stellafortunalogs | JANUARY MINGLE

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JANUARY MINGLE

January Mingle: A Ballad in Goblets
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
You open your eyes to an unfamiliar sight. A cool breeze flits through rustic buildings and sunny streets, carrying the smell of flowers and wine. The very air itself seems charged with mana, the warm pulse of the land palpable beneath your feet. This is a new world, a world where the elements compose all of reality. Before you is a bubbling fountain, and a key is entwined between your fingers. And that weight on your hip? A sparkling bauble that you've never seen before, yet it feels natural, as if it had always been there.

Asking around nets you the name of this world - Teyvat - and the name of this city - Mondstadt, blessed by the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. Your new home is accessible with the key placed in your hands, though this also brings to mind another question. How will you get money? Food isn't free, after all.

Luckily for you, there's plenty of jobs available for the enterprising Traveler. Be it taking requests from the Adventurers' Guild, or working part-time at one of Mondstadt's many food establishments, Mora is to be had when hard work is involved. The cuisine of Mondstadt is best paired with its wine, served at bars or enjoyed in private with a few friends.

And about that shining gem. locals will tell you that it is a Vision, a sign of favour from Teyvat's elemental gods. With the Vision on hand, you find yourself capable of commanding one of the seven elements. What will you do with this newfound blessing? Use it for good... or for evil?

Mondstadt's liveliness doesn't diminish when night falls. Bards sing through the wee hours of the night, and the lights of the city help keep most evildoers at bay. All seems peaceful, a pastoral idyll of a life that seems more at home in a storybook. Yet for those Travelers who venture out beyond the city's walls and into the ruins dotting the landscape, they may discover hints of a bloodier past now forgotten.

Glancing at any of the calendars in the city will tell you the current date. August 10th was the day you arrived. As soon as the last minute of August 16th slips away, the world around you changes. A blink, and time itself rewinds by seven days. Looking outside, the mown lawns have regrown, the windmill needs fixing again, and the well is once again full. Just what is happening here? It seems only you, Traveler, remembers the week that never was.

State of the World

For the first two weeks of the game, IC time will be looping from August 10th to August 16th. It's currently late summer in Mondstadt, and the trees are just beginning to turn out their autumn colours. The weather is cool and pleasant, with light showers on Tuesday (11th) and Friday (14th). It's also a good time to go out gathering berries and nature's bounty from Mondstadt's forests and valleys.

These two weeks will let us trial out our commissions and regains system and craft improvements for February onwards. There will be no activity requirements for January, so all threads started during this time period can be used for regains!

For all questions regarding January's mingle and events, please head over to our OOC post.

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"Months?" That was a couple weeks ago...

[...Okay, he has to ask. This is nuts, but he has to.]

Say, Elliot... what month is it for you, exactly? Because for me, it's May. Late May.

May...!? Seriously?

[But that was so long ago! Like twenty years, considering everything that's happened]

W-Well, um, it's September for me. Mid-September! -- You're sure it was May?!

[Look it's hard to believe!!]

[Rean furrows his brow.]

Listen, I know I don't have the best track record, here, but I think I'd know...

[He sighs, looking away with a worried frown before speaking up again. So it's not just a different world in play, here, but different times, too? Great. Just great. When can he be alone to scream?]

...Maybe we should relocate. I think we've probably got a lot we need to cover.

R-Right, of course. Just wasn't expecting it...

[He's shocked! You know how he gets. But yeah Rean wouldn't have a reason to claim he was from may if he wasn't actually. So not only were they in a different world, but now time was screwy? This is a real headache.

Even more so, is the idea of filling in Rean on what happened. That's...a lot. A lot of bad things. Oh boy. ]

You could say that again... [Maybe the earth can swallow him up and send him to a different world where he doesn't have to share, that sounds better] Let's do that. I found a key in my pocket- maybe it goes somewhere?

Yeah, I understand. Don't worry about it.

[They have plenty of other things to worry about instead.

But oh, yeah, he does have a key, doesn't he? He fishes it out of the pocket he deposited it in, showing it to Elliot.]

One like this? I haven't figured out what it's for yet, myself. It seems like as good a place to start as any.

[Bless you Rean for being so understanding of his neurotic ways]

Yeah! It kinda reminds me of a house key. We just need to figure out which house it goes to!

[in a big city! ...Joy!]

[A nod.]

Well... I think we're in some kind of economic district right now. [Which would explain the bustle of people.] If this is some kind of house key, I think we'd be better off asking around in more of a residential district.

[Not... that he knows where one is, but. They're gonna have to find it somehow.]

Stay close. It'll be easy to get separated again in an area like this, and I don't think we'll be able to rely on the ARCUS II if we get split up.

[Elliot nods a little to the plan. Residential area, that makes sense. Surely they can figure out where one is.]

Good point. This place looks even older than Legram, so getting reception's probably out...

[Also you know, we're in another world. That might interfere too. But with how crowded the streets are with new arrivals and townsfolk - and how much slower he can be than Rean, he decides ...eh might as well.

He'll go and grab one of Rean's hands that's free. JUST TWO BROS DOING THE BUDDY SYSTEM]

This okay?

[They've been in enough towns and cities to be able to at least vaguely tell what's going on! They've got this, probably.]

Yeah. ...And that's if they've even got orbal technology here. I haven't gotten far enough to check.

[He has his doubts, but that's a pretty scary thought all on its own. Shove that right down in the pile of "things to deal with later, or never."

Especially because, oh, hey, he can feel a hand slipping into his own. He looks down, blinking for a second as his brain processes what's going on, but then smiles at Elliot, squeezing it a little.]

Haha, yeah. It'll be pretty easy to notice if we get cut off like this.

[A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT EXPLANATION. IT'S FINE.

And with that, he'll gently tug to indicate they're going, and start heading toward a road that looks like it'll lead to another part of town. Does he know where he's going? Hell no. But they have to start somewhere.

Eventually, after quite a bit of useless meandering and maybe going in circles once or twice, they manage to reach a much quieter area — it looks mostly like housing here, so goal achieved! ...Maybe! Hopefully!]

Oh, thank goodness. ...You don't think there's any chance someone might recognize these keys, do you?

[Aw yes, handholding is approved. Elliot will smile as they start walking off. He probably should be paying close attention to their surroundings, and he is trying but also...

🎶 Handholding with Rean 🎶

It's well, a little distracting. But hey, it's been a long day so far so maybe it's not so bad to enjoy something a little.

And fortunately Rean is a slightly less useless gay that is paying better attention, so he'll listen when the other speaks up]

Um, maybe! It wouldn't hurt to ask I think.

[It has been a long day. And honestly, Rean's distracted enough that he hasn't noticed that Elliot's still blissfully clinging to his hand even long after they've had to worry about separating.

Digging the key out of his pocket with his off hand, he starts looking around to see if he sees anyone wandering about.

After a couple of failed attempts at asking people, during which Elliot might be slowly shriveling up and dying due to anxiety, eventually they find someone who recognizes the engraving on the key and manages to point them to what they can only assume is their destination.

Once they've arrived, Rean looks around before turning to Elliot.]

This looks like what that guy was describing. So... do you think we just start trying doors to see what works?

[And hopefully not get arrested for attempted breaking and entering?]

[Rean you dense boy. Though really it probably works in Elliot's benefit right now. Especially when yes, the anxiety was really real between between being in a new world and knowing he'd have to tell Rean about what he missed.

Really it's shown how much he's grown in the past few years that he isn't screaming his head off at the stress.

He pulls out his own key when Rean asks, trying to pick up on clues.]

Hmm...that'd probably be a good way to get us in trouble with neighbors. There's a carved number on the key- maybe it's the apartment number?

[It's true. Elliot's been handling everything really well, so far. Of course, Rean had seen a lot of that growth firsthand, but... it is really hitting him, seeing him again after a couple of months and now handling something crazy like this besides, the extent of it all.

He'll be sure to offer him some praise for it later. This can't be easy on him.]

—Oh, there are numbers? I hadn't noticed...

[Rean looks more closely at his key, and— ah, yes, there they are. He leans over, putting his key closer to Elliot's to compare the two.]

...Ha, looks like ours are only one number off. Maybe we're neighbors?

Yeah, see?

[He'll point at his own to show Rean. Numbers! When Rean shows his key and points it the similarities, Elliot feels a bit of excitement]

Oh you're right! [Neighbors! Good news!] That'd be nice if we were! It'd be like back at school!

[You know, almost neighbors minus that stairway between them]

I think the 3 means we're on the third floor... c'mon! [heading into the building now!]

[Rean definitely visibly perks up a bit himself at the "back in school" comment.

Not that he ever really left a school environment, but... well, it's hard not to reminisce. He misses having his best friends within arm's reach all the time.]

Right behind you!

[...Literally, since Elliot. Never let go of his hand. But, you know, details.

Eventually, they reach the doors with their numbers, and this is the point where Rean squeezes that hand gently before he lets go, splitting off to head to his door after they stop at Elliot's.]

Try turning the key on three?

[The idea has Elliot excited too, honestly. Sure it wasn't like Rean lived that far away from him now - just a half hour train ride. But that wasn't the same as living down the hall from one another, seeing each other every day and walking to school together.

He missed that, even if he enjoys his life as it is now.

Amazingly, it's pretty easy for Elliot to get up those stairs. He doesn't slow down as they head up it, as he might've when they were kids. Another way he's grown and changed.

He'll head to his own door, putting the key in. Seems to fit so far.]

Okay! One...two...three!

[He'll turn the key, and sure enough there's a clink as it opens! Elliot grins]

Hey, it worked!

[Inside, it's a modestly furnished apartment. Nothing too elegant, and a bit on the small side- but not too bad, all things considered.]

[Oh, hey! No huffing and puffing! Aww, good on you, Elliot, you gained some stamina!

But o-key, on three&mdash two&mdash one—

Click!]

...Hey! I... can't say I was actually expecting that to work out, but what do you know.

[Rean opens the door and peers inside. It's... well, it's nothing worse than his dorm room, honestly. He'll probably be pretty comfortable.

He leaves the door open while he wanders inside to check things out a little closer, so he can still talk to Elliot if he raises his voice a little.]

At least this is one worry off of our chests. I don't know what we would have done otherwise... who knows if places around here take mira.

[Elliot will step into his own apartment, looking around. Yeah, this is much nicer than some of the places he's stayed in the past. Then again, it's not hard to beat a windmill]

Yeah! It's actually pretty nice! Pretty thoughtful of ...well, the person who brought us here without warning.

[So not great, but still, some thought and care was taken! Elliot will take this time to carefully set down his violin case before walking out and over to Rean's apartment]

Well, if they don't, I'll do what I can to earn money performing. I heard some music playing in the streets, so I'm sure there's a market for it.

[That's right already planning to support himself and Rean via his music. ]

[Not a windmill with Fie's rations? A+ ACCOMODATIONS ELLIOT APPROVED.]

At least they gave us something. Instructions would have been nice, too, but... I guess beggars can't be choosers, here...

[Oh, here's Elliot, he can quiet down now. He takes a seat on the edge of the bed, sighing heavily.]

I'm sure I can get some money together with odd jobs, too. If I've learned anything between Trista and Leeves, it's that there's always someone willing to toss you some coins to do something they don't feel like. So... we'll be okay. I'm sure of it.

[Is he saying that because he believes it or because he needs to calm both of them down? Yes.]

[IT KEEPS HIS BAR LOW ITS TRUE]

Yeah. We'll just have to make our own instructions, if they aren't gonna give us any.

[Which is pretty daunting, but with how much Elliot enjoys his own freedom...he'd probably grow pretty resentful fast if there was someone trying to push him around about what to do.

And ah, as anxious as he is, he can tell Rean's feeling it too. He moves to sit down next to him on the edge of the bed.]

Mm, I'm sure it'll be tough, but we've gotten through tough spots before. Especially when we're together.

Ha... yeah. That's a good way of looking at it.

[Daunting, sure, but... well, Rean's had more than his fill of instructions to do things he hates. He certainly can't trust this place not to do the same to him.

At least making his own will be safe. And besides... Elliot's right. They're in this together.]

Yeah... you're right. We've made it through a lot together. [And that's without counting the time he doesn't know about. When he speaks up again, he sounds far more sure of himself.] We'll make it through this, too. Together.

[He lifts one hand to offer Elliot a little fist bump.]

[A fist bump. Sitting on a bed together, discussing their joint bank account and devotion to their companionship - and Rean goes for a fistbump. It may be a new world, but it seems Elliot's crops will remain as dry as ever.

He's used to it though, and he'll grin as he meets Rean for that fistbump]

Right! We got this!

[Until he remembers in ten seconds that he has to update Rean about the future. Then he Don't Got This]

[Sorry, Elliot. He is eternally stupid and blind to the idea that anyone might be in love with him, no matter how obviously head over heels they are.

Rean basks in that psuedo-promise for a second, then takes a deep breath and tries to calm his nerves a little.]

...Well, hey. Now that we've got a place to talk.

[Operation: Don't Got This commences, much to Elliot's chagrin.]

I won't ask you for too many details. Everything is weird enough right now without you trying to explain exactly what the future is like. [Maybe Elliot's got this after all?] But.. [Oh no.] if there's anything important I really ought to be aware of, I'd like to know at least that much.

[Unfortunately for Rean and Elliot both, everything that goes on past the day he got ripped out of his homeland is something he really ought to know about. So... rest in pieces, Elliot.]

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JANUARY MINGLE

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