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

[legbreakings]

That is what curling up on your lap is for.

[daozhangs]

And when I've no lap to curl up on?

[legbreakings]

Then you have fur yourself, and can curl up around me, or be my pillow.

[daozhangs]

I was thinking a bit more along the lines of such times as when I'm up and about making tea, or chopping vegetables for our evening meal. Am I to tuck you into my robes for safekeeping?

[legbreakings]

[ That sounds very nice, actually. He knows his team must think him weird; disgruntled, vicious-on-the-battlefield Jiang Wanyin spending the drive back to base chuckling and smiling sappily at his phone. ]

Would you dare to?

[daozhangs]

I might, if you ask me sweetly.

[legbreakings]

I would not, but I would not bite or claw you (much) if you dared.

[daozhangs]

Is that not asking me sweetly?

[legbreakings]

If you want to call that asking sweetly, then I won't argue with it.

[ Maybe he will even purr. Maybe. ]

[daozhangs]

Forgive me, I don't think I've read that correctly. It almost looks as though you've decided not to argue.

[legbreakings]

Enjoy your victory and shut up about it, before I change my mind and argue!

[daozhangs]

It wouldn't be so terrible. Perhaps it might even assist me in staying awake.

[legbreakings]

You have helped me a great deal. It is only fair I help you stay awake now.

[ Not that he wouldn't do so anyway, but it feels nice to roundabout show appreciation for his mood being lifted. ]

How do you like this assignment? Do you think this is something you would like to do for however long we remain here?

[daozhangs]

I wouldn't like to take part in warfare at all.

If you mean to ask if I feel this role is best suited of the available choices, I don't feel that it is - but I will do as is needed of me.

[legbreakings]

Why don't you ask for a change of your role? They seem to assign newcomers with little concern to their skills, which is stupid, but you have proven you aren't skirting duty. It serves E+L better to have us serve where we are most useful.

[daozhangs]

It also serves E+L to allow their conscripted to train. I'm not certain that what serves them better is of particular concern.

I do think that I might ask, once I've gathered some understanding of where I might be best suited.

[legbreakings]

Figuring that out will be the main issue. It was easy for me, since I already know what I do best, but you are versatile in skills. Maybe you can split your time between tasks.

You could spend some of it with me, at least once I command a team of my own.

[daozhangs]

( once he commands a team of his own. it hasn't slipped xingchen's notice, that their collaboration seems conditional to scenarios in which xingchen is expected to defer. he doesn't hold it against him, of course - ever since they reunited in ryslig (and likely for more than a decade beforehand), jiang wanyin has always been first and foremost a sect leader. it stands to reason that now that he has once again found himself properly at war, jiang-zongzhu has once again forgotten how to address as his equal anyone who commands fewer than a dozen men. and given the recent clarifications regarding jiang wanyin's assessment of their respective cultivation levels, perhaps it should have been expected.

but xiao xingchen is not without his pride. they may yet be able to work together in this war, but he'll first need to figure out how that pride might be swallowed. )

These are all valuable things to consider. I'll need to reflect on the matter.

[legbreakings]

[ Oh, if only Jiang Cheng would have had the slightest inkling of the size of his fuckup, or that he had fucked up at all. But such a thing isn't even registering to him, and this can't be blamed on him texting while being taken back to base or any other distractions. He simply doesn't think about his words in the same way.

It is a matter of course to him that he would invite his husband once he comes to be in command and can make such decisions. Just as it is a matter of course that he would seek such power, that he would try to rise in rank and gain status for both of them to enjoy now that he is finally in a place well-suited to his skills. That his choice of words or his mannerism may come across very differently is not even a blip in his awareness. ]

Of course. It is not a decision you need to make today, just one worth thinking about. If I'm already in a position where my word holds weight, I will support you in whatever you decide.

[daozhangs]

You're an intelligent man who speaks from experience with both warfare and great personal loss. Your word holds weight regardless of your assigned position.

[legbreakings]

My word holds weight to you regardless of my position. That is because you hold me in higher esteem than I would expect of anyone else.

[daozhangs]

You should know by now that I hold little esteem for those who speak from experience with warfare. Were this a matter of my esteem, the criteria would have been quite different.

For instance, I made no mention of your deep capacity for empathy and compassion.

[legbreakings]

Don't threaten me like that, husband!

And all I meant is that you think highly of my opinion no matter the topic. You are biased. As am I towards you. Not that you aren't worth thinking so highly of.

[daozhangs]

I am biased. I am also more than capable of speaking from an unbiased perspective.

Do you deny the inherent value of insight provided by those with relevant experience? Or do you simply deny that your chosen god possesses the wisdom to recognize such value?

You are, of course, welcome to simply admit that I'm correct. Rest assured that it would remain in strict confidence.

[legbreakings]

Look who is in a fighting mood!

Fine, fine, I will admit to my insight. And yours. [ Best to cover all his bases. ]

Which isn't the same as admitting you are correct, just for the record.

The Fourth God in Ryslig appreciates our experience, so I would assume the E+L of this place does, too. I think you would do well doing what you did at home. Focusing more on helping people than on seeking glory on the battlefields. So maybe you won't enjoy the work I do much, though I would like to have you my by side at least part of the time. And I hope your insight will soon be appreciated, and you can rise in rank. I would like for both of us to do so. Happy now?