[Network] - WEEKLY BULLETIN - open

[inthenightmods]

WEEKLY BULLETIN

announcements

• What do you get when you combine a Catholic and a spirit child? I don't know, it's not a joke, it's just an announcement that one of the spirits-- a baby, it looks like-- has been adopted.


• What an awful week, though. Both the exploration group and the distraction group did so well, and honestly? It made a difference. You guys should be proud.


• On a lighter note, autumn is just around the corner! Look for temp drops and gusty weather cropping up in the next week or so.

classifieds

• None.


• If you wish to submit an advertisement, please drop them by the post office.

obituaries

• Capt. Ben Winters: at least he died as he lived: doing something worthwhile. Thank you, Winters.


• Number Five: clever right to the end.


• A whole host of people have gone missing since the party... We haven't found their bodies or their lanterns yet, but I think it's safe to assume they're probably gone. Here's the list: Melisandre, Yaeris, Gene Hicks, Ahven Sychantus, Scott Ryder, Nathan Drake, Brienne of Tarth, Raylen Givens, John Constantine, Chloe Frazier, Irwin Wade, Elisha Harper, Dick Grayson, Aragorn, Rafe Adler, Billy Russo, Ben Hargreeves, Kyna Midha, Washington, Sam Drake, Daniel Riordan, Replica Riku Dawn, Eleven, Shadow Moon

[Worthy of note: this bulletin comes to you not via a newspaper, but by the network, now that Robin's connected with you guys once more!]

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Comments

[pure_havoc]

[sliding his tea mug aside, Cao Pi laces his fingers together and rests his chin on them]

They are mystical entities, possessing of powers and knowledge that even a skilled sorcerer has never been able to duplicate. Calling themselves Fu Xi and Nuwa, who are the gods of legend who created humanity. I am willing to entertain the notion that no one actually created anything and they are merely mystics, but even then, they're powerful enough that I should not want to be on their bad side. So if not gods, then what? Mystics who reside where? Another dimension yet?

[his rhetorical queries are merely his sense of logic warring with what his own eyes have seen. It's pretty hard to dismiss actual mystical powers.]

[callada]

[He considers this as he finishes the last of his cigarette, then snuffs the stub of it out on his napkin. Powers and knowledge beyond what's reasonably possible in Cao Pi's world? Sure, could be supernatural beings, why not. Could just be people with powers and knowledge they obtained one way or another that nobody else understands just yet. Could be smoke and mirrors. He can't possibly guess based on a brief description, he just has to trust that Cao Pi, who is plenty intelligent, means what he says.]

I don't know where I'd draw the line between "person with incredible powers" and "god" anyway, myself. Each of our worlds has a different standard for normal. Maybe someone could be a god in their world, come here, and find themselves below average.

[But rather than think too hard on that, he waves the spirits over to come bring another tea bag and more hot water.]

[pure_havoc]

There is that. [he is at least open-minded enough to allow for alternate explanations.] What was normal in my own homeland was different from what turned out to be normal in a demon realm. I suppose in that sense, the difference was whether those beings could lay claim to having created worlds out of nothing and sculpted humans from the very mud - and make that claim stick.

[see now he'd almost kill to see Lady Nuwa or good ol' dead Orochi himself show up here and still have to struggle to keep a lantern lit. From the sly glint in his eyes he's thinking uncharitable things about gods entirely]

[callada]

Mm, right. I'd probably draw the line at creating worlds and molding new beings from the ground myself.

[And given what he's learned here, such a god, or godlike being, probably does exist somewhere. Probably a few of them do. But it also rules out a whole hell of a lot of people who are definitely not gods, and that brings him some personal satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Cao Pi is scheming something or other across the table over there. He glances toward the spirits as they stack themselves up to fix his drink, then raises an eyebrow at the other man.]

What's that look about?

[pure_havoc]

[what oh psh nothing you see nothing. Zihuan waits until the spirits have done their duty, waving off a refill on his own, and then allows himself that smirk openly]

Just privately wondering what would happen if they ended up here. That would be something worth seeing just for the learning experience.

You are quite careful to not let yourself slip, commander. I've opened up in the hopes that I might find it creating an opening to turn things back on you, but here I sit still wholly in the dark about so much of yourself. [LITERAL TEASIP] Such a skill takes careful cultivation, I'm impressed.

[callada]

[He chuckles, almost embarrassed at being called out like that - though of course it's an intentional show of vulnerability, sort of like this whole offer was. He's still not convinced he should consider Cao Pi a friend, even if he comes across as likeable when he's not utterly intolerable.]

Sorry. I did offer for you to get to know me, I'm just bad at talking about myself. I spend a lot of time listening to others and learning from what they have to say. I got out of the habit of offering anything in return.

[Yeah whoopsie! Big soz! Totally just a weird quirk! He sifts fingers through his hair, then shrugs.]

I don't follow any particular gods, if that's what you're interested in. Can't say I've ever seen anything that qualifies.

[pure_havoc]

[a little shrug] That is something to learn, I suppose. And yet another commonality. I am interested to note just how many things we agree on or have similar experiences with. I would not have expected it at first glance. [his eyes go to the hat, more than anything else. That hat, man.]

[callada]

[It's a good hat, okay. Rosinante pretends he doesn't notice. Enough people stare at him here anyway. The hat, the height, the makeup. It's fine.]

Yeah? It's kind of curious, I guess. I wouldn't normally expect to have much in common with an emperor. Let's see, though. You know about my father, and that I served in the Marines. And that I mostly grew up at sea on ships, because our world is mostly water. We've talked about magic, and how it changes combat tactics, so you know we're both trained in that, but I don't know the first thing about poetry. You're married, I'm not.

[Shrug. What else is there to know about him? Well, lots, but he's truly not sure at this point what would make Cao Pi think of him as slightly less inscrutable. He's willing to try, here, and he has, in fact, shared a few things about himself. It's a start.]

[pure_havoc]

[a good and worthy summary, yes. Zihuan nods along.]

Is the military all you have ever known? Have you any hobbies, at all? It clearly doesn't have to be poetry, but...

[stamp collecting?]

[callada]

Uhh. Yeah, mostly, considering who raised me. Hobbies... I like reading, dancing, board games. Sailing just for fun, too, but it's been a long time since I had a sailboat just to cruise around on. Fishing's all right.

[On that thought, it's probably time he rigged together a basic pole and line. Doesn't have to be anything complicated, but what might be living in that lake? Only one way to find out.]

[pure_havoc]

[see, there we go. Those are excellent hobbies, actually.]

Board games? Do you know how to play Go? Or maybe...hmm. My personal tactician taught me a version of chess from his country, shogi.

[oh man if he can find someone to play chess with, that's something to ask Rastus for!]

[callada]

I've heard of it. Never learned. Chess, though, I can do.

[Quite well, in fact. It must be one of those commonalities across a variety of worlds, then, if the rules are the same. It lends well to training strategic thought. He always preferred it to the team sports the other Marine kids played - but of course, for though he can kick and throw and tackle, he has a tendency to wind up on the ground. He also has a tendency to knock against the table and jostle all the chess pieces, but it's easier to avoid.]

Sounds like if we ever wind up with a set, we'll have to play a few games. I wouldn't mind learning the other ones.

[pure_havoc]

[for all his scheming and planning and thinking and working, even Cao Pi needs some down-time and social activity. Playing chess is the best of all the worlds.]

Well, then. I think I finally know what to ask Master Rastus for. I suppose I could craft my own Go board with pebbles, but I have so much to do as it is.

[knowing him he'd also spend all his time at the beach rejecting all the pebbles for being not the right color, not smooth enough, and so on]

[callada]

He'll probably be happy to supply us with entertainment. Happier than he is when I ask for cigarettes and weapons, anyway.

[But in his defense those are both crucial aspects of being able to live here, as far as he's concerned.]

What's got you so busy?

[pure_havoc]

[WEAPONS...I mean...]

The idea I had earlier, about holding a meeting. If I can make it happen, it will leave me with plenty of responsibility. I'd like to see this museum you mentioned. I'm not content with the status of a lot of things and need to look into them further.

[basically, making busy work for himself]

It's that or I sit back and let myself go mad from the lack of light, and I don't much feel like being mad yet.

[callada]

Mm, the museum. I've spent a little time looking around the library recently, too. Both feel like they should be better sources of information than they are.

[But in his defense, he hasn't had enough time in either one. Can't do everything alone, which is why he's glad people seem to be so forthcoming with their discoveries on the network. He'll let others pore over books and strange minerals while he builds boats and tries to keep tabs on Mary.]

[pure_havoc]

[he looks up with a bit of a peering expression]

Have you had any trouble reading anything there? The tablets have made it easier but it would still be greater effort for me to read a book than for most.

[and god, does he wish he could just sit down with a book, given the longing note underlying his question]

[callada]

I can get through most of it. It's a different style than I'm used to but it's not all completely unfamiliar.

[Man, poor Cao Pi, though. He hadn't thought about the language barrier and how much more severe it must be for him. Shame.]

Well, I hate continuing to say "ask Rastus" but if you want books in your language he might know how to get some. Meanwhile, if I come across anything important in the library, I'll let you know.

[pure_havoc]

I would appreciate it. [still a bit sourly]

It isn't about simply re-reading a familiar book, the issue is... [he grasps his fingers back around his mug in demonstration, or maybe suggestion] ...tangibly taking possession of important information which can keep us all from dying. I have no problem listening as others tell me what I need to know, but I miss that ability to simply reach out and take it myself.

[callada]

Yeah. Problem is all the books in the library I've seen were fiction and irrelevant. For entertainment only. But I haven't looked at every single one closely. Point is, you might not be missing anything.

[But clearly, even though the library is limited, it has more than he has had time to fully search. He sympathizes with Cao Pi's frustration, because hell, he's frustrated too even if he doesn't usually show it. There's a lot to be downright pissed off at in this place. It's just that being angry doesn't get anyone anywhere.]

[pure_havoc]

One can only hope.

[really, he's been so composed and skillfully hiding any feeling, the fact that he's comfortable enough with Rosinante to let a little emotion peek out is something. Cao Pi looks into his mug and gives up the tea as a lost cause. Worth a try, still not convinced.]

Well. There is no sense in complaining. I will simply throw myself into other pursuits. I've sat idle long enough. Do you have any other plans? Now that you've returned from that unpleasant jaunt in the woods.

[callada]

Still working on boats, and still trying to document the star cycle. I think I have enough now to go to Doctor Ingram with and see if he can help work out any patterns. I figure if anyone knows anything about stars, it's him. Then, let's see. Still trying to round up people to help fix that bridge we found upriver, but nobody's biting.

[They're scared, he figures. Especially after the attack, nobody wants to go into the forest, and they're short on people who know construction as it is. He might have to do it himself, at this rate, but he doesn't trust the river.]

[pure_havoc]

At least the lunar cycle seems to be more or less correct. [more or less being the operative phrase here] Next month should be the Mid-Autumn Festival, if we were alive to care.

[those are all such great plans, though. At least someone's on top of things like boats and bridges]

Take care, if you head back out there. I genuinely do not want to know what was trying to sing us into its loving embrace of death in the middle of the night.

[callada]

Me either. What passes for sirens in this world isn't something I imagine we want to meet in person.

[Though what they want and what they get aren't exactly the same thing out here, that's been made abundantly clear. They receive basic comforts in abundance, but little else.

And why do they receive basic comforts, anyway? Who provides food and clothing and the free beer he was being derisive about earlier, and why? Every little thought raises so many questions.]