OPEN RP

[inheritedpain]

Comments

Prisma Voice Testing Prompt 1

[inheritedpain]

1. Arrival

[ It's the barking, that wakes him up. The barking, and then the feeling of a wet nose pressing insistently against his cheek. He doesn't open his eyes yet - he feels far too uncomfortable and also still tired, and instead blindly reaches out with a hand for the familiar side of his dog, Fairy. Usually Fairy is way better behaved than this (far more behaved than Jin Ling himself), so after a moment he cracks his eyes open to frown at the pup. ]

What's gotten into y--

[ He cuts off when his surroundings filter into his brain. Wait. Where the hell is he?

He sits up abruptly, crystal pieces scattering around him as he does so, the hair on the back of his neck rising with every second. Bad. This is bad? ]

Fairy, where are we?

[ It's a rhetorical question, of course, as he struggles to get up, grabbing his sword from where it lay beside him and kicking at some of the crystal shards scattered on the ground. This is wrong. This is wrong. When he fell asleep, he was still in Lan Ling. And now--

He drew his sword from its sheathe, scowling as he turned around quickly on the spot, eyes narrowed as he scanned the endless expanse of purple dust. ]

Show yourself! [ He yelled into the darkness, brandishing his sword. Someone, or something had brought him here. He was sure of that. ]

Prisma Voice Testing Prompt 2

[inheritedpain]

2. HEAT UP, I CAN'T COOL DOWN: A

[ The last 24 hours have been a suspicious whirl wind of helpful people and gifts - up to and including an entire apartment. They would probably be more welcome if Jin Ling had any real concept of where he was or why he was here, but despite everyone trying to tell him, he's mostly just yelled at people to shut up when they've made him too confused. He's starting to get the gist of it, though.

He is somewhere very far from home, with people very strange, as if they walked out of fairy tales. People who look like demons or half creatures and yet go about their daily lives as much as anyone else. Magic light that makes the entire night gleam with neon colours, strange devices that glow and blink and beep at him.

He has been pretending for the last several hours that of course he knows what All Of These Things Do and that he knows Exactly Where He Is, Thank You Very Much, but it's starting to get more than a little overwhelming.

The apartment grants him brief respite. At least here, for a moment, he's alone. Well, not for long, apparently.

The moment someone else walks into the room, he's drawing his sword and pointing it threateningly at the door. Because, well, this is definitely how you greet new roommates. ]


3. HEAT UP, I CAN'T COOL DOWN: B

[ A few days into his stay and at least some of Jin Ling's anger and confusion have turned to a genuine curiosity, and he's starting to poke his nose into shit whether it belongs there or not.

So right now, he's finally picking up the odd little cube that was in his room with a card. As soon as he touches it, however, it starts hovering, and to his shock - (though slightly less shock than it would have given him a couple of days ago) - it starts singing at him.

He likes it, at first, despite himself. It's actually quite a nice little tune, isn't it? But then it doesn't stop.

And doesn't stop.

And doesn't stop.

Cue half an hour later when there is a crash and a bang as he bursts out of his apartment, sword drawn and trying to smack a little cube as he chases its hovering form down the hallway. ( Maybe it would stay in one place if you stopped hitting it with your sword, Jin Ling... )

Please someone save him, he has no idea what he's doing. ]

2 - have a mama who has no idea who are you yet, kiddo

[infiniteheart]

[It just so happens that his new roommate is a young woman in her early twenties with long, dark hair and eyes and a kind face. She responds to the sword being pointed at her with a stunning amount of patience and serenity, not even blinking. Instead, she just leans against the doorframe and gently smiles.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.

[Her voice is soft, melodic, and very, very calm.]

I was just wondering if you were hungry. If you are, I could make us something to eat. I just brought in some groceries.

[inheritedpain]

[ Jin Ling squints, his instinctual reaction still telling him to keep his guard up, but as soon as she speaks it's like she's having a completely different interaction than he is. Here he is, standing in a room with his sword out, pointed at this random - very pretty - woman, and she's the one apologizing to him.

He feels a flush of shame rise up his throat and he sheathes his sword, clearing his voice, before turning his chin up as he looks at her. ]

You didn't startle me.

[ She totally did, but it's hard to admit that when she is standing there looking all calm and sweet at him. He is also very hungry, but admitting that seems very silly, right now, so he doesn't. He just narrows his eyes a bit. ]

You live here?

[infiniteheart]

Well, I did very briefly. This apartment was assigned to me when I first arrived but I mostly live with my brother, his friend, and my betrothed elsewhere in the city. I was curious about whether or not I'd still be able to get in so I gave it a try.

[And well, she still finds this place hectic and overwhelming herself, having only recently arrived herself. There's so much strangeness to be seen everywhere and adjusted to. It exists even in her new home with a little brother now fifteen years her senior, a sect leader she barely knows calling her his sister-in-law, and the young man she's felt unrequited love toward for years suddenly being her future husband.

This tiny apartment, however, feels almost like a sanctuary from all that. A small space where her life can be just... well, simple.]

I thought that it might be nice to spend some time way from it all here so I picked up a little food. I didn't realize there'd be someone else now.

[Her body language remains completely relaxed, her tone soothing.]

...I hope I'm not intruding too much. I truly didn't know you'd be here when I came in.

3.

[sizhui]

[ Oh. Oh, no, not this... again. The song isn't that bad, originally, but by now he's heard it so many times... ]

Iii... don't think the sword will help stop it, you'll have to--

[ Sword. That sword.

Sizhui swallows his visceral reaction to the repetition and focuses. ]

... J-- Jin Ling??

[inheritedpain]

Something has to stop it-- [ His voice was almost a growl, and it was obvious, up close, how long this had been going on. He was sweating profusely, his face reddened, the robes around his throat drenched with his own sweat. He was breathing hard and panting, bent over a little with the sword still in his hand as he glared down the cube.

At the sound of his name, though, he finally turned his head to his newfound companion, and his eyes widened. ]

Lan Sizhui?

[ As if to confirm Sizhui's suspicions, a few seconds later there's a bark and then the patter of feet as Fairy runs up to join them, apparently completely undeterred by the annoying singing box. ]

How did you -- How long-- Where-- [ But the thousand questions he had were cast aside the minute the box started its song over again, making his attention snap back to it. ]

How do I destroy it??

[sizhui]

Yes! [ Sizhui manages to pry his hands from clenching in fists long enough to cup them in greeting, then to reach his hand to pet the spiritual dog. ]

And, um, nobody that I know has managed to destroy one, though you can apparently stop it. With h-- a lot of moonlacing.

[ Blame his head pounding with the music for that slip of tongue. And the effect of the music for the flush.

Really. ]

2 - all these adults who don't know you are gonna start hurting your feelings huh

[consignation]

[ At the sudden thrust of a sword, Jiang Cheng parries with Sandu before scowling at the inexpert grip of its wielder. He's come to investigate after seeing a flutter of familiar bright yellow robes, but Jin Zixuan this shifty little brat is not.

Although...

Frown deepening, he shoves Sandu against the stranger's blade for a better look at it, looking up sharply at the boy when he confirms that it is in fact Suihua. ]

Who are you, and what are you doing with Jin Zixuan's sword?

[ Zidian crackles faintly in warning, Jiang Chen's jaw set in suspicion and displeasure. ]

it's not like his feelings are particularly hard to hurt to be fair

[inheritedpain]

[ The instant he recognized the face of the man before him, Jin Ling's sword dropped. His eyes wide, for half a second, the smile budding on his face. ]

Uncl--

[ And then Jiang Cheng spoke, and the happy, relieved word disappeared on his tongue, confusion taking its place. Maybe his uncle was berating him for how bad his greeting was?? He couldn't even begin to parse the question beyond that, it just didn't make sense. In what world would Jiang Cheng not know who he was?

He swallowed quickly, sheathing the sword, and then cupped his hands before him and bowed quickly. ]

I- I thought I was alone here. No one was there when I awoke. Not you, not Clan Leader Guangyao-- If I knew where you were, I would have come--!

this poor child i love him

[consignation]

[ The familiarity makes Jiang Cheng balk, although he at least has the decency to feel slightly awkward about the aborted smile on the boy's face, enough that he actually stops and tries to listen.

He catches the first part of that address. Uncle, maternal. Then the boy goes on, the picture coming into focus with stark and terrible clarity. The Jin nephew, Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan's son. He tries to recall everything his shi ge told him about the boy, but honestly he'd been so taken aback by the very idea of Yanli wed to Zixuan that he didn't retain much in the way of information on the child itself.

His other self had been defensive over the boy if nothing else, so he sighs out his breath and also sheaths his sword. ]

You must be... the nephew. [ Sorry, he didn't retain your name either Jin Ling. ]

Sorry to break it to you like this, but we've never met. Time is [ all fucked up ] strange in this place. I only just turned twenty, and you haven't been born yet where I'm from.

I presume we have a good relationship?

2

[onerous]

[This sort of thing tracks for the direction Yuri's life likes to go in. She's just trying to get back home from grocery shopping, a few bags in her arms full of things to attempt to try (she has a cookbook! A working kitchen! She can totally attempt making Real Food!) and then there's someone barrelling down the halls chasing one of those damn cubes--

And Yuri isn't quite able to get out of the way in time. She stumbles back, dropping some of her bags (there's a very ominous glass-breaking sound from one of them) and she hits the floor with a cry of surprise.

And then just. Sort of sighs deeply. This sure...was her life...]

[inheritedpain]

[ Now, Jin Ling has caused a fair amount of chaos in his life. Less through deliberate intention and more through exact situations like this, where his own current predicament is clearly much more important than anyone else's.

It doesn't help that he also feels like he's going to die, sweating so badly that he feels like he has a river flowing down his neck, and his skin flushed and burning to the touch.

He feels a little bad for knocking her over - he does - but he also feels frustrated that she suddenly appeared at all. He's breathing hard, still gripping his sword, eyes glancing from the cube back to her and back to the cube again. But finally, some sense of chivalry seems to actually kick back in to his thick skull, and gritting his teeth against the heat he steps over and offers her his hand, if she wants help up. ]

I'm trying to destroy it, [ He mutters, in an attempt to explain himself, as the cube keeps blasting that infernal song at him. ]

[onerous]

[Yuri can feel the tell-tale prickle at the edges of her senses, the warmth that begins to spread like a wave. It just sort of makes her sigh and she turns her head to the cube.] Oh. One of those things. It'll turn off if you moonlace enough...

[Sure. Of course. Yuri bites back another sigh and looks at one of the bags, where a jar has definitely shattered and is currently filling the bottom of it with thick red pasta sauce. Probably ruining the vegetables she'd shoved in the same bag for ease of carry (and even if the sauce didn't ruin them, potential glass shards would).

She tries to ignore the heat and looks at the offered hand, slipping her arms free of the bags and, after a moment of hesitation, grasps it. The universe must me merciful today, since there's no ripping any traumatic memories out of his head this time, and it's only then that she risks actually looking at him as she uses him to pull herself to her feet.

Her expression looks a bit like 'confused familiarity.' The mark on his head, the presence of a sword, and the yellow robes are all familiar enough that she can start putting things together.]

Are you... Jin Sect? [At her waist as she moves is a little chime from a silver lotus bell of Jiang Sect.]

idfk sometime after he's done having his screaming fit @ JC

[firebranding]

[Sometimes it's really great being able to just take in information and let it settle in fairly short amount of time. It had been an overwhelming amount of information to parse through but adaptability is what had kept him going all those years (until it didn't), and now...

Now he was wandering the halls of a strange building in a strange city in a strange planet and there was a familiar yellow-robed youth just ahead.

He doesn't know which version of himself this Jin Ling will know and it makes him pause to consider as the boy spots him] A-Ling? [He'll start with that, cautious and his voice full of concern.]

[inheritedpain]

[ He hears the voice first, turning immediately to the sound as his eyebrows arch toward his hairline. Jiang Cheng had nearly ruined him, and it's honestly a little sad just how surprised and relieved he is to have someone recognize him. ]

Uncle!!

[ He rushes over, Fairy hot on his heels, and quickly comes to a stop to offer the proper greeting and bow though he rushes through it a little bit. ]

When did you arrive? I didn't know you were here --

3

[buddingromantic]

[Ouyang Zizhen happened to be in the area where Jin Ling was when he came out chasing that singing cube. He'd heard those things before. Gosh they were annoying!

But after realizing he was hearing the cube again, he finally realized who was chasing it]

Jin Ling! Jin Ling!

[inheritedpain]

[ SMACK! -- The cube went flying another few feet as Jin Ling gave a frustrated groan, but before he could chase after it again, he heard his name being called. He turned on the spot, eyes wide as he searched around, and then relief immediately spread over his face when he recognized the face. ]

Zizhen! [ He called back, looking honestly happy to see him. Or as happy as Jin Ling managed to look when he was chasing a silver singing box, sword out, and sweating buckets. ]

You're here!

2

[lotus_of_rage]

[Jiang Cheng had just been happening by the apartment, not having realized anyone was there now and had let himself in, checking to make sure everything was alright.

Only to have a sword point at him. A familiar sword. Held by a familiar person. He sighed, not even drawing his own sword in response]

Is that how you greet someone? Especially your uncle?

[inheritedpain]

[ Jin Ling blinked rapidly, the recognition taking a second but then quickly catching up with him. Oh. Oh. He was in trouble--

He cleared his throat, quickly sheathing his sword and then putting his hands out to formally bow to his uncle, looking very embarrassed. ]

No, Uncle! I only-- I've been taking extra precautions. [ Sure. That sounded reasonable and adult, right??

He lowered his hands, grimacing a little. ]

I didn't know-- I would have come right away if I knew where you were!

3~

[jingyeet]

[ Jingyi thought he's heard the last of that music. But no. Somehow, he hears it again and it sends his impatience through the roof. He follows after the music, running quickly in the hopes of finding the offending cube quickly enough and put an end to it. He knows it won't quiet down until enough Chroma is absorbed by it, but it doesn't stop him from trying.

What he doesn't expect is to turn a corner and crashing right into someone else. ]

O-ow... Watch where you're g— [ A flash of gold stops him mid-sentence, and Jingyi blinks. ] Jin Ling?

Omg that username I’m dying

[inheritedpain]

[ Lucky for Jingyi, he somehow doesn’t run smack into Jin Ling’s unsheathed sword, though it’s a close call. There’s a flash of irritation at first, the profusely sweating Jin Ling rounding on whoever dared to run into him, ready to give them a tongue lashing —

But he stops dead when he sees the face and hears the name, irritation quickly replaced by surprise. ]

Lan Jingyi?

[ He glances past him as if immediately expecting the whole gaggle of Lan Sect juniors to be behind him. Or at least Lan Sizhui. They were joined at the hip, after all. ]

What are you doing here?

[ Well, so much for being polite. ]

Prisma Voice Testing Prompt 3

[inheritedpain]

4. WHY ARE THE ANTLERS MAKING ME FEEL THINGS

[ To say that Jin Ling is often a font of extreme emotions is putting it mildly. But usually he has better self restraint than this. He hasn't really noticed the red antlers hanging on the wall behind him as he tries to order his noodles. All he wanted were some noodles, okay? But now he has the intense and weirdly guilty urge to just grab the nearest person in sight and --

... well, and hold their hands. Aggressively. Not to say he doesn't do almost everything at least somewhat aggressively, but usually the feeling comes from somewhere rather than no where.

He's doing his best to resist, but he does flash an annoyed look at the person beside him, imagining what their hands would feel like when gripped tightly betwe-- No!! Stop!!

His lip curls. ]

What are you looking at?

[resurging]

[look at this child, wei wuxian thinks to himself, despite not being that much older than the said child. wei wuxian is drunk - tipsy, not drunk, he's definitely not drunk - and feeling very fond about everything. the lights. the antlers. the strangers nearby. the bottle of alcohol he's just finished.

this young man with eyes that remind him strongly of his beloved shijie and her warm hugs. wei wuxian thinks he's going to cry.]

Shhh. [he shushes the child. steps closer as he puts his hands on the other's shoulders. ] Come here, let me hug you. Hugs are good. They make you feel better.

[and just like that, wei wuxian pulls the young man in a warm embrace, humming a song he doesn't even know the name of to the other.]

You're doing great... You don't have to be angry... Let all of your frustrations leave your body, okay?

[inheritedpain]

[ He hadn’t recognized him at first. He’s not sure why. He would have thought he’d burned the man’s face into his memory, by now. And yet despite himself it’s not Wei Wuxian he thinks of fist but Mo Xuanyu. For a second, he stares at him, and lets it happen, because Mo Xuanyu had somehow became one of the few people he actually trusted, who looked out for him, who taught him.

This is the first association he has with this face.

Then reality crashed in on him like a tsunami.

At the same moment that the man pulled him into a hug, Jin Ling’s throat seized up.

Wei Wuxian.

His breath came quick and fast, his heart rate accelerating far too quickly, red tinting his vision. He was already cursed with horribly mixed feelings about Wei Wuxian, and the hug— The hug felt so nice it almost made him sob. It just felt like a worse betrayal.

He shoved the man off him with all the strength he had, chest heaving as he sucked in air and already grasping blindly for his sword. Instead of grabbing it, though, he grabbed Wei Wuxian’s hand, gripping it so tightly in his own it near threatened to break bone. He was shaking with rage or grief he couldn’t tell. ]

How— how dare you—-