audio | un: wei laozu

[weifinder]

Master Zenobius was recovered from where he'd collapsed in a dry well. We have him resting and sleeping safely now, to those who may be concerned.

Ah, and for those of a mind for it, several... memories of his were shared in not entirely useful ways with me. I'll run through them for those wishing to hear about them, if there are any of you. After answering initial questions, ah?

( ooc: first comment will be wei wuxian's sharing of what he learned via Empathy, please go "..." and yell at him, Jiang Cheng or Lan Sizhui, or Wen Qing on principle. )

Comments

[downswing]

Kneel.

1/?

[weifinder]

( ... is he supposed to not find that attractive? )

[weifinder]

( he's pretty sure he finds this attractive. )

[weifinder]

( this says enough about his life choices and personality he could reflect on it if he weren't also dealing with being tired, post-helping out someone their group helped drive into his state of collapse, and you know, went memory diving with the chance of losing his own sanity. )

[weifinder]

( ... )

[weifinder]

( eh )

[weifinder]

Lan Zhan.

[weifinder]

I do believe I said make me.

[downswing]

( Sighing, internally, externally, challenging air with the burden of his overwhelming and time-honoured incredulity.

Exhaustive, and yet he bound his fate with... this... thrice. )

An incense stick's head start. Run.

[weifinder]

You mean "hide," we're in a very limited space unless you want us to suit up, Lan Zhan.

[downswing]

Flight, past fight. The Patriarch's only recourse.

[weifinder]

How fearsome! To the suits it is.

[downswing]

You indulge me in chase, but do not allow my indulgence.

[weifinder]

Which do you truly think I'm more familiar with?

[downswing]

( ...ah. How to tame a cat. )

Come rest. Hunt after.

The guqin has retired.

[weifinder]

( he could pretend he doesn't see what this is, but he is tired, and a part of him likes the whole damn idea, and frankly, sometimes he can maybe, possibly have not the worst things too. right? he believes that these days, marked improvement to his thoughts when they first stumbled into sa-hareth from the salt mines, and scrubbed wooden floors of a welcoming brothel in ineptitude and loss and fear. )

Turn around.

[downswing]

To end agame?


( Have to... very clearly... agree a yielding here. )

[weifinder]

Yes, yes, so?

( turn around so he can stop lurking wherever he's been lurking at this point, in the very opposite of running away, even if it would be wiser in its own ways. )

[downswing]

( The... slowest...trickled... turn... in preparation for the jump scare of his life. )

[weifinder]

( No one ever looks up, generally speaking, and that's the direction from which he leaps with all the controlled grace of a cultivator trained since childhood, perhaps infancy, who knows, he has no one to ask, and then... we can only hope Lan Zhan moves, since otherwise Wei Wuxian's set to crash into him instead of land right before him, something he realises in the moment before it happens, eyes widening, mouth forming an oh.

Reactions a touch slow, the wear and drag of the day's activities having firmly caught up and strangled him by the legs, the arms, the knees, the head, the throat. )

[downswing]

( Why.

Why then, is this his fate.

Has Lan Wangji not atoned for his life's wrongdoings? Not born years of seclusion? Tolerated countless conferences with Jiang Wanyin's poison dripping in his horizon? Has he not had his fill of Wei Ying's spice and, innards desiccated, tongue stripped, nose hollowed — sacrificed his ability to examine taste closely ever again? Has he not born the graceless thumps and thuds of the donkey, Lil Apple, oft seeking to trample his feet? The amorous advances of a hundred village girls, when Wangji patiently carried Wei Ying's adopted coin purse across the provinces?

Why is this his life?

To cushion, apparently, Wei Ying's burst of momentum, to flinch and wrinkle his nose and open his arms to catch Wei Ying before the inevitable eruptions of his dive and upcoming caterwaul. The heavens yet love him enough that, when he is forced to retreat in his hind footing, he does not stumble back and concedes his entire balance. Only the lion's share, and Lan Wangji's gritted teeth do not show his gratitude.

He part sets, part drops, part shoves Wei Ying down and decides, here and now, that his son is old enough to prefer but not require the enlightening stewardship of a second father. Tragic accidents of sudden widowhood can and should happen. )

Clan Lan greets the Patriarch. ( As one does, when bristling from open assault. ) Offer rescinded. ( Lap and hair stroking privileges revoked. Be a wretched cat elsewhere. )

[weifinder]

( A wrinkle of his brow, then his nose as he steadies himself, caught/set/drop/shoved back on his feet. Easy play, not intended, and now: laozu. )

Fickle creature.

( statement, a nod of his head. he tosses his hands up for dramatic effect instead of depth of feeling, turning on heel and starting away. )

I wonder what A-Cheng is up to.

( all things considered, maybe he can bribe him into a headpat? hmm. there's at least a non zero chance... )

[downswing]

( A.................... Cheng.

Ah, but to be a shrivelled toad doused in pale silks and bearing the regalia of Cloud Recesses. Blithely, all hail the poison of Hanguang-Jun: )

Sizhui appreciates caresses.

( You know, before you seek out your devilry brother. )

[weifinder]

( he could be rude enough to say, must have been hard on him, because there's no need to bring their adult son into the factors of their... whatever this is. he liked it better when it was flirting. then again, he supposes he'll always prefer that to certain kinds of complicated navigations. )

I'll recommend A-Cheng along to him, then! He gives very bracing hugs.

( jiang cheng, sizhui. both. )