Event Twenty-Five.

[awashmods]

I'd like to creep into the wood And see the bonnets blue, And hear the bluebells ringing loud, I wish I could -- don't you?

t's another day, another month, and another time for people to show up in the well. You'd better go rescue them! Never mind the fact that you woke up with a flower in your hands. It's probably fine. Don't mind it at all. It's not like it's hard to ignore a little flower. (At least, not until the effects start to kick in. Better go rescue the people in the well before they do.) Oh, right. Even the people in the well have flowers, so... things are going to be a little ridiculous very quickly, when all of those side effects kick in. Have fun! Welcome to Awash's Twenty-fifth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event! If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Comments

[shizun]

[ Thank fuck!

Shen Qingqiu is grateful that the person seems to believe him, since the explanation sounds so goddamn farfetched that he wouldn't be upset if he was called a fucking liar. Even if a person sees the black-and-white state of the world, that doesn't mean that what Shen Qingqiu says to fix it is gospel!! But it is!! In this case!! Either way, he's very grateful that is carefully controlled, elegant face hid how he worried about if he'd be believed or not. ]

That's right. It is only through the connections with others that color will be restored. [ A beat. ] And, thankfully, everyone here is truly kind and good-natured.

[meridio]

[ People can be kind and good-natured. They can also be selfish and wicked. Thus is the duality of man.

As for the supposed solution, who is he to say that Shen Qingqiu is wrong? Somnus has only just arrived. If he must, he'll argue later. ]

How fortunate. Then this place should be restored in no time.

[shizun]

Mmn.

[ He nods once. ]

That is what this one thinks, as well. [ Ah, right, right. I'm just spewing a lot of shit at him like an info-dumping NPC. I should at least introduce myself or else I'll just be known as "Old Man Info" by this person. Shen Qingqiu really wonders how it is that he went from mid-BOSS to NPC lately, but he'll take it! He'll take it! It's better than the former since it means that he's essential and can't die, right?! ]

This is a late introduction, but I am [ For a second, he wonders how he should introduce himself. He's been doing it somewhat flippantly, not giving his full title and everything. It's because he doesn't want to end up roasted and toasted for putting on too many airs. But there are other cultivators here and if he continues to act poorly, it'll reflect poorly on them. ] Shen Qingqiu of the Xiu Ya from Cang Qiong Mountain sect's Qing Jing Peak.

[ He suddenly gets goosebumps because that is how Luo Binghe called for him on the network. Tears well up in his heart, but they don't well up in his eyes and that's what fucking matters. ]

[meridio]

[ Tears, alas, would have had no effect on Somnus, who wasn't expecting such a lengthy introduction consisting of words he has never heard of before. It demands that he respond in kind, though he doesn't care to do more than to give out the bare minimum. ]

I am Somnus Lucis Caelum of the Kingdom of Lucis.

[ Still, a sect implies the presence of a religious body. ]

What gods does your mountain serve?

[shizun]

The Kingdom of Lucis.

[ Ah. Could he be someone really important, then? So, is it really a cultural thing? Because Ardyn dresses like he's a hobo that ran face-first into JRPG while this one looks a little more like ancient Rome meets JRPG. ]

Gods?

[ ????????????????? ]

As far as I am aware, our mountain serves no gods.

[meridio]

[ Yes, that kingdom. Somnus doesn't comment, because there's nothing more to add, though his eyes lower in thought. No gods? ]

Then whom?

[shizun]

[ Well, at least the question is kind of easy. ]

The people.

[ Which sounds noble, but that's how his sect is because Yue Qingyuan is that kind of person! ]

Our sect is where we attempt to increase our own abilities, and do what we can to solve issues that cannot be solved by the people themselves. We serve the people and attempt to live in balance.

[meridio]

[ Balance can mean anything. Exactly what does the sect hope to achieve? But Somnus takes a different angle of approach. ]

And do you continue to serve, even when these people are not yours?

[shizun]

[ Not mine? Well. Uh...! ]

Yes. The common people cannot protect themselves from all things. I see no reason why I should forsake them simply because they may not be "mine."

[ What does that have to do with anything? There's no reason to let the mob characters die if there's no reason for it! Come on!! ]

[meridio]

[ If nothing else, Shen Qingqiu knows how to talk. ]

I will remember those words.

[ And see if they still hold when they meet again in the future. As of now, Somnus has seen too little to compare words and deeds. ]

The Xiu Ya . . . Is it a title afforded to you?

[shizun]

[ It is his one and only positive trait. ]

Mmn.

[ Somnus will remember that. He looks away as he attempts to not laugh at his own joke. ]

Yes. It is one that has been given to me. [ Shen Qingqiu gives a single, elegant nod. ] I am a sect elder and Peak Lord. It means that I have high standing in my sect. [ His stomach hurts -- it really feels like he's putting on TOO MANY airs right now. He feels a little ill about it. ]

Lucis, though. I have heard a little bit about it from a companion of mine. He's a chancellor of the neighboring kingdom. Though, it would seem that the two of you are at odds. I hope you will not feel the need to carry such grudges here.

[meridio]

[ A chancellor of the . . .

It's Somnus' turn to look away, and he stays that way. "At odds" is one way to describe the conflict between him and Ardyn, who happens to be a companion of the Xiu Ya. ]

I have nothing to gain by feuding with that monster.

1/?

[shizun]

[ ............................ ]

[shizun]

[ Ex-fucking-cuse you?! I baked a cake with that man!! We bonded over being evil!! Also!! It doesn't really seem to be his fault that he's full of demonic energy which really isn't helping his case on not being an evil man but you know what -- he's not yet blackened so!! How dare?! ]

/done

[shizun]

[ Guess who is closing himself off. This person!!! ]

Good, because I would not stand for it.

[meridio]

[ Just like that, they've both closed themselves off. Somnus still doesn't meet Shen Qingqiu's gaze. He wonders just how much the Xiu Ya knows about his brother. ]

Then I leave him in your capable hands, Xiu Ya.

[ With that, he turns around to walk away. ]

[shizun]

[ ................ ]

If anything happens to him, I will assume you did something first.

[ Just saying!!! He isn't sure why he's suddenly on the Ardyn Protection Squad but here he is. I'm doing my best here not to blacken people!!! Don't make my job harder, okay?! ]

[meridio]

[ He hears the Xiu Ya's warning, even if he gives no indication of it, and he knows that he is already culpable of having done something. But the details of his deeds are not to be whispered into the ears of ignorant bystanders, and so Somnus walks on in silence. ]