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TDM 015: IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PARADISE
| TDM 015: IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PARADISE |
00. Arrival You come out of the water, the Nameless Island's own inherent energy drawing people in. It's like being suspended between realities and abruptly pushed from behind through a rift in dimensions. It may make you sick, or that might be the motion of the ocean, lifting you to the surface and carrying you to shore. Waterlogged and covered in sand, new arrivals will be greeted by robots who welcome them with towels and bracelet devices. The A5 card is already loaded up. If you don’t manage to get away from them quickly enough, they may even usher you toward the Laid Bare Spa, where new arrivals will be offered free massages, a sauna, hairstyling, and their clothing may come up permanently missing. But you will be given a complimentary towel to leave with if needed! Feel free to explore the Island, though there isn’t much to see beyond what arrivals before you have helped to rebuild. Most of the buildings are abandoned and in dire need of repair, and beyond the city lingers a thick fog that obscures much of the wilderness from view. Wander too far into this fog, and you will find yourself mysteriously looping back to where you began, your memories of what you were doing and how you got there erased. With that in mind, it may be wise to stake your claim on a place to live in the now, whether a rundown apartment in the City, a tent on the beach, a bed in the barracks, or your own space at the House of Worship. Your inventory will be found a day later, wrapped up haphazardly and delivered to each person's makeshift home. I. Beach Episode Welcome to your beautiful and sunny island paradise, Erku! ...wait, it's sunny? That's right! For about two weeks, the Island will enjoy unusually warm and clear weather, just perfect for enjoying the cool waters of the beach. Don't swim out too far, however, lest you stray into hazardous choppy waters or get lost in the fog that still lingers beyond the peaceful cove. Just stay close, and you're golden! Once again, friendly robots have erected beachside food stalls for grilling fish and crabs, and encourage any enterprising Islanders to help hawk foods for credits. If gutting and cleaning fish isn't your forte, however, never fear. The robots are recruiting for a very important task! You see, they have very thoughtfully set up swimming and snorkeling lessons for any Islanders who are doubting their skills at staying afloat, or who just want to have some fun in the waves. There is only one complication: the robots are too heavy to swim. Enter, you! Earn credits by instructing your fellow Islanders in the marvels of the ocean. Not just swimming and snorkeling, but also fishing, clam digging, and sand castle art - among other things - are valuable skills you can sell. II. Sand Sport For the more competitive sort, the robots of Erku are happy to share a bit of culture from the planet's ancient past: wet sand wrestling! Volunteers (or any innocent Islander roped off the beach by an enthusiastic 'bot) don their skimpiest swimwear and duke it out for dominance in the wet sand by trying to throw their opponent outside of a ring. Knock-outs count as an automatic lose, so be careful! Oh, and no worries if you aren't particularly strong. Before the match, competitors are offered a a special drink - simply named "The Creamy" - an ancient recipe which is said to temporarily increase your strength and vitality. One shot of this, and anyone could take on Goliath! (And not just in a fight.) By the way… those who lose the competition are mysteriously compelled to accompany the victor for the day, waiting on them hand and foot, anticipating and fulfilling their needs before they are spoken. Did the 'bots forget to mention that? III. Graciously Given Gifts While swimming in the nude is completely acceptable on the Island, the robots know that many residents still (for some reason) value their modesty. That is why they are happy to encourage beachside revelry and communion by making sure scanty swimwear is readily available to Islanders who are in need of something to cover up with - while still showing off your assets, of course. Islanders may purchase for themselves, but they are especially encouraged to gift swimwear to their fellow Islanders... in fact, any swimwear to be given as a gift is free! Not only is it a lovely gesture to let a friend or lover know you appreciate their body, but also, swimwear received as a gift is said to be very good luck in wet sand wrestling competitions. Naturally, the robots are sensitive to the emotional needs of their organic charges, and thus they wouldn't want any new, recent, or less personable arrivals to the Island to feel left out for not receiving gifts. That's why some Islanders will find surprise swimsuits in pretty gift wrap sitting on their literal or metaphorical doorstep… addressed with love from a random Islander! With thoughtfully written messages included, of course, usually complimenting the recipient's figure in graphic and/or poetic terms. If you have any manners, surely you'll find these mystery admirers and thank them for the lovely gift! (If you're really a person of culture, maybe you'll even show it off for them.) N A V I G A T I O N |
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"Does it now?" Damn his expressive features. Damn his inability to get away with a lie. And most of all, damn his inability to act even at the most important of times. How often were his own actions going to be the end of him?
(The answer is, quite obviously, repeatedly and many.)
"Ahah, so sorry. It is not as if I mean any offence to you, its just--" Quick! Think of something! A half-truth maybe? Just because one knows a lot doesn't mean one has to reveal everything. "I suppose you can say that this land makes things confusing. It is a pleasure to officially meet you Jiang Yanli. But just because we have not met does not mean I do not know of you."
He sighed out, standing up straight.
"It seems we may be from the same land in the same world."
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Yanli wasn't entirely sure what to think of Su Minshan, at the moment. That expression had not been a good one. The way he was acting, on top of it, reminded her of others that she'd run into back home. Those hadn't been good experiences either.
"The only way that you would know of me is either through my brothers or my husband, and I have never had any of them speak of you. So, how do you know me, Sect Leader Su Minshan?"
He might say that the land makes things confusing, but she didn't see it that way. Even with having her husband alive again.
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He had doubts that they would have mentioned him even if they did remember him.
"Perhaps it's better that I rephrase myself," He sighed out. Trying his best to think of how and where to start with it all. Really, a part of him just wished to flee, to vanish entirely from this conversation and never look back. But considering they were both stuck on this island, he knew it would come back to bite him. Just as everything always had. "I have run across both your brothers and your husband many times. And although they know of me, we are not necessarily close. I am only a minor sect leader in comparison to a great family such as your own. But more than that... I feel that they would not have mentioned me because we come from different points in time."
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"What is it you have against my brothers and husband?"
When he does rephrase himself, she listens. Something didn't feel like it was adding up and she wasn't entirely sure what. However, she does give a slight hum at that last part.
"How did you run across them exactly? As for the different points in time, that maybe so for my husband, but I didn't say that my brothers were here for it to be true for them." Maybe she'd ask her husband if he knew who Su Minshan was. Or maybe she'd even ask A-Yao, she hadn't quite decided yet.
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"Looking back, it's a bit surreal. Especially meeting you in person like this. But your family wouldn't have told you much of me during your time because I was nothing more than a cultivator in training—a student under the Gusu Lan sect, to be precise. I did attend cloud recess with your brothers and husband and grew up around the same age at the same time, but I was far too below their standing to be known by them.
Wei Wuxian did save my life a few times over, though. Although that feels like such a long time from my perspective."
That was back when he respected the man. Back before everything went wrong.
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"I was in Cloud Recesses for a short time," she states simply. So, why hadn't she seen or heard of him? That was very suspicious. Though, she hadn't been there as long as her brothers had been. That was also around the time that her brother had gotten in trouble due to his fight with her future husband too.
She shakes her head," A-Xian never saw anyone below his standing." Her baby brother, Jiang Cheng, might have been a different story back then. She does, however, give a soft smile to that last part.
"A-Xian would rather have those around him safe, so I'm not surprised."
no subject
"He one said something later in life like 'all my life I saw myself as a prodigy, a big deal'. That left quite an impact on me. I was never fond of people who saw themselves above others. But regardless, he saved me. And for that, I could respect him a bit."
Wei Wuxian could have left him to die in that lake. Almost everyone else was planning to. His feelings about Wei Wuxian were complicated.
"So neither of your brothers have once told you about their adventures in Caiyi town?"
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In fact, that sounded absolutely nothing like her little brother. Perhaps it was later on in life then. She does know that things had drastically changed for them all. Things had become pretty messed up. It was something that she didn't want to think about.
However, at the mention of Caiyi Town, she shakes her head," No. Neither of them mentioned anything about Caiyi Town. What happened in Caiyi Town?" One couldn't just say that and not expect someone to not want an answer.
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Pausing after only a brief moment before dropping his arms to the side with a sigh. Well, as expected. If they didn't tell her about that they definitely didn't tell her about him.
That was fine. He was used to it. That was how things always went for him.
"A few months into everyone's training at cloud recess, there was an incident concerning an outbreak of violent water spirits near Caiyi Town, specifically in the Waterborne Abyss. They were harming local villagers, and those in the Gusu Lan sect were initially requested to help. But since your brothers were the forthright type, they managed to catch the attention of Zewu-Jun. He offered them to come along with the disposal of the spirit. It... It ended up a little more complicated than expected. I was a young outside disciple of the Gusu Lan sect at the time myself. That was when I first encountered your brothers in person."
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She was not surprised that her brothers had caught the attention of Zewu-Jun. "So, they managed to catch the attention of Zewu-Jun due to their knowledge of water ghouls and having dealt with them before, then." That wasn't really a question, more a statement of fact.
"An outside disciple of Gusu Lan?"
That? It definitely caught her attention.
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He sighed, instead fixing up posture as he folded his arms in thought. He wanted to keep this encounter civil, if not light hearted. In the end, she was the one who saved him from an embarrassing situation. And besides the lingering guilt which churned deep in his chest, he really felt no animosity towards her.
"I haven't once been dishonest with you in this conversation so I don't understand why things must suddenly be so tense between us. And if you have any questions I promise to answer them with full earnestness. I met your brothers when we were all still young. I was indeed an outside disciple of Gusu Lan in my youth. Because of that I doubt your brothers would remember me enough to tell you about me. Regardless, Wei Wuxian saved my life. And although I do not agree with his way of thinking I do respect him for his actions.
It would be impossible not to know them fairly well growing up as I had."
no subject
"Actually, the reasons I was dubious of you is due to your wording of things. How you made it seem like you had something against my brothers and husband. Something that I do not take kindly to," she tells him simply. Though, the mention of not once being dishonest with her was yet to be seen. Maybe she would ask her brother about the man before her.
"If you do not wish for things to be so tense between us then do not assume that I have spoken of things that I have not spoken of," she tells him. Yanli paid very close attention to the things in which she's said. "Seeing as the only thing that I have said was that they were where my patience came from." Even with how tense things were she had not raised her voice. Honestly, she knew that she didn't need to when she was upset.
She didn't trust the outside disciple thing, but that she keeps to herself. The man before her did not know her A-Xian that well, it seemed, and that was fine. Not everyone knew Wei Wuxian the way that she did. Then again, not everyone practically helped raise him.
"I will let you know if there are any questions that I have. For now, however, I should get back to my husband and brother. If there is anything else you need, Sect Leader Su Minshan, let me know. I will try to help as I can."
no subject
"V-Vey well," Su Minshan could not help but step back with that. Taking another moment to bow, this time low, with forced respect that he could not help but show. One thing was for certain. She was far more resolute and stern than either of her brothers. And far less easy to rile. His eyes closing, accepting his defeat. "I know when not to overstep my bounds Madam Jien. Regardless, I only hope that your transition here is an easy one."
Hopefully far easier than what he had experienced so far.