un: sweet lily of the hidden valley - handwritten

[bearshermark]

Haltham says we're going to need another 50,000 or 60,000 more coins for a smuggler, travel fees, rations, and papers, and because now there's more of us. They haven't figured out where we're heading after this or how long we'll be here. It's a little frustrating. I guess the regions of this world must have a lot of border security. He also said the weather is unusually bad for this time of year, so that makes things more difficult.

But I'm not going to be able to go into town much now that I have someone that stands out a lot following me around everywhere, so it'll be hard to make more money to put toward that fund. But I am going to make myself useful and help with everything that needs done around the farm. I think it's important to work together as much as we can, so if anyone could use an extra set of hands or two with anything, please let me know.

P.S. Don't mind Hendrik too much. He only looks intimidating.

-Eleven

Comments

voice; un: blushing beads of heft and beauty

[paperbutterflies]

I have only just arrived, but I can probably come back to the city to help out with jobs. That is... a lot of coin, is it not?

If I may... written messages might not be the best way to reach everyone, as there is at least one person here who cannot see.

voice;

[bearshermark]

[Immediate guilt]

Oh no, I didn't even-

You're right. I- I can go talk to him. How could I forget?

[paperbutterflies]

[ At least Sizhui didn't... start with that...? But will he be overprotective of said blind person? Probably as long as they are both here. ]

Oh - you know Xiao Xingchen daozhang? Has... he been here long? Has he been well?

[ Getting the man to answer that last question is probably kind of futile.

A moment. And then, realizing he was being impolite. ]

I am sorry. My surname is Lan, called Lan Sizhui.

[bearshermark]

Ah, I know Xingchen, yes.

[He doesn't know those other words though]

We all arrived about a moon ago, and Xingchen and I have made a handful of raids on the salt mine for coin. He's been well, and generous with his earnings toward the less fortunate.

[Possibly too generous tbh]

I'm glad he has people he knows here.

[paperbutterflies]

[ On his side, Sizhui winces slightly at the direct form of address, but he has learned as soon as he left the Cloud Recesses that people will not always adhere to what he has been taught as propriety, and if Xiao Xingchen daozhang does not object to it, he is not going to get involved. ]

Ah... I would not say that he knows me - well, not until he spoke through these things that day - but I know of him? Kind and generous are things I do know he is, too.

As it may be, are these funds to be found before we go? I ... don't think I'll be able to contribute much by then, but I will do my best to return whoever takes on the expense the coin later.

[bearshermark]

[Oh, could it be Xingchen is famous in his world?]

Before we leave the farm. We'll probably be there for some time, until this has been sorted out so it isn't an immediate concern, though I'm sure most of ua are anxious to be moving further east as quickly as we're able.

I wish we could simply forge off on our own path, but until we understand how travel works in this world- I don't think we even have a map- and not being able to read the native language is a trouble as well.

[paperbutterflies]

[ You can say that, yes. It's complicated. ]

Ah. That sounds more reasonable...

Move further east? What lies to the west?

[bearshermark]

Er, more freezing ocean, so far as I can tell.

[No map, as he's mentioned, and the portals are East, apparently]

[paperbutterflies]

The mirror on the ship came from the ocean...

[ Sizhui shakes his head to himself. ]

Either way, there is so much we don't know, it perhaps would be better to at least pay attention to the other directions.

[bearshermark]

Yes. I'd be interested in a map, if we could find one.