[ Xichen lets out a soft huff that is closer to a laugh than he has been in months, at the enthusiasm. And his embrace is not that much less rib-crushing, though it gentles after a moment and he pets the back of Jingyi's head gently. ]
Perhaps not the most relevant. But we can find others that are.
Thank you for coming to see me, Jingyi. And for bringing presents. I am glad that you are here.
[ There is no tease at all about this. Xichen means it. ]
[Oh. So. Jingyi did not think about how he would react to the hug. He continues to cling after Xichen eases up and tries not to think about how he is used to so many more disciples around him full of friendly touch. He can perhaps be forgiven for squeezing a little tighter for a moment before he pulls away?]
I am glad that I am here, too.
[And not just because he gets hugs. He gives Xichen a bright grin and slides back into his chair to pick up his spoon and use it to gesture with. With his other hand, he presses down on the gift he has brought and tries to explain first.]
Now I have been thinking very seriously about this, and I agree. I am certain that we can find a great many relevant traditions. I have been living with the other disciples for so long, so it is time to take advantage of having a father so close. And of you having a son so close. I plan to move sometime next week, and then I will be around all the time. So we have to plan.
[He points his spoon down at his ice cream.]
The first part of the plan is that you look like you need ice cream. You need to tell me if it is good, because we have to eat the whole carton tonight and I do not think I will fit the whole thing.
[Jingyi does seriously consider this for all of the time it takes to pull in breath to speak.]
It is the tradition. [He is very earnest.] I was reading what you and everyone else got so upset about on the network, and so I looked up what traditions are good for feeling better and one of them was to eat an entire carton of ice cream. So I have brought [he flourishes his spoon] an entire carton of ice cream.
[ Xichen can't quite help the way the corners of his mouth twitch up, even though his eyes turn sadder at the reminder. He ducks his head slightly. ]
I apologize everyone had to witness that, but... a lot of harm happened because he was able to hide what was happening from the cultivation world. And ... was too mellow and closed my eyes to too much. So now, I wish to make sure that if I am making the same mistake, there will be people who can see and correct me.
[ Beat. ]
... an entire carton. Well. Let us try that, then.
[ He reaches for one spoon of it, gracefully placing it in his mouth and closing his eyes, savoring the flavor. ]
[Shoving a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth, Jingyi has to take a second before he can comment on Xichen's apology. Once his mouth is free, though, he has zero compunctions in pointing out:]
Everything I have heard—[Gossip may be forbidden, but this had technically been news.]—says that he is very good at hiding things. If he was specifically hiding things from you, I do not think you should feel that bad. You are very smart. Hiding things probably took a lot of effort.
[There! Reassurance! Jingyi makes his way through another couple of spoonfuls and agrees that he did, indeed, make an excellent choice of ice cream, and then he shoves the gift box that he brought toward his new adoptive father. The topic clearly makes Xichen sad and he does not want to do more than acknowledge it and let the ice cream do its work.]
Here! Open this! This is the second tradition that I discovered. I think it is supposed to be attached to a day, but I did not want to wait for the proper day.
[ Xichen sighs softly, but Jingyi has managed to ease the sting of earlier a great deal. He ducks his head, just a little. ]
I could have seen it, I think, if I had not chosen to trust him over those who warned me against him. And now... now is the harder choice. Is he trying to fool me again, or is he truly trying to be different. If I choose wrong...
[ Xichen shakes his head, then turns to pay attention to the gift.
Blinks. ]
... they put ... words... on cups?
[ Let's start there.
And yes, he is flustered. Listen, Wangji's signs of affection have always been Different, so this means a lot to him. ]
[And he is very proud of this. The store over the internet had been most accommodating.]
And I drew our symbol myself, so the people could put it on the side.
[He does not answer the his new father's confession, though, as that is something that sounds...like he should think about before he speaks. Sometimes he can do that, and this seems like one of those times he should.
Instead, he leans over to point to the wording.]
See? 'World's Greatest Dad.' I thought it was funny, because we are in a new world.
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ze_uwu_jun) wrote2033-01-09 09:40 pm
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maskormenace
no subject
Perhaps not the most relevant. But we can find others that are.
Thank you for coming to see me, Jingyi. And for bringing presents. I am glad that you are here.
[ There is no tease at all about this. Xichen means it. ]
no subject
I am glad that I am here, too.
[And not just because he gets hugs. He gives Xichen a bright grin and slides back into his chair to pick up his spoon and use it to gesture with. With his other hand, he presses down on the gift he has brought and tries to explain first.]
Now I have been thinking very seriously about this, and I agree. I am certain that we can find a great many relevant traditions. I have been living with the other disciples for so long, so it is time to take advantage of having a father so close. And of you having a son so close. I plan to move sometime next week, and then I will be around all the time. So we have to plan.
[He points his spoon down at his ice cream.]
The first part of the plan is that you look like you need ice cream. You need to tell me if it is good, because we have to eat the whole carton tonight and I do not think I will fit the whole thing.
no subject
Sorry, Jingyi, Xichen is really not back up to 100% yet.
Or even like. 30%.
But he is glad, and the cheer is very, very welcome. And he tries. ]
Are you sure we need to finish it all tonight? Not leaving some of it for breakfast?
[ He tries. ]
no subject
It is the tradition. [He is very earnest.] I was reading what you and everyone else got so upset about on the network, and so I looked up what traditions are good for feeling better and one of them was to eat an entire carton of ice cream. So I have brought [he flourishes his spoon] an entire carton of ice cream.
[Context? What context?]
no subject
I apologize everyone had to witness that, but... a lot of harm happened because he was able to hide what was happening from the cultivation world. And ... was too mellow and closed my eyes to too much. So now, I wish to make sure that if I am making the same mistake, there will be people who can see and correct me.
[ Beat. ]
... an entire carton. Well. Let us try that, then.
[ He reaches for one spoon of it, gracefully placing it in his mouth and closing his eyes, savoring the flavor. ]
It is very nice ice cream.
no subject
Everything I have heard—[Gossip may be forbidden, but this had technically been news.]—says that he is very good at hiding things. If he was specifically hiding things from you, I do not think you should feel that bad. You are very smart. Hiding things probably took a lot of effort.
[There! Reassurance! Jingyi makes his way through another couple of spoonfuls and agrees that he did, indeed, make an excellent choice of ice cream, and then he shoves the gift box that he brought toward his new adoptive father. The topic clearly makes Xichen sad and he does not want to do more than acknowledge it and let the ice cream do its work.]
Here! Open this! This is the second tradition that I discovered. I think it is supposed to be attached to a day, but I did not want to wait for the proper day.
[And inside is...a mug.]
no subject
I could have seen it, I think, if I had not chosen to trust him over those who warned me against him. And now... now is the harder choice. Is he trying to fool me again, or is he truly trying to be different. If I choose wrong...
[ Xichen shakes his head, then turns to pay attention to the gift.
Blinks. ]
... they put ... words... on cups?
[ Let's start there.
And yes, he is flustered. Listen, Wangji's signs of affection have always been Different, so this means a lot to him. ]
no subject
[And he is very proud of this. The store over the internet had been most accommodating.]
And I drew our symbol myself, so the people could put it on the side.
[He does not answer the his new father's confession, though, as that is something that sounds...like he should think about before he speaks. Sometimes he can do that, and this seems like one of those times he should.
Instead, he leans over to point to the wording.]
See? 'World's Greatest Dad.' I thought it was funny, because we are in a new world.