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.

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[daozhangs]

( xingchen, meanwhile, finds that focusing on the smaller bits make wrapping his mind around the grand scheme of it slightly more palatable.

regardless, the answer is more of a relief than he'd like to admit. )

I'm glad.

( it's a fantastic understatement, but true nonetheless. )

Do you need anything? ( and while he meant it in more of a general sense, a moment later he thinks to ask, ) Blood?

[legbreakings]

Right. Blood. All our needs are back.

Not yet, fortunately. Probably soon. I don't want to think about it yet.

[ For a moment longer, he just wants to hide from reality, maybe. ]

[daozhangs]

( it’s quite understandable, jiang wanyin not yet wanting to think about it. xingchen didn’t afford himself quite that same luxury.

the offer for blood has thus been declined, and for a long moment, the simple response ‘Company?’ is on the top of his tongue.

but a sigh comes instead, and then - ) One can’t really blame you.

I’ll be here when you do.

[legbreakings]

It's not that I don't want your company.

I just don't want to think about the need for blood just yet.

These aren't the same.

[daozhangs]

Peace, my friend. I know that they aren’t.

I suppose I just find myself at a loss for what else I might offer.

[legbreakings]

I don't know. I don't have answers right now.

It is much to deal with.

[daozhangs]

It truly is.

( and, after long moment, )

My company isn’t particularly helpful or soothing at the moment.

( which is why he had tried to find some other reason to go. some other need he might meet to compensate. )

[legbreakings]

Don't say stupid things like that!

Your company is always pleasant to me.

[daozhangs]

( funny how the tables seem to have turned. wasn’t it jiang wanyin who once delivered the ‘no, you’re not listening, i’m truly unpleasant’ arguments? even if they they never worked on xingchen, just like it wouldn’t work on jiang wanyin here and now.

instead, )

I've decided to eat the next person who leverages the gods' powers to inflict upon us their opinion of what we need.

( which illustrates the dwindling quality of his company far better than any actual argument, really. )

[legbreakings]

[ Jiang Cheng gives a startled, amused bark of laughter. ]

That's a guaranteed way to get indigestion.

[daozhangs]

No more so than eating those who don't deserve it.

[legbreakings]

Well. Yes. I will give you that.

[daozhangs]

I'd thought you might.

[legbreakings]

I'm sorry. I'm not at my best right now.

Is your house alright? Did the garden survive your absence?

Is Runyu going to be alright?

[daozhangs]

There's no need to apologize. Neither am I.

The house is well, and the garden didn't survive the snow. I haven't planted it anew yet. You said that you'd assist me, don't you recall?

Runyu will be fine. This week has left us all with quite a bit to think about.

[legbreakings]

That it has. I suppose I will value it for the experiences. Once some time has passed.

[ Once he can value it for what he got to experience instead of only feeling the loss. ]

I will help you with the garden. By whatever measure of help I can provide. I can water the plants.

[daozhangs]

You'll be helping me put those plants in the dirt before you do. I'm not letting you off the hook quite so easily.

[legbreakings]

Fine fine! Bossing me around already before we have even started do you have no fear!

[daozhangs]

No more or less than I ever have.

[legbreakings]

Outragous!

[daozhangs]

Perhaps.

[legbreakings]

Now you're mocking me!

[daozhangs]

( unfortunately, he’s in no proper mood to fall into their usual bantering games. ) I simply agreed with you. You’ll have to forgive me if such a thing offends.

[legbreakings]

Sorry. It's not the time for that.

I will gladly help with your garden.

[daozhangs]

I never doubted for a moment.