citynet | text | un: AbyssalBlade

This world has many conveniences that far outstrip those of my own. Some of the wealthiest nobles of my home would never imagine the quality of life one of middling status here would enjoy and it has been an eye-opening experience for this humble one.

That being said, there are some basic resources I have had difficulty procuring. I'm not sure if they are simply absent from this world or if I am - ah - what is the colourful turn of phrase? Barking at the wrong tree?

Something like that.

List of Required Materials:

Cinnabar

Mulberry paper

White silk (unpatterned)

Tortoise shell, ivory or bamboo timber

Black Sun Immortal Flame Tinder, or its components

Lacquer

Silk paint, or raw pigment

Ink sticks, ink stones, brushes

Snow Heart Radishes

A functioning qiankun bag - mine has somehow lost its enchantment and none of my storage talismans work.

A guqin or erhu of decent make

Almond oil

If anyone can point me to anything on this list, this humble one would be greatly in their debt.

This one has also been experimenting with the fashions of this world. Though my robes are comfortable, there is no need to make do with a single set of clothes when there are so many options. Would those who come from worlds contemporary to this one kindly offer their opinions about whether or not he has the gist of your attire? It is less modest than what I am personally used to, but not wholly different from the style of garments common throughout the demon realm.

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Don't fret, laoshi. I've been paying attention to the network and keeping an eye out. There are other cultivators here, but none seem to be from a world where my name carries weight.

If pressed, Feiyu can simply be a courtesy name.

I would like laoshi's opinion on my attire first. Whether it is pleasing to him or not, whether I would pass for someone from his world or not. If one is to cultivate an image, one must have a solid foundation first, no?

Edited 2023-07-07 08:02 (UTC)

Oh, good thinking. I'll remember that excuse, should it come up -- but I will also try harder to address Binghe -- Feiyu properly in the future. I should probably try to get myself used to it, shouldn't I?

Feiyu's clothes are very fine; he could easily pass for a young man from my world or one like it. Is he comfortable in such tight clothing, though? I know they're not anything like that he's used to.

[Please be careful, Binghe! The heavenly pillar needs oxygen too, you know!]

If laoshi pleases? But you can keep calling this lord 'Binghe' if it is easier.

[He really does like when laoshi calls him so familiarly.]

I had worried a bit about the tightness at first, but that seems to be the intent of the styles? Moreover, they are surprisingly flexible, and the fabric of the trousers feels sturdy, but not as rough as I expected.

The silks here, however, are of abysmal quality.

While we're at home, of course I'll call Binghe whatever makes him happiest. But I'd hate to cause Binghe difficulties further down the line -- ah, there I go again. You see why I need practice.

[He does so hate making mistakes, moreso when they might inconvenience his most precious blorbo.]

Yes, whoever this made this world is clearly pulled from a post-industrialized society, with its mass-produced "fast fashion" apparel. Clothing is made cheaply and quickly in lots of hundreds according to a set of standardized sizes and distributed to merchants all over the world; it makes it so that even the very poorest of people can afford to dress themselves better than the peasants of ~~Binghe's~~ Feiyu's world, but those with an usual body type may struggle to find clothing that fits comfortably, even moreso since the "standardized" sizes are set based on desirable aesthetics rather than a true average of the population. And of course the actual quality of the fabric is much lower than Binghe is used to, especially in silks and linens.

On the other hand, I did miss elastic and stretch fabrics quite a bit while I lived in Cang Qiong. There's nothing like a good tracksuit for doing some light reading around the house, you know?

I would much rather Shen-laoshi slip up from time to time than forget his Binghe's name.

That is interesting how the tailoring ...industry? is trying to force an idealized body-type onto people. Do they expect those who don't fit it to simply walk around in the nude?

I will have to be extremely vigilant for good quality fabrics then. Even if they are rare, they must surely exist.

And yes, this lord has noticed laoshi is very fond of such attire. It is surprisingly flattering.

Edited 2023-07-17 00:52 (UTC)

What is this nonsense?? Of course this laoshi won't forget Binghe's name! Even if I am tempted to pretend, just to get you back for making fun of my clothing...they're comfortable, okay? If a man can't dress down in the privacy of his own home, then where can he do it???

...Unless Binghe is trying to imply he's uncomfortable with so much informality between us, but if that's the case he might have said something at any point in the last actual month of us cohabitating. :/c So which is it, is Binghe genuinely uncomfortable or is he making fun? Don't prevaricate, now!

Oh? Are those the only choices your Binghe has?

It is true that this one likes to tease, but is that not simply indicative of liking Shen-laoshi's informality in both address and attire?

Perhaps Shen-laoshi might consider this lord may have other motives than malice or malcontent.

...Binghe is saying he enjoys it when this Shen is informal with him?

[He has to take a moment and sit with that for a moment, mentally digesting it.]

I suppose that makes sense, given how easily Binghe could just move out or throw me out and take the apartment for himself if he was genuinely unhappy. But the implication...

Binghe...

We really have become good friends, haven't we? Even though it's only been a month? It's genuinely touching how you allow this Shen to be his real self around you!

[He knows what he was getting into when he decided to pursue this man. He knows. At least Shen Yuan is equally oblivious to everyone's attentions but still...!

Ah well, he still feels strangely content with this. One of the biggest obstacles for the... other two had been Shen Yuan's conviction that Binghe wanted to either hurt him or fuck with him. Not that the brat's clumsy attempts at courtship had done him any favours, but this Luo Binghe had experience and patience and hindsight on his side.]

Indeed. This lord finds Shen-laoshi's authentic self very pleasing to be around. He is far kinder than most.

Edited 2023-07-17 11:29 (UTC)

[Meanwhile Shen Yuan is just pleased as punch by this revelation, and while he's certainly much too dignified to do anything so ridiculous as squeal with happiness or get up and do a little dance -- despite the fact that he's alone in their apartment and no one would actually see him do it -- the feeling is definitely implied. Friends! With Luo Binghe! Not hated enemies or even master and disciple, but friends! Take that, hates of Zhongdian Literature! Peerless Cucumber for number one fan!]

This Shen is no kinder than Binghe's inner nobility deserves! But...it makes me happy that you're happy. Truly. :)

Anyway, the textile industry! That's how it was called in my world, "tailors" still exist but they're mostly hired for very special occasions, like weddings. Regular use of a tailor is considered the province of the very rich; Binghe might consider it analogous to the way a poor cultivator and a wealthy cultivator might have been blessed from birth with spiritual veins of similar strength, but the wealthy cultivator is still more likely to get further in developing their base because they have access to tools the poor cultivator cannot afford. Because my world is so obsessed with aesthetics, this tendency of the rich to simply look better in the clothes they can secretly afford to have tailored to their bodies is another way class stratification is maintained. It's not that poor people with "non-standard" bodies go nude, it's that they simply have to put up with clothes that don't fit right, don't look good, and may not even be comfortable on their frame.

Binghe is so smart, he may able to derive a lesson or two from this to carry back to his empire after we escape this place!

text | un: AbyssalBlade

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