open ► march catchall.

[cutcloud]

Who ⬤ chongyun & you.
What ⬤ substories, working hard for the $$$, general day-to-day, let's build 🌈 friendships 🌈 and hold hands 💋
When ⬤ throughout march.
Where ⬤ mainly tamamo territory, with a dash of sutoku and enma.
Content Warnings ⬤ light nudity, language, slapstick violence.

will add closed starters as well, feel free to hit me up for a private prompt.


◐ i. (substory 1; evening; tamamo territory — open to all )

[ A tall building, painted black, boasts neon-pink and green sprawl across its brick walls. Despite night having barely fallen, the inside of the club is dark, still calm because its just recently opened its doors to welcome patrons. The music is low, a baseline throb to the clank of chains and whips; women with bright red lipstick and high heels linger at the bar, chatting casually, and men dressed in dark colors begin to pander to what guests have already arrived. What are you looking for? What do you like?

As far as BDSM clubs go, it’s beginner level. An introduction for newbies; it’s why the doms linger by the front, flirting with guests, wanting to build new relationships with clients. Not all of them—behind the scenes a huddle of new doms have been admonished for failing to be properly domineering. Complaints from unsatisfied guests have come in as of late and the boss is getting desperate. Anyone, everyone, please show these kids the right way to force someone into submission!

Enter: someone who is going to completely misunderstand the assignment.

Force a spirit into submission? Who better to teach these wet-eared youths than an exorcist? There are many ways to purge spirits, but naturally, one must quell it first. Which is why Chongyun strides up, straight-faced and cool, 160cm of icy poise as he snaps a thin red rope between his hands. Binding with charmed rope works extremely well for corporeal spirits, he explains to the group, who nod eagerly.

Perhaps you’re someone who’s wandered in—on purpose or by accident, maybe that extremely eager receptionist grabbed you off the street—or maybe another Tamamo. Either way, this young man with clear blue eyes and cool expression comes up and gives a short bow in greeting. The red chord is wrapped around his arm, hot color a sharp contrast to his cold palette. ]

Excuse me. I’m looking for a volunteer—would you be willing?

◐ ii. ( any weekday; late night; tamamo territory — open to all )

[ It’s growing late, and a neon-bright gentleman’s club wrapped in panels of tatami mat and smooth bamboo open for companionship sitting on the crossroads of territories hums with activity—trussed up in richly patterned fabrics, low tables, cushions, and delicate ukiyo-e paintings, the clasped hands of eager managers and the low giggles of entertainers promises … something. Anything you want. Conversation, flirtatious gazes, bated breaths and rich flattery (information, rumors, veiled threats), customers are king within the cocoon gauzy curtains and velvety daybeds.

Within the nest at a short table kneels a young man. Downy hair pushed back to show off a pleasant face, clear blue eyes, light lashes—they match the cool veining beneath his pale skin, a mapline that works over knuckle and delves beneath wrist. Unlike the rich kimono that several of the women wear, he’s styled in soft whites and trimmed blues, a snowy visage against the heated backdrop—his thaumaturge wear has been exchanged for a delicate Chinese style of dress, drawing a handsome figure with fine lines that’s softened by the touch of cusped youth.

In the end, he hadn’t been able to escape customer service jobs completely. Tolerant of today’s assignment, Chongyun can’t find it in himself to complain when companionship isn’t the worst thing sold in the club. They offer more—the managers usher workers into private rooms as quickly as they turn over drinks—but he’s begun to get used to Tamamo’s methods. He can ignore it, instead focusing on his own role. ]

Hello. [ he greets with a small nod of the head—maybe you’ve just come in, or maybe you’ve been occupied on the other side of the club and got bored with the giggling girls plying with compliments and wine—either way, Chongyun glances up from beneath his lashes, expression cool, contrary to the wide-plaster smiles printed on most faces. ] Do you want to play?

[ He gestures in front of him: three cups, a small pad, a pen, and a coin. He’s not entertaining anyone right now, cushion in front of him open for the taking, because most of the youkai and spirits are hesitant to approach him. Intimidation? Perhaps. He had thought his inborn trait defunct here, but it seems that the weak-willed spirits still find it difficult to come close. ]

◐ iii. ( weekend; afternoon/evening; tamamo territory — open to all )

[ Weekend rush—the novelty café is bustling, each and every waiter dressed in various costumes swamped with tables and guests to entertain. Compared to the sex clubs only open late at night, this café sees more foot traffic despite only offering cute boys in cute clothes and sweet desserts—right now, their fat pancakes are the hottest thing on the street! Limited time only, served with honey, butter, and your choice of ice cream. Better get them now or you’ll never have the chance for such deliciousness again!

Chongyun had been dragged in that morning, told that because he was so difficult to place that he needed to shut up and deal with what he could do, and shoved into a costume. We’re short on hands, get to work. So, the newly minted catboy had been forced out onto the floor as a server, dressed in short shorts, a button up shirt, a collar, a tail, and a fluffy pair of cat ears.

Barely even looking at the customer at his table, Chongyun tries to disassociate from reality completely while giving his welcoming spiel, ]

… W, welcome home master, nya. [ this is a fever dream, ] We have a meow-tastic menu for you today. [ this is a fever dream, ] You’ll definitely want to wet your whiskers on our limited edition pancakes. [ this is a fever dream, ] The rule is, if you finish your whole plate, you get a kiss from your cat. Nya.

[ He’s disassociating so hard that he’s actually staring straight at the wall, so embarrassed by his lines that he just. Can’t look at who he’s even talking to (which only makes this worse if you’re already an acquaintance). Stifling a sigh, he closes his eyes, trying to pretend he’s somewhere else completely. ]

Unless master wants something else. Your wish is my command…… nya.

[ That last nya is so resigned. This cat… he is tired. ]

◐ iv. ( anytime; tamamo territory — tamamos only )

[ Maybe running himself ragged working so many jobs had been a mistake.

It’s a thought he has after retreating to one of the back break rooms in one of the quieter clubs. Leaning over the communal sink, Chongyun washes his face, water from the faucet freezing cold. Icy enough that enough scrubbing have turned both his lips and fingertips blue—it blends into his scheme, so isn’t extremely obvious, but he doesn’t look well. Exposure to the “heaty” elements of Tamamo’s territory has taken its toll; sinking down onto the couch, the young exorcist begins to wilt, looking quite unwell.

If it were just work this would be nothing, but …

Between working and using all of his spare time to learn everything he can about Jigoku-cho that he can in an atmosphere he can’t deal with, he’s been burning the candle at both ends. Evil waits for no man—so he’s been hunting for it heartily through the streets, while trying to scrape for as many funds as he can save, as a cushion. Everything is so expensive that it feels almost dangerous to have no funds. What if there’s an emergency?

Head throbbing, Chongyun tries to peel open the slippery packaging of some painkillers without avail. His fingers feel clumsy and his focus isn’t quite there—it’s a fever he doesn’t even realize he has—and eventually he gives up, dropping the still-intact packaging onto the table. Then glares at it, childishly, as if that’ll somehow get the tabs out of the packaging and into his mouth.

When the door to the Tamamo only communal space opens, he startles, standing up right away as though he shouldn’t be there, ]

A… apologies, I’ll get out of your way.

[ He moves toward the door to let the new person have some privacy in the room, but the ground… ends up… moving…

Or, as you guessed: Chongyun flops over, sprawled across the floor with a dazed oomph. ]

How’d that happen…?

[ Comes his confused voice, muffled into the floor, where his face is still planted. Sorry you had to meet this mess when you were probably looking for a place to relax, huh… ]

◐ v. ( substory 3; earlier March; river bridge — open to all )

[ The young exorcist, dressed neatly in cottony white trimmed with blue, stands at the edge of riverbank while gazing up at an arching red bridge. The man with the jacket had stayed behind for his investigation—though Chongyun expects he just planned to harass more people about his sweet jacket and how he’s been personally attacked over fashion. It doesn’t really matter—he doesn’t need to be here for an initial assessment.

Curious, Chongyun explores the underneath of the bridge and then walks across it himself. No issues, not even an angry bubble in the rushing waters beneath. There are more people passing over the bridge as well, completely freely, not a one being attacked. Chongyun’s sure—he stepped back to watch, guard raised, just in case the supposed attacker decided to target someone else.

But… no. Nothing. Lost souls come and go without a problem. They actually give him weird looks for being so studious, watching all of them pass with an even expression and barely blinking.

Chongyun hums, leaning against the railing in the middle of the bridge, peering down once more to try and pick out something amiss in the water. Why would the guy make such a fuss to everyone if he hadn’t been attacked? It would be remiss of him to just brush the guy off, even if Chongyun isn’t exactly convinced that a jacket could make someone irresistible to haters. What if something actually happened later? That would be his responsibility for negligence.

Musing, out loud, voice carrying enough for anyone nearby to hear (and answer), the young man questions to the air, ]

Could an evil spirit really be attracted to someone’s jacket…? Maybe it’s the jacket itself that’s possessed?

◐ vi. ( daytime; convenience store; sutoku territory — open to previous cr )

[ Convenience stores… are a marvel.

Liyue had no lack of stores, of course. There were merchants along the harbor, constant trade coming in from ships passing through, stalls and shops that sold wares from nearby towns to distant lands. Yet this convenience store is different. There’s no contracts, no haggling—one merely walks inside and places the items they want in a basket, and then checks out at a register. No haggling. No negotiating. Prices are labeled and reasonable.

And inside—so many things! Food, stationary, first aid, hygiene products … Chongyun had spent a whole day exploring them upon first walking into one. Refrigerated rice balls with all of their ingredients clearly labeled? What more could someone like him, who only takes his meals cold and must avoid anything “heaty”, ask for? A place where one can get supplies at any time. So far, it might be one of his favorite things.

Speaking of supplies—it’s morning when he goes to stock up on ice packs. Tamamo territory has proven difficult to navigate with his particular condition, and without Mist Flowers or Qingxin he’d been at quite a loss until discovering the ice packs sold at convenience stores. Little packaged squares of ice that can be reused a few times, if you take care.

He has three baskets. Two are already filled with ice packs, and he’s in the middle of clearing out the freezer and filling the third when he notices a familiar face. ]

Oh, hello there. [ he seems in an extremely good mood as he continues to drop ice pack after ice pack into his baskets … who on earth needs so many ice packs… 60, 61, 62, 63… ] It’s good to see you. How have you been?

[ He pauses, reaching into the freezer only to find his fingers grasping nothing. With a frown he draws his hand back and blinks, ]

.... Is that all?

[ Apparently 63 ice packs isn’t enough?? ]

◐ vii. ( daytime; end of March; enma — open to all )

[ He hadn't expected to end up back in this building so soon. Like the day he arrived, the lines are long, and administration continues to churn its wheels. Take a ticket, wait in line. Only, this time, he isn't registering—the young man is waiting on line at the inquiries desk, which is thankfully not too far into the building. It's part of the main lobby where plenty of people loiter, though the fact that they could be from any territory and that they may be eavesdropping for scraps of information isn't lost on him. It doesn't particularly bother Chongyun either way, but he does make note of it.

Patiently, he waits on line until his ticket is called; he places it politely down onto the desk before turning his attention on to the poor person who's been answering the questions of Lost Souls all day. It's mostly directing them toward certain areas, really, and general questions like Am I dead? or Where do I live? Nothing crazy. You'd be surprised how similarly people who show up in Jigoku think; priorities are priorities, in the end.

If you're that poor Enma employee covering the front inquiries desk, have a young man with clear blue eyes studying you for a moment before speaking. ]

Excuse me. Where are all of the evil and extremely malicious spirits being held? It doesn't seem that they're amongst the general populace, and I would very much like to see them.

[ ... or perhaps you're just someone nearby, overhearing this young man quiz the poor office worker about evil spirits. Where are they? Is there a secondary location for spirits too evil to be allowed free to roam? Where would they be kept, if there were a place where they needed to be segregated in?

If you're that nearby person, he'll finally step away from the desk with a resigned sigh after getting absolutely no answers from the person working. He sighs, looking fairly disappointed. ]

Did I really wait on that line for no answers at all..?

[ He just wants!! To find!! The evil spirits!!! ]

Comments

[laughitoff]

No, and even if I did, you could still have it. I remember you said you had a condition, but I didn't think it had to be managed quite like this...

Do you want some help getting all these back?

[he is trying to express 'I WANT TO TALK TO YOU NOT IN THE GROCERY STORE' to Chongyun with his eyebrows only while he chatters, which is kind of an impressive sight. ymmv on how effective it is though!]

[cutcloud]

[ Ah, he does notice that Master Wei is indeed scrunching his eyebrows most furiously. Almost … fidgety? Like there’s something he has to get out, at once? Realization dawns in the young exorcist’s eyes and he nods solemnly, understanding completely.

In a voice lowered to a whisper, he points discreetly at a door in the back corner of the convenience store that has a little man drawn on it. ]

Master Wei, the bathroom is right there. I’ll happily guard the door so no one disturbs you.

[ Nvm he understood nothing. ]

[laughitoff]

[his eyes widen. he has to bite the inside of his lip to keep from bursting out laughing in the middle of the grocery aisle. this young man...!

he's good at improvising on a dime, but he really, really hopes Chongyun's place or a reasonable safe one to talk in that he can pull him into is near here, because this is going to be a hilariously awkward bit to keep going indefinitely otherwise. well! who needs dignity, really?]

Ah, no, no, young master, I'm afraid I just--well, yes, I did eat something that disagreed with me a little, but it's not that serious.

[lowers his voice, and also puts an arm across his stomach for veracity]

It's just...I didn't really want to say it, but I can't get used to using these public facilities at all, even with the kind offer of a guard at the door.

[cutcloud]

[ Sympathy creases between Chongyun’s eyebrows as he gently pats Wei Wuxian on the shoulder, trying to offer reassurance in this troubling time. He keeps his voice low, for the sake of saving the elder exorcist some face. He’s far too genuine as he consoles, ]

I understand. There is no shame in having a shy stomach. Don’t worry, don’t worry.

[ He returns the ice packs to the freezer, not even bothering to take them out of the baskets; they fit on the shelves fine in them, and he’ll come back for them later if they’re still here. There is no time to waste—what if Master Wei can’t wait long enough to check out, and something that is shameful happens? ]

Let’s go. My room isn’t far, if you think you would be comfortable there?

[ He can just … air the place out after, it’s fine…

Regardless or not if there’s agreement, Chongyun heads to the door with a stride. He hadn’t gone far for the ice packs, knowing they’d be heavy, but he still hopes the walk isn’t too difficult for a man clenching back a storm. ]

[laughitoff]

[it's a good thing he's shameless. hopefully passerby will take the tremble of his mouth as he follows Chonyun out of the store for, uh, discomfort, and not because he's dying internally from laughter. ohhhhh nooooooo.]

You're truly kind, young master...! Thank you for your consideration, that would be ideal.

[he's walking along fine (mostly), and he's getting some looks, but even the youkai aren't inclined to keep their eyes on someone who is so powerfully feigning the old rush-for-the-toilets dance. this was not the gambit he thought he'd be using, but huh! effective.]

((ftr please assume -- in case we don't get to this point in the thread by April 1st -- that Wei Wuxian told Chongyun about what he found in the sewers before the Night Parade begins for real! He'd tell Chongyun he was suspicious that it was harmful but couldn't stick around to get more details, and to tell others if he trusts them, but to leave his name out of it, since he doesn't want the faction leaders to figure out the source of the info leak. Just a heads up since someone else I'm threading with reminded me that it's almost event time and I tagged you very late, oops!))

[cutcloud]

[ As promised, his humble little room isn’t far. It’s only on the second floor of an older building; Chongyun leads the way to a wooden door with a nameplate with the characters of his name—重云—carefully handwritten. ]

Please come in.

[ The lock sticks a few times before he pushes inside. It’s a neat little space despite the wear of age, very clean, with a few neatly folded blankets on the small bed. On the short table are a few books, some bookmarked with leaves nicely aligned, as well as an incense burner.

Otherwise, a fairly sparse place. He points to the door across the way, still looking at Wei Wuxian with a touch of sympathy. ]

The bathroom is right there.


( aw, lovely, yessss. and never too late to tag in 😌 but much appreciated! master wei, what a good guy. )

[laughitoff]

[once they're actually inside, his whole demeanor shifts, and he almost bounces into the room after a brief look around, fully dropping the act]

Ah, I'm sorry for the deception, but I was just trying to get us into a decently private spot! I don't actually have to trouble you in such a way.

[just, you know, a whole different way?]

[cutcloud]

[ Deception…?

Chongyun stares at him for a moment, blank, before blinking twice. It clicks a step later—and he looks genuinely surprised, mouth forming a perfect little circle for a second. ]

You—oh.

[ His face is warm as a little surge of embarrassment colors his cheeks. Is his face red? He puts a hand on his cheek, trying to hide it. ]

It’s alright. It was my mistake.

[ He just assumed…! Ugh, Master Wei must think he’s a total fool. ]

[laughitoff]

[Wei Wuxian, shameless man that he is, cannot resist. instead of getting right down to business, he gives in and reaches over and tries to hairruffle Chongyun while he's flustered. if he gets his hand smacked or gets yelled at it's fully worth it.]

Haha! Ah, unscrupulous types will take advantage of you if you stay so pure of mind, you know. But don't worry, don't worry, I still appreciate the concern very much!

[cutcloud]

[ There is no hand smacking or yelling to be had! Just a bunch of fluffy hair getting mussed, ends flipping at bedhead angles for Wei Wuxian’s effort.

Chongyun sighs. This is why he’s the usual victim when it comes to pranks, isn’t it? ]

You’re not unscrupulous, Master Wei.

[ Perhaps mischievous, but it was harmless. He’s actually a little relieved that his apartment isn’t going to get blown out. ]

Now that you’re here, would you like some tea?

[ He had blustered his way to privacy for some reason; the young exorcist gestures toward the table surrounded by cushions. ]

Please make yourself comfortable. We’ll discuss what you had in mind.

[laughitoff]

[hilariously, after that ridiculous display out in public, this is what makes him fluster a bit himself, putting a hand behind his head and looking slightly sheepish. the people he talks to here tend to be so friendly. he's not used to that anymore? he doesn't know if he can relax enough to be used to it again for a long time.]

I didn't quite mean to impose, ah. But...tea would be nice.

[he takes the invitation to sit easily enough, though, familiar motions. his body remembers how to be polite or formal if it has to be, even when his mind is a mess. he pulls a couple of papers out of his sleeves while Chongyun makes the tea.]

[cutcloud]

[ Making tea is quick business with some of the modern appliances that Hell has. The electric kettle? Genius. It makes warming water for tea and preparing a pot extremely easy; Chongyun brings the small pot, two cups, and a dish with sliced dried fruit and berries over on a serving tray. There's also another bowl with ice, which he faces toward himself when he places it all down on the table between them.

Turning the cups, he pours Wei Wuxian a nice cup of warm tea before pouring one for himself, only half way, so he can drop a few pieces of ice into it. That'll cool it faster. ]

It's nice to have company. I haven't really had anyone here yet...

[ ... and it makes him a bit happy, though he doesn't finish that sentence. Instead, he wills himself to stay cool. He notices the papers and quickly changes topic. ]

Those are—?

[laughitoff]

[Wei Wuxian blinks at the ice (sixty-three ice packs and an inability to have hot drinks? that's one heck of a condition) but doesn't otherwise react to it, just murmurs appreciation as he accepts his own tea, and picks a little at the fruit]

Ah, well, if you wanted visitors, than I'm glad. Though I would have brought a housewarming gift if I'd known! This will have to do for now, I suppose.

[he pushes the papers easily towards Chongyun; one is a loose sketched map, marking paths and waterways through the tunnels, one section of it circles. one is a drawing of a section of unfamiliar mechanism or machinery, a sewer tunnel scribbled around it for context. it's hooked up to a pipe by many hoses, suggesting copious amounts of water being pumped into its innards.]

[cutcloud]

[ Chongyun looks down at the paper, blue eyes flicking left and right as he absorbs the lines on the page. Sketches—he knows a map when he sees one—and some very... curious drawings. He might be dense as all hell when it comes to pranks, but he's pretty swift on the uptake once he recognizes how the lines match the general topography of the city.

He hadn't been able to sneak down into the sewers despite numerous attempts. It looks like Master Wei had been much more fortunate in that endeavor.

Lightly, he trails a finger over the map, not touching directly for fear of smudges. In the end, though, it's that strange machine with hoses hooked up to it that wins his concern. ]

This doesn't give me a good feeling.

[ Sure, he had heard plenty of rumors, many of which he had tried to investigate ... but this is beyond what he had been expecting. He doesn't even know what it is. ]

[laughitoff]

Right? You know they're having us block off all of you from even getting close, they've been doing it this whole time, but...they've stonewalled non-Kappa Sutoku, too. I thought it might just be because we're new and untested, that sort of thing, but...

[shrugging, with a frown; it's good to have someone else taking this seriously with him]

I really don't know enough about this sort of thing to guess what they're building, but something that needs this much water, situated right in the waterways...I really don't like some of the possibilities.

[cutcloud]

Indeed, I do know. I tried a few times to enter for an investigation, but the guards of your clan are vigilant. I had heard rumors but was unable to prove or disprove any of them in the end.

[ Not that he's given up—he is tenacious if nothing else—but all of his efforts thusfar haven't been getting much in the way of results. Not to mention the number of people who have accused him of paranoia. Maybe so, but he will feel responsible if something does happen and he could have stopped it, so better look into it than not ... right?

It's something like that. Chongyun studies the drawing again... but no, it doesn't look much like anything he knows, either. Mechanical, something that funnels water and a large amount of it ... first thoughts veer toward flooding the streets, but does that really make sense? Would they need something like this to do that, anyway? ]

I'm surprised to hear they've barred their own clan members.

[laughitoff]

Ah, is it that much of a surprise? Even at home, a sect won't show a newly-recruited disciple all the good stuff until they've worked their way up, right? Even if they fuss about it.

[his eyes are intent on the paper too, following the track of Chongyun's finger]

We were told to go along with it too, so...I guess Sutoku's internal balance is a little more delicate than other factions.

[cutcloud]

[ Maybe so ... when you're the heir to a clan, you tend not to have those problems as much. However, Chongyun does understand the principle, and nods. ]

My friend mentioned that to me. About how Sutoku meets beneath a banner, not clear leadership ... and how an alliance out of convenience can be tenuous.

[ .... he had listened, of course, but that friend's thoughts are often far more complex and knotted than his own. Still—he can't help but think of them now. There isn't much more he can really think about the subject given that he isn't in the alliance. ]

Thank you for sharing this with me, Master Wei. We might not know what it is ... but it feels important. If it turns out to be something innocent, I don't mind being wrong in the slightest. [ a beat, then, ] How did you manage to get into the sewers?

[laughitoff]

Mm, yeah. Obviously I don't know what it is either, but it doesn't hurt to be careful, ah? Let people know to keep an eye on the water, and all...don't let them know this information came from me, though. I'd rather not be caught messing around just yet.

[his eyes crinkle at the corners, a little]

Especially because I wasn't supposed to be going into the sewers either. I went by river, but I wouldn't recommend that route for anyone who's not a strong swimmer. There were all sorts of branches and paths, though; some of them must go back up into the city.

[cutcloud]

Of course. I won't share your name with anyone.

[ Man ... he had considered going via the river, but hadn't in the end. Damn. He should have just done it. Thankfully Master Wei has been generous enough to share his findings, else he'd have never known a thing about this strange looking machine. ]

Paths ... I can see that. [ he turns his attention back to the pages that look more maplike, ] Do you think one could go anywhere in the city if they were to use the sewers?

[ Ah, if only he had a map of Jigoku-cho... then he could put them side by side and compare how it runs. ]

[laughitoff]

I don't think you could get literally anywhere -- I would bet you every faction has some areas they don't want accessible even that way, and probably not all doors to the surface are accessible at all times. But it seemed like you could get to most, if you can get down there and dodge all the Kappa, of course.

[sighs! Xingqiu had brought mapping up too when they were down there, but he hadn't even tried to ask after one before descending -- entirely too little interest in dealing with bureaucracy, on his end.]

[cutcloud]

I see... I’m mostly wondering where they will take this once they’re done … building it?

[ Since it doesn’t seem like something that would just be down in the sewers for sewage purposes. Admittedly, it’s not like he knows all that much about plumbing. It could just be a new machine for cleaner water, for all he knows.

More and more questions and too little in the way of answers. He knows Wei Wuxian doesn’t have an answer for where this thing could end up, of course, so he’s really just speaking his thoughts out loud. ]

If it’s large, their mobility may be limited. [ he presses his fist to his chin, ] The more I think, the more questions I have.

[laughitoff]

Yeah, me too. I didn't see a way to move it around, either, but there's a lot I don't know about the technology here, so it could be something I just didn't have the knowledge to see.

[shrugs, a little rueful]

I guess it doesn't hurt anyone to be careful, no matter what the purpose turns out to be. We can keep an eye on the river, the sewer entrances...anything going strange during the Night Parade in general. So it's not like there's nothing we can do even without knowledge, right?

[cutcloud]

Right. I had planned to attend to keep an eye on things anyway, but this helps. Now I know what to look out for. Thank you very much for sharing this with me.

[ His tea has completely cooled now, thanks to the ice. Finally, Chongyun picks his cup up to take a sip. ]

Please take care that day too, Master Wei. Even if nothing comes of this… festivals come with mischief. There’s always someone trying to prank you. And the drinking… it’s as if everyone forgets restraint.

[ … No, he doesn’t quite realize that those pranks and mischief are probably an exclusive experience, courtesy of his friends. Drunks are common fare, though. That’s at least valid trouble to be worried about. ]

[laughitoff]

Ah, well, I might have more of a temperament for that sort of thing. But if you're not much of a crowds-and-parties fan, I can see why that's a concern...

[pranks, though? maybe that's a Liyue thing?]

There should be plenty to do that's fun, though. Let's both find a way to enjoy ourselves, you hear?