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[rootsforyou]

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[strikingchords]

[...

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

[rootsforyou]

[takes it, grateful]

We can only offer ourselves such introspection once the moment has passed. It's alright.

[strikingchords]

[squeezes it back.]

...

YunmengJiang's position on the Wens is known.

Do you share it?

[rootsforyou]

[quiet for the space of a few heartbeats, looking at their hands]

The Wens who destroyed our home have long since passed on. The ones that remained were under my dear brother's protection. Although I have not met most of them in person in order to make a judge of character, I trust in A-Xian's judgement. I bear them no ill will.

[strikingchords]

[exhales]

Those are glad tidings.

[rootsforyou]

[nods]

They have been kind to us as well. As I understand it, they helped A-Cheng and A-Xian a great deal when they fled Lotus Pier. I do not wish to repay that deed with unkindness.

[strikingchords]

[nods, stiff]

...

That was what happened?

[rootsforyou]

Mm, that's what they both confirmed. More or less. It's difficult for them to talk about that time, so I didn't ask for details. Wen Qionglin and Wen Qing hid them both when the Wens were searching for them, at great risk to themselves. After they all parted ways A-Cheng and A-Xian were separated.

[which is, Lan Wangji knows, around the time Wei Wuxian would have been tossed into the Burial Mounds for the first time]

[strikingchords]

[he doesn't know he was tossed into the Burial Mounds that time! none of them do! WHOOPS]

His disappearance. Yes.

[rootsforyou]

[*no one outside of the Jiangs know WHOOPS. Lan Wangji was looking for him when he vanished tho, which has new context for her :(]

By the time he reappeared the Sunshot Campaign was underway. But if the opportunity were to present itself, I would have at least liked to extend my greetings to them.

[strikingchords]

[rather stricken... his mouth has gone tight with distress]

I, too.

[rootsforyou]

We shall see if we get the chance. They're currently out of our reach.

[strikingchords]

...

[exhales, with a slight nod]

[rootsforyou]

...I didn't mean for it to sound so bleak. But I don't wish for anyone to think this is an easy path to take, just because it's a wish.

[strikingchords]

[ah.]

...

Respectfully, young Madame Jin.

A reminder is unnecessary.

[rootsforyou]

I am aware. On occasion, though, it is good to say such things out loud.

[strikingchords]

As you like.

[inclines his head, not arguing, blank as a sheet]

[rootsforyou]

[gives herself a chance to sip at her tea, which is probably now cold, to collect her thoughts]

[strikingchords]

[he drinks tea, too. it bit unexpectedly deep that Jiang Yanli took his grief at his own failures as a lack of commitment, but she's the one dead of his failures between the two of them, so perhaps she has the right to judge him that frivolous after all.]

...

[rootsforyou]

[jesus lan wangji she is just using normal words that do not say anything about your levels of commitment, have some chill

she is actually going to get up to check on the soup and reheat the tea too]

[strikingchords]

[he has no chill and "just didn't want anyone here to think it was easy!" implies some things, Jiang Yanli

he watches the cooling tea in his cup instead of her.]

[rootsforyou]

[we will work on those bad faith assumptions of what people mean when they say words later, or something

comes back with a warm cup of tea for him!]

Here. Something warm in your belly can do wonders to lift your spirits.

[strikingchords]

[sometimes someone says something that hurts when you're already beating yourself up and insists on it even when you push back, it is what it is!

he takes the tea, but]

My apologies. That is also unnecessary.

[rootsforyou]

Is it? Please indulge me anyways, if it's no trouble. I couldn't possibly drink a whole pot of tea myself.

[strikingchords]

I thank you for the drink.

But you have misunderstood. I do not require reassurance, any more than reminders.

I require knowledge. So that ignorance does not repeat itself.