Threads 92-Diplomacy 1

“So, how are things with your new spirit?” Ling Qi asked as she entered the archive with Yu Nuan.

Yu Nuan had changed since the last time she had seen her. Streaks of blue and white marked her spiked hair, and a few of the little metal studs that pierced her ears and other parts of her face had been switched out for nodes that crackled with thunder and lightning qi. The other girl still seemed a little out of her depth, having taken Ling Qi’s sudden invitation to join her at the archive with bewilderment and hesitant acceptance. Ling Qi wondered if this was what it had felt like to be Xiulan early last year.

“He’s a good boy,” Yu Nuan replied uncertainly. “I expected him to be more rambunctious, but he’s actually kinda…”

“Kinda what?” Ling Qi asked as they passed the entrance desk. They both had permissions for the first floor so there was no reason to stop. She searched the trails of qi drifting through the air before turning down one of the narrow halls between the towering book shelves.

“Kind of a big friendly doof.” Yu Nuan sighed. “Slobbers on everything, leaves scorch marks everywhere. I come outta cultivation and find he’s decided to sprawl on my lap like a giant electrified sandbag.”

Ling Qi gave her a sidelong look. “Not quite what you were looking for?”

“S’not that bad,” Yu Nuan grumbled. “Got into a scuffle in the woods ‘n he pulled his weight. Just not what I expected.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re getting along.” Ling Qi glanced at the intersection ahead before turning left.

“What are we here for?” Yu Nuan asked, trailing a step behind her. “I know I said I was going here anyway, but I was intending to go to the upper floor, and the stairs are the other way.”

“Obviously, we have to head up,” Ling Qi said with a snort. “First floor arts are no good for us unless it’s for tinkering.” She hadn’t had a chance to try that yet. Too many obligations getting in the way. “We’re meeting some people.”

“Who—” Yu Nuan began.

Ling Qi interrupted her as they emerged into one of the sitting areas and raised her hand to wave. “Senior Brother Ruan!”

The older boy raised a hand to wave, closing the slim volume he had been scanning through and setting it aside as he stood up from one of the comfortable study chairs. “Junior Sister, was I ever surprised to hear from you.”

“I’ve been getting some things straightened out,” Ling Qi said. She was getting the hang of the rhetorical lessons in the Playful Muse’s Rapport, and she liked to think it was beginning to show. She didn’t have to spill her guts to every person she met, but an air of friendly openness served better than what she had been trying to do before. Though it tied in with the same lessons of affected confidence she had learned on the street, it took her in a different direction than her previous efforts.

<And a more natural one too,> Sixiang murmured. <Isn’t it more comfortable than walking around with a metal pole tied to your back?>

“It seems that’s working out for you. You’re looking good these days, Junior Sister,” the handsome boy said. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is Yu Nuan,” Ling Qi introduced. “I thought she might have an interest in this too. Is Senior Sister Bian not available?”

“She’s deployed at the moment,” Ruan Shen replied, the strumming strings of his spirit wavering. He was worried. “I’m sure she’d love to come some other time.”

That wasn’t ideal, but needs must.

“So, it’s nice to meet you and all,” Yu Nuan said, dipping her head briefly to Ruan Shen. “But again, what are we doing here?”

“Workshopping, I believe, was the plan?” Ruan Shen asked, looking to Ling Qi.

She nodded. “I thought it might be fun to get together with some other music cultivators and talk shop, maybe discuss compositions and arts. I need to replace some of my arts with better fitting ones soon, and I thought to ask for some advice.”

“That’s weird. You’re gonna let other people talk you into what arts you’re gonna use?” Yu Nuan asked, bewildered.

“It’s not that strange, but it’s usually more of a family thing,” Ruan Shen said. “Think of it more like using the conversation as an avenue of reflection.”

“Yes, that,” Ling Qi replied confidently, the Carefree Mantle singing in her meridians. She still wanted to complete her cultivation of the Harmony of Dancing Wind Arts too, and its lessons on the nature of connections could use more active study. “I’m not going to tell you what to do, but if we each talk a little about what we’re doing, there might be some insights, right?”

“I’ve already learned that it looks like my cute, shy Junior Sister is likely to outgrow me within a year or two.” Ruan Shen sighed as he moved to join them. “It’s been a real blow.”

She gave him an unimpressed look as she began to head for the stairs to the next floor. “And how do you think I feel, seeing my Senior Brother slacking off?”

He winced. “Hey, now, that’s just mean.” He sheepishly scratched his head. “I’m working on it!”

Yu Nuan was still watching them with a frown on her lips. “You two are weird.”

“If being good humored is weird, I’ll happily claim the title,” Ruan Shen said lazily. “Anyway, I’m mostly looking to refine my arts into something personal. What are you girls up to?”

“I’m looking for a new movement art. I’m feeling deficient with that right now,” Yu Nuan said, giving Ling Qi a look.

Ling Qi smiled sheepishly. She had a few vague ideas of what she wanted. She wanted a support art that would bolster her music against people like Cai Renxiang, who could wipe out her accumulated effects and force her to start over. She wanted to see if there were arts which could synergize to some degree with Zhengui, making use of the threads of wood and flame now rooted in her dantian, even if the threads were awfully thin. “I was thinking of an art that would enhance my other arts, or perhaps an art that could synergize with Zhengui. But I’m not sure what theme or type I should be looking into. Suggestions?”

***

“I’m surprised that bonding that spirit affected you so much already,” Ling Qi commented, flipping through a book on musical enhancement effects. She had never really considered the way things like the stage, venue, local qi flows, and other little details could alter her performance and its perception. That there were arts which allowed a musician to manipulate those effects to enhance or alter their songs were an obvious leap.

“I just dyed and styled my hair,” Yu Nuan said blankly, giving her an unimpressed look. She kept the wriggling ozone-scented scroll in her hands pinned to the table.

Ling Qi blinked, looking up from her text. “Ah, right. That makes more sense.”

<Such a dork,> Sixiang chuckled. <Oh, maybe you should let me mess around with your look sometime. I bet I could come up with something unique.>

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Ling Qi’s eyebrow twitched. She suddenly had the image of her hair done up in a glittering rainbow updo. She would probably pass on that one.

<Spoilsport,> Sixiang huffed.

“Having a disagreement, Junior Sister?” Ruan Shen asked, the pages of the book in his hands flickering by in a blur.

“Nothing like that,” she replied. “Thanks for helping me look into Grandmaster Fu’s works and style.” She had enough actual songs. What she needed were ways to support her performances properly, whether in a fight or a party. Bao Qian’s words had given her a lead, and Ruan Shen had helped her capitalize on it with his familiarity with the subject.

“It’s no trouble,” he said airily. “Stage play and presentation is an important part of a performance. Besides, it’s hard to get enough musicians in one place to do a band or orchestra properly. Gotta make do.”

“I don’t see much point in tryin’ to get a bunch of us together. Just going to give a muddy performance with the clashing ways, isn’t it?” Yu Nuan had relaxed since they had arrived and started studying, seemingly content that there was no ulterior motive to this get-together.

“You would be surprised. Put a few musicians on the spot for an impromptu performance, and you’ll have quite a din. But a little coordination can make some lovely things,” Ruan Shen said. “If the musicians really get each other and gel, you get more out than is put in.”

“That might be interesting to try sometime,” Ling Qi mused. “I guess you only get performances like that in the capital though.”