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]

I suppose we'll have to disagree.

Would that it might be so simple. Many cats do enjoy fish. Others might prefer to starve. They're very opinionated, I find. Hence the 'options'.

( after a thoughtful pause: )

I recall the cats at the market would tend toward basins, especially those with a softer interior. ( ...or perhaps the ones curled up in this or that were the ones which he had pointed out to him most frequently by a-qing, whose hands seemed preternaturally drawn to the nearest napping feline. ) Have you considered bringing along a number of large bowls, or baskets? Perhaps a cushion or two?

[legbreakings]

No. You just have peculiar preferences. There is nothing to disagree.

Why would a cat want to starve instead of eating. No never mind I'm not even going to try to get an explanation.

What I want to know is why I should need a "basin"! Or bowls, or baskets. Or cushions. I'm trying to capture them, not make them a comfortable bed in some back alley!

[daozhangs]

Is it truly so unusual, to wish to know more of one's husband? I wouldn't think it to be.

As for why you might want such things, I might humbly suggest that far simpler than capturing cats is allowing the cats to capture themselves.

[legbreakings]

That's not what I meant! I meant your preferences are peculiar for wanting to be my husband at all. Not that I'm complaining. But you are still too nice and patient for your own good.

But that's not the point!

The point is, I need ten cats. There is no way I could charm so many cats with what? Baskets?

[daozhangs]

Baskets, large bowls, the occasional cushion. A folded blanket, perhaps. And one mustn't forget the food.

Forgive me, I've nothing more helpful coming to mind at the moment. Do we know of anyone who keeps cats as companions? Such a person could likely offer more practiced insight.

[legbreakings]

This would be helpful if I was trying to make friends with pets. But I'm planning a kidnapping. I was thinking more along the lines of traps and chase strategies!

No, I don't know any cat owners.

[daozhangs]

I suppose that it just seems a bit drastic, to abduct them. Have they done something to offend?

[legbreakings]

It's not like they are just going to come along if I ask politely!

[daozhangs]

You know, airen, this reflects very poorly on the cats of Yunmeng. One can only imagine how very intractible they must have been, to incite such a prejudice.

( perhaps he shouldn't tease - it's just that wanyin is so terribly (endearingly) serious about all of this cat-stealing absurdity. and all endearment aside, xingchen knows quite well how poorly feral or semi-feral cats respond to a man (or woman) directing such seriousness toward them. )

[legbreakings]

You're being ridiculous!

[ And so is he, maybe. But he called it first!

Even if he may have laughed. ]

They are perfectly fine cats. But I never tried to catch any, or have conversations with them. I'm more of a dog person, really.

[daozhangs]

And here I've been certain that you were a frog person.

[legbreakings]

I like frogs and dogs about equally. But dogs are better for playing with and cuddling. Have you ever seen a frog play fetch?

[daozhangs]

I don't think that I'll answer that inquiry, actually. You would only declare me 'ridiculous'.

Regardless, I find myself occupied with more pertinent inquiries, such as how one might classify a fox. ( doglike? not doglike enough? pressing questions, of most critical urgency. )

[legbreakings]

Well, yes, you ARE ridiculous

[ But he won't insist on pursuing this line of thought, considering how Xiao Xingchen has generously not gone for the low-hanging fruit of seeing it. ]

Foxes have become one of my favorite animals ever since I came to Ryslig. But I'm picky with them.

[daozhangs]

( he has to let a few of them slip by - otherwise, where would he find the time to get anything else done? )

I would be terribly interested to hear of that which you aren't picky about. One or two things would be plenty, I wouldn't care to make this too difficult.

[legbreakings]

Ridiculous AND bratty! Is this supposed to be an improvement?

[daozhangs]

Oh, most certainly not. :)

If you decline to comment on that which you aren't picky about, I suppose it might suffice to elaborate further on your meticulous vulpine selection criteria.

[legbreakings]

Do you honestly expect me to spell out that you are my favorite fox!

[ The indignity of being expected to say nice things! ]

[daozhangs]

No no, there's no need for that.

Allow me to clarify that 'your meticulous vulpine selection criteria' concern why.

[legbreakings]

[ HMPF!

How dare! ]

I think I will go back to talking about cat chasing strategies!

[daozhangs]

How very cruel your husband is, to ask of you such dire and impossible feats. Such hardships you face that the dead burn joss papers for you.

[legbreakings]

How shameless my husband is, to be fishing for compliments!

I will say that your fur is luxurious.

[daozhangs]

Forgive me, it seems I've forgotten myself. ( he isn't even quite positive if it's teasing or genuine. both, perhaps. the he wears this particular shamelessness - the invitation of praise unto himself - like an ill-fitting robe, stiff and unsuited in ways which wanyin's words only serve to illuminate (even if only to xingchen himself).

there is, however, a manner of shamelessness which comes quite a bit more naturally. ) If your own turns out anything like your hair, then I'm certain that it will be wonderfully soft as well.

[legbreakings]

I hope not! I expect to look intimidating, not FLUFFY

Not that you aren't intimidating as a fox, particularly in fog form.

But, what I mean is, I will be fine as long as I don't look ridiculous. [ Cute. He will be fine as long as he doesn't look cute. ]

That besides, you know that I like your fox form very much. Or I wouldn't spend so much time petting it.

[daozhangs]

One can make requests of Mana regarding their intended form, can they not? I suppose I've always assumed that such a thing is possible, to a reasonable degree.

I do know that you like it. ( and xingchen can't tell if wanyin has been clever or obtuse just now, to speak conclusively on the topic they've already agreed lacked necessity, rescuing himself from any need to address the actual inquiry further - but that's alright. he loves his husband clever and he loves him obtuse, and xingchen had already moved past the topic of compliments regardless. )