北堂墨染 || Beitang Moran (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
beitangmoran) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
westwhere2021-08-14 03:36 pm
beitangmoran) wrote in westwhere2021-08-14 03:36 pm
Your future is.... uncertain
WHO: Beitang Moran, OPEN
WHEN: Month of August except for the protest and the poisoning incident
WHERE:Mostly Donna Vannozza's palazzo. If not, probably a bookstore or a library.
WHAT:POLITICS and also being a Court Prophet.
WARNINGS: There might be some spoilers and or bad stuff in visions f those happen, we'll try to warn appropriately if this is the case.
A.THE PROPHET
[After a few a days, a rumor has started spreading in hushed whispers.
Donna Vannozza has a guest with a strange power. It is not unlike that of some of the Attaryl witches, except it appears to be both more powerful and more accurate. All those who have visited him have been stupefied with it. They exchange tales, and sometimes, in whispers, pronouncement that this man has seen their city governed fairly and with great intent by a noble lady.
The man, however, is reclusive. he rarely leaves the apartments he was given by Donna Vanozza, and will only accept to see someone if they come by appointment and recommended. That hasn't prevented some stragglers from waiting at his door in the vain hope of being admitted in his presence. They very rarely are allowed. Although depending on who is out, Moran might indulge one or two on occasion who might be useful.
The servants do have a list of people who are allowed to jump the queue. It has, conveniently, all the people from their little group on it, mixed in with a handful of influent nobles from the city. There is no end to the teeth-gnashing when that happens, but Moran can quite rightfully invoke all the hauteur he is capable of summoning as an actual Imperial Prince to quiet down any attempts at bartering for entry.
Come get your fortune told.]
((OOC : if you'd like Moran to have an actual vision about your chharacter's future while visiting for other reasons, feel free to hit the plotting post and we can arrange something.))
B.THE POWER
[Maybe it's some sort of cosmic intervention, but Moran's power has decided to somehow cooperate and manifest with enough regularity that he is, in fact getting actual visions for most of his visitors.
And for those he does not, he has lived at court long enough and is observant enough that he can make slightly general pronouncements that end up being mostly accurate.
But of course, that is taking its toll on his body. During one evening where he deigns attend the dinner and entertainment, he is taken with a dizzy spell, and has to be brought back to his apartments. What little can be seen of his face is always pale, and reports from the palazzo's kitchen say he is not eating much.
With Xunxian on the other side, it's harder to remember to take care of himself, especially since he needs to use the power to advance their goal. On the rare occasions that he takes a stroll, usually later at night or early in the morning to avoid crowds, he will more often than not find himself fatigued. Will you help him from the bench he has had to sit on, or help him to recover as you find him leaning against a wall and trying to fight dizziness?]
C.THE CITY
[On the days he doesn't feel too bad, Moran will be mostly trying to explore all of the bookstores in this city and try to acquire as much as he can about history and language. He uses the device for ease of translations, but will occasionally attempt to communicate without, just to practice a bit.
Someone entering one particular bookstore might find him wandering the aisles, followed by a man carrying a relatively impressive pile of books. Every few moments, Moran will inquire about a volume, be explain what is in it, and then...]
Fine, I'll take that one too.
[And on top of the pile it goes.]
WHEN: Month of August except for the protest and the poisoning incident
WHERE:Mostly Donna Vannozza's palazzo. If not, probably a bookstore or a library.
WHAT:POLITICS and also being a Court Prophet.
WARNINGS: There might be some spoilers and or bad stuff in visions f those happen, we'll try to warn appropriately if this is the case.
A.THE PROPHET
[After a few a days, a rumor has started spreading in hushed whispers.
Donna Vannozza has a guest with a strange power. It is not unlike that of some of the Attaryl witches, except it appears to be both more powerful and more accurate. All those who have visited him have been stupefied with it. They exchange tales, and sometimes, in whispers, pronouncement that this man has seen their city governed fairly and with great intent by a noble lady.
The man, however, is reclusive. he rarely leaves the apartments he was given by Donna Vanozza, and will only accept to see someone if they come by appointment and recommended. That hasn't prevented some stragglers from waiting at his door in the vain hope of being admitted in his presence. They very rarely are allowed. Although depending on who is out, Moran might indulge one or two on occasion who might be useful.
The servants do have a list of people who are allowed to jump the queue. It has, conveniently, all the people from their little group on it, mixed in with a handful of influent nobles from the city. There is no end to the teeth-gnashing when that happens, but Moran can quite rightfully invoke all the hauteur he is capable of summoning as an actual Imperial Prince to quiet down any attempts at bartering for entry.
Come get your fortune told.]
((OOC : if you'd like Moran to have an actual vision about your chharacter's future while visiting for other reasons, feel free to hit the plotting post and we can arrange something.))
B.THE POWER
[Maybe it's some sort of cosmic intervention, but Moran's power has decided to somehow cooperate and manifest with enough regularity that he is, in fact getting actual visions for most of his visitors.
And for those he does not, he has lived at court long enough and is observant enough that he can make slightly general pronouncements that end up being mostly accurate.
But of course, that is taking its toll on his body. During one evening where he deigns attend the dinner and entertainment, he is taken with a dizzy spell, and has to be brought back to his apartments. What little can be seen of his face is always pale, and reports from the palazzo's kitchen say he is not eating much.
With Xunxian on the other side, it's harder to remember to take care of himself, especially since he needs to use the power to advance their goal. On the rare occasions that he takes a stroll, usually later at night or early in the morning to avoid crowds, he will more often than not find himself fatigued. Will you help him from the bench he has had to sit on, or help him to recover as you find him leaning against a wall and trying to fight dizziness?]
C.THE CITY
[On the days he doesn't feel too bad, Moran will be mostly trying to explore all of the bookstores in this city and try to acquire as much as he can about history and language. He uses the device for ease of translations, but will occasionally attempt to communicate without, just to practice a bit.
Someone entering one particular bookstore might find him wandering the aisles, followed by a man carrying a relatively impressive pile of books. Every few moments, Moran will inquire about a volume, be explain what is in it, and then...]
Fine, I'll take that one too.
[And on top of the pile it goes.]
no subject
When whatever it was that took hold of him finally seemed to pass and the other man reached for the wall Zuko found he was about to move again, and he braced himself to steady the guy.
On the verge of asking him if he needed to find a chair, when the stranger spoke the question he asked knocked the air out of Zuko's lungs, leaving him gaping underneath his mask. ]
W-what? [ The word was more like a wheeze, after which he lifted his mask and shook his head, trying to clear it before he spoke again, quicker and more assertively than before. ]
It's a duel, for honor. Why do you know it?
no subject
[And not everything he sees makes sense to him.]
I don't know who that woman is you will be duelling, but I believe it is fair to say she is not happy with you.
no subject
It was his turn to reach for the wall, bracing himself against it as the news hit him like a gut punch. The worst possible inevitability being thrown in his path prematurely was a weird thing to try and come to grips with. ]
Do you, do you need to sit down? I need to sit down.
[ He didn't wait for the other man to follow, walking immediately to a seat and sinking into it, lifting his mask to scrub his face with his hand. ]
My sister isn't happy with anyone who doesn't do her bidding.
no subject
[But yes, he'll find a seat as well, since he is a bit dizzy.]
I take it this is not good news? I probably should not tell you more, then. It's not a good idea in general, anyway.
no subject
[ Zuko shifted in his chair, staring down at his lap. ]
Tell me. I'd be lying to you if I told you I didn't expect it.
no subject
Before I do, and if I decide to, let me just ask you. What are you hoping to do with this information?
My visions are always accurate. So whether you know or not, it is going to happen, exactly the way I saw it, and there will be nothing you can do to prevent it from happening exactly like that.
So, knowing that, does it still make sense for you to ask?
no subject
[ He would have time to make his peace with the inevitable. With Azula, it was the most likely outcome, and the one he wanted to happen least of all. She had always been terrible, but she was still his little sister. ]
It was never going to end well with her.
[ It almost sounded like he was telling himself, as much as the other man. ]
no subject
You will have a fight. She will use both flames and lightning against you. And you will get injured trying to protect someone else.
no subject
She's not a great sister.
[ He looked back to the other man and nodded. ]
Thank you for telling me.
no subject
[But there was something else...]
Is your family one of prominence, where you are from?
no subject
[ Although Moran said nothing in his visions could be changed, it made Zuko want to double down on practicing the forms for lightning redirection. Maybe he couldn't stop it, but he wanted to feel ready for when the time came.
The scowl on his face deepened at the question and he gave Moran a nod. ]
I am the son of Firelord Ozai and heir to the throne.
no subject
[By his count we are now at number three, counting himself. There are in fact a few more he doesn't know about.]
I wonder if this place has a predisposition to grab us.
no subject
You're a prince too? How many others are there?
[ It would be a strange criteria for being abducted into a strange world, but then, the abduction itself wasn't exactly typical in the first place. ]
no subject
[Lee Chang would rather his status remain untold. Moran himself hasn't made it extremely public, if only because it means nothing here and is not particularly advantageous to reveal, but he won't lie when asked.]
Our little group isn't that numerous, so at least three of us being royalty is unusual. Not counting those who might be but haven't revealed it.
no subject
Maybe whatever brought us here likes big egos. Why did you ask about my family?
no subject
[Really, he's just curious and nosy and eager for knowledge like a good Aquarius. But then, he realizes he didn't introduce himself.]
You know me as Beitang Moran. I am Prince Chen from the Huangdao Empire. The current Emperor is my nephew.
no subject
[ Zuko's expression didn't change, but something about his demeanor softened, tipping his head in a small bow. This man wasn't Iroh - and as far as Zuko could tell they weren't similar in character, but he had behaved disrespectfully towards Uncle enough times that it made him want to be courteous to Moran. It wouldn't make up for his past mistakes, but he was trying to be better. ]
My uncle is a very wise man, he taught me everything I know. The Emporer is lucky to have someone like you.
no subject
[A small smile, and almost on instinct, Moran holds out a hand to give the young man a headpat.]
Be good to your uncle.
no subject
I haven't been.
[ Zuko's already quiet voice grew softer, and he lowered his head in shame. ]
When I return home finding him, and begging his forgiveness are some of the first things I'm going to do.
no subject
[Raising nephews can be tough, but also rewarding. Moran would know.]