sa-hareth | arrival (mingle log)

[groundrules]

WHO: Everyone ever + the local Sa-hareth squad.
WHEN: Arc I: Sa-Hareth arrival.
WHERE: Sa-Hareth citadel, salt mine, the old jailhouse,
WHAT: Our intrepid heroes get commandeered into the frosty unknown.
WARNINGS: the glorious undead, background House of Dew mentions, at least one person's terrible sense of humour.

Comments

[weifinder]

( Time spent near constant starvation, underfed and overworked, wasting away for various reasons and not fighting by sword any longer when it was a weakness and not a strength... he sees differences, too, in this not mirror'd doppelganger as he approaches, and Wei Wuxian steps forward as well, allowing curiosity into his gaze.

He returns the nod with his own, and an easy, small smile. )

I'm going to assume neither one of us presently has any capacity for personal illusions, and that we're not caught in some kind of array for the time being. Startled seems reasonable when running into a double of your own handsome face.

( An uneven quirk of his lips in a quick sort of grin; not sounding particularly concerned over the fact he just called himself and this stranger handsome in what would be backhanded if it sounded particularly sincere and less amused while likewise curious. He lifts both hands, fingers pressed to the back of fingers, arms a circle. Is this familiar? He suspects yes, given robes, the familiarity of garb done more richly, more like what he himself never quite wore, and never quite would. )

Wei Ying, courtesy name Wuxian.

[beitangmoran]

[The other man doesn't seem surprised by the form of greeting... but he doesn't return it, instead choosing to incline his head. Between this, and his general bearing, and his clothing, clearly, this is someone who is used to having people bow to him while not responding in kind, but there's nothing rude or overbearing about it. Simply, it is not a thing that he does, and it shows.]

Beitang Moran. I am not the Star Master who possesses the ability to clone himself that would be my nephew. And my older brother has unfortunately passed, and while we did look related, our resemblance was not that close.

[He seems to consider it for a moment.]

... This could prove useful later. One never knows when being seen somewhere where one might not be expected cold be an advantage.

[weifinder]

( It may also be clear in the subtle lift of his eyebrows that Wei Wuxian notices the differences—but isn't inclined toward minding either way. People carry their backgrounds with them in the ways they move. He's more fascinated at the sheer unexpected oddity, smiling and peering all the more closely at Moran's face. )

Beitang Moran. You say Star Master like it has a meaning I should know, what are they? No need for me to wonder about relatives—ah, well, I was an only child at the time my parents passed.

( He waves a hand, settling their death to the past, as they are, with no lack in respect for them both casually mentioning some of their dead. It's part of living. )

Hah, so your first thought is mischievous! Not to mention correct, there are plenty of times being both where you are and aren't supposed to be is to an advantage. Given our situation, maybe even moreso.

[beitangmoran]

In my world, Star Masters are people who are granted a power by a constellation. There are twelve of us, and we each have different abilities based on our Star Sign. The cloning ability belongs to the constellation of the Pisces, which is the one my nephew presides over.

[He gives a small smile.]

I haven't had the occasion to cause mischief myself in quit some time, I must admit. I have had to solve other people's mischief a lot, though.

[weifinder]

... Are there only twelve constellations? I thought there was at least twenty-eight.

( He's fairly sure there's more than that, which is why he's confused, as Pisces doesn't help clarify why twelve are what matter. Except: )

I'd think maybe a nod to the twelve animal earthly branches, but...

( He shrugs. Divination isn't an area of interest for him, as it is, but he's curious at this from someone who looks like... well, himself, and familiar, but is talking about starkly unfamiliar things. Curious.

He continues to smile back, then sighs, waving a hand in front of him. )

I think we are now the official mischief, and solving our own and whatever else because we've been summoned here and are working with mysterious saviours we know nothing about means we'll all be on task for that. May as well find reasons to laugh along the way. Feels like that might get scarce... depending.

( They're in foreign territory, unaware of the politics, unfamiliar with the machinations, and hunted. Finding reasons to laugh when they were brought in as summoned sacrifices and slaves?

... Is very much what he wants to do, yes. )

[beitangmoran]

There are more than twelve, but there are only twelve in the Zodiac. There used to be thirteen before but...

[Pinched lips and a sigh. He doesn't like talking about it.]

There certainly are a lot of questions as to how we came to be here, and how we might get back. For now, we have shelter and food, and there are worse places than pleasures houses to huddle in.

[weifinder]

Mm, much worse, could be out in the cold in the salt mines surrounded by more of the undead with no way out and significantly injured!

( He says this upbeat, filing away the note about there having been thirteen Zodiacs, some event caused that to change, and not a direct correlation to the number of constellations in the sky. More like the year cycle with animals, though that'd always been twelve, as far as he knew.

Anyway, let him obtusely joke about being dropped in the Burial Mounds! )

As it is, those of us who came that way didn't end up trapped, so yes, I agree. Things could be worse, and we should do what we can to ensure as much as we can that they don't end up worse. It's cold out there, but—

( He glances back down the hall. )

Knowing where in the cold to run if needed may mean avoiding freezing in the streets.

[beitangmoran]

As long as some of our younger cohorts can control their tempers and not have us kicked out, we should be fine.

[He doesn't look much older than Wei Wuxian himself, but his manner is much more poised and regal, no unlike Lan Xichen in some ways.]

Did everyone from the mine make it out alright?

[weifinder]

Hah! Haaaah.

( yes, it's going to be interesting trying to keep vastly different temperaments with only their shared status as abducted to bind them together coordinated and working together without causing upsets outsiders can notice.

leaving that headache for later, he can pause to face this other one now. )

In returning, I found no indication of recent, new death.

[beitangmoran]

That's good. I also do not think we left anyone behind in the jailhouse.

[You're welcome to help with the headache, master Wei, Moran thought he was done parenting two bratty teenagers, and apparently not.]

I was about to go ask this very helpful young lady if she could maybe spare a jar of wine from the kitchen. Would you like to share some?

[weifinder]

No, that would be for the best... did you see any evidence of recently dead there when escaping?

( He lifts his eyebrows a touch, but offers a grin and a laughing exhalation. )

I'd be honoured, what's the wine here like?

( In the things he's worked on charming out of people here so far, wine has not rated the list yet. Partly because he also hasn't tried to figure out what kind of wine is here, or how good it does or doesn't taste, so. )