#red oleander

[inka1712]

Oleander

[horns-n-jams]

Young love

Viggo and Ulfran sneaking out have some alone time away from others, and just having time for themselfs.

[biosemiotica]

Fiori di oleandro (Nerium oleander)

[wolf-look-at-chicken]

North of Ecruteak… Gods, it is dense here, with both the landscape and spiritual as well as resentful energy. No traveler faint of heart could make this journey, I think. You’d have to be particularly clearheaded and calm to make it through this place without losing half your soul.

You spouting Taurosshit? I don’t feel anything.

Well, that’s because you’re not lost or panicking. Lan Zhan and I can fend off any assailants.

[wolf-look-at-chicken]

Wow. This book is astoundingly poorly detailed. It's just a compilation of vaguely sensational rumors. I can see why the librarian recommended we try going for a source that's a little less conventional...

[wolf-look-at-chicken]

[A video is attached. The group enters a large, fairly standard-looking library, but before Lan Wangji can move to start looking for books on his own, Wei Wuxian halts him.

"Hold on a second." He looks towards Silver. "And you pay attention, now, because this is a good skill to have."

Silver raises an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? What skill?"

With a smile, Wei Wuxian answers, "Asking the locals," and walks up to one of the librarians at the front desk. "Excuse me. Would you happen to know where to find research on Fallers?"

The librarian, who has dark purple hair and red glasses, blows out an exhale. "Boy, you got a tough question there. I know this is not the answer you wanna hear, given you're probably... y'know, a Faller yourself— but I don't think we've got much on this topic. Lots of the research is classified."

"The hell do they need to classify it for?" Wei Wuxian grumbles, putting a hand against his temple. "No wonder it's so damn hard to get home. You know much about it?"

The librarian shrugs. "Eh, I've dabbled in legends and anomalies here and there. I wouldn't call myself an expert."

"Nonsense! I'm sure you have at least some expertise. You have that air about you."

"Really?" The librarian chuckles. "You're quite the charmer, aren't you? Well... I do know something that could be of help if you're particularly vivacious about your research." They gesture for Wei Wuxian to lean in, and they pull out a map. "If you go north of Ecruteak City— yes, I know there's no path there, but just listen— you'll find a little plot of land located within the densest part of the forest where there are some abandoned buildings. One of them is a library that was wrecked around the 1950s. Supposedly, it housed the research of someone who knew 'too much'."

Wei Wuxian puts a hand to his chin. "Is that so? Alright. I'll borrow some books from here that you think may be of use, and then we'll head out there. I'll even report back to you about my findings, if you're interested."

"Oh, my arc, yes," the librarian says eagerly. "Just not too much. You'll make me get back on my urban exploration kick."

"Of course."

The video ends with the librarian listing off the names of various books regarding anomalies, Ultra Beasts, urban myths, and more.]

[wolf-look-at-chicken]

[A video is attached. Led by Wei Wuxian, the group briskly walks through the building-shaded streets of Goldenrod City— when they are stopped by the shout of a vendor on the sidewalk.

“Fine-looking Quilava you got there!” he compliments. “How about you let me rate its name?”

Wei Wuxian stops and crosses his arms. “We’re in a bit of a rush. If you can do anything other than rating names that can help us, then I suppose…”

The name rater leaps out of his seat and grabs Wei Wuxian by the shoulders, though instead of flinching or pulling away, he just raises an eyebrow. “No one has ever asked me this question!!” the name rater cries. In the background, Lan Wangji looks suspiciously ready to whack the name rater with his cane, and Silver looks bored. “Since you’re the first person EVER to ask me, I’ll read your fortune for free!”

“A fortune teller, are you?” Wei Wuxian asks, smiling. He goes on, as the name rater sits back down behind his stall, “Well, alright. No one’s about to eat us, but don’t take all day.”

From under his white tablecloth, the name rater takes out a deck of tarot cards. Puzzled, Wei Wuxian attempts to examine the intricate detail on the cards, but the name rater pulls them away. “No looking! Now, ask a question.”

Wei Wuxian brings a hand to his chin. “Hm… Oh, whatever, might as well. Any guidance for the two of us— Lan Zhan and I, that is— on returning home?”

“Mhm.” The name rater fans out the cards face-down. “Pick three.”

He complies and flips over an upright Death, a reversed Wheel of Fortune, and a reversed World. The name rater furrows his brow. “Oh, dear.”

Wei Wuxian sighs. “What?”

“From the looks of it, you broke out of a cage only to find yourself in another one. Your path to freedom will always open up in front of you, but never behind you.” The name rater holds up a hand. “Depending on how you look at it, that can be good or bad. But… I suggest you don’t try to look backwards for your home. You will never get the answers you want.”

“…We’ll see about that,” Wei Wuxian mutters. Xiaohuo trills in concern when he swiftly takes his leave without bidding the name rater farewell.

“Sounded like a whole load of Taurosshit,” Silver says, yawning. “People saying they can see the future are scammers full of crap.”

“Very good,” Wei Wuxian praises her. Still, his energy is dulled.

Lan Wangji murmurs, “Do not stress yourself.”

“Who says I’m stressing myself?” Wei Wuxian laughs. “I know it’s a sham. I just wanted to give the guy a little boost. I can tell he works hard.”

He is twisting and fidgeting with Chenqing in his hand as the video ends.]

[wolf-look-at-chicken]

We're in Goldenrod City. The library is here by the department store...