audio | un: yiling patriarch

[weifinder]

We've just heard from our friend Haltham about the fighting between Unhalad and Anurr forces nearby, so here's a question for everyone, brought up originally by our companions who got themselves drugged and fight-happy against the second living: what actions do you think we should or shouldn't take?

In Haltham's encouraging words, think wisely. Whatever we're doing or not doing has an effect by merit of choice. Also, a reminder that we still need to not end up in either's hands or revealing our location, given the reason we were summoned here has not changed, and our deaths can be a benefit to either side. Our lives benefit ourselves and our rescuers and the peoples here, by keeping us out of warlord hands.

( He's not opening up with his thoughts because he doesn't want it as a discussion against his take, but as people offering their thoughts after he asks the question. )

Comments

[consignation]

[ ONLY YOU WOULD FIND POURING SALT INTO YOUR BIGGEST OPEN WOUND FUNNY. He hates you so much.

Also that's entirely sensible, thorough, and as insufferably over-involved as is to be expected of Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng hates that too, immediately. ]

That's counting on a lot of things to go right for us. What happens if even one person gets careless or too heroic and our people are singled out for slaughter?

[ ...sorry, we promise he spent like a solid ten seconds trying not to immediately go there. ]

[weifinder]

( ... Ouch? )

Then I involve the forest dead, and the rest of you escape before both forces converge on us.

[consignation]

Sacrifice yourself, groundbreaking.

[ Jiang Cheng wishes there was a sarcasm font. Or a scathing disapproval font. It's nice to see Wei Wuxian never changes, and by nice we mean unendingly obnoxious. ]

Try to consider for a moment that dying at the problem immediately only solves the problem for you, in so far as you will be dead so it will no longer be a problem. The rest of us will still be up to our necks in the garbage you wrought.

un: heart-fluttering hummingbird

[downswing]

( The distant, jailed clench of his teeth, and he allows, he allows, there is no place between brothers for him, and yet — )

You presume.

[consignation]

[ And yet Lan Wangji remains an incurable meddler in Yunmeng lives. ]

Do you never tire of fighting my brother's battles, Lan Wangji? I cannot imagine a more endless task.

[downswing]

To name each of Jiang Wanyin's failings.



( Truly endless, by far. )

[consignation]

You—!

Wei Wuxian, are you just going to let Lan Wangji speak to me like this?

[downswing]

( Let him make attempt to muzzle.

But no. He does not belong here. )

No need. I bid Jiang Wanyin fair day's tidings.

[weifinder]

... Ah, now you're talking to me, Jiang Cheng? I'm so happy!

( This is sad. HE SOUNDS HAPPY.

He's also derailing because trying to talk over this and appease both these men will work not at all, even if Lan Zhan's officially walking away, so to speak. He figures Lan Zhan's still listening, regardless. )

[consignation]

[ Fortunately, Jiang Cheng remains easy to derail. ]

Since when was I not talking to you?!

[weifinder]

Right now! You were only writing with me!

[consignation]

That??? Doesn't mean I'm not talking to you???!?!

It just means that I was communicating to you through writing?? Because I found it more convenient?????????

[weifinder]

It has to! Talking is so much easier than writing, ah? It's faster too! What were you doing, writing from going undercover somewhere? Are you sneaking up on a wolf. Is that what you're doing right now. Were you keeping audio off for me, Jiang Cheng, that's so sweet—

( Of course he isn't, but it's meant to be ridiculous, and so it is. )

[consignation]

No! Your voice just gives me a headache! In fact, I'm starting to get one now—

[weifinder]

Oh, I hear water can help with that! With all the snow, the fresh stuff, and the water at the farm, we should have plenty to heat up in the kitchens! Or by talisman, I guess, whatever works best for you, I won't argue that. Hey! Have you already seen the turnips? In the inside garden?

[weifinder]

I've promised people here not to die, so no, not that kind of sacrifice. Never again.

( though it wasn't a sacrifice at the time, exactly. it was giving up, and in, and not letting the last remaining things he knew about in his world be dragged down with him. The rest is Jiang Cheng arguing over and venting on things which were true sixteen years ago, but also: )

Once I thought the only way the people left living who I cared about would find any way forward was if I wasn't there anymore. I was wrong. I'm sorry.

[consignation]

[ Sixteen years gone, static, still, while Jiang Cheng led his sect, raised a child, helped shape the entire cultivation world.

And yet, and still.

Wei Wuxian speaks and it is with measured wisdom Jiang Cheng does not even know how to approach. He swallows against a dry throat, reads the words over, and over, and over again. An admission of guilt, and an apology. It's what he wanted, isn't it?

Why does it feel caught in his throat? ]

You promised that to these people. These strangers. I see.

[ Strangers over Jiang Cheng again. At least this time Jiang Cheng knows he's done nothing to merit his once-brother's devotion. At least this time it makes sense to stand on opposite sides of this divide. ]

I wish you luck. I'm sure you'll be fine with that Lan Wangji at your side.

[weifinder]

Lan Zhan is no stranger. Neither is Lan Sizhui. Neither are you, and I promise you the same.

[consignation]

[ Lans all the way down, Jiang Cheng nearly an afterthought in Wei Wuxian's list. Just marry into the Lan sect already.

Not that Yunmeng Jiang has any claim or association with Wei Wuxian any longer, not that Wei Wuxian has ever had a path back. Jiang Cheng could offer it now, especially here, with no other sects represented a world away from their own.

But he won't.

He fears Wei Wuxian wouldn't accept it, and he can't face that kind of dismissal, that kind of shame. ]

Save it. Your mind and heart are clearly elsewhere, Wei Wuxian. I've not sunk so low as to need your pity.

Live your life. Just try not to bring mine down on my head again.

[weifinder]

( Oh, this is handling two, more, many different issues at the same time, and none of them are winning. )

Mah, Jiang Cheng, you have my respect and my concern, what in either of those sounds like pity, ah? The only person I've bothered to have a few seconds worth of pity for was Jin Guangyao, and most of that was pity for the fact he just couldn't shut up or take responsibility for his own actions.

We're both here, are you saying I shouldn't care about you, huh? I might not be from anywhere anymore, but—that hardly stops me from caring!

[consignation]

[ Hey, spoiler alert. What the fuck does Jin Ling's co-parent have to do with this? Of all the sect leaders, in Jiang Cheng's opinion Jin Guangyao is one of the few who doesn't have a problem shutting the fuck up when necessary.]

What do you mean 'not from anywhere anymore'? Ousted though you may be, you were still raised under our roof, in our rivers and lakes, on our food and drink. Caring is the most basic courtesy one could offer.

[ Better to make this about the sect. There is no Jiang Cheng, only the sect leader, only the whole of Yunmeng Jiang. ]

Caring for that which raised you is common decency. But it has been clear to me for some time now that your priorities are elsewhere.

You've promised me a lot of things, Wei Wuxian.

I can't remember one that you've kept.

[weifinder]

( Look that will be a conversation the day it happens but for now, oblique references! )

Not from any sect, and hey, are you saying I have permission to say I was from Yunmeng Jiang again?

( The whole promises thing... )

I'm sorry, Jiang Cheng. I wasn't able to stay by your side through everything. I thought it'd be easier for you that way, at the time... I didn't ask, and you didn't either, and I'm sorry about that, too.

[consignation]

[ This is definitely just sarcastic! He is using his sarcasm font! That's a thing, right? ]

Would you use it if you had permission?

[ jk.... unless? ]

[weifinder]

Yes. Of course. Absolutely!

[consignation]

Do as you like. It's not as though anyone even knows where Yunmeng Jiang is.

[ Is this casual enough? Please tell him it's casual enough. Oh, thank god. He's thought of something else to complain about— ]

But if you're going to do that, stop calling yourself Yiling Patriarch! What's wrong with you?! Do you think it's funny?? Pick one or the other!