[ 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.
[‘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.
[ If it came from Sizhui, he would actually believe that "sorry" too instead of seeing it as mockery. ]
Good. Make sure you don't falter in your loyalty to him.
He needs loyal companions. [ To become a sect leader at such a young age, Jiang Cheng knows exactly how lonely that is. Hopefully, Jin Ling won't have to suffer the same loneliness. ]
And he isn't ill-bred, no matter what people say about him! He is a hard-working boy. He is courageous and gifted. Lanling Jin can feel proud to call him their own.
I won't.[frankly put, jin ling is a friend he'd die for.]So long as there is air in my lungs, I'll stay by his side.
Which, by extension, I hope passes along my loyalty to those important to him, too.[jiang cheng might've grown up without people, but that doesn't mean he's alone now.]
No, I know he isn't, that's why if people are giving him a hard time...
[well, sizhui'll just leave that there and let people remember he was raised by hanguang-jun and all! also: there are so many other things he'd like to say to compliment jin ling? but they are likely praise jiang cheng wouldn't want to hear.]They can, and if there are those who still doubt him, then they aren't worth the time. He's more than proven himself to his own sect and all the others.
Good. Make sure you keep your promise to him. It is hurtful to have eternal loyalty promised to you only to learn that it is very conditional. I don't want Jin Ling to ever know such suffering.
[ Not that he would know anything about such hurts. Nope. But he is still going to be naturally suspicious of the boy Wei Wuxian claims as his son, even if they have taken enough steps to reconcile that he is now willing to treat said boy as his nephew.
And yet here they are, with Lan Sizhui so painfully earnest and even implying loyalty to Jiang Cheng himself. What is he supposed to make of that? ]
It's true that Jin Ling has proven himself. I'm glad you can acknowledge that. Many only see his youth but he is learning quickly, and he is very proficient for his age. He carries heavier burdens than most men twice his age. Which again, makes it so important that he has people loyal to him.
[sounds like jiang cheng's speaking from experience, which immediately makes sizhui want to ask, but he knows rather well when to keep his curiosity in check.]Well, I have to admit, I haven't... verbally sworn an oath to him in any proper manner. Should I fix that?
[being suspicious of him is fair, there's no doubting that, although jiang cheng shouldn't forget he was raised by zewu-jun and hanguang-jun, too. not to mention sizhui's his own person and should be given the chance to prove himself as he is, especially if it means convincing sandu shengshou of loyalty.
a task he seems thoroughly dedicated to.]
That's because I'd imagine most other people look at him and just see a young, inexperienced boy rather than seeing him as a sect leader. I hope whatever attendants he has, they're good to him and treat him properly.
You don't need to verbally swear anything. In the end, words mean nothing. Just make sure he knows.
[ This isn't exactly the easiest conversation for him and really, he wishes he had put an end to it as soon as he had the agreement to be taught the silencing spell - but it's a necessary warning, just to make sure the company Jin Ling keeps can be trusted.
It's hard not to at least want to trust in such painful earnestness. ]
It's true. When you become sect leader at the age he did, and I did, it is very difficult to be seen as an equal to older sect leaders. Yesterday, people were still treating you as a child, now you hold authority over them. I try to help him but there is only so much I can do without harming him instead. He can't be seen as a weak leader who needs to be propped up by his uncle or as a Yunmeng Jiang puppet.
I'll make sure of it.[actions speak louder than words. he's heard that before, hasn't he? how unfortunate, he can't remember from where.
all jiang cheng has to do is say they're done talking about it and sizhui will immediately cease and desist (regardless of his nagging curiosity). but proving to jin ling's uncle that he's trustworthy is important; far more significant than teaching him the silencing spell, however, he'll still plan for that.
and if there's one thing that's certain: it's sizhui's impassioned loyalty to his friends.]
Perhaps... is there anything I can do to help him? As his friend, I mean. I don't know much about being a sect leader, but whatever I can do, I want him to be treated properly.
Although I'm not sure what it would look like or how it would sound if he was getting help from me.
[ That... is a good question, actually. While he became sect leader at a young age like Jin Ling, what support he had came from within his own sect and his mother's, he didn't have to worry about what it would look like to have friends from other great sects around. ]
I don't think it would do harm. You aren't one of the leaders of Gusu Lan yourself, though you are close to them. If you are at Carp Tower, you will visit with him as a dutiful friend.
It's a friend he needs from you, not so much someone to defend him. [ Well, thinking back on himself and Wei Wuxian... ] And maybe someone who punches the people he can't afford to punch.
[ Sandu Shengshu, forever doling out terrible advice. ]
[hold on, did he read that right? jiang cheng said he will visit like a dutiful friend? (it's not wrong, he's absolutely going to, but the fact jin ling's uncle is all but demanding...) alright, maybe sizhui laughed when he shouldn't have, but he couldn't help himself.]
I'd say I'm close to them.[stop smiling already! though no matter how much he repeats it, he can't.]Any time I'm at Carp Tower, I'd hope to be able to see him before leaving. No reason why it wouldn't be possible, unless he's immensely busy.
[surprisingly, jiang cheng's advice doesn't go unheeded.]
I can be his friend and still help him fight the battles he cannot. Those ones where someone might look down on him for it in particular.
[ Yes, he is absolutely stating it as a demand that he will visit with Jin Ling - or as an order, with an implied threat of broken legs if he fails. This is about the best approval you can get, really. ]
If anybody gives you trouble or tries to keep you away from Jin Ling and you don't want to bother him with it for some reason, you can come to me. Not that I would do it for you, don't think you're special, but I always enjoy an opportunity to put these lesser Jin in their place.
Good. Now keep your promises and maybe you will do right by him.
[an implied threat is still a threat and – weird as it may seem – it makes sizhui sort of feel like he's been accepted by jiang cheng.
especially whenever he's all but given permission to go tattle about anyone keeping him from seeing jin ling.]Yes, I'm sure you do, but I'd hope Jin Ling doesn't have so many people talking badly about him or attempting to keep his friends away. Regardless though, if it does become a problem, I'll keep it in mind.
And I swear (again!) that I'll do right by him.[but what he'll leave unsaid is: “and by you in turn.”]
[ He does catch the implication that comes with it and it leaves him discomfited, flustered, a little bit infuriated just because he doesn't like feeling flustered.
He glowers for a while at the message before penning the shortest reply, which will hopefully be curt enough to cover up his awkwardness at receiving such shows of caring.]
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houseofsushi2020-05-22 10:34 pm
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
Good. Make sure you don't falter in your loyalty to him.
He needs loyal companions. [ To become a sect leader at such a young age, Jiang Cheng knows exactly how lonely that is. Hopefully, Jin Ling won't have to suffer the same loneliness. ]
And he isn't ill-bred, no matter what people say about him! He is a hard-working boy. He is courageous and gifted. Lanling Jin can feel proud to call him their own.
no subject
Which, by extension, I hope passes along my loyalty to those important to him, too. [jiang cheng might've grown up without people, but that doesn't mean he's alone now.]
No, I know he isn't, that's why if people are giving him a hard time...
[well, sizhui'll just leave that there and let people remember he was raised by hanguang-jun and all! also: there are so many other things he'd like to say to compliment jin ling? but they are likely praise jiang cheng wouldn't want to hear.] They can, and if there are those who still doubt him, then they aren't worth the time. He's more than proven himself to his own sect and all the others.
no subject
[ Not that he would know anything about such hurts. Nope. But he is still going to be naturally suspicious of the boy Wei Wuxian claims as his son, even if they have taken enough steps to reconcile that he is now willing to treat said boy as his nephew.
And yet here they are, with Lan Sizhui so painfully earnest and even implying loyalty to Jiang Cheng himself. What is he supposed to make of that? ]
It's true that Jin Ling has proven himself. I'm glad you can acknowledge that. Many only see his youth but he is learning quickly, and he is very proficient for his age. He carries heavier burdens than most men twice his age. Which again, makes it so important that he has people loyal to him.
no subject
[being suspicious of him is fair, there's no doubting that, although jiang cheng shouldn't forget he was raised by zewu-jun and hanguang-jun, too. not to mention sizhui's his own person and should be given the chance to prove himself as he is, especially if it means convincing sandu shengshou of loyalty.
a task he seems thoroughly dedicated to.]
That's because I'd imagine most other people look at him and just see a young, inexperienced boy rather than seeing him as a sect leader. I hope whatever attendants he has, they're good to him and treat him properly.
no subject
[ This isn't exactly the easiest conversation for him and really, he wishes he had put an end to it as soon as he had the agreement to be taught the silencing spell - but it's a necessary warning, just to make sure the company Jin Ling keeps can be trusted.
It's hard not to at least want to trust in such painful earnestness. ]
It's true. When you become sect leader at the age he did, and I did, it is very difficult to be seen as an equal to older sect leaders. Yesterday, people were still treating you as a child, now you hold authority over them. I try to help him but there is only so much I can do without harming him instead. He can't be seen as a weak leader who needs to be propped up by his uncle or as a Yunmeng Jiang puppet.
no subject
all jiang cheng has to do is say they're done talking about it and sizhui will immediately cease and desist (regardless of his nagging curiosity). but proving to jin ling's uncle that he's trustworthy is important; far more significant than teaching him the silencing spell, however, he'll still plan for that.
and if there's one thing that's certain: it's sizhui's impassioned loyalty to his friends.]
Perhaps... is there anything I can do to help him? As his friend, I mean. I don't know much about being a sect leader, but whatever I can do, I want him to be treated properly.
Although I'm not sure what it would look like or how it would sound if he was getting help from me.
<s
I don't think it would do harm. You aren't one of the leaders of Gusu Lan yourself, though you are close to them. If you are at Carp Tower, you will visit with him as a dutiful friend.
It's a friend he needs from you, not so much someone to defend him. [ Well, thinking back on himself and Wei Wuxian... ] And maybe someone who punches the people he can't afford to punch.
[ Sandu Shengshu, forever doling out terrible advice. ]no subject
I'd say I'm close to them. [stop smiling already! though no matter how much he repeats it, he can't.] Any time I'm at Carp Tower, I'd hope to be able to see him before leaving. No reason why it wouldn't be possible, unless he's immensely busy.
[surprisingly, jiang cheng's advice doesn't go unheeded.]
I can be his friend and still help him fight the battles he cannot. Those ones where someone might look down on him for it in particular.
no subject
If anybody gives you trouble or tries to keep you away from Jin Ling and you don't want to bother him with it for some reason, you can come to me. Not that I would do it for you, don't think you're special, but I always enjoy an opportunity to put these lesser Jin in their place.
Good. Now keep your promises and maybe you will do right by him.
no subject
especially whenever he's all but given permission to go tattle about anyone keeping him from seeing jin ling.] Yes, I'm sure you do, but I'd hope Jin Ling doesn't have so many people talking badly about him or attempting to keep his friends away. Regardless though, if it does become a problem, I'll keep it in mind.
And I swear (again!) that I'll do right by him. [but what he'll leave unsaid is: “and by you in turn.”]
no subject
He glowers for a while at the message before penning the shortest reply, which will hopefully be curt enough to cover up his awkwardness at receiving such shows of caring.]
See that you do.