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
Ask, if you'd like. It's the least I can do to thank you for whatever help you might be able to provide, though you may not like the answer you get. I am not a good person.
[ With a graceful motion, he draws his sleeves back a bit to lay his bare wrist on the table for Lan Xichen. ]
If Master Lan is willing.
After this, you should ask Lady Wen for her expertise: she will have more to add.
[ He lays two fingers on Zhou Zishu's wrist, warm skin-on-skin, and hesitates with a nod to the man's front. ]
Our golden cores are in our midriff, near the stomach. May I lay a hand on you there? [ His lips twitch. ] You may remain dressed, of course.
[ Scandalous behaviour in this tea-room!! ]
[ He lays two fingers on Zhou Zishu's wrist, warm skin-on-skin, and hesitates with a nod to the man's front. ]
Our golden cores are in our midriff, near the stomach. May I lay a hand on you there? [ His lips twitch. ] You may remain dressed, of course.
[ Scandalous behaviour in this tea-room!! ]
[ Zhou Zishu is of a drier humour than Wen Kexing, for sure, the differences between the two have Xichen mildly fascinated. Pushing those thoughts aside for now, he lays a palm on him too and closes his eyes as qi stirs and sinks into the other man, faint blue shimmering around his hands where it makes contact. The usual routes for qi are there, though the destruction of those meridians feels like corroded scars where Xichen passes over them. His qi is gentle and refreshing as it glides along the ruined pathways, infusing a very small amount of healing energy into them to avoid causing harm by an overload: Xichen's qi itself is as steady and deep as a mountain, a reliable source of relief if Zhou Zishu wants more.
His lashes flutter on his cheeks, all but meditating. ]
Does this hurt? How do you feel?
His lashes flutter on his cheeks, all but meditating. ]
Does this hurt? How do you feel?
[ he inhales sharply, eyes nearly closing at the first sensation of qi sweeping through his meridians. he can feel Lan Xichen's qi sweeping through him, different from the firey warmth of Wen Kexing's, or the icy chill of Ye Baiyi's, or the gentle burn of Wu Xi's. Everyone's qi is different, and Lan Xichen's feels like a mountain spring, cool and calm and deep.
too bad Zishu's meridians are too damaged to properly appreciate it.
Lan Xichen will no doubt be able to feel the way his meridians are shattered and burst--focused along the seven points on his chest. By all accounts, he shouldn't be able to move or speak or do any sort of martial arts whatsoever. ]
It doesn't hurt.
[ Whatever his qi tries to heal feels like a dead branch, broken and browning with no hope of another summer. It's so sad. How can Zhou Zishu bear it? It's like pouring water through a river long turned to dust, nothing is there to get flowing and his own qi cannot heal, only soothe while actively circulating.
He focuses on the place where a golden core should be and tries to stimulate it, as if encouraging a young Lan disciple to cultivate their own. ]
What do you feel when I do this?
He focuses on the place where a golden core should be and tries to stimulate it, as if encouraging a young Lan disciple to cultivate their own. ]
What do you feel when I do this?
[ his eyes shut fully, brows furrowing, and he takes a slow breath in and then releases it even more slowly. what does he feel? ]
--Warm, I think. I'm not sure. Perhaps it's nothing at all.
[ and then Zishu opens his eyes. ]
Master Lan, my sense of touch, of sensation... It comes and goes greatly, especially now. I can barely feel anything at all. My senses aren't to be trusted.
[ Opening his eyes, he gives a shake of his head, the flow of qi continuing where his hands remain. ]
This isn't about your senses, your muscles or bones. Your meridians are broken scaffolding but they haven't vanished altogether, try and use them to channel something that relies on only thought and being. Having a golden core can greatly revitalise a body that was formerly without one, and even the humblest farmer can cultivate a tiny echo if he endeavours long enough.
Try a little longer, Master Zhou. [ His smile is encouraging, albeit small. ] This is very foreign to you, so be patient. Give it a good chance first.
This isn't about your senses, your muscles or bones. Your meridians are broken scaffolding but they haven't vanished altogether, try and use them to channel something that relies on only thought and being. Having a golden core can greatly revitalise a body that was formerly without one, and even the humblest farmer can cultivate a tiny echo if he endeavours long enough.
Try a little longer, Master Zhou. [ His smile is encouraging, albeit small. ] This is very foreign to you, so be patient. Give it a good chance first.
If you were talking to my disciple, I'd encourage it. But my meridians are moments from being altogether shattered, and my qi doesn't move as it should.
[ Xichen sits back, hands in his lap. ]
I understand, your meridians are nearly gone so how could you cultivate a golden core? But you never lost one. Never had one to begin with. So, in theory, you have been pumping your qi around your body yourself without a proverbial golden heart to do it for you, straining yourself. I wonder if that is why your meridians broke so badly.
In any case, since you never lost a core it stands to reason it is still within you, waiting to be awakened ... meridians or not.
I understand, your meridians are nearly gone so how could you cultivate a golden core? But you never lost one. Never had one to begin with. So, in theory, you have been pumping your qi around your body yourself without a proverbial golden heart to do it for you, straining yourself. I wonder if that is why your meridians broke so badly.
In any case, since you never lost a core it stands to reason it is still within you, waiting to be awakened ... meridians or not.
Edited 2023-11-18 09:20 (UTC)
( Zhou Zishu is far too pretty, he thinks, watching him with dazed little expression. He hadn't forgotten that in his absense, not exactly, but having him here to gaze on is doing wonders ( and also somehow hell ) for his heart. )
Let's neither of us have political aspirations, all right? It would be boring, and get in the way of all the things we want to do. ( Like drink! And eat! And if Wen Kexing has his way ... other things. )
It's the sign of a man with nothing better to do. Overcompensation.
Let's neither of us have political aspirations, all right? It would be boring, and get in the way of all the things we want to do. ( Like drink! And eat! And if Wen Kexing has his way ... other things. )
It's the sign of a man with nothing better to do. Overcompensation.
Hermoine Granger.
Wen Qing and Wen Ning.
Nynaeve al'Meara.
Those are the people I spoke to via the pocket watch who might be able to help us. There's also a priest by the name of Anduin whom I believe has healing magic, but we haven't spoken about it. I haven't given many details, I didn't think you'd like that, but I've tried to make them aware of the depth of the situation.
I only know Hermoine, and not well, she thinks she can only help via diagnosis as well, which is probably not what you need. The others might be useful. I think we might have to be more open about it, if we want actual aid.
( It's not his decision, and so here he is to fret. )
Wen Qing and Wen Ning.
Nynaeve al'Meara.
Those are the people I spoke to via the pocket watch who might be able to help us. There's also a priest by the name of Anduin whom I believe has healing magic, but we haven't spoken about it. I haven't given many details, I didn't think you'd like that, but I've tried to make them aware of the depth of the situation.
I only know Hermoine, and not well, she thinks she can only help via diagnosis as well, which is probably not what you need. The others might be useful. I think we might have to be more open about it, if we want actual aid.
( It's not his decision, and so here he is to fret. )
Why aren't you telling me this in person? Surely you're not that afraid of my reaction.
[ He doesn't like this feeling of hope. It tends to lead to nasty disappointment. ]
Do you think it's really possible?
I had no intention of it. Come, sit. Drink. Tell me about your day.
[ he rolls his eyes, but settles down at Wen Kexing's side to flick through the pages. ]
What should I look out for?
I spoke to Lan Xichen about it. Did he tell you?
I don't see why not. Men cultivate them when they are grown, you have broken meridians but not a missing core. If you could gain even a small one, it would heal you. That's the only plausible theory I'm left with.
[ He tips his head, thinking. ]
Lady Wen Qing is a professional healer, her insight would prove invaluable. You should speak with her.
[ He tips his head, thinking. ]
Lady Wen Qing is a professional healer, her insight would prove invaluable. You should speak with her.
I'll have to trouble Master Lan to introduce us, then.
If it's complaining about me then toss it, unless it's very funny then feel free to read it out to me. Anything to do with shipments just put there - ( Pointing to a hefty pile of paper. ) - honestly just ... do whatever you like. I can't wait to be done with it all.
( Maybe they'll be sent elsewhere soon. That would be lucky. )
( Maybe they'll be sent elsewhere soon. That would be lucky. )
Page 7 of 19