eastbound | video; un: pillar of the heavens

[ The video turns on, revealing two ghostly ladies with their heads bent together, giggling and looking away from the device. "Do you think it's real?" one asks; the other shushes her, adding, "How would he fake it?" She pauses, looking as wistful as a ghost can. "Do you think we can keep him?"

Perhaps they mean to be subtle, but they miss that mark. Then Mo Ran appears, clutching a towel to his waist. ]

Ladies, there's no need to use that. If you'd kindly return it to me—

[ He breaks off, stepping closer and diving for his communication device, the towel flying. There's an audible struggle, brief flashes of both the ghosts and Mo Ran in the video, in all his naked glory before he finally wrestles it away from them, and rights the device, showing off one of the springs, steam rising from the water.

When Mo Ran next appears on the camera, he's submerged in water up to his chest, hiding the rest of his body, long hair bound into a bun on top of his head, looking rather sheepish but still grinning. ] Some of these ghosts are odd. Talking about keeping people, giggling about them behind their backs. Anyone else having problems with them?

Not that I'd object to staying here. These hot springs are perfect. I'll be soaking here for the rest of the night.

[ Just in case anyone wants to join him. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Different situations call for different measures, certainly, at your pleasure.

Sometimes the same situation can use both, too.

In either order, I expect.

Exactly!

Yet out of preference, which?

Enduring for longer, personally.

Have to say I agree, in theory.

In theory?

In theory.

Not practice.

No, not at present. Does tend to take more than one, ah, pliant party.

( it means having a husband not fussing into vinegar pots deep enough to swim in, and no he does not know how to change that so much as amusingly wait it out. )

You? You find yourself well versed?

And you've lacked that?

[ he hasn't yet put together that this is Wangji's husband, the supposed bearer of his child, but that's can come another day. ]

Ah. I know something about it. Grew up in a pleasure house, had a few flings.

[ though it's been a while since he's done anything like that; more than five years, now. but it's hard to forget the lessons learned in his first life. ]

Not uncommon in various worlds or parts of worlds I'm more familiar with.

( he's not bothering stating yes, he's lacked that, with his husband in his bed almost every night for around two years? not that he knew they were married that time. not that he had, for a long time, indulged his sense of want, if it was his own versus his perception of what was wanted from him.

he knows his wants, now. or at least these ones. )

An unconsummated marriage? It happens.

[ it is common in his world, although he can't imagine doing something like that. life might have been better had he done something like that. some of the customers to the pleasure house were that sort. ]

There's another guy in our little group here, he has a kid, but I think he doesn't know where kids come from. Wonder if he's in the same situation.

( He laughs, lightly, and then considers: )

Is his child here?

He didn't mention. From the sounds of it, his kid is older, so I guess it's possible?

Is there, ah, any chance this man you speak of has a tendency to drape himself in whites? With touches of blue.

Yeah, hes' one of those. Not the friendly one, though. Kinda mean. He and my Shizun could give each other fashion tips, though I suspect they'd say three words between them.

Yes, yes, that sounds like my husband. He has a big heart, but he's always treated words like gold.

Confusing is what he is. How many times has he been married?

We may yet be up to six? Are we... is it only five? I had no idea about the first two, he's a sly fool like that.

'We'? Like, the two of you? Do you get married in every village and town? Good way to get them to throw you a party?

Hah! Good way to throw ourselves a celebration, he's not much for crowds, or easily visible cheer. Keeps it all inside, where he's softest!

So you've just gotten married a bunch of times for... reasons?

He's happier this way.

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