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Entry tags:
TDM 001
| TDM 001: TFLU |
 ( 1 ) After leaving the teleportation chamber, you are gently coaxed out of the hospital and encouraged to find a place to stay. Maybe you've had time to check out your A5 app. Maybe you're just settling in. It's cloudy, overcast, cold -- you'll want to seek out someplace warm. Also, your device is beeping. A lot. The tech on the island works, it just doesn't work right. You can't seem to send a message to the correct person. It's time for... Texts From Last Universe( 2 ) What's this? Your bingo card has just been beamed to a stranger's inbox...?! ( sample A5 cards -- NSFW, may contain triggering content, please feel free to use/ignore as you see fit) ( 3 ) And now you're receiving messages from other users that they don't remember sending: Nice shirt. It would look better on my floor. 10/10 would ride it into the sunset. This user thinks you're attractive. u up? 🍆 ( 4 ) Once you figure out that the robots have been hacking your devices, it's no easy feat to track one down and demand they stop. "So The Augur wills!" they wail in a monotone. "So it is done!" Any attempt to actually contact The Augur and get back into the hospital will be met with beefy robot bodyguards, who suggest taking a gentler approach to fix your devices. If you know what they mean. Wink. (This is your overt kink prompt. Please label any threads accordingly.) Note: All prompts are optional. The theme for this TDM is "malfunctioning devices." They can be fixed by indulging in the squares on your cards. For the sake of the TDM, you can use one of the pre-generated examples or a wildcard from the kink list. This can be used as a free bingo square completion once you have been accepted into the game. Players are welcome to wildcard their own TDM prompts; we only ask that you try to stick to the theme. N A V I G A T I O N |
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Are... his eyes back?
His eyes are back.
Once the realization actually hits Xue Yang, he feels a surge of exhilaration. He doesn't know how this happened--was it here? It had to have been thanks to something done to him in this place--but one of the wounds Song Lan inflicted on Xiao Xingchen is now gone.
The wound that Xue Yang was taking advantage of is gone.
The moment he realizes it, he realizes immediately that he needs to keep this a secret. Just like how he's never let Xiao Xingchen know who he was when they lived together in Yi City, he needs to keep that a secret here. If it stays a secret, maybe he can still use it somehow.
He lets his voice return to normal, as if nothing had been off in the first place. ]
Daozhang Xiao Xingchen, it really is you! How strange to meet you here of all places!
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You--
[Muscles tense, he breaks into a cold sweat. So great is his shock that even his hatred doesn't immediately rise from its dormancy. For a moment, he questions himself-- if it's now his eyes fooling him, but between sight and his hearing, he can't deny what's in front of him.]
The Jin Sect announced your execution.
[Of course, his voice wavers as he immediately realizes how foolish he was to believe them, even with a different head.]
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Xue Yang could easily make that seem even more likely. ]
And stories of you giving up your eyes even made their way to me. It seems like both of us had people exaggerating on our behalves.
You really didn't forget me, daozhang. That makes me happy.
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Who could forget the stain on his life?
Yet finding that other people know of what happened with Xiao Xingchen's eyes sends a wave of embarrassment - almost disarming - through him, apparent in this new set. Being in the public eye meant no action of his could go unnoticed, but he only wished to repay--
He doesn't think to correct Xue Yang as his expression hardens again.]
I should have known. Your friends keep you from having to ever worry about punishment.
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[ You're one of them, he thinks, but he doesn't say it. After all, Jin Guangyao injured Xue Yang to the point where a normal person or even most cultivators would have died, just to sell the story, and dumped him on his own. There was a real chance he could have actually died there on the side of the road, and he knew that well before the plan was put into action. Who would have thought a selfless, kind stranger who knew better than to ask too many questions would come along and help him? ]
But how about you? I heard that Daozhang Song Lan drove you away and left you to wander alone. Or was that also exaggerated?
[ The choice of topic is deliberate, chosen to remind Xiao Xingchen of the distance that his "friend" put between them. To remind Xiao Xingchen that this person he thought was worthy of his presence was anything but. ]
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He pauses for a moment as he collects himself enough to speak.]
Keep his name out of your mouth.
[As if he would consider indulging Xue Yang in speaking about that for even a moment. Of course such a twisted, cruel man would've enjoyed seeing for himself just how Xiao Xingchen's life had fallen apart since they last met, and he's not going to let him have that satisfaction.
Better to think and focus on the present situation. A dangerous man, among so many confused people--]
Just what are you planning to do here?
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[ But he can let the subject drop. The wedge has already been driven between the two in Xiao Xingchen's heart. That's plenty for Xue Yang. ]
Isn't this great luck for both of us? We can start over here with nothing of our pasts holding us back. If I tell you I haven't hurt anyone, will you still make that face at me?
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Who is escaping their past here? Certainly not Xiao Xingchen. His chest feels tight as he longs for the quiet town and the coffin house, a sanctuary from all the troubles of the cultivation world. He'd rather return to blindness and live there once more. But now knowing that Xue Yang is alive and here, he can't turn away.]
If I could believe you're truthful, then I'd assume that you've only just been brought here as well.
[Xue Yang won't need much time until that's changed, he's sure.]
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Daozhang Xiao Xingchen, you make so many assumptions about me.
[ Both here like this, and about his nameless housemate back in Yi City. ]
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I made no assumptions about you, at first.
[Perhaps if he had proper guidance, the worst he would have been was a mere delinquent, but there's no reason to believe that Xue Yang would ever consider a proper path anymore. Xiao Xingchen knows he shouldn't humor him, and yet...
If he was to assume some more, then Xue Yang wouldn't care to be coy about what he wants to do. Maybe he's shameless enough to think Xiao Xingchen would ever fall for one of his tricks.]
You want for me to believe that I can just ignore you?
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[ Would you take me into your home, treat me as your friend, care for me and feed me and laugh along with me? Would you night hunt with me, cutting down monsters and humans alike? ]
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[Xiao Xingchen's tone is tense, the calm but firm authority cracking. Because if Xiao Xingchen is to be honest, he isn't sure what to do in this world. Should he just cut Xue Yang down like he says? Are there some authorities that he can speak to about this matter?
Perhaps, even if he does face retribution for killing a man under the laws here, it would be worth it just to spare everyone else. Last time, going through the proper channels didn't work.
His fingers tighten around Shuanghua's hilt.]
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What benefit comes of standing in my way?
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Of course, it still hurts. He can't hide that.
Perhaps matters were too complicated before, but there's no one to protect Xue Yang here. Not as far as he can tell. And now that he has a chance to stop this right away, perhaps it's the only right thing to do.]
That I can stop it from happening to anyone else!
[With that, Xiao Xingchen unsheathes Shuanghua in a single, quick motion.]
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You aren't worried about making me angry?
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[Xiao Xingchen has to wonder to himself why he lets himself get talked into explaining his motivation to Xue Yang. Surely the man knows what he's guilty of-- why must Xiao Xingchen justify himself to someone like this?
Perhaps it only feels fair, even if this is to one who doesn't play fair. Maybe that's why he might just lose again.]
But you've given no reason as to why I should believe that you won't hurt anyone else here, if they somehow anger you. You already hate me, so give your anger directly to me this time. We can settle this already.
[He doesn't want the past to repeat, but whether he acts now or he doesn't, he can only guess that Xue Yang will hurt someone. Xiao Xingchen would rather it be himself than anyone innocent.]
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That's it, isn't it? Directly to you, and not to anyone else. Daozhang Xiao Xingchen, I see why they said you'd even give up your eyes for someone else. You'd do so much for those who hate you, so could it be you actually think you're trying to do me a favor?
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Will you face me here or not? If it's a favor you're after...
[Xue Yang doesn't ever confront Xiao Xingchen directly, he's found. Is the reason - at least partially - because he fears his strength? Believing he had no chance of defeating him in direct combat once more?
From his sleeve, he takes out a blindfold and places it over his eyes, reaching around to tie it around the back of his head in a practiced motion.
Perhaps, for the years he'd spent using one, he felt he should still hold onto it. Maybe it does confirm Xue Yang's suspicions if he was truly uncertain-- not that it matters. Whatever the case, lack of sight doesn't stop Xiao Xingchen's strength, but it helps to even whatever odds there are.]
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He resists it. ]
You're going to fight me while blindfolded? That is quite a favor.
[ But he knows that Xiao Xingchen is still extremely skilled, even without his eyesight. ]
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[Again in the interest of fairness, whether Xue Yang deserves it or not.]
But you have your chance to be rid of me forever.
[Perhaps it doesn't matter so much which of them dies, as long as this is finally brought to an end. Though he will miss A-Qing, and his unnamed companion, who likely don't know what happened to make the daozhang disappear.
But it's fine. They can surely get along fine without him.]
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The more he fights, the more time he spends around a blindfolded Xiao Xingchen, the more he risks him noticing the similarities between Xue Yang and a certain nameless man. He doesn't want that secret discovered so soon.
So he pulls out Jiangzai, jumps on it, and starts to fly off without a word. The nameless friend never flew on his sword, because a blind Xiao Xingchen couldn't follow. It should hopefully buy him enough time to get away. He was done for now. ]
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The strangest sort of disappointment fills Xiao Xingchen as he glares at the retreating figure-- he'd been so certain that they would put an end to their conflict here. But now that he knows that Xue Yang is around, he needs to keep on guard and follow any information about him, in case he strikes again...]