prompts / continuations.

[fennu]

Comments

[fennu]

It's why I appreciate honesty for the sake of it.

[ Which is why he's fond of Xichen - one of the reasons why. ]

I don't take well to lies.

[lanclan]

If all the roads in the world were glass underfoot, Wanyin would be rock.

[ Pulling himself out of shadowy thoughts to do with being a used Sect Leader and little more, his eyes crinkle as he gently teases, ]

Though you look significantly better than any well-worn road.

[fennu]

I will take that as the compliment it is due to be.

[ Given his history, it's likely not a surprise that lying grates on him, especially with what has been hidden from him by Wei Wuxian, and he tries to hide how the compliment has affected him by turning to look at some of the decoration. ]

I could say the same in return, but comparing Xichen to rocks seems improper.

[lanclan]

[ That makes him laugh for the first time, ducking his chin to hide it. ]

I would like to be a rock or the earth, to listen and lie still. Once I thought of myself as water, now I am more of a glacier and must ask your patience in the future.

[fennu]

A glacier is handsome enough. It can suit you, for now.

[ Which he hopes is taken as the compliment it is intended. ]

[lanclan]

[ The slow blink that Jiang Cheng receives lingers. ]

For now? What is more handsome than a glacier? Hmm. [ He is going to visibly put thought into this and tap his lips. ] I will have to become snow and scatter myself. That sounds painful!

[fennu]

Or you can flourish in the sun and become a river alongside the rocky path.

[ Jiang Cheng tilts his head. He's no poet, but... ]

[lanclan]

[ He has to close his open mouth as he hums his assent, words briefly failing him as his pale cheeks gain colour. After sipping his tea, Xichen hazards, ]

With the rocky path there all along, I wonder if I did not notice and instead flooded the tranquil-looking meadows on my other side, helping them flourish when they should have become a desert.

[ A-Yao certainly drank down every ounce of faith like a starving landscape. ]

[fennu]

[ That is certainly a metaphor and a half, and Jiang Cheng has to take a moment for himself, to try and find a suitable reply - one that isn't damning and is equally poetic. It's not easy. ]

Someone can't be blamed for looking for tranquil meadows after years of drought, Xichen.

[lanclan]

... Would you like some liquor with your meal? It can be found.

[ It seems appropriate. ]

[fennu]

Liquor is not permitted within Cloud Recesses.

[ He is teasing, just a little, but he doubts his brother is keeping to that rule. ]

It is not necessary.

[lanclan]

And yet, it finds its way here. Repeatedly. [ Wry as he sounds, his smile quirks back into place (one jar confiscated from the students is nothing compared to the absolute stash he knows Wangji has in the Jingshi, stolidly pretending it doesn't exist). ] Not necessary is not the same as a pleasant addition.

[fennu]

The tea is fine. [ Even if it might be nice to gear himself up for the inevitability of conversation. ] Unless you intend to join me.

[lanclan]

That wouldn't be a good idea.

[ He doesn't want to turn into the same drunk Xichen who ran around on the roof calling an equally drunk and sleepy Wangji didi when Qiren found them, that one time. ]

Wine makes me very ... animated.

[fennu]

And it makes me sour. Or silly.

[ It depends on his mood when he partakes, mostly. ]

Do you feel like you need it? Or are you just trying to be polite again?

[lanclan]

If you want it, there is some. It is not mine, I don't drink; it was confiscated.

[ He arches a brow, remembering when Wangji confessed about finding Wei Wuxian and his cohorts wasted. ]

[fennu]

I don't want it, not right now. Not unless you want to talk about... Those things.

[ Jin Guangyao.

Anyway, don't talk about his sordid past! ]

[lanclan]

I asked because I respect your comfort and what you like, I would have you feel at home here. That's all.

[ As for the other things ... ]

I already said Wanyin can ask whatever he wants.

[fennu]

Then I will respectfully decline, this time. I feel comfortable enough.

[ Pushing his bowls aside, the food forgotten for now, he sits back and watches Xichen. ]

Do you want to talk about it?

[lanclan]

[ Xichen pours the last of the tea, now mostly cold, and rings a small bell for more. The students across the way will hear and attend them eventually. ]

I will talk about anything with you, if it doesn't choke me first.

[fennu]

Alright then.

[ Maybe this is what Xichen needs. A nudge. ]

Why seclude yourself?

[lanclan]

Because he made me hate myself and broke my heart.

[ It is that simple; he says it calmly, eyes lowered. There are no dramatics, it's rote history by now. ]

And then, he just broke me.

[fennu]

And so you're going to let him keep doing it?

[ Jiang Cheng can empathise, in away. He felt disgustingly betrayed by Wei Wuxian back then, and even with him coming back, learning all that he had about his golden core. Undoing that hurt, the rage, the grief, is a process he is still not finished. ]

You'll let him punish you more from the grave.

[lanclan]

I was half-dead all along, Wanyin. Being used like such a puppet, I was never ...

[ Alive? Human? Himself? So much of his confidence has been gutted. ]

I am not saying any of it is rational.

[fennu]

You are allowed to feel this way, Xichen. It just shouldn't ruin your life.

[ As far as he's concerned, Jin Guangyao doesn't deserve that kind of respect, but he knows better than to say that out loud. ]

Do you want to recover?