Picspam and poll: The Envoy's robes, and Wu Tian'en's 500 (drama)

[china_shop]

Poll #33541 Robes and cash

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 17

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Where do Shen Wei’s robes go when he dematerialises them?

View Answers

a pocket dimension
4 (23.5%)

his literal pocket (they're filmy and fold up small)
0 (0.0%)

a drycleaner in Dixing
1 (5.9%)

a drycleaner in Haixing
0 (0.0%)

his Haixing wardrobe/closet
1 (5.9%)

they dissipate back into dark energy (ie, they aren't physical objects)
14 (82.4%)

they disguise themselves as Shen Wei's wristwatch
1 (5.9%)

other
2 (11.8%)

When Shen Wei summons his robes, does he change his undergarments too?

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no, that's why his vest is black even though he routinely wears pale shirts
9 (52.9%)

yes, everything goes
7 (41.2%)

other
1 (5.9%)

In ep 17, Zhao Yunlan borrows 500 from Wu Tian'en to pay Ding Dun. Why is Wu Tian'en carrying so much cash?

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to pay rent
1 (6.2%)

to pay his bar tab
1 (6.2%)

the bar has an illegal pai gow den (hence the masks)
5 (31.2%)

obligatory protection money
5 (31.2%)

a birthday gift for his son
1 (6.2%)

a little light bribe (for light)
6 (37.5%)

other
4 (25.0%)

Comments

[trobadora]

Robes: other - Shen Wei's robes dissipate into black energy, but they ARE physical objects - he can just temporarily dematerialise things and store them that way. (It's one of his many powers.)

Undergarments: yes - they change when he summons his robes - not in colour, but they go from Haixing styles to Dixing styles and back. :)

(Also, I'm convinced he doesn't just change clothes, but actually transforms - long hair under the hood included. *g*)

Wu Tian'en's money: other - he doesn't trust anyone in Dixing and therefore keeps his money on him at all times. But also, a bribe for the prison guards, so they'll secretly let him visit his son without the Regent knowing.

[china_shop]

he can just temporarily dematerialise things and store them that way. (It's one of his many powers.)

*nodnod* Like his dao. Can he do that to people, do you think?

Undergarments: yes - they change when he summons his robes - not in colour, but they go from Haixing styles to Dixing styles and back. :)

Do the new ones come pre-warmed, or does he have a second or two of going from body-warm clothes to cold, unworn clothes?

he doesn't trust anyone in Dixing and therefore keeps his money on him at all times.

Not unreasonable!!

But also, a bribe for the prison guards, so they'll secretly let him visit his son without the Regent knowing.

Awww! <3

[trobadora]

Can he do that to people, do you think?

It would certainly explain where he stashes the Shadow Man after taking him from the roof, since he's climbing out of the bushes immediately afterwards!

Do the new ones come pre-warmed, or does he have a second or two of going from body-warm clothes to cold, unworn clothes?

Aw! You ask the important questions! *g* I think the body warmth carries over and everything he summons onto his body is the same temperature as whatever it replaces. *nods very seriously*

[donutsweeper]

I assumed that like his dao the robes, mask and hair just whooshed into existence out of nothing and then whooshed away again when he was done with them. I guess that doesn't really make much sense but it's by far the least logical thing about Guardian so....

[china_shop]

It would certainly explain where he stashes the Shadow Man after taking him from the roof, since he's climbing out of the bushes immediately afterwards!

Oh, true. Good point! He couldn't just stash him in his office, in case someone walked in and got confused about the weird new ice sculpture. ;-)

Aw! You ask the important questions! *g*

It's fic-relevant! In fact, I wrote this a couple of days ago:

He stands up and, without ceremony, allows his Envoy cloak to gather around him, his hair to lengthen, his mask to settle on his face. As always, his skin contracts under the cold of the Envoy’s traditional dress, and as his body temperature drops, his posture automatically stiffens.

But I like your version, too. :D

[china_shop]

It makes total sense in-universe! After all, letters can be sent between Dixing and Haixing, and it seems unlikely they have to physically travel to get there, so we have proof that some dark-energy powers mean that objects don't have to exist continuously.

Presumably whatever clothes he's wearing before he changes also have to whoosh in and out of existence in reverse?

[donutsweeper]

It does make you wonder how much conscious thought he has to put into the switch and how much control over it he has. Does Shen Wei actually have to get haircuts? or has he ever gotten tired/distracted/ill and ever accidentally whooshed his long hair out?

[autodach]

Aah, the undershirt! Always a pleasure to see.

I believe the robes are made of dark energy, and he goes for a full set. Also agree with Trobadora that he has long hair under the hood. (The hair is important!)

I picked other for the last poll, because I'm not sure what we know about Dixing's currency. Is 500 even that much? How bad is the inflation?

[china_shop]

I think he can control it pretty well, and once he's set it, it stays set. But that's a great point about haircuts -- he can probably do that himself with a flick of his fingers. :D

or has he ever gotten tired/distracted/ill and ever accidentally whooshed his long hair out?

Ha, that reminds me of my tentacle porn ficlet. ;-) (Zero obligation link!!)

[china_shop]

Aah, the undershirt! Always a pleasure to see.

:D :D :D

Also agree with Trobadora that he has long hair under the hood. (The hair is important!)

Yes, I think so, too. :D

because I'm not sure what we know about Dixing's currency. Is 500 even that much? How bad is the inflation?

Ha, good question. I was assuming it's a lot because I expect Ding Dun would overcharge -- to make himself seem impressive, if nothing else. But maybe not!

[autodach]

I was assuming it's a lot because I expect Ding Dun would overcharge

Oh he is most definitely overcharging. Though likely there's a difference between 'a lot of money to have on you' and 'a lot of money to charge for a roadside palm reading'. What's our speculation about the usual rates of Dixing's charlatans? XD

[facethestrange]

YAYYY POLL. :D ♡♡♡ I want to comment on everythingggg, but let me just vote quickly between writing and editing like a thousand fics by the end of August, lol. :D

(I'm only voting for what I think is canonically likely re: Shen Wei's clothes, because in fics I'm 100% not picky at all - they do whatever fits any given scenario. :D)

The robes are dark energy, or more like physical objects made of dark energy, but that's kind of still the same vote. :D

The undergarments change too, everything changes, definitely including his hair. ♡ And this made me have many thoughts about the black undershirt, ranging from 'he wants to feel like he has some of Heipaoshi armor under his Haixing clothes' to 'he just wants to make Zhao Yunlan extra horny' (which is definitely working *points at the wonderful screencap* :D :D)

Re: cash, I wonder if it's even a lot of money, but if it is, then maybe people just carry it around with them because leaving it at home is even less safe than potentially getting mugged. So, other. :D

(Wow, this may be the only poll ever where I didn't vote for any multiple options. xD)

ETA: Random fact: I keep scrolling up just to look at Shen Wei's perfect face in the 3rd picture! ♡ And then at the entire undershirt scene too, obviously. :D ♡_♡

[maggie33]

I love these polls, they always make me laugh. But now I really want a fic about a put upon drycleaner in Dixing sighing over Black Cloak Envoy's robes manifesting suddenly in front of them when they least expect it. :DDD

[awanderingcoyote]

Eeee I loved all these pics so much!!!!! And the poll!!! I loved all these his emissary robes so much!!!

[facethestrange]

Hahah, that would be a delightful outsider POV! :D :D :D

ETA: Now I'm wondering how often he would have the robes cleaned - not every time he changes, surely. xD

[facethestrange]

"or has he ever gotten tired/distracted/ill and ever accidentally whooshed his long hair out?"

Omg I neeeeed this fic, and honestly I may snag this idea myself because it sounds THE SOFTEST. ♡♡♡

[facethestrange]

"But that's a great point about haircuts -- he can probably do that himself with a flick of his fingers. :D"

This is so adorable, and yeah, I think it can't possibly NOT be canon. :D :D :D

"Ha, that reminds me of my tentacle porn ficlet. ;-)"

Ahhhh, I literally haven't read a single fic in the last 2 weeks, but I saw this one when the podfic was posted and adghfjdkslfgjjgfk *WANT* ♡____♡ :D (I know it's short but I'm not even caught up on most comments threads rn, lol.)

[donutsweeper]

Snag away! Do it!!!

[facethestrange]

"Aah, the undershirt! Always a pleasure to see."

RIGHT? :D :D ♡___♡

ITA with the rest of your comment too!

[facethestrange]

Thaaaank you! :D ♡♡♡ *cuddles this entire concept* Not anytime soon, but only because I have so many fics to finish and/or edit in the near future - otherwise I would probably be starting on it literally today! Definitely one of the most inspiring ideas I've encountered recently. ♡♡♡

[trobadora]

I think I'm resisting the idea that putting on his Envoy robes is inherently uncomfortable. But maybe if it's hot out, it would be nice to switch to fresh cool clothes!

[trobadora]

Yes, agreed! There are even various different examples of things/people both dematerialise and rematerialising. That sort of thing fits entirely with the worldbuilding!

[trobadora]

I think by now it's habit so he can do it all with a single thought, even if it does theoretically involve multipile separate steps. But it would make sense that when he's under the weather that he could stumble over any one of them - and I love the idea of him getting ill and accidentally wooshing out his hair. (I love how you put that, hee! :D

[trobadora]

Indeed, the undershirt! :D :D :D

And the hair is VERY important. *nods*

That's a good question how much that actually is, relatively speaking. I just looked it up, and 500 yuan/RMB is only about 60 Euros. So presumably it would sound like not that much to a Chinese audience?

[trobadora]

Hee! Excellent choices all. :D

he wants to feel like he has some of Heipaoshi armor under his Haixing clothes

Oh, that's a thought! Or maybe not even armour, but anchoring him in both identities?

(And the undershirt scene is always fun to stare at. :D)