un: nutcracker (video)

[snowcleave]

[ The young woman in the video is out of frame, and for the first twenty seconds, out of focus; two things she seems to neither notice nor especially care about. In truth, the longer she's silent, leaning in and squinting suspiciously at the pocketwatch she's been told she can use to communicate - the more it becomes clear that the scowling woman has no idea she's gotten it to work.

After one more second of stern appraisal, she steps further back, deciding that even if it's not working this will suffice as a practice run, and unrolls a piece of parchment with an ink portrait on it. When Fei first holds it up, it's way too far to one side to be in the frame of the shot, though she seems to catch this oversight quickly and adjust

Once she's more than half sure that the silly thing is activated and doing what she's been told it will do, Fei just starts talking, blowing right by customary introductions in favor of getting to the point. The quicker she can finish talking to a piece of jewelry, the happier she'll be. ]

I am looking for this man.

[ The portrait itself could be of either Lan Wangji, or Xie Yun, though it resembles the latter more strongly to those familiar with both gentlemen. After a pause so whoever it was that saw these stupid things could study the image she rolls the scroll back up and nods firmly, letting her eyes dart from side to side as she tries to figure out what should happen next. ]

If you see him, uh–

[ Fei huffs out a sigh and looks around at her surroundings before she picks the pocketwatch up and aims it out to take in the dilapidated view of Serthica. ]

I will be here, waiting.

[ The transmission ends abruptly enough that it's clear that she didn't intend for it to conclude. She'll figure the silly thing out in time. ]

Comments

@taken for granite

[rumorate]

[Allison squints at the picture because she knows that face? Maybe? Maybe not? It could be Lan Wangji?]

Is his name Lan Wangji?

[She hopes she's right, or at least somewhere in the ballpark.]

switching to voice

[snowcleave]

[ A scoff, then– ]

Is that what he's telling people? His name is Xie Yun, or Xie Meimei.

[rumorate]

[Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. As much as she appreciates Lan Wangji's many talents, she doesn't think lying about his identity for months is one of those talents.]

Oh, no, then I'm thinking of the wrong person. The person I know, his name is definitely Lan Wangji. Sorry.

un: protector izumi

[fushichou]

[Kanesada squints at the drawing, knowing for sure he's seen that face before, but he still wants to be sure!]

Yeah, uh...is he, like, really against killing older people?

voice here too

[snowcleave]

[ Her words come slowly like she's still weighing out her answer as she says it out loud. ]

If...they don't need to be killed? Do you know him?

[fushichou]

I think so? Let me tell you, he made fighting in a volcano really hard when I was just trying to not die and he kept telling me not to kill people literally attacking us.

[He's a sword! Killing is kind of on his resume!]

un: yiling laozu | video

[weifinder]

( oh, oh, here, he's got this one. wei wuxian likewise responds after doing some art time, which is to say, painting a swift portrait of the man who is actually lan wangji. when he comes on video, he's smiling, and then unfurling his own portrait to share )

This is Lan Wangji. That, ( meaning her shared portrait ) was Xie Yun, who I didn't see drowning, killed, or eaten, and so he's fine! Physically. And here!

( sometimes you know exactly what your husband looks like, and exactly what the guy very similar to him but far more smiling looks like, and you can add to the clarity slash confusion with a grin )

switching to voice

[snowcleave]

How is he two people?

[ Is everyone here really stupid and easily tricked? Is that what's happening? Is that how people end up stuck here? ]

Where is here?

likewise

[weifinder]

Here is a series of floating boats at sea after surviving a few deadly run ins. Anyway, he's two handsome men from very different backgrounds, that's what I'm telling you. Lan Zhan is my husband, I've never slept with your Xie Yun, ah?

un: absterge → video

[downswing]

( ...ah, to have grown so great in infamy that debt collectors traipse in your trail. )

Apologies. Your name unretained.

video!

[snowcleave]

[ The magnitude of which Fei is absolutely gawking is lost, because when she activates the video function of the watch she's been given, she hasn't pulled it far enough away from her face. Enjoy the intense eye close-up and shouting combo Wangji. ]

You have become so lazy! Not even a beard to mask your face?! Why are you tricking these people Xie Meimei? Why did you leave?

Re: video!

[downswing]

( Xie... meimei.

...ah. Ah, but this convulsive twitch of his eye may never truly stop its spasms. )

You seek another. ( And softer: ) A sister.

[ Video; un: anzhi ]

[balancedwire]

[ This? It's not a face that he expected to see, even if he'd semi-hoped. Something he'd talked to Wen Qing about. He's mentioned her before to others. ]

A-Fei?

video

[snowcleave]

[ Just because the sight of him acting normal fills her with joy does not mean that's any of his business, because she is also very confused, and very furious - which explains the scowl he's greeted with as she squints stonily into the watch. ]

How did you change clothes so quickly?

[balancedwire]

[ That lovely scowling face of his wife. He's trying not to smile or laugh at her reaction. He knows what it's like to show up in this strange place. ]

I didn't change clothes. What is it you think I was wearing?

un: workstormit | audio

[bravelyrunsaway]

Should we be directing your young man to come calling on his feet, or knees? By all glances, you've reached solid ground before we have, and what a miracle, did you speak with our illusive Merchant in the process?

[snowcleave]

Alive is fine, I will put him in his place on my own.

So, you know him? He's alive?

un : dappled peals of the parted seas (video)

[beitangmoran]

[Are you tired of seeing double, Zhou Fei? Here is another man identical to one you have spoken before, exactly with different hair and clothes and once again you might wonder of maybe you just didn't end up in a world of quick change artists.]

Well, which of the two with this face are you looking for exactly, gunyang?

... Forget I asked, I don't think it's Master Lan, so probably the other one. He's around. But where are you, if I may ask?

video

[snowcleave]

[ Fei stares for a long, long while, attempting to make sense of this very strange situation. ]

You are not the smiling man with the picture from before?

Is everyone here two people?

video; un: man's greatest treasure

[reparo]

[Hey, who here hasn't turned a video on accident? It doesn't look accidental, granted, but she can forgive the recording being out of focus and chalk it down to being new.

The portrait, on the other hand, makes her bring her own device closer to squint carefully at it. There's a difference between the two men, alright? (One decided she's his child to protect, the other calls her sister.) It's in the ability to smile, and the likelihood of actually smiling.]

Is that Xie Yun?

video

[snowcleave]

[ Oh she's so excited to hear someone calling him by the correct name she nearly fumbles the stupid tiny tickling metal thing she's been given to talk to. ]

What is that name to you? Where is he?

voice; un: owl lady

[traaaaaash]

[ Yeah, so, Eda knows Wangji, but she doesn't know this strange woman, and even if she's not exactly friend with Wangji, she has no reason to just sell him out like that, either. ]

You got beef with this guy?

[snowcleave]

No. I am not a farmer.

audio; (un: headless ragdoll)

[matermali]

[ Her voice is low, a soft rasp dragging at her words like wool skirts over waxed floorboards. ]

A picture. How much that would ease my search, but I am not so lucky as to have anything so useful on me.

Did you find success?

[snowcleave]

[ Ah, she recognizes the voice of the bright-eyed woman also housed in the orphanage. ]

Then we will make one after we find ink and paper.

[ Then, while consciously trying not to sound sad about it– ] Xie Yun paints the better pictures but we will find your person with my meager talents.

[ Those skills had gotten her answers at least. ]