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[rootsforyou]

Text | Action | Ring A Bell | Other

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[rootsforyou]

So it would seem. I believe that whoever appears is random, though.

[strikingchords]

I see. Any member of Echidna.

[rootsforyou]

More study would be required to confirm if you can request a specific one.

In any case, were you in need of assistance? I can make you something to eat if that's what you came here for.

[strikingchords]

...

Was testing the bells.

But, you had offered lessons.

[rootsforyou]

[claps her hands together, eyes bright]

I did! Would you like to try making something from your cookbook?

[strikingchords]

Hm.

[shakes his head slightly]

Would request a Yunmeng dish.

[rootsforyou]

[nods and sort of idly moves behind the counter to see if she can find another apron for him to wear]

I am more familiar with those. Did you have one in mind, or will any do?

[strikingchords]

[inclines his head gracefully to her, following her lead... I feel like comedy demands another apron is there, if nothing else]

Will trust your recommendation.

[rootsforyou]

[there must obviously be another apron. offers it to him so he doesn't ruin his bedsheets]

If we're making proper Yunmeng dishes...then we'll have to go with Sichuan chicken and lotus and pork rib soup. Would you get out the pork and chicken?

[starts collecting their spices]

[strikingchords]

[he puts on the apron. he is Apron Lan Wangji now. nods without fanfare and goes to get the pork and chicken, moving efficiently]

[rootsforyou]

[she's still finding spices when he brings the meat; it's hard to locate everything when it's not your kitchen...]

Ah, perfect. For the chicken we'll want to boil it in a large pot with some of the other ingredients. I'll have the ginger and green onion ready if you can get the water boiling.

Both of these dishes don't have many ingredients, so it shouldn't be difficult to keep track if you want to recreate them later.

[strikingchords]

I will remember.

[he'll fetch the pot and water and get them on the stove, too...]

[rootsforyou]

[there are actually way too many ingredients for making the sauce so rip to Lan Wangji

when she has pulled out all of the various spices she needs she does indeed slice up the green onions and ginger to add into the pot with the chicken. and then, because this is a teaching lesson, she goes over each one of the ingredients with Lan Wangji so she knows what they are and how much to add in.]

[strikingchords]

[he'll watch her with fierce concentration, trying to commit each to memory anyway! he can probably do it, if it's under 3,000,,,

he doesn't speak except to acknowledge when she prompts him, actually! but he doesn't seem uncomfortable? at least as far as she can tell. a silent and diligent student.]

[rootsforyou]

[this is what she expected of him; at social events, even seeing him from a distance, he has never seemed like a talker. it makes the instructional portion of cooking go smoothly--she starts the sauce and then has him finish it, telling him which spice to combine to the mix while checking on the chicken.

she lets it be quiet right up until she takes the chicken out and puts it in an ice bath to have it cool]

I had something I wished to speak to you about as well, Hanguang-Jun.

[strikingchords]

Mm.

You may speak.

[he is carefully chopping some extra ingredients. it is possible he was expecting this.]

[rootsforyou]

[she did say she wanted to speak with him the other day! he had time to be mentally prepared]

You don't need to go into detail if it's difficult to discuss. But I thought it would be painful to A-Xian to speak of it. Would you tell me what happened, after I died?

[strikingchords]

[pauses for a moment in his chopping... soft]

Am unsure he remembers.

...

You recall the sects' concerns, regarding the Stygian Tiger Seal.

[rootsforyou]

It was a frequent topic of conversation among them, yes.

[strikingchords]

Just so.

[watching his unmoving ingredients, voice still quiet and level]

After your death, he lost interest in control. The Seal was activated. Sect leaders escaped casualties, but they were heavy.

[rootsforyou]

I expected something like that. He mentioned he'd done something bad. But he made it out as well.

[strikingchords]

Mm. Few saw him when his strength was spent.

[rootsforyou]

Did he...not recover, after that?

[strikingchords]

[hesitates...]

Was able to escape, with assistance.

However, he chose to return to Burial Mounds alone. In preparation for reprisal.

[rootsforyou]

[takes the chicken out of the ice bath and starts cutting it up, slow and thoughtful]

Did you hear that from someone else, or witness it yourself?