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]

Perhaps. But I did tell you precisely what I planned to do - give you something to fuss about.

I suppose while you're already fussing, I may as well clarify one more thing.

I did not risk 'too much' to find you. I risked precisely enough, and had it not been enough, I would have risked more even still.

Have you any more complaints, or might I presume that we've reached an understanding?

[legbreakings]

[ You are impossible and he is so incredibly offended, Xiao Xingchen! ]

I don't even know where to BEGIN yelling at you!

I WiLL break your legs if you get yourself hurt trying to rescue me, do you hear me? I'll just snap them! Shatter them! Then you will be sorry and you won't have legs to run into trouble with so you will be doubly sorry!

And just for the record: I don't fuss. I'm not a girl.

[daozhangs]

I suppose your terms are fair. I'll heal with the fog, regardless.

[legbreakings]

What is wrong with you! Don’t just agree with me when I'm threatening you!

[daozhangs]

If it helps, I'd prefer my legs remain as they are. Or - I suppose 'intact' is more feasible, all things considered. ( 'as they are' fails to reflect the unpleasant shift they endure each night and morning. )

But if those are the terms of your rescue, it's not as though I can refuse them.

[legbreakings]

Asking for intact legs is asking for a lot. I don't know if I can deliver.

[ Does he really need to teach you how to threaten people back? ]

[daozhangs]

( certainly not, since his last threat was (if you recall) delivered quite thoroughly in a way that jiang wanyin sorely lamented. )

It's understandable. As I said, I'll heal well enough with the fog.

[legbreakings]

No no no you are not supposed to agree with me! Why is this so hard to understand!

[daozhangs]

Have I not disagreed with you in the simple act of agreeing with you? Seeing as you've told me not to.

[legbreakings]

[ ...

Well. He might have a point there. ]

You're so annoying!

[daozhangs]

I'd hoped that perhaps it might make you smile.

Barring that, I'd hoped that it might teach you something regarding how much simpler it is to accept the inevitability of my presence in times of need.

[legbreakings]

Fine fine have it your way. I still reserve the right to break your legs afterward. I can't have you ruining my reputation.

[daozhangs]

Of course.

( and then, after a pause, )

The soup I've been simmering seems just about done. We'll speak this evening?

( were jiang wanyin capable of properly enjoying regular food, xingchen would offer to bring him some as well - but aside from the occasional treat, he has largely held off on such efforts to feed him. )

5th

[legbreakings]

[ Alas, food is one of the many things that just aren’t the same anymore. ]

Enjoy your meal. We will speak later.


[ On the 5th, he gets a very curt message. ]

It's blood.

[daozhangs]

Is it? I admit that I'm relieved. It's quite a bit simpler to acquire.

[legbreakings]

I hope so. At least there is a chance of acquiring it without killing.

[daozhangs]

Forgive me - I should have been more direct.

Depending on how much it is that you require, I have a decent quantity of blood to spare. Precisely how much will depend on whether any regenerates as I shift, or whether it only does throughout the fog.

Regardless, if you take it in measured amounts rather than all at once, it shouldn't be an issue.

[legbreakings]

[ ...

Okay. It feels like he missed five steps to this conversation because Xiao Xingchen can't possibly be suggesting what he thinks he is suggesting? ]

What?

Why are you offering such a thing?

[ He's not sentimental enough not to see it as practical, or refuse it out of hand for concerns such as pain or discomfort. But. Why would he even offer? Why would he want to make Jiang Cheng's burden his burden? ]

[daozhangs]

( a predictable question, just as predictable as the fact that xingchen's proper answer would leave him no more satisfied than he is now. and so, after a pause, )

I suppose that finding a means for you to sustain yourself without having to kill is just as important to me as it is to you.

( the truth, even if only a facet of it. )

Is it not the simplest solution?

[legbreakings]

It would be the simplest solution. But I don't want to be a burden to you. You should not have to concern yourself with my feeding.

[daozhangs]

You aren't a burden, and you know as much. How many times shall we loop through this same disagreement? You, telling me what is or isn't my duty or concern as if such a thing ever stops me, anymore - and then me, telling you again that nothing I do on your behalf comes from debt or duty or feeling as though I have to, and hoping that this time you might actually manage to take it to heart.

[legbreakings]

Does it surprise you that we must?

I can't let you risk coming to harm simply to make my life easier. There is always a chance I won't be able to stop, though with my feeding mechanisms being on my hands it should be easier to force me.

[daozhangs]

You wouldn't allow yourself to harm me.

I'm quite confident in that, so I recommend against wasting breath attempting to convince me otherwise.

[legbreakings]

You know what we are all capable of when the hunger overtakes us.

I would rather trust in your combat skills than in my own self-control.

[daozhangs]

Trust in those as well, then. I'm more than capable of protecting myself, if the need arises.