video | un: qishan

[silverneedles]

[ Wen Qing appears, filming from one of the monk cells on Mount Nathadi. She looks stern and annoyed, with a ghostly monk in the background looking rather delighted. ]

I have been asked to provide cheer to the crowd, and when I inquired to the specifics, the monk provided me with a song to sing. [ She waves a piece of paper, scribbled on with lyrics. ] A-Ning, you are not allowed to listen to this.

[ She looks back at the monk, who gestures for her to hurry up, and turns back to the camera to launch into her song. Her voice is lovely, and she can carry a tune, but that's about the nicest thing anyone can say about her performance. ]

A rambling young sailor to Unkharil came down,
He’d been paid off his ship in old Yancai town....

[ She continues through the entire song, trying to maintain a neutral expression and mostly managing, although by the end her cheeks are red. The monk in the background looks delighted, occasionally sniggering and cackling, and provides rousing applause at the end.

As soon as she's done, Wen Qing bows to the camera and abruptly shuts it off. ]



A rambling young sailor to Unkharil came down,
He’d been paid off his ship in old Yancai town.
When they asked who he was, well, he answered them, “Right,
I do belong to a family called nine times a night.”

A buxom young widow who still wore her weeds,
Well, her husband had left her his money and deeds,
And resolved she was on her conjugal rights
To soften her sorrow with nine times a night.

So she sent for her serving girls Ann and Amelia
To keep a look out for this wonderful sailor.
And if ever by chance he appeared in their sight
They should bring her the glad tidings of nine times a night.

She was favoured by fortune the very next day,
These giggling girls saw him coming their way.
And upstairs they rushed full of amorous delight,
“ Oh, here comes that bold sailor with his nine times a night.”

Well, she danced out of bed and she pulled on her clothes
And down to the hall door like lightening she goes.
And she viewed him all over and gave him a smack
And the bargain was struck: no more sailing for Jack.

Well, the wedding was over, the bride tolled the bell,
Jack trimmed her sails five times and that pleased her well.
She vowed in her heart she was satisfied quite
Yet she still gives sly hints about nine times a night.

Says Jack, “My dear bride, you mistook me quite wrong,
I said to that family I did belong:
Nine times a night’s a bit hard for a man;
I couldn’t do it myself, but my sister she can.”

Comments

[silverneedles]

It seems rather implausible.

[silverneedles]

Be grateful the monk did not join in. He recited the song for me, and his attempt to demonstrate the tune was poor.

[ he is so lucky she's fond of him. his laughter only gets an eye roll, although she does look quietly pleased with herself. (she is definitely blushing, however.) ]

There will not be a next time unless someone, somehow, desires a song. Should that happen, I will request your talent.

[ at least she has made him laugh, which is always wonderful to hear. ]

[silverneedles]

[ a bawdy song always improves a boring day. ]

Then my request is fulfilled, and this monk shall stop screaming for attention.

[silverneedles]

It is an inappropriate song. You shouldn't hear.

[lanclan]

But not impossible, perhaps.

[downswing]

Such is 'kindness'?

[weifinder]

( still grinning, he gestures towards the image of her, and then clasps hands and inclines his head, as if accepting an offer more formal and intentional than this. )

I await upon your pleasure. Or the mystery of a future audience, wherever we find it.

( says the man who found himself something of a minstrel in yancai. it seems like song can wind its way in more easily than he once believed. )

Until then, are you thirsty?

[fiercechains]

There will be a lot of things that I should not hear, I'm sure. This? I will try not to listen to.

[wifedup]

That's the problem with monks. They're deny themselves too much then they make it everyone else's problem. Maybe if they just chose to fuck instead of ... doing whatever it is they do from their moral high ground then we wouldn't have this problem.

( A world-weary sigh. And then, because there's not a single bit of propriety in his body that he wouldn't choose to ignore. )

Do you think it's a kink? I think it's a kink.

un: slothbaby

[cosplayqueen]

[She heard enough to know she really did not need to finish this. Once again she thanks God that her mother isn't here.] Yeah, okay. We need to teach you T. Swift songs. Are you available for a meeting?????

[silverneedles]

A form of it, in the monk's eyes. I disagree with his sentiment.

[ she will never live this down ]

[silverneedles]

I am sure we will find it.

[ this place keeps turning up the unexpected. ]

After that charming song? Yes.

[silverneedles]

I am available at your convenience. Who is T. Swift?

[silverneedles]

Not for women. Possibly difficult for men. depending on their health.

Also possible with certain stimulants.

[silverneedles]

[ Well. She definitely appreciates his blunt attitude toward sex. It makes her lips twitch, hiding a grin, and swallow down her amusement when she responds. ]

You should ask one of the Lans about that. Zewu-jun or Hanguang-jun. They might have insight. But I suspect it is.

[lanclan]

[ ??? Rather innocently for a grown man, he wonders aloud. ]

Gusu Lan have never imbided such stimulants. Is that common practice, for ... men, in your experience?

[ It would be a humblebrag if Xichen was the type instead of genuinely intrigued. ]

[silverneedles]

For old men who refuse to accept that they are past their prime, yes.

[ A bit tart, her response. She didn't appreciate most of those patients. ]

I have heard of younger men trying such things, but none came seeking my advice.

[lanclan]

[ :o! Xichen is Learning(TM). ]

Interesting. Lady Wen knows much! These remedies are forbidden in Cloud Recesses, pardon my ignorance of such matters.

[wifedup]

( A laugh like a flock of birds taking flight, and then still good-natured - )

I know them well. One would take the question as it was intended, the other would run me through with his sword for daring. Is my lady trying to set me up for a fall? That's not very nice, I complimented your tune!

[downswing]

In Cloud Recesses, appeasement is virtuous.

[cosplayqueen]

Taylor Swift! Genius lyricist and singer. I can't in good conscience let you get stuck with crappy songs like that. I'll teach you the good stuff!! :)

[weifinder]

Good, good! Join me for wine!

( that, at least, can be something expected. )

[silverneedles]

Then virtue I have earned, according to your rules.

[silverneedles]

Any lyrics are better than these. I haven't heard much music from other worlds, so I would appreciate the lessons.

[silverneedles]

[ Also good-natured, and quite amused: ]

It isn't meant to set you up for a fall but to see their reactions. The Lan's are entertaining with such matters. Do avoid Lan Wangji's sword, I would prefer not to stitch up another person.