inbox | eastbound

[downswing]

lan wangji
missives | encounters

Comments

[downswing]

Jiang Fengmian chose a bitter bride.

[weifinder]

He was a poor mediator with a good heart and weak stance. Madam Yu was a woman of great strength and pride.

( these were not good mixes in personality. he was too much, and too little, and too obvious, all at once. he cannot imagine acting the same, but he knows. he knows. )

They loved their children.

( to the extents they knew how. it wasn't enough. it's what they had.

and love for him, only one had. it was the love of their children that had mattered. )

[downswing]

But they did not name you son.

[weifinder]

I'm my parents' son. Last of the Wei.

[downswing]

You will have name-bearing sons.

[weifinder]

Lan Zhan...

[weifinder]

A family will be nice. One that can live like one. Anywhere we go. Sizhui, ah, soon enough he raises his own, we can be grandfathers!

... We can be grandfathers?!

[downswing]

( What. )

[downswing]

( How. )

[downswing]

( Why? His precious baby boy, his heir and son??? )

[downswing]

( Not before he's collared by wedlock — )

[downswing]

( But wait. Children are small. Pale. Rotund. Cute.

...like rabbits. )

end

[downswing]

Grandchildren may huddle under rabbit piles.

[weifinder]

How many rabbits are we gifting him?

[downswing]

Do not regret generosity freely shown.

[weifinder]

We still need to keep them fed, ah! Ah!

[downswing]

( Humming appreciatively: )

Wei Ying will earn more silver.

[weifinder]

Wei Ying sees many baskets and a donkey in our future.

[downswing]

His back is strong enough to carry.

[weifinder]

How many, ah? More than the ones already in arms? Sweet as your tongue grows, there's only so much one set of shoulders can fit!

[downswing]

For each child, eight rabbits for good fortune.

[weifinder]

Lan Zhan is not a man who dreams small.

( wry. how much silver is he making. what gold is under these rabbit's toes. EVEN YOUR GHOST GRANDMA DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY RABBITS, LAN ZHAN. HE KNOWS! HE RESCUED THEM ALL! )

[downswing]

Then deny me.

[weifinder]

To indulge you elsewhere.

( in his voice, that's a promise. )

[downswing]

You must think that attracts more than rabbits.