f2020 | SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2020: THE SYNOD IS CONVENING.

SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2020: THE SYNOD IS CONVENING.

All fourteen Gates simultaneously reverse polarity. For the next seven days, and only these seven days, any imPort stepping through a Gate will arrive safely in the Porter building: the only place on this fractured planet that can safely contain the energy of the imPort community in its entirety.

SO IT BEGINS
THE SYNOD

THE

DEATH

TRAIN

While the Gates are the simplest form of transportation, those making the journey to the Synod from the White Tower have the option of travelling by train, if they wish. Despite the playfully grim moniker, there haven't been any recorded fatalities on board the Death Train in many years. Or ever, really. Raw, untamed entropy doesn't do anything as simple as kill.

For that delightful reason, passengers will be reminded at frequent intervals not to attempt to leave the train once it enters the active zone of the Porter's defenses, or to do anything that could jeopardise the integrity of its shielding.

The journey is relatively comfortable and takes approximately two and a half hours. A limited menu of pastries and alcohol is available from the buffet car. The smallest tables seat two.

As the train passes through the entropy-saturated wasteland of the Deathdome, the view from the heavily tinted windows of each of the train's four-person cars is impossible to comprehend: every atom of the landscape is in a constant state of flux, scattered in endless possibilities across the multiverse.

WELCOME CARPET

Inside, you get the impression of three towers; no view from outside is possible. You're totally sealed inside for the week, by the same Fate-built tech that shields this place from the ravages of cosmic radiation— the train station is built into the structure, entrance tunnel hermetically sealed.

You're greeted by welcome robots, primitive little things full endless enthusiasm and covered in dents. What they lack in intelligence they make up for in persistence and durability. Each and every ImPort is assigned their own personal robutler.

Though they tend to hinder more than help.

Boop boop boop boop. They provide you with a complimentary swag bag. Inside is one (1) t-shirt, one (1) top of the line tablet (pre-loaded with this year's Agenda and a simple game app that looks suspiciously like 2048), a stress ball, personalised souvenir pen and eraser (but no pencil), and of course, a lanyard keycard for accessing the comfortably adequate accommodations provided for all attendees.

Given the week-long Synod, your room itself is a decent suite, furnished with dark colors, redolent with a smell you can't quite place. You may find yourself assigned an unexpected roommate, which may feel awkward considering you'll find arrayed on the beds, a half-dozen complimentary tickets to the spa, restaurants and the power gym, with its preternaturally durable equipment.

Robutlers constantly remind: do not attempt to leave the Porter facility or do anything to jeopardise the integrity of its shielding.

CONVENTION

Talks and panels take place in the convention area, which feels like a miniature city within the Porter's defenses, a hive with padded audience seats, wide stages, and complete with holographic audiovisual equipment that's curiously compatible with presentation software from every city.

Here, ImPorts will present and debate various topics regarded as major concerns for all. [OOCly, players are invited to suggest topics! Scroll down; they will be added below.]

This is also something of an expo, where cities practically demonstrate— or show off their good works. From the latest hovertechnology models to demonstrations of healing powers, playful duels in the forcefield-enclosed stages to magical books that temporarily transfer skills on touch, this is the place to pretend you're showing off your cards... while playing the most important ones close to your chest.

PANELS AND DEBATES

PRESENTERS

TOPIC

Joseph Kavinsky vs [N/PC]

White Tower ImPort Overpopulation and Dimensional Instability

Tony Stark and other technopaths

How Technology Will Save Us

Joshua Foley

The Mysteries and Intricacies of ImPort Physiology

Count Dooku and volunteers

ImPort Factions Must Align Against the Shared 'Resistance' Threat

Jin Bubaigawara (x3)

The Twin Cities are NOT Dimensionally Unstable No Matter What You Heard

Kang

Bridging Old and New: Maintaining Infrastructure with Limited Modern Resources

EVENING

EVENTS

Every night of the Synod, ImPorts gather to dine in a grand hall with a ballroom party. Each dinner is hosted by one ImPort city, gruntwork complete with robutlers-- which guarantees food safety, and complete with multiple cuisine options, cultural decor, and entertainment.

Given the range of cities represented, food options vary from greasy burgers to six courses of seafood and blue venison, and rarefied vegan fare.

When ImPorts aren't here eating, they're most often talking. Ergo, it's not uncommon for low-key drama to break out, but this year, the majority of Synod days seem to be passing uneventfully.

Fortunately, speeches are reserved for daytime. After dinner, it's time to dance.

The last song of the night is always obscure music no one can quite remember the words or melody to afterward. It's a slow dance song meant for two or more partners; the ballroom grows dark and the world seems to fade away. Or rather, it just fades back into one's hotel room.

THE BLACKOUT

On Monday, September 21st, shortly before the Gates are due to resume ordinary function and allow attendees to leave, the Porter building suffers a power cut.

Abruptly, all the lights cut out. Music stops. Your faithful robutler freezes in place, unresponsive— though its internal systems appear to be running, the centralised command hub that it relies on has fallen silent.

Though the robutlers are out of comission, technology-minded ImPorts and their tech drones hasten to reassure that systems analyses are underway. Within a few hours, repairs begin, the estimated time being two days.

In the meantime, thanks to the diversity of powers on hand, there is enough food and water. Candles start to circulate. It might even be a little romantic, if it weren't for the chaos outside. Characters might find themselves trapped in an elevator for a few hours, or compelled to seek comfort from one another.

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"You're fighting this on your own." He said, with no surprise. He always felt this loneliness from him, and this loneliness always touched him in so many ways. "It has been lonely without you." So lonely.

He remained silent as he continues to dance with him around the ballroom, holding his hands, and holding him close as he dances the night away until it seems like everything and everyone else fades away. There's just them and the music.

At one point, he encourages and nudges Wei Ying to lean on his shoulder as they dance slowly back and forth. But only if he wanted to. He didn't have to. But he wanted him to. A wordless way of saying, no matter what he does, he always has his support from afar.

He feels his heart pound a little harder in his chest at the confession that Lan Wangji has been lonely without him. He had once thought they would always be by each others side. Walking the world and supporting each other as soulmates. But this world changed all of that. Wei Wuxian's own choices changed that.

It would be so easy to just forget everything he was fighting for and fall into the arms of family again. He had been without them for so long on their world, and now he is only continuing that when perhaps he doesn't have to.

"Lan Zhan..."

But what can he even say? He doesn't know how to even explain any of the things he has done. Without even thinking he lays his head against the man's shoulder, as if letting go of just one piece of everything that has held him back over the years.

He continues the dance, slow with each step. There is no hurry. When he lay his head on his shoulder, he felt a missing piece of puzzle coming back to him. They never dance together before, this must be their first time. There's no need to explain. Just the closeness of their bodies together, following the rhythm of the music and time and giving themselves permission to have fun.

"You don't have to fight. At least, not on your own." Very slowly, he welcomes him back. He's holding him in his arms around his back, to help him forget the bad things he done from the years. He doesn't know what he did. He doesn't have to know. All he has to know is that no matter what, he has a home to come back to always.

Eventually, the hold around him become a hug. It's a good thing it's dark in the ballroom, so it's hard to see.

He wraps his arms around the other man to hug him back. He wished it was true. Not having to fight alone...but somehow he has always believed that doing it that way was the only way. He needs this hug more then he realized. He needs to know that despite his choices that people still accept him.

"I'm an assassin, Lan Zhan..I kill people." That's his job. It's not the one he originally started off doing in this world but it is the one he has become the best at. It is necessary because each person he takes down, is one step closer to the answers he seeks.

"I have to do this fight alone because I can't make anyone else endure that. And it's the only way to keep everyone I care about safe."

"My ancestor, Lan Yi..she killed people who are her political enemies." He listens to him without judgment. He somehow knew what his intentions and aspirations are. "She the invented Chord Assassination technique, and she founded my clan to this day."

He hugs him only tighter in response. "Aren't you going to stop one day? Because you don't have to continue. There must be a way without having to kill." But somehow he knew the answer that Wei Ying couldn't stop the path that he is on.

"I'll stop only when those in charge are no longer corrupt and I've found the key to returning us home." Those are his goals and he is not one to stop until his goal is achieved. This is the path he has chosen and trying to detour from it now would go against everything he believes in.

He has perfected his abilities to be perfect for assassination. He had been a threat when hunting the Wen clan. He is even more of one now. He doesn't even have to play a single note to control the spirits. And with spirits he can kill without ever leaving a trace of how it happened. A perfect kill.

He could Wei Ying has grown powerful over the years. He concedes to his skills and his techniques. "Many people are looking for the key and they haven't found it for years. What if you can't find it...?"

"I won't stop until I do." Wei Wuxian has always been stubborn and has never been one to quit. That will continue even on this world. He has much he wants to accomplish and eventually he will find the person who has the answers. And if he doesn't, someone else with the resistance will. And they will share that information with everyone.

He lifts his head up and looks at Lan Wangji, locking eyes with him. "There isn't anything you can say that will change my mind on what i have to do."

When their eyes locked, holding his gaze longer than he should, he is just as stubborn as that mule, a trait he finds most admirable. "Hmph. All right. There is no stopping you." He was hoping he could stop him from killing others for a cause. But by now, he inwardly wanted to stop reminding him how wrong it was and even though his path is wrong, a part of him relenting, surrendering to that strong will power of his that challenges the impossible.

Just as he turns his back on his sect, breaking all the rules, he'll turn his back on his faction when the moment is right for it. "I know no promises, but I wish to accompany you wherever you go. But if you ever find the path to the key, will you let me go with you?" He knows Wei Ying would rather fight and endure alone.

"If it's going to be the final battle someday, I want to be there with you. By your side."

Edited 2020-09-18 21:27 (UTC)

"I can't make that promise, Lan Zhan. Because I don't know when that day might be and there is no telling if it won't be a moment where there is no time to coordinate. Only time to strike." He would like to have the man by his side but he just can't promise that it will happen in that way. The resistance doesn't have a timeline. There is no known final battle in sight. It could happen that night..or it could happen years from that point. It is possible they won't know until that exact moment.

"I wish I could say yes to that but..I just can't." There is an ache in his heart as he says it. He has let his guard down with this party and that is dangerous.

He's hurting him. He can't make him choose. He is steadfast on his path. He could see he is vulnerable, sad, and very much alone facing this darkness on his own.

"Then it's fine. You don't have to choose. It doesn't mean we can't be together. Because now I am on your side no matter where you are. You're not alone facing darkness." He has him in his arms. He cups his chin to make him look at him in the eyes, locking his eyes once more to his, and he sees himself reflecting in his dark eyes and see how much he is in pain.

"But just for tonight, if you're free, we have tonight, don't we?" Before he goes off to another mission again. At that moment, he has his attention, and he softly kisses him, his lips seeking his.

His eyes widen as those lips meet his. He becomes frozen in place as complicated emotions wash through his body. His heart starts to pound in his ears as he realizes this is exactly why he has tried to push everyone away. To avoid getting so close that it will compromise everything. But never did he suspect that Lan Wangji would want to draw him back in despite that...and that his feelings for him were like this.

Heat rises to his cheeks as he realizes the man just kissed him in the middle of a dance floor. Even if the room is dark he can't help but feel like the world is watching his emotions being unraveled and his wall being taken down by a sledge hammer.

He breaks the kiss, placing one hand on Lan Wangji's chest to give himself just that little bit of separation. His eyes seek out the dark ones that had just been staring so intensely into his own.

"Lan Zhan..what are you doing?" Has the man been drinking? Perhaps this is just a momentary lapse of judgement. "What is it that you want from me?" What expectations does he have from this night? Wei Wuxian is stunned but he doesn't pull away. He could easily have broken out of those arms if he wanted to, but something keeps him right there as he waits for those answers.

"Wei Ying, I want..." He stops himself, trying to seek words, but it dies in his throat. Suddenly, he wants to vent and hit against a tree or smacking himself against the head, angry at himself for letting himself go, letting go of self-restraint. He looks hurt when he stepped back, starting to panic, and realized what he just said is uncharacteristic for him and he felt dishonored at his conduct.

"Nothing. It's nothing." He said, trying. "You just seem so far away, swallowed by darkness, that I can't reach you. What if you're gone tomorrow? Another month? It has been sixteen years. Before I know it, maybe you won't come back."

Reluctantly he lets him go and felt being awashed by his own shame.

Wei Wuxian stands there, still greatly startled by what just transpired. Just because he seemed distant..that is what prompted Lan Wangji's action? That hardly seems like it. And to bring up his death when that was so long ago...what has he been waiting for?

Suddenly Wei Wuxian feels this need to know how Lan Wangji was going to finish that first sentence. Even if he is afraid he can't be what the man wants or need right now. He still needs to know.

Reaching out he stops the man from getting too far by grabbing his wrist and looking him square in the eyes again. "Lan Zhan..what is it that you want?"

Lan Wangji didn't drink anything. He is himself, of sound mind and judgment. If only, his heart has been in turmoil for a week, which has been storming for a month and collected by the years. Even though his face expressed nothing, his heart is racing when he grabs his wrists to hold him in place, demanding answers from him.

"I had my regrets." He answered. "At Nevernight. I couldn't stay by your side. When I'm with you, I feel unrestrained." His gaze lingered into his eyes and he feels lost in them.

With much emotion, "I want Wei Ying. I want you."

Wei Wuxian swallows hard. Those are some powerful and slightly terrifying words. That goes well beyond wanting to be by his side on a battle field. That is a declaration that he is not sure what to do with at that moment given everything he has been trying to do these last few years.

"Lan Zhan..I.." He what? He doesn't know hot to respond or how to feel. It's like his heart wants to jump right out of his chest. His grip on the man's wrist loosens but he doesn't move away and he still holds onto it.

"Even despite everything I've done?" Because perhaps that is what is so hard to believe. He had done nothing but push him away.

Taking a deep breath, realizing what he has done, he wanted to apologize for being so forward. His expression is stoic and guilty.

It's only then at his question. "Despite everything you have done, nothing has changed." He feels his grip on him loosen. "You don't have to think about it." But then after this night, he won't see him again and he'll be wondering when if they ever meet again for another chance.

Wei WUxian chews on that a little bit, his expression still uncertain but something inside of him is cracking. That wall that he has built now seems to be laying in rubble at his feet now. He isn't one to normally be for a loss of words but he is speechless at that moment. But think about it is all he can do even though Lan Wangji told him not to.

There is a hesitation and then the next instant, he places his hands on Lan Wangji's face and draws him in, placing his lips against his in a kiss. This could be the last time he sees him. After this Wei Wuxian may get pulled into more of the resistance tasks and find himself going underground. And so he can't hesitate anymore after what he has heard in these last few minutes.

For a moment, Lan Wangji put up a mental and emotional wall also, ready for a rejection, for Wei Ying to flee. What happens next, the walls and foundation of everything he knows begin to crumble in that instant, though it has crumbled easily by his own feelings and passion for him over the time he spent with him in their world before this one and from the years of love he has for him.

He wanted him to think about it, so he has a chance to forget it, to run and flee, or maybe continue the friendship...and then in the next moment, like a whirlwind of emotions, he's the one kissing him. The reaction was immediate. He kisses him back, with much passion. This could be their last night, their last week, who knows. His heart is pounding, his breath leaving him, and suddenly he felt that flame and torch he holds for him begin to spark and burn brightly.

In the dark, he wraps his arms around his waist as he kisses him hungrily. He never wanted this dance or this kiss to end.

Wei Wuxian wraps his arms around Lan Wangji's chest as he draws him close. He loses himself into that kiss that holds all the passion and fire that has been building up over the years. He doesn't deserve this after all the things he has done in both lifetimes, but he is going to hold onto it as hard as he can for the short while he is allowed to.

There is no shame in the fact that this is happening in the middle of a party. Perhaps he can just pretend he was drunk if someone asked him about it later.

Eventually, the kiss breaks and he's panting for air. After the wall crumbles, Lan Wangji emotions is a raw mess. He doesn't let go of him, wanting to hold him for a little longer. A part of his desire, having a mind of its own, wonders if it won't hesitate to spend the night with him, even for one night.

But his self-restraint is reigning his desires over, and his arms around him loosen and he gently lets him go. His pale jade face is colored crimson with a flush.

"Wei Ying..." For a few moments, he doesn't what to do. His self-restraint and desire fighting. He just stands there gazing. "I have the night free." He offered but giving him one last chance to reject him.

"yeah..okay, Lan Zhan." That's the only confirmation he gives. He might as well at this point. They could share this one night and Wei Wuxian can forget all the things he had told himself he needed to do to protect him. He will push aside everything and just have this one night.

"Let's go." He offers a small smile as if to reassure the other man. After the kiss it isn't like Wei Wuxian can just go back to his room and forget about everything. It would make for a very uncomfortable night.

He can't believe it. "Do you really want to?" He's not rejecting him for once. Lan Wangji is surprised. He'll make sure he won't regret it. If anything, this is his chance to give him comfort when his life as an assassin is hell for him from the years.

He happily follows after him. He doesn't mind. For once, he'll let go of worry. Despite how badly he pushes him away just to protect him, he's not giving him up easily and he would have told him it's unnecessary.

He walks towards the elevator. "Just..you have to know Lan Zhan. That tomorrow things might have to go back the way they were. I can't promise that things will change or that I will be any more willing to tell you the things I am doing."

It's just safer that way and he fully believes it is better if the man doesn't know. But perhaps he needs to have this one night. To forget all the things he has done and have a distraction from life on this world.

"Mm. You don't have to tell me anything. I wager my honor on it." The elevator door is closed and makes its ascent toward the residential floors. "I only want to play music with you. That's what I meant by spending time with you. Because despite everything you have done, I still wanted to stay with you, still wanted you."

He remains quiet once the elevator reached its destination. Wherever Wei Ying goes, he follows after him through the halls.

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