[ video ] un: qishan

[silverneedles]

[ The video opens with Wen Qing, dressed in trousers and a ruffled white shirt, looking fairly annoyed. She holds up an orange. ] This is an orange. There are barrels of them in the hold. Eat them. You don't need to have one daily, but make sure you're eating one every few days.

[ She glances away, mouthing something to someone just out of video range, and then she looks back to the communication device, flipping it around. Standing there is a sailor, unwashed and grimy. He's holding up a tooth, still bloody, and grinning proudly. This isn't the first tooth he's lost; most of them are gone, and his gums are bloody. Wen Qing continues over the camera. ]

This gentleman is a fine example of what will happen should you forget to eat them. [ The "do not forget to eat them" is heavily implied. She flips the device back, still frowning. ]

As Miss Eda mentioned, the sailors seem afraid of women so none of them will listen to me about the oranges. Someone pass on the message to them.

Comments

[binghua]

I take my rations with the rest of the crew. When they let me, anyway. It seems they treat me about as kindly as they treat the women.

[And then there's Xue Yang, but...well. That's its own can of weevils.]

[weifinder]

Between myself, Lan Zhan, and Wen Qing, we'll make sure citrus is part of that, ah? Also feeding you in general, I can get you working on nets, you do that by touch enough anyway you'd be fine.

[binghua]

Only if it is no trouble for any of you. I am capable of providing for myself, if need be.

Nets for fishing? That is a good idea...

[weifinder]

I still watch after and administer to Zenobius, if that's something you'd care to help with, too.

Either way, fishing nets, rigging nets, they all need fixing, ropes being prone to breaks as they are!

[binghua]

I do not know how much help I would be with regards to Zenobius. How does he fare? Is there any change?

But I will happily apply any and all of my mediocre net-mending skills.

[weifinder]

Sitting with him is help, though I don't think you have what, much experience sitting at sickbeds.

( more like you run the fuck off after but he's not bringing up certain shenanigans with eyeball exchanges. some things you don't need to bring up, okay, like that one! )

Practise makes perfected! Was that not a saying up on the mountain, I promise I run into the idea anywhere I've traveled!

( said with something like laughter in his voice. )

[binghua]

Mostly only when some of the younger disciples fell ill on the mountain. Or when...

[...Ah. Right. It seems like everything reminds him of Song Lan in one way or the other. The two of them usually got through Night Hunts without any real trouble, but there were some times when they didn't.

And then...when Song Lan told him to leave...

Xingchen is quiet for a few long moments. He puts on a smile, though, to at least try and force something into his voice as he continues.]

Shizun encouraged practice, but she didn't stress perfection, not in the way the sects do. It was always more about the journey of our cultivation rather than the end goal. She has all the time in the world, though. It makes sense for her not to worry about that.

[weifinder]

Then you're more than qualified to sit with him and hear when his breathing shifts and he's awake, if not lucid. You can offer water then, if you want. He can handle small sips from the water satchel these days, but he falls asleep right after.

( this is indirectly updating wen qing about zenobius as well, without having to tell her. so she doesn't need to consider a response.

it's also drafting his martial uncle to be less fringe and more part of their group, for a man self proclaimed as lacking in touch, there were enough who could help sink water into that parched landscape. )

A matter of perspective, I'd think. It does change, the more you've lived. Here and now, however, I'd say this is a matter of practise makes more than capable enough.

[binghua]

If I may help in even a small matter such as that, then I will be happy to do so. And if it gives you or anyone a respite, then please call upon me.

[Xingchen pauses, but then laughs softly to himself.]

I suppose I can practice my netting while keeping, ah, an eye on our charge.

[It's a bad joke. It's a really bad joke. But at least he can laugh about it, right?]

[weifinder]

( he laughs, because it's a terrible joke. and that's worth laughing over, even while part of him might have flinched, when wounds were newer, of a different kind. )

Net something nice for yourself, ah?

[binghua]

[That answering pun is also bad, but for a different reason. All the same, Xingchen laughs a little more, unable to hold in his appreciation for it.]

I will do my best.