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awashlogs2019-06-23 02:31 pm
[ Open ] FIELD TRIP FIELD TRIP FIELD TRIP
WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: The forest!
WHEN: Backdated to the 20th–21st
WHAT: Some knights lead an expedition into the forest to find a chicken
WARNINGS: Probably nothing…for now
[ Upon the 20th, 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 21st. 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!
no subject
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?
no subject
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.
no subject
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? ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
[ He takes a deep breath. ]
What good is being strong if that strength does not support others?
Even if it is not this way today. I will need to find a way.
no subject
But whatever else passes through her mind doesn’t hold her from speaking up again, smiling. ]
You’ll find that helpful sort of strength, I’m sure. If anyone can do it... you can. [ No, it can only be him.
.... ] Or, actually— [ She laughs softly, lightly waving a hand. ] I’m sure it’s something you’ve only been doing. [ Helpful, supporting, caring, the unconditional sort of affection he gives... and the absence of harm. Pyra can certainly feel the first three, but the last one? Not at all. ] Don’t be humble, now.
no subject
Maiden Pyra...
Why do you think so?
[ He has been trying.
But he can't forget Wei Ying nearly stumbling on his way home after Pyra's birthday party, because of what WangJi had told him. He can't forget the helpless look he gave him in the library, or maybe it was outside it, when he said, I don't know how to talk to you.
He knows he has done harm, even here. He knows he has done more, before.
He knows Pyra knows how Wei Ying carries him in his heart.
So... why does she think this? ]
no subject
"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." ....You are kind.
"I will do my best to make them not a burden to him. It is all that I can do." You are selfless.
"I will be a better friend" and... "I learned more about him and had more reasons to stop resisting. More reasons to trust. Trust his judgment. Trust him." [ She repeated all of these, verbatim, back to him as if they've already been ingrained into her memory. ] You grow, you change.
[ She stops walking now, turning to look at him, and despite the sorrow within them, as always, there is a hint of amusement. Does this man really think so little of himself? Or think so little of how he feels? It's hard to believe, but she supposes it's true. ] Your feelings are... unconditional, accepting of this person for all of their faults, even if you believe they do not return your feelings, you still love them.
These are the words of someone who will never move on from this love, and accept it in all of its suffering and joy. They are your feelings to have, every day, and they give you strength. They make you... good.
[ It's impossible not to think of Jin in this moment, how much he had loved, and then because he had lost that love, he had turned against the entire world. His love and obsession had turned him twisted and terrible, apparently. How ironic, that Mythra had used Jin's compassion and love from which to base Pyra. Love like Lan Wangji's is something to admire. Love like Jin's is... something she wishes she didn't have to fear could be a part of herself.
Her eyes shine with that same admiration for him, sorrow, and appreciation. She slowly lifts up a hand, if she can, she will place her fingertips gently upon his cheek, warm. ] It's... precious. Worthy of protection, all on its own.
[ Her hands withdraws.
She continues walking forward. ] And that is why I think so.
no subject
Instead, he just keeps walking, his steps just a touch harder.
Then she stops, and he does, too, looking at her. He sees her hand rising, and he considers leaning back, but in the end, doesn't. Because even despite his own inner tension, resistance, she has touched something in him. And he lets that warmth linger on his skin. ]
Thank you. For your trust.
[ He resumes walking as well, and, after a little bit, he adds quietly, ] Maiden Pyra. This is something I have learned. Only those who have pure intentions will see pure intentions.
You are good, too.
no subject
Because they still do hurt others, even with good intentions it seems, and it never seems to be enough. ]
Hehe~ I'm only pointing out the truth. Those are your words. [ She giggles softly. ] Aaah, but I feel like I've learned a little bit more of you today. Who knew your stoic expression carried such wonderful, deep emotions behind it!
no subject
Pyra... it did not even occur to her, he doesn't think.
And he is grateful. He is grateful that Wei Ying has such a friend, that one of the people who have seen within his heart is her.
... though, at the moment, he's almost as flustered as grateful. ]
... am not good with words.
[ It's a fact. An aspect of which is that he doesn't try to conceal himself, but... expressing himself is practically a lost cause by now. ]
Do you... like better to know others, or for others to know you?
no subject
[ She's spent so long being away from them all, first as-- just as a crystal, distant, and only an observer. And second when she was sealed and sunk below the cloud-sea for five hundred years. And when she thinks of all the those lives cut short before reaching their full potential, she only feels immense sadness for them. When she thinks of the child that had traveled along with them on their journey all those years ago, of how she had been the one responsible for his death...
There is only guilt and regret. Even if she would have been sealed in due course, she would have liked to imagine he would have grown up. Would he have been a warrior? A scholar? Maybe a painter? An engineer? She'll never know.
No one will, because she robbed his future from him. ]
And yourself? Knowing others, or being known? [ Lan Wangji is still young, she thinks. There's still so much more he can become too, if he doesn't feel set in the path of a cultivator. He could do many great things, she thinks. Human potential is quite boundless. ]
no subject
[ He considers his own question given back to him. And his answer is not that simple, not exactly. ]
Before... I would have said neither. Now, I do want to know about others. But also, with a few people who are important. Want to be known, too.
[ His eyes flit up to her, then return to the woods around them. ]
Balance ... helps.
no subject
[ ...But this is enough for today. She is excessively pleased that she managed to deflect from the original focus to her at the beginning, back to him for the conversation... but it’s really wearing her down. She can’t keep this up much longer, hiding her sorrow, knowing what she did wrong. What she can do to make up for it. How she can stop feeling, but the regrets are always there, of being weak, of hurting others... of ever having the courage to tell another of her feelings. What a mistake, a disaster; she shouldn’t have said anything at all, she shouldn’t have grown so close to begin with.
Now even if she so much as waves a him, all he does is walk away from her; that’s a solid enough sign as any. He won’t be speaking with her, he’ll always be leaving. He’ll wish to talk to Lan Wangji instead, to find comfort with him.
Which means it’s time to go, since that will make them both happy. And that’s all she wants. ]
Mm, well.
[ And she gives him a small nod, a smile. ]
It was nice speaking to you.
[ With that, she excuses herself to walk ahead towards the middle of the group. ]
no subject
[ He doesn't wait for her to get far before calling out, merely enough to realize her intention. ]
Stay safe. You are important.
[ He doesn't add 'to Wei Ying,' because that will no longer stay a conversation between the two of them. But he hopes she understands. ]