INBOX (for eastbound)

[lonelydream]

Zhou Xu

missives | encounters

Comments

[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.

[wifedup]

Is that my lazy husband's way of asking me to do it?

[lonelydream]

Are you passingly familiar with any of them already?

[wifedup]

I've spoken to a few of them, Hermoine already knows a little. She told me to offer you help with diagnosis but I don't know if that's what we need. Wen Qing knows the Lan. And Nynaeve al'Meara seemed knowledgeable? It's how much you want them to know.

[lonelydream]

I don't need a diagnosis; I know what's wrong with me. Both Lan brothers suggested Wen Qing, but Lan Wangji most strongly recommended Anduin, Nynaeve, and Hermione.

[wifedup]

Oh! I've met Anduin. He seems useful, though I found him to be a busybody. He didn't like that I wanted to keep the hand.

( And why lose something perfectly useful, is what Wen Kexing wants to say? )

Lan Wangji might be a brat, and he might despise me, but he's too much of a hero to send us down the wrong path. I say if he's provided options those are our best choice.

[lonelydream]

You have an unhealthy attachment to that hand. In any case, he seems to think that an outside source of sorcery may be more useful, since I've functionally destroyed my meridians.