[UN: swordcandy | Audio]

[cultivatingsin]

He's mine. You can't have him! Stop trying to hurt him or take him away from me. I won't let you.

Do you understand? Let me say it slower: I won't let you.

[Is he being recorded? Technology is out to get him, obviously.]

I kept his spirit in a pouch, you know. I never let that pouch out of my sight. I hung it around my neck under my robes and I could feel him flutter...

Almost like a little bird. He's mine and I will protect him.

If you wanna kill someone, kill me. Just...get it over with. Stop playing with your food, it's embarrassing.

Comments

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

What about you? [...someone might be learning about empathy.]

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

[ That has him smile, which might be heard in his voice! ]

I told you. I'm dying. If I can help a few people, I'll be satisfied.

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

You're not dead yet. You're coming with us. [He'll carry him too! ...somehow.]

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

[ His silence now is stunned! ]

...Fine. I'll help make sure you get settled safely.

[ Deliberately misunderstanding. ]

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

You're not coming along to baby us. [Xue Yang scoffs.] We're grown.

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

[ Now there's a teasing grin in his voice. ]

Physically. And who's saying I'll baby you?

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

You think I'm rash and crazy, right? [He wouldn't be wrong.] Maybe I am, but I'll do what's right by him.

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

[ The teasing vanishes. ]

That doesn't matter. You know what does.

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

You're not...judging me? By what I said? [About keeping Xingchen's soul in a pouch?]

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

No. I don't have the right to judge anyone.

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

I almost wanna ask what you've done.

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

I might even tell you sometime.

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

I'll listen and I won't judge. I have no right either.

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

I believe you.

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

I used to think I was the worst, but maybe I'm not.

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

Maybe, maybe not.

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

I think the worst doesn't realize they are the worst.

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

Ah. And wouldn't care even if they knew.

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

They think they have the right. Believe me, I knew men like that. Women too.

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

I do too. Perhaps I'll tell you a story when we next drink together.

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

That means I need to find us more wine!

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

Ah! Good!

[ The grin is back in his voice, even with the prospect of hashing out some of his past. He's growing rather fond of Xue Yang! ]

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

I won't fail~ Stay put and rest. [That's what Xingchen would say, right? Since he likes Zhou Zishu, he gets the special treatment.]

[Voice]

[fated_dance]

I won't die on you so easily.

[ But he's more amused than anything. ]

[Voice]

[cultivatingsin]

You better not or I'll be pissed. [Excellent reasoning!]