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[ze_uwu_jun]

You have reached Zewu-Jun. Please let me know how I can help.

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text;

[ze_uwu_jun]

Tell me.

[ The reply is quick enough, but. Brief. ]

[secondjade]

[ He hadn’t dared ask this before, not even sure he can ask it now, but given current circumstances... ]

Do not allow him to press more poison in the wound.

Do not give him your time or counsel.

Not until he’s proven worthy of it.

[ze_uwu_jun]

[ Xichen rubs his face with both hands before taking a deep breath. ]

I haven't sought him out. I haven't tried to give him much.

I don't know how he can prove he deserves if I don't at least look.

I don't know if he will truly try if I pull entirely away. I don't know

I'm sorry. You are right. But at least maybe he will remember about not trying to run people's lives, at least maybe a little. So something good was done, wasn't it?

I'll try.

[secondjade]

You hold no fault.

He seeks you. Every breath given, he will take ten.

Your regard all he wants. He will twist every sign, redefine every word.

You cannot save him.

He saves himself, or not at all.

[ze_uwu_jun]

Yes. He saves himself.

I'll do my best.

[secondjade]

[ Hnngh. He wants to say more, but he can tell he is at the end of his brother’s will. ]

I trust your judgement.

Admire your good will.

I will not allow him to squander either.

[ze_uwu_jun]

[ He's running out of cope, never of will for his brother or his brother's words. Even if he hates, so much, how weak he must look, right now. His brother deserves better. Xichen ties to pull himself together again, at least a little. ]

I will be all right. I am aware that he wants more than he ought to. I am sorry that you had to witness that, but I thought keeping what we talk a secret would be far, far worse.

[secondjade]

No apologies.

You asked that I witness with you.

Has he made other attempts?

[ze_uwu_jun]

He sent yearning poetry in reply to the birthday gift I sent him. I did not respond.

[secondjade]

[ . . . . . . ]

Desperation.

[ze_uwu_jun]

It is not something I can give him right now. And I'm not sure if it's something I'm willing to.

So, perhaps it is.

[secondjade]

[ Xichen, you’re killing him.

There’s a longer pause as he tries to decide what to reply.

But in they end, they share the same blood. The same weakness.

However, there is no Cloud Recesses here to retreat to with forlorn and hopeless love. ]

He is not worthy of you.

[ze_uwu_jun]

[ It's not even that the things between himself and Meng Yao are the way things are between Wangji and young master Wei. He does love the man, he does, he's tried not to and that hasn't worked, but it's not...

It's not the same.

And yet on the other hand, it is. Both at the same time. ]

I am only human.

But no, that is not something I'm thinking of. Or waiting for him to become better for, or... anything like that. I merely want him to be someone who is ... at least a little bit the kind gentle person he always pretended to be. Someone who'll deserve respect for his actions, as well as his existence.

Someone who can be happy, even. Not at the expense of others.

I don't intend to be a bargaining chip in this.

[secondjade]

Hope is a pain sharper than any other.

If he acts again, tell me.

[ze_uwu_jun]

I'd ask when you got so wise, but I don't need to.

I'll tell you. Hiding will not help anyone.

[secondjade]

[ There’s nothing more to say to either point, so he changes the subject: ]

Do you require my presence?

[ For calming music. Or just for company. ]

[ze_uwu_jun]

Do you need mine?

I was thinking of going out to play in the park. Meditate.

[secondjade]

[ Don’t turn this on him, Xichen, he was doing really well ignoring his own feelings in this mess and just focusing on you. ]

I will complete my current duties and join you.

[ze_uwu_jun]

I will like that.

[ Except before he gets the chance, Xichen sends a picture of a man in white with a blindfold. In the park, sitting on a bench. ]

Wangji. Is this who I think it is?

[secondjade]

[ It’s rare that Wangji’s surprise registers on his face. But if you make a facial expression and no one is there to see it, did it really happen? ]

Daozhang Xiao.

Xiao Xingchen.

He’s here?

[ze_uwu_jun]

Yes.

I will take him home, if he agrees. He

This is unexpected.

[secondjade]

[ He's wearing the blindfold, so... ]

I have read Jin Ling's testimony.

[ So he knew the sorry fate that Xiao Xingchen met. ]

Is he alone?

Last memory?

[ze_uwu_jun]

I have not yet asked, but it seems he is recent to not relying on his eyes.

[secondjade]

[ There's a longer pause. ]

He's with you now?

Would you prefer privacy?

[ze_uwu_jun]

I will let you know. He seemed overjoyed to find that you and young master Wei are here.