video | un: silver

[inthewood]

(( The face on screen is a young man's with bright eyes and dark curls. Excitement shines through his expression. There's no trace of confusion, only a bubbly sort of eagerness that creeps from his look to his soft voice. ))

I do hope I'm using this correctly. We haven't such devices in my world.

(( How easily he accepts this new world in which he finds himself. It isn't the first time Silver's found himself in a strange land. At least this one resembles home in the most basic of ways. Other than this device, much of the technology he's seen thus far seems the same. ))

It is my understanding that magic fuels this place. I would be much obliged if anyone would be willing to sit with me and discuss your experiences since you've been here.

(( He pauses abruptly, looking somewhat abashed. ))

Ah, forgive me for getting ahead of myself. This is all so exciting! My name is Silver, Henry Silver, and I am a folklorist. I study the magical and marvelous in my world and I hope to do the same now that I'm here. It's always best to play to one's strengths, is it not?

(( Another pause, and the giddy smile returns to his face. ))

I thank you in advance.

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[ Video; un: amethyst fiend ]

[amethystfiend]

[ Those eyes were bright and her ears twitch slightly, especially at the excitement that can be seen in the other's expression. Luckily, his voice isn't too soft, but she's sure if it was she'd be able to hear him just fine. ]

Magic. Us. Probably weird things that Brother Zhou and my Master would understand much better.

[ Henry has her curious now. What was that? ]

How do you study them?

[ If anyone tried to harm those she considered family... All because they were studying something... ]

I'm Gu Xiang. What's a folklorist exactly? I've never heard of one of those before.

[ Video; un: childofchaos ]

[raisedinchaos]

[ Eyes that seem almost black in nature and seem to shine stare at the stranger on the other side of the screen. ]

You're using it right. A lot of us don't have devices like this back in our own worlds.

[ It was weird to see someone so accepting of a new world, no matter where they came from. Almost at peace, really. ]

Magic. Kizuna. There's more than you think that fuels this place.

[ He can't help but give a bit of a laugh at that abashed look. ]

Jiang Xiaoyu. It's nice to meet you, Henry Silver. As for your strengths, you could do that here. Or you could go for something completely different. Some take this as a second chance at life, even.

[inthewood]

Observation, mostly. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to be able to interact with the creatures I study. Well, sometimes that's dangerous, but how can one gain anything without some risk?

(( Being English he isn't familiar with Asian naming protocols. And he struggles a little to mimic the pronunciation of her name. ))

A folklorist, Miss Xiang, is someone who studies myths and legends and tries to find the truth behind them. Every story starts with some kernel of truth, after all!

[inthewood]

(( He chuckles quietly. ))

I'm afraid I'm a creature of habit. There's so much I can study here! how could I possibly pass up that chance?

(( He reaches into his jacket pocket and retrieves a small leather-bound notebook and his pen. ))

If not just magic, can you tell me a little more?

[amethystfiend]

We're not creatures here. None of us are. We might gain the features but we're not creatures.

[ She's very confused, however, on the whole 'Miss' thing. ]

Who are you calling Miss?

[ Studies myths and legends... ]

Is that what you think this is?

[inthewood]

(( Ah, he seems to be digging his own grave. It's so like him to speak without thinking. He's grown too used to Tobias who would quietly sit while Silver prattled on about this story or that legend he'd heard.

Ah, Tobias... He hasn't even had the good sense to miss the man until right now. It shows clearly in his face, the enthusiastic expression giving way to something more melancholy. ))

Well, Mi--... it is another world. It isn't the first one I've been to, but it seems to be the most interesting.

[raisedinchaos]

There's not as much as you think. It's a normal little town. Now? When the festivals and things like that show, then you'll have something to study, but you'll need to be careful.

[ He shakes his head. ]

It's the people. Something that you'll realize the more that you're here.

[amethystfiend]

Gu Xiang. I don't know where you got the Miss from.

[ It was her name and since he's a stranger, it's what he should use. Not Miss. That sounded funny to her. ]

It's another place and different time. A weird place.

[ Her tail swishes slightly. ]

You could even end up with animal features. We don't come in with those.

[inthewood]

(( He's been to weirder places. Let him tell you about Fairyland. What a strange adventure that turned out to be. Not at all what he expected. Then again, what did he really know about fairies? Not much, considering Fairyland was a dead and barren place devoid of any life at all. And the closest thing to a fairy king he met tried to kill him and steal his body. Disappointing, that.

Silver flips open his leather-bound notebook and begins to jot down some notes. Animal features, his mouth makes the shape of the words as he writes them. ))

May I ask, ma'am, what is the significance of the, uh, animal features?

[inthewood]

The people?

(( Yes, he's writing that down. ))

Is that what they mean by creating these kizuna bonds? Friendships and such?

(( Well, friendships and whatever other kind of relationships in which people indulge. He scribbles a few more things in his notebook then turns his full attention back to Jiang Xiaoyu.))

So, it's our connections that make this possible?

[amethystfiend]

My name is Gu Xiang. I'm not a Miss or a ma'am.

[ What in the world was wrong with this strange person? None of it made sense to her. Why call someone Miss or ma'am? That was as bad as Scorpion calling her Mistress! ]

You gain the features through bonds.

[raisedinchaos]

That's right, the people.

[ Xiaoyu gives a bit of a chuckle and shakes his head. ]

That's exactly what they mean by creating kizuna bonds. Friendships, love, and intimacy.

[ Just about any relationship, really, could create a kizuna bond. He had one with Xingchen, his twin brother, and his father. ]

It's our connection that makes a lot of things possible in this place, but yes. It's our connection with those around us.

[inthewood]

That's old magic.

(( Maybe the oldest magic of all. He could hardly say at only twenty-five. though, after being tied to the Hallow Wood for two years, he feels much old than that. That was a difficult time to put it mildly. ))

[inthewood]

I beg your pardon!

(( He only meant to be polite, as per the customs of his time and place. It was almost inappropriate to call a young lady by her name alone. Especially one whose acquaintance has just been made. ))

I understand. That's very interesting, indeed. And Mi-- Gu Xiang, (( He still stumbled over her name. )) may I inquire as to the nature of the bonds that gave you those ears?

[raisedinchaos]

It's the type of magic that you'll find in this place, among curses that crop up too.

[inthewood]

Curses?

(( He's definitely more curious than wary. He should be wary. Alas, his sense of self-preservation is under-developed. ))

What manner of curses?

[Video] un: songzichen

[tobrushawaysnow]

[ Zichen almost doesn't respond, but there's something...cheerful and shy about this that calls to him.

So he answers, inclining his head in a little bow of greeting. ]

The magic of this world can even bring back the dead, and some here can return lost limbs or organs.

[ Yes, yes he is indeed speaking from direct experience. On both. ]

I am Song Lan.

[inthewood]

(( Nothing short of amazement crosses his soft features. Those pale eyes go wide and his lips part in surprise. ))

Truly?

[tobrushawaysnow]

I have no reason to lie.

[ He pauses, then admits just how he knows. ]

When I arrived, I was a tongue-less, animated corpse with my consciousness in place. Now, I am fully alive, and have my tongue back.

[inthewood]

(( Silver's utterly fascinated. Perhaps morbidly so. He scribbles a few notes in his notebook, some approximation of the man's foreign name and his conditions. ))

May I inquire as to the details of how this came to pass?

[tobrushawaysnow]

[ He's going to assume Silver's asking how he was brought back and how his tongue was returned, rather than how he died and lost his tongue.

It still takes a moment, more of thought on how to explain than on simply pulling away from this line of questioning. ]

My tongue was, essentially, regrown through the efforts of someone else who was brought here. I do not know if his magic was through birth or study.

My life was returned through a spell my soulmate discovered after months of search. I believe he found it here.

[Video] liebing

[firstjade]

[ This face...is visibly not quite human. Oh, sure, the face itself is human. But there are a few additions: elegant, curved dragon horns, and if Silver really looks, he might see what might be scales (black and silver) peeking past the long black hair along this man's neck. And of course there are the warm amber eyes that seem to smile along with the man's lips.

At least there's a friendly, if quiet, smile as Xichen bows his head a little. ]

The technology of this world is strange to me as well. You seem to be doing well for yourself, which I commend you for. I would be happy to speak with you about what I have seen and experienced of this world and it's magic.

[amethystfiend]

I beg your pardon. No one calls me Miss or ma'am. Those are just weird things to hear out of a stranger or anyone, in general.

[ He might be trying to be polite, but for her? That's just weird and strange. Her own master didn't even do that kind of thing. ]

My family is how I ended up with the bonds that gave them to me.

[raisedinchaos]

[ He raises a brow because most would and yet wouldn't want to know. ]

Losing your eye sight can be one. Touch. Taste. This place can throw anything at you.

[Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

[gentledawn]

You must know many fantastic stories. [As a folklorist. Xingchen smiles softly at the man's enthusiasm - it's a nice change from the fear he has seen in others.] I can tell you about the magic in my world if you wish? It is called Cultivation.