Right after sundown is when Lan Jingyi shows up at the winehouse in Caiyi Town, dressed in soft blues and with his hair up somewhat differently, but the ever-present Lan ribbon is wrapped around the wider, more decorative white band holding his bangs asideβ which might ordinarily look silly and maybe it still does, but it's fitting for him in an odd way. (And to be fair, it doesn't look as ridiculous as he's assuming it might.)
Some other patrons stop to chat and he makes pleasant conversation, smiling here, laughing there, although his attention continues wandering in spite of himself. Thank goodness, nobody takes offense.
Honestly though, if they knew him better, they'd know full-well this is just how he is and accept it, but most of these people are strangers. It's weird, considering how little people he actually knows on a personal level; thinking about it while also contemplating how solid his excuse may have been β or possibly not? β makes his head buzz like an angry hornet's nest. He pardons himself with a soft βExcuse me,β gestures the company he's keeping inside and the moment they're out of sight, Jingyi huddles into the nearest corner, arms circled tight around himself, wide eyes downcasted to his feet.
What if Jin Ling's simply entertaining him and their friendship? He's a sect leader now, after all, with more important duties, people who matter, places he should be that aren't winehouses where he's getting drunk and slacking offβ
Stop it, he scolds, Jin Ling is your friend and if he didn't want to come, he obviously wouldn't have made plans in the first place. Following a firm, indignant sigh, the disciple straightens, adjusts his robes then moves out from his hiding space so he'll be easier to spot once his friend eventually shows up.
π‘ hush, hush we both can't fight it; it's us that made this mess, why can't you understand?
Some other patrons stop to chat and he makes pleasant conversation, smiling here, laughing there, although his attention continues wandering in spite of himself. Thank goodness, nobody takes offense.
Honestly though, if they knew him better, they'd know full-well this is just how he is and accept it, but most of these people are strangers. It's weird, considering how little people he actually knows on a personal level; thinking about it while also contemplating how solid his excuse may have been β or possibly not? β makes his head buzz like an angry hornet's nest. He pardons himself with a soft βExcuse me,β gestures the company he's keeping inside and the moment they're out of sight, Jingyi huddles into the nearest corner, arms circled tight around himself, wide eyes downcasted to his feet.
What if Jin Ling's simply entertaining him and their friendship? He's a sect leader now, after all, with more important duties, people who matter, places he should be that aren't winehouses where he's getting drunk and slacking offβ
Stop it, he scolds, Jin Ling is your friend and if he didn't want to come, he obviously wouldn't have made plans in the first place. Following a firm, indignant sigh, the disciple straightens, adjusts his robes then moves out from his hiding space so he'll be easier to spot once his friend eventually shows up.