[Video] UN: Wei Wuxian

[singlelogbridge]

[Without any introduction at all, a video suddenly pops up on the network with the view focused on what appears to be a VHS tape sitting on the ground. In the background, what can only be described as creepy flute noises can be heard. After several more seconds of the (familiar to some) flute, the song cuts off and Wei Wuxian comes into frame.

He is sitting cross legged several feet away from the VHS tape and he drops his flute to one side.]

This—[He points at the tape with his free hand—] is very angry.

What is it?

Comments

[dr_unconscious]

I wish I knew. It's hard for me to determine specifics like that with [fuck, how can he explain this in the vaguest way possible] the kind of searching I was doing.
If I had a guess, though, it would be the Cooper house. They seem connected to all of this stuff.

[singlelogbridge]

[Sorry Clayton, he saw that dodge and now he's even MORE curious.]

you're not the first person to point me in that direction. It seems like it might be key.

So how were you searching anyway? Tracking ghosts? Spiritual energy? Something else?

[dr_unconscious]

[balls]

[Well, he could just lie. But there's been plenty of evidence on the network to suggest otherwise at this point, both from Rosinante and Wangji finding him earlier in the mission and while sharing relevant information with others, so Clayton doubts he could get away with it. Might as well just pull the bandage off.]

Kind of a combination of all of those things.
How familiar are you with the concept of astral projection?

[Private]

[singlelogbridge]

[It occurs to him belatedly that he should have switched it to private before asking, but he does so now. Just because he's curious doesn't mean he wants to make anyone spill everything where anyone can see.]

Um. You might have to explain that one.

[Usually he can piece together unfamiliar terms with enough context, but the translators really aren't doing this one any favors.]

[dr_unconscious]

[Oh, right, that's smart. Clayton eagerly swaps conversations over from the public forum to this one.]

It's the closest concept I could find that matches what I can do.
Basically, everyone has a mind and a soul. For most people they're so closely connected that they might as well be the same thing.
But my connections are kind of...loose? I guess? So I can make my soul leave my mind and travel around for a while.

[singlelogbridge]

Oh I see! So you can do it without needing a catalyst in any way? I'm able to send my soul into specific mobile objects at times, but my soul always has to have a vessel. That's fascinating! I wonder if you would appear to be a ghost then.

[dr_unconscious]

[It's always weird whenever he runs into someone that's excited or interested in his abilities instead of wary of them. Wei Wuxian is hardly the first, but Clayton can't help but feel a little nervous anyway. He fits snugly in the second camp about himself and his powers, after all.]

[It helps - a little bit - that he's got powers similar to Clayton's to compare him with.]

That's interesting! Most souls have to have a vessel, like yours, but they can't move around much unless something else makes them, and can't sustain themselves in the astral between.

I guess I would look like a ghost to most people. No one's said that they can see my soul traveling in the physical plane, but I've seen ghosts in the astral before, and they look a lot like what I look like. It's all kind of subjective, though.

[singlelogbridge]

[Completely oblivious to Clayton's nerves, Wei Wuxian continues on. The abilities of a cultivator are common knowledge in his own world, and even if his specific abilities as someone who has walked the Ghost Path are somewhat different, he's never been self-conscious about them.]

Perhaps one day we'll need to test that theory then. I'm Wei Wuxian. We haven't met before, right?

[dr_unconscious]

[Hmm, yes, testing. Great! Clayton is super not enthusiastic about that idea. Not that he'll voice it, of course. He gently glosses over Wei Wuxian's suggestion so that they don't have to address it.]

I don't think we have!
I'm Clayton Epps. It's a pleasure to meet you, Wei Wuxian.

[singlelogbridge]

[Congratulations Clayton, Wei Wuxian has the memory of a goldfish and will absolutely never remember to ask him again.]

You too, Clayton Epps. It's always nice to meet others who are spiritually aware. For all the different abilities and "magic" that other orbers have here, there are only a few of us in touch with things like this.

[dr_unconscious]

Is that right?

[That's...actually kind of a comfort. In a place where there are so many strangers with even stranger abilities, knowing that most of them will have no idea what the limits of his powers are - the kind of damage they could do - is reassuring, in a way. That's assuming that they aren't familiar with people who aren't on the ship who can do the same, but it's a small comfort nevertheless.]

Well, I'm glad I've gotten in touch with a kindred spirit (pun intended).
I hope what we've found out helps with the mission. Worried about Freddie and his connection to the orb.

[singlelogbridge]

[He lets out a stupid laugh at that pun because he is who he is, and then sobers up, sighing over the rest.]

I hope so too. I guess we'll be finding out soon one way or another, hmm? Hopefully we can resolve this in a way that sets Freddie—whatever he may be—to rest.