THE FRACTURED WORLD: ARRIVAL

[modormenace]

 

A

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.

 

F

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...

 

A

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

Comments

[disasterstraight]

The best thing to do about the incessant apologies is just to ignore them. What good does an apology do for him now? What's done is done, a thing of the past. He tries not to dwell on the lack of possibility of return to their world and focus on making a life for himself here instead.

"Yes, that would make sense." After all, House of M is where Wei Wuxian is, isn't it? And the Ghost General always was Wei Wuxian's loyal dog. Jin Zixuan knows som of the goings on of the House of M faction, due to Lan Jingyi's successful turn as a spy, but he won't let on to any of that. Can't go jeopardizing their best informant.

"There are a number of us present from our world. I trust you have already found some of them."

[deadwenwalking]

"Just a couple... I barely know how to use this." He knows of the others, of course, thanks to Wei Wuxian, but he hasn't actively talked with many. And it's clear his skills with the communicating device are... lacking.

As if to prove this point, the camera angle tips and the view swings upward to face the ceiling as his device falls over. He hurries to right it again.

"What about you? Are you... alright? Are you safe here?" It's strange to talk to Jin Zixuan on any sort of normal level, but he feels like he has to ask these things. The man at least seems less angry than someone like Jiang Chen would be in the same situation.

[disasterstraight]

"There have been no attempts on my life," he says coolly. There's still some hurt, some distrust, and yes, some anger. But he shows his anger differently than the Yunmeng Jiang Sect Leader. He isn't one to make a scene if he can help it. Oh, he's dramatic, sure, but it's a quiet, subtle drama.

"Lady Jiang and I have made a life for ourselves among the Seekers of the New Dawn. It is the faction most of the people from our world have chosen to support."

Therefore it's much better than House of M. From everything he's learned about the magical faction thanks to Lan Jingyi's spying, Jin Zixuan doesn't trust them a bit. Would they accept Wen Ning if he changed his mind and decided to join the Dawnseekers instead? Sure. Why not. Anything he could tell them about what he saw is information they can use down the line.

"This world has many advances compared to our own. These devices, for example. There is a learning curve to be expected, but if you can master it, it will make communication between the factions much more manageable."

[deadwenwalking]

At the first comment, Wen Ning hangs his head slightly, but Jin Zixuan doesn't seem to want him to continue apologizing. So he doesn't. He just makes sure to continue to look suitably apologetic.

"Lady Jiang is here?" He knows this already, given who he's spoken with, but he feigns surprise all the same. It must hurt Wei Wuxian not to be able to be with his sister, but keeping away from her for her own safety isn't anything new. He would want her to be able to live a happy life with her husband. "I-I'm so glad. For both of you."

Even if he'd ruined things for them back in their own world, at least they have a second chance here - as strange as this world is.

"I don't know if I'll be mastering this any time soon..." He picks the device up, bringing it closer to himself. If he sits here on the floor... it's strange. It's almost like talking to someone when they're in the same room, but not at all.

[disasterstraight]

"Her arrival predated my own." He would have been lost when he came to this world, if A-Li had not been there to guide him. He is proud of the life she has built for herself here, and of how the strength of her cultivation power has grown. If anything, he's more in love with her now than he ever was back home.

And while he doesn't need Wen Ning's kindness, he's not about to reject it, either.

"You will have much to learn in this world. Even beyond the technology, it is important to learn your place among the different factions. I will admit, I mostly try to stay out of the larger political conflicts." Apart from keeping himself abreast of whatever intelligence the Dawnseeker scouts and spies are able to gather from the other factions. He had his time of political ambition, back in their own world. He would rather let someone else take charge here and no.

[deadwenwalking]

Wen Ning nods. While looking at the man on the other end of the line causes his stomach to twist up into all sorts of uncomfortable knots it's still nice that he'll actually speak to him. It hardly feels real, like he's fallen asleep in front of his device and is dreaming up this whole scenario.

"It's... a lot." There's not much else he can say about his troubles here aside from that. He feels like there isn't enough room in his brain for all this extra knowledge. The scars in the back of his head from those two nails might open back up again and everything he's learned will come leaking out. That's how overwhelming it feels.

"Getting involved with anything political is beyond me right now. I think I'll be keeping to myself." Or, well, keeping close to Wei Wuxian. The first option is probably better for everyone, but the latter is most likely.

[disasterstraight]

They both know that when Wen Ning says he'll be 'keeping to himself,' what he really means is that he'll be glued to Wei Wuxian's side, following him around like a devoted pet.

But, that's fine. Jin Zixuan hasn't seen or thought about Wei Wuxian in years. The only role the Yiling Patriarch plays in his life now is the grief his wife feels from his absence, but Jin Zixuan is more than willing to fill that hole for her with as much care and attention as he can muster. He doesn't know nor care what Wei Wuxian is up to, and thus he doesn't particularly care what Wen Ning gets up to, as long as he doesn't attempt to interfere with anything the Seekers of the New Dawn are trying to accomplish.

"Suit yourself. I'm sure those around you will be able to answer any questions you may have." Heaven knows Jin Zixuan won't be answering those questions.

[deadwenwalking]

Wen Ning can only nod again, as he's at a loss on what to say to this man. He doesn't dare ask any further about Yanli. He might not be directly responsible for her death, and it could be argued that it's not his fault he killed Jin Zixuan either, but none of that changes the fact that he left her a widow with a son barely a month old. The other man had said he was with her. That has to be enough.

There are better people available to check up on their wellbeing than him.

He hesitates a moment, eyes turned to the floor, saying nothing else. Then he reaches a hand over and shuts off the feed.