INBOX (for eastbound)

[lonelydream]

Zhou Xu

missives | encounters

Comments

un: abwhorent / audio

[wifedup]

( It's the middle of the day when he realises, hunched over a desk in a very noisy brothel, someone's loud, obnoxious climax in the rooms above having him scramble for his communicator. He isn't even sure Zhou Zishu knows how to use it, but he's clever! He'll figure it out. At least Wen Kexing isn't using the text function yet.

All in a rush. )

Ah-Xu! I have a job. A job that requires me to be in brothels. If anyone mentions how often I'm in one just know it's because I am very diligent and caring and the women ... well, the women and the men ... have decided I'm the only one they'll talk to now. All right? All right.

( He's sure this is reasonable and that his username does not, in fact, make things worse. )

Re: un: abwhorent / audio

[lonelydream]

[ it takes Zhou Zishu a few moments of confusion before he figures out how to make the odd little thing stop chiming. The moment Wen Kexing's voice comes sailing out, though, he instantly understands. It's some form of instant communication, likely between long distances since Wen Kexing is clearly nowhere nearby.

Oh, this could have made things so much easier in the past. ]

Lao Wen, what are you talking about?

[ and then his eyes widen when a very clear, very loud moan comes through. ]

Ah. Brothels, you said.

[wifedup]

Yes, brothels. Brothels that I am often at. For business.

( It is currently deeply important that Zhou Zishu knows he's not sleeping around. He hasn't in months. A+, all round good boy. )

When we arrived in Ephes I was given a task by one of the senators. I'm supposed to make sure the whores are well cared for, the wine is high quality, and the opium is ... well, opium. It's very boring, but I'm known now!

[lonelydream]

I'm sure you are. Well done, Lao Wen, you've made yourself very important.

[ he sounds somewhere between fond and exasperated. very sincere! but also a little sarcastic. he can't help it. ]

I suppose I'll just have to follow your lead, then.

voice; average sighren

[lanclan]

Master Zhou? My name is Lan Xichen, a friend of Wen Kexing. I would like the chance to get to know you, if you would be partial to meeting over tea or wine at your convenience.

Re: voice; average sighren

[lonelydream]

Master Lan--Lao Wen has spoken highly of you. I'd be happy to meet any time you're available.

[lanclan]

[ Lao Wen? Hah. Lips twitching, his voice remains level. ]

I have a tea-room booked at the end of the hour, if you would like directions. Please, allow me to host you for lunch.

/ action

[wifedup]

( He's maybe more than a little tipsy when he returns to his rooms. In his defence it has been a long, boring day full of long, boring speeches and more paperwork than he has ever had to look at in his entire life. For the later half of his afternoon he had spent his time mostly fantasising about setting fire to his desk and the rest of it pining helplessly for Zhou Zishu, cup after cup of wine as he wondered just how well the other man's meeting with Lan Xichen had gone. It's not that he'd been jealous exactly, but there had been something - curiosity, maybe, a deep need to be a fly on the wall.

No, it was absolutely envy.

But it's fine, because the light inside his rooms tells him that Zhou Zishu is there, and so when he pushes the door open it is with the delight of a child, Wen Kexing kicking it closed behind him, a wide, bright grin crossing his features. )

Ah-Xu!

( He's immediately altering his course towards the other man who is half turned Wen Kexing's way. He doesn't stop when he gets there, instead he drapes himself over Zhou Zishu's back, bony chin pressing into his shoulder, a hand warm at his hip. He's probably pushing his luck, but also maybe not. Maybe he's just drunk enough to be daring. )

Ah-Xu, everyone is immensely boring, I'm not built for this. Make me a trophy wife before I get so frustrated I stab someone.

Re: / action

[lonelydream]

[ He had been drinking in the room when Wen Kexing flies in like the little storm he is, a whirlwind that ends with him sprawled out over Zhou Zishu's back, warm and steady. Zishu hides a smile behind his cup, swallowing the mouthful down, and then sighs as he leans backwards a little, pressing gently against Wen Kexing's chest. ]

You've been drinking again, Lao Wen.

[ As if he hasn't. Hypocrite, thy name is Zhou Zishu. ]

[wifedup]

( Oh, this is nice. This isn't entirely what he expected - maybe that he'd be shoved off with a light-hearted grumble about personal space, or a pointy little elbow to the gut - not Zhou Zishu leaning back in. Wen Kexing takes a deep breath and then nuzzles somewhat closer, pleased. )

I have to drink when surrounded by idiots, otherwise I might be driven to something drastic.

( Anyway he's tipsy, it's fine. Pleasantly so, thumb stroking where he has Zhou Zishu held by the hip without any conscious thought on Wen Kexing's part. He just wants to be close, to touch, a greedy and almost innocent need. )

Did you miss me?

un: worm wife / text

[wifedup]

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. )

Re: un: worm wife / text

[lonelydream]

Why aren't you telling me this in person? Surely you're not that afraid of my reaction.

[wifedup]

( ... Don't call him out like that. )

Not yours, no. Also this is speedy, isn't it?

text; average sighren

[lanclan]

How are you feeling?

Re: text; average sighren

[lonelydream]

Much as usual, to be honest. Lao Wen is fretting.

[lanclan]

He is good at that.
Would it help if I came over to ease your breathing?

/ action.

[wifedup]

( Wen Kexing is hovering. He knows he is hovering. It has been hours since Hermoine came to them and offered them her aid, it is perhaps even a new day, and he has not been able to take a single step away from Zhou Zishu's side since. He sits on a chair at the head of the bed they share, one hand moving his fingers fitfully through the length of Zhou Zishu's hair, the other keeping a permanent hold of his wrist. He has been like this since he put his zhiji there, imagines there might be an impression left with how long he's been feeling his pulse, Wen Kexing's fingerprints in pale skin. It wouldn't be so bad to leave a lasting mark, he thinks, shifting his thumb to press a little deeper.

They still have so very far to go.

Panic rises, falls, he keeps stealing looks down at the sleeping man, seized by fear. There is a part of him so sure he might be dreaming that he wants to dig his fingers into his own skin and claw himself awake. Another reason then that he busies his hands with more gentle work, smoothing a fringe aside to lay his palm across a clammy forehead. The anxiety will not fade, he doesn't think it can. They have fixed what they were able to but there will still be work ahead of them, and so the joy must be tempered. But still, but still.

He brings Zhou Zishu's hand up to his mouth, lips against the knuckles. They look frail, up close, and Wen Kexing sighs, a gust of breath. )

Ah-Xu.

( It's fine, he's fine. )

Do I really get to keep you? You'll have to wake up soon and tell me so.

Re: / action.

[lonelydream]

[ The potion he'd taken burned through him, like fire tracing the meridians that can no longer handle that much energy. Pain is nothing new to Zhou Zishu, but this was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He doesn't remember much after downing the potion--brief glimpses of Lao Wen's frantic face, some impression of Wen Kexing's arms, before he's again and again dragged down into unconsciousness.

He dreams of the past--of his master, of Jiuxiao, that silly boy, of those eighty brothers he'd lead to their deaths and of parents he barely remembers. Of Beiyuan and Wuxi and the younger Helian Yi, of the cousin he'd once loved and believed in.

He dreams of Chengling, the silly little crybaby growing stronger by the day. Of fiery Gu Xiang and smitten Cao Weining. Of Ye Baiyi and his odd, gruff way of caring.

Most of all, he dreams of Wen Kexing. He dreams of Wen Kexing's quicksilver hands, the curve of his cheek, and the child-like delight in his eyes. He dreams of wicked grins and elegant fingers, of his violence and his strength and the way he reaches for Zishu again and again. Of his scent and his tears and his laugh. Of the peace in his face as he fell to his death. Of the triumph in each controlled flick of his wrist as he cut Zhao Jing down.

He dreams and dreams, and doesn't dream at all until he's waking to soft murmurs. Zhou Zishu slants his gaze to his side, brows furrowing briefly as his blurry vision slowly focuses in the dim light of the room. ]

[wifedup]

( He notices. It would be impossible to not, considering how closely he has spent the night watching Zhou Zishu for signs of a relapse. The hovering twitch between sleep and wakefulness is as sharp as a drawn blade considering how long he'd lain there unmoving, the only sign of life the slight rise and fall of his chest and the fluttering pulse under Wen Kexing's fingers. The hand still buried in the other man's hair stills and then untangles itself, deft fingers moving to cup a cheek. He doesn't realise he's been holding his breath until it leaves him all in a rush, ducking a little closer. )

Ah-Xu?

( There is a fine tremble to his voice, an anxiety he can't quite smother out, but he doesn't think he can be blamed for that. He waits, watching as Zhou Zishu blinks, the haziness in his eyes mostly due to sleep, though Wen Kexing is poised like he might bolt from the room to look for aid if the cause is anything else. )

Are you okay? Are you with me?

un: worm wife / text

[wifedup]

If I brought you something useful what would you reward me?

( 😇 )

Re: un: worm wife / text

[lonelydream]

Wouldn't that depend entirely on what you bring me?

[wifedup]

Isn't it the thought that counts?

/ action

[wifedup]

Ah-Xu.

( Here is Wen Kexing returning to the room they share, immediately making a beeline to the other man so that he can drape his heavy body along the line of Zhou Zishu's back. He doesn't even pause to take off his outer layer or toe off his shoes, or indeed even see what the other man is doing. Instead his greedy hands sneak chilled into the folds of Zhou Zishu's robes to leach the heat there. He's tired, but not drunk, having spent most of his day scheming and shaking off what he's sure is Matthias' tail and that's apparently resulting in ... whatever this clinginess is.

He squirms closer, nose behind Zhou Zishu's ear. )

Hello. Tell me I'm not allowed to kill Second Master Lan. He's very annoying, is it really worth keeping him around?

( Without heat, only mildly irritated. ) Wait, no. Let's not talk about him. Tell me you missed me instead.

Re: / action

[lonelydream]

Hello. You're not allowed to kill Second Master Lan.

[ He had been reading, Wen Kexing, going through various missives and texts and trying to piece together what it is they're meant to be doing. There's only so much rest and meditation a man can do before he goes absolutely mad, after all. Though it'd take a much stronger man than he to refuse Wen Kexing, warm and clinging and acting a child. Zishu leans back against Wen Kexing's chest, a smile tugging at his lips as he blindly reaches up to give that beloved face a single, firm pat--an admonishment without any true negativity. ]

I don't know what you have against him; I find him a perfectly pleasant conversation partner. [ The briefest pause, and then he goes on, accommodatingly: ] Not as pleasant as you, of course. Where have you been? Your fingers are cold.

[ He has to end with a complaint, of course, token as it may be, concern hidden beneath the habitual criticism. ]

[wifedup]

( He's still ferreting away at Zhou Zishu's robes, letting out a little aha of sound when he can skate fingers against warm bare skin. His groping doesn't really have an aim, it's just the need to touch driving him, pressing more firmly against that beloved back. Still, after there is a rude noise, touch stilling. ) That's because he thinks you are a good, virtuous man and he thinks I'm a beast crawled from the hells just to tempt men to wickedness.

( Grumbly, so grumbly. )

He's rude.

( So is Wen Kexing. )

Something was following me, I think. Don't worry. I lost it. ( And then, as distraction, he bites very gently on Zhou Zishu's ear. Oh, did you think he'd behave forever? )