[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

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[A few hours later, there is knock on Zishu's door. Xue Yang has several bottles of wine and he is chewing on a candy stick.]

[Action]

[fated_dance]

[ Zishu has spent the time meditating and resting - he'd promised, hadn't he? So when the knock comes, he pushes himself to his feet and tugs it open with a little half smile that grows at the sight of the nice collection Xue Yang has brought. He steps aside. ]

That'll work.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Xue Yang saunters in and sets the wine down on the nearest table. Then he crunches into the candy stick, grinning at Zhou Zishu.]

Glad I made it in time. You look decent.

[Action]

[fated_dance]

[ He closes the door after the other before reclaiming his own seat. And reaches for one of the bottles. ]

It's only been a couple weeks. I told you I have at least two more years. I don't plan on keeling over before then.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[He nudges the bottle towards Zishu and then sits down, draping his legs over the arm of the chair.]

I don't know how fast you're going to worsen. Are you going to have one and a half years and then be stuck in your bed? Or is it gonna happen gradually?

[Action]

[fated_dance]

[ Zishu hesitates long enough to open the bottle and take a long drink from it, letting out a quiet sigh of appreciation. ]

Gradually my senses will fade before vanishing. I'm not sure which will leave first.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Xue Yang watches him and finishes his candy before grabbing the second bottle of wine.]

Scared?

[Action]

[fated_dance]

[ He shoots Xue Yang a sharp look at the question before rolling his eyes. ]

That's not what scares me. I chose this form of death.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

So you can be scared. [He tilts his head and continues, dangerously.] Is it the absence of wine that frightens you?

[Action]

[fated_dance]

[ He's startled into laughing, and grins at Xue Yang before lifting his bottle in playful mimicry of a toast. ]

Who wouldn't be?

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[That's a nice sound! Xue Yang looks proud of himself, uncorking his bottle and drinking.]

Mm you might have a point. There was a lot I couldn't handle without wine.

[Action]

[fated_dance]

[ This gremlin amuses him. Zishu takes a long sip and sighs in satisfaction of the taste. ]

It helps with sleep, especially.

[ And pain management, which obviously he needs! ]

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Xue Yang doesn't mind the flavor either, though it's sweeter than his usual fare.]

What about with nightmares. Has it helped you with those?