semi-open

[secondjade]

WHO: SEMI-OPEN - Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen, Lan Sizhui, Jin Ling, Miu Hinasaki
WHERE: In a park in jeopardy
WHEN: backdated a week, but happening every weekday at 5:30 am from then on
WHAT: Lan Wangji has started cultivation lessons for the juniors that have found themselves in this world. It looks sort of like a weird cult meeting from the outside. If you want to come and crash it, give me a heads up. ESPECIALLY TEENAGERS WITH POWERS TO DO WITH SPIRITS / GHOSTS / ETC: if Wangji finds out about you he'll probably drag you to class. This is a Catch-all post for threads involved with the lessons.
WARNINGS: It's way too early for this shit.


It's quarter past five in the morning and the sun is still an hour or so from rising, but Lan Wangji is already in the small park in Jeopardy that he had given as the destination for their classes. At least Jeopardy rarely sees rain, so though it's a little chillier than it will be later in the day, they will not have to worry about getting wet.

He has somehow sourced five little low tables and five seating cushions. The textiles on the cushions are exquisite, which... may give some indication of where he has managed to borrow these from. Two of the little tables are side by side - one for him, one for his brother - and the other three are placed to face him in a little row.

A tiny classroom in the park.

Wangji is dressed immaculately as always, though his peers might notice that this is a new set of robes - the textiles slightly different than from home, the weave not quite as tight and beautiful as it should be. Modern silk, machine woven, just can't live up to what they're used to from home.

But someone is looking out for him and his fashion sense, apparently. He's still all in white.

He is kneeling at his table, pouring himself tea as he waits for the others to arrive.

Comments

FIRST LESSON

[secondjade]

[snowsparksjr]

Jin Ling and Lan Sizhui arrive on time, thanks to Sizhui. Still yawning, Jin Ling is looking grumpier than usual, but he's here.

"Merciful Guanyin, there's tea." Jin Ling drops to his knees on the left-hand cushion and immediately pours himself a cup of tea, draining it at a gulp. After which, he remembers (some of) his manners and hastily makes a bow to his teacher. "Hanguang-Jun."

He notices the second teacher's table is empty, but that makes sense to him. It would be weird for Uncle Wei to get places on time, especially at this hour.

Fairy sits attentively by Jin Ling's side, tail wagging.

[ze_uwu_jun]

Not quite correct, young sect leader Jin. There comes, rather than young master Wei, the first Jade of Lan, moving quietly and gracefully, his Xiao at his side, and after a nod to his brother and one to the students present, he settles at the second teacher table, his hands placidly in his lap, not trying to reach for the comfort of tea himself. If nothing else, he already made himself a pot back home.

He may look... a little less lost, though whether that's because of the conversation with Wangji or for the sake of the class, he'd be hard pressed to answer.

"Thank you all for coming." It was Wangji's invitation, of course.

But also, Xichen does tend to interpret for him, routinely.

[blackwaterchild]

Contrary to what might be popular theory of Miu, she does NOT arrive 15 minutes late with Starbucks.

She arrives precisely on time, with Starbucks.

She doesn’t look like someone who’s had to get up at like 4am just to go through her entire morning routine,face impeccably made up, the new robes Wangji had given her carefully worn. Miu felt distinctly out of place for every number of reasons, but she takes her seat silently, eyeing Sizhui and then Jin Ling with open curiosity..

But she smiles, sweet and shy, lowering her gaze to peer through her eyelashes as the picture of shy grace before directing her attention to Wangji and then Sizhui again. Having absolutely no idea what she’s doing, she mimics the two boys as best she can—or at least, she copies Sizhui, fingers curled anxiously into her robes as she tries to tell herself it’s okay that she’s there.

At least shes got her coffee, though she eyes the tea a little as well. Look, she likes tea, but that bean juice is all that’s going to get her up and going this early.

[lanofsizhui]

For Sizhui, this is a familiar scenario. It's was a simple gathering for the first lesson of the day, but this time it feels like taking a lesson from his family. Lesson's he already know and has learned since he was a child and raised by Wangji and uncle respectively and knew by heart, but needed a daily reminder to instill the foundation of knowledge that every child of Lan must know for life. So he knows how it goes. He's a child of the Lan clan. It's a matter of waking up Jin Ling and Fairy and arriving on time with them in tow.

Paying his respects to greet the elders before taking his seat, he puts his hand together and makes a bow to the father figures who raised him.

To Wangji, his father, he greeted. "Hanguang-Jun."

To his uncle, he greeted. "Zewu-Jun."

Just like them, taking his seat between Miu and Jin Ling, facing them. He sits upright and straight and up-right in posture, doing so perfectly and well-taught. Tea in front, he sips quietly.

About half an hour after the start of the first lesson: on the hunt for the Missing Teacher

[snowsparksjr]

It's shortly after 6am, because Jin Ling has only just gotten the information that Wei Wuxian will not be coming, so of course he immediately told Fairy to stay with Sizhui and then stormed off without permission.

Fortunately Lan Wangji's residence is not far away. Jin Ling heads straight there and bangs loudly on the door. He will continue banging until the door is opened.

[yilingdaddy]

It takes a few minutes of door abuse before an alarmed and barely awake and properly dressed Wei Wuxian pulls the door open to stare at Jin Ling first in alarm, then to look for the dog he's pretty sure should be glued to the boy's side.

Yet. Isn't.

"...Jin Ling?" And yes, there is concern in his voice. Surely something had to have happened to bring his nephew here despite saying he doesn't want to see him!

[snowsparksjr]

"Lessons started at 5:30!" Jin Ling yells at him, because he still hasn't developed any kind of 'upset' processing other than yelling and crying. He points in the direction of the park, glaring furiously at Wei Wuxian. "Why aren't you there? Why aren't you one of the teachers?"

[yilingdaddy]

...Oh...!

Wei Ying blinks a few times at Jin Ling before the worry fades and he ends up shaking his head a little, chuckling.

"Aiyaa...Jin Ling...Make up your mind. Do you want me around or do you want me to stay away?"

[snowsparksjr]

"Of course I want you around!" Jin Ling continues glaring at him. "When did I ever not want you around?"

Aside from, well, his whole life before now. And also while he thought Wei Wuxian was Mo Xuanyu. And also when he was mad at Wei Wuxian not knowing who he was.

Jin Ling flaps his hands to dismiss all those very unimportant details so that he can get back to the real priorities here: glaring. "You're my uncle. Why are you avoiding me?"

Just some guy walking by

[chainlinks]

Ren's own training included running early in the morning before everything got chaotic (as it tended to do). Each day he finds a different park in another section, and after a few days of the school, ends up passing by wondering if someone's having a very very early tea ceremony.

It looks fancy enough for a tea ceremony at least.

So before most of the others arrive, a teenager dressed in workout clothing takes a brief stop just to see what type of person would be organizing it. All in white and fancy...not his type of crowd, but certainly piquing his curiosity.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

[blackwaterchild]

“Please do.”

Miu is the one who answers as she wanders over herself. While also dressed in similar robes to the host, there’s a cup of what definitely smells like coffee clutched in her hands and a slightly exasperated look in her eye. She certainly seems a lot more approachable than the man sitting still as a statue over there, and eyes Ren up and down as she sips at her coffee, willing it to give her a will to live this early.

“If the sun isn’t up, people shouldn’t be up,” she grumbles, and yes that includes him too. “I’m going to fall asleep standing up here.”

[secondjade]

"Hinasaki Miu." Wangji's voice raises from where he's sitting, even and still, before he stands.

He walks over towards them with an even, precise gate, his robes impeccable.

He looks down at the girl claiming to be able to fall asleep standing up. Yes, he heard that. Does he need to assign you a sleeping schedule, just to make sure you're awake for his class?

He glances at Ren.

"Classes for cultivation." There. An answer that probably meant absolutely nothing. Sorry Ren. "Not yet begun." So, if Ren had questions, now was the time.

[chainlinks]

He has a name for one of them at least. The teacher reminds him almost of old-sensei types in movies and he smiles back at the both of them, as he briefly reaches for his water bottle to take a small sip as the man walks over to him.

"Cultivation..." he repeats, wondering if they here this early just for how to raise crops properly. Too fancy so for that. It just raises more questions in his mind of course. The man seems old-school enough to use the family name first as well, so he introduces himself in same.

"Amamiya Ren. I've been running a few parks each morning...none of them have this type of...cultivation going on. Is this a class to each imports skills of some sort?"

It seemed like the most logical thing and left it open to be provided with as little or as much information as they would want to fill him in with.

[blackwaterchild]

Miu immediately makes a face as her name is called, the picture of a student being called out by their teacher. She closes her mouth around the lid of her coffee and puffs her cheeks out a little in a sulk, shifting her attention between the two. First it’s to see what Lan Wangji actually says, then it’s to see Ren’s reaction.

“Do you believe in ghosts?” That’s not an answer, Miu, but she’s watching him carefully, eyes alight with something like mischief. “You could say this sort of thing is for people who have something to do with those types things. Sixth senses and the like. Control and what it’s all about—that sort of thing.”

There’s a pause though and she gives him a tired sort of look. “You got up this early voluntarily?” Why...

Introductions, a day before class starts.

[secondjade]

A day before they class is set to beginning, Wangji messages Sizhui and asks him to come to the house. Introductions to be made.

When Sizhui arrives, he'll find Wangji sitting in the living room, seated on the floor before the coffee table, a tea set laid out, including a few sweets. Cookies, biscuits - things new to him in this world, but that he thought Sizhui might like. He looks up as the boy enters, and then nods for him to sit before turning his head to call (gently) into the kitchen:

"Wei Ying."

[lanofsizhui]

I'll be there shortly.

Sizhui leaves a note for Jin Ling that he's gone to see his father and will be back shortly. He's already dressed in immaculate snow-white robes of a junior and finished the morning routine and chores.

He arrives in short order at the front door of his father's residence. Door opens. He made a short bow. "Hanguang-Jun. Good morning. What is this about?" He's curious, wondering who is he going to meet.

[yilingdaddy]

Wuxian is just finishing up with the cooking dishes and general tidying up (yes, he can and will clean when he feels like it!) when he hears the door open and close, then Wangji calling him over.

He does a real quick check of his appearance, then comes out to join them. He gives the unfamiliar Junior a short bow before sitting at the free spot at the table.

"Hanguang-Jun wanted us to meet." A beat, then, "I am Wei Ying, courtesy name Wuxian."

[secondjade]

Lan Wangji, who will never say more than he needs to, especially when other people are willing to do the talking for him, doesn't actually say anything at all. This is who he wanted Sizhui to meet. There. Met. He knew Sizhui would introduce himself.

He reached forward to pour three cups of tea, and then set them at opposing sides of the table, unable to shake a wistful memory of the last time the three of them had shared a meal.

And him, the only one to remember it.

[lanofsizhui]

Lan Sizhui is used to his father saying little to nothing at all, having raised by him and taught by him, conversations is brief, brevity at best, and expectations is mutual.

With a nod, he has no recognition of Wei Wuxian. The memory of that long ago is forgotten and buried. With a smile, “It’s nice to meet you, Senior Wei.” He makes a bow as he would greeting a total stranger with the same courtesy.

Sizhui steps inside his home, removing his shoes, and leaving them by the door. He joins them at the table, taking his place at the seat.

For Lan Wangji it’s over a decade since they last shared a meal at the table together. Sizhui has grown, and while not as tall as Wangji, he’s not the small radish anymore.

Sipping his tea, curious. “So are the two of you friends?”

The morning after talking to Jin Ling

[softheartedshizun]

He really did not want to be up and out at 5:30 in the morning, but since appearances right now where important he damn well was there, early, and presentable! In fact he had taken extra care to do his hair and dress himself to immaculate perfection as expected of an immortal scholar.

He pointedly set Xiu Ya Sword to the side, a place of full view but far from where he stood. The implication meaning he didn’t need it. Instead he simply stood, waiting, with his fan open and waving softly against his chest, every so often fluttering his hair a bit. His expression was calm and warm. He really did make an ethereal image in the low light of dawn.

Of course internally he felt like death and was cursing his terrible fate.

He should make introductions, but... he really couldn’t think of a good way to do that. ‘Hi, your unruly child is bullying me so I’m going to discipline him’ just seemed like bad form. And, not mentioning that felt like a lie. Instead he just decided to stand and wait and if they asked him questions he could answer.

Hopefully this loud bossy child wasn’t the sort to be late.

[snowsparksjr]

This bossy child wasn't late, because he arrived in the company of a friend who was very good at getting him places on time, but he had completely forgotten about the duel he'd arranged.

When he arrived for lessons, looking less expensively put-together than usual because he absolutely couldn't get up an extra half hour early to arrange his golden hair chains, he was slightly bewildered to notice the elegantly dressed master looking out of place in a modern public park.

Then he remembered. Oh, right. Why had he thought this was a good idea to do in front of his teachers? He was certainly going to earn himself more punishment.

Hand behind his back and chin high, he strode over to his opponent and jerked his chin at him, since he certainly wasn't going to bow. "So, you showed up."

[softheartedshizun]

What a frustrating person.... Could he just go back home? To bed? It was too early to deal with this! It looks terrible too! No matter what people would look at this and clearly see an old man picking on a child! But, he already knew, if he let this continue it would make his life more difficult in the long run.

Any, there was something about children that made him want to correct their bad habits and make them into better people if he could.

Deciding to be the better man he lifted his hands in treating and bowed.

“Sect Leader Jin, it is nice to see you, if I had known you had changed the time I would have made sure to not make you feel late,” yes, he was annoyed and trying to be extra prickly. “Since you have now arrived, let us start and be done with this matter,” do he can go home and go back to bed, or, at least go find some breakfast or something.

[secondjade]

"What matter?"

A smooth, low, even voice from behind interrupted their face off. The voice belonged to a man dressed all in white, his robes immaculate, a jade ornament weighing them down in the front.

His expression was prim, his chin held slightly aloft, his eyes half lidded and narrowed. Bichen was in his hand, while the other was held behind his back.

He glanced at Jin Ling. "Lesson set to begin. What business?"

[snowsparksjr]

Jin Ling had some regrets about this situation he created, but instead of admitting any of that, he puffed up his chest and put on the attitude of a prize student explaining his triumph to his teacher. "Hanguang-Jun. This person," a disdainful wave of sleeves at Shen Qingqiu, "has claimed to be a highly-skilled cultivator from another world, but he has given me some reasons to be suspicious of his claims. For this reason, I have called him here to provide a demonstration of his abilities. I knew that Teacher would not wish me to challenge such a person entirely on my own."

He lays his hand upon his sword, excessively confident. "May I proceed?"