October Catch-all --a little early.

[jc_superstar]

⌛ Who: Jiang Cheng and Kinn Theerapanyakul
⌛ What: Neandering around town
⌛ When: Tail end of September but October (spoopy season)
⌛ Where: Wherever!
⌛ Warnings: TBD in threads



[Jiang Cheng, post qi deviation]

Once Cheng was strong enough to move around for more than ten minutes, he started trekking over to his friends houses to see how they were doing and to thank them for their help and apologize for causing so much trouble. With every friend he visited, he offered a fruit basket. If he thought cutting them would last, he would have.

He comes to the next home, takes a breath and then schools his face for a pleasant smile before knocking. All he had to do now was wait to be answered. Cheng fervently hoped that their relationship hadn't been ruined by the recent events.



[Jiang Cheng, Onsen]

Once he had recovered, he wanted to do ... something. Anything. He was tired of sitting in the house, tired of people hovering over him, worried about what he would do, if he would relapse. He just needed to get out of the house and relax a bit.

The best way he knew how was the Onsen. The incense was nice, the sound of water was soothing and Cheng was looking forward to relaxing, pampering himself with some expensive cleansers, and let the stress of the past three weeks drain out of him.



[Kinn, by the wharf]

Despite gathering evidence that overall, the place was relatively safe, Kinn still wanted to be prepared. So he made his way to the wharf where many had said one could find rare items, hoping he would find a seller who may have more than just information about firearms.

As he strolled through the allies, he walked with confidence as if he owned the place. His clothing was neat but not necessarily anything that would scream he was rich or in the wrong place. And as he walked, he considered the things he would change in the place. A floating market, some different variations in the market-maybe something foreign in terms of imports?

Evidently, he couldn't completely dismiss the mafia in him.








[Anyone who wants a specific starter with any character, please hit me up! Discord Aristastarfyr#8868 or pm the journals.]

Comments

[jc_superstar]

"Not him." He said that too quickly even has he tries to relax into the energy. Xiao Xingchen was an idol and the fact that he was Wuxian's martial uncle? It would probably rip his heart to shreds to learn what Wuxian had done for Cheng. As it was, he could almost feel his core try and fray a little more before it started to smooth out. He had a feeling that this damage was permanent and he would have to live with it like that. It was disheartening. But he couldn't think that way, could he? Not with what was at stake.

"I have Wen Qing, and Lan Xichen and you?" He tried not to make it sound like a question. It was frustrating to know he would have to work even harder now. Before he always had to because everyone else--it always seemed like things came naturally for them. But he did this to himself. He needed to own up to the consequences.

[fated_dance]

Zishu blinks at that immediate answer, startled. But it's not his right to push, it's enough that Jiang Cheng is letting him help. And that he has others who can help too that he'll accept.

He keeps up the flow of energy for a long couple minutes before pulling back. "Of course you have me," he immediately seeks to reassure. "I will also look for more medicines to possibly have you try." He returns to the seat he'd taken before and takes a sip of tea.

"A-Cheng, Lao Wen would want to know. He's more of a healer than I am."

[jc_superstar]

As long as he didn't have to go to whatever passed for doctors here. He's more than aware that they might mistake this for a kizuna break--which is what everyone thought was at first.

"I'm sure he would. And I'm sure he'll scold me severely for it, too." That or blame himself for being a catalyst. He doesn't know if Zishu knows the story about everything yet, either. He looks at his half-empty tea cup and finally downs the rest. "We might need more than one pot."

[fated_dance]

Zishu would never subject someone willingly to those 'doctors'. He has picked people up and taken them from the 'hospitals' here and brought them to get proper treatment.

He chuckles with a little grin. "Of course he would. That's how he shows he cares." He doesn't know the whole picture, but he trusts he'll be told if he needs to know something.

"More tea, or wine? You might as well stay for dinner while you're here."

[jc_superstar]

"Wine." That was a no-brainer. If he was going to stay for dinner, he might as well have the appropriate drink to tell the story. "I've been having problems with Nie Huaisang. Or maybe it was problems with my own heart. I don't really know. But-uhm- when Wen Qing arrived, it was... it was surprising, to say the least. I tried courting her at home but wars get in the way of everything and it...it never worked out. And then she died. And I did nothing to stop it. I've carried that guilt on as anger for many, many years." He's carried a lot of things as anger over many years.

"Anyway, she arrived and I've been struggling. I'm not good with feelings," he admits in a rush, as if he's completely convinced that everyone else he knows and doesn't know are experts at this. "But I couldn't reconcile one or the other. I guess I still can't in some way. It would make everything easier. And I asked Kexing about it, how you two, manage." He didn't even know if Kexing had permission to speak about things like that! But then again, Cheng never asked for details about their personal lives.

"And then that's when I headed out to meditate and think about everything on my own. And I thought I had everything right to talk about us. But--I don't know. I didn't have it right, I guess. Because as soon as he knew she was here and what I wanted to consider..."

His hand on the cup tightened as he relived the memories and emotions that had come to past. Cheng really wished he knew how to handle this better.

[fated_dance]

He drains his tea and stands, moving to fetch a couple bottles. Pauses as he listens to just a smidge of what his friend has been going through, and pulls out a couple more before carrying them to the table. He sets them between them on the table, continuing to listen with pushing for details or more information. Just listening. Not judging.

His lips quirk in a little grin at being informed Jiang Cheng had asked his husband about how they manage. But doesn't comment just yet. He waits until his friend seems done for the moment before weighing his words carefully.

"War does tend to get in the way of things," he starts. "Even worse as it sounds like you were on opposing sides." Which he understands. How many times had he thought Kexing was an enemy? But then he stopped caring and stuck by his side. He hasn't regretted it even once since then.

"And emotions can be difficult to navigate. Some relationships just fit, even when you have to fight for them. I won't tell you how many times Lao Wen had to chase me, or how many times I left or shoved him away before I stopped fighting the fact we were meant to be together."

His lips twitch again, this time wryly. "And we do fight and argue, A-Cheng. Usually physically, but we work it out because in the end, we are each other's reason for existing." There is no blush of shame or embarrassment at speaking like this. He's proud of being with Wen Kexing, openly and unrepentant.

But more seriously, his gaze drops as he considers the last part. "I do not know Nie Huaisang well, so I cannot speak on your relationship with him. And I've only met Wen Qing a few times, though I think well of her. I assume one of them did not take your wishes well. Not everyone is willing to share someone's heart with another, no matter how much love there might be between them. It also takes a great deal of trust."

Now comes the more intimate bit. "When Lao Wen and I first arrived, we were separately and together with more than a few others. We both set rules to follow, so we could survive this place without going mad. It's only been recently that we both chose to put the other first, to stop seeing others romantically."

[jc_superstar]

He heard everything, he really did! And hearing the last bit has him thinking that it probably wasn't going to work, anyway.

"He didn't even hear me out. He just... broke it off. Like shooting a pheasant. No other explanation, no other words that I broke his heart--to which he never stated I had before anyway!" It was infuriating. So damnably infuriating! "So I left. Just took what was mine and went to my sister's. And then I find out that he, he..."

It shouldn't be painful, but it was. "He's gone. Not here anymore. And I nearly killed myself for someone who only cared about how warm I made his bed." It was easier to be spiteful. Maybe. "Then, it was first thought that I was having a Kizuna break, but it turned out to be my core. Zishu, this core isn't even mine. Mine was destroyed in the war and my brother had this crazy idea to give me his and A-Qing was the one who helped an--"

Cheng cuts himself off, already feeling himself getting worked up by all this confessing. With a hard swallow and eyes shut tight, he concentrates on his breathing, trying to center himself again. It was always so hard to do so when he thought about Huaisang and he hated himself for that. Even when he was no longer around, he affected Cheng so.

[fated_dance]

Zishu's fingers clench at the pain he hears in his friend's voice. The pain, the frustration. The confusion.

Betrayal.

But he holds himself still, letting Jiang Cheng spill his poor, wounded heart out without judging him. He can't help how his eyes go wide at the confession of the core that's in this man's body isn't even his. It's his brother's.

He doesn't think too hard about it, just reaches out to rest a hand on his friend's shoulder to remind him he's not alone. To give him something solid to hold onto, that's in the present.

"Find people to hold onto here. That remind you that it's alright to form bonds. To trust. It will take effort, and time, but I know you can do it." The fact Jiang Cheng had even told him about the core is all the proof he needs.

"Lao Wen knows how to play to soothe the soul, to refresh the body while one meditates. Will you let him play for you? At my worst, he played for me all night and I woke refreshed after having the best rest I'd had in years. If not him, then surely there are people from your world who have similar skill."

[jc_superstar]

When Cheng laughs, it's broken and wet sounding. He's a pathetic fool, wasn't he? "I have people knocking down my door, wanting to play for me. What's one more?" He didn't mean to sound disparaging and looked chagrined when he realized how that must sound. "I don't mind. I mean...I have a lot more support here than I ever did back home. It's...It's a little intimidating."

Because sect leaders who were paranoid that their sect would be ripped away from them never, EVER showed weakness.