周子舒｜周絮 （Zhou Zishu | Zhou Xu） (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lonelydream) wrote2023-10-29 10:27 pm
lonelydream) wrote2023-10-29 10:27 pm
INBOX (for eastbound)
Zhou Xu
missives | encounters
Zhou Xu
missives | encounters
Maybe.
( A flicker of something, a frown. He looks at Zhou Zishu - or rather, his chin, not quite daring to meet his eyes. ) I might even sympathise with her, if I thought about it too for too long. I don't know, Ah-Xu.
( He is always ensnaring himself in his own thoughts. )
It made me angry, the first time I heard about it. It's entirely possibly I've reacted when I shouldn't. But they're making us choose either way. I don't know if we have the option to abstain. And I've - ( There, slightly shifty. ) - well, I may have pushed my weight around a bit with a senator. I'm involved, but you don't have to be.
( A flicker of something, a frown. He looks at Zhou Zishu - or rather, his chin, not quite daring to meet his eyes. ) I might even sympathise with her, if I thought about it too for too long. I don't know, Ah-Xu.
( He is always ensnaring himself in his own thoughts. )
It made me angry, the first time I heard about it. It's entirely possibly I've reacted when I shouldn't. But they're making us choose either way. I don't know if we have the option to abstain. And I've - ( There, slightly shifty. ) - well, I may have pushed my weight around a bit with a senator. I'm involved, but you don't have to be.
[ Even without the spiritual attachment, Zishu hates seeing his sword in someone else's hands. This xiao seems to be just as particular to Lan Xichen, part of his soul, and Zishu takes her with both hands, his touch reverent. He is well aware what sort of honor he's being given, and he doesn't want to make it seem as though he's ignorant of it.
He runs his fingertips along the jade length, gentle and careful, and exhales slowly. ]
Has Lao Wen played for you?
He runs his fingertips along the jade length, gentle and careful, and exhales slowly. ]
Has Lao Wen played for you?
If you're involved, I'm involved.
[ Said as though it's just simple fact--because it is. ]
Don't twist yourself up into knots about it. Ultimately, what happens will happen. If things go poorly... There are other ways to solve those problems as well.
[ Said as though it's just simple fact--because it is. ]
Don't twist yourself up into knots about it. Ultimately, what happens will happen. If things go poorly... There are other ways to solve those problems as well.
( The relief that follows is surprising, Wen Kexing suddenly aware of a lack of anxiety he hadn't realised he was holding. )
If you find you disagree with me then tell me, mm? You've more a head for these kind of things. ( From what he knows of Zhou Zishu's time before him, anyway. It's not much, but with that and the growing up in a sect maybe he has more of a handle on things that Wen Kexing cannot comprehend. ) We can argue about it, it'll be fun.
Either way, until we get out of Ephes we're beholden to all the nonsense. I almost miss the jungle. No one was giving speeches there.
If you find you disagree with me then tell me, mm? You've more a head for these kind of things. ( From what he knows of Zhou Zishu's time before him, anyway. It's not much, but with that and the growing up in a sect maybe he has more of a handle on things that Wen Kexing cannot comprehend. ) We can argue about it, it'll be fun.
Either way, until we get out of Ephes we're beholden to all the nonsense. I almost miss the jungle. No one was giving speeches there.
The...jungle.
[ That sounds sticky and gross, and while Zishu is perfectly fine being muddy, sweaty, and dusty if he needs to be, he does also like being able to clean off at the end of the day if it's possible. ]
It's yours, after all. So that makes it mine as well.
[ Liebing is quiet and placated by the touch, responding with a shimmer of blue spiritual energy that sends the scent of mountain pines and fresh snow up at Zhou Zishu in a swirl. He is very respectful, Xichen observes, also idly noticing the handsomeness that Wen Kexing has been bleating on about. ]
We played together in the street for money. [ His lips twitch: it was a world away from the sight Xichen presents now. ] Our busking meant we could buy sweet treats that day.
We played together in the street for money. [ His lips twitch: it was a world away from the sight Xichen presents now. ] Our busking meant we could buy sweet treats that day.
I must assume Master Lan is very skilled, and hope you will not take my presence as a reason to stop playing together. It must be a pleasant change for him, to have someone that he can play with.
[ Zishu can play, in that he can control his qi through music. That doesn't mean he is particularly skilled at it, which Wen Kexing has often lamented. ]
Ah, we don't play often. Neither of us had much money for food so we combined our efforts on the day, that was all. A-Xing plays excellently, you're right.
[ With a mischievous gleam in his eye, Xichen tilts his head. ]
It occurs to me that if we were to send him a picture of us meeting here without him, via one of our devices, he would be very annoyed.
[ >:)! ]
[ With a mischievous gleam in his eye, Xichen tilts his head. ]
It occurs to me that if we were to send him a picture of us meeting here without him, via one of our devices, he would be very annoyed.
[ >:)! ]
Edited 2023-11-11 13:26 (UTC)
Perhaps you should. It seems too much a pity to not. But, of course, that is entirely up to Master Lan.
[ It pains him to hear about Wen Kexing not having the money for food, when he had to suffer through so much of that as a child, but that doesn't seem like something he should dwell on. Instead, he focuses on the other point mentioned. ]
A...picture, though. How would we do that? Is that another function of these devices? [ A brief pause, and his brow wrinkles. ] Just what can't they do?
( He props his chin in the palm of his hand, eyeing Zhou Zishu. There's something different about the little dance they do, and it makes something go warm and enchanted in his stomach. Nervous, too. )
I suppose it does.
( A smile, softer than his usual mischievous ones. He's just so glad the other man is here, that they have each other now. )
I suppose it does.
( A smile, softer than his usual mischievous ones. He's just so glad the other man is here, that they have each other now. )
[ He glances over, catching that look on Wen Kexing's face, and hurriedly raises the bottle to take another drink. Under that sort of gaze, his ears go pink. ]
They are very useful in a pinch, I will say that much for them. I wish my brother did not have the option to write to me, he says less than if he were speaking given a choice.
[ Wangji loving to text is too real. ]
Master Zhou, would you mind sitting next to me? The screen will show us what we look like before I capture our image.
[ Does he pat the side of his thigh to welcome him over? Maybe. ]
[ Wangji loving to text is too real. ]
Master Zhou, would you mind sitting next to me? The screen will show us what we look like before I capture our image.
[ Does he pat the side of his thigh to welcome him over? Maybe. ]
[ That's...bold. A little surprising coming from a man who had been, thus far, rather reserved. Still, Zishu is very curious and slides around the table, settling at Lan Xichen's side. No part of them touches, but their robes and sleeves pool together, heavy silk against silk. ]
You are very close to your brother. That's good.
[ Bolder than touching his xiao? Xichen takes out his device, once a dragon necklace but since made easier to hold, and angles it so they both fit in the shot. ]
Wangji is very supportive of me, he is the best brother a sect leader could ask for. Now, let's lean a little closer or you'll be in the background of this picture ...
Wangji is very supportive of me, he is the best brother a sect leader could ask for. Now, let's lean a little closer or you'll be in the background of this picture ...
Master Lan is the leader-- Ah, I should have realized.
[ He leans in, a small smile tugging at his lips. ]
How can you tell? Where should I look?
[ ...Is that what he looks like? How odd. He's seen himself in brightly polished copper mirrors, but this isn't quite like that. He settles in closer, close enough that he can feel Lan Xichen's warmth through his robes--he now sees what the other man means by him having been too far--and looks where he's directed to. ]
[ Lan Xichen's lips curl in the kind of smile he knows will wind up Wen Kexing, the I Know Something You Don't micro-expression that would, if he weren't a Lan, pass for nothing. He leans a little into Zhou Zishu's weight too and, Snap! Done.
When he turns his head to speak they are closer than he thought and he glances down instead at the device. ]
This is how you would send it.
[ And he proceeds to show Zhou Zishu how with the buttons, Average Sighren contacting WormWife's inbox. ]
When he turns his head to speak they are closer than he thought and he glances down instead at the device. ]
This is how you would send it.
[ And he proceeds to show Zhou Zishu how with the buttons, Average Sighren contacting WormWife's inbox. ]
How are these names we communicate under decided? Lao Wen's was something else a few days ago.
I don't know, I assume they are cruel jokes made by whoever tailors them for us. Although, [ he cocks his head, smile quirking, ] mine is not so inaccurate. I avoided all marriage offers in Gusu.
[ He is not even an average siren, he has no idea how to even start. ]
Don't take them to heart.
[ He is not even an average siren, he has no idea how to even start. ]
Don't take them to heart.
Master Lan must have been very popular. Well-mannered and attractive men in positions of power never lack for choices.
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