lan sizhui ♪ the untamed (open post)

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Comments

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I'm not, I've stood up for myself before, but perhaps he can help me do better? Everyone can always stand to learn something, after all. [but he is respectful, g o s h!!

as back and forth as it is, at least sizhui's understanding most of it? ‘most’ being the keyword.]

I'm self-assured without being loud. [in more ways than one—] Yes, he is, he's just, ah... far spunkier than some of us.

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He isn't "spunky" he talks without ever thinking before he speaks! Not even Jin Ling talks as much as that friend of yours.

Maybe learn a little from both of them. But not too much. If you lose all your good manners Lan Wangji will never let me hear the end of it. [ Maybe not with words but he knows the looks would be withering. ]

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Oh, but imagine having them together when there's no one else around! They're both going nonstop, it's... really quite astounding.

I'll do that, though. The good things I can learn from both of them put together should be enough without my manners taking too much of a hit. [and thankfully, sizhui knows what's proper and what is not.]

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The word you are looking for isn't "astounding" it is "horrifying" or maybe "headache-inducing."

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The latter isn't incorrect, but “horrifying” seems a bit much. It's not too bad if you can disregard it.

[or you're like sizhui and have the patience of a saint.]

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[ Does he look like a patient man? ]

Alright. Your friends aren't horrifying. Just extremely obnoxious. Now I understand why the Lan developed that silencing spell.

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[not in the slightest. :')]

That's... acceptable, I suppose. It is rather convenient for quieting people, huh? Although, personally, I haven't experienced it much.

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I wouldn't have minded knowing it for when I needed to shut up Wei Wuxian.

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Would you like for me to teach it to you? [sizhui, no.]

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[ Sizhui, yes! ]

I would like that, yes.

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[finally, progress!]

Alright! The next time we happen across each other, I'll teach it to you.

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I'll remind you of that.

[ Now he only has to hope nobody talks sense into Sizhui before the best/worst can happen. ]

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I've a feeling it's something you won't forget.

[can't have somebody talk sense into him if he doesn't tell anyone, yeah?]

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I won't. It's a useful skill to learn.

[ And everybody else knows better than to teach it to him. ]

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Useful, he says. [is he teasing? ...maybe just a little.

but in jiang cheng's defense, quieting someone can be helpful sometimes. see: when su she was silenced.]

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Of course it's useful! I never denied that in the first place! Why would I waste my time on learning useless skills?

Just because it's a Lan skill doesn't make it useless. Just annoying.

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It's a joke, Jiang-zongzhu, I was only kidding. It's useful for quieting people, but not so much anything else.

Annoying or not, it's a skill you might take advantage of if you see where I'm coming from?

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I agreed already that it's advantageous and useful. What else do you expect to hear?

[ Well. There's one thing, maybe. ]

I do appreciate you teaching me. It is a fair exchange for me teaching you to be more assertive.

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[so much for the joke... but it's fine, it still got a little smile out of him.]

You're welcome and thank you for teaching me. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to do so. [particularly after the whole beehive mishap.]

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[ Oh there will be regular reminders of that for the next 50 years at least, Jiang Cheng is terribly at letting anything go for good, but at least he's distracted for now. ]

I will speak to you again soon.

Tell me when you are next planning to visit Lotus Pier.

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[perfect, that just makes room for the getting too old, your memory is going! jokes. those will certainly liven things up a bit.]

Rest assured.

Jin Ling mentioned wanting to go swimming sometime soon, so perhaps... I could plan for next week or the week following.

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I could make time then. Just send me a message when you know exactly when.

I'm glad you are friends with Jin Ling.

[ That costs more to admit than admitting that he wants to learn from someone half his age. But it's true and it would feel dishonest not to acknowledge it at some point. ]

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I can do that.

[o-oh. there's a far longer pause between messages than sizhui means but once he's able to properly form a coherent sentence through his embarrassment:] Me too. He's someone who's extremely important to me, regardless of how we argue sometimes.

And no matter how much he may protest having friends.

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[ Ouch. That... hits a little too close to home maybe and yes, he had been the one to start letting things get that real but still. He can resent feeling feelings even if he has nobody but himself to blame. ]

Good. I'm glad you see it that way.

I know he sees you as a friend and values you, even if he has a hard time showing it.

Make sure you remain a loyal friend to Jin Ling or broken legs will be the least of your worries.

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[‘sorry, not sorry,’ is the usual response to this situation, except sizhui would truly be sorry because that's the type of person he is.]

His situation is... difficult, I can understand why lashing out at times seems like the proper instinctual reaction. I'm hoping maybe, with some time, I might be able to help him better?

I want him to know I don't see him as ill-bred or anything like that at all.

[of course, jiang cheng has to go and ruin it with— ah, but perhaps not? he did smile a little, nevertheless.] Never in my life would I ever dream of betraying him.