INBOX (for eastbound)

[lonelydream]

Zhou Xu

missives | encounters

Comments

[lonelydream]

No walnuts.

[lanclan]

Oh? I'll doublecheck.

[lonelydream]

My thanks. The wine is local--not quite what we're used to, but I find it rather interesting. Is that all right?

[lanclan]

Oh, yes! I also ... have started wearing some of the clothes of this land, so I may look a little improper.

[ His legs are practically out! No skirts!! ]

[lonelydream]

The provided clothing? I should, perhaps, take another look. Fitting in is important.

[lanclan]

See what I'm wearing and then decide.
Whereabouts are you staying in the castle?

[lonelydream]

[ Describes the room they're staying in In relation to the public areas. Not too far, but also, not too close. Privacy is important! ]

[lanclan]

[ Confirming he's on his way, he feels oddly underdressed going to meet his friends who know the proper way to dress; no one else seems to care, making Xichen forget he's going to be sitting without anything on his lap. Not bare legs, but yikes. Trousers alone feel very ... illicit.

While fretting on decorum, he makes it to the right door and knocks in less than ten minutes. ]

[lonelydream]

[ He pulls the door open at the knock, pausing briefly in surprise for a moment before hastily stepping aside to gesture Lan Xichen into their rooms. It's very warm inside, thankfully, and Zishu is dressed rather more lightly than the snowscape outside would imply he should. ]

I've found that the wine is rather good when gently warmed, if is little sour. Come, sit. Warm yourself. Have some.

[lanclan]

Thank you, it is quite cold in the corridors.

[ He sinks down at the table, rubbing his hands a little as his gaze lingers on Zhou Zishu. Assessing. ]

Where is our foxlike friend?

[lonelydream]

Making a nuisance of himself elsewhere, I imagine.

[lanclan]

Oh, good. I have you all to myself yet again.

[ Is there some mischief in Xichen's eyes? Maybe. ]

How have you been since the carriage ride here? I didn't want to suffocate you with attention, I'm sure you've had plenty.

[lonelydream]

Master Lan's jokes are rather odd. I've, ah. Well. Did Lao Wen speak to you? He found out about my condition rather more abruptly than I'd intended.

[lanclan]

Odd? No, he hasn't spoken to me. I assumed his time was taken up with you.

[ No one wants to be a third wheel, so he kept his nose out. Now he tilts his head, concerned. ]

Is he alright?

[lonelydream]

He frets, as ever. But I hadn't let him pass me qi in a while, and he did while also taking my pulse. So, naturally, he became suddenly very aware of the severity of the situation. He's--worried. So I am, in turn, also concerned as to whether he'll do something unwise.

[ He pours them each a cup of warm red wine. ]

[lanclan]

He won't listen to me, if you think I could calm him down. I have only ever been there to gather him up afterwards.

[ He sips his wine thoughtfully, gaze lingering on Zhou Zishu as subtly as it can. ]

How long did you think you had left when you first came to these realms?

[lonelydream]

A week or two. Maybe a month, at most.

[ He doesn't lift his gaze from the cup cradled in his hands. ]

Yet, it's been much more than that.