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

January 25th

[legbreakings]

[ Jiang Cheng had known of Xiao Xingchen's birthdate ever since he accompanied him to the eye clinic in Felfri, hovering over him while his personal information was registered. It had been knowledge lingering at the back of his mind along with other mostly useless trivia, to be paid very little attention to.

Then the date approached - and Xiao Xingchen had made him presents twice already without Jiang Cheng reciprocating. At some point, such a thing was simply not acceptable anymore, his pride and sense of fairness wouldn't permit it. Or something in that vein, anyway.

In the end, all that griping and indignation leads to a small box being delivered to Xiao Xingchen's home. It isn't gift-wrapped, nor is the box particularly fancy, though it has the Jiang sect symbol carved into the lid.

Inside the wooden box, there are a number of small cloth bags holding a number of different seeds. Each of them is painstakingly labeled with a folded-up piece of paper, the name of the seeds written in thick paint which he hopes will be felt. There is everything from flowers to vegetable and fruit tree seeds that are common in China but hard to find here in Ryslig, and of course a bag with lotus seeds. No other letter accompanies the gift, he had been far too flustered for that, not knowing what would be appropriate to say. ]

[daozhangs]

( at first, it might seem like xingchen hasn't noticed the gift at all. in actuality, he's sitting with that little wooden box at the kitchen table, drawing the folded slip from each bag and feeling along the letters to identify what the bag holds. he may or may not also spend a bit of time feeling along the lotus carved in the lid, finally caving to the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

then, )

You traveled all this way and you didn't even come inside.

[legbreakings]

I wouldn't have wanted to cause a fuss.

[ As if he wouldn't have been far too embarrassed by the ludicrousness of his present if he had been forced to hand it over in person. It is at once too measly and too presumptuous. Obviously, ditch & run was his only choice. ]

[daozhangs]

How unlike you. Are you feeling alright?

[legbreakings]

This sounds like a challenge to cause a fuss!

[daozhangs]

You're coming back, then?

I'll put on tea.

[legbreakings]

[ !!! ]

I did not say that!

[daozhangs]

So you're to fuss all by yourself, then? Forgive my presumption, I wish you all the best.

[legbreakings]

I'm not fussing! No fussing at all! At nobody! [ he says, fussing. ]

[daozhangs]

"This sounds like a challenge to cause a fuss!"

[legbreakings]

You're twisting my words now!

[daozhangs]

I'm quoting your words, verbatim, with no further comment.

[legbreakings]

Twisting my words, like I said!

[daozhangs]

It was a lovely gift.

[legbreakings]

Stop trying to cheat with niceness!

[daozhangs]

I'll be nice to you whenever I please and there's very little you can do about it.

You've done this to yourself, you know.

[legbreakings]

I'm fully aware of that but it has yet to kep me from being outraged. You should know that much about me by now.

[daozhangs]

I also know how it is that you feel about gifting and whatnot, so please know that I do mean it. It's a thoughtful gift. I'm delighted to receive it.

You'll help me plant them?

[legbreakings]

If you wish for my help I wouldn't mind giving it.

Although you should know I have no talent for gardening.

[daozhangs]

What a coincidence - neither do I.

[legbreakings]

In conclusion: the plants are doomed.

[daozhangs]

So little faith in us.

[legbreakings]

You haven't seen me with a shovel yet.

[daozhangs]

It's quite difficult to do so now, I'm afraid.

[legbreakings]

First gardening, now terrible puns. The things I put up with.