westwhere | time doesn't love you anymore

Entry tags:

time doesn't love you anymore

WHO: Five and OPEN (with one closed starter)
WHEN: Early-to-mid September
WHERE: All Around Taravast
WHAT: September Catch-All: Obsessions, Curses and Family Meetings
WARNINGS: Language and... whatever Five-related things come up

i. Southern (Artist ) Areas (open)

It's been a while since Five took a walk to get some fresh air. Tensions have been escalating again, and despite his best efforts to claim otherwise, his thoughts have been too erratic to feel like he has anything under control any more. It's an incredibly inconvenient time to be staving off the effects of a curse that he's stubbornly against prioritizing, and refuses to think about now. He's well accustomed to dealing with anguish; acknowledging it just makes it more insufferable and he has too many other things to worry about.

He needs a clear head if he's going to avoid another gaffe like they had at the masquerade. Hence the outing. He gives himself an errand or two — find a more secluded meeting location, procure more coffee — if only to get away from all of them before he snaps and murders someone else just because he's frustrated and running on fumes. As he makes his way through the streets, he thinks bitterly that his thirteen-year-old body could probably use the exercise.

When they first arrived in Taravast, he had been vaguely insulted by the identity he'd been assigned. That was before he'd learned it could be much worse. He's largely left alone, and when he's approached by anyone who seemed to have gotten his description from who-knows-where, he can make them disappear in relatively few words. Just drop a comment about their staggering irrelevance and they walk away shocked and offended. Temperamental artists are apparently common enough to play on assumptions. He barely cares.

All this time he hasn't actually bothered to look at any of the actual art in the city, because why would he? It's all useless decoration that doesn't serve any purpose, and mostly makes him think of the Academy and those terrible portraits his father had done of them as kids. That was his closest point of reference; nothing really survived in the apocalypse and he certainly didn't spend any time looking at it during his years at the Commission. — So it's strange that in the middle of his hike through the citadel, he finds himself facing an unfamiliar statue in the middle of an alcove. It's only half-finished, the form just starting to emerge from the stone, and he stares for full ten minutes before he realizes where he is. They have plenty of paintings on display and jewelry stands stretched along the alleyway, but not a single one of them sells coffee.

Fuck, he's tired. He nearly blinks away instead of walking back to where he made a wrong turn, but it's quiet here and all he really wanted was somewhere to think. So he wedges himself into the small space between the stone and the wall while he tries to do the math to get him to where he meant to go.

Moments later he's fast asleep where the statue's feet would be.

ii. Necromancer District (open)

Five went back to that same location where they'd picked up a cure for the poison a few days later. So far they hadn't heard any grief about what they did to obtain the blood; no one so much as questioned any recent murders, but he does think enough to stay away from certain incriminating areas to avoid the hassle. He wanted to see if he could find this particular house again by memory, and he feels some satisfaction that he manages to, even if it had been an entirely different time of day.

It seemed strange to him back then, and he said as much, that the necromancers had a cure for the poison almost before they asked. Not until later did he find out that Lady Vannozza has ties here. There's an almost too-obvious link between her and the attempt on their lives, and looking into it actually feels useful in a way he hasn't been lately. It's straightforward enough to investigate, and something productive he can share with his family later if he gets any leads.

A shorter route would have been to ask Allison to rumor Vannozza to tell them exactly what her involvement was, but he knows his sister will want more than his paranoia to go on. The other solution involves having them conjure the man responsible for delivering the poison, but Lan Wangji was acting strange about it after he was the one who suggested it. Five still doesn't understand his great moral objection, but he rarely does, and spends far too much time trying to. Several of the necromancers here could do it, if he really wants to pursue the idea.

That doesn't mean he won't also try and get more information about how the necromancers work while he's poking around. He pays careful attention whenever he spots their customers coming and going, and if his timing is good enough, he might teleport in to see what their healing rituals entail. For curiosity's sake.

Today it seems noticeably less crowded in the district, which is... not ideal and throws off his plan slightly. If he stands out too much they might start to recognize him as a kid who keeps hanging around here, and he'll have to put more effort into hiding in the shadows. It also might mean he's missing something again, which just makes him feel more out of sorts. He doesn't abandon the methods, but he keeps an extra eye out for anyone he recognizes that might fill him in.

iii. Academies (open)

Five comes around eventually. He really hadn't needed any magic curse to break his fragile grip on sanity. But when he keeps confusing the anguish he's stubbornly holding onto with memories of the apocalypse, he knows that pretty soon people will start noticing what's wrong with him. At some point he's going to need to make it stop. The unfortunate truth is that there's no way in hell he can trust that the easiest solutions available to get rid of it, and his other idea isn't any guarantee.

Under normal circumstances, he would have learned enough about magic to handle his own problems, but there's just so many different types and languages that he doesn't know where to begin. The research he left to Fox came to a halt after the masquerade, because of course they try to murder the one person he had chosen to tell about his problem, which left him largely on his own. (While Fox presumably recovers. He's sure he would have heard from Mingyu otherwise.)

The academies are easy enough to break into for someone like him, but without a guide, he's less sure of which books to disappear with that might have something worthwhile in them. He ends up with one that looks questionably promising, and others he grabbed simply because they were near it on the shelf. While he's waiting for his personal translator, he flips through the pages and tries to make sense of them.

Almost immediately he starts to write notes in the margins, which quickly devolve into something more familiar to him. Soon he's sitting in the courtyard working the equations he hasn't touched in weeks, trying to work backward to the earliest he could alter the timeline without jeopardizing his family, what events he could change by eliminating various people, and ways to predict where and when they might find his remaining siblings. The mask they insist that he carry around is beside him and he seems intensely focused and oblivious to anyone who might have noticed that he isn't a student.

In hindsight, he should have brought a different notebook with him, but it helps him for a time to slip into the world of time travel and probability equations to remember that he's actually smart about some things. Eventually he'll return to the palace and try to track Fox down to explain what he was originally trying to do. When he does finally hand off these books to him, he's sure he might even have the math worked out and not need him any more.

iv. Undisclosed Location (closed to Hargreeves)

The meeting is, frankly, long overdue. Playing political games for the sake of the group at large has only left them out of touch and ill prepared. They weren't ready for the attempted murder at the masquerade, and he was blindsided by Allison's trip to see the necromancers, purely because he hadn't kept a close enough eye on his family. They need a better system.

Fortunately, securing a suitably discrete location wasn't all that difficult once he started looking, and his ability makes it easy to get around any onlookers who might catch on that he's in cahoots with his family. Before arriving, Five had made at least some effort to splash water on his face and put on a less rumpled set of clothes to disguise the exhaustion that makes him feel every bit of his actual age. He does a passable job. He won't admit that the nap he had earlier might have done some good.

They haven't been together in the same space since the masquerade, and he takes time to assess all of them as he paces around the room. The wolves are still hanging around, apparently. Five takes a moment to look at each one of them before narrowing his eyes at Diego. He's already made it clear what he thinks about his new coping mechanism, but that doesn't mean he won't bring it up again. The only one of them to stay out of trouble is Vanya, and thank god for that.

"Alright. To start with, great job all around at not getting stabbed or poisoned." Really, it's a low bar, but they've managed to cross it. As far as he knows, he's the only one who screwed up anything major, and he's fine with delaying that news until the end. "We don't have a lot of time, but I thought we should get on the same page."

v.

Wildcard for whatever else. Additional starters available on request.

Action spam or prose idc/will match format/~~I swear I will use less words one day (I will forget I said this)~~.

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"One that doesn't allow others to enter without alerting those inside." After all, he figured someone would probably be coming for you so something that kept everyone out wouldn't be the best idea.

And then, looking annoyed now he shot back, "What does it matter anyway? You're awake now."

Five blinks, confused at his explanation along with his shift in attitude, but maybe he's simply offended that he isn't more grateful. As much as it chafes him, given the circumstances he could possibly see that he'd appear as someone who needs protection. It's only made worse knowing he put himself in that position.

"Useful trick," he mumbles, actually sounding thoughtful. He can't say he wouldn't like to learn how to do that any time he succumbs to his body's limitations. "...You said it's a spell? How does that work?"

If he had been more grateful Chu Wanning would have known even less how to deal with it. As long as he acts cold and aloof no one will think to ask him about his motives and in turn he'd never have to admit to anything remotely like concern on his part. It worked out for the best.

"It isn't that complicated." It isn't even the most advanced barrier he knows. Still...

He looks at the child before him, considering rather than dismissing the question outright. "But it would be easier if you know what cultivation is."

He can tell himself whatever he wants, but there are only so many conclusions to draw from the evidence at hand. Five would have likely taken more offense if he wasn't still feeling so drained, even with the nap, and it wasn't taking too much of his concentration to keep his curse from showing. The last thing he needs is look pained in front of someone who already thought he needed to be taken care of like a child.

When he asks if he knows what cultivation is, he nearly feels like one. He hates that there's so much he doesn't know here. With some effort, he swallows his pride and smiles up at him.

"I'm behind on my studies."

He doesn't smile back but at least he's not glaring. He's fairly certain any attempt to act friendly would only seems strange on him so he defaults to his usual way of acting aloof and cold.

Though he doesn't hesitate or make any other comments about having to explain, no indication that he was annoyed by having to do so. This is, after all,. a strange new world they've all found themselves in. "It's a method of strengthening the spiritual energy in one's body. Eventually, it will lead to the formation of spirit core and energy that can be used to power all sorts of techniques." He holds out his hand, palm up, before a small haitang blossom blooms on his hand, seemingly made of golden light. "Like this."

Five crosses his arms tightly and leans forward when he holds out his hand and he watches a glowing plant grow out of his palm. If he was expecting childish wonder, he'll be disappointed when he's met with a severe and unflinching expression as he studies it. Not exactly as useful as the barriers, but... interesting.

"And that's just something you can learn how to do?"

"Like anything, certain individuals have different talents. Spiritual cores tend align with an element that could make certain techniques easier or harder. But in general, it's a skill anyone can learn if they put in the effort."

He isn't expecting much of anything. Hid demonstration actually has another, hidden agenda to it. Which will become apparent when he holds out the flower. "Take it. It's a messenger haitang. If you pull out the pistil and speak into it it can deliver a message to anyone you want." He knows they have means to communicate but he's always been the sort to trust himself and his own skills more than something he doesn't understand (though he is trying to understand as well). "It's already been made. There's no point in wasting it."

He's not concerned. At least, he'd deny it if asked.

For just a moment, he lets his curiosity get the better of him and he gives some serious thought to the prospect of spiritual energy. Before coming here, he'd never seen magic, despite how people might have interpreted his natural abilities.

He seems to snap out of it around the time he's offered the flower and the ulterior motive comes to light. As handy as he makes that sound, he can see the implication. It's only after he's stares him down that he slowly uncrosses his arms to take the flower and turns it around in his hand, examining it with a scowl.

"Not very subtle." There isn't anger behind his words, he just doesn't know how to handle this sudden act of kindness. He wants to defend himself, say that he was just taking a nap, but instead he shakes his head. "I don't normally do that, you know. So you don't have to..."

He shakes his head. This is awkward. His misplaced charity almost makes him feel guilty.

"...I don't know what you're talking about." He says, turning his head. "It consumes very little energy to make them and I do not like being wasteful. That's all."

He insists like it's a matter of pride that no one mistook his actions for anything other than him being logical about all this. What charity? What kindness? He isn't motivated by either of those things.

But well. Looking at this person, he can't help but understand a little why accepting such things from strangers can be hard.

"There's no need to explain. I did it because I wanted to. It has nothing to do with you." Which might be an odd thing to say given that all this was directly related to him. But in a lot of ways, he felt if you looked at it in a more straightforward way, wasn't he just making this decision all on his own?

Nothing he says helps his confusion. For a moment he thinks he might really be that out of touch with human behavior, but then he remembers. He obviously thinks he's talking to a child who would accept anything they're told. Maybe he's trying to spare his young pride.

"In that case, I'm glad I was around to take care of all your garbage." He doesn't know what to do with the flower, if he should keep holding onto it or if it might do something if he shoves it in a pocket, so he just keeps it in front of him. This feels weird and he's not sure if he can trust it, but he still has questions.

"Does it only work once?"

They're both out of touch with human behaviour.

He pursed his lips a little because calling it his garbage was a little...

But quickly, he dismisses those feelings. This was fine, wasn't it? He was the one who implied as much first, after all.

"It only works once, but it's no trouble to make more." And remembering that the child had asked about cultivation earlier, he adds, "There are communication arrays that are more permanent but they're larger and are tied to a specific place. In an emergency, or in a place where one is uncertain where they are, the messenger haitang is more reliable."

He looks at the flower again, obviously trying to understand it. Is it just going to disappear if he talks into it? That's... such a strange method of communication. Who thought of this?

"I see." He isn't planning on asking for more, because where would he put them? It's hard to trust that it works without testing, and even then he's not sure he does. "And this is common, where you're from?"

"If you mean the messenger haitang then no. As far as I know, no one else has learned how to make one." Because the person who thought of it, incidentally, is standing right in front of you. "But if you mean cultivation, not everyone learns it but it's not exactly uncommon. Though most of those who learn will be a part of a sect."

Five lets the silence stretch as he considers that. He's overheard enough about sects to be able to assume that a good number of them use the same sort of techniques. It doesn't sound like something they're naturally born with, but the ones brought here are probably the most advanced.

"You...," he trails off just as he feels a pull from the mirror inside him, and his grip on the flower tightens. He rolls his shoulders and refocuses, trying hard to put aside his curiosity for a better time. "That's a shame I'm not looking to join one right now. I'm sure you'd have plenty of secrets to tell me."

The flower would fold in his hand, like a delicate flower but will return to its original shape when the grip loosens again. It is, after all, not a real, physical thing.

He catches that change in the boy's posture but isn't sure for what reason it happened. So he notes it, then decides not to comment on it for the moment.

"SiSheng Peak isn't that sort of sect." They did have things they wouldn't tell but very little of it is actually cultivation related. "I'm not taking disciples at the moment but if you wanted a place to start or if there's anything you wanted to know all you need to do is ask." He says it like such a thing should be exactly how things always are, as if sects didn't regularly guard their secret techniques like thieves hoarding their treasure.

He really sounds like he would, and his sincerity is just as surprising as it first was. Five's eye twitches at the word 'disciple', but it seems like he's honestly trying to help. He just can't figure out why he's so eager to answer his questions, aside from the same reason he noticed him to start with.

"Thanks," he manages to say in return, still giving him an odd look. For someone who has done everything himself for decades, he has a hard time accepting that anything could be given up so easily. There's a possibility he'll regret this later, but he doesn't refuse the offer. "Where can I find you?"

He looks surprised to be thanked before he turned his face away with a hmph, embarrassed.

"It's nothing worth being thanked for." He's unused to being thanked. Normally, people didn't thank him. Well Xue Zhengyong did but no one else. So he doesn't know what to do about it and while he may sound irritated that's just how he acts when he's unsure.

Still, he looks back to give the address of his current residence. But also, he adds, "You can find me using the messenger haitang as well. My name is Chu Wanning."

It's rare for him to find someone who seems just as unused to having amicable conversations as he is. While he's still suspicious that there's something he's missing, he's mostly convinced of why he's doing this. He can't correct him without sounding immature, so he just frowns and nods.

"Number Five," he says his name slowly. Objectively, having a magic flower that can call someone any time he has a question is very weird. It's hard to get past, but he tries to hold onto some semblance of composure in spite of that, and being woken in the street in the first place. "I'll remember that."

Unfortunately, this experience will be hard to forget. He definitely let this get too far, and once he's decided Chu Wanning isn't a threat, he's left not knowing what to do. It's a struggle to think of what he was looking when he passed out by the statue. He squints at the man for a while before it comes to him.

"Do you know where I can get some coffee?"

Number Five didn't sound like a name to him and yet, he didn't know how to ask about it. Perhaps it was even normal where this child came from?

He frowns briefly before he decides it really wasn't his business. Instead, Chu Wanning nods, accepting the answer at face value.

At the question though, his expression takes on the sort of blankness of someone who didn't recognize a key word in a sentence they heard. Coffee...? What was that?

There wasn't even any context in the word that would tell him what it was. If he hadn't found himself in a universe he may even feel self-conscious about that.

As it was, he felt less embarrassed about having to ask, "What is coffee?" than he would normally. He is almost a little intrigued. Is it something mechanical like a music box?

Of course he doesn't know. Five sighs deeply, feeling the tiredness combating with the curse that would probably be more manageable if he had some coffee. It's easier to come by than it was before they came to Taravast, but he can't remember exactly where to go when he's been having trouble just holding up a conversation about... cultivation, apparently.

He frowns and gazes off to the side, trying to make out the stalls, then he remembers where he is. Nothing but jewelry and other useless art. He would have already blinked away to find some, but he's not up for teleporting yet.

"It helps to wake you up." He very obviously could use some.

Something that wakes you up...?

"Is it something you consume?" It surely can't be something one wears, he figures. Besides, if it were something wearable he could have bought one already with what was around them.

After struggling to understand half of what he'd heard since he woke up, it's almost funny that Chu Wanning would be curious over something like coffee. Rather than scoff and shake his head, he generously gives him an explanation.

"It's a beverage. Like tea, but better." He's well aware that tea is what most of them are used to. Just talking about it brings back a pounding in his head, and he wonders again how he'd ended up in the artist district of all places. He's apparently too disoriented to sort out which direction he went in. "I was on my way to get some, if you can point me towards the market."

He hears 'like tea but better' and he automatically thinks it's sweet. Not because he's speaking to a child but because Chu Wanning himself has a sweet tooth.

So he looks intrigued, but also like he's trying (badly) to hide it. "I can certainly do that." Ah, but how to invite himself along...he could go on his own later but what if this beverage goes by a different name here?

"I could use a drink as well, come to think of it."

Five was hoping he'd just point in a direction, but once he gets moving he knows he'd be able to orient himself again. If he weren't still so out of his head, he could handle running one stupid little errand. When it seems that Chu Wanning is angling to invite himself along he gives him a flat look.

"I don't need a chaperone." How long will he wait to tell him that he's not a kid? Five looks at the flower he's still holding and sighs. He's already stayed here too long, and he starts walking in what he thinks is the right direction. He needs coffee. "Come on, then."

He frowned, looking genuinely confused. "Who said anything about a chaperone?"

It was true this was a child before him but one already old enough that, had he been a disciple would be old enough to be sent out on missions. Why would someone this age need a chaperone? And why would it be Chu Wanning? This isn't his child!

He hesitates to follow, thinking for a moment that maybe the earlier comment was because his company wasn't wanted...but it's only for a moment before he follows. Whether it was the right direction or not he couldn't say, being still sort of new to this place, so he walks silently. He's never been good at small talk anyway.

time doesn't love you anymore

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