text - un: song.zichen

[snowflicks]

greetings
please call me song lan

[Looks at username, looks back at Song Lan. Sure, okay.]

with our cage growing bigger it occurred to me some may wish to travel from the lake but not have the means to protect themselves if danger fell upon them
or do not wish to travel alone
if any here require aid please do not hesitate to ask for it

Comments

un: luusi

[grief]

So you're offering bodyguard services??

I don't want anything to do with that nasty ass lake but this place is too dodgy to go places alone. I feel like some video game ugly is about to jump out and nick my bag every time I step outside

Re: un: luusi

[snowflicks]

if that is what you wish to call it
no payment is required I merely want to help is all

many things here are new to me what is a video game ugly?

[grief]

oooooh IDK how much I trust someone walking women places for free. You're either a boy scout or super sketch

A video game ugly is like that ugly mugged little twerp you fight in dungeon crawls. Pretty low level but awful to look at and annoying if they jump you unawares

[snowflicks]

[Ma'am. What even does 99.9% of what you've just said even mean.]

if you would feel more comfortable exchanging something for what I offer I will not stop you but I won't ask for anything otherwise

I think I may understand
they are an unsavory bandit or thief who would cause trouble

[grief]

yeah Just for my own sake, because I'm into free shit but like free fries or stealing shit. Not free male stalker kindness.

I don't know what I'd give you though. Half a chocolate bar ?? Will that tide you over?

(PS that's sort of it but think more furry or slimy or fairy tale-esque)

[snowflicks]

[He's not gonna touch the stealing thing. Not here at least. Back home? Stealing bad, here? They didn't have currency and everything was for the taking to survive so...]

that is not my intention but I understand your doubt
I've not heard of chocolate bar before but I will accept it as payment

so demons? monsters?

@r.o.s.i.e.

[r_o_s_i_e]

Hello, Song Lan!
It's very kind of you to offer your services.
Do you need any extra personnel to make sure everyone is staying safe?
I'm happy to help!

[snowflicks]

it's the right thing to do
help those who cannot protect themselves
I had not planned to organize anything beyond offering my own services but if people do require help please do assist them
we will be better off if we help each other in this place

[r_o_s_i_e]

I agree!
To all points.
I think it's best to help others.

[ It's not like she was, y'know, programmed to believe that or anything. ]

[snowflicks]

[Song Lan wouldn't understand this "programmed" stuff, but he's more than glad to find others who are like minded in this regard.]

if only that were the common belief
I suppose that is a lament for where I come from more than here
here we are at the mercy of people with far more power than we could fathom

[r_o_s_i_e]

[ It's fine. When they meet, she can open her head and show him all the neat mechanics behind her artifical body someday. ]

Oh, that doesn't bother me.
Zenith created me and so I must answer to them.
The technicians didn't make us, I suppose, but...
I have no trouble with authority.

[snowflicks]

[That sounds like an absolute horror show. Do it.]

authority that exists only to lord over the people and not care for those under them is worthless
with so much power one should use it for good

these technicians have us here for their wicked games
what sort of authority and power is that

@jingyi

[gusumouthcannon]

Oh! Daozhang! Hello! I require aid!

[snowflicks]

[Jingyi, he knows that name. The young Lan boy he'd met in the woods had told him who else had been brought here from their home. Lan Jingyi was one of them. The Jingyi who is not Jingyi, but is... Jingyi? It sounded complicated.]

hello lan-gongzi what can I do for you?

un: bullied.by.children

[lookslikeacinnamonroll]

Song Daozhang, I would also like to help people travel safely. I have already been watching the people I know as they travel and making sure no one tries to interfere with their journey, but I can expand that to people I don't know, too.

[ Wen Ning, hiding in the brush like a creeper. Yanno, like he do. ]

[snowflicks]

[Who... what... bullied by children? Clearly they are from home, but he can't pick out who this is by their username. Who is being bullied by children? Someone needs to take those children aside and teach them that's not very kind.]

it's noble of you to be a watchful eye but I would suggest making yourself known to those you want to help
they could mistake you for someone with poor intentions

[lookslikeacinnamonroll]

[ Someday he'll figure out how to change it. But mostly, he's forgotten it's even there. Unless someone points it out to him, he's not going to realize. ]

Ah! I promise you, I don't have poor intentions at all! I just want to see people safely to wherever they're going.

[snowflicks]

[One day one of these modern people will. It seems all of his fellow Chinese wizards are too polite to bring it up.]

of course
just be careful you do not frighten those you wish to protect

[Just saying, Ning. It is a little creepy suddenly realizing a strange man is following you. Well intentioned or not.]

may I ask your name? I know there are a good many here from our home

[lookslikeacinnamonroll]

[ Oh... Oh! That's right. His phone doesn't show his actual name for some reason. He should have realized sooner. ]

My apologies, Daozhang. This one's name is Wen Ning, courtesy name Wen Qionglin.

I will do my best to try not to frighten people.

[ He doesn't always succeed in that endeavor... ]

[snowflicks]

[Oh-!]

wen ning yes I remember you
last time we met I was not rightly myself
thank you for keeping me from harming people while my mind was not my own

@Jiang.Wanyin

[legbreakings]

Daozhang! You are here! I had no idea!

Are you well? Have you been here for long?

Jiang Wanyin

[snowflicks]

[Ah, another familiar name. Jiang Cheng, Jiang Sect leader. It had been... years since he'd last seen the man.]

it has been a short while now
my apologies for not making my presence known sooner

not too long ago I found out I was not alone here

[Alone meaning others from home that is.]

much has happened since we last met jiang-zongzhu

[legbreakings]

That's true. It has been years. Very eventful years.

[ He had been a boy when they last met, a wounded, terrified, angry boy.

He is still all of that but no longer a boy. ]

If there is anything I can do to help you, I'm at your disposal.

[snowflicks]

eventful yes

I had heard of your presence here and that of your sister how fair you both in these conditions?

[How is she alive? Is it similar to Wei Wuxian's resurrection? Things he won't ask directly, it feels too invasive. Too painful he's certain.]

thank you
the best we can do is help one another regardless of sect or creed

[legbreakings]

We are doing as well as can be expected in a place as dangerous as this one. We are renovating a house by the lake, where we live together, and we try to watch out for another.

It isn't always easy. This place is full of dangers. She doesn't remember as much as I do, she seems to have been taken from an earlier point in time than I.