video

[originalshen]

[The feed opens to a trio of pretty prismal girls in what appears to possibly be a Caihong brothel, judging by the aesthetic. Another young woman can be heard from the recording end: "There, it's on! Say hello, girls!" The girls happily wave at the camera!

"And now if you press this right here—" Ah there we go, selfie mode! Instead of those other girls, we now get a vision of another local lady with a curious-looking man in soft green robes.]

That easy, is it?

["That easy!" as she hands the communicator back to its rightful owner. He stares at the screen for a moment, contemplating whether he should just turn it off - but those girls are coaxing him to try saying something, so eventually he relents.]

So people can see this, is that right? [Awkward!] ......Well. I suppose if anyone here knows of quiet areas to visit or stores that serve good tea, I'm...open to suggestions. [Ahem.]

That is all.

[Aaand after some fumbling (and more help and laughter from his friends), he manages to turn the thing off. All replies will be in voice from here on out!]

Comments

video; un: Sizhui

[sizhui]

Peak Lord Shen, [ nooooot asking about acting like this is the first time he has used the network, though he does notice it, ] so far, I have not found a place that serves tea that is anything like what it is like back home, they use tea bags and various different flavors here, but it is not too bad.

And the parks can be rather quiet, especially when the younger ones are at school or taking naps. And, of course, any library is very quiet.

[originalshen]

[Another boy who knows his name? That other Shen sure gets around.] I suppose different flavors of tea are to be expected, in a world so far from home. Though "bags" don't sound much like something one would wish to put in their teapot.

Are you not going to school, yourself?

[sizhui]

Mm. In was rather surprising, and the flavors are very odd. I am not sure tea should taste like peach, or caramel, but it's not entirely bad...

Ah, back home, my training was at a stage where I was being sent out on night hunts, not actively sitting in a classroom. That is not exactly possible here, but my seniors are continuing with my training all the same.

I have been considering attending courses at the Academy, but what they offer is ... very different from what a cultivator learns, on the whole. I haven't been able to choose what to study.

[originalshen]

[He's never heard of caramel, but admitting that to a child...] To each their own, I suppose.

So you have responsible seniors with you here, then? It's good to hear you're diligent enough to keep up with your studies in a foreign world. [This shizun approves! On that front, at least.] Is there a limit to what you can study at the academy? I don't see why you shouldn't take everything useful they have to offer, as long as you have the time for it.

voice; un: rogueofdarkness108

[killful]

[The feed opens to laughter just as boisterous as that from the brothel. His voice is so lively, one could say that if the man were with Shen Qingqiu, he would fit right in.]

Hahahaha, man! Only if you tell me where you are! I could use a drink myself.

[And some company.]

[originalshen]

[That sounds like the voice of a man he very definitely wouldn't get along with.

But also, he is in a brothel...and turning away potential customers would be bad for their business. So after a pause, he does actually give the location! Or the name of the place at least, with some input from one of the girls.]

The girls will appreciate your company, I'm sure.

[killful]

Thank you, oh kind sir! I'm sure I'll love their company as well. [He's not really interested in that... He just likes not being alone. But it seems this man wants the opposite! Weird!] Stay right there; I'll be on my way now.

[Yes.

Yes.]

[originalshen]

[He can't tell if that thanks is genuine or joking, and he's not sure how to feel about that. It definitely sounds like this stranger is planning to come join him specifically, with the way he words things...which is definitely not what he was looking for when he came here.

He doesn't leave though; you'll find him still sitting at a table, calmly sipping tea as a girl plays what sounds like a guqin anime cover on the stage. Look at him smiling and chatting with his sexy female companions! It's like he's pretending that not-really-a-conversation never actually happened!

Because that's exactly what he's doing.]

video; un: Moran

[beitangmoran]

If you do happen to find a good purveyor of tea leaves, I would be interested. It is suprisingly hard to come by.

[originalshen]

Considering the kind of place we've found ourselves in, it's probably only natural that the tea leaves we're used to are so difficult to find.

If you're interested in that information as well though, I suppose I don't mind sharing, once I've found something.

[beitangmoran]

Oh, yes, I am definitely not hoping for the kind I usually have, but something of comparable quality would be appreciable.

[None of this... teabag nonsense.]

Thank you very much, much obliged.

[originalshen]

...Though offering information to a nameless stranger for nothing seems like a rather bad idea, overall.

voice; un: whatthehellthisvenerableonedoesn'tnee

[erhated]

You're seeking a quiet place, but the company you keep is far from quiet.

[originalshen]

The company I keep at this moment is not going to follow wherever I go.

Or did "this venerable one" assume otherwise?

[erhated]

Well, you're looking pretty comfortable there. Why bother going somewhere else.

[originalshen]

Would you go to a favored restaurant when looking for a place to sleep? Or a hospital when in want of entertainment? There is a reason multiple establishments offer differing services.

video; un: xinmo

[bailian]

[ The video is met with one of his own, the screen displaying Luo Binghe's complexion in flux between several complicated emotions. ]

Shizun, who are all those women with you?

[ What the facts suggest and what he believes are unshakable truths concerning Shen Qingqiu's character seem to be two very different things. ]

text, just for you

[originalshen]

[Why. Shen Qingqiu freezes immediately upon seeing this face, reading that name - though he forces himself not to react any more strongly than that, for the sake of not worrying the women around him.

He can't ask them for help on this one, either, so the reply takes a while to get through. Unlike that other shizun, modern technology is not one of his strong points.]

native residents familiar with these communication devices. is that enough of an answer?

permavideo, Binghe gathers up this special treatment and treasures it forever...

[bailian]

[ This man may not be of the same mind as the benevolent master he's come to know and love, but to claim they're wholly different people isn't the whole truth either. To Binghe, he's what his master was reborn from. An original self whose lingering memories remained in Shen Yuan's mind long after the soul had shifted in shape.

All that he's known and been told makes it easiest to believe the circumstances that brought Shen Yuan to their world was a matter of rebirth. A reincarnation of one person into their next life, albeit in a less than literal or linear sense.

Yet however it truly happened, in whatever way things can be explained away, two men with the same face and form aren't easily differentiated when the thread of fate between them is so clear. So Binghe can't help if that attachment bleeds over, despite the bad blood and mistreatment he's long since forgiven the man who chose him as a disciple all those years ago. ]

I've learned a lot about these devices since arriving. I'll be right over to show you.

[ He's! Not! Asking! Binghe's already moving about, gathering himself together to step out the door. What he lacks in directions Binghe makes up for in sheer determination to stick to the other man's side. ]

voice, un: diablo

[thedarkbond]

[This particular voice response is probably recognisable, delicate and polite in his phrasing as ever despite what he uses that for.]

Oh, I hope nothing unseemly is going on over there. What a place for a respectable man to wander into...

[Ren's tone is innocent and light, as if he's being entirely sincere and not just lowkey teasing the other man.]

I have a list of good tea places, though if you're in Caihong I feel like you must have walked past a lot of them already. [Ren's never been to Shen Jiu's particular flavour of entertainment in Caihong, but he recognises the decorative style. The upper floors tend to be more futuristic about that sort of thing.]

[originalshen]

Would it matter if anything was?

[Absolutely nothing unseemly has happened, they're all fully clothed and will continue to be as long as he's here. But it's not like he has to explain himself to this guy!!]

I did pass by quite a few, you're right. That may be one of the reasons I was asking for suggestions - there are so many to choose from, after all.

[thedarkbond]

I just thought someone like you wouldn't want to come off as disreputable in public. [Again, his tone is seamlessly innocent, as if he definitely only has Shen Jiu's best interests at heart and wouldn't even think of teasing anyone, ever.]

It helps to be attentive to what you walk past, isn't it? The smell of a good tea is hard to mistake...I have a list of good tea shops, but it seems like it would be much more helpful to teach you how to identify them for yourself.

[Read: Much more helpful to continue heckling him for reasons.]

[ voice ] un: chu wanning

[wooden_one]

[It takes him a moment to understand what he's looking at. When he does he blushes and has to take a moment to collect himself because this is...so shameless!

But in the end, when he does reply he still sounds a bit snappish.]

The library.

And in the future you should be careful what you show on here.

[...look. He hasn't quite delved into the internet yet. His sensibilities are still very delicate.]

[originalshen]

[Hey, everyone's decent here! I mean, they're prostitutes so their idea of "decent" might be a little different, but still!

Also, he recognizes that voice: It's the man who'd reminded him vaguely of a more stubborn and childish Yue Qingyuan. Which is why his reply, though it might sound somewhat irritated, is a little more toned down than it might otherwise have been.]

Thank you. And I'm afraid I don't know what you mean - have I offended you in some way?

[wooden_one]

[He's had worse response to his appearance in a conversation so he remains unruffled.

Well, except for the blush at the tips of his ears. Luckily, no one can see it.]

No. But you...you shouldn't flaunt your visits to...those places.