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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[WOW DON'T CALL HIM OUT LIKE THAT but yeah. Yeah he is.]

...I'm just not going to ask what that understanding is. I have a distinct feeling I'm not going to like the answer.

[Rean can read the room sometimes.]

I'm not saying I'm going to give up on getting back home. I have work to do... people I need to protect. I need to get back. All I'm saying is that if they need my help between now and then, I'm not in much of a position to argue.

But, [and it's here that his voice becomes more serious,] so long as you don't do anything that would necessitate me getting in your way, [to stop him from doing something harmful,] then I don't imagine we'll have much of a problem.

[Oh, boy. Double threats. Let's hope neither of them ever have to act on it.]

Mm, something like that.

[If Rean isn't going to ask, then Jun won't explain- because uh yeah he's probably not wrong about that.

He picks up on that returning threat. He knows it's to be expected, after what he just said. It's understandable Rean said that, truly. Logically as a Seal Knight, he knows this. He had to stick to his mission, even if it makes him enemies. That was their way.

Yet even so, to hear that coming from someone he watched and admired at least some form of ... it felt like a kick in the stomach. Another piece of confirmation of what Jun knew himself to be - a monster. He knows fully well what circumstances Rean would deem that necessary...and Jun can't deny they'll ever come to pass either.

He wishes he hadn't taken off his hood. He does his best to keep his face impassive, cold - but he isn't exactly looking at Rean either]

...Very well. As long as you understand.

Edited 2021-01-23 03:11 (UTC)

[They both understand each other, and Rean's glad for that, but... he can't say this sits perfectly well with him, either.

Rean's not a person who enjoys making threats. He's never been someone that wanted to make enemies, even though it's been unavoidable for him. And he feels that pretty poignantly right now.

They both just want to go home. There's no reason they should be set against each other here. Rean's just anxious and upset because of circumstances that aren't Jun's fault. Besides, it's not as if anything has happened yet.

There's still a chance that maybe they can just work together. That maybe they can just make their way to their goal peacefully. Rean's had a lot of his idealism beaten out of him, but this much will always remain. So, it's with that in mind that he speaks up.]

...I do. But... I do sincerely hope it never comes to that.

[And his voice softens with that, letting himself show a hint of vulnerability. Extending a hand with his voice, if not with his actions.]

It's not as if we don't both want the same thing, after all. We'll gain more ground toward that goal if we work together, I'm sure.

[Jun hears the softened tone. Rean is trying to reach out to him. It makes his stomach twist a little, making him feel even more guilty for what he was. ]

... It's not like I want to be anyone's enemy.

[He meant to sound passive, cold, but his voice was a little smaller than he intended. He doesn't truly want to hurt anyone.]

[ He clears his throat, steeling his expression once more]

Whatever. This is all conjecture. I need more information before I can make a decision of what I'll do.

[Rean knows better than to push the matter right out the gate. But between those words and that tiny flicker of uncertainty, Rean's sure now that Jun's a good person. He's trying to sound tough and assured of himself, and Rean's happy to let him. At the end of the day, he's pretty sure they'll be able to keep things peaceful — and if not completely so, that it'll be worth it to try to pull him back.

That's all Rean needs for now.]

Well, yeah. We both do. Although, I guess standing in a random alley with a couple of things they decided to throw in our pockets and a sword you can't move on your own isn't helpful to either of us.

[Rean sighs.]

You'd think they'd bother to offer us at least some clue. ...Unless they just like watching us suffer.

[That's pretty much what it is. As cold and ruthless as Seal Knights were expected to be, there was no shaking off the fact that Jun was kind, deep down.

But Rean seems to be moving on with the topic so, so shall he. Which man...considering he showed up here with no powers, his identity revealed, and having to deal with an anime character made real...

He lets out a dreary sigh that only a teenager can.]

I'd say they do...

[Like watching them suffer, he means.]

[Rean's been dealing with dramatic teenager sighs for like, a solid year now. Does that mean it's time to adopt Jun, too? Maybe. We'll see.]

Ha. I feel like it's not the first time, for me.

Guess we just have to make the best of this. Best revenge is living well, so they say.

[Lbr Rean won't rest until he adopts every teenager in this place, so that's a probable yes]

Haha...is that true? I've never done revenge.

[That requires having more emotional investment than he has in most things]

[...Okay, yeah, but don't call him out like this.]

Can't say that I have either, but hey. First time for everything, huh? And seems like a pretty nice way to go about it, if you ask me.

[Certainly better than... other ways he knows of...

Mm, it's best not to get caught up in that train of thought right now. He's got enough going on without letting that darkness envelop him right now.]

[Daddy.

Jun doesn't catch Rean's near slip into darkness, his old friend. Lucky for him. He's too busy looking a little unconvinced this is a good way to go about things, but what does he know?]

...If you think that'll help you get through this.

[He turns back to look at his sword. He'll raise two fingers up and try to focus for a moment, but no magic happens. The sword remains. He frowns and lowers his hand]

I'll have to find a place to put this until I can get it working again...

[DON'T MAKE IT WEIRD, KOHINATA!]

Better to focus on joy than sorrow.

[But he won't harp on it for now. There are bigger issues to be dealt with, namely the bigass sword.

Rean watches Jun's movements, and it kind of clicks in his head how this little guy could wield this monster. Some kind of ability he had previously has been nullified... poor thing.

It does make him wonder if he's suffered the same fate, but... mmm, well. There's only one "ability" he can think of and he's in no mood to test it.]

...Yeah.

I mean, we'll have to find somewhere where we can stay at all. ...I suppose if you get stuck in an inn or something and don't wind up with space, you could always tell the people at the desk it's enchanted to not let them touch it. That ought to keep any curious hands away.

[He'll let the remark about joy and sorry pass. Jun doesn't really have a strong opinion on it. It wasn't like he was full of sorrow...but, no need to get into that.

He considers that, frowning a little.]

Mm...that'd keep some people away, but I'd worry it'd draw in another type of curious people. [Seal Knights always had to be careful with their power. In the wrong hands, it could be devastating.]

But you're right, I need to find a place to stay first. Then I can figure out what to do.

[Which...felt like a daunting task. He's never really had to find housing himself back home, much less in a strange world with no resources. ]

True enough... still, it would take a special type of horrible innkeeper to mess with their clientele's prized possessions.

[Rean understands how daunting this task feels, though. It's not like he's ever had to find housing on his own, either... still, he's the adult here, he has to try to act like it!]

...Maybe you can try to find an inn to use as a home base, at least for tonight? I know neither of us have resources here, but... you strike me as the type that could probably put forth a pretty successful set of puppy dog eyes, at least for one night's rest.

[You have a cute soft boy face, Jun. Use it to your advantage.]

[REAN????? WHAT LESSONS ARE YOU GIVING YOUNG CHILDREN HERE???]

... I really don't know about that idea.

[That it'd work? That it's questionable to do it at all?? How about all of the above???]

[ONES THAT KEEP THEM OFF THE STREET AND IN A WARM BED AT NIGHT.]

I mean... our other option is trading off who guards this sword in an alley and trying to scrape together enough of whatever kind of money they take here to get you a room. Which I can do, but...

[It certainly doesn't get this poor kid rested and thinking any faster!]

[Jun makes a slight face. Yeah, he can understand the reality of the situation and he can't say he's a fan of plan B even more. Especially as it seems to involve putting Rean out. Which he doesn't want to do that.]

No, you don't have to do that for me.

[He swallows. Anything for the mission, right? He had to keep the sword safe.]

I'll...I'll try using "puppy eyes".

[Rean wouldn't mind that part of it, he just thinks Jun would be better served by having a place to rest for at least an hour before he gets back to the mission. He can't be any less stressed out than Rean. Rean being Rean, the kid needs to be taken care of first.]

It's not like I'd mind. [He's quick to assuage that fear. And as for the other one...] Don't worry too much about it, though. I think you'll be served well enough by just asking nicely.

[Asking for help isn't shady!]

[Jun has his own doubts about this. But...the worst that could be said is no right? And it's not like anyone in this world knew what a Seal Knight was ... it wouldn't carry the same reputation that it does in the Underground. ]

I hope you're right. [He takes his white cloak and starts wrapping it around the sword, hoping to make it less obvious it's a giant weapon. That said...something's not sitting right with him]

But where will you stay then?

[Because he has a bad feeling this guy isn't thinking to take care of himself]

[Rean holds up a hand to wave off the worry.]

You have this thing to contend with right now, so you're the prime concern. After that, the day's still young. I'm pretty good at finding odd jobs, I'll definitely be able to scrounge up enough money to get myself a room by nightfall.

[He's totally bluffing, he's expecting he'll be sleeping in a box. It's a shame he doesn't believe in himself, because he's probably right.]

[But Rean you don't understand: He's as selfless as you are.]

If you're sure...but you've helped me a lot already. I have some experience with odd jobs, so let me help you with some!

[Oh no. Unstoppable force meets unmovable object...!]

Eh? But it would probably be best if you tried to scout out some information...

[...Oh, that's a determined look, though. He's started to learn it well.]

...I mean, if you insist, I guess I can't stop you. [Defeated Rean noises.] At least let's make sure you're all set up, though, okay?

I can scout out information while I help you.

[That's right, another stubborn teenager in the midst here]

Haha, alright. Let's find a hotel first then.

[...Well, it's about par for the course with his new Class VII. Welcome aboard, Jun. It's a rough ride from here.]

Sounds like a plan.

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