[Hello, roomie!! Sometime fairly late on Sunday evening, she's wandering into the room, shoving her clamshell into her jeans as she does. She looks Tired, but (maybe surprisingly) not very unkempt; her hair and clothes don't seem mussed at all, at least.
Anyways, when she greets him, she doesn't sound embarrassed or awkward.]
[While she's been off doing CURSED THINGS, APPARENTLY, Wei Wuxian has just been living the bachelor pad life?? He hasn't taken advantage of his roommate's absence to procure the bed and is instead splayed out on the floor like... well, like someone who's used to just collapsing on a cave floor with only a zombie and a medic around to scold him for poor posture. He's also got a bowl of BRIGHT RED SOMETHING nearby... if she gets anywhere near him, the smell of Extremely Hot Peppers will delicately waft her way.]
Oh—! [BUT HEY, THERE SHE IS. He sits up a little more properly, but still maintains the general air of "I'm probably way too comfortable in this situation".] I was wondering where you went. I was looking for you earlier to see if you wanted something to eat, but I couldn't find you! Did you manage to figure out those locked doors down there?
[Good question though, he'll glance over toward his bowl before holding it up.]
Just some congee. Do you want any? It's very good! A family recipe! ...Not really, but it's so good that it should be.
[At the mention of him looking for her, she cracks a small smile for a moment, before it fades.]
Sorry. I was a little... preoccupied. [Crossing over to sit on the bed, she glances his way.] I did, actually. Or - we opened one of the doors, at least. It was kind of weird, it just... unlocked as soon as we knocked on it.
[As he offers her some of the food, though, she seems to hesitate for a moment.]
Maybe just a bite. But - you don't have to sit on the floor, you know.
Eh— Wait, seriously? There's no way no one tried knocking on any of those doors, right? [...] Did no one try knocking on those doors until then??
[CONCERNING... HOW DID THIS HAPPEN. Did they really all just go so ham with breaking doors down that they forgot to try some basic ass things like knocking first, good lord.
That said, he's polite enough to double-check even though he's already scooping his bowl of death up:] Are you sure? Promise I won't spill, at least.
[Good since this would probably burn right through the sheets if it hit anything?! ALSO:]
What was in there, anyway—?
Edited (aki forgot the important part) 2019-10-06 20:18 (UTC)
I guess not? It unlocked as soon as we did that, so...
[She gives him a nod as he starts grabbing the food, scooting over slightly so he'll have more room.]
Yeah, hop up.
[As for what was in there... She stiffens a little, brushing her hair back as she inhales.]
It was... a recording studio, I think. I'm guessing you don't know what that is. It's basically like - if you're doing something that you want to see later, there's a way to keep a copy of what you were doing so you can view it later.
Thanks, thanks. [More of a distracted mumble than anything as he scoots on up there, holding his bowl like a little demon squirrel. MOSTLY HE'S JUST
STILL LOSING HIS MIND THAT NO ONE TRIED KNOCKING. GOOD LORD. Also predictably there's no recognition when she talks about recording studios.]
Yeah, we don't have anything like that where I'm from. [UNSURPRISINGLY.] The only way you can watch something that's already happened before is if you access someone else's memories - someone who's dead, I mean. [PERHAPS SURPRISINGLY??] But I'm hoping that's not the case here?
Oh, right, right. Most of the places here don't have anything like cultivation, huh? That's still so strange to think about! Entire worlds without fierce corpses or spirits or people stirring up trouble in the other realm.
[Shaking his head!! Life on a normal plane of reality must be so boring...]
There's this technique where I come from - "Empathy", it's called. Very useful. The creator was a clever person! [He literally invented it, this horn-tooter.] If it's done correctly, the one using it can access the memories of someone who died, from their perspective. It sounds a little similar to what you're talking about, I think?
Fierce corpses? Are you talking about, like... Ghosts and zombies?
[Luckily (???) she's not picturing this as anything where the dead literally get raised yet, but she definitely looks Surprised. It takes her a moment to think of how to respond.]
So you use when, like, someone got killed, to see what happened? [A beat.] It's... a little like that, I guess, except it involves a camera instead of any dead people.
Exactly! [DING DONG BING BONG Wei Wuxian nods, smiling brightly as if they are not talking about weird shit like zombies and ghosts.]
And that's one way to use it. I've given it a couple of tries recently and it's always been very useful in figuring out who's hiding what. [Too bad it's nerfed here since that would be hilarious honestly...]
Anyway! It's a good thing no dead people are involved this time. So a "camera" just shows back things that have already happened, then? Kind of like a memory, but without the dying and the-- actually, do you live through anyone else's feelings when you use a camera?
That... sounds terrifying, honestly. [And there's definitely some Concern in her voice, even if she also sounds curious.] But that's just a normal part of life for you?
[She has no idea if this explanation will make sense, but she's going to Try!!]
No. You don't actually experience it, you just see it front of you. It's... kind of like a painting, but it moves and plays whatever sounds were there.
[Bless Beck's cursed-normal little heart... He can't help but grin a little, just because of the horrible irony of someone talking about the horrors of ghost interrogation with the Yiling Patriarch, Necromancer Extraordinaire.]
Haha, it isn't so bad! Most dead people just want peace and won't give the living much trouble beyond that. It's something I'm pretty used to, but non-cultivators usually stay out of these things unless they're forcibly dragged in. You know, hauntings, fierce corpses digging up their crops, things like that.
[WAVING A HAND... Though hilariously that explanation does make sense, if for the worst reason--]
Oh! You mean like the moving paintings that are hanging on the walls?
[The... the horrible ones featuring all of the guests...]
I'm glad that the... zombie situation isn't too bad? Honestly, I've only ever seen it in horror movies. Are cultivators the people who take care of them?
[She nods.]
Yeah. So, there was a lot of equipment that related to that. Things that could play sounds or images that had happened. [...] It was - kind of terrifying, honestly. I wouldn't recommend going in, even if it opens again.
["The zombie situation isn't too bad" ABOUT THAT...]
In general? Yep! That's what cultivators are here for. They take care of people's problems when they run into trouble from the other side. So they shoo out spirits that overstay their welcome, slay malicious entities, keep an eye out for possessions - things like that.
[But he's definitely looking a little concerned at that... Beck what shit did you get yourself into...]
Well, I guess that means looking for an exit in the locked rooms is as useless as I'm sure everyone figured it would be. [WEAK LAUGHTER.] But what happened? Was something there for you to watch...?
So, like... Law enforcement, but for ghosts and zombies.
[It's so bizarre to her that she almost has to smile a little, but as for the rest... Hm.]
There was just a lot of really messed up stuff on the recording we saw. I don't think any of it was real, but it looked real, you know? And - it doesn't make any sense, but it felt like something grabbed me while it was playing.
[oh my fuckin god yall really did unleash the ring]
Haha, something like that... [SOMETHING LIKE THAT INDEED... But rather than dive into his own sordid past, he's instead looking a little more serious. Bad!! Sounds bad!!]
It doesn't make sense? That kind of thing happens all of the time, but it's usually, you know. [GESTURES VAGUELY with his bowl.] Spirits! Ghosts. The dead. Not the physical dead in this case though, I'm assuming! I'm guessing a walking corpse would have been the first thing you'd mention otherwise.
It's like... The lights went off after the video started playing, and I felt it, and then when Higekiri turned them back on, I saw something... Or someone, maybe, holding onto me for a second, but - they were gone almost immediately, like they weren't really there.
[THEY REALLY DID and Wei Wuxian is actually setting his bowl to the side, frowning for possibly the first time since he'd initially woken up and nearly barfed all over the floor.]
This is going to sound strange, but do you mind if I check your body? [HE SAYS SO CASUALLY IN THIS HOUSE OF FUCKS.] Specifically wherever it was you were touched, but anywhere else you're comfortable showing me would be good, too. The more I can see, the better.
[He 100% thinks she's literally cursed. He is absolutely sure there's some ghost fuckery going on here.]
[Fortunately it's not because he's just a weird, creepy dude! Even if all the rumors say otherwise...]
Can't say it'll be the same here as it is where I come from, but usually? Things like that mean you've come into contact with something that probably has some malicious intentions. Bad spirits can get into all kinds of trouble but if they're touching you directly, it's usually to leave a curse of some sort. [LOVELY.] In those cases, there's also usually a curse mark - kinda like a beacon that the spirits can use to track you down, or something that acts out their intentions for them. Not always, but it's probably best to check just in case, you know?
[She still looks hesitant, if only because it's so different than anything she's used to, but... After a second, she holds out her wrist. There are no visible marks on it, at least!!]
It felt... cold and wet, but it didn't really hurt, either. I think it's probably fine.
[He'll just grab her hand and INTENSELY INSPECT HER WRIST... Just normal new roommate things.]
Hm... [...] Well, I can't see anything, but that doesn't mean nothing is there. Especially in this place-- Something's interfering with my qi, so I can't get things to work in the way they normally do in the first place.
[At least he lets her hand go after seemingly satisfying his concerns - somewhat. He still looks kind of troubled??]
Will you let me know if you start feeling strange, though? Anything at all - seeing things, hearing things, nausea-- More nausea than what we already have, I guess. Can't guarantee I'll be able to do much about it here, but I can try.
[She's definitely making a Face as this all happens, because this is decidedly not normal roommate stuff!! But she doesn't pull away, even if she rubs at her wrist almost unconsciously once he's done.]
Yeah... Sure thing. I will. Thanks for, um, checking?
[Thank you for your patience Beck, you're about to need a lot more of it.]
Don't thank me when I haven't done anything. [Though now he seems a little miffed?! Mostly he's just pissed at his own lack of ability to do anything about... any of this, though... He also seems to be considering something. HM, HM.
HM.
For the sake of making Eli regret thinking Beck is the cursed one here, he suddenly stands up!! And moves to place his bowl on the floor again before walking toward the door.]
Well! Whatever! Weirder things have happened. Anyway, if you've got a tag-along coming your way, I'd like to at least feel like I'm trying to do something to stop it. Not sure this is going to work either but it can't- [Mid-sentence he just casually stops to FERALLY BITE INTO HIS THUMB hard enough to draw blood.] -hurt to give it a try, probably. I'd really like to know what sort of thing we're going up against, though. Vengeful spirit? "Cold and wet" doesn't really give much to work with. Can't be a water ghoul, can it? There are some weird ones out there, but I've never heard of a single one leaving the water. Something specific to this building, maybe?
[While he's just fuckin rambling on he starts to paint on the door with his bloody thumb, thanks Wei Wuxian. He's making one of these without the Concerning Additions that attract evil spirits... Just a regular-ass protection charm here NOT THAT IT'LL DO ANYTHING BUT MAKE HIM LOOK INSANE.]
[She tilts her head slightly when he says he isn't sure whether this is going to help, and then
oh.
Despite immediately opening her mouth to say something as soon as she sees him bITE HIMSELF, she doesn't interrupt as he keeps going, just kind of staring at him with a clearly horrified expression as he starts to draw on their door in blood. Just new roommate things!!
She's, hm, pushing herself back on the bed until her back is up to the wall as she brings her hands up to her face. As soon as he hits a stopping point:]
What are you doing?! Your hand— That's our door! That's your blood!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w0, sunday evening
Anyways, when she greets him, she doesn't sound embarrassed or awkward.]
...Hey. What's for dinner?
cursed
Oh—! [BUT HEY, THERE SHE IS. He sits up a little more properly, but still maintains the general air of "I'm probably way too comfortable in this situation".] I was wondering where you went. I was looking for you earlier to see if you wanted something to eat, but I couldn't find you! Did you manage to figure out those locked doors down there?
[Good question though, he'll glance over toward his bowl before holding it up.]
Just some congee. Do you want any? It's very good! A family recipe! ...Not really, but it's so good that it should be.
it's fine :)
Sorry. I was a little... preoccupied. [Crossing over to sit on the bed, she glances his way.] I did, actually. Or - we opened one of the doors, at least. It was kind of weird, it just... unlocked as soon as we knocked on it.
[As he offers her some of the food, though, she seems to hesitate for a moment.]
Maybe just a bite. But - you don't have to sit on the floor, you know.
[She pats the spot on the bed next to her.]
i trust u 0%
Eh— Wait, seriously? There's no way no one tried knocking on any of those doors, right? [...] Did no one try knocking on those doors until then??
[CONCERNING... HOW DID THIS HAPPEN. Did they really all just go so ham with breaking doors down that they forgot to try some basic ass things like knocking first, good lord.
That said, he's polite enough to double-check even though he's already scooping his bowl of death up:] Are you sure? Promise I won't spill, at least.
[Good since this would probably burn right through the sheets if it hit anything?! ALSO:]
What was in there, anyway—?
no subject
[She gives him a nod as he starts grabbing the food, scooting over slightly so he'll have more room.]
Yeah, hop up.
[As for what was in there... She stiffens a little, brushing her hair back as she inhales.]
It was... a recording studio, I think. I'm guessing you don't know what that is. It's basically like - if you're doing something that you want to see later, there's a way to keep a copy of what you were doing so you can view it later.
no subject
STILL LOSING HIS MIND THAT NO ONE TRIED KNOCKING. GOOD LORD. Also predictably there's no recognition when she talks about recording studios.]
Yeah, we don't have anything like that where I'm from. [UNSURPRISINGLY.] The only way you can watch something that's already happened before is if you access someone else's memories - someone who's dead, I mean. [PERHAPS SURPRISINGLY??] But I'm hoping that's not the case here?
no subject
[It's so casual that it takes her a moment to realize what he's said, blinking.]
No, it was a camera, but - sorry, what did you just say?
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[Shaking his head!! Life on a normal plane of reality must be so boring...]
There's this technique where I come from - "Empathy", it's called. Very useful. The creator was a clever person! [He literally invented it, this horn-tooter.] If it's done correctly, the one using it can access the memories of someone who died, from their perspective. It sounds a little similar to what you're talking about, I think?
no subject
[Luckily (???) she's not picturing this as anything where the dead literally get raised yet, but she definitely looks Surprised. It takes her a moment to think of how to respond.]
So you use when, like, someone got killed, to see what happened? [A beat.] It's... a little like that, I guess, except it involves a camera instead of any dead people.
no subject
And that's one way to use it. I've given it a couple of tries recently and it's always been very useful in figuring out who's hiding what. [Too bad it's nerfed here since that would be hilarious honestly...]
Anyway! It's a good thing no dead people are involved this time. So a "camera" just shows back things that have already happened, then? Kind of like a memory, but without the dying and the-- actually, do you live through anyone else's feelings when you use a camera?
no subject
[She has no idea if this explanation will make sense, but she's going to Try!!]
No. You don't actually experience it, you just see it front of you. It's... kind of like a painting, but it moves and plays whatever sounds were there.
no subject
Haha, it isn't so bad! Most dead people just want peace and won't give the living much trouble beyond that. It's something I'm pretty used to, but non-cultivators usually stay out of these things unless they're forcibly dragged in. You know, hauntings, fierce corpses digging up their crops, things like that.
[WAVING A HAND... Though hilariously that explanation does make sense, if for the worst reason--]
Oh! You mean like the moving paintings that are hanging on the walls?
[The... the horrible ones featuring all of the guests...]
no subject
[She nods.]
Yeah. So, there was a lot of equipment that related to that. Things that could play sounds or images that had happened. [...] It was - kind of terrifying, honestly. I wouldn't recommend going in, even if it opens again.
no subject
In general? Yep! That's what cultivators are here for. They take care of people's problems when they run into trouble from the other side. So they shoo out spirits that overstay their welcome, slay malicious entities, keep an eye out for possessions - things like that.
[But he's definitely looking a little concerned at that... Beck what shit did you get yourself into...]
Well, I guess that means looking for an exit in the locked rooms is as useless as I'm sure everyone figured it would be. [WEAK LAUGHTER.] But what happened? Was something there for you to watch...?
[Did yall just unleash The Ring curse.]
no subject
[It's so bizarre to her that she almost has to smile a little, but as for the rest... Hm.]
There was just a lot of really messed up stuff on the recording we saw. I don't think any of it was real, but it looked real, you know? And - it doesn't make any sense, but it felt like something grabbed me while it was playing.
no subject
Haha, something like that... [SOMETHING LIKE THAT INDEED... But rather than dive into his own sordid past, he's instead looking a little more serious. Bad!! Sounds bad!!]
It doesn't make sense? That kind of thing happens all of the time, but it's usually, you know. [GESTURES VAGUELY with his bowl.] Spirits! Ghosts. The dead. Not the physical dead in this case though, I'm assuming! I'm guessing a walking corpse would have been the first thing you'd mention otherwise.
no subject
[they definitely unleashed the ring]
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This is going to sound strange, but do you mind if I check your body? [HE SAYS SO CASUALLY IN THIS HOUSE OF FUCKS.] Specifically wherever it was you were touched, but anywhere else you're comfortable showing me would be good, too. The more I can see, the better.
[He 100% thinks she's literally cursed. He is absolutely sure there's some ghost fuckery going on here.]
no subject
Why?
no subject
Can't say it'll be the same here as it is where I come from, but usually? Things like that mean you've come into contact with something that probably has some malicious intentions. Bad spirits can get into all kinds of trouble but if they're touching you directly, it's usually to leave a curse of some sort. [LOVELY.] In those cases, there's also usually a curse mark - kinda like a beacon that the spirits can use to track you down, or something that acts out their intentions for them. Not always, but it's probably best to check just in case, you know?
no subject
It felt... cold and wet, but it didn't really hurt, either. I think it's probably fine.
no subject
Hm... [...] Well, I can't see anything, but that doesn't mean nothing is there. Especially in this place-- Something's interfering with my qi, so I can't get things to work in the way they normally do in the first place.
[At least he lets her hand go after seemingly satisfying his concerns - somewhat. He still looks kind of troubled??]
Will you let me know if you start feeling strange, though? Anything at all - seeing things, hearing things, nausea-- More nausea than what we already have, I guess. Can't guarantee I'll be able to do much about it here, but I can try.
no subject
Yeah... Sure thing. I will. Thanks for, um, checking?
[Even if she sounds very ??? about this.]
no subject
Don't thank me when I haven't done anything. [Though now he seems a little miffed?! Mostly he's just pissed at his own lack of ability to do anything about... any of this, though... He also seems to be considering something. HM, HM.
HM.
For the sake of making Eli regret thinking Beck is the cursed one here, he suddenly stands up!! And moves to place his bowl on the floor again before walking toward the door.]
Well! Whatever! Weirder things have happened. Anyway, if you've got a tag-along coming your way, I'd like to at least feel like I'm trying to do something to stop it. Not sure this is going to work either but it can't- [Mid-sentence he just casually stops to FERALLY BITE INTO HIS THUMB hard enough to draw blood.] -hurt to give it a try, probably. I'd really like to know what sort of thing we're going up against, though. Vengeful spirit? "Cold and wet" doesn't really give much to work with. Can't be a water ghoul, can it? There are some weird ones out there, but I've never heard of a single one leaving the water. Something specific to this building, maybe?
[While he's just fuckin rambling on he starts to paint on the door with his bloody thumb, thanks Wei Wuxian. He's making one of these without the Concerning Additions that attract evil spirits... Just a regular-ass protection charm here NOT THAT IT'LL DO ANYTHING BUT MAKE HIM LOOK INSANE.]
no subject
oh.
Despite immediately opening her mouth to say something as soon as she sees him bITE HIMSELF, she doesn't interrupt as he keeps going, just kind of staring at him with a clearly horrified expression as he starts to draw on their door in blood. Just new roommate things!!
She's, hm, pushing herself back on the bed until her back is up to the wall as she brings her hands up to her face. As soon as he hits a stopping point:]
What are you doing?! Your hand— That's our door! That's your blood!
[AAAAAAA]
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