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WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: The forest!
WHEN: Backdated to the 20^th–21^st
WHAT: Some knights lead an expedition into the forest to find a chicken
WARNINGS: Probably nothing…for now

[ Upon the 20^th, a new message pops up on the network feed, from a certain #6363F9. ]

This is Archer. Due to the efforts of Sir Berkut and I, we have uncovered yet another clue as to the history of this realm.

Many of you might remember the sorry tale spoken of by #FFFFFF himself. We learned a great deal about that young man of Blue and the path he had taken into the forest. A few days ago, the locations of certain landmarks have been made known to us. We propose to conduct an expedition into the forest in search of the hen of legend, that we may yet find some way of learning this world’s history and perhaps prevent the forest from encroaching into town.

Needless to say, the journey will be difficult. We have need of fighters as well as healers, cooks, navigators, and others of the sort. If you wish to join, you will find us assembled at the edge of the forest north of Flavo at dawn. You may address your queries to me. Thank you.

[ And sure enough, there will be a small party already gathered at the appointed place at the dawn of the 21^st. Tristan will be happy to welcome you into the group since Berkut’s going to be a sourpuss about this no matter what. :’( ]

Preparations
[ This is where everyone’s getting briefed before heading out into the forest. You’ll be given the necessary infodump as well as a few instructions.

Using the remainder of his ink, Berkut has drafted a serviceable map noting the various landmarks and overall direction, which others are free to peruse and from which they can take notes of their own. Pry the map from his cold, dead hands though (unless you're Tristan). In addition, you will be instructed to gather supplies here before heading out. Characters should bring their own food and the like, or be prepared to forage/hunt in the forest. Expecting freebies from others is poor form!

Once the preliminaries are done, you’re free to spend the remainder of this time however you wish. Offer to team up with someone, question the party leaders, find a meat shield to hide behind, draw up your own maps, or simply give the intrepid adventurers a hearty sendoff! ]

The Forest
[ The adventure begins! Though it won’t be too strictly enforced (at least where Tristan is concerned), you will be instructed to please walk in something that even halfway resembles a formation. Healers and support to the center; those with combat experience to the vanguard, rear, and flank; the works. Or don't. Berkut will only judge and not be responsible if Keigo loses his head (thus spoke Tristan, "How sad"). Maimed limbs and lost teeth are not covered by the field trip's healing insurance.

Unfortunately, the forest seen in their visions is different from the present-day location, so finding the right path won’t be easy! You might want to break up into teams to search out specific landmarks and other useful stuff as you make the trek, or help set up camp when the group takes a rest stop, or fight off whatever forest creatures happen to stumble your way! Or maybe try to liven up the trip with a little game of Eye-Spy or even outright sneak off on your own adventures! No one’s going to judge—okay, Berkut might judge a little.

Whatever the case, it’s going to take a long time and a lot of trial and error to find the clues the forest has hidden away. ]

The Destination
[ The strength of your bonds will eventually prevail, however, as you finally locate a large stone covered in strange mossy patterns. You will be informed that the site of the hen must be very near. You’ll have to suffer through a thorny, overgrown path like in the story, but hey, nothing like a trial to strengthen your bonds, right?

Of course, once you reach the fabled site of the chicken, you’ll find…nothing! Wow, that was a waste of time. Feel free to search around just in case though, or set up camp and rest for the night. It’ll be a long and grueling journey back to town. ]

OOC: As part of the ongoing event, Berkut and Tristan have combined their inks to recreate a vision based on #FFFFFF’s forum post. Further details here and here!

TL;DR version:

There is a way to find the location of the chicken from the story, but it definitely won't be easy.
Strong bonds with people of a lot of colors will make the search easier.
The journey itself will probably last only a day or two, but that’s not set in stone, so feel free to fudge timelines if you want.
The chicken won’t actually be there, though, since the conditions aren’t right for its reappearance. However, those who enter the chicken area will, according to the mods, “have a very strong sense that there WILL be something there at some point… just not yet.”
Basically, consider this an open mingle that’s available to everyone whether or not they have CR with Tristan or Berkut. Have fun, get lost, take pictures—you do you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ WangJi blinks slowly. Pyra... seems slightly less the outgoing, confident person whom he met on his first day in Chorma, for some reason.

As to her words, he shakes his head slightly. ]

There are many strong fighters at the front. It would be unwise to focus all the strength there.

Ah, and I'm not strong, so... Perhaps I should go to the middle?

[ Or maybe she should just leave. Like, seriously. ]

But you-- you're really strong, aren't you? [ Her smile remains the same. ] All cultivators I've met here are quite strong and capable. You're more than enough, any place within this group.

[ Lan WangJi doesn't give the impression of a sensitive person. He doesn't react with gentleness much, he's more often harsh and cold than anything else, silent and remote and proud.

But that impression, a very, very small number of people know, is pretty far from the truth. He was a quiet child, but it was even in the beginning because he felt too much and could hardly find a way to express hardly any of it. Then he became old enough to realize that he and his brother had to be examples to everyone, as the sons of the Sect Leader... that they had to try to be righteous even harder, as the sons of the criminal that was their mother. So he applied himself, and tried to be exactly as expected, and swallowed down even more of what he felt. (Missing their father, in his long, long seclusion; wishing for the smile of their mother, even knowing she did wrong. Waiting, over and over again, at her door for it to open, even after understanding that it never would.) He was undersocialied and, for the most part, that was not too bad, because it was easier alone.

But 'for the most part' is not the same as 'always.' There were times when he would look at other children, being - not loud, not at the Cloud Recesses, but so alive when close to each other. And he wanted to be part of it, but the moment he stepped closer, the smiles turned into schooled expression, the laughter died, the words vanished into awkward silence.

He knows what it is to feel unwanted.

He can feel it now... and, more vividly, he can recognize it in Pyra's self-deprecation. He frowns, minutely, his voice a little quieter. He's not, on the whole, a gentle-acting person. But he tries. ]

Maiden Pyra...

I do not know what happened. But you have a place within this group. Any place you wish to take.

[ She's not sure what clued him in, especially considering they haven't really interacted all that much. But, she supposes, he's far more perceptive than she anticipated.

He couldn't be further from the mark, though, with saying that she has a place here among them, when she never originally had one to begin with-- not as she was created to be. And she certainly does not have a place like how Lan Wangji might have a place. ]

[ She smiles regardless. ]

Lan Wangji... [ She glances at him, a small laugh escaping her. ] That's very sweet of you to say, but what brought this on? [ She appears to become a little worried, then, her brow raising. ] I'm staring to wonder-- [ As they walk, she takes a step closer to him, patiently observant. ] Are you alright?

[ They have interacted more than enough. Not everyone can lay claim to having brought Lan WangJi to tears, after all - he is unlikely to forget anything in which they interact.

All the more reason for him to notice the difference in behavior now. And to continue noticing it, especially with the deflection.

His answer is calm but also earnest, as most all the time. ]

Better than when I arrived.

[ Objectively true. He is not expending a good three quarters of his energy just to move around, for one thing. And... Wei Ying is alive. Not quite 'all right,' not right now - even if they have not spoken much recently, WangJi can see that - but alive and not in the worst state that he has seen him. He is definitely much, much better than the day they first met.

But can he claim that he is 'alright'? No, not while retaining honesty.

Once upon a time, he would have stepped away as she approached him. He still sorely wants to, but he has learned how not to move away at mere proximity. And however searching her gaze, she will hardly be able to find anything but calm and genuine, if very deeply buried, concern. ]

It seemed... Seems. Necessary.

[ The pale, glass-like eyes turn to her, as well. Sharp, even though he is not trying to pry, not truly. Only to help.

He's learned that people need help even when they do not think they do. Sometimes especially when they insist that they do not. ]

[ Indeed, all she sees is a good person that wishes to help others in his eyes. Truly flawless, dignified, if a little quiet; truly, a man who deserves happiness and peace.

But she also knows from Wei Wuxian now, that Lan Wangji is in love with him. That, in addition to him saying better than when I arrived, seems to link something further in her mind-- of course, he would feel better here. From what she knows, Wei Wuxian had thought Lan Wagnji had wanted to kill him, and then he died, but that "little" misunderstanding has clearly cleared up. She had said to Wei Wuxian that she was very glad for them to be getting along, and that they could enjoy themselves together in this world. They're away from the conflicts of their own, they can have peace. Wei Wuxian is alive, Lan Wangji is here, they can make up for lost time, that's all that matters. ]

Better? I'm glad. [ When she thinks back to their first meeting... he had truly seem so sad, but she wouldn't have been the one to help him. In retrospect, she may had made him feel terrible, what with bringing up the prank-engagement. She's truly sorry for that; just another mistake to the many she's made. ] There are many reasons to be happy here. So many, that it would capsize a ship, I'm sure!

[ He certainly tries to be good. He has understood, before, less what it means; but he's learning.

He can tell that he's not making anything better, now, even if he doesn't understand why, or how to fix it. His eyes flit down, then return to scanning the woods around them. Whether or not Pyra needs protection - and he suspects she might not, not quite so much - there are some who do. ]

Even with all the reasons, one can still be left outside, looking in. Left behind, when those reasons make others happy.

[ Doesn't she know it, lived it, for years and years and years, of looking from the outside in, watching the world as it grew. Only, she hadn't been herself or Mythra then. She hadn't experienced any sort of emotions then.

....No. That's not true. Maybe, maybe... she had felt some sort of emptiness, loneliness, but she can never be too sure if that's just her with human emotions now coloring her long-forgotten memories of the past. In many ways, it had been easier back then, merely to be an observer.

But that he brings something like this up-- she can only worry for him. ] Saying something like that, Lan Wangji... are you... [ She hesitates. ] Are you alright?

[ WangJi's eyes glance to her, then down to the ground, then his chin steadies, eyes alert about them once again. ]

Mn...

[ Neither confirming nor denying. He is better. But he's not sure he's ever been 'alright' in a way that most people will accept, so not lying, either.

On the other hand, this time it sounds much, much more like Pyra that he knows, even if the words are the same. ]

No danger to anyone who has not called for it, including myself.

[ That's... close to alright, right? ]

No, I mean--.... [ She brings a hand up to her chest, over where her heart would be. ] Here.

[ A pause, and she further clarifies. ] Because mentioning something like-- one can still be left outside, looking in... [ She looks up at him, brow knit, eyes earnest. ] That's the kind of thing someone would know to say...only if they experienced it for themselves.

[ He breathes out softly. He wishes to answer, somewhat, because she's reaching out, and it matters to him, but there is absolutely no way for him to find the words to express his reply. His heart is aching, missing his family, yes, the people he hurt for Wei Ying's sake, the people who hurt him, in punishment for it. The people he has loved, in his quiet, cold-seeming way all of his life. No way to express how full his heart is to see Wei Ying alive, his eyes full of light and even trickles of hope sometimes, excitement definitely. How his heart twists to see Wei Ying upset or hurt. How it aches because his love will never be returned, but the poison of being completely unwanted has been leeched out...

He doesn't have the ability to properly express any of it.

So he just inclines his head, reaching to touch his own chest with a quiet, ] complicated.

Know it. Even resigned to it, it can still be difficult. More difficult when something is truly wanted.

[ She may not know everything about the man's life, but she certainly knows his current troubles from.... Wei Wuxian himself, which only goes to show how close the two really are. How could she come between that-- no, she was never between them at all, she was never there. And now, she's completely gone.

He hardly expresses any emotion at all, but that small gesture that mirrors her own, the hand that goes to his heart, betrays that his emotions are so much deeper than they seem. ] Lan Wangji, whatever it is that you wish for, it may be difficult now... but from what I know of you, you're resilient and strong, resourceful and mindful.

So don't give up hope-- and, a part of me thinks that you never have. [ She gives him a gentle, encouraging smile. How terrible would it be, to see this man sadder than he is, or for someone or something to step all over that hope that might remain, painful as it is to keep it anyway. ] It's important to keep fighting for that happiness.

You'll have it one day, I'm sure.

[ WangJi walks in silence for a little while, then says, quietly, ] not if that happiness is at the cost of the unhappiness of the person who matters the most.

I would rather see him happy and remain his friend, stay by his side and protect him, than see him try to twist who he is to fulfill my... hopes.

[ Ah, him. There it is. ]

Oh-- of course. Never at the cost of another's happiness. [ She agrees, her hand lowering from her chest. ] Never. [ Feelings returned out of guilt or pity, of some way of feeling responsible... that's would only hurt. ] But it's... nice to have those feelings, isn't it? [ Wei Wuxian had said to her that he had ruined Lan Wangji's life, but she can't believe that, not when this man clearly loves him so dearly. It was a love that did't fade even after the other had perished. ]

Those feelings stay close to you. It... it gives you strength, doesn't it? To go on. [ They're also terribly painful, but she doesn't want him to feel that pain. ] Stay close to this man... I'm sure, he's happy to have you near him. I'm sure that you make him happy, in ways that no one else could.

[ Again... he walks a little while in silence. Happy... does he make him happy?

WangJi is not sure at all. But he can't speak of Wei Ying, not truly. The part before, it is based on something he's been told since they were seventeen - that Wei Ying does not like men. The rest...

He hopes, he does hope, that he can make him happy. He strongly doubts he does, or could, however. ]

Tried to excise them for years. Before I trusted him, tried very hard.

Those feelings are what they are. I will do my best to make them not a burden to him. It is all that I can do.

[ She brings a hand to her lips, withholding a small gasp as he admits that he had tried to excise such feelings. But now it seems that he embraces them for what they are. ] Sometimes, try as you might... you can't ever not feel something, when it's already there. It's impossible, when... you love someone so much.

[ She doesn't want him to feel that way. Lan Wangji is still young, he's human, and while their lives are fleeting, he still has so much time left-- time that he can actually be content, be with another person. She, as someone immortal, should only support him. ]

And you.. love him very much. [ It's a love pure and sorrowful, love that comes from a place of having known the man for years and mourned him, love that wouldn't dare hurt him, and would do whatever he could to ensure that he is happy. How wonderful that love is. ] Hold onto those feelings, Lan Wangji, if they make you happy to have them. Talk to him, laugh with him, care for him...loving him, even from afar-- I'm sure, you're making him happy already. I'm sure his heart wants you to be happy, too, and not hurt you.

I'm sure... that he cares a great deal about you already, far more than anyone else.

[ Those feelings making him happy? No, they don't. They really don't. Wei Ying makes him happy. His smile, his follies, his teasing even. His happiness. But the feelings themselves...

They hurt, he wants to tell her. But that would be like asking for her pity and he has already said too much. He just bows his head, swallowing hard, though silent. ]

Mnn.

He cares a lot for everyone. Mine... [ Just a burden. ] I will be a better friend.

[ He's said this so many times since arriving to Chroma. He means it, too. And he knows that it's the right thing.

But his heart is still hurting, and he knows it will, always. ]

[ The way he says friend.... breaks her heart. It’s like she’s watching not him anymore, but an empty silhouette. ]

Lan Wangji... [ She frowns. ]

That— [ A hesitant pause. She feels disingenuous; she knows from Wei Wuxian that he’s in love with him, and the former feels guilty and conflicted because... —Ah. That’s it. He feels because he knows the other’s feelings. And what has she gone and done, confessing to him as well, because she felt she had to simply say it to get it off of her chest, to say it because she knew that if he vanished, she would have regretted not doing so. But now she regrets confessing at all. ]

...I’m sorry. I said the wrong thing— it... must be painful as well. Or... bittersweet, to have feeling of love, but believe that they’re not returned.

[ Her eyes cast down as they walk for a moment. How can she— ] I wish.... I could help you, somehow. I wish you could find that happiness for yourself. You are worth more than feeling any sort of pain.

[ Worth more? Why? He is unsure why she is saying what she does, mostly because he is not sure he understands.

The thing is, he can't remember a time when he was not in some kind of pain, not really. The world was always too much toomuchtoomuch, barely all right within the Cloud Recesses, far too overwhelming outside it. But the GusuLan Sect's entire path of cultivation, entire way of life, is control of the self, discipline, complying with rules and restraining the self, and he's found ways to manage that pain.

Until Wei Ying. For brief snatches of time, with him, the pain nearly disappeared, even while his mind couldn't help pointing out all the shameless, pathetic ways in he acted...

And then that brought him more pain. So, so much more pain, intense in ways he had not imagined. ]

Thank you.

You deserve... no pain, as well. You wish to help others, always. That is good.

[ And he...

He was, she knows, in Wei Ying's heart only to hurt, after all. What good does he deserve? ]

You help. Some things cannot be resolved. But that you want to. It helps.

[ She has to help him, she decides. But given how much she’s genuinely fucked up already... she doesn’t know how. It’s like she’s always a step behind the two of them regardless of what she does. Perhaps helping would be bowing out of the picture entirely— or maybe she already had already been left behind, and she hadn’t noticed until now. Wei Wuxian’s final I’m sorry rings through her head, the figure of him disappearing into the shadows. She only ever sees him leaving; while she had retreated into her mind for their last conversation, he’s only been the one leaving for a very long time. It’s telling, she can’t believe she didn’t see it as a sign before.

This man, on the other hand... is someone that Wei Wuxian goes towards.

It’s nice for someone to tell her that her intentions are good, but intentions only go so far. She feels as if, somehow, she’s actively hurting the man. ]

We’re talking about you, Lan Wangji, you! [ She waves a hand dismissively, smiling. ]

How long have you had feelings for this person, if I may ask?

[ Oh, if she said that, WangJi would tell her that Wei Ying has danced away from him plenty of times, as many times as he has approached. He's made WangJi chase him away, too, though that was only once, when they were fifteen.

And he had told him to get lost, when he couldn't leave on his own.

The words she says, though. They make him blink slightly, and look a little more... vulnerable. He does not talk willingly about himself under the best of circumstances. When it comes to him and Wei Ying...

He wants to. But it's doubly difficult. He half wants that only Wei Ying will know, truly know - and half wants the whole world to know, because Wei Ying is the best person, and they should be reminded of that, over and over again.

In the end, his shyness wins. ]

How long... does it matter?

[ There’s something different about his expression now... ]

Ever since you were younger? Or was it when you were older? [ Because... she wants to know and she’s sad for him :C ]

We are on a journey into a forest, following a path to a magical, romantic hen. Maybe your love will cause it to appear to us.

[ WangJi doesn't stumble, but it's almost a close thing. Is that... possible? Can he make a difference? He knows that the trip this far has been very ... peaceful, too much so, so it is likely that their goal will be empty, but.

Is it possible that who they are and what they feel might change that?

The pale eyes light up slightly. Though his practical mind can't help pointing out, ] the use of the hen was for a romantic purpose. We do not know if it is romantic.

I tried to make the feelings go away for most of the time we have known each other.

[ That's as close to an answer as he can manage? ]

[ She turns her head, inclining it slightly. Her voice is soft... ] And, that didn’t work, did it? Trying to not feel.

I’m guessing they only grew.

[ Like scratching at a rash— it might only make things worse. ]

And now you’ve embraced them, even if they can be both wonderful and painful.

[ ...... ]

You’re strong. Very strong, for keeping your feelings.

And, maybe, it’s because of those feelings that this journey has been safer than most treks through the forest. [ Has anyone even been attacked.... Well, it’s been safer than her own recent trip into the forest, what with encountering a guardian and someone nearly dying. ]

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