You're very welcome. Look at us, all mannerly and friendly.
[ :)
As to the takeaway— ]
On a mountainside. Did I get the riddle? [ Somewhere above clouds? High up?
And somewhere hidden, which makes entirely too much sense, despite their stark difference in homes and culture. Surely it's safer to do... whatever they do isolated and off the map. ]
Appreciate the thought. It's nothing personal. You seem relatively in your right mind and not inclined to haul me off to a dark hole to cure me of all my ills, but I'd prefer to keep clear of channeling. What most people call "powers" where I'm from.
I always do my best to be mannerly, but friendly depends on the person.
[he has very much perfected the art of smiling politely while also making it look like he's telling someone to go take a flying leap. (to put it nicely, anyway!) however, sizhui likes mat, regardless of his sometimes... skittery nature.
it's solidified by the fact he gets the meaning almost immediately.]Yes, you did. Great job![he's proud of you, mat, genuinely.
safer, for sure, but not too far off the map, considering people used to waltz right in without invitations all the time? but that's probably been remedied in the newer generations of cultivators. this, and the fact the people who used to do that have been, ah, eradicated.
except for him and his uncle? ope.]I understand and take no offense. That would never be my intention, but I respect your choice, as you have made yourself clear. I'll also try not to use my abilities around you unless it's absolutely necessary.
[ Wait—? Actually taking him at face value? It's a funny effect of Sizhui's brand of unvarnished earnestness that immediately makes him almost want to downgrade from the point, cast it in less serious tones, laugh it off. The other's missed a cue in Mat's script; he was supposed to fight him on it, argue a little about how he's misunderstanding cultivating, and they could carry on.
Ugh. It's so hard to troll and maintain the chip on his shoulder when Shizui is being like this. Chipper, complete with exclamatory punctuation. Nice.
Lamely, after a delay trying and failing to think of how to reverse course without entirely undermining himself ass over tea kettle: ]
I'm aiming not to take a punch to the nose in a tavern to put those healing abilities to the test.
[ Thank you doesn't sound right. Neither does it's fine, do what you have to do.
Another pause, another helping of lameness: ]
I wasn't really going to ask you for a spontaneous public performance.
[see, that's one of the most difficult parts of sizhui; he's so wholehearted, it can throw people off so easily, and he doesn't usually think about how this could be used to his advantage. it's not something he wants to use against another person, but if there were ever a time where he considered it and decided to follow through, he could truly become a force to be reckoned with.
even funnier about this moment, though, is that he does recognize that he's caught mat off-guard with it; the pause between messages is questionable, but what mat comes back with makes sizhui smile faintly.]Even better! I prefer you all in one piece, anyhow.
[that second message does have him coming up short, a deserved response for the delay he'd caused in mat's messages, clearly! and yet sizhui's own answer comes almost as quickly after mat's finally goes through.]
You weren't? And with me already here in the square...
[ Gently looks at these overtures of concern in passing without knowing what to do with them... ??? Is this column a: mannerly, or column b: friendly.
But whole hearts are so annoying, that would never work on him, people like certain redheads who shall not be named only wish he had a weak spot to exploit for such emotional manipulation. Likewise, it would be inaccurate to say his response is from an abundance of ??? and being thrown for a loop. This is just reexamining his level of investment in the charade, is all.
> Revisionist history in effect. ]
Well, if you insist on being so mannerly, I guess I can let you off the hook this time. But I won't stop you if you're that eager to lift spirits and get in some practice. I'm not convinced you wouldn't inspire a whiff of vigor.
The food vendors are a fine second place prize.
[ You know what else is there besides impromptu musical numbers? Meaty things on sticks and strange colored ice treats—what also falls under holistic healing methods in service of well-being.
And Mat himself, he supposes, a few minutes behind. He has to concede there was a middling to fair chance he wasn't just going to stand Sizhui up, but letting him project about Aes Sedai to infinity and beyond cranks the rusty level up to a strong likelihood. ]
[a little of a, a little of b, but it's mostly somehow a mix of both; mat hasn't given him a reason to act impolitely, after all, and sizhui always hopes to be friendly with people, no matter how hard they push back...
if he remains kind and pleasant, maybe one day he'll win over even the worst of villains with friendliness. (unlikely, but come on, let him at least dream!) it may take him a long time, he will eventually find a way to worm his way into mat's heart. keeping in mind that not offering him healing and other such things could strengthen his chances—
let him off the hook? oh... well, that is tempting, particularly after he had put in such a small fuss during it all, and yet there's something that drives him, emboldens him to follow through on it. mat's continued reassurance is, of course, helping in that sense.]
The practice would do me good, and if I happen to invigorate a person or two, I'll take that as I'm doing something right. Maybe good, even.
[oh, and strangely-colored ice treats sound up his alley? he would, however, taste the meat if offered, never one to turn down common courtesy. while he will never know exactly what it was that encouraged mat, he's glad it happened either way.]
Okay, I'll wait for you. This will give me time to warm up a little.
having caught some opening Untamed eps, a psa: bless u for this angel
[ Lifting an eyebrow at this sudden change in tune. As in stupid, taunting double doggy dares as in raising stakes at the card table, there comes a time he can usually expect the other party to back down and reasonably disengage from his bullshit (whether it be losing the patience to humor him, or the wherewithal to keep bluffing him). ]
Cured yourself of performance anxiety that fast?
[ No shot he's going to take him up on serenading, right? ... And in front of people?
On that note, do not perceive him and his capacity to be guilt tripped. Sizhui already has power beyond that of the average man. ]
Edited 2024-03-08 04:47 (UTC)
oh my GOSH you have no idea how pleased that makes me 🥹 you finally see the boy...
[this isn't sizhui's first go-around with being teased; he has other friends who have coerced him into things before and, for the most part, they haven't gone horrifically sideways! what's wrong with singing in front of people, besides not sounding the greatest? he's not even drunk, so he won't stumble over himself, get sick or anything extra silly like that.
any actual serenading will take a bit more coaxing, though.]
Not necessarily. More like I'm pushing through it for the sake of getting out there! Of trying something I wouldn't normally do!
[and no worries there, he may have perceived but he won't be outright, especially not when he has to concentrate on making sure he doesn't lose his cool. it wouldn't do for him to abandon where he's posted up now, not when some people are already watching him.]
[ By the Light, more exclamation points. Sizhui is either fantastically talented at pretending to fall prey to coercion for the long play, or this is... not going quite the way he thought. ]
Oh, now you want to switch careers to performer? I thought your signed your life away to do whatever it is your clan does. Oaths and all that.
[ Or is that just Aes Sedai? ]
Is this some kind of commentary about trying new healing arts when in a new place?
[can it be a little of both? because it might be a little of both; sizhui's easily coerced, particularly when it comes to handsome men who want him to sing, apparently.]
The nice thing about my clan is I can do just about whatever I want, as long as it doesn't break the rules.[of which there are four thousand but hey, when you've studied them for so long, you find the loopholes.]
Maybe! I'm always up for learning new things and healing arts are important, after all. My aunt knew all sorts of ways to heal people; she would be proud of me for branching out, especially when learning things like healing and medicine.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
deferences) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
houseofsushi2020-05-22 10:34 pm
no subject
[ :)
As to the takeaway— ]
On a mountainside. Did I get the riddle? [ Somewhere above clouds? High up?
And somewhere hidden, which makes entirely too much sense, despite their stark difference in homes and culture. Surely it's safer to do... whatever they do isolated and off the map. ]
Appreciate the thought. It's nothing personal. You seem relatively in your right mind and not inclined to haul me off to a dark hole to cure me of all my ills, but I'd prefer to keep clear of channeling. What most people call "powers" where I'm from.
no subject
[he has very much perfected the art of smiling politely while also making it look like he's telling someone to go take a flying leap. (to put it nicely, anyway!) however, sizhui likes mat, regardless of his sometimes... skittery nature.
it's solidified by the fact he gets the meaning almost immediately.] Yes, you did. Great job! [he's proud of you, mat, genuinely.
safer, for sure, but not too far off the map, considering people used to waltz right in without invitations all the time? but that's probably been remedied in the newer generations of cultivators. this, and the fact the people who used to do that have been, ah, eradicated.
except for him and his uncle? ope.] I understand and take no offense. That would never be my intention, but I respect your choice, as you have made yourself clear. I'll also try not to use my abilities around you unless it's absolutely necessary.
no subject
Ugh. It's so hard to troll and maintain the chip on his shoulder when Shizui is being like this. Chipper, complete with exclamatory punctuation. Nice.
Lamely, after a delay trying and failing to think of how to reverse course without entirely undermining himself ass over tea kettle: ]
I'm aiming not to take a punch to the nose in a tavern to put those healing abilities to the test.
[ Thank you doesn't sound right. Neither does it's fine, do what you have to do.
Another pause, another helping of lameness: ]
I wasn't really going to ask you for a spontaneous public performance.
no subject
even funnier about this moment, though, is that he does recognize that he's caught mat off-guard with it; the pause between messages is questionable, but what mat comes back with makes sizhui smile faintly.] Even better! I prefer you all in one piece, anyhow.
[that second message does have him coming up short, a deserved response for the delay he'd caused in mat's messages, clearly! and yet sizhui's own answer comes almost as quickly after mat's finally goes through.]
You weren't? And with me already here in the square...
no subject
But whole hearts are so annoying, that would never work on him, people like certain redheads who shall not be named only wish he had a weak spot to exploit for such emotional manipulation. Likewise, it would be inaccurate to say his response is from an abundance of ??? and being thrown for a loop. This is just reexamining his level of investment in the charade, is all.
> Revisionist history in effect. ]
Well, if you insist on being so mannerly, I guess I can let you off the hook this time. But I won't stop you if you're that eager to lift spirits and get in some practice. I'm not convinced you wouldn't inspire a whiff of vigor.
The food vendors are a fine second place prize.
[ You know what else is there besides impromptu musical numbers? Meaty things on sticks and strange colored ice treats—what also falls under holistic healing methods in service of well-being.
And Mat himself, he supposes, a few minutes behind. He has to concede there was a middling to fair chance he wasn't just going to stand Sizhui up, but letting him project about Aes Sedai to infinity and beyond cranks the rusty level up to a strong likelihood. ]
I'll be there soon. Don't get started without me.
no subject
if he remains kind and pleasant, maybe one day he'll win over even the worst of villains with friendliness. (unlikely, but come on, let him at least dream!) it may take him a long time, he will eventually find a way to worm his way into mat's heart. keeping in mind that not offering him healing and other such things could strengthen his chances—
let him off the hook? oh... well, that is tempting, particularly after he had put in such a small fuss during it all, and yet there's something that drives him, emboldens him to follow through on it. mat's continued reassurance is, of course, helping in that sense.]
The practice would do me good, and if I happen to invigorate a person or two, I'll take that as I'm doing something right. Maybe good, even.
[oh, and strangely-colored ice treats sound up his alley? he would, however, taste the meat if offered, never one to turn down common courtesy. while he will never know exactly what it was that encouraged mat, he's glad it happened either way.]
Okay, I'll wait for you. This will give me time to warm up a little.
having caught some opening Untamed eps, a psa: bless u for this angel
Cured yourself of performance anxiety that fast?
[ No shot he's going to take him up on serenading, right? ... And in front of people?
On that note, do not perceive him and his capacity to be guilt tripped. Sizhui already has power beyond that of the average man. ]
oh my GOSH you have no idea how pleased that makes me 🥹 you finally see the boy...
any actual serenading will take a bit more coaxing, though.]
Not necessarily. More like I'm pushing through it for the sake of getting out there! Of trying something I wouldn't normally do!
[and no worries there, he may have perceived but he won't be outright, especially not when he has to concentrate on making sure he doesn't lose his cool. it wouldn't do for him to abandon where he's posted up now, not when some people are already watching him.]
covers timestamps with hand 🫠
Oh, now you want to switch careers to performer? I thought your signed your life away to do whatever it is your clan does. Oaths and all that.
[ Or is that just Aes Sedai? ]
Is this some kind of commentary about trying new healing arts when in a new place?
timestamps are an illusion
The nice thing about my clan is I can do just about whatever I want, as long as it doesn't break the rules. [of which there are four thousand but hey, when you've studied them for so long, you find the loopholes.]
Maybe! I'm always up for learning new things and healing arts are important, after all. My aunt knew all sorts of ways to heal people; she would be proud of me for branching out, especially when learning things like healing and medicine.