eastbound inbox.

[lanclan]

inbox for the mirror pendant of 'Average Sighren'.

“Please leave your message and I will attend it as soon as possible.”

Comments

[wifedup]

Good?

( He sounds like he's asking Lan Xichen, which is silly. But Wen Kexing feels a little out of sorts, unsure of himself. He takes the nuts, tosses the little bag in the palm of his hand to feel the weight, expression thoughtful. )

No, it was good. I'm happy. It's just - ah, I have more to fret about now. You know I'm good at that.

( He opens the wine, fills Lan Xichen's cup first, then his own. )

He's from further along than I am. I think by some months.

[lanclan]

Oh? [ Time discrepancies are so awful. His expression melts into a concerned frown as he watches his best friend stewing. ] And did the extra time lend any ... depth to the relationship you were hoping to work towards?

[ Siiip. ]

[wifedup]

( He makes a noise, knocks the wine back. )

Ah, no? I don't think so anyway. There was a mood. ( And he'd asked, Zhou Zishu had called him his zhiji. He thinks he could be thankful for that. ) He was very drunk. Maybe he'd thought he'd be alone? He was just there, in the tavern. I found him completely by chance.

[lanclan]

Perhaps you should ask him again when he's sober.

[ His heart aches for Wen Kexing's, sympathy pains. ]

[wifedup]

Maybe.

( Thoughtful, turning his cup in between his fingers. )

There are things I need to deal with first. I had pinned my hopes on Ye Baiyi, remember? But he isn't here, and Ah-Xu doesn't have the time. I need to find a healer, and fast. My ... feelings can wait.

[lanclan]

How sick is he?

[wifedup]

He's dying.

( His gaze turns vacant as he refills his cup. )

Before we had time, maybe a year, but he seemed - I don't know. I could be worrying prematurely. Either way he's in pain and if I can find a way to stop that I will. I know Mistress Wen is a physician. Could she be called upon, do you think?

[lanclan]

Mistress Wen is very good.

[ His hand lays on Wen Kexing's arm to offer the support of human contact. ]

A-Xing. Have you considered that even if we heal him here, it may not affect his situation back home?

[wifedup]

If we heal him here, he lives here.

( The desperation finally creeps in, cracking through his words. )

I'll return back to the same time if we get to leave, so I still hold out hope for Ye Baiyi. But who knows how long he'll be here for? It's been months for me, what if he doesn't have that?

[lanclan]

Alright. Alright, I know. I just don't want you to obsess over this and find him gone one day, as my friend Hua Cheng was without warning. We will find a way to help him, together.

[wifedup]

He better not go anywhere. Not without me, at least.

( Darkly, like now Wen Kexing has Zhou Zishu back he'll make it everyone else's problem. He pours another cup, hands steadier than he feels.

And then, a sigh. )

I should have been asking around before now. I just didn't want to hope he might turn up. Wishing for things gets you into trouble, you know.

[lanclan]

We'll figure something out, there are always possibilities. The important thing is that he accepts you. [ Because Wen Kexing has been agonising over it. ] And may come to return your feelings in the future.

[ Gentle verbal prodding! ]

[wifedup]

He accepts me.

( And then, slightly more disbelieving. ) He actually does. I can't believe he's just - 'oh, I knew, I've always known' -, and that's that? Am I really that bad at lying? I lie all the time! Nobody's ever called me out on it before.

( Possibly no one has dared to.

And then, more quietly. ) I don't have to pretend anymore. It feels so strange, like I've taken a step just a shade off, or I've forgotten something. I keep waiting for the other boot to drop.

[lanclan]

A-Xing's lies are harmless, mostly. Why call on them when they are surely there for a reason? That's probably what his reasoning was in the past.

[ It's not as if Xichen believed him to be an innocent, if somewhat spicy, young man with no past behind that sharp wit. ]

[wifedup]

Harmless, ha!

( He shakes his head, almost amused. )

Maybe the two of you are just soft-hearted.

[lanclan]

Perhaps we both took the time to get to know you.

[ Patting him on the knee, he swipes his cup up and takes a long sip. ]

Where is he now? You should be spending your time with him, not panicking over what-ifs with me.

[wifedup]

We're not joined at the hip!

( Actually, if it were up to Wen Kexing they would be. )

And I, unfortunately, have to work. This is a business meeting. ( He angles his cup Lan Xichen's way. ) The ladies always work harder if they've seen your charming face.

[lanclan]

Very true, I'm sure. If this is a business meeting, I'd like to set up a meeting between myself and Zhou Zishu.

[wifedup]

So you can tell him how pathetic I've been? No.

( He's gonna have to run interference. )

[lanclan]

A-Xing, I won't say anything of the sort.

[ Listen to his soft insistence! ]

I promise to only speak highly of you.

[wifedup]

Do not mention the pining.

( He's almost pouty about it. )

Also don't blame him if he doesn't believe you when you're nice about me. I've done nothing but harass him since we met.

[lanclan]

I will only speak to the good of your character and if he doubts my sincerity that is entirely his business, but I do want to meet him alone.

[ His hand covers Wen Kexing's, giving his a squeeze on their laps. ]

I want to see the man when you aren't around. Doubtlessly he is a different creature when you are there, as is everyone in love.

[wifedup]

( Lan Xichen, you are a terrible person. He is overcome. He lifts his free hand to cover his face, making a muffled wail sound behind it. )

You know it could be platonic, at least on Zhou Zishu's side.

[lanclan]

If it is, I will question his sanity. Not directly, of course, have no fear.

[ He will just log it as something Very Strange, and then put forward his own thoughts on Wen Kexing remaining single. That's all Ifs and Buts, however. He really does think he's going to find Zhou Zishu far more sensible than Wen Kexing, by and large, and hopefully likeable. ]

I want to see his character for myself so as to understand him better, that's all. You're so devoted to him, how can I not care whether my friend has attached himself to a good egg or not?

[ Lans are protective and possessive, but thankfully these two traits have their best side on show in Xichen. ]

[wifedup]

( A good egg. He peaks out from his fingers. )

You'll like him. I don't doubt that. He seemed glad when I told him about you. He'll probably thank you for keeping me busy, or for at least occupying me enough that I didn't try to take over the entire world. Something like that. The two of you will get on.

( He wants them to, desperately. He never got to introduce Zhou Zishu to Luo Fumeng, nor Liu Qianqiao. This will be the first friend he has made independently. He wants the two sides of his life to work. )

The girls will gossip.