video: average sighren

[lanclan]

[ The scene is one of steam and muffled, echoing male voices from elsewhere, tiles covering walls. Xichen's face is in shot, hair unbound and soaked where it falls down his bare shoulders, pink from the hot water (no fear, he has a thin robe shrugged off but tied about his waist out of shot) where he is leaning over the edge of the bath. ]

This is rather unorthodox, in many ways, as first meetings go. Pardon my appearance, robes are somewhat contradictory to my surroundings. [ But he's out of seclusion, in a strange realm, and this is the only way he knows to prove the bathhouse is safe: by using it. ] Some of you already know my younger brother, Lan Wangji. You may call me Lan Xichen.

[ He sighs, nasal and soft. More of an exhale. His smile hitches back up. ]

I now live above the bathhouse. Technically, [ here he glances over blandly to a pair of guffawing sailors in the background, lips pursing as he holds back his real opinion, ] this is a private residence, but it would be rude to deny access to those who wish to use the downstairs, so I would like to invite over anyone who wishes to bathe in something other than cold lake-water — if my housemates wouldn't mind, I should like to meet all of you, too.

There is a separate area for women, of course. Please use the rinsing stations before entering the main baths and wear something discreet, for the sake of others.

[ Xichen glances around as someone calls his name and there is a momentary wider shot of him soaked to the waist as he straightens to nod in answer, raking back his hair so it isn't stuck to his chest you're welcome. He looks again to the video and smiles warmly, tilting his head in apology for the break in his attention. ]

It is seemingly busier in the afternoons.

Comments

[rumorate]

Have you been getting a lot of responses, then?

[She can imagine quite a few people had a similar response to her.]

[lanclan]

More than I expected, though I hoped letting everyone know they are welcome at the baths would help so I'm pleasantly surprised.

[ He's also starting to turn pink from the heat, a Lan stewing. ]

[rumorate]

Oh, the baths are definitely an opportunity I'll be talking.

[It's been so long since she's visited a sauna to try and sweat away some of her stress.]

You have to take advantage of the little luxuries while you have them.

[lanclan]

They disappear with great frequency, as I understand it.

[rumorate]

We move around a lot. So what may be consistent in one place, might not be in another.

[There definitely wasn't time for spas when they were in the siege at Alem.]

[lanclan]

What are your personal experiences with this phenomenon?

[rumorate]

Define phenomenon.

[Because there's a lot encapsulated in that.]

I've been here for two years, so it's been ... a lot.

[lanclan]

A general overview of your time here, your opinion of it, would be appreciated.

[rumorate]

Nine times out of ten we're trying not to get ourselves killed. Every place we visit has some kind of problem that needs solving. We've been to five locations since I got here? Taravast, House of Ravens, Serithca, Alem and here.

Taravast was political machinations and power grabs. House of Ravens was a literal cult. Serithca was also political but also medical? And Alem was a siege.

[All of them have had other moving parts and pieces, but that's basically the jist.]

We usually spend about a couple months in each place, trying to get to the beacon that could theoretically send us home.