un: average sighren, video

[lanclan]

[ When you turn on your comm today there is a recorded video waiting, a kind of asmr amid the fervid chatter on other channels. Have you been stressed recently? Mentally drained by timeskips and inconstancies? Do you miss home or someone special? Your family? You might want to spare a few minutes to settle your mind and let it drift to the sound of the xiao Xichen conducts. Sat alone on the end of a pier, dressed in a mishmash of his own blue robes and the plain cotton ones gifted by Wei Wuxian, he kneels with his back to the camera and the majority of the view taken up by the lotus-blooming lake ahead that glimmers in the sunshine, twinkles of ice-blue qi wreathing the instrument like living fog.

And he plays for a while.

It has an odd effect on you. Were you listening in person it might actively cause you to calm down, but the sensations the song evokes are much the same even from a distance: perhaps you relax or slow down a little, if you were anxious or in a rush. Odd, that. You can always replay it if you need it to soothe your nerves again. ]

Comments

[lanclan]

[ Oh, we're playing this game? ]

More than enough.

[weifinder]

( three happened before he ever figured out even one had happened, it's a very valid question! )

I think we're at six now? Would have been seven but Alem was less than conducive.

He seems to enjoy repeated bindings.

[lanclan]

[ He is going to pretend he did not read any of that and instead serenely respond. ]

In place of a respectable dowry or any proper traditions being observed toward the Second Jade of Lan, as sect leader I have made you both a gift of goodwill to signify my blessing of this union. It is small and portable, and if it were to be lost due to our current extenuating circumstances it would be no great loss and easily replaced in Gusu.

I will leave it at the cave for you this week.

[weifinder]

Quite tactfully something that you're asking I ensure your brother understands is persistent symbol of Zewu-jun's support?

[lanclan]

My support is not so paltry as to be brushed aside with a trinket, this is a gift. A symbol, yes, but of Lan Huan's goodwill too.

[weifinder]

As you say, as you say. I don't know if I can accept, ah? You're too generous!

( politeness requires he not do so right away. not for any strong feelings, it's simply - what is. )

1/3

[lanclan]

It will be left.

One last thing. Quite aside from what it would mean for the sects or any politics, setting aside my station wholeheartedly for the moment, please believe me when I say this with the utmost respect —

[lanclan]

If you break my little brother's heart, I will find you.

[lanclan]

Gratitude, and blessings on your many and varied nuptials!

1/2

[weifinder]

With all respect and awareness, I already have once, and without intention. In what I can control, it's nothing I will ever choose to visit upon him again. Or to any of those I hold in high regard and with great care.

If it doesn't displease you, I would hope to count you among that number.

2

[weifinder]

Are any of those blessings educational? Ahahaha... ha...

[lanclan]

In what sense?

[weifinder]

...

...

...

In the sense that likely is best conversed in language between brothers concerning the springtime? Maybe?

[lanclan]

[ ?????????????

?!!

Oh. Uh, oh. If Wei Wuxian means what Xichen thinks he means. ]

You are many years married, as I understand it.

[weifinder]

( he thinks about this.

... but he's got no shame to spare, and so: )

Circumstances have contrived to leave snows pure and untouched, petals merely brushed by falling flakes, lightly chilled.

( we're as pure by technicality as the driven snow, and we've only kissed enthusiastically, and yes we've been married for years. )

[lanclan]

[ Wow, okay. That's. Wow. That is a while, lads, like two years ... ]

You may use the apartment above the bathhouse, if privacy is the issue.

[weifinder]

( ... wait, what )

Ah, no no, don't worry, that hasn't! Been the problem.

Put in another way, there's a very high chance something would happen to the apartment, not related to us?

[lanclan]

What would happen to the apartment?

[weifinder]

Maybe the apartment would be fine, or end up on fire for unrelated reasons, or collapse, or everything floods, or the springs explode upward, or suddenly gain far too many barging in visitors, or we all fall into a curse loop, or we retreat through time again off schedule, or the dead surge through in exactly that moment, or we're individually cursed into other forms, or those we care about have a crisis, or the Merchant calls, or —

You may get the idea!

[lanclan]

I take your point.

However, what exactly is taking you so long that there is always an opportunity for an interruption? Pardon my candidness. Brevity would seem the friend of the wedded, in this realm.

[weifinder]

... So you're not much for romance, huh.

( not like he thinks this is going to lead to stamina but THE FERAL APPROACH HAS ALWAYS GONE POORLY FAST FOR THEM )

[lanclan]

[ Okay, he's swallowing his own embarrassment to Big Brother this situation. Jiang Cheng can take over in person whenever he uproots Wei Wuxian. ]

I am all for romance and would be the first person to assist you in creating a delightful tableau for Wangji to eat dinner, but as you have stated it is TWO YEARS since your first wedding and neither of you have consummated the marriage. ANY of them.

Which may invalidate them, in fact. You ought to have Wangji consider that, perhaps it will lend haste to one of you.

[weifinder]

( sincerely lifting eyebrows at the priorities here, let him be a forty year old virgin all he likes in his marriage, okay. even if he hasn't liked it for minimally the last half year and more! they're working on it! in a world that conspires against them. )

Out of curiosity, why would you think either of us would care about perceptions people who aren't us have on a marriage none of them are in? I'm not less married for it. Is springtime the only measure of a true marriage? What a sad, shallow consideration. The production of heirs is something that won't come of our bodies, however fruitful, so why be concerned? Are you asking if either of us would seek an annulment? That answer is obvious to me, why is it mysterious to you?

Anyway, this wasn't to complain about what we are or aren't doing, or what your opinions are on it. It was to say maybe Lan Zhan would like to talk about possibilities with someone he trusts!

[lanclan]

Wei Wuxian, I am from Cloud Recesses, as is Wangji. Rules matter to us.

I am sorry to have upset you by giving my opinion. Now that I know it is not wanted or needed, I will refrain in the future.

[downswing]

Gentlemen.

Make your peace. Abandon... the matter. There may be children present.