post, forgot there aren't text post options.]

Comments

[achickenformylove]

[It's okay. Basically they can't fight at home]

Yes, the rules are good ones to live by. The rules are difficult for some, but our world would be better if more people followed them.

[salutosinedelectat]

[ Aziraphale nods, not noticing the irony of the last part in relation to his own life. ]

Are the texts something you share? They sound quite special.

[achickenformylove]

They are. Gusu Lan disciples study the rules and most are able to write it from memory by the time they are no longer juniors. I have written them in full several times since arriving on the train.

[salutosinedelectat]

Ah, I see. Seems like a safe way to keep them alive, timeless as they are.

[achickenformylove]

It is. As long as one person is alive to remember them, then they can be passed on.

[salutosinedelectat]

[ Aziraphale nods, even though they're speaking on what's basically a phone connection. ]

That's always rang true. Hopefully there's a copy somewhere safe?

[achickenformylove]

There are. The library in the Cloud Recesses has multiple copies. It was also carved into the cliff at the entrance to the Cloud Recesses.

[Nothing like a giant list of rules before you come visit...]

[salutosinedelectat]

[ Aziraphale knows far too well about "rules". It wouldn't put him off, but perhaps he's a rare case. ]

Ah, very good. Sounds exquisitely safe.

[achickenformylove]

[Ah, good. That made it so much easier if he understood about rules and how important they were. He was certainly a rare case. Most juniors not already in the Gusu Lan sect were typically put off by the rules, especially if they had to stay there for any length of time]

They are. When our sect was attacked and our buildings burned, the essence of our sect remained in place.

[salutosinedelectat]

[ Well, good thing Aziraphale is the farthest thing from a junior. ]

Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that happened. I'm glad something was kept safe.

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi would not even categorize him as a junior despite the fact that he had likely never studied their brand of cultivation. He likely understood more than some of them did even so]

Thank you. We were able to rebuild so our sect is as good as it was before.

[salutosinedelectat]

[ WangJi would most likely be correct in his assumption. ]

Oh, good, good.

If you don't mind me asking, who exactly was your sect attacked by? A different one?

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi nodded his head] It was. The sect of the former chief cultivator attacked Gusu Lan in order to make a statement. My brother fled with some of our books that could not be replaced if they were destroyed. The heir apparent broke my leg when I did not willingly step aside so they could burn the library.

[salutosinedelectat]

Oh, that's unpleasant.

[ An understatement, but Aziraphale has been privy to things like this time and time again. Humans have a tendency to fight each other for very little reason. ]

I'm glad you managed to rebuild.

[achickenformylove]

Yes, it was. It was perhaps not unexpected, unfortunately. Though many were shocked they had gone after us, it was likely something sect leaders had been considering would happen.

[Yes, it was very little reason. The main was that Qishan Wen had wanted more power]

We had assistance from Lanling Jin. We were more fortunate than another sect even so.

[Gusu Lan disciples for the most part had lived to fight another day. Yunmeng Jiang had not been so lucky]

[salutosinedelectat]

[ On his side of the call, Aziraphale is nodding along with interest. ]

Not an uncommon story, I'm afraid. But good thing you had help.

[achickenformylove]

Unfortunately, you are correct. Many die because of the whims of others. And ones that have taken offense with someone else will take it out on others who were innocent so it never truly ends.

[salutosinedelectat]

[ The same as it ever was, as it's ever been. He knows that story well - repetition makes it hard to forget. ]

Indeed. But one can hope to take the steps to try and lessen it over time.

[achickenformylove]

[ It was a story as old as time and would likely keep repeating until the end of time as well ]

I believe that it has in our world. We are again starting to work together more.

[salutosinedelectat]

[ He believes so. ]

That's wonderful. I hope such efforts continue.

[achickenformylove]

I hope so as well. Things should improve much more now that we have found the one who had killed many others without us realizing who it was.

[salutosinedelectat]

Oh? [ The angel asks with intrigue. Seems like a coup was afoot. ]

[achickenformylove]

An illegitimate son of one sect leader came to power and seemed to be a benevolent man. Wei Ying and I eventually discovered that he was actually very dangerous. He either killed directly or was partially responsible for the deaths of the sect’s heir apparent, his own father, his sworn brother, Wei Ying in his first life, and his own wife and child and would have arranged for the deaths of many sect juniors as well as sect leaders if we had not found the juniors first and freed them. He also betrayed my brother, his other sworn brother.

[salutosinedelectat]

[ Aziraphale listens quietly and with interest, attention peaked again. The twists and turns are not something he hasn't heard before, being around humanity since its creation, but there's a reason that fiction tends to copy reality. ]

Oh, how awful. And what was his reason to do such things?

[achickenformylove]

I believe his reasoning was that he did not want to be looked down upon. His early life was admittedly much more difficult than mine, but it was taken far to the extreme how he handled it. Many were simply unlucky enough to be an obstacle rather than any true hatred on his part.