inbox | eastbound

[downswing]

lan wangji
missives | encounters

Comments

[weifinder]

He's too old for how young he is, and moves like he's never learned how to live in a world where war isn't crying for his family's blood.

[downswing]

Did you?

[weifinder]

Heart of my heart, did anyone in our generation?

[downswing]

Then, despair does not excuse him.

[weifinder]

Not excuse. Explain. He isn't motivated by cruelty or desire for power. To protect his family, yes, but not the rest.

[downswing]

You believe we should inquire.

[weifinder]

I've offered to help him gain better control over whatever curses have festered in him.

When it comes to the object, I believe we should be aware, and remind him if things feel dire that not every solution is in sheer power.

[downswing]

You think to create debt.

[weifinder]

... No, but it is fascinating that you did.

[downswing]

I cannot... find my heart drenched in sympathy for him, once more.

At each turn, he chooses cruelty.

[weifinder]

I don't ask for sympathy. I have little, beyond knowing what it is to be short in sight for what you wish you could control.

We do our best to guide. We can't decide for others, even when we feel we might know better. But this way, we know one of the tools he can call on, ah? We're prepared.

[downswing]

If you wish him assisted, I lend you my strength. Not him.

[weifinder]

That's all I would ask of you.

Thank you.

[downswing]

What spurs you to aid him?

[weifinder]

Safety of those I care for.

[downswing]

You see your face on his own.

[weifinder]

A shadow, yes. We don't think along the same lines in many things.

[downswing]

For his sister.

[weifinder]

Because how he defends his sister, his brother, his siblings, is not how I have.

[downswing]

...Wei Ying.

[weifinder]

Lan Zhan?

[downswing]

Not even you could have saved everyone.

[weifinder]

No one can. Working together, we can try to limit the losses. Just took too long to understand there were those who would stand side by side and try.

[downswing]

To learn late is not to neglect.

[weifinder]

It isn't.

Which is why I speak with you.