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]

( the token protest regarding music and xufeng is noticed, even acknowledged with an understanding little hum. the nuances will likely always be lost on xingchen, having grown up apart from such intricate politics, but he does understand that nothing is quite so black-and-white, and that xufeng himself may not have been at fault in the slightest for his supposed owning of the concept of music.

regardless, catching the faint sounds of runyu's drink reminds him to refill his own, now that he no longer has a point of strong importance to deliver. he's quite sure that he's starting to feel it, this cider - there's a warmth in him that even reaches his fingertips (or perhaps makes him forget the chill of them), and everything feels both slightly softer and slightly more vivid. more present in this moment rather than moments prior or moments to come.

but he's still far from properly intoxicated (yet?), and when he sets the bottle a bit closer to the center of the table so that runyu might reach, it's with no absence of his usual grace or spatial awareness. his friend has actually begun to answer the actual question now, his own head tilting a bit as he listens. then, )

Perhaps it didn't, but at least you made the attempt, ( he says, smiling a bit. then comes a sip of his cider and a thoughtful little hum, and the next words have a bit of a wondering lilt. ) I've always admired those with any talent in the arts. Music, artworks and painting, storytelling... I've found that I'm not especially creative, at least not in that sort of way.

[fishfairy]

( Runyu pours them both more of the cider, swirling it in his cup as he looks over his friend, a devious grin overcoming his features. ) You know I cannot believe that unless I see it. If you can write a letter, you can draw a picture. ( He chuckles, recalling the colorful ink the letter’s inscribed in. ) And you certainly enjoy your vibrant colors. Why not enjoy them more?

[daozhangs]

In my defense, ( xingchen fires back at once with a grin he can no longer deny, brows lifting just slightly, ) It's not my fault they're vibrant. I take whatever it is they've offered at discount. They could've been perfectly normal colors, for all I had known, or - ( he stops short, because a thought seems to have occurred to him. then comes a laugh, and: ) It could've been white. I could've written your letter in white paint and I'd never have known. ( and only here after the fact does it strike him that such a thing was possible.

but then he's dragging himself back to the topic at hand, realization fading some but his mood still bright. ) If you'd truly like me to paint you a picture, so be it, but once it's over you're entirely responsible for whatever abomination I've wrought. Are you sure you're prepared for such a thing?

[fishfairy]

[ Xingchen isn't the only one laughing at the shop sparing his friend from writing a letter in white and Runyu is still grinning when his friend returns to the topic of the painting

Head on his hand, his next words ring out in an even more flippant jest, something he's rarely ever let himself do - even with Xufeng. ]

Only you, my friend, would manage to create such a terrible thing out of a simple painting, but since I've put you up to it, I suppose I'll have to deal with the consequences.