[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
[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.