video | un:jinzixun

[amidstsnow]

[look at this finely dressed deer in the headlights. this is the face of a man who's clearly trying hard at something. and while he's still new to much of the technology here, that isn't the problem. (even if the typo in his own name might suggest otherwise.)

he looks like he might turn this off after all, and maybe he's regretting that he didn't go with the texted word, but then he takes a breath and pushes forward.]

I would like to address those out there who are fathers. Or anyone who might have experience with raising a child. Sons, especially.

[a long pause...a man with as much pride as jin zixuan surely finds it hard to ask for help. but he reminds himself of his sole reason, and suddenly it all rushes out.]

How does one...form bonds with them? What activities do they enjoy? What should you talk about? Do you try to be their friend?

How do you inquire about their [his expression twists.] chroma?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[please make him father of the year, it would mean so much.]

Comments

1/2

[inheritedpain]

[ what

whAT

WHAT IS THIS

WHY

DAD???? WHAT ARE YOU DOING???

INQUIRE ABOUT HIS CHROMA?????????


Jin Ling feels like he's dying. This is it, this is how he dies, watching his newly discovered father utterly embarrass him on the network. His soul is extinguished. He can never ever show his face again. Not to anyone. Not ever.

He CERTAINLY can't reply to this. He cannot. He cannot acknowledge this even ever existed, can't draw attention to it, can't-- ]

2/2 video, un: thejinling

[inheritedpain]

[ Too late.

Jin Ling's face appears on the screen, he is beet red and looking half way between furious and mortified. ]

Or you could just ask!! You could just ask yourself!!

Why are you asking strangers?? I'm not that difficult!!

[ How many exclamation marks can you even use, Jin Ling... ]

video | un: jinzixuan

[huakongque]

[Jin Zixuan sees this on the network and suddenly feels overwhelmed by the utter deja vu. Because he's struggled with these exact same questions (well, okay, maybe not the chroma one, but he simply hasn't let himself think that hard about Jin Ling) before. But then looking at this guy is kind of disgustingly familiar. A lot familiar. Like looking into a mirror familiar. But then that username?

This is a lot.]

I have questions. You're not actually Jin Zixun, are you? And if not, then why are you masquerading as him?

Video; un:Meng.yao

[firebranding]

[oh this is good

This is so good

Guangyao sits back to smugly watch Jin Zixuan swallowing his pride to bow his head and ask for help, smirking and feeling a deep-seated pleasure settle in the pit of his stomach. Who needed moonlacing or sex when he had a show like this to satisfy him?

God, Jin Ling’s reaction is kind of icing on the cake and in the safety of his study all alone, Guangyao allows himself to laugh.

When he finally brings himself to answer, he’s well put together, of course, expression appropriately sympathetic and contrite.]

If you wish to know what activities A-Ling likes, you should ask him directly. Let him know you’re interested in knowing his interests and attempt to do them with him. But he is at the age where rebellion against authority and spurning such affections is quite common...

[And yes, he’s deliberately used Jin Ling’s nickname here, though he doesn’t expect Zixuan to know he’s being purposefully petty]

[amidstsnow]

Jin Ling-

[oh, that's right. just because he asked for dads doesn't mean that dads are the only ones who could see this.]

Are you feeling well? You look feverish.

[oh gods, what does he do when his kid is sick, he didn't ask that!!!]

text | username: absterge

[downswing]

Apology for bearing witness to the private matters of clan Lanling Jin.






( TRANSLATION: STOP MAKING EVERYONE BEAR WITNESS TO YOUR FAMILY MATTERS. )

[amidstsnow]

[he would probably dismiss any questions not related to the matter at hand...if it weren't for that username. and that face.

ah, this must be the him - the jin zixuan that she's marrying. he takes a long look before answering, forehead wrinkled in confusion at first.]

Jin Zixun is my cousin. Why would I have need of-

[and then he sees it. zixuan closes his eyes, breathing in through his nose.]

A mistake made while I was still learning.

[inheritedpain]

I'm fine!! [ He's fuming. ]

I'm not sick!! I want to know why you didn't just ask me!

Why are you asking about my chroma on the network?

You don't have to do this! What do any of them know about me anyway??

un: grimm

[hagrides]

[Good news: this isn't one of your castmates or family members calling you out for asking about this in public!

Bad news: this is a bug. A human-sized bug, but still an insect.]

Speaking as a father myself, such things are best asked of one's own child. They vary in hobbies and interests as much as anyone else does - they are their own people, after all.

I would inquire as to their health in general, and not their Chroma in specific. There are things one may not be comfortable sharing with one's parents.

text | un: xiaohan

[consignation]

Lan Wangji, if you have time to gawk you have time to come over for dinner.

[ don't fucking stand there judging his future husband and nephew-son. ]

video | un: xiaohan

[consignation]

Zixuan, I understand how you feel but I don't think this approach is going to work.

[ A pause. A sigh. He pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

Mostly because A-Ling is reading along.

Screaming.

[inheritedpain]

I'm not screaming!!!!!!

[ He's yelling. There's a difference. ]

[amidstsnow]

I don't remember being at that age.

[unless being a bitch to his fiancee counts, never sure if it was his own feelings that he was straining against, or this path that was chosen for him.

he also sort of had the world handed to him on a silver platter. that might've made it a little easier to be a "good son".]

If I ask him, he could reject me. A-Yao, you were there for him, weren't you?

[amidstsnow]

How do I stop him now?

[ah.]

Is this where I confine him to his room?

[he doesn't even know where his room is SEE HOW MUCH HELP HE NEEDS.]

[downswing]

Respectfully decline.

[huakongque]

[...This is really weird, but he presses onward.]

Right, I didn't think you were. You don't act like him. It's an unfortunate mistake, all the same.

[And for anyone else he might end it here, but...this is him? Somehow. And he's clearly struggling with this. And while this Jin Zixuan isn't much more qualified to offer help, he at least has been here longer and spoken to some people.]

...A-Ling likes dogs. I believe his Fairy is here, as well. Getting in its good graces wouldn't hurt. Otherwise...

[He frowns, trying to not embarrass either of them.]

Talking to him would probably be the best option. I know small talk hasn't necessarily been my - our? - strong suit, but it is the most straightforward way to learn. He can be a little defensive, I've found, so I wouldn't suggest forcing yourself upon his trust, but rather just...making yourself available.

[consignation]

We could... temporarily confiscate his device?

[ where is Wen Qing wHERE IS WEN QING ]

I think he has to live with us before we can ground him. ...might he be too old for that? No, wait, we still ground Wei Wuxian. [ at least, you know. before. gestures vaguely to all the death and the war. ]

Your son and my nephew should be living with us. We need a manor.

[consignation]

Then why do I feel like I'm going deaf?!

text; anon

[huaisang]

Your questions are truly fascinating. It may be best to ask directly.

video. — un: wen.qing

[sterilize]

The only experience I have to compare it to is raising A-Ning, and ... well, I think it's fair to say that even though I only met young Jin Ling once, he seems quite different from my brother.

( but — a little softer, then. )

He is a bit like you, though, isn't he? ( her eyes level with his — all things considered she had a pretty bad interaction with him, but she doesn't mean to insult jin zixuan. ) Passionate. If I were in your position, I might try some familial bonding.



( and after a beat, in case she has to spell it out for him: ) Cook him dinner, Jin Zixuan. Or teach him combat with a bow and arrow, or a sword — whatever it is fathers do with their sons. Didn't your father ever do anything of the like for you?

video; un: miniskirts_forever

[queenofminiskirts]

[Oh, boy. This is...sweet. But also a disaster. The message did basically start with 'calling all dads' but...]

Okay. First of all, if your son is old enough for you to worry about his sex life [She's assuming that's what you mean by his Chroma.] then he's old enough to be embarrassed by you asking this on here. And if he's close to my age [aka a teenager around that lovely highschool age.] He'll definitely be mortified. If you end up having 'I hate you dad' shouted at you don't take it personally. Teenagers can be dramatic like that.

[She says it with a shrug as if she weren't also a teenager herself.]

And second, no one knows what your son enjoy better than your son so ask him. Because based on the boys I know their interest ranged from video games, guns, toys, magical girls and trying to avoid the swimming pool. [Kagari doesn't do that as a hobby, Kaoru...] So it's not like all boys like the same thing.

Besides, if you ask him you're showing you're interested in his life. That's a good way to start forming a bond.

And don't inquire about their Chroma unless you want to make sure he never talks to you about any of these things ever again. Just make it clear that you're here to listen if he ever runs into problems. [Pause.] Or maybe buy him some dirty magazines, I guess. [That probably also works...no, she knows it doesn't. If Minamoto had tried to buy her dirty magazines she would have thrown him out the window.]

[inheritedpain]

Well maybe I should confiscate your device so that you don't have to listen to it!!!

[amidstsnow]

I hope I can count on your discretion, should my father ever arrive to find out about this.

[an absolute nightmre on many front.]

[consignation]

[ ...this shit again. ]

Thought your brother was sick of people lying.

[consignation]

A-Ling.

Would you like to say that to my face?