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onceuponacomm2021-06-28 10:01 am
faentasy) wrote in onceuponacomm2021-06-28 10:01 am
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 5
Almost half of the non-fairy population of Aira Niluc is gone.
Some may be feeling the absence of their fellow participants in this story. Others will stay focused on the wish they want to get. What never changes is that the story goes on, bringing you closer to the end -- and to another chapter. What will it bring this time?
Snow!
Snow as far as the eye can see, a cold blanket covering the new area. Some winter amenities are now available, ready for perusal! But that's not all there's to find: everyone also will find reminders of their homes, of people they know, of happier times.
Of their wishes.
Who will try to reach their wish this time?
[[Welcome to Week 5! Feel free to make top levels at your discretion, and remember to note it in your header if you plan on investigating any locations. However, please try to keep investigations to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday! You can also privately contact Hamelin at your leisure.
In addition, a reminder that any Murder Proposals for this week are due by Tuesday 3:00 PM EST/12:00 PM PST! However, please note that you have the option of submitting murder proposals for a later week as well.]]
no subject
The part about Carta is straightforward.
But, he wonders idly if Gaelio also never wished to aim for the top. But that's enough wondering on the matter for now; though he supposes some of those qualities definitely do match up. Not many people have probably taken notice of his own stubbornness for that matter, however it is there in the right conditions.
(Stubbornness in running away from responsibilities is a key one!! For now.) ]
...Stuck in each other's gravity? I'm not sure what you mean by that.
Do you mean because you two had grown up as childhood friends?
no subject
Something like that. I doubt we could have been without one another if death hadn't separated us.
[ His tether to the warm world of comfort and calm - the shackle at his foot, binding him, clipping his wings. ]
Well, it's all over and past now. Seeing them again was an unexpected sorrow. Did you want to tell me about your own visions as well? The least I can do is listen.
no subject
I don't mind talking about them.
Mine involved...Jiang-xiong and Wei-xiong. It was just memories of our times over at the Cloud Recesses; the happier times, where we were young and had fun spending time being involved in pranks or breaking rules. Those sort of things.
You already know about Wei-xiong, but just imagine someone even more reckless and likely to cause a lot more trouble. He still always stood up for people when they were in trouble even back that, no matter what.
As for Jiang-xiong...well, he isn't so friendly like he used to be. Though even back then he was mostly barbs and sharp edges, and was pretty hesitant to show affection or weakness. But if you spent enough time with him you'd find out he had a soft and caring center. He's still like that, just more difficult to get through.
[ He pauses for a moment. He's been thinking that McGillis was like a certain someone else he once knew, but...maybe it's more than one person, now that he's thought about it again. ]
no subject
It seems like our fondest memories are rather similar in nature. Who would have thought?
Are you still friends with this Jiang-xiong now? [ ... ] And come to think of it, there seems to be a nickname pattern here. Does 'Xiong' carry a specific meaning?
no subject
[ He's sure that it's probably a common thing. Or, well, to be quite honest...as much as he loved/still loves his family, it's rare that he can point out fond memories there with ease. Not that things were terribly bad when he was young, but also a lot of loss happened there as well.
With his friends, it feels like it took some time before things got truly muddled. He pauses for a moment, about to say maybe no...but he remembers, when he was dragged into that temple, and even though Jiang Cheng could've stayed behind, he came for them still. All of them. Fiercely, protectively, and assuredly.
He'll look a bit sheepish. ]
...It's hard to say, since we've become distant, but I think personally, yes. He'd probably grumble about it if you asked, though.
[ Technically he should've called him 'Sect Leader Jiang', but old habits die hard. ]
But, -xiong is like something you'd call a good friend? It's like kind of like a term of endearment, you know? There's no official meaning [ So no translation! ], but that feeling is expressed in just attaching it to a friend's name.
no subject
[ In her defense, she's known him since she was a literally infant. The nickname came about as a very sincere attempt to say his actual name, offset by Almiria having been barely 2 at the time.
Maybe he shouldn't have thought of Almiria though, even that is in itself a little painful. Ah... ]
You would be... Nie-xiong then, to those two? Or is it Huai-xiong?
[ Forgive him, his experience with Asian languages is zero... ]
no subject
[ ...He really can't imagine calling McGillis 'Mackie', god. But he can understand for maybe younger people who may want to phrase other people's names more cutely? Or maybe considering her young age it was easier for her to give her name as such.
He starts a bit at "Nie-xiong" because in recent memory there's only been Wei Wuxian who had called him as such, and he kind of misses him still because that never stopped being a thing. But hearing McGillis say "Huai-xiong" brings the smile right back, with a tinge of amusement. ]
First, Huai-xiong wouldn't really be right. So it'd be just Nie-xiong to them...originally, anyway.
Jiang-xiong would probably try to be more formal these days and refer to me as "Sect Leader Nie", because of just how he is. So it'd have only been Wei-xiong.
no subject
[ Though it sounds like there is a lot more going on with this group than merely growing up. McGillis had imagined Huaisang would have more close friends at home, considering how sociable he is in conversation. ]
And stop me if I'm asking too many questions now, but what precisely does being a sect leader entail aside from being head of the family? Your world is still a mystery to me in many regards....
[ And he'd rather hear about that than have his thought drift back to his own past uncontrolled. ]
no subject
[ He's not being serious either way...but he feels comfortable enough to be silly anyways. ]
Oh, well...
As Sect Leader I need to make sure that the Sect is running as it should be. You know by making sure that people are doing things for diplomacy, the disciples are doing their training, trade is going fine, finances are okay, and that I'm still getting my fan and paint collection, to name the most important parts. I guess holding consul with the Nie elders sometimes too, but I'd rather not.
Obviously I do have people who are in charge of many of those things and I just simply check in with them so I'm not overseeing all of that in person.
[ His brother was far more hands on than he was, suffice to say. ]
no subject
[ If you're determined, the height difference means nothing! Not that McGillis hopes to deserve a nose flick anytime soon, but it is a matter of principle to associate with people who aren't so easily discouraged. ]
It sounds like you're basically running a small city-state there.
no subject
I'll remember you said that, you know.
[ But he will nod. ]
I guess so. It's a good amount of work sometimes, but not so much that I can't find some time to relax. [ Like for planning out vacations!! ] Especially after one of those conferences.
no subject
[ Their very first conversation in the palace courtyard... Seems more like it's been half a year rather than a month. ]