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[lonelydream]

Zhou Xu

missives | encounters

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[wifedup]

( Immediately he starts running soft little circles across Zhou Zishu's shoulder blades, letting out a soft squawk of disagreement. )

I can say no! I've said no a dozen times!

( Just to people he doesn't like or care about. )

Besides, the boy's fine isn't he? He never asks for much.

[lonelydream]

You encourage him.

[wifedup]

Someone should.

( Bittersweet, and a little guilty. )

I just think he deserves a little more time to be childish, don't you? Neither of us got much of it. It isn't doing him any harm. You know he wants to prove himself to you. He's a good boy.

[lonelydream]

[ Zishu's a little taken aback, and then he sighs, dropping his eyes. He had significantly more of a childhood than Wen Kexing did; whatever he didn't, was a product of his own stern stubbornness. At least until his Master passed and left the sect in his less than capable hands. Fifteen is not so much older than fourteen, though. ]

I know. You are, as you so often remind me, right.

[wifedup]

We'll do right by him.

( We because Wen Kexing does not plan to leave. He'll take whatever role is needed in both Zhou Zishu and Chengling's lives, eager to remain. )

I owe him that anyway. But I'd want to, regardless.

[lonelydream]

[ He debates, for a moment, telling his Lao Wen how he collaborates with Chengling to trick Zishu. How Chengling forgave him (though Zishu still thinks no forgiveness was necessary) for the deaths of the Zhang family. And then he decides, no, there are some things Wen Kexing will need to learn on his own. ]

You're a good man, Lao Wen.

[wifedup]

( A long moment of silence. )

Not really. But I can try to make up for my crimes, which is as close as I'll get.

( A hum, tuneless. )

And if I get to spend my time with you and the boy and my silly girl while I'm doing that then I'm luckier than most, aren't I?

[lonelydream]

It isn't so bad to think about, hm? And between Tragicomic Ghost and Senior Ye, we'd even have elders in this odd little family we've found.

[wifedup]

( A fully body twitch, a disgusted noise, Wen Kexing shifting so he can look down at Zhou Zishu. )

Senior Ye? Has Ah-Xu decided I must be punished after all?

[lonelydream]

He's very annoying. But he's also a good ally to have.

[wifedup]

We don't need allies!

( They probably do. )

And not one out of that old toad.

[lonelydream]

Lao Wen.

[wifedup]

( ... )

Ugh, fine. Go to sleep. Maybe you're delirious.

[lonelydream]

[ Silly. Though he can't disagree that he finds Ye Baiyi incredibly frustrating and annoying to deal with, he also does respect the older man and is not too thin-faced to take advantage of Senior Ye's standing in the jianghu to ensure their own safety. ]

Maybe.

[ Because sometimes it's easier to just go along with Wen Kexing's sulking. ]

Will you be joining me?

[wifedup]

Well, I'm already here. I'd hate to deprive you of a nice pillow to rest upon.

( Not that his chest is actually all that enjoyable, he makes himself look bigger with many layers of robes. But still! No complaints so far. Wen Kexing hums, wraps a lock of Zhou Zishu's hair around his fingers. )

Fear not, Ah-Xu, I'll be a dutiful wife.

[lonelydream]

Is that what a wife is meant to do?

[ It's semi-rhetorical. ]

Get some rest, Lao Wen. You could use it as well.

[wifedup]

It is, I've decided.

( And his word is Law, apparently. But still, he goes quiet after, running his fingers steadily through Zhou Zishu's hair in the resulting peace. )

[lonelydream]

[ The thing is, apparently it's rather exhausting to rebuild one's meridians. It doesn't take much soothing before Zhou Zishu is falling asleep again, yawning and curling unconsciously into Wen Kexing's arms. ]