ic inbox, ryslig.

[daozhangs]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, XIAO.XINGCHEN. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 *** XIAO.XINGCHEN has joined 018.07.154.55 <XIAO.XINGCHEN> You have reached Xiao Xingchen. <XIAO.XINGCHEN> I am often away from my laptop, but I will do my best to answer as soon as I'm able.

Comments

[legbreakings]

Not surprised, no.

[ Just... conflicted, considering how it ended for him. ]

I don't like that you were put into danger because of me.

[daozhangs]

I don't like that you were put into danger to start with.

[legbreakings]

That was my mistake and my own responsibility. You hold no duty to me.

[daozhangs]

I know that I don't. I've never thought otherwise.

[legbreakings]

Good. It is not your place to take risks on my behalf.

[daozhangs]

You misunderstand. I never said that I won't be taking risks on your behalf. Simply that they won't be born from duty.

[legbreakings]

That is NOT what I meant!

[daozhangs]

If you tell me not to, then I won't. I'm more than capable of respecting your wishes.

But if all you plan to do is fuss over what is or isn't my duty or place, I'm more than capable of giving you something proper to fuss about.

I could ask after your healing, for one.

[legbreakings]

[ What.

How.

Why.

...the disrespect! ]

You would not dare!

[ Well. Okay. He would dare. But!!! ]

You're a daozhang, you're supposed to be nice!

[daozhangs]

Were I still a daozhang, I'd argue that I'm supposed to be compassionate. 'Niceness' exists nowhere in the principles as I learned them.

[legbreakings]

[ That's so rude. How dare you not meet his expectations. ]

"Compassionate" doesn't help me when you're being a pest!

[daozhangs]

Shall I stop?

[legbreakings]

[ Grmpfl! ]

Now you are mocking me, too!

[daozhangs]

And here I thought that I was being nice.

[legbreakings]

No no no you were not I said you are supposed to be nice! That was a complaint not a statement!

[daozhangs]

If we're being pedantic on the matter, I might argue that a complaint is a form of statement, and so it was both.

[legbreakings]

I'm sure that is not how it works!

[daozhangs]

Are you? Hmm.

[legbreakings]

Am I what! Stop talking in circles!

[daozhangs]

Now, is that any way to speak to a daozhang?

[legbreakings]

You just told me you aren't a daozhang any longer!

[daozhangs]

My friend, I carry with me the utmost empathy for your plight. Would it not have been simpler just to allow me my risk-taking on your behalf?

[legbreakings]

[ !!! ]

That's just plain evil

[daozhangs]

Perhaps. But I did tell you precisely what I planned to do - give you something to fuss about.

I suppose while you're already fussing, I may as well clarify one more thing.

I did not risk 'too much' to find you. I risked precisely enough, and had it not been enough, I would have risked more even still.

Have you any more complaints, or might I presume that we've reached an understanding?

[legbreakings]

[ You are impossible and he is so incredibly offended, Xiao Xingchen! ]

I don't even know where to BEGIN yelling at you!

I WiLL break your legs if you get yourself hurt trying to rescue me, do you hear me? I'll just snap them! Shatter them! Then you will be sorry and you won't have legs to run into trouble with so you will be doubly sorry!

And just for the record: I don't fuss. I'm not a girl.