inbox | eastbound

[downswing]

lan wangji
missives | encounters

Comments

[westviews]

Absolute seriousness at all times.

[And since she's being serious,]

I'm doing this as a favor to Stephen, but if I'd known there was a concern, I would have wanted to help you anyway.

[downswing]

We are... creatures of solitude. ( Despite uniting as a group. )

The habit of reliance, slow learned.

[westviews]

I understand. Slow's better than not learning at all. Agreed?

[downswing]

You strike kinship easily?

[westviews]

Not at all.

[Maybe it's a twin thing.]

But I know it's important to try.

[downswing]

To what end?

[westviews]

To not be alone.

[downswing]

( A true widow, then. Perhaps, bereft of family. Of ties. )

You are not. ( Amputated. Unchained. Unwanted. ) Adrift alone.

[westviews]

I am, at home.

[But...]

Not so much here.

[downswing]

You are welcomed.

[westviews]

I know.

[By a few, at least, and that's more than she's had in a while.]

So are you.

[downswing]

On Wei Ying's behalf, be thanked.

[westviews]

You're both very welcome.

I won't be too far.

[downswing]

The man who called on you.

What is his nature?

[westviews]

He's [complicated.]--

He's... an ally. From home.

[And, since she's feeling like being honest, because it's better she say this than Stephen despite their agreement...]

I was his enemy the last time we met. We've come to an understanding.

[downswing]

He slaughtered freely there also?

[westviews]

[Maybe honesty isn't the best idea. Still, she presses on.]

No. I was the one doing the slaughter. It wasn't too dissimilar to what happened to him here.

[downswing]

Commanded by another?

[westviews]

No. Influenced, but it was still me.

[She'll never try to divert the blame.]

Stephen did his best to stop me from harming people.

Now, he and I have an agreement that I'll do the same should he ever lose control again.

[downswing]

This does not appear enmity.

[westviews]

Tolerance.

[downswing]

...friendship.

[westviews]

He's never been my friend.

[There's a bit of bite to the words. There's some deep resentment there that goes beyond the Dark hold.]

[downswing]

Apologies. Your matters your own.

[westviews]

It's all right. Things are complicated between me and people from my world. I don't expect you to know that.