(january catch-all) 2021 IS OFF TO A WEIRD START

[vestigemods]

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.

Comments

a zomboy with a new voice!!!

[deferences]

[isn't it a wonderful thing gilia made all those important food deliveries however long ago? unless, of course, song lan wasn't here when that happened. . .

(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!

[snowflicks]

[He was and that has definitely helped, but with two daozhangs now it was good to not just rely on that stuff. Otherwise they would run out quickly.

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.]

[deferences]

[absolutely a fair point, that is, and there's nothing wrong with having some extra food around the house just in case!

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?

[snowflicks]

[Kind. That's not what Song Lan would say, but he won't fault Sizhui for taking what small crumbs they're given here.

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.]

[deferences]

[generous? might've been a better word, but yes, that's exactly what he's trying to do in this situation. (and he's definitely not looking at it like they're expendable livestock, nope, not in the slightest!) y'know, sizhui was pretty into the orange he's holding, still would have been if song lan hadn't stalled like he did, immediately capturing the boy's attention instead.]

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?

[snowflicks]

[Come on Song Lan, Sizhui is asking, he's from the same time too. He knows about the things that fester and poison his mind.]

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.

[deferences]

[listen, song lan even saying, ‘there is’ feels like a huge step in the right direction already. nodding understandingly, he stays quiet, patiently waiting for the daozhang to figure out how he wants to word things. if anything, his next idea would've been offering to play guqin for him in an attempt at easing his discomfort.

because he gets it, talking about something like this must be awkward, especially when baby xiao xingchen is here, very much alive, and with everything intact. but that's exactly it; sizhui would hope by this point, they're already considered friends and song lan won't mind sharing.

and the second daozhang learning of his death sooner than anticipated or planned for does come off as a problem.]

I see, [sizhui acknowledges softly.] And you aren't ready to tell him yet, yes? Admittedly, I'd imagine bringing up such a subject would be quite awkward, so I don't blame you whatsoever for not wanting to.

[snowflicks]

[Sizhui is honestly a gem, but no. He won't need to pull out his guqin.]

Xingchen is naive, young still, but not blind.

[Song Lan closes his eyes and clears his throat at the poor wording. Shaking his head he'll continue.]

I am sure he will figure some out on his own. He may have already.

[His eyes downcast as he keeps speaking.]

It will be difficult enough telling him that soon in his life we shall be parted forever.

[Yes they met again in Yi City, but truly is that meeting again? Is that not just losing each other once more?]

[deferences]

[he's sure trying! and guqin or no, if there's anything that might help song lan feel less uncomfortable, sizhui hopes they figure it out.

o-oh, that truly wasn't the best way to word it, but it's fine.] Do you believe he's figured out his death or just senses that something is... off? [if the former, y i k e s, though if it's the latter, there's at least a chance to approach xingchen with the information before he accidentally finds out through some other means.

sizhui would say it is meeting back up, yet it's also losing one another all over again in the same vein. he can't even imagine how painful it'll be and if it were possible, he wishes he could spare them both the ache.] You— I— [he stops, inclines his head, clears his throat then upturns his gaze.] I know it isn't my place, daozhang, but if you need help telling him...

[what can he do? he isn't sure, which is why he's making the offer; together, they might be able to figure something out to make it easier for everyone.]

[snowflicks]

There was much to show that something is off. My appearance, lack of tongue, the years between us... that I carried his sword on my person.

[It's a lot of puzzling things that add up to something. Xingchen just doesn't know what yet.]

No. I'm- I should not have burdened you with this, Lan-gongzi.

[It wasn't Sizhui's problem to bare or be concerned with. He definitely had his own concerns with much of his family here.]

[deferences]

Ah... [of course, how could he not remember? he'll simply chalk up the forgetfulness to song lan's new ability to speak again (because it's certainly nothing to do with how he lost his memories long ago).] Yes, that might be a bit questionable.

[hopefully, it's something xingchen will figure out on his own and eventually ask about, taking into consideration that poor song lan still seems hesitant. who could blame him, though?

and hey, who says the daozhangs aren't part of his family now, too?] It's no trouble at all, I assure you. I want to help.

[snowflicks]

[Are the daozhangs uncles? Xingchen is Wuxian's martial uncle after all. Jin Ling can't have ALL the uncles.

The young Lan is nothing but polite and earnest as always. Song Lan will give a small bow in thanks.]

I will not decline your offer, but for now I believe I must consider what I have to do first.

[He truly does appreciate Sizhui's kindness, but he doesn't want to make more of a mess of things. Not that Sizhui would, but... maybe it's more he knows the soft heart that Xingchen is, he will not handle the truth well. It wouldn't feel right to do that to him with someone else there.

Even someone they both trust.]

But if Xingchen were to ask you anything, do not feel as if you must hold your tongue.

[It wouldn't be fair to put that on Sizhui either.]

[deferences]

[yes, absolutely, because sizhui does deserve to have some more uncles.

following a brief incline of his own head,] Of course, just know that the offer still stands and has no time limit. [then he plucks up his earlier abandoned fruit, moves to stand, removing another slice that he pops into his mouth without hesitation for a couple reasons: one, he isn't immediately sure how to answer song lan's remark about not holding his tongue and two, if he doesn't start working on finishing the orange, he'll forget.

and honestly, in the long run, he'd agree one-hundred-percent it wouldn't be fair to do something like that to xingchen. what a terrible thing to spring on someone unprepared!]

I appreciate that, [he acknowledges after finishing the slice.] I'm going to do my best to not say anything, though. As I said, it's not my place, and it would feel wrong for him to hear it from someone he hardly knows.

[snowflicks]

[And you get an uncle! And you get an uncle!

With a soft hum and nod of his head he'll accept this. It's nice to know that someone is there for him, no time limit on it. Maybe this having more than one friend thing has its perks.]

I fear for all our efforts, whether it is I or some others means, the truth will come out eventually. I doubt this place would allow Xingchen to continue here without knowing such sorrow for too long.

[That's what they do after all. Suffer and die.]

[deferences]

[just slowly collects them all like pokémon.....

his friends too, let's be real here. having a lot of those is definitely better, although there isn't anything wrong with having one soulmate friend, either. someone you're just wholly honest with because you trust them that much.

even when those people still have to suffer and die. (or maybe especially then?)]

Aiyah, it's worrisome to think about, but you aren't wrong. This place certainly hits where it hurts the most whenever it gets the chance to.