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[snowsparksjr]

Leave messages for me here. Don't waste my time!

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Text.

[secondjade]

Cultivation training.

Jeopardy, open area by lodging.

5:30 am. Weekday mornings.

[snowsparksjr]

[ 5:30am!! To get to Jeopardy every morning??

There’s no response, but he’ll be there. Especially since he’s squatting at Sizhui’s residence and no doubt Sizhui will drag him along.]

Read 1:12 PM.

[Gift]

[dazzlingdream]

[There is a wooden box waiting for Jin Ling on his doorstep. Inside, there is an ornate tea set complete with tea leaves in little pouches. There is no note, but come on - who else could this come from? Uncle loves you.]

[snowsparksjr]

[Jin Ling knows exactly who this is from. Maybe he should be alarmed that Jin Guanyao has managed to figure out that he's staying with Sizhui now and is leaving presents (traps) on his doorstep, but he's calmed down somewhat since that one particular conversation on the network.

He's mostly surprised that his uncle can afford something like this here. Back home, such a gift would be impressive but well within the Jin Clan budget. His budget now, his money, a fact that he would bitingly remind his uncle of if he really thought that the funds for this came from the Jin treasury. But if they were back home, if he was the Jin Sect Leader now, Jin Guanyao wouldn't be alive.

Here, where little things from home are so precious and rare, of course he loves the tea set. The one that he and Sizhui use is very simple and practical, with none of the exquisite elegance that Jin Ling is used to. But he isn't ready to forgive his uncle and he definitely isn't past his suspicion that a murder attempt is incoming.

He puts the box in an empty cupboard and puts a note on it in case Sizhui comes across it: "Don't use. Maybe poison."]

[text]

[snowsparksjr]

Thanks for the tea set. Every time I use it I'll think about how you murdered my parents.

a few days after lessons start / text

[secondjade]

Jin Ling.

Meet me, at earliest convenience.

[ He will add the directions to the Textile Museum where he works. ]

[snowsparksjr]

Jin Ling goes as soon as his shift ends. Hanguang-Jun is a trusted senior who keeps him safe, so Jin Ling doesn't even need to ask what this is about. He just goes.

Soon enough he turns up, with Fairy trotting along at his side. He makes a little bow in greeting. "Teacher Lan."

After Xichen's chiding

[ze_uwu_jun]

[ This gift is neither as confusing nor anonymous. It's not a very elaborate one either, but though it is simple, Xichen did his best with going for quality. It's a leather-bound journal and a set of calligraphy brushes, and a pen if the young sect leader wishes to experiment with the local ways of writing. The note is, of course, in exquisite handwriting. ]

I apologise if my words came through too harsh. It is a long process, to learn what is appropriate to say and what is not, and not an easy one. Mistakes made along the way are unavoidable, but they are not the only thing that defines you.

Besides, while the manner in which you did it could use work, you were within your rights to refuse advances, from that young maiden or anyone else who might ask you for that kind of attention and you are not interested in.

Though it might not be how everyone behaves, the one reasonable guideline when it comes to how to treat people is to act towards others as you might wish to be treated were you in the receiving end in a similar situation. You do not have to act so, nor will I try to chastise you for not doing so unless I see danger in your actions. But I thought it unfair to advise what not to do without giving an alternative.

May your day be fine.

- Lan Xichen

[snowsparksjr]

[The note that arrives a day later in response is written in much shakier calligraphy. His uncles had spoiled him, and calligraphy was one of the areas that he'd been allowed to slack. Which is all the more unfortunate because he doesn't have access to a lexicon and he was too proud to ask Sizhui for help with this, so the letter is almost unreadable. At least it's short.]

Teacher,

This student is honored grateful by your guidance and would be blessing for further instruction into the west.

[He's a sect leader! He doesn't need to remember four thousand characters and grammatical structures! That's why he has lexicons and servants!!!]

Cordiality,

Jin Ling

Text

[yilingdaddy]

[ After this lovely and fun conversation, Jin Ling gets a message! ]

You can come see me any time, Jin Ling. My door is always open to you.

That's how family is.

[snowsparksjr]

Why would I want to come see you!!

[He's still smarting a bit from being both reprimanded and teased on the network.]

Delivery

[yilingdaddy]

[ A flat box appears one morning, Jin Ling's name in somewhat lazy brush strokes. But inside, there are several sheets of paper. Each one has drawings on it.

One page is entirely of dogs, with Fairy playing heavy influence.

A second page also has Fairy peeking in, playing around...but also familiar faces playing with dogs.

Another page has a face Jin Ling might not recognize, but the brush strokes (carefully tidy, gentle and delicately inked) at the top say 'Jiang Yanli'. All around it are the same woman in various poses, with varying expressions and ages.

A second, and a third page hold much the same. These pages bear the most color, though still highly tasteful and delicate.

The last page focuses on a man in Jin robes. 'Jin Zixuan' is written with almost as much care as Yanli's. There are less expressions and poses, but there is a clear nobility (or arrogance?) to the man that Jin Ling himself often carries. Only a little color tinges drawn robes.

There is no message with the gift, but considering the drawings themselves bare a striking resemblance to the dog lantern Wei Wuxian did for him, is the sender's identity such a mystery? ]

text

[snowsparksjr]

Thank you.

[Not particularly eloquent, but the words are still new additions to Jin Ling's vocabulary. He doesn't mention, of course, that he's been crying over the pictures since they arrived. He's seen only stiff and formal images of his parents before. These lively, complex drawings are a side of them that he thought he'd never have a chance to glimpse.]

[Video] Evening

[yilingdaddy]

Jin Ling, tell me you're okay!

[A certain uncle's face miiight be a little too close to the screen sorry not sorry]

Where- are you still with Meng Yao?

[Video]

[snowsparksjr]

What? Yeah, I'm fine. [He has no idea that Wei Wuxian was similarly afflicted. Even if it was mentioned in his presence, the information didn't stick.] My emotions came back and I can access my golden core again.

I've been at home, mostly. Sizhui... had to deal with me. I was awful to him.

But yes, I'm with Meng Yao again now. [He makes no attempt to hide that, even though it's a violation of their agreement. He already sent his text to Hanguang-Jun and assumes that... Wei Wuxian has seen it.] I went to him before because... I wasn't myself. It was the choice that was logical to what was left of me. Right now, it's a choice I'm making. I'm breaking our agreement.

video

[measuringdicks]

Hey, dipshit, I bought The Godfather! And The Godfather Parts Two and Three. [He did not know there was a Part Three, and he seems very excited about it. Look, he's even holding up the DVDs!] Wanna watch the first two parts with me?

[snowsparksjr]

Sure. [Jin Ling hasn't learned about DVDs yet, but so far he's enjoyed the modern things Richie has taught him. Mostly the swearing.]

Should I come over to your place or do you want to come here? I just have one quiet roommate, Sizhui, and the dog.

Text: from JC's stolen comm

[yilingdaddy]

DONT BOTHER LOOKING FOR WEI WUXIAN.

[ Someone doesn't keep a close eye on his comm unit. ]

[snowsparksjr]

what the fuck

WRONG POST IGNORE ME I CAN READ

[secondjade]

[ Jin Ling receives a picture, without any caption. It has a little bit of pink where Wangji's thumb has blocked the camera, but at least it's mostly in focus. It shows a note, lazily drawn but legible:

Lan Zhan

I'm safe. I'll be back soon.

Wei Ying.

From one conspirator to another. ]

During wwx dissapearance

[lanofsizhui]

[There's a tension during lessons which Sizhui sensed and took notice when Senior Wei is missing (yet again without explanation) and Jin Ling's anxious energy and prone to outbursts is in the house caused a distance between him and his best friend.

At best, he felt there's nothing he can do to help the other than figure out a way to speak to his father about changing the lessons routine and program because waking early 5am is stressful itself. In the meanwhile, Sizhui wanted to provide and offer a distraction.

Sizhui known for his cheerfulness and peacefulness has becoming more visibly weary and stressed. In the past, organizing night-hunts is the essential part of junior training, but now...Sizhui has to do something. Anything to settle the pressure that is Jin Ling is under, which he realize is explosive.]

Jin Ling. Wherever you are. Please come home.

[snowsparksjr]

not until i know he's safe

backdated to yanli's post, last friday

[secondjade]

[ After he sees Jiang Yanli's post, Wangji knows that Jin Ling could not go long without seeing it, either.

He can only imagine what it would feel like, to do so.

(A little like finding Wei Ying after sixteen years, perhaps.)

So he sends a message. ]

Jin Ling.

If an ear required, it is available.

[snowsparksjr]

teacher
i wouldn't know where to start

[Text] Day or two after Yanli's arrival

[yilingdaddy]

I'm not going to ask forgiveness.

...you should meet your mother.

[ Yes, those two things totally go together. ]

[snowsparksjr]

Read 10:48PM