Video; UN: moxuanyu

[noenvy]

[The user can't be seen just yet but he can be heard. The camera is pointed at a large soaking tub in a modern bathroom and the speaker seems overly excited about it all.]

Look at this! It's quite amazing, isn't it? The water is right there, just with a twist.

[A hand reaches out to turn a nob and water rushes out.]

Both hot and cold! It's genius!

Do you think this is easy to break? It looks quite sturdy.

Oh! This is exciting! What great things this place has! I want to try it out!

Comments

[inheritedpain]

[ He didn’t stop. Like breaching flood gates, the tears seemed to come endlessly, ragged breathes choked out around them. He wept piteously, unreserved and unrestrained, slumping all his weight against a man who by every right he should murder.

Somewhere off to the side, from a low bush, a dog whined quietly in sympathy with her master, but she held to his command and did not approach no matter how much she believed he needed the comfort.

Eventually it felt like he couldn’t cry any longer, his throat torn and ragged, his eyes reddened and enflamed. He finally pulled back, out of the embrace, his eyes sliding away from the man as he sniffed, running a sleeve over his face. His other hand still grasped Suihua uselessly at his side. ]

[noenvy]

[He kept the hug, though when Fairy whined he did noticeably tense at the sound. It was a testament to his will that he didn't end up pushing Jin Ling and instantly running in the opposite direction.

When Jin Ling pulled back he let him go and smiled, waiting to see if he wanted to say anything.]

[inheritedpain]

[ He didn't return the smile. He didn't even look at it. He felt hollow and empty and wrecked. ]

... I can't forgive you. [ His voice was rough after all that crying, and quiet. ]

... But I want it to be different, here.

[noenvy]

You don't have to forgive me.

[He didn't forgive himself, he just accepted it.]

And this is a place of new starts. Your father is here... shijie is here, your other father is here....

You have a lot of people who love you.

I know things can get better, though, I suppose a lot happened to get to that point. But, you're a good child....

[resurging]

[ ah ]

maybe i should ask lan zhan about you. he wouldn't lie.

[noenvy]

Fine, go do that.

But, you can't just ask one.

[resurging]

of course! i'll ask both! all the better to be informed!

[noenvy]

Make sure to come back after you get your information~

[resurging]

i shouldn't even bother with such a shameless person--! fine!

[noenvy]

As if you can possibly be any better....

Ah, go, go, I'll wait.

[resurging]

[ mark as read ]

[inheritedpain]

Don't call me a child. [ The response is immediate, and but somewhat undercut in meaning when he sniffs again and runs his sleeve over his face for a second time. ]

I have a lot of people who love him, and a lot of people who should love me and don't even know who I am.

[ Not that he's bitter or jealous or anything. ]



... Whatever. We're done here.

[ He's proven himself a failure. What else was there to say? ]

[noenvy]

"Him"?

[What? Was he... upset about...?

And to ask not to be called a child!]

Alright. Well, if you need anything, feel free to ask.

[If Jin Ling felt a little better, that was enough.]

[inheritedpain]

The other Jin Ling.

[ His voice was a little tight. ]

Yours. Suzhui’s. Your sister’s. [ He couldn’t say “my mother’s”, he couldn’t. ]

[ He felt hollow and incredibly small, a whisp of himself, ridiculous and empty.

Roughly, and an utter lie: ]

I need nothing from you.

[ And then he turns to leave before Wei Wuxian can watch him fold in on himself again with a completely separate grief. ]

[noenvy]

[Hisbheart went out to him, it must be dificult, even if he only knew a little bit of what might be going on. Jin Ling had always been a person who felt greatly. To be put into a situation where almost everyone you held dear was of a time before your conception... would be hard.

He didn't say anything not wanting to insult Jin Ling's pride. Hopefully his words would be remembered in the future.]

video; un: sandu.shengshou

[lotus_of_rage]

Yes, yes, it is marvelous, but why are you wondering about their durability? Are you TRYING to break it?!

[noenvy]

Why does everyone assume I want to break it!?

[It was less a yell and more an exasperated whine.]

No, I want it to be sturdy and long-lasting. This looks like it would be really troublesome and expensive to replace. It's attached to the floor and the wall.

video

[infiniteheart]

I can send you a list of stores so you can get properly outfitted. Sales and discounts can go a long way when you don't have much Chroma.

[Even with A-Cheng helping to cover the costs of the wedding banquet, Yanli's had to be frugal and adhere to a strict budget.]

But ask Second Young Master Lan. He's been here longer than I have. He may know of more places than I do.

video

[noenvy]

Maybe I can find a store with good staff and just get to know them.

[That's what he always did when he wanted something cheaper, talk them down! Tough, with clothing it was harder, clothing was usually commissioned, or in the case of cultivator clothing made within the sect.]

I can't imagine him going anywhere to buy clothes.

Maybe a funeral shop?

video

[infiniteheart]

[Yanli chuckles at the joke in a way few outside her family ever see.]

Well, Caihong is a little bit like home. I'm sure many of us do our shopping there but I don't know of any clothing shops offhand. They do sell lucky talismans, though. I think you might like it there.

[She does, anyway. It's the only place in Lunatia she's felt any degree of comfortable in aside from her brother's house.]

I think finding a shop with owners you can haggle with is a splendid idea, A-Xian.

Re: video

[noenvy]

Are they real, or just junk for show?

[If they were real he was really curious and wanted to go see.]

What is commerce but haggling? It's a war between the buyer and the seller. I think I'm quite good at winning.

[He was not.]

Re: video

[infiniteheart]

How about I tag along to watch you fight sometime, A-Xian? I just might learn a trick or two.

[And if she's conveniently on hand to smooth things over if the negotiation goes south, well, that's just good fortune, isn't it?]

As for the charms in Caihong, I think they might be just for show but I didn't investigate them very closely. I was more interested in the food stalls.

[She'd snacked often back at Lotus Pier but her food cravings under the Cordis moon are so much more intense.]

Re: video

[noenvy]

Yes!

Oh! I need to get you something anyway, let's find you something nice!

[She was getting married soon, he couldn't just, leave her empty-handed!]

That's a pity but I guess expected.

Re: video

[infiniteheart]

They still might be worth taking a look at. Your eyes are better than mine for that sort of thing.

[There's definitely quite a bit of pride in her tone there, much like a mother pointing out her son's accomplishments. Even no one back home had seemed to properly appreciate the dedication and hard work her little brother put into his methods, she certainly had.

She smiles softly.]

You really don't need to worry about gifts for me. Your presence is already the best gift I could have.

[That she can see, talk to him, and spend time with him at all is a blessing on its own.]

But if you truly wish to look for a gift, perhaps we could pick out something pleasant for Zixuan instead.

Re: video

[noenvy]

[He couldn't help but grin, not that it could be seen, but his voice easily carried it.]

It might be different here, but since you have so much faith in me Shijie I definitely have to check and see.

[Of course that delighted tone turned a little sour at the mention of Zixuan. He tried to hide it, but, no matter what he would always be a little bratty about it.]

Does he even need gifts?