vestigelogs | lake party invite + mingle (open)

Entry tags:

lake party invite + mingle (open)

Who: any and everyone!
Where: the lake and nearby!
When: right now! (july 7th, afternoon)
What: motha 👏 fuckin 👏 lake 👏 party
Warnings: Language (!!!) for now, will be added as needed!

[no, this is not a joke and yes, it's an actual invite to a party over the network from the username: cock.licking.idiot (and no, that's not a joke, either).

those who decide that they'd rather not be square will arrive at some unspecified patch of lake shore (thanks, klaus) at a similarly unspecified time (good work, asshat) to discover that something resembling a slapdash but heartfelt lake party along the northern waterfront. a couple of tables have been dragged out of nearby cabins and now hold a probably inadvisable quantity of foods, at least half of which don't belong at a party by any means. is this what rationing looks like? this is definitely what rationing looks like. there's also an alcohol table, filled pretty sparsely early on in the party but gathering bottles and cans throughout the day. (word of mod says feel free to wing it on what kind of alcohol we have!).

a number of chairs sit in a wobbly line in the stone-filled waterfront sand, most of them not meant for beachgoing but nearly all of them able to recline. about fifty feet down the beach seems to be the splash zone, where all water horseplay exists well out of range of splashing those sitting in beachside chairs. some people dive or cannonball off the mostly-sturdy pier, while others seem to be batting around a-... is that a beach ball they have? no, it seems to be a balloon that says "get well soon". how fitting. please, someone bring them a fucking beach ball.

(this is a mingle! go ahead and make top-levels or tag into other people's.)]

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[Jingyi's late to the party, inasmuch as one can be late to a 'show the fuck up and rock the fuck out' sort of invitation. In in defense, he had woken up in the middle of the woods, had to take time to freak out in the nearest isolated cabin, and did not actually know how to use his smartphone. (Well, more accurately, he was having a panic and smartphones were not on the list of ways to solve said panic.)

It is only because he hears the festivities that he realizes that he is not alone.

He is at the lakeside like a rocket after that and stands for a long, sweltering minute or two staring at the junkyard chic of the party grounds and all of the totally and utterly baffling people partaking. His gaze snags on the tables of food first, but he hesitates, not wanting to disturb something he does not understand—until he spots someone who looks like Sizhui.

There is no decisionmaking after that. He takes off at a run, leaping over one of the occupied reclining chairs that happens to get in his way, and powerslides on his knees to the end of the dock to half-tackle Sizhui where he is sitting on the edge.]

[while none of them have been here all that long, never during any moment since his arrival did sizhui think a fellow junior would show up. (although he's about to learn, this isn't technically the jingyi he knows, that will not matter to him in the slightest.) it's going to be the most bittersweet moment once the realization hits, yet sizhui will be so glad he isn't the only one.

initially, the footsteps aren't anything he considers; people behind him are running back and forth, collecting rocks, setting up chairs, splashing around some odd feet down the way.

it's when they come onto the dock that sizhui's feet stop moving, he turns to cast a look over his shoulder, sees another person sprinting toward him. who in the world? and for a split second, it looks like—] J-Jingyi? [comes out so softly, it's a wonder he's said anything because it just couldn't be! surely the heat has finally started getting to him and he's seeing things— but no, wait, the robes, the long hair? perhaps it isn't so far-fetched after all.

not like he's given much of a chance to look at whoever the person is before they're kneesliding toward him and there's suddenly extra, unexpected weight to account for.] Wha!? [thank goodness, he wasn't hanging off on his elbows or else they'd both be in the water. they actually almost are anyway, but sizhui braces, shoots one arm out to hook around the wooden edge, the opposite one cinching around jingyi's shoulders.]

Sizhui! [And if Jingyi is a disaster right now he is very much entitled to be. He does not notice all the little differences between how this Sizhui looks and the one he grew up with, not when right now familiar is all he can register. He trusts Sizhui to catch them, though honestly it is hot enough that he would not have minded ending up in the lake.]

I woke up in the dirt.

[The complaint is a shadow of his usual tone as he simply refuses to let go. He is not usually so sticky and while he will not be embarrassed about it, it is perhaps just slightly unusual. It is just that these are special circumstances!]

I thought I was alone and I did not know how it happened and I was worried something terrible had--[He stops himself. And then there is the silence of him processing through new information.]

[that's all it takes: hearing the other boy say his name in return and sizhui's apprehension melts (not entirely, but it's a start). it dawns on him something's clearly inconsistent, although jingyi airs a soft grievance and despite biting his lip, he can't muffle himself.] O-Oh, [he stammers out through a laugh, shaking his head as best he can manage in this position. which is a little awkward but it's fine, lan clan is known for their arm strength, after all!

sizhui doesn't mind being held and holding in kind, regardless of the bizarre happenings or the fact it's possibly somewhat too hot to even exist right now, let alone be hanging off one another.

~~motormouth~~ jingyi continues talking and he's content to let him go, silently looking him over, connecting the dots, discerning the differences— except then jingyi stops, causing him to downcast his attention, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

this is the moment sizhui should let them topple into the water, yet instead, he thoughtfully rolls his lips together and:] You look... different. [an unfamiliar ‘different,’ but not a bad one.]

[Gaze drifting back toward the shore and the weird chair and the weird people, Jingyi has a moment of relative non-panic with Sizhui in close contact enough that he can breath and think and...were these people not extremely strange? Their manner of dress along suggests that they are from somewhere--

But he is interrupted. Or, not interrupted, but Sizhui pulls his attention back with his comment.

I look like myself. [He loosens his hold and sits back on his heels to look down at robes. He wrinkles his nose.] Dirtier than myself, but I cannot be blamed for that.

[But the comment also makes him blink at Sizhui and. Hrm. That's. Hrm. His brow furrows. Considerably more wary, he ventures:]

You. Also look different.

[okay, yeah, this is obviously not the jingyi he knows, but it's still jingyi. whenever his friend(?) looks back toward the shoreline, sizhui's head tips with consideration, lips pressing together, expression soft though also slightly pinched in his browline. whoever the people are he's studying, they aren't anyone he knows, either. surely a few other chinese wizards will show up at some point.

he exhales a semi-relieved breath, hauls himself back onto the dock once possible, stretching his legs across it lengthwise. it's probably the most improper way to sit, but sizhui can't bring himself to worry.] Nobody can be, we're all sort of trapped with dusty old cabins.

[once jingyi finally takes a minute to look him over, his head inclines, like he's afraid the other boy will realize that he's not the right person and reverse.]

Yes, uhm. [he bites his lip with hesitation, clasps both hands over his lap, awkwardly twiddles his thumbs.] I'm not sure how to explain it aside from that things are weird here? And I don't just mean the uncomfortable ghost-town feeling.

Things are weird here.

[He repeats this a little stunned and a little dubious. Because--yes. It is starting to seem so. And Sizhui is...different enough to notice that there is a difference.

But that is fine.

That is fine. Jingyi can handle this. They will figure things out.

Internal pep-talk completed, he nods decisively and sprawls out next to Sizhui on the dock.]

Please tell me that there are not actual ghosts. And besides being someplace that I have never seen full of people wearing all sorts of strange clothes--what do you mean by weird? Please tell me that you are actually Sizhui and not some strange ghost or monster taking Sizhui's form. I will not even see you coming and just get eaten immediately and I do not know if I can deal with that.

To put it simply.

[how else does he put it? they were brought here for whatever reason (and more people keep showing up as the days go by), sizhui's mostly just accepted their fate for the moment because he isn't quite sure how else to handle it. of all the people here – jingyi somewhat aside now – wen ning is the only person who recognizes him, everyone else is . . .

don't think like that, he urges, jingyi's here, he'll help you feel better. and to the surprise of no one, he does.

however, he's about to be sorely disappointed when sizhui tells him there might actually be ghosts here. it hasn't occurred to him that he should try summoning his guqin and speaking with them; he's been too focused on the whole figuring the place out stuff.]

I hate to be the one to break this to you... there are probably ghosts here. But for whatever it may be worth, I haven't encountered any? [yet. he softly clears his throat, lifts his gaze and arches his eyebrows at how jingyi's so casually laid himself out, one hand snapping up to smother the laughter that almost escapes. following the other boy's remark toward him not actually being sizhui and just being a monster who's stolen his shape, there's no way he can muffle the mirthful giggle this time.

he gets a handle on it though, uses both hands to shift downward a bit and stretch out, propped up on his elbow facing jingyi.] I promise, I'm not a monster that's going to attack when you least expect it. If you are too worried, then ask me a question only Sizhui would know.

[Jingyi flicks a glance at Sizhui's face when he covers his mouth and almost immediately goes boneless on the dock. He has made Sizhui laugh. Mission accomplished. He breathes out, thunking the back of his head gently on the wooden planking. If Sizhui can laugh, then things are not entirely terrible.

Though the news about ghosts is pretty terrible.]

As long as the ghosts do not leap out at me. Or you do. Do not leap out at me, please.

[He props himself up on his elbows as well and squints at Sizhui. He does not think he really needs to confirm who Sizhui is, but he does not want to let a chance to tease him fly by him.]

Okay. What is the rule that I break most often? How many times did you tell Wei-qianbei to stop wearing Hanguang-jun's inner robes before you gave up? And which of the rabbits is your favorite rabbit?

[the thump of jingyi's head makes sizhui raises his eyebrows with concern, though he makes no move to get closer, simply regards him from where he's lying with a look, a silent are you okay? and he won't let his gaze wander until he's sure.

but he seems fine, given the circumstances and ghosts aside, so he relaxes somewhat by fidgeting with a loose thread on the fabric wrapped around his forearm.]

Jingyi! [he exclaims, attention snapping back up to the other boy.] No, I wouldn't do that to you. Not here where everything is... [‘wrong’ isn't the right word, but it's not completely inappropriate, either.

sizhui looks away again, props his cheek into his palm, mouth downturned in a frown, although he can't help turning back, chin replacing his cheek. he blinks once, considering the questions he's been asked. blinks a second time, his tongue darting out to wet his lips, preparing— and yet he can't think of a single answer! jingyi breaks a lot of rules and when had he seen wei wuxian in hanguang-jun's underclothes? during the second siege of the burial mounds while they were being attacked?

and he surely couldn't have one favorite rabbit!] I— mmn, I'm not...sure... [oh no, what if he isn't sizhui? sorry, jingyi, he's absolutely failed you.]

[When Sizhui does do anything more than just makes uncertain noises, Jingyi scrambles upright and wiggles himself to sit a little closer so he can bump Sizhui in the shoulder with his own.]

Oh, no, no, those were not real questions, I promise. I expected you to say, 'oh! Jingyi! It is clearly that you shout too much! You trip when you run! You eat too much!' and all of those would be right, or wrong, or--it does not matter. I thought you would scold me for making you choose a rabbit or for prying into our seniors' love lives.

[And even if there is a little concern in him that Sizhui did not even answer at all, that concern is swamped by the larger concern that Jingyi is teasing him when everything is terrible and maybe...he should not.]

Are you alright? You have been here longer than I have.

[oh no, now he's worried jingyi even more by not giving a proper response at all! which would've made him feel a whole lot worse if the other junior hadn't moved within shoulder-bumping distance like he did. sizhui's attention darts sideways, the faintest hint of an actual smile curving his mouth at the edges despite the anxiousness.

well, jingyi's right about each and every thing he says, but one thing's for certain:] You really shouldn't pry into their love lives, [sizhui teases, gently nudging his friend back.

then he downturns his gaze again, considers what he's being asked. is he alright? for the most part, yes, injuries aside (except he doesn't even have many of those). with jingyi here things will certainly start looking up, though.] Not too much longer, but I'm okay, regardless. It'll be nice having someone else here I know.

[someone who will know him, too.]

Ah. [He makes a disgruntled noise, because that definitely sounds like Sizhui.] It is not prying if they are very loud and shameless about it. [But it's a half-hearted grumble at best. Letting out his breath, he lets his gaze drift over the assembled...others. In their strange clothes and their bizarre hedonism.]

So I would not have thought that I would find you anywhere near something like this? Who are any of these people? Do you think they are dangerous?

[Well. They look like they're partying, but one can never be too sure.]

[he opens his mouth, closes it, wrinkles his nose and softly purses his lips before finally acknowledging,] Okay, yes, you make a good point. [wei wuxian wearing lan wangji's robes for everyone else to see is sort of just asking to be called out, right? right.]

Ah... [sizhui lets the faint response trail off, downturns his gaze to his lap first then hesitantly looks toward the others, too.] I normally wouldn't have, but it's better than staying cooped up indoors all day. I even got brave enough to try one of the bizarre drinks someone left on the table.

The people seem fine so far? Nobody's attacked me for what it's worth, so that seems promising.

They better not attack you!

[He frowns, brow furrowed, at the party, then at Sizhui, and then at his own hands for a moment, before he comes to a conclusion.]

We cannot leave, can we.

[Forgive him, he just got here.]

I'm not too worried about it, Jingyi. They all seem distracted with their party.

[whenever jingyi turns toward him, sizhui needn't even look up to know his expression is not a pleased one. the words following aren't reassuring either, but he exhales a slow, measured sigh then:]

No, [comes the soft murmur.] we cannot. I'm sorry.

You are not the one who should be sorry.

[And oh, that is a disgruntled tone. Though he relents after a moment.]

Fine. Fine. I am staying with you, just so you know. I do not want my own dusty cabin. Is that okay? That I stay with you? If there are ghosts here I especially do not want to be too far away. What would you do if I were!

I know, but it's still an unfortunate situation we're in and I'm sorry you're stuck here, too.

[it's a terrible state of affairs... but perhaps it needn't be the absolute worst?]

Of course it's okay, Jingyi. To be honest, if I were you, I'd be doing the exact same thing. Finding someone I recognize and sticking as close to them as possible because there's strength in numbers. [that, and sizhui's thrilled; his adoptive father, uncle and best friend(?) are here.]

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lake party invite + mingle (open)

♪♪♪ near the water ♪♪♪

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