video | un: clouded.judgement

[calmness]

[The video starts with a shot of the snow covered ground, foliage overgrown but peaking out from under the white powder and very much of a hoppy nature. The person holding the camera is walking through it, lower half clad in pale blue and white robes embroidered with cloud patterns.

The camera spins, catching a glance of the run down farmhouse before settling on the man holding the smartphone. For someone with sticks and snow stuck in their hair, he still manages to look put together and the forehead ribbon he's wearing is not out of place and while there's a crease in his brows there's also an upward turn to his lips. Unfortunately for the protagonist of this story, he also really has no idea what the phone he's holding is or that he's recording and will soon be blasting a video out to the whole of the network.

Fortunately for him, the tumble he took earlier is not recorded. At least it hasn't started snowing. What luck.]

For a nightmare, this feels horribly tame... [There's no rain or snow suddenly falling but Lan Xichen is. The camera broadcasts the video, flies into the air, and then cuts out with the blue clad protagonist of this tale sitting in a lotus pose in a pile of snow. No scream and he nailed the landing, but is definitely worse for wear.]

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video; @jingi | (please pretend this totally happened two weeks ago, cough cough)

[gusumouthcannon]

[The familiar robes catch bored-Jingyi-poking-the-network by surprise and he perks up at the first shot of them. When the view shifts, the little thrill of recognizing Zewu-jun is immediately overlaid by the horror of Zewu-jun's here also. He does not deserve any of the bullshit that is going to happen to him here. Still, Jingyi cannot help but be, well, relieved, a little.

His return video is better framed but possibly jostling just as much from careless excitement, and his voice is loud as he calls:]

Zewu-jun!

[Jingyi's fallen harder with less panache, but even so.]

Are you okay? Where did you wake up? This is not one of those wake-up-in-a-dream-but-you-are-really-still-dreaming thing. You did actually wake up and those are actual sticks in your hair.

[calmness]

[There are too many familiar voices reaching back through the device, calling to him. Xichen, who was glad to hear the voice of his brother and nephew for the sudden familiarity in a foreign place, dreads that same sensation by the time Lan Jingyi's voice calls to him.]

Jingyi.

[He responds still, evenly, between one breath and the next.] I have gathered as much from those who called before you.

I am... [There is no point in stating that he is okay.].. unharmed and woke up in the forest. Now I am by a barn with instructions to remain where I am until I am found. Are you alright? [It is easier to ask, to focus on that than the rest of it.]