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

[daozhangs]

You aren't a burden, and you know as much. How many times shall we loop through this same disagreement? You, telling me what is or isn't my duty or concern as if such a thing ever stops me, anymore - and then me, telling you again that nothing I do on your behalf comes from debt or duty or feeling as though I have to, and hoping that this time you might actually manage to take it to heart.

[legbreakings]

Does it surprise you that we must?

I can't let you risk coming to harm simply to make my life easier. There is always a chance I won't be able to stop, though with my feeding mechanisms being on my hands it should be easier to force me.

[daozhangs]

You wouldn't allow yourself to harm me.

I'm quite confident in that, so I recommend against wasting breath attempting to convince me otherwise.

[legbreakings]

You know what we are all capable of when the hunger overtakes us.

I would rather trust in your combat skills than in my own self-control.

[daozhangs]

Trust in those as well, then. I'm more than capable of protecting myself, if the need arises.

[legbreakings]

See that you use your skills if it becomes necessary. I don't want to be responsible for damage that could have been avoided. I have done enough damage here that couldn't stopped.

[daozhangs]

So you accept?

[legbreakings]

You offer me a way out. It would be irresponsible to refuse it, wouldn't it? Even my pride isn't boundless.

[daozhangs]

I'm glad for it.

I've done a bit of research, and were I entirely human, I'd be able able to spare a pint of blood per five or six days and still offer enough for . There are less-than-ideal long term effects, but seeing as I'm not entirely human and heal with each fog, that shouldn't be an issue.

If it is, we'll address that when it comes.

[legbreakings]

[ ??? ]

You have thought about this a lot.

[ That's putting it mildly. ]

[daozhangs]

I have.

[legbreakings]

I won't refuse your offer. It is very generous and I owe you a great debt of gratitude for it.

[ Even if he dislikes owing anyone, or relying on anyone. But this is not about him or his pride. ]

[daozhangs]

Repay me by never again claiming to owe me. I seek neither your debt nor your gratitude.

[legbreakings]

How can I not feel like I owe you both?

I owe you both for what you are doing for me. It is the least I can offer in return, in a place where I have nothing else to offer.

[daozhangs]

You truly wish to repay me?

[legbreakings]

Of course!

Not because I consider it a transaction. There can be no price be put to what you are offering to do for me. Simply because it is the right thing to do.

[ And because he doesn't like owing anyone, too. But it is the right thing. ]

[daozhangs]

In such a case, do me the equally priceless favor of believing me in the following:

In this, as is almost always the case, I seek only your happiness.

I know such a thing is impossible here. I’ve never quite gotten the hang of setting reasonable goals.

[legbreakings]

What you are doing is setting yourself up for disappointment then. But I appreciate the gesture for what it is.

[ He just... isn't someone who can simply say thank you and move on. He's bad at thank yous anyway. ]

[daozhangs]

It’s not a disappointment. Once in a while, I succeed.

You’ll tell me when you’d like to attempt to feed? I wonder if it wouldn’t be smarter to make the attempt during the fog.

[legbreakings]

It would. It should permit us both to heal as needed. And I'm not feeling the hunger yet so it should be easier to.keep from losing control.

[daozhangs]

Precisely my thoughts.

If my estimate is correct, the fog should linger for four more days.

[legbreakings]

Tomorrow? That leaves time for healing.

[daozhangs]

Tomorrow, then. I’ll come to you?

[legbreakings]

Very well. I will see about practicing beforehand.

[daozhangs]

( and so when the next day comes, he finds himself on the path to lotus pier (though of course, they worked out a time in their correspondence earlier this morning, so jiang wanyin knows he's coming). 'path' is a bit of a generous term - it's truly just his agile fox form cutting straight through the woods to lotus pier, proper roads be damned - but it's becoming a path at this point, what with how often he's traveling it.

one more thing they established this morning: xingchen is to skip the usual song and dance and just let himself in, make his way to the room (he knows quite well where it is, by now), and change of his own accord without making jiang-xiong waste such time as to meet him at the gate. and so that's what he does, as presumptuous as it may feel, and soon he's knocking lightly at the door of wherever it is that jiang wanyin told him they'd meet. ) My friend?