video; un: X_GoldenSword_X

[orchidingold]

WHO: Jin Ling and the network at large
WHERE: Zodiac.
WHEN: Feb. 9
WHAT: help my dog is not allowed in this motel room.
WARNINGS: some level of trauma. incoming MDZS cast feelings explosion, likely going to bring up family estrangement at least, will update if anything changes.

[The video turns on to a young man, slightly underfed, in clothes clearly hemmed in and altered to fit his slighter frame. Just in view at the bottom of the screen is the top of a shih-tzu's head.]

Well, I can't get this stupid app off my phone, so I might as well: anybody here know any place that lets you bring your dog in with you? The motel's not gonna let me bring Sunny in even though she's housebroken and well-trained and wearing a diaper, the assholes.

It better be a cheap place, too! I just got here, I'm still looking for a job.

[The dog barks, and Jin Ling's stormy face immediately softens as he glances down at the dog.]

Yeah, no, I know. Don't worry, I'll get us somewhere nice. [Pat pat.] Good girl.

Oh, and: best pet stores in the city? Cheap's not an option there, my dog deserves the best.

Comments

1/???

[fouren]

[ he's scrolling, idling, barely paying attention until this video crosses his feed and everything stops. ]

[fouren]

[ that face, he knows that face. he knows that voice too. memory comes in blinding like light breaking darkness: a baby, less than two months old, held between his arms crying and crying and crying and crying for his mother. Jiang Cheng is crying too, his tears silent in the face as the babe's wails. his chest hurts, hollowed out by grief. ]

[fouren]

[ grief and anger mix together like a bitter pill, carrying him forward for years and years as the babe grew bigger and bigger. he wanted nothing more than to simply embrace him, to tell him everything was alright, that he was proud of him─ but the words never left his mouth in the way that he wanted them too.

because sometimes, looking at his face, the grief would come back in a wave larger than anything he can handle. because he wasn't the parent Jin Ling needed, he could never be the parent Jin Ling needed. he wasn't Yanli, he wasn't as soft or kind as Yanli. ]

[fouren]

[ the memory fades, suddenly, and Jiang Cheng breathes in sharply. the motion of it almost painful as he comes back himself.

Jin Ling.

Jin Ling is here.

Jin Ling is here, in this city. ]

[fouren]

[ he wants to find him, he wants to turn and run. questions run through his mind with the fury of a raging stampede.

why is he on his own? does he know where Yanli is? is alive? did this life gift him the parents should have had in the last? will he remember? does he want Jin Ling to remember?

he can't leave him out there on his own. already his nephew is getting into trouble and it is still his job to take care of him, isn't it? she would be upset if he left him to his own devices. and he can't, he can't let her down. he can't let his sister down.

fuck. ]

6/6 ─ voice, un: wanyin

[fouren]

[ he doesn't know how long it takes to find his voice again, but he does. despite his best effort the chaotic mess of his emotions bleed through. ]

Where are you, Jin Ling?

OW 1/??

[orchidingold]

[Jin Ling's about to snap back who the fuck are you when—]

2/??

[orchidingold]

[—his eyes catch on the username—]

3/4

[orchidingold]

[—his ears hear the voice—]

4/4; voice

[orchidingold]

[—and the memories bowl him over so hard that he has to sit down, set the phone to the side, and hug Sunny close. The dog whines softly, licks at his chin, and in the back of his head, Casper murmurs:

Oh, kid. Oh, no, I'm sorry. Do you want me to...?

No. That's Jin Ling's jiujiu. He'll do this himself he just. Needs a minute to breathe in his dog's scent, collect himself, try not to scream where were you where were you at his phone.

If you say so. And Casper's presence retreats back into the the very recesses of his head, watchful, worried.]

Some—Somewhere downtown. Ugh, uh—I can see a Japanese place, red sign, weird-looking mascot, statue of ramen outside.

[A silence.]

...jiujiu?

UN: tithoes

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

How opposed is she to the presence of bears.

[Do not accept Noa's offer.]

[orchidingold]

I'm not bringing my dog anywhere NEAR a stupid bear! Are you KIDDING me?!

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

First, don't be rude, she's fairly intelligent.

Second, avoid the Crystal Tower then, I share my room with said bear.

1/i'll let you know

[conseqweinces]

[We're coming up on Valentines, Wei Wuxian said, let's see if there's anything fun on Libra or Gemini, Wei Wuxian said.

One day, Wei Wuxian thought, he would know not to let his guard down on this network.

Today isn't that day apparently. Because that voice, that impetuous, bold, eager to prove voice sent a shock to his system that made the abuse he faced against Zidian feel like love taps.]

[conseqweinces]

[It's an overwhelming sensation, really. Almost as bad as seeing Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng post months and months ago. This pit in his stomach, this complete system short circuit, this desire to withhold information, this flood of memories.

Shijie asking him to give her son's courtesy name, finding him and shoving his foot so far into his mouth it came back around, trying to help him in his own ways, taking blows for him, taking blows from him that he fully deserved.

The first step Wei Wuxian took to ruining so, so much about this boy after his lack of control killed Jin Zixuan.]

[conseqweinces]

[But good fucking gods, Jin Ling existed here too.

He existed here, he sounded older... he sounded around the age one would begin to use their courtesy name. Still as demanding as ever, still with that same undertone.

If he was alive... did that confirm whether shijie was still out there or not? Did he get to grow up with parents? Did he get to live a life free from all the subterfuge of the Cultivation world? From a clan with such a spotlight on them?

Did he have friends? Did he have anyone? How did he get here?]

[conseqweinces]

[It would be nice if in times like this Wei Wuxian would remember his mandated therapy techniques. But there are days where the past life memories are loud. And the guilt and regret even louder.

How could he not when all at once he, who had such a heavy hand in every reason the child had a chip on his shoulder, remembered what he did.

But if he was looking for some place to stay that kept dogs, regardless of how the thought made him flinch...]

ok im done voice; un: yiling

[conseqweinces]

[Fucking hell, Wei Ying... just breathe.

Just... just try to breathe.

God knows Jiang Cheng wasn't breathing right now. And one of them had to.

One of them had to bring him in to safety.]

Jin Ling? Where are you?

1/???

[orchidingold]

[His jiujiu's one thing. See, in this life, Jin Rulan didn't know a Jiang Cheng.]

2/???

[orchidingold]

[He does, however, recognize the face attached to the username yiling.]

3/???

[orchidingold]

[That's the face that makes his mother cry when she looks at his photo.]

Video

[ampersand_me]

Which was more bewildering: suddenly being confronted with people who knew him, or seeing the red quilled and furred face of some kind of alien echidna?

"I have heard there are rooms underwater in the fortress."

Knuckles that was like the least helpful way you could've phrased that--

[orchidingold]

[There's a long, awkward beat.]

There are what in the what.

text; un: captamerica

[mstitel]

How's your dog with cats?

[Not that it's a do or die for what James is going to offer, but... it'd be good for him to know, at least.]

The Fortress of Meropide has beds and is pretty dog friendly, if you're still looking for somewhere.

[He's not sure WHAT'S happening with all the emotions running wild up there.]

[orchidingold]

Not a big fan of them. Also, this is the same underwater fortress the red echidna guy was talking about?? No. It might leak.

[No, it really wouldn't, but Jin Ling's still trying to wrap his head around the concept of a whole underwater fortress that people just...go and live in. How does that even work? How do you get down there? Why?]

My jiujiu's coming to get me.