mods of the vestige. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
vestigemods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
vestigelogs2021-01-03 10:00 pm
vestigemods) wrote in vestigelogs2021-01-03 10:00 pm
(january catch-all) 2021 IS OFF TO A WEIRD START
JANUARY CATCH-ALL
► AT LEAST YOU FINALLY GET TO REST?
- Though the new year starts off uneventful enough, with sunny skies and an inch or two of snow melting away with each new day, that good fortune lasts a whopping two whole days. At 5 AM on the 3rd, those slumbering fall into an even deeper sleep, and those still awake (or already awake, you overachievers) find themselves struck with an abrupt and insurmountable wave of exhaustion. It's all you can really do to lie down deliberately rather than collapse altogether, let alone making it to any sort of bed. And this is how the population of the containment zone remains for fourteen whole days, dead to the world (figuratively, of course) and to anything which may or may not be occurring around them.
Then, sometime throughout the 16th, you wake up - though the ambient ache in your neck, back, and joints may make you wish that you hadn't. It's almost as if you slept wrong, or... y'know, slept on the floor, apparently. (At the very least, those who were outside at maintenance time were moved indoors for the duration of it, though they were moved to the nearest available building so... have fun waking up in someone else's cabin, I guess.)
The first time you notice the date (on your phone, or maybe someone else breaks the news in their own confusion or panic), you probably struggle to believe it. Two weeks that you've been asleep. It doesn't feel like two weeks - you're clean, only mildly hungry or thirsty, with only a faint weakness in your muscles as you stand. It almost feels more likely that the Technicians adjusted the date overnight to alarm you. Perhaps you might even believe it, but for the evidence otherwise. The milk in your fridge has expired. The snow outside your door is fresh and untouched, with no sign of your passage supposedly yesterday. And the animals are gone, as well. Perhaps not a sign of how long you've slept, but certainly a sign that something isn't right.
If you expected an explanation, you aren't going to get one. Unless by 'explanation' you mean 'goddamn blizzard'.
A GODDAMN BLIZZARD
- Because that's exactly what sets in on the 20th, a gale-force blizzard with increasingly limited visibility. Here's hoping you were smart enough to set out for home as soon as it began, because you aren't given more than a couple of hours before navigating outdoors is damn near impossible, between the visibility issue and the rapidly-deepening blanket of snow. As the afternoon fades to evening, it only seems to be getting worse. Those cabins with appropriately-slanted roofs find that the snow slides down to pile heavily against the cabin's exterior walls and door. Those cabins with a flat or gently-sloped roofs, on the other hand, are at strong risk of a part of their roof (and thus ceiling) collapsing under the weight of all that snow. As if having a blizzard outside the cabin wasn't bad enough.
And then things get just a little bit worse. Just before sunset, the cabins' electricity starts to flicker - just a little at first, but increasing in intensity until it finally goes out altogether a half hour later. This lasts through the night, and while it may seem promising that electricity within the town itself remains steady, that too goes into a blackout just before dawn.
This blackout lingers through the 21st and into the 22nd, cold seeping in through the windows and cracks as you huddle near the fire or generator-run space heater and hope for the best... But even the best isn't pleasant in the slightest. The lack of internal heat lets the doors and windows freeze shut, and snow piles high enough around the house's exterior that you'd have to climb out an upstairs window in order to exit. Not only is it cold as hell, but everyone's more-or-less trapped in it for now.
But not even the cold and the dark can last forever, and the blizzard lets up to a light dusting of snow mid-day on the 22nd. That evening, the power flickers back on as well, but some cabins/apartments/buildings may find that it's less consistent than others, continuing to flicker dangerously throughout the next day or so. But that doesn't mean the ordeal is over yet. The snow may have slowed to an almost laughable sprinkle and the sun may shine warm and bright in the rapidly-clearing sky, but that still leaves each cabin or building piled up with snow nearly as deep as you are tall (except you, Vivi - it's about twice your height). Might want to start digging yourself out, since it'll take nearly the rest of the month to melt down to reasonable levels if you don't.
► MOD NOTES
- This is the January Catch-All Log, for all log top-levels throughout the month. Large gatherings (parties, meetings, etc) are still encouraged to post their own logs for organizational purposes!
- This log also encompasses both Annual Maintenance (Jan 3rd - 16th) + Hey, Who Turned Out The Lights? (Jan 20th - 22nd), discussed at the bottom of the January Bulletin.
- Because this is a catch-all for everywhere + all month, try to remember to label your top-levels with identifying information like the IC date and location of each prompt (whether in the subject or in the prompt title within the comment), and be sure to clearly indicate event prompts.
- ( ! ) For the sake of organization, a top-level has been provided for all Annual Maintenance shenanigans and exclusively those. Please put any shared dream prompts under the top-level for the sake of organization, while any non-dream prompts should be posted as a regular top-level as normal.
- Cell phone signal does work during the blackout, but inconsistently! If you'd like to play with the trapped/isolated feelings, feel free to say they can't get a message out/in (or that it takes a long time to do so) even if others are able to more easily.
- Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.
lan sizhui ♪ the untamed
[two weeks. that's really, truly how long he'd (they'd? and if that's the case, how many?) fallen asleep for. disbelief aside, once the weakness in his muscles subsides, lan sizhui is up and moving around shortly thereafter. easiest way to distract himself from being unconscious for so long is doing something that has him too focused on the activity and he just ignores or forgets it, even if just for a little while.
so, the first thing he does is pile on as many layers as he can handle and fly into town on his sword for some luxury items; whatever fruits, veggies, snacks and perhaps a couple other perishables he can stuff into his backpack, he does, making sure certain things don't get crushed during his careful packing process.
if anyone familiar happens to be around, he cheerfully greets,] Hello, [and eagerly gestures them over with his free hand while the other fusses with an orange.] It's nice to see you're awake.
[or if it's someone he doesn't know, sizhui isn't afraid to help; he's been here so long, after all, it's the least he can do! (and there's obviously safety in numbers.)] Hi there! Do you need help finding anything? [like, a particular kind of food item or funny t-shirt? because this here's your guy!]
[after he's gotten somewhat replenished provisions-wise, still layered up, he ventures back outside into the snow to simply admire the way it covers everything in a pretty white blanket. it's quiet out here, sound muted by the snowhills and continuously falling flakes, but it doesn't take long for him to wander off his porch.
when he does, that's when he can be found building snowmen, making snowangels or testing his luck with some ice-skates out on the lake. whichever activity, he's doing it, earnestly and enthusiastically, even though his skating skills could use some work.
the point here, mostly, is that he keeps moving because he'd been sedentary for too long.]
phone apps; (ota)
[whether he's in town or nearby the cabins, there is a very likely chance sizhui can be caught messing with the new apps on their devices. the cute little filters being the main things but there is the off chance one might catch him attempting the ridiculous chickchuck game, too. the other game and ‘not enough fish’ don't appeal to him much, but hey, nobody's saying he can't be convinced.
mindlessly bouncing back and forth between the same two apps has to get tiring after a while, yeah?
should you be (un)lucky enough, perhaps the boy abruptly perks, turns toward you and offers,] Would you like to try this game or take a picture with me? They have a lot of those cute— [a moment's hesitation then,] Oh, ‘filters,’ I think.
not-so-fun blizzard; (cabinmates + people that end up stuck(?) there)
[whenever the lights start flickering, he doesn't initially think much of it, given the frightful weather outside, but he is wary. always makes sure there's wood to keep the fireplace going just in case despite it only being the slightest thought in the deep recesses of his mind. which is smart since the lights do eventually go out. good thing he's been collecting candles, albeit they're just bulk packages of tiny, mostly scentless tealights.
he lights them up and leaves glittering trails of flames in all the communal rooms, then if anyone needs any extras, he's right there to offer a few for their bedrooms or whatever else is necessary.] They won't last very long, so use them sparingly, but I hope they help.
[another thing he's somehow gathered his fair share of is blankets; two big, heavy comforters – one green, the other pastel blue – and an oversized fuzzy throw, all of which he's dragged out into the living room, gathered into a big pile and buried himself underneath beside the fire in a desperate attempt to keep warm. he's used to the cold but this is absolutely absurd!
to be honest, it's his hope that someone will join him and offer some company (alongside possible body heat) during the blackout. there's more than enough room in front of the fireplace, of course, and he has blankets to spare.
when sizhui isn't just a lump beneath the pile, he's striding around the room, either making food or tidying things up, but no matter what, he drifts from the task every so often to the nearest window, drawing pictures across the glass with the hand not holding his little tealight.
neverminding the fact it's taken him a few minutes to realize he isn't alone, once he has, his attention is on whoever has joined him, big doe eyes almost comically wide.]
What? [an innocent question, really, followed shortly after by a faint, almost sheepish-looking smile.] We have to entertain ourselves somehow, don't we? This... seems like a safe enough activity.
[and there's plenty of snow to keep the windows constantly fogged, they'll never run out of canvas.
but thank goodness, the precipitation does eventually stop. the moment it does and electricity comes back, regardless of it not being wholly steady, he dares venturing outside into the mess to at least start digging out the front door and some windows. not having a proper shovel proves difficult, though he's managing with his hands and an extremely delicate rolling process that works better than he would've anticipated.
this also helps because it lets him examine the glass after mounds have been pushed aside, make certain nothing is broken or cracked before keeping right on with the laborious snow removal.
something tells him this would be so much easier if he had a few endless fire talismans.]
Store run
Ian Suzhui is at least not the worst person to encounter out in the wild, as much as Geralt would rather not encounter anyone at all. ]
Hm.
[ Yes, that's all he's giving for now, but it's soft enough to be amicable as he wanders over to browse the fruits and vegetables. ]
geralt, you grumpy old man
however unexpected as it is to encounter someone else outside, geralt of all people happens to be someone who has no problem taking care of himself, considering their first meeting.
a soft ‘oh!’ of recognition comes before he can stop it and he lifts his free hand, covers his mouth with his sleeve, which also hides the small smile that's started quirking his lips up.] Nice to see you again, too. [somehow, he stifles himself further, continues fussing with the orange peel, perking once some of the rind tears away.]
Have you been well?
That's him
[ He's also been pretty lonely, and missing Jaskier, but Gilia has been good company and he has a horse, so. Things could be worse.
Is he supposed to ask how Lan Sizhui how he's doing in turn? Nah. Instead, he's going to go pick out fruits to bring home. ]
sure is! alongside being a sad man ): aw
which is why he isn't totally surprised the man doesn't inquire about his well-being in kind; sizhui is here, right? obviously, he's doing just fine.
he looses an orange slice, brings it up, hesitates to asks,] Was the trip into town difficult? [then he downs the fruit and smiles, attention solely focused on geralt. sorry, pal, you can't escape so easily!]
:c
No.
[ They have acknowledged that they're both alive and, at least, physically well. Is that not enough?
Although this does remind him of Jaskier.
Why are these people drawn to him? Is it because they think there's some mystery to solve? Maybe he should try being a little more social and maybe that will somehow keep people away from him. ]
hopefully the bf will come back
Did you walk or come on horseback?
[no, it's not, and let's be real here: sizhui is being kind enough to allow geralt one-worded answers, so he needn't even worry about carrying the conversation. if he gets annoyed, like before when they had first met, he'd assume the man will say something.
while he isn't jaskier, he'll sure try and befriend geralt to the best of his ability. (which is full-on determination and unwavering persistence, so r i p in pieces, buddy—) also, it's no mystery or anything, sizhui's just a ridiculous boy who's too kind for his own good most days and geralt's no exception to this.
he's just going to be harder to have conversations with initially, that's all.]
yeeees
Walk.
[ In fact, he has only ridden the horses a few times since taming them, just to get them used to it. Considering the weather, it seems best to leave them at home.
And, look, he's just going to come out and ask. ]
Do you want something?
fingers! crossed!!! :')))
wheeze
"don't do small talk." bet you don't do *fun* either, geralt.....
He does not
lmfghjfgh go easy on this child
How about no
well..... better than expected lbr
It's true
Foodland!
So the daozhang is here, looking for things that could last a while if that happened. Dried foods and the like. He's still unsure about canned goods, but they do seem to last for a long time.
A familiar cheerful voice has him looking up from the dried fruits in bags he'd found. Turning to face Sizhui he offers a little bow.]
Lan Sizhui, it is good to see you.
[Oh. By the way. He can talk now. It's still weird to hear his own voice honestly.]
a zomboy with a new voice!!!
(although, if sizhui's remembering correctly, he's almost certain that he was!) nonetheless, it never hurts to collect more food while it's available and the weather hasn't entirely hindered their ability to travel yet. depending on the canned items, they aren't too terrible, so if daozhang needs any suggestions, he's more than willing to provide the ones he's used.
without hesitation, the boy bows in kind, but as soon as it dawns on him that was actual words, he straightens, eyes wide with surprise.] Ah, daozhang, you... you're able to speak! [wow, rude, you don't just say stuff like that, sizhui!] I— I mean, it's good to see you, too!
no subject
And for all Sizhui thinks he's being rude, Song Lan doesn't mind the reaction. Considering the young Lan has only known him one way, this is quite the shock!]
Mm. Thanks to Xiao Xingchen and the Technicians following through on their word.
[This is not praise for them, do not be fooled. Just stating.]
How fare you and your cabin?
[Since most of the other cultivators live there, may as well just ask that way.]
no subject
surprised as he is, he's also absolutely delighted to be able to communicate with song lan in such a manner. not that the other way was difficult or anything, this just seems a whole lot easier when comparing the two methods.] They did seem to be rather benign with the Christmas wishes... which was kind of them.
[okay, maybe a sliver of praise, but nothing super exciting.]
We are all doing well, I'd say. Everyone's together and staying as warm as possible. [the briefest pause then,] What about you and Daozhang Xingchen?
no subject
But that's what the Techs want. Giving caged animal treats before they slaughter them.]
That is good to hear.
[Xingchen and him are similarly so, but there's a hesitation in his reply.]
... well, as well as this place allows.
[He wants to talk about Yi city, the things Sizhui would know of. Things him and Xingchen have only touched on in vagueness.
But we all know he's not the best at discussing much of anything. If anyone just talked to each about anything in The Untamed it'd be a much shorter show.]
no subject
A fair point to make, [he notes, letting his mouth uptick at the edges into a soft smile.] Trying our best is all we can really do, given the circumstances. [why does it seem like there's something else, though? because there is, sizhui's just nervous addressing it.
after setting the half-peeled fruit aside, he directs his gaze full-on to song lan, doing everything within his power to simply seem amiable when he asks,] Something else is on your mind, then?
no subject
There is...
[Now he's just got to talk about it. What is discussing things? It feels wrong to put his worries on another. Song Lan looks uncomfortable continuing, he only does so because it's Sizhui. They have a good report after all, maybe the young Lan would even consider them friends.]
Xingchen. I am concerned he will find out his fate sooner than later.
[So many here know it, he doubts any would do it with cruel intentions and he wouldn't stop them from doing so. Still. Still... it's a fear that haunts him every day.]
We have not discussed much, even if it's clear something has happened in our future. Xingchen is too polite to pry.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
phone apps
Do they have any with fox ears? I think those would suit me rather nicely.
[ He does have that coniving sort of face, doesn't he? Eyes pulled tight with a smile as he regards Sizhui in a friendly manner. ]
no subject
but sizhui has no idea about that or any ‘pet projects’ and is amicable as always, steadily scrolling through the filters until he finds it.]
Ah, here we go! [and the longer he looks between his phone and quin's pleased expression, the more he realizes how fitting his animal choice is.] Gosh, it really does suit you, doesn't it? Haha!
no subject
It does! I've always been fond of foxes. Clever creatures.
[ And it occurs to him then- ]
But forgive me, I don't think we've been formally introduced. Professor Aiuenobrist Quintalian, at your service.
[ Perhaps Sizhui had seen him here or there on the network. Or, even, mentioned by Nie Huaisang. It's unfortunate that he's gone but everyone seems to be making the best of the recent absences. ]
no subject
he smiles, nods with affirmation, positions the phone just right so the filter is on both their faces then snaps a quick picture right after the man says ‘clever.’ fitting, both of them sporting cute fox ears and toothy grins.] They certainly are.
[cute too, but before he's able to mention that, quin is politely introducing himself, making sizhui perk initially, though once the name sinks in, it dawns on him: this is the same professor he'd heard uncle huaisang talk about here and there before he ended up disappearing. (where did he go? he's unsure, but people disappear all the time here, it seems.) nevertheless, he'll miss him a lot.
besides that, while he might've seen quin in passing on the network, he hasn't paid it that much mind, which is silly when considering the things he could learn. wariness tentatively set aside, he bows his head in greeting, expression having softened, although sizhui's no less respectful as he offers his name in kind,] Lan Sizhui. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Professor. [is that what he calls him? does he use a different part of his name? guess he'll wait and see if the man corrects him.]
no subject
He wishes he knew more than everyone else did about the disappearances but, as it is, he doesn't. Perhaps he'll find out though once he has more potential inside information. ]
Likewise! Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem like you're from the same place as some of the others here.
[ Black hair, eyes, and interesting fashion choices. ]
no subject
at least until quin inquires about the other people from his homeworld, but even then, his expression merely softens the faintest amount.
oh, and for what it's worth, his ‘fashion’ has been somewhat modified (???) at the moment to include a heavy woolen peacoat over the top of his clan robes. meaning it probably looks odd right now, those flowy layers only visible from the waist down.] If by that, you mean the others with long, long hair and the ability to use magic... then yes, I am from the same world.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
blizzard!
but it has been quiet for a bit too long, so a foot worms its way through the mess of blankets to find sizhui - his leg, his side, whichever body part is nearest - and he gives the boy an instigative little shove. no words, no fuss. just a foot-shove. )
no subject
the shift of wei ying's foot captures his attention, has him glancing up from the book he's reading, following all the way to where it pushes against his side. sizhui oomph!s for effect, splays a hand across the pages and reaches with his opposite one to toss the blanket aside so he can poke his head out from underneath.] Can I help you? [playfully offended, of course, given the ridiculous grin on his face.]
no subject
all of which roughly translates to 'i'm bored and it's time to pick on my son'. )
no subject
though since it's quite obvious the man's bored, he's happy to indulge him a little, even if in the rudest way possible. unless wei wuxian's blanket is tucked tightly (hell, maybe if it is???), he's probably about to be uncovered as sizhui leans, grasps an edge with both hands and tugs with all his might.]