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[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

< l'ange > dated to a week or so after Arm Meltinggate

[mingzhu]

Ni hao.

I wanted to ask about your arm. Is it okay?

I'm really, really, really sorry for what happened. If I can do anything to make it up to you, please let me know!!

[daozhangs]

Ni hao. This must be Lanzhu?

I've no doubt that my husband has painted you quite the harrowing picture, but please know that you've done me no lasting harm. It's still somewhat unpleasant to look at, but any functional damage has healed nicely with the fog.

And what of your own injuries? I confess that while I've met the occasional lich, I know very little about them overall. I know organs and such are a bit more negotiable, but I hope that you've healed at least somewhat?

[mingzhu]

My injuries don't really matter anymore. They're just sort of part of who I am now. The last thing I want to do is hurt the people who have a choice to not be harmed by me.

But if it helps, I am doing better. All considering.

[daozhangs]

That does help. I'm very glad to hear it. :)

However, I can't help but ache for the resignation I hear in your words. Your injuries are only so much a part of you as you allow them to be. This place may never be truly pleasant for you, but you'll find that much of the worst of it is far more optional than we're led to believe - as is hurting those whom you don't wish to hurt.

I'm quite skilled at wringing a sustainable life from the few pockets of this realm in which we still have agency. So please take heart, and trust that we will see this through.

[mingzhu]

You're way more understanding than Lǎoshī when I make a mistake.

That's pretty wild.

I just wanted to see if I could make it up to you.

[daozhangs]

( 'laoshi', how fantastically endearing that is. ) To be entirely fair, I believe that he understands quite well. It's just that far too few throughout his life have given his words any weight in their thoughts - apart from those which he voiced sharply and at great volume. I believe there's an adage about old habits? Regardless, some things are simply too important to express in a way which might be dismissed.

Like when he's worried for someone he cares for.

( in most things, he will allow lanzhu to work her way to her own understandings of jiang wanyin's prickly ways - but he's making an exception under the circumstances. )

Merely something to think about.

Regarding this matter of 'making it up to me', I'd like to suggest that we not fuss with debts owed in the future. In such a place as this, the road to madness is paved by those who tally each favor and harm. If we can agree to such terms, then I'm sure I could cook up some manner of favor you might do to repay me this once. How does that sound?

not included: help and bully

[mingzhu]

I know that he says I'm like a mold he can't get rid of that he's trying to show affection without having to acknowledge it. At least I've gathered that much.

I don't think he knows how much I look up to him.

Also, I would be happy to help you. It's one of my favorite things to do! Help!

[daozhangs]

He knows. Likely thinks it misguided, but that's not a choice which he can make for you. ( nor was it one which xingchen allowed jiang wanyin to make for him for the better part of their first few months here. ) Regarding the 'mold' comment, he has commended your perseverance through adversity and declared his longsuffering resignation to your ongoing presence within his general vicinity. :)

And as for helping: As it so happens, that's one of my favorite things to do as well. This is why I prefer that we not keep score as such when we help one another, nor worry about repayment. Can we agree to that?

Should you answer 'yes', a follow-up: Have you any interest in gardening?

[mingzhu]

[ She pauses in replying, smiling a bit at the words on her screen speaking of her perseverance. The rest still makes her laugh. ]

I love living at Lotus Pier. I'm so fortunate to have him! As are you~

Yes, we can agree to that. Gardening is fun too! I'm still trying to get the grounds at Lotus Pier to recover from the rain killing all of the plants. You wouldn't happen to need the same help, would you~?

[daozhangs]

As am I, for certain.

And that's precisely the gardening I had in mind. My dear friend planted meadow of wildflowers behind our home last spring, and he has tended them diligently since - only to see them wither away in the rain. I had the thought that we might plant them anew. A surprise, I suppose, though he would most certainly catch us before we've gotten far.

she just has to ask

[mingzhu]

That would be fun! Mou man tai!! Back home I am used to having people do everything for me. Now that I can do stuff on my own, I want to make a beautiful garden of art for you~

Is your friend cute?

of course she does

[daozhangs]

( used to people doing things for her? was she- no, he supposes it wouldn't be 'gentry' in her realm, but of some sort of wealth or status? )

This must be quite a change for you, then. All the more reason I'm glad I've invited you to assist.

And yes, I would say that he is. ( though xingchen has learned that a number of those in such 'modern' times use 'cute' to mean 'attractive', he would argue that runyu is both pretty and endearing and thus his answer stands. )

[mingzhu]

Don't worry, I'll behave! I'm teasing you.

And yes, it's a big change. I actually had just moved away from home to start doing things on my own when I landed here instead.

Though lately I really miss my servants and my chefs...

[daozhangs]

I wasn't worried in the slightest. :)

Leaving home is quite the brave venture. Was this to help people, or had you another goal in mind?

[mingzhu]

I left Hong Kong to pursue being an Idol. Japan is known for its Idols and Mama runs a school there. So I transferred in order to make new friends and expand my reach across the present and future generations of Idols.

And since you probably don't know what that is: Idols are musicians. We sing and dance in contests and such.

I struggled really hard to make friends in school. Turns out I am not as good at making friends as I thought.

They said I was too mean but I was just trying to help! Hmph!!!

[daozhangs]

( xingchen can't help the knowing smile that this answer earns, perhaps just a little bit fond in how much some of what she says reminds him of a certain jiang wanyin - the only other person he knows who has ever, for example, felt 'hmph' so emphatically that they felt the need to convey it in text. )

I can only imagine how difficult that must have been, to be misunderstood as such. You seem perfectly kind and helpful to me, for as little as that might be worth in how short a time we've known one another.

Do you plan to become an Idol here, as well? I admit that I'm not terribly versed in Bavan's live music culture, but I'm sure you could find a window of opportunity.

[mingzhu]

It's okay. It's probably very different from what you are used to. I was planning on performing xìqǔ for Lǎoshī when my body parts figure out what they want to do.

You're really kind too. It's refreshing.

Also you're invited, of course.

[daozhangs]

At risk of sounding foolish, I was under the understanding that it's to be us telling our body parts what we want of them? ( every once in a while he can't help but sass. )

Your invitation is generous, and I will gladly attend.

Do you enjoy sweets? I've quite a number of them from a gifting basket I received, and Jiang Wanyin seems to have little taste for modern sweets.

[mingzhu]

Mine fall off sometimes soooooo

I love sweets. I can't gain weight anymore so I can eat all of the things I had to restrict at home.

It's so great omg

[daozhangs]

Are there specific parts which have difficulty remaining attached? And how have you remedied the situation once they do?

No need to answer if you would prefer not to, of course. I just can't help but wonder if we might be able to work out something more sustainable for you.

Regarding sweets, it's terribly fortunate that you can eat as many as you please, as I'll be sending them in excess. Most seem to be some manner of chocolate. ( and either himself or wanyin will be tasting one before the sweets are passed along, just as a precaution. one can never be too careful with gifted sweets, in this realm - he learned that lesson quite vividly last february. )

[mingzhu]

Actually they float right back after a few minutes. I've learned that I can make my hands come off and float around! That's been pretty fun.

Don't tell Lǎoshī but I'm going to plant one of my hands in his wardrobe or bed and spook him with it when he least expects it.

Please, please, please send everything you can! It's so great to be able to eat... until I have to eat for real but I don't want to talk about that right now.

[daozhangs]

If I'm not misunderstanding, it sounds somewhat less like they fall off and more like you voluntarily remove them? If so, then I suppose I withdraw most of my concern on the matter.

As for the scheming, I'll do my best to be discrete. That said, I feel that it's only fair to warn you that should he have cause to ask me about said scheme directly, I've no choice but to tell him the truth.

Regarding the sweets and eating in general, I remember feeling very much that same way after arriving - I was thrilled to be able to eat at all, let alone the variety of foods this realm has to choose from. Are you familiar with french fries? They're delightful.

[mingzhu]

My hands are the ones I can control. I think I'm supposed to be able to control all of them but I'm still... Figuring it out.

Ohhhh try really hard not to say anything! But if he's extra crabby I won't be mad at you. I say he's crabby but I like him a lot. I think he needs to smile more.

French fries are so good!! My friend Mia gets them with her hamburgers at home and I love to stalk them from her!

I've found they pair well with spicy sauces. Yummm...

we can start something newer if you want, i just wanted to hit this

[daozhangs]

I certainly don't wish to spoil your fun. Rest assured that I plan to avoid such a thing at all reasonable cost. :)

I haven't tried french fries with sauces. I've seen them come with a red sort of sauce, but I find that I enjoy them well enough simply with salt. Have you any spicy sauces to recommend?

I'll totes do that this is just so wholesome

[mingzhu]

Back at home there are sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many.

My favorite is barbecue sauce because I can put it on my meat too. It's spicy but not toooooooo overpowering.

I like spicy but I also like ny taste buds.

Now that I think about it, let's pray nothing happens to my tongue because I really like tasting things. >:((((