#feilien

@feilien ┊ SMALL PLOTTED CANON VERSE STARTER.

       Their non-invitations were becoming common place. It was something of a secret language between them, one they had to speak fluently if they wanted to see each other. Zane didn't necessarily have to pretend he wasn't going out of his way to see Matt when he could. In fact, he'd made a predictable habit of it — every other week or so. He did, however, have to understand the nuances of when Matt's words contradicted his actions. Or, when certain off-handed details were an invitation.

       Matt had mentioned he had a dog ( Bao. Of course Matt would name his dog after one of his favorite foods ) and that he took him on long walks through Golden Gate Park. That was a place Zane hadn't been to since he'd escaped the city ... and, as the familiar sights came into view, that aching homesickness twinged in his chest yet again. Nonetheless, he'd traded his usual visit to the college for an evening at the park ... he'd let Matt know of course, albeit vaguely. After all, Matt wasn't supposed to anticipate, let alone look forward to Zane's visits, was he?

       He had to wander around to find him, but ... eventually, Zane spotted him and his heart gave a little leap in his chest at the sight of him. Embarrassing. He was stopped, letting Bao sniff through the grass with intention ( the dog was fluffy and white, so the name did suit him, Zane thought fondly ) ... and, was he imagining the way Matt cast his eyes around, as if looking for something? Or someone? He approached Matt with a casual ease, coming up beside him. ❝Fancy seeing you here,❞ Zane said, his tone light and a little surprised, as if their crossing paths here truly was a coincidence. It wasn't, and they both knew it. His gaze drifted to Bao, then back to Matt. ❝This is Bao, I take it? ❞

{ @feilien ; new chapter } ─ There was nothing more beautiful than heavy rain in the midst of Summer. The reflection of raindrops that danced with a comfortable warmth and gave it a pleasant balance. A grand city tugged and carved into the mountains, a grand river floating underneath it as stars lit up the endless streets and bridges together with a million lanterns. Even with this weather, it was busier than ever, the city coming alive at this late hour.

After all, it was a crossroad of several realms, neutral without heading to any banner, one could find heavenly officials and hell court representatives alike, just like thousands of other people who came here simply for business, to take the paths to other realms, or maybe hide. From the aesthetic, one may take it as stuck in time yet, to the human eye, it might feel more like the scene of a fantasy series, where, upon closer glance, there was no obvious dynasty and something haunting about quite some of those rushing left and right.

A black oil-paper umbrella with a delicate painting of flowers opened over the head of the new arrival. A tall man stepped to his side, a faint smile on his lips as almost black eyes glanced over the scenery of the city that held no name, one may refer to it as desired. A perfect place to hide, to start over, or forget who you once were.

"There is a saying that sometimes, during a full moon, if a human calls desperately to get away, even if it is only from a heart wish, the veils may open for them. Where it leads, it's hard to tell. Some might be lost and others may find shelter as they asked. It looks like you belong to the latter. You found your way to a city of the night, where indeed no one can find you."

It had always been easier to let anyone believe that a lack of money was the sole reason why he was more often than not doing shopping and inquiries in the part of the city that the Ministry of Justice would like to purge, if only on paper. What use would they have if there were no criminals to chase? As long as the crime was just low enough to be praised by an emperor but not high enough to actually require work, they were all too satisfied.

For him, it was more a matter of remaining unnoticed. Wén Bìyù, based on words, was a former soldier who left the army after the war a few years ago to take care of his sick mother, only to find she had passed away by the time he made it back. It was a name he had taken from a grave, without possessing any papers to prove his identity. Making illegal purchases was worth the risk, since no one would notice his story had holes here, if only if one bothered to look properly. The irony of heroes of war was that nobody really knew their faces, including that of Xiè Zhìwěi. War long since calmed down, but this nation remained an enemy of Jùnlǐng, and with that, the chances for anyone outside of very specific merchants to recognize him shouldn’t be given.

“How is it that any time I return to the capital from a job, you invite me to ale and meat buns, and a few days later, one of your people comes and asks me for all kinds of favors?” His voice was casual as he tore a few pieces from the bun in his hand, eyes watching the many people walking past the food stalls and their many tables in hopes of luring in more customers to sit down and order more than a single portion.

“I wonder what it will be this time?” he raised an eyebrow, and for once, there was a hint of amusement on his usually more calm features.

To recognize a soul is a rare thing, Feng Wu could recall life times where everyone she had met had been new...and then there was this one. Where the old seemed to come through the doors of this building like it was a temple. It was, in a way, she supposes. It was a place where people came for help, that was what the role they had once played…and it was the one she still played. 

She gave aid to anyone who needed it, whether they asked for it or not. 

“You should stay…” She suspects the injuries are from a fight? Or something similar, but she also isn’t sure how to press on it. 

Usually she wouldn’t. 

Seeing someone she used to know felt like something in her chest being clawed at. Like Fate had just stuck its hand inside her chest and twisted the fibers of her heart. The impulse to figure out what had happened, both physically…and the rest of it was screaming in the back of her mind. 

She provided help without judgement and without pushing people on things they weren’t ready to talk about but even Feng Wu had her biases, or her impulses, whichever it was she wasn’t going to bother to dissect, instead, she simply leans on the railing of the bed and offers a small smile. 

Soft, warm, as comforting as she can manage. 

“You really should get a CT scan, without knowing how your injury happened we can’t really be sure what damage has been done…” She finds, sometimes, explaining reasoning helps get people to cooperate more. “And my concern is, if you can’t remember getting knocked out, that is a red flag for some serious damage to your head.” Feng Wu isn’t lying, but it's also a side request - tell me what happened and I’ll reconsider my advice. 

" real nice place you got here, " visi claims, suddenly appearing in the campus art studio behind the other. she's not looking at him, instead appraising the artwork decorating the walls. " wouldn't guess it's really your scene, long zhi— " she cuts herself off, fighting back a grin. " or is it matt 'round these parts? " brow raises, as she sits in an open chair nearby.

@feilien sent 👔 Pull the receiver in for a kiss by their collar / tie / belt. bc why not

Robby's tried to fight this. He's come up with every reason in the book to fight this, and yet he can't. No matter what he does, and no matter how much he tries to push the man away, he doesn't let him.

Even when he's an asshole, lashing out because he's afraid of getting too close. Getting too close means the possibility of losing yet another person he cares about. Robby's not so sure he can handle more grief.

But now he's tired of fighting, tired of excuses, and this time when he pulls him close by his collar? He doesn't fight it. Not even as lips press against Robby's own and he finds himself practically melting into the kiss.

rue, to be honest, was like, HALF SURE he'd been joking when he'd told her that he'd teach her self defense. it felt like one of those haha, yeah, sure kind of moments that warped into a oh you're serious far too quickly, her dark eyes blinking against the bright lights of the space he'd taken her to. it was a gym nearby, sure, but one that seemed to be curiously absent of the usual types of people that would hang at the club, making her wonder if that meant that like, people really shouldn't be seeing them together. to which. why? what the hell had she done? but... whatever. it's fine... right?

she just wore what she would to the gym, feeling awkward because fuck, she didn't even really do that? leaving her wondering what the hell they'd be doing today, maybe more nervous for something new than she cared to share. because like, squaring off and yelling in someone's face was one thing, but like, actually knowing what to do, and having the knowledge of how to do it for someone as painfully impulsive as she could be? was like, asking for fucking trouble, but rue's settling her anxiety, toes tapping against the mat.

so what do they do? her eyes peer at him, almost nervously, looking for a hint. long zhi distracted with the conversation she was having with his friend, it seemed, leaving rue to wonder more curiously, checking out the equipment, DISTRACTED. a call of her name grabbing at her attention, so that she could drift back, chagrined and listening, now. "so um... how do we get started with this? do you just... come at me or something?"

Covered hands rubbed together in a fruitless attempt to spark some warmth, before Marina slowly removed her gloves. She hadn't called to her summoning in some time, and she had trouble if she couldn't move her hands freely. As much as she didn't want to use her Grisha abilities, that was best case scenario. She had to be ready in case her life was in danger.

Thankfully, the perpetual fog coating the city was the perfect cover to keep following the man without drawing attention to herself. She just needed to wait until they were a little further, where she was sure no one else would be at such a late hour. Ideally, she'd be able to tie him up and bring him back without fuss, but Marina already knew it was all wishful thinking; most likely she would have to knock him out and drag him back. Great.

With a deep breath, she readied herself, fingers stretching in anticipation. It was time.

As soon as the man turned a corner, Marina tackled him to the ground, her own body aching as she fell right with him. "Don't move." Her voice was low, muffled by the mask covering the lower half of her face, as she made sure to use her full weight to keep him in place. "Or I'll kill you." An empty threat, of course. Hopefully it wouldn't come to Marina having to make good on her word