Video - Something borrowed

[beitangmoran]

[The feed starts in the rather nondescript living room of one of the apartments new arrivals get directed to when they first make it here. Home decor hasn't yet been a priority since Moran has arrived, and even if it were, he would leave it entirely to his more savvy housemate.

Addressing a video feed is a bit weird, because he is just talking at a machine, but his face is nothing but pleasantly inquisitive. He knows how to hide discomfort.]

Greetings.

I am looking for someone who could possibly point me in the right direction. I wish to have a fan custom made.

It needs to look like this.

[He grabs a fan on the nearby table and opens it, and though trial and error for a few seconds, manages to angle it so the motif is visible.

The fan is dark green silk, with a delicate drawing of a lotus flower and clouds in white on it. After a few seconds, he turns it around to show that the reverse has exactly the same color, except the décoration there is Chinese characters, also written in white. A few more seconds and he closes it and puts it away.]

I need it to be exactly identical, except for the colors which need to be reversed. I would be very grateful if anyone knows of a maker who could accomplish this.

Comments

(Video)

[decisiveconquest]

What do the characters mean? (The fan is pretty and of course that catches her eye.)

(Video)

[beitangmoran]

[It's easier to converse on video and seeing people's face, so he will just keep it that way.]

It is a poem. One that I like a lot.

Well-met, I do believe this is the first time we speak.

(Video)

[decisiveconquest]

(She doesn't type well or quickly and she isn't afraid to show her face.)

I like poetry too.

Yes, forgive me. I'm Daenerys Targaryen.

(Video)

[beitangmoran]

I am Beitang Moran.

... I do believe our names can appear on those, right? I am not yet very proficient with them.

And unfortunately, I have had little time to indulge in poetry since my arrival. But I have been told there are scholarly associations, so it is my hope to be able to join one shortly.

have you been here long, Lady Daenerys?

(Video)

[decisiveconquest]

Do you prefer Lord Beitang or Lord Moran? (Other cultures should be handled with care.) The name that appears for me is "motherofdragons", I believe.

There is a library too. I would visit it more often if my son was allowed to accompany me.

(But Drogon isn't trusted around all the flammable materials.)

I have been in Lunatia for one turning of the moon.

(Video)

[beitangmoran]

My people usually refer to me as Lord Chen, as there is more than one of us with the name Beitang. Feel free to use it as well.

You have been here just a bit longer than I, then. Have you settled down well?

And why would they not let you bring your child with you? Are they disruptive in any way?

[That is of couse unacceptable in a library, but there are some well-behaved children.]

(Video)

[decisiveconquest]

I will remember, Lord Chen. (Such things are carved into her mind. Negotiations can go very wrong if the wrong name is used.)

Well enough. The...improvements...are strange to me. (Electricity, cars...)

He is incredibly well-behaved, but he is a dragon.

NOT HERE

[topoiran]

[ But... ]

NOT HERE

[beitangmoran]

[Hush, XunXian.]

OUF. Action.

[topoiran]

[ It's. Not while Moran is taking the time to respond to things. But the slightly flustered Xunxian does come over with a quiet, ]

if you find someone and you wish mine as actual example, I can give it.

[ He hasn't been leaving it around for the simple fact that it's hard for him to look at it, Moran is unlikely to find it easier. But if it is to take to somebody else, he can wrap it as a package. ]

Action.

[beitangmoran]

[Moran has put the device away from now, and he can't help but smile slightly at the look on XunXian's face. he doesn't get to see him look like this often, although it seems to be happening more and more frequently these days.]

Let's find a maker first, and then we can work the details out. Yours might be a little difficult to use as a model.

[You know, because of the dried blood on the drawing and the characters.]

Action. Would this put this the day after the party...

[topoiran]

All right. [ Yes, those. And the broken frame, too. But he figured, between Moran's fan as an example of the details, and Xunxian's as a sample of the colors. or something.

But then he shakes his head, and smiles - not too twisted, either. ]

I do miss it, so this is very much appreciated.

Action

[beitangmoran]

I know you do.

[Why do you think he's ordering you a new one, XunXian?

He's going to hold out his hand.]

Come here.

[ voice ]

[wooden_one]

[Oh look. It's you.]

If you don't find anyone else, I could make the fan itself and I can manage the calligraphy if I find a brush.

[He's never made a fan before, but for a man who was used to making weapons and mechas, that sort of delicate handiwork is doable.]

You may have to ask another to paint the flower, however.

[ video ]

[beitangmoran]

[He stays on video because he finds it easier.]

Lord Chu, what a pleasure.

If i cannot find a maker for the whole thing, then I will gladly take you up on your offer. I think that in a bind, I could probably paint the flower myself, but I would rather leave it to someone skilled whose profession it is.

[ video ] but only reluctantly

[wooden_one]

[He'd used voice because it was a convenient way to speak without having to be face to face with others. But if the other party insists on otherwise then...

Well, actually, with anyone else he may still have just continued on as is, but since they know each other...

After a long moment of consideration he switches over to video too.]

Pleasure sounds like an exaggeration.

[Certainly, he'd count himself lucky if the people he talks to aren't just waiting for him to leave so they can relax again.]

With so many here, surely there has to be someone who paints.

[ video ]

[beitangmoran]

... Why would it not be?

[Listen, could you please just take him at his word that's he's happy to talk to you?]

I have actually found someone who offered to embroider the motif, but she can only supply the fabric. Would it be possible for you to make the frame if I show the original to you?

[ video ]

[wooden_one]

...generally, when I walk into the room all conversation dies until I leave.

[He's had a decade of experiences like that. So it's hard for him to take that at face value.]

It shouldn't be a problem. I'm used to this sort of handiwork back where I'm from.

[Though usually he was working on a warfan. But he wouldn't have offered if he didn't think it was within his capabilities.]

[ video ]

[beitangmoran]

I am speaking to you, am I not?

This would be a great help. And since we have only met over this device for now, where shall we meet in person?

video

[silksentinel]

[Hornet has yet to really interact with anyone on the network, but this does catch her eye. It's a lovely design and the request makes the spider in her itch to make an attempt. It's been a while since she's made anything, but she has all the confidence that she could pull off at least the silk and all the designs it contains. The rest she's not sure.]

I could make the silk and the requested design but as for the rest, I have no experience constructing the fan itself.

video

[beitangmoran]

Would it be possible to reproduce the drawing on one side and the writing on the other?

Even if it is just the fabric, it would be a great help. Someone has offered to build the frame. I am sure we could assemble the two.

video

[silksentinel]

That would not be a problem. [She would need to double weave it, but she hardly has a shortage of material.]

Then between us I am certain we can replicate the fan.

video

[beitangmoran]

Then I would be very grateful for your assistance. What would you require as payment for such a thing?

video

[silksentinel]

[Hmm. She probably should, shouldn't she? Truth be told she can't really think of anything that she'd need. She's decent on Chroma and nothing else really comes to mind. Yet giving her work away for free makes her feel like she doesn't take pride in it.]

Knowledge. I am new to this world and only know the very basics of its currency and how it is transferred between other Moonblessed and the Prismals. Anything you could impart to me on how that functions would be sufficient.

video

[beitangmoran]

Ah. Well...

[The answer is both very satisfying to him - finally someone who gets him - and a bit of a problem.]

I myself have only been here for one week. I can certainly impart what I have understood of how it works, but all of it is my own conjecture and what I have read.