Ah... thinking, Senior Wei. [ ... he'd not assume he'll see anything that senior wei or hanguang-jun won't have seen first. ] A yao? The whole thing seems like it could be called by a fox spirit, but I don't think it is actually one. But... there may be a yao in this world that we do not know about yet?
( he pauses, making a considering hum so that sizhui knows he's
listening and thinking. it's not a bad idea, really, though he doesn't
think it's the case. however, that doesn't make him Correct, and he'd
rather encourage the means of testing than assumptions, which... is more
his husband's venue, unfortunately. )
It would fit some of the behaviour we've witnessed. How will you test for
it? Having witnessed the fox yao before in the village some months ago.
[ ... sizhui's turn to hum thoughtfully, because that is ... not an easy question. besides, the situations aren't exactly the same. ]
I think... first try to figure out what it is that whoever is responsible - fox or yao or not - wants. Back then, it was about getting back to those who had hurt a spirit. But here it seems that the desired part is the ceremony itself, or rather, the ... preparation for the ceremony? Or, possibly, as in this place people can exchange dreams somehow, for - things? Perhaps the emotions are the goal.
[ sizhui puffs his cheeks for himself because that still doesn't answer the question asked. ]
... I am not sure how to test for it, senior Wei. Both of the times, a lot of people seemed excited for the ceremony, but back there, it actually happened, while here it doesn't, but people don't realize. I do not know what can be used as... bait? for something more to be revealed.
( not the situations, but the feel and sense of the foxes as one level of local yao. he listens, letting sizhui walk through his thoughts out loud. it's good insight, both into sizhui, and into the differences in both situations. )
We can observe the goal remains different between the two, certainly. The marriage itself occurs here, but the one more than they seem is isolating herself as a reaction, not attempting to consume Firo.
( or isolate her. firo is part of a goal, but it has a different quality, and what seems like genuine emotion. )
It's difficult when operating under constraints, but let me offer the idea of one avenue: talismans work here. The exception I've found are barrier breaking ones, and others have reduced capacities, but they work. With that in mind, your thoughts?
[ ... well now he feels sheepish because he did know talismans work, and music, too, but he's gotten just a little too caught up into things and it kind of slipped his mind. and also most of the talismans he knows have been directed at the dead... and the undead, and he doesn't think that's the situation here, but. 'most' certainly doesn't mean a'll'.
Deep breath. ]
Yin burning talisman, possibly. Something that might weaken illusions, perhaps?
he's so precious i love him (and so does wei wuxian)
Both good places to begin when you're eliminating possibilities. Now, what would you call the difference between a dream and an illusion?
( relevant, sicne it's an issue they're all facing on this train to some extent, if they dealt with any of karsa's boxes, and by extension, must be part of how the people on board forgot an entire day. )
he triiies (also sizhui checked, dream thieves are people, versus creatures, but hey, he tried)
[ ... oh. that is a question that makes him think for a bit. ]
I... don't know with certainty, senior Wei, but I think... an illusion is created with a purpose and is shaped by the person or creature who creates it, but a dream would be something that is more... belonging to the person who dreams?
[ what he lacks the words to formulate: consciousness versus subconsiousness as the creator of the different reality. ]
(that's really cute awwh HE TRIED HE IS DOING WELL)
Not always deliberately formed, but part of them from deeper places, yes.
( he agrees with an easy nod of his head: he also lacks the particular language to describe this, but they both have the same sense of a contrast between chosen illusion and the interpretation of the submerged mind when it comes to dreams. )
And here, what is the power that dreams allows for those with the artefacts to use which are different from what illusions are?
( in this case, all of his question intending to get to the heart of it: dreams here change reality. illusions make reality appear altered. and they've seen this, already, at least in part, with the bride's physical transformations, veiled as she remains. )
(baw does that mean they have a matching guess on who is the dream thief...)
[ very quietly, because in some ways, that is terrifying. more so than anything that he's faced this fare, up to and including losing his entirey blood-related family.
... then again, he has lived for a long time without memories of actual reality, so it rather makes sense, when he pauses to breathe and consider. ]
Perhaps we can start by finding ways to disrupt those artefacts? Whatever the actual nature may be, that should weaken the effects.
It's a good possibility, looking for the flaws in how these artefacts work, or the flaws in their results. Yet Karsa knows they were placed here to be used, and the train has means to locate them when thinking to look.
( you can bet he's locked himself into many areas to avoid the dogs, just. he cannot. but! )
What do we know in total about the living dream creatures or people? Do we suspect and dream person is here, or only the dream reality altering, or something else?
( genuinely waiting again for Sizhui's thoughts, because while he has his own, they're unverified as of yet. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
no subject
( he pauses, making a considering hum so that sizhui knows he's listening and thinking. it's not a bad idea, really, though he doesn't think it's the case. however, that doesn't make him Correct, and he'd rather encourage the means of testing than assumptions, which... is more his husband's venue, unfortunately. )
It would fit some of the behaviour we've witnessed. How will you test for it? Having witnessed the fox yao before in the village some months ago.
no subject
I think... first try to figure out what it is that whoever is responsible - fox or yao or not - wants. Back then, it was about getting back to those who had hurt a spirit. But here it seems that the desired part is the ceremony itself, or rather, the ... preparation for the ceremony? Or, possibly, as in this place people can exchange dreams somehow, for - things? Perhaps the emotions are the goal.
[ sizhui puffs his cheeks for himself because that still doesn't answer the question asked. ]
... I am not sure how to test for it, senior Wei. Both of the times, a lot of people seemed excited for the ceremony, but back there, it actually happened, while here it doesn't, but people don't realize. I do not know what can be used as... bait? for something more to be revealed.
no subject
We can observe the goal remains different between the two, certainly. The marriage itself occurs here, but the one more than they seem is isolating herself as a reaction, not attempting to consume Firo.
( or isolate her. firo is part of a goal, but it has a different quality, and what seems like genuine emotion. )
It's difficult when operating under constraints, but let me offer the idea of one avenue: talismans work here. The exception I've found are barrier breaking ones, and others have reduced capacities, but they work. With that in mind, your thoughts?
... and now Sizhui has more theories...
[ ... well now he feels sheepish because he did know talismans work, and music, too, but he's gotten just a little too caught up into things and it kind of slipped his mind. and also most of the talismans he knows have been directed at the dead... and the undead, and he doesn't think that's the situation here, but. 'most' certainly doesn't mean a'll'.
Deep breath. ]
Yin burning talisman, possibly. Something that might weaken illusions, perhaps?
he's so precious i love him (and so does wei wuxian)
( relevant, sicne it's an issue they're all facing on this train to some extent, if they dealt with any of karsa's boxes, and by extension, must be part of how the people on board forgot an entire day. )
he triiies (also sizhui checked, dream thieves are people, versus creatures, but hey, he tried)
I... don't know with certainty, senior Wei, but I think... an illusion is created with a purpose and is shaped by the person or creature who creates it, but a dream would be something that is more... belonging to the person who dreams?
[ what he lacks the words to formulate: consciousness versus subconsiousness as the creator of the different reality. ]
(that's really cute awwh HE TRIED HE IS DOING WELL)
( he agrees with an easy nod of his head: he also lacks the particular language to describe this, but they both have the same sense of a contrast between chosen illusion and the interpretation of the submerged mind when it comes to dreams. )
And here, what is the power that dreams allows for those with the artefacts to use which are different from what illusions are?
( in this case, all of his question intending to get to the heart of it: dreams here change reality. illusions make reality appear altered. and they've seen this, already, at least in part, with the bride's physical transformations, veiled as she remains. )
(baw does that mean they have a matching guess on who is the dream thief...)
[ very quietly, because in some ways, that is terrifying. more so than anything that he's faced this fare, up to and including losing his entirey blood-related family.
... then again, he has lived for a long time without memories of actual reality, so it rather makes sense, when he pauses to breathe and consider. ]
Perhaps we can start by finding ways to disrupt those artefacts? Whatever the actual nature may be, that should weaken the effects.
honestly they might hahaha
( you can bet he's locked himself into many areas to avoid the dogs, just. he cannot. but! )
What do we know in total about the living dream creatures or people? Do we suspect and dream person is here, or only the dream reality altering, or something else?
( genuinely waiting again for Sizhui's thoughts, because while he has his own, they're unverified as of yet. )