INBOX (for eastbound)

[lonelydream]

Zhou Xu

missives | encounters

Comments

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?

[lonelydream]

I spoke to Lan Xichen about it. Did he tell you?

[wifedup]

Oh. No!

What happened? Did it help?

[lonelydream]

He seems to think I might be able to cultivate a golden core, and that it might be able to stabilize my meridians. I don't know.

[wifedup]

( He takes a moment, contemplating that. Truthfully he hadn't pried all that much into Lan Xichen's own power, or where that might come from. He hadn't wanted to treat the other man like a potential mark, and the more ignorant the better. Now he's cursing himself for not asking more, for not knowing the particulars. It isn't like he can interrogate either Lan - though for different reasons, and so there are more questions than answers, more uncertainty. )

If anyone could do it, it would be you.

You can trust him. Lan Xichen, I mean. He has a good heart, he's not playing a game.

( His kindness is bright, and sometimes a little painful when it is undeserving. )

[lonelydream]

He's very kind, and reminds me of you, in some ways.

[wifedup]

I think that's an insult to Xichen, honestly.

( He's good, and nice, and not at all like a feral beast, wow. )

[lonelydream]

I think he'd take it as a compliment.

[wifedup]

That's because I've fooled him into thinking I'm nice.

( Well, not entirely. Lan Xichen knows who he is, he's been shown. And yet he still believes in him. It's as alarming with him as it is with Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing is not sure what he's to do with all that faith. )

Did he say how you could go about cultivating a golden core? Did he say how long it might take?

[lonelydream]

He didn't. He isn't sure it's possible, but he seems rather convinced that it might be.

Do you think, perhaps, that it could be what Senior Ye did?

[wifedup]

That crochety old goat?

I don't know, maybe? It's not like he'd tell us. But if it's an option I think we should try.

[lonelydream]

I'll see about speaking with him some more about it. And the others you mentioned. Would you prefer to be there, when I do?

[wifedup]

I would.

( Because he is a hovering, nagging, harpy of a man.1 )

Would that bother you?

[lonelydream]

If you can stay calm without making silly agreements that are completely unnecessary.

[ Don't think he's forgotten what Wen Kexing did when Ye Baiyi first accosted them--not that Ye Baiyi was any better about it, the way he baited Wen Kexing. ]

[wifedup]

Would I do that?

( Yes. )

But fine, I'll behave. But you'll promise me to try in turn? I know you value your pride but is it better than your life?

[lonelydream]

It's not my pride, Lao Wen. It's my freedom. I thought you, of all people, would understand that.

[wifedup]

I'm not trying to chain you. I wouldn't. I know you must keep your skills. I know how important that is.

I'm just worried. You must understand that.

[lonelydream]

I know. I know, Lao Wen. I have a few names.

[wifedup]

Good.

Well the sooner, the better.

[lonelydream]

I haven't quite decided how to go about this.

[wifedup]

Well, whatever you decide.

( And maybe some scheming from Wen Kexing. A little. )

[lonelydream]

I don't think a public post is a particularly good idea.

[wifedup]

I thought mine was subtle! But no, you're probably right. We could contact the more appropriate people though?

[lonelydream]

I suppose I'll have to reach out to them. How troublesome.