f2020 | THE FRACTURED WORLD: ARRIVAL

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THE FRACTURED WORLD: ARRIVAL

rrival for some goes all but unnoticed. It's a sudden shiver, the sensation of being watched... and then nothing at all. Life continues serenely as it always has. The only indication of any change comes with sleep, wrapped in dreams: vague and distant echo imagery of another life, melting away in the morning.

or others, arrival is a sharp jolt. In the space of a single blink, they find themselves in an unfamiliar world, surrounded by the trappings of a life they have not lived. They are replacements, spirits taking possession of bodies belonging to people very much like themselves...

nd for the rest, arrival is a procedure. Routine. Those ported in to the Fractured World wake hazily in the comfortably dim light of the Porter room, laid out on an exam table. Their wounds, if they remember having any, have been healed— and even those who remember their own deaths find themselves miraculously restored. As they regain consciousness, an automatic audio-visual presentation is triggered. Regardless of their backgrounds or physiology, all imPorts 'see' and 'hear' this message as if in their own language:

"Greetings, imPort."

The voice is calm and gently authoritative, almost certainly selected by committee.

"On behalf of the Synod and all imPorts it represents, we welcome you to the planet Earth."

A decidedly non-humanoid robotic arm holds out a palm-sized device and rather insistently demands the new arrival take it. This is the imPort's comm, used for accessing the Porter's database of information, as well as the communications Network— though it won't receive communications from outside the Porter building until carried through one of the many Gates set up in a long, crescent-shaped array on the far side of the room.

As each Gate is approached, information about the faction it leads to flashes up on the comm device's screen. Which will you choose?

THE WHITE TOWER SANCTUM AURORAE KRAKOA HOUSE OF M EMPIRE OF LIGHT EQUALITY BEFORE LAW THE TWIN CITIES OLIN VALE EDEN SEEKERS OF THE NEW DAWN NORTHWESTERN IMPERIUM GREEN PIECE MAD BURNISH LUMINARY

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Wei Wuxian can feel the stare and he knows that he probably will have to answer some hard questions about himself as well. His hair is shorter now. Still long enough to be pulled back, reaching past his shoulders when down, but it is up in a ponytail so that it doesn't get in the way when on a job. His eyes are darker, almost gray in appearance and have clearly lost a little of the light they used to hold. In all, the most striking difference is the lack of energy and smile that used to be his trademark.

"The people here are all pulled from different worlds, or different times. There are many from our world here too..but people who were dead for me, are now alive."

That was the hardest part for him to get used to. Seeing his shijie again...and her not knowing what her fate back on their world would be. He leads Wen Ning over to a quieter part of the square that is blocked off by trees. If he has to talk about anything sensitive it is better done with some privacy.

Hearing that doesn't help much, but somehow it makes a little more sense when Wei Wuxian says it than when he hears it from a bunch of strangers in odd costumes. With him it carries weight because he knows it has to be true.

But for the dead to be brought here - that seems downright blasphemous. And yet at the same time there are so many that have died that he wouldn't mind having just a few minutes more time with, even though they already should have died sooner than they had. For a brief moment there's a hopeful look in his eyes and the thought that he should ask about his sister - but the words die on his lips. It clearly isn't a good subject. The question can wait.

He follows obediently, as he's used to doing, and he lowers his voice. "I thought I had just seen you off, but it feels like I'm late to everything now."

"Time is..fluid..here." There isn't any other way to describe it. He looks over at the Wen and he tries to keep his expression from being too severe. "What is the last thing you remember?"

He has to gauge how much he can say and reveal. If their memories do not match up then that is fine, but he has to be able to know just how much of a difference there is in what they have experienced.

As for Wen Ning's sister..even he can't say for sure that she isn't somewhere on this world. With the factions being all over the place, it seems impossible to keep up with who is here and who isn't anymore.

Wen Ning mouths the word fluid to himself as if that will cause the statement to make any more sense. The question is a good distraction from having to think too hard on it, at least.

"We had just seen each other off outside of Yunping City. You and Young Master Lan were there with A-Yuan and myself. Oh, and your donkey." Can't forget Lil' Apple. "I think we walked for a bit, me and A-Yuan. It feels like it wasn't long. But as for how I got here - it's a little blurry." He shakes his head. "I'm sorry, that's all I remember."

If he's missing another decade or more of time somehow, it's going to be very frustrating for him.

He nods, remembering that time even though that was several years ago for him. "Then our memories match up. That was the last thing I remember before coming here as well." It's a relief in a way. No unnecessarily explanations about memories. There is enough that has to be explained without worrying about that as well.

He offers a small smile. It feels strange on his face but he knows that Wen Ning probably needs a little reassurance. "Just stick with me on this world. I'll show you everything you need to know."

Even though Wen Ning had been prepared to go his own separate way not that long ago, he's immensely grateful to be back at Wei Wuxian's side in such unfamiliar territory - especially since he seems to already know so much. He nods right away, prepared to fall back into an old routine.

Though of course he still has questions. "How long have you been here?" They might have the same last memories from their world, but Wei Wuxian has clearly spent a longer time than he has in this one, which he can only attribute to what he'd said about time being fluid, as little since as that makes. There's still a disconnect.

This is definitely what he meant by time being fluid. He sighs softly, "It's been about five years at this point I believe." It feels like much more. It had been hard to adjust as first. He wanted to be close to the rest of the people from his world and he tries. But the more he found out about those in charge, the more anger he felt.

"Some of the others have been here even longer. And we are spread all over the world depending on what faction we have chosen to follow."

Even though he is mostly here just for appearances. It was easier to chose one that no one else he knew was in. That way he could put distance between them and protect them from being collateral damage if he was ever caught working with the resistance.

Five years... It isn't thirteen, but it's still a long time. And for others to have been here longer... He doesn't understand how it's possible, but then there's so much he doesn't understand right now that's it's starting to give him a headache.

"I don't know much about the factions. If I hadn't been brought to this one I would have eventually found whichever one you were in." Though he doesn't see the point of having them so divided. At least the clans in their world (aside from the unfortunate exception he was born into) tended to work alongside one another. The way things are here, at least from what he's seen, feels counterproductive.

"...I'm sorry that I haven't been here."

"You don't have to be sorry for something that is out of your control." But now that Wen Ning is here perhaps they really can manage to accomplish something. His voice is low as he moves closer.

"I work with a group that is trying to take down the people in charge. It's a corrupt system that is in place that wants to harm innocent people." This story should sound pretty familiar.

"We are trying to take them down and I'm an assassin working to do that. You should join us. Together we can find a way to get home and protect everyone here before we return."

Wen Ning is nodding again before Wei Wuxian is even finished. It doesn't matter that the job he seems to have taken for himself doesn't sound like a great one. Taking down a corrupt system is something the 'Yiling Patriarch' is made to do.

It doesn't matter that he doesn't know what's going on. Wei Wuxian does, and he'll be able to convey that in a way he can work with. If he's given a task he'll do his best to see it through. It means a lot to him that, despite the years separating them here, the other man would immediately trust him with this.

"Of course I will. I'll do whatever you need."

The Yiling Patriarch and the Ghost General..even if they weren't nearly as terrifying and deadly as people claimed they were, it still meant something when they were together. He still believes there is no one in the world stronger then Wen Ning. And even in this place that would probably hold true.

"No one here can know what we are apart of. If they find out, there is no telling what would happen."

Not everyone thinks the resistance is a good way to do things. And even fewer people seem to be bothered by the people in charge, even though they are the ones that have basically caused all the imPorts to be so scattered and seek their own refuge.

He offers a more sincere smile finally and places his hand on Wen Ning's shoulder, "No matter what, we stick together."

Some might question Wen Ning's ability to keep a secret, but there are only a couple people he caves in to and even then he can keep silent on matters if he really wants. He only shares when he believes something needs to be shared. Otherwise he can take a secret to his grave.

If Wei Wuxian has been separated from friends here, then it's even more important that he stay close to him. It must hurt him knowing that they're out there but for whatever reason they can't be on the same side. The fact that he was fortunate enough to meet up with him so soon - it can't have been completely by accident. He has to look after him.

The smile is returned in full. "I'll do anything you need me to." No matter how confusing this place might be, at least he has this constant now. It's something to focus on - to cling to.

Wei Wuxian has kept everyone else away from him, tried to push them away..mostly because he didn't want them to get hurt because of him. He knows that Wen Ning can handle anything and everything that someone could throw at him. He has always trusted him, even when things didn't really go their way.

"You can stay with me while you are here." He doesn't spend many nights there given he is often out on jobs or missions and he imagines that Wen Ning is going to be by his side the whole time from this point on.

"Come with me. I'll show you where we are staying."

"Okay." By 'we' does he mean just the two of them, or will they be staying with other members of this faction? It ultimately doesn't matter. He's glad not to be directionless anymore, and already having a place to stay means one less thing to worry about.

He keeps his voice lowered, even if they're no longer speaking of matters of secrecy. "You must be used to how strange this place is. I can't tell what's magic and what isn't." And don't even get him started on the buildings. Maybe at some point he'll have more of an opportunity to be impressed rather than just baffled beyond all reason.

From the moment he arrived all he's been able to do is stare at everything.

"When I first got here it was definitely a hard adjustment. Most of what you will see is not magic. It's just..technology. I'll try to guide you through some important things." The kitchen for example. He had to learn a lot about the kitchen and what each item is used for and how..not..to use certain things. Of course he still is a terrible cook. That will likely never change.

"Luckily in this faction most people do use magic. So they aren't really afraid of what people can do here. Each of the factions have something they are strong at or an ideal they like to follow."

Fortunately for both of them, Wen Ning is a great cook. He does well enough not to get complaints most of the time, anyway. It may take some time for him to get over being utterly astounded by the microwave. Having a guide who's used to the world he's from will make this so much easier. He'll at least be less embarrassed when he inevitably gets all the names wrong.

When the subject changes slightly to be about the factions themselves he remains all ears.

"How did you end up in this one?"

"Some are more strict about rules..some seem to focus on physical strength. This one focuses on magic users so it just seemed like the best fit." Plus none of the others from their world are here. With his job he didn't want to take the chance that they might be used against him as means for revenge. The less contact he had with them..the safer they are.

"It's much like the sects back home. But instead of being born into them, they all seem to have a specialty and you just need to find the one that you can excel in."

He wants to ask why Wei Wuxian would separate himself from any friends he might have here, but he's sure the man has his reasons. There's still so much he doesn't know and he doesn't like to make judgments about the other's decisions at the best of times.

"You said there were others from our world here..." he tries to breach the subject carefully. "Where are they?"

If he's to help with a resistance movement he figures this is the least he should know - who to avoid and who to make contact with out of the ones they know.

"Most seem to be with the Seekers of the Dawn. Xue Yang is with Sanctum. Those two factions are about as opposite as you can get on this world. But I think he is the only one besides us that has chosen different factions."

It makes it easier to keep track of everyone that way. What Xue Yang does is little of his concern, but the rest from their world are still important to him even if he doesn't seek them out very often.

Wen Ning doesn't know about either of those factions, but it would make sense that if Xue Yang was here he would choose one opposite of everyone else. He wasn't exactly considered a friend among any of their peers. It's a surprise to hear that he's there at all, but Wei Wuxian had pointed out that there were those here who should be dead.

Seekers of the Dawn sounded like a proud name for a faction - a fitting place for many cultivators, but perhaps not for Wei Wuxian. Whatever is keeping him separated from them again, he's here to help.

"As soon as I figure out how to keep an eye on them I'll do so." As soon as he's sure he isn't going to break whatever it is they've given him to communicate with. Gods help him when it comes to technology. Then a stray thought gives him pause. "Is it alright for me to be... what I am? I mean in this faction here."

"I would appreciate if you would watch over them. But just be careful. What I do..what we will do..it's dangerous. And if the wrong people find out it will put them in danger too."

And he has found that it is easier that the rest of them don't know what he does. He doesn't want them trying to stop him or feeling ashamed of his actions.

"No one here will judge you for that. In this place it's all about what powers you have. They don't care how you got them. Not everyone on this world is human either."

"O-of course, young master. I'll be careful." Wen Ning: Stealth Mode has been activated.

"Will the others know that I'm here? And what faction I'm in?" If it's common knowledge then there's nothing they can do about that. Wei Wuxian knows what factions the others are in but he could have come across that information on his own. He's been here long enough for that.

It stings a little to think about himself as not human, even though it's not a new thought. He's certainly not going to hold anything against the other man for saying it that way. It leaves him more curious about the factions other members.

Wei Wuxian didn't mean to consider Wen Ning anything but human. To him, Wen Ning is..Wen Ning. But there are other species here..talking robots and aliens and things even he doesn't quite understand still. But he doesn't realize his error in words as he continues to answer Wen Nin's questions.

"They might not know right away, but I'm sure they will in time. There are lists that show everyone's name who arrives. And should they happen to leave this place, their name gets removed. So anyone who checks the list will be able to tell."

He walks up the front steps to a fairly simple looking house, letting the other man inside.

'Fairly simple looking' is still interesting to Wen Ning. Even the shape and construction of houses is different from what he's used to back home, so he can't help but turn his head this way and that in the entryway, trying to take everything in.

It's cute, he decides. Wei Wuxian has a cute little house.

He's not going to say that out loud, of course, as it doesn't exactly fit the mood of things. Instead he goes where the other man wants him to, cautiously stepping inside - not cautiously because he doesn't trust what's inside, but because he doesn't trust himself not to mess up something in this modern place.

Wei Wuxian smiles slightly again when he watches the other. He was probably not as cautious when he arrived but he was still as impressed by everything when he arrived.

"This place is your home now too so you don't have to worry about anything. You can relax when you are here. There is an extra room at the end of the hall you can use."

He doesn't really spend a lot of time here but it is at least more comfortable then the Burial Mounds had been.

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