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[rootsforyou]

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[strikingchords]

Skilled action is memorable.

[when you are about to draw a sword on a dude and then a tiny lady fixes it by apologizing to him politely instead, you remember it.

he'll recognize the "I'm going to put on tea for us to sit and have tea" signals and sit while he watches her...]

...

It has not changed.

[rootsforyou]

[pauses in the middle of getting out tea leaves]

...Did you also think that your meeting was like something out of a poem?

[it isn't even teasing, just openly curious to see how his memory of their meeting stacks up with Wei Wuxian's recounting]

[strikingchords]

"To overturn Heaven and Earth."

...

Perhaps, "when they mingle."

[rootsforyou]

[forgets to steep the tea for a second. this is so much more than she expected]

I'm not familiar with the second. But believe I understand your meaning all the same.

[strikingchords]

[she probably would be familiar if he quoted it properly but this is also too much. he is now embarrassed. he needs the secondary layer of stupid wordplay, which is unworthy of him: tfw your tendency to be piningly dramatic briefly intersects with your crush's self-obscuring nonsense and you have to drag yourself about it]

...

Regardless.

[rootsforyou]

[nerd]

Regardless. I did not realize it had been for so long.

[strikingchords]

It is not relevant.

[rootsforyou]

It is perhaps more relevant than you think.

[sets tea down in front of him and also sits]

It would be important to present a united front upon our return. But there is no guarantee of success at that. Even if Zixuan was agreeable to the idea, Jin Guangshan's would likely not wish for LanlingJin to back down unless he was facing the combined efforts of other sects. We do not currently have such backing, and would only have a limited window in which to obtain it.

[strikingchords]

...

[ah. he had not expected her to be blunt, in her own way, or willing to cooperate without great feats of convincing. he is very used to Wei Wuxian.]

For GusuLan, "possible." Though not without qualification.

Wei Ying's visit would assist. To my brother, if not Gusu.

Perhaps, the young Madame Jin. Lianfang-Zun would hear quickly.

[rootsforyou]

[it is a very straightforward nod to the very, very large hurdles they would need to overcome, and the things they could potentially use to their advantage. she has not even begun to dig too deeply into it]

It's difficult to say if such a conversation would work in our favor. Lianfang-Zun has always been kind to me. However...it is no great secret that he seeks Jin Guangshan's favor, and is eager to remain in his good graces. Madame Jin is...strict with him. Though he is a kind man, practically speaking, he will be inclined to side with Jin Guangshan.

I believe the more practical approach would be to have Zewu-Jun persuade Chifeng-Zun to try for a peaceful resolution. And I can speak to A-Cheng. LanlingJin may be able to obtain the backing of some smaller sects, but they will not be able to make a move as easily if the other three stand firm. It would give Zixuan and I time to discuss it internally with them. Even this sort of plan doesn't give me high hopes. But it is a start.

[strikingchords]

[flatly]

Chifeng-Zun is very unwell.

[... reviews that statement, actually...]

Had not considered this.

His improvement would change much.

...

An opportunity to address the weakness in Nie Sect's cultivation should be taken. Alliance aside, they are worthy of aid.

[rootsforyou]

Unwell?

[this does take her by surprise; the last time she saw him he seemed to be doing fine]

That might change things as well. He was very critical of A-Xian's actions in the past. And he isn't the kind of person who would be willing to help because he feels indebted, I think...I would have to defer to your brother on such matters. He would know him best.

[strikingchords]

He becomes more erratic. The Nie Sect difficulties.

...

It is worth doing. Help, no. Neutrality, perhaps. And, it is right.

...

My own position is ambiguous.

[rootsforyou]

I don't disagree that it is worth helping. Instability within the sects at this time would be a great blow after everything that has happened. And the Nie Sect has done much for us over the years; it would be only right to repay a kindness with kindness. I would only urge caution in wasting precious time upon our immediate return unless a solution is readily available. It is not a matter of if they are assisted, but when.

As for your position. Who is aware that you helped A-Xian?

[strikingchords]

A wish as means. To be considered.

...

[with quiet certainty]

My brother, uncle, and thirty-three elders of our sect.

[rootsforyou]

[there's a knowing look in her eye as she looks him up and down; Lan Wangji was included in Wei Wuxian's list of people he wished to help with a wish. it is easy to guess that there were some repercussions for his actions, even if specifics are beyond her]

...You are confident that no one else saw you leave with him in the chaos? If only the members of your sect are aware, it is a great boon to us.

[strikingchords]

Too soon for talk. Yes.

[if there were repercussions he's utterly opaque about them; doesn't seem to register her interest]

[rootsforyou]

[it's a mental note for her, for later]

You have a reputation for being fair and just. Your sect is unlikely to reveal any involvement you had in helping A-Xian previously, so that reputation likely remains. That alone might be enough to protect him. Though such action might cause difficulties for your sect if it is not discussed beforehand.

[strikingchords]

...

Four things must occur.

First, the damage done, redeemed.

Second, those who are vulnerable, protected.

Third, he must be known to have desired this.

Fourth, a mutual assurance against vengeance.

There are multiple paths to any one. Together, they buy necessary time.

[rootsforyou]

In the broadest terms, yes. They are also not a guarantee that a repeated scenario will not occur regardless of our attempts. If it is the worst case scenario we would need to prepare for that as well.

[strikingchords]

We must start broadly.

[Lan Wangji's eyes are narrowed, considering the issue, still coolly determined. she may or may not remember that his early role in the Sunshot Campaign had almost nothing to do with the shifting self-protective politics of getting the Great Sects involved and almost everything to do with going from smaller sect to smaller sect, helping individuals and insisting that fighting an enemy that would be insurmountable for any of them alone was right.]

There are no guarantees. But, time would assist. "A small window." That was true insight.

...

A wish is most appropriate for the first two.

When Wei Ying first retreated to Burial Mounds, the idea was not bad. But, the year that followed further severed ties.

[rootsforyou]

[she knows this about him. but she also knows a lot of the rumors about him, the ones that all make him seem larger than life, and knows that secondhand knowledge is not always the truth. he is only human, and has human limitations, and placing a heavy burden on one person's shoulders has proven to not go very well every time.

her hands clench a little at the mention of Wei Wuxian retreating to the Burial Mounds]

...It was the only option he had at the time. But because he was left without protection it made it easier to plot against him. I had been...anticipating for Jin Guangshan to ask him once more about the Stygian Tiger Seal during A-Ling's one month celebration. I was preparing for the wrong thing. I would prefer not to make the same mistake again.

[strikingchords]

[watching her hands...]

...

What had you prepared?

[rootsforyou]

[shakes her head]

It was nothing much. Zixuan and I spoke of it a bit. Since he was to be our guest, that meant that no one else would be able to harass him easily. We thought it would be easy enough to keep him by us so that no one could bother him and he wouldn't accidentally start any trouble. He was there to see A-Ling, so I anticipated he wouldn't leave my side much. If Jin Guangshan or someone else made any mention of A-Xian's situation, we could simply be firm that it wasn't the place for such talk. And if it went well it would open the chance for him to visit more, perhaps.

Zixuan knew I wanted it to go well. I think that's why he left in such a hurry.

[strikingchords]

[...

this time he reaches for her hand, mirroring her careful hesitation to give her the opportunity to pull away]